Customer Reviews

Beyond Seduction (beyond