Review - - The Scoundrel's Seduction

The  Scoundrel's Seduction
House of Trent:  Book 3
By Jennifer Haymore
Publisher:  Forever
Release Date:  May 27, 2014

I’m a reader.  Always have been.   I’m the sort who sneaks out to lunch without telling my friends so I can read instead of chat.   I’m the one who lets the phone ring till I finish a sentence.   I’m the one who ignores the “Mo-om!” from downstairs so I can finish the chapter.   But whenever any task, even one you adore, becomes obligatory, much of the joy is sucked right out.

Not so, if one “has to” read Jennifer Haymore’s THE SCOUNDREL’S SEDUCTION for a review site, for example.   ;)

Nobody in Sam Hawkins’ family knows what he does for a living, but they know it’s dangerous.  And vitally important to England.  So when the order comes from the higher-ups asking Sam to assassinate a traitor, he doesn’t hesitate.  Because he’s that devoted to his job and is that good at it.  Except this time, when he shoots the traitor right through the heart, he fails to realize he’s done so while the traitor’s stunning wife watches from under a table.   Unsure of what to do, because killing an innocent witness isn’t part of Sam’s job description, he takes her prisoner.  But with more time spent in her company, Sam isn’t quite sure who has trapped whom for he finds leaving her presence, even for a moment, becomes unbearable to him--to HIM: a man who’s set his life up in such a way as to not attach to anyone.

Now that Élise, Lady Dunthorpe, is finally free of her terrible husband, she can’t abide becoming imprisoned by yet another man so soon after--and by one who ruthlessly shot her husband, no less.  Surely, she should hate her powerful jailer.  Surely, she shouldn’t feel so alive under his intense scrutiny and, most surely, she shouldn’t enjoy his touch.  That would be the moral response, wouldn’t it?   But while Élise wars with what she shouldn't, yet does, feel, danger from her former husband’s associates forces Sam and her to run, perhaps closer into each other’s arms.   Shoulds be damned. 

Confession: THE SCOUNDREL’S SEDUCTION was my first Haymore read.  As a writer, I found her to weave quite a complex relationship between her main characters, far more weighty than the average historical.   But I think what put this book into the 5 star category for me is the chemistry Haymore is able to create.   Sometimes I feel chemistry between the hero/heroine is a fluke for writers, just as it is in life.  It’s there or it isn’t, even in the hands of the very best writers.

It was certainly there between Sam and Élise and the jailer/prisoner plot helped.  But Haymore does something different with it: while her heroine, Élise, craves her freedom, Haymore writes her without a hint of shrewishness, though she is still independent and worthy of a reader’s respect.   And while her hero, Sam, is powerful and is forced to imprison Élise, Haymore writes him without a hint of pushy chauvinism… though he is still incredibly male and virile AND sensitive.   They are all fine lines for a writer to traverse and Haymore does so expertly.

I heartily recommend THE SCOUNDREL’S SEDUCTION.  And while I feel the title is a misnomer of sorts—the title and premise set up different expectations than what a reader actually gets with this book (Élise doesn’t actively seduce Sam out of his wits as she is just as seduced by him)—the book FAR exceeded my enjoyment expectations… especially my “have to read it” enjoyment expectation.

Go forth and read THE SCOUNDREL’S SEDUCTION while I download all of Haymore's other House of Trent novels.  Because I have to.

~J Perry Stone

J Perry Stone is an aspiring Historical Romance writer who is a giant proponent of books and of love... romance being the place where the two live happily ever after.  She lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband and two children. 

Review -- A Season of Seduction

A Season of Seduction
By Jennifer Haymore
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: September 28, 2010






Lady Rebecca Fisk’s disastrous marriage came to an abrupt end four years ago when her husband, William, was killed. Becky wasn’t distraught, but relieved when it happened as her husband had manipulated and deceived her and had ulterior motives (her money) for wanting to wed her. Ever since, Becky has had no desire whatsoever to marry again, but that doesn’t mean she does not want to experience a man’s touch. When she meets and gets to know the rugged Jack Fulton, she believes she is ready to take that small leap. While taking that compromising leap, they are discovered by her overly protective brother, the Duke of Calton, and the only option is for them to wed. Except, Becky refuses Jack’s offer citing that she’s been down that road before (entering marriage impulsively) and has no wish to go down it again. However, Jack is persistent and begins to court her in the hopes that she’ll change her mind.

