Rating: 
Summary: Beyond Seduction
Review: Emma Holly's latest book, Beyond Seduction, is the second in a series - I hope. Ms. Holly's unique mix of intense sensuality, well crafted characters and romantic plot makes Beyond Seduction a must read. Set in the late 1800s England, a union between a sinfully notorious artist and a Duke's daughter would be scandalous! But this is the perfect setting for Ms. Holly to weave her tale. Nicolas Craven and Merry Vance don't just seduce us, they let us into their intimate lives and share with us all the sorrows and ultimate joys on their journey to happiness. The supporting characters -- Evangeline, Sebastian, Lavinia Vance and Althorp do their jobs well and are just as interesting to "watch." In fact I would love to see my favorite supporting character, Ernest, in his own novel ... As in past novels, Ms. Holly allows the reader to experience each thought, each sensation and each emotion of the characters. Read this one when you have time because you won't want to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent al-nighter read
Review: Oh, Bravo Ms. Holly. This was an excellent or sexellent read. It was so romantic and sweet. I really do mean sweet. Nic really evolved as a person and Merry grew up. That is true grown-up love. I didn't like the hint that Nic was a reformed bi-sexual but I really Loved this book. The ending was great!
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Summary: A rich, mouthwatering scorcher historical/erotic romance!
Review: Having read and loved Personal Assets, Menage and Beyond Innocence, Emma Holly has become my favorite erotic romance author. Her books are as exquisite and mouthwatering as chocolate with caramel. Though not as explicit as her Black Lace offerings, Beyond Seduction, a beautiful and romantic novel set in Victorian England, offers a scorcher of a novel full of sinful animalistic lust. And the best part is that it is solely centered on the protagonists. Merry Vance is a wild, free spirit. Marriage is the last thing on her mind. But when her manipulative mother, driven by blackmail, tries to force her into accepting her long-suffering suitor's marriage proposal, Merry takes matters into her own hands. In order to ruin her chances of marriage, she poses nude for Nicolas Craven -- London's most reputable painter and notorious womanizer. However, painting Merry is not the only thing on Nicolas's mind... This novel contains the most insatiable sex scenes recently written. And I thought I'd read smoldering scenes before! But the best part is what happens before Nicolas and Merry hit the sack. The scenes in which Nicolas seduces Merry are incredible. The building of tension made me tingle all over. And I loved the story. I love historical romances, but this one's the best I've read in a long time. I couldn't put this book down and savored the last pages like fine wine. Beyond Seduction has become my favorite Emma Holly novel. I so look forward to reading her other Black Lace books and her new historical series. In the meantime, I recommend this wonderful novel. It'll awaken your loins as well as your intellect. Your partner will be grateful once you're able to put this book down.
Rating: 
Summary: Not fantastic, but somewhat enjoyable.
Review: My main problem with this book is a totally subjective one. I found both of the main characters very physically unappealing. The hero is described as a thin man with hips like a dancer. Ew. The heroine is wiry and built like a young boy. Ew. I'm glad I read this one before "Beyond Innocence" because Merry is described as being even uglier in that book. Now, don't get me wrong - I don't expect the characters to be physically perfect, but I was totally unattracted to the description of Nick's body. I admit it - I love a good, tall, thick, dark Alpha Male. I don't like shorter, thinner, artsy kind of guys. And I would like the woman to look at least a little like a woman. She is so often described as looking like a young boy that I begin to wonder if Nick likes boys or girls. Which leads me to my next beef with this book... Sebastian, Evangeline, and Nick had threesomes. Nick strokes Sebastian's cheek at one point and I began to wonder if maybe he wasn't a gay or at least bisexual man...now, there's nothing wrong with that, but it doesn't really fit with this particular genre. The sex was good, but seemed a little rushed in the beginning. Merry was really a flirt and totally sexually aggressive in "Beyond Innocence," so I guess it's not surprising that she is rather jaded and pretty "easy" in this book. She doesn't wait long to have sex with Nick. I guess I prefer a little begging on the part of the man. :) I'm glad I also bought "Beyond Innocence" when I bought this book. If I hadn't, I probably wouldn't have bought another Emma Holly book.
