Seduced

Rating:
Summary: engaging Regency romance
Review: In 1819 though both are aristocrats sharing some commonality in terms of invites, Lucien St. Aubyn and Elizabeth Montgomery detest each other. Elizabeth believes that Lucien is a "murdering whoremonger" living up to his reputation as the Duke of Death while he figures that in spite of her being the granddaughter of a cobbler she is the queen of snobbery.

A bored Lucien decides to seduce Elizabeth because she seems so unattainable. He tricks her with a phony note from a friend, but nosy Lady Derby catches them together without a chaperone. Shockingly, Lucien does the right thing by marrying the nay saying Elizabeth. As they become acquainted she realizes that his image as the king of rakes is a fake and that he feels guilt over killing his brother in a duel. He is shocked by how down to earth she is with the servants and farmers. As they fall in love, he is sent to Newgate to be tried for killing his sibling, but to her dismay he wants to die.

Regency romance readers will agree that Pamela Britton's latest tale is a pleasant experience. The story line hooks the audience who will want to see how Elizabeth and Lucien overcome the mind-sets of intense dislike for one another. Though their respective public images seems unreal when the audience observes how caring and nurturing the lead couple is, SEDUCED is a seductive read that the sub-genre crowd will appreciate.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: quickly fizzles
Review: like all Britton books, she starts out with bright beginning, then goes flat about 1/3 of the way into the book. She keeps you reading, but you get so you wish it just would end. The characters become annoying. Britton needs to learn the meaning of romance, that alpha rouge males are different from SOBs and that bickering is not witty repartee. It's a shame because she is a good writer, she just seems unable to follow through. Unfortunately, since this is about her 6th novel and they all suffer from these same problems, well, she just keeps repeating the same old mistakes, sadly.

Rating:
Summary: An emotional roller coaster -- and just as thrilling
Review: Love it or hate it? I mostly loved it. Yes, there were times that the sex jokes got stale and occasions when the timing was questionable...but they never detracted from the story for me. Moreover, the characterizations and back stories so enchanted me that I couldn't care less about any minor faults. Indeed, this book isn't really about sexual seduction, as some reviewers seem to think. It's about the seduction of the heart -- a vastly different, and more noble, thing altogether.

Lucien is a very complex character, contrary to first impressions. In fact, Elizabeth, once she's around him on a regular basis, quickly begins to see through his masks. Elizabeth is a very strong heroine who has had to hold her head up high throughout her life due to circumstances beyond her control; yet she makes every effort to control their effects on her. Until Lucien unwittingly causes it all to crumble around her. Truly, she is the stronger member of this couple, but she teaches him a great deal about strength of character. For deep down inside, it is only guilt that keeps him from being the marvelous man his tenants adore. How each of them come to see the inner person -- and themselves -- especially Lucien's growth as a person -- is the heart of this book.

The humor runs from bawdy to satirical and caused me to laugh out loud on several occasions. Before the book's end, however, I often had to fight to read the page through tear-blurred eyes. The emotional anguish is on the money, and is the pin on which the whole book turns. It is marvelously done. The last three chapters (not the epilogue) are some of the most heart-wrenching scenes I've ever read; beautifully done.

Perhaps not quite 5 stars, but certainly more than 4... at the end, I didn't care about lack of perfection; I was too caught up in the story, the characters, and the how-on-earth-can-it-possibly-have-a-happy-ending tension. A thoroughly satisfying read!

Rating:
Summary: A Fun Read
Review: Lucien St Aubyn is an unrepentent rake and reputed to have murdered his own brother is plotting to seduce Elizabeth Montclair because he views her as "snobbish". The two are wed after being caught in a compromising postion, and thus begins a witty, charming and refreshing twist to a standard romance novel plot.

Britton's talent in creating witty and appealing characters definitely makes this book a five star recommendation! It will be one that finds a place on the "keeper" shelf.

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In addition, Britton has a new book coming out in January! I am sure it will be just as wonderful as Seduced!

Rating:
Summary: Pamela Britton does it again!!
Review: Lucien St. Aubyn has been labeled the Duke of Death. Everyone close to him has died over the years, including his older brother (although that death is attributed, whether rightly or wrongly, to Lucien's own hand).

Elizabeth Montclair's time is running out. This is her third season to be paraded around looking for a husband, and, as a result, her family is nigh onto penniless. It's do or die time for Elizabeth to procure a husband; however, she is not interested.