After twelve years away at sea, Jack Fulton returns to his homeland, the place he has missed immensely after being exiled by his family due to an egregious scandal. Upon his arrival home, his past is thrust back in his face in the form of blackmail by a childhood friend. Jack must pay him fifteen thousand pounds before Christmas or he will reveal the truth of what happened that fateful night over a dozen years before. The only way Jack can come up with that kind of money is to marry an heiress. He feels an instant kinship of sorts when he meets the Lady Rebecca. He observed her at the British Museum and saw something in her that reminded him of himself. Something solitary and isolated. What starts off as nothing more than a means to an end turns into something much more as Jack falls hard for the enchanting Becky. But will she forgive him and look beyond his past when the truth comes out?

A Season of Seduction picks up years after the previous books, A Hint of Wicked and A Touch of Scandal, and is the story readers have been anticipating featuring Garrett’s younger sister Becky. After her husband died, Becky devoted herself to her family and reading books and has become quite the bluestocking since last we saw her. Yes, she bears a wounded heart, thanks to her despicable husband, and even though she knows that Jack isn’t cruel like William was, she is still hesitant to marry so quickly. Totally understandable. And naturally, Jack feels horrible that he is deceiving Becky as William did. Though unlike William, Jack actually has strong feelings for Becky.

She’d been beaten down by her husband, and that made her tentative and hesitant, fearful of setting herself free, of opening her heart. She believed she couldn’t survive being hurt again. Jack understood completely. He’d been in that same place for many years after Anne’s death.

Jack wanted her to stop hurting. He wanted to protect her, cosset and spoil her, until she was confident enough to set herself free. Until she was confident enough to allow herself to be happy.

He wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. Never again.

They are splendid together and their romance is very sweet despite Jack’s secret looming in the background. A Season of Seduction is a nice, solid romance and a great addition to Jennifer Haymore’s repertoire. And it’s one that I recommend!

~Andrea

Review -- A Touch of Scandal

A Touch of Scandal
By Jennifer Haymore
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central)
Release Date: March 30, 2010





Garrett James, Duke of Calton, seeks revenge against the man he once thought was his friend. The man responsible for ruining his life—William Fisk. In the previous book, A Hint of Wicked, readers learned that after Waterloo and the death of his twin, Fisk caused Garrett to lose his memory and hid him in Belgium, away from his wife and child, for eight years. Now, back in England and still reeling from his recent scandalous divorce, Garrett only has vengeance on his mind. While hunting Fisk, Garrett meets a charming servant girl who captures his interest and incites a feeling he thought had died with his divorce. He finds out the hard way (literally!) that the lovely Kate is Fisk’s sister and immediately feels betrayed. Again.

Kate is confused as she is torn between her loyalty to her family and the strong attraction she feels toward Garrett. She has always felt completely lacking when it comes to her family because her mother has always preferred Kate’s older brothers to her. Despite that, Kate’s kept their secrets and loves them as they are all she has ever had. When the strong, handsome Garrett pays attention to her, she is at first surprised. No one has ever really paid her any mind before and she doesn’t know what to think. She goes with her gut and knows she’s made the right decision, regardless of the tragedy that follows. And just when she and Garrett believe they might be happy, something happens that could ultimately tear them apart.

Kate and Garrett were wonderful characters who constantly tugged at my heartstrings. Here is a girl who is treated poorly by her own flesh and blood and forced to keep their dirty secrets because she has nowhere to go and no one to turn to. She was lonely and craved a little attention, so naturally when Garrett showed an interest in her, she ate it up. And Garrett was a kindred spirit as he feels utterly alone since all he held dear was taken away. Their journey was quite the emotional roller coaster ride and I found myself rooting for them the whole way through. And just when you think all’s well, Ms. Haymore blindsides you with a shocking revelation. It certainly kept me turning the pages! All in all, I really enjoyed A Touch of Scandal, though I do believe I may have enjoyed it a bit more if I had read the previous book, A Hint of Wicked, just to get the full effect of all that happened to Garrett. If you like historical romances that engage your emotions and contain characters you cheer for, this is the book for you.

~Andrea