Rating: 
Summary: well done!
Review: Brava on "Beyond Seduction"! I sat up to the wee hours to finish it, and I loved it. I loved the relationship - I have always thought the artist/model interaction was fraught with possibilities, and this was a masterful job. I loved the "niche"-ness of the history; no medieval maidens requiring children for convoluted reasons, no prim Victorian misses unleashed. I also like the language, even when it got strong - no "turgid members", "liquid portals" or other simpering descriptives.
Rating:
Summary: Beyond Seduction Emma Holly
Review: I wish there were a 100 Emma Holly books out there - instead of only a few. There was just something about these characters that was so compelling - Merry & Nicolas were everything you want in a romantic couple. The story was very compelling -- Nicolas had realistic deamons to overcome and the way they were worked through was thoughtful and heartfelt. Merry was a strongwilled type that thought she didn't want any of the things that were part of a husband and marriage but when true love of this intensity hits it just shows what you think you want isn't always true. I could have read more and more about this couple -- as it was I spent one night devouring their story! Emma Holly you are the best since Stephanie Laurens!! Keep the novels coming!
Rating:
Summary: Mouthwatering descriptions
Review: This is the second EH book I've read, the first being 'Catching Midnight'. I found the characters and the situations in this much more engaging than most romance novels. The lack of heaving bosoms and throbbing members was especially appreciated. Like most novels based on relationships, both parties have their secrets and the unfolding of those kept me reading but by far the best thing about this novel was the opulence, the lushness of the descriptions. Miss Holly can make you feel the skin, taste the salt and inhale the scents of her lovingly detailed seductions. Just beautiful. The language is much more outspoken than you will generally find but that, for me at least, was relief from the formula. The heroine, Merry Vance, is honest with herself. She may not have considered all the ramifications of her plan but she doesn't try to avoid the blame when things go badly. Her one instance of 'cowardice' is so perfectly understandable that she gets the reader's sympathy. The hero, Nicolas Craven, is much more afraid and has a great deal of soul-searching to do before the peculiar denouement takes place. Even the barely sketched-in supporting characters (excepting Merry's brothers) were, for the most part, three-dimensional. I particularly liked the way Miss Holly addressed Nic's friends and the long-standing relationships he has with them. Their peculiar interactions add a great deal of breadth to the story line. This is much spicier, and more titillating, than the usual romance fare. But if you want to get drunk on the feelings, this is the book to read. It's awash in succulence.
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Summary: Wish it were longer!
Review: Beyond Seduction was a great book, I only wish it was a lengthier. Nicolas Craven was YUMMY and the plot was sweet and romantic. What more can a romance reader ask for?
The love scenes in the book are spicier than most, so read them only if you are not easily shocked! As for me, I only wish Emma Holly churned out books faster.....
Rating:
Summary: Very erotic and plenty of romance
Review: This book captured my interest from beginning to end. This was the first Emma Holly book I read, and I was glad to see a heroine that was independent and strong-willed throughout the book. Oftentimes the heroine starts out strong but ends up boo-hooing every page. Not so for Merry Vance and the book is the better for it. The writing and storyline were quite good and beyond that it has plenty of steamy sections, including a very tastefully done self-gratification scene that you can almost picture happening right in front of you! I like more than just the missionary-style, male/female relationships and this book has plenty of the frist and hints at the second - nice. I'm looking to order more Emma as we speak.
Rating: 
Summary: sexy and frustrating....
Review: I loved Beyond Innocence and loved the character of Merry Vance so I was glad for the sequel. Merry is a very strong willed person with clear ideas of what she does not want, marriage, and discovers being unconventional is not accepted in her world. So she devises a plan to ruin herself by running away to a notorious painter, Nic Craven, that will paint her nude. There are several twists and turns in this story that will suprise you and frustrate you. I personally kept on reading and got exasperated with the two characters wanting them to work this out and get on with it but I must admit that was part of the fun in this book. Also the sex is quite graphic and yet tender and loving. I did like this book and would recommend it. I would like to see another in this series perhaps a book about her brother Peter or her suitor Ernest.
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