Enter Lucien, who is suffering from a deep feeling of boredom. He spies Elizabeth across a room and immediately devises a plan. How about by seducing a woman who loathes him? Could there be a greater challenge? It doesn't hurt that Elizabeth is not really considered of the upper class and no one will care if he seduces and ruins her.

Elizabeth has heard all the rumors about Lucien and knows that they must be true - the Duke of Death has crossed her path before and left only a negative impression. She would rather expire than have anything to do with him.

Lucien maneuvers circumstance to capture Elizabeth alone at this soiree...and they are caught - compromising her totally. He offers marriage, and trapped, Elizabeth accepts. Although he doesn't and won't allow himself to love her and she loathes him, can they make this marriage work?

This book was a very entertaining read. The adversarial nature of Lucien and Elizabeth's relationship allow for lots of sexual tension and fun and games between them. Seduction is the theme and it is well represented here. I have never heard of such inventive eating of fruit before in my life! There is also a wager between them later in the book which made me laugh out loud at the consequence of poor Lucien's loss.

On a more serious note, as they learn to know each other, as Lucien is slowly revealed to Elizabeth through experience and the comments of others, we are allowed to see what is really driving this tormented soul. How could anyone help falling in love with him?

I recommend this book highly!!

Rating:
Summary: starts off well, then...
Review: Lucien St. Aubyn is called the Duke of Death because so many of his relatives and friends have died. Most recently his brother was killed by Lucien's own bullet.

Elizabeth Montclair is the daughter of an Earl who has very recent connections to trade and is barely tolerated by the ton.

One night at a party Lucien compromises Elizabeth and he does the honorable thing and offers for her. Will they live happily ever after when they say they don't want each other and Lucien still has his brother's death hanging over his head?

I found the beginning of this book very entertaining. I loved the push and pull between the characters. The end lost me completely. I found myself skimming pages just to see how it ended.

I would not recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: A Really Entertaining Read!!
Review: My first Pamela Britton book and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The author definitely displays a flair for the absurd and the result is a funny, fresh, yet emotional read - you'll laugh and cry!

Lucien St Aubyn, true to his unsavory reputation, has just compromised cool, unattainable Lady Elizabeth Montclair. Lucien's reputation is not only as an unrepentant rake, he's also known as the "Duke of Death" because so many of the people closest to him have died - including his elder brother. Lucien's seemingly blithe misbehaviour has prompted the ugly rumour that he even killed his brother for the title.

Elizabeth's position in Society is extremely fragile and she has always been conscious never to put a foot wrong. Now utterly ruined by a despicable rake with no scruples, she fully expects him to simply walk away - why should a Duke feel the need to do the honorable thing by the grandaughter of a common cobbler?

But Lucien hands Elizabeth the first of many surprises when he shows up roses in hand, on bended knee to propose. She really does not want to wed him, but has no other choice. After the wedding, they travel to his castle on the coast of northern Wales where they will spend the first few months of their married life, after which they can go their separate ways. But in the days and weeks that follow, their mutual dislike and verbal sniping starts to turn into something else. Somewhere along the way, they begin to like each other. Lucien finds his way past her cool, aloof exterior and Elizabeth sees past his reputation and glimpses the man he truly is. But when Lucien faces some serious legal trouble, a worried Elizabeth wonders with dread just how hard Lucien will fight the charges. Has she come to love him only to lose him to his own misguided guilt?

OK, much as I enjoyed it, I do have a complaint. Often there are people and events referred to that are never fully explained, but you get the impression that you are supposed to know all about them - very frustrating! I saw this same complaint made in one of the reviews for her first book, "My Fallen Angel" so maybe the author and her editor can work on that. But all in all, highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Seduced and Charmed
Review: Pamela Britton has created a thoroughly enjoyable experience with Seduced. I was taken back in time and taken with Elizabeth and Lucien and all the other wonderful characters that give this book color and vivid texture. I have to say I shed some tears at the dark moments, but of course everything turned out great in the end! It's funny and sexy and romantic and a real treat.

Read it and enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Good, but the title makes you want different.
Review: PLEASE, do not let the title fool you, this book is good, a little heartwarming (though not much) and a nice read, but I hated this title ont he cover, it so didn't belong there. Don't pass it up, just keep your mind open about it.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but the title makes you want different.
Review: PLEASE, do not let the title fool you, this book is good, a little heartwarming (though not much) and a nice read, but I hated this title ont he cover, it so didn't belong there. Don't pass it up, just keep your mind open about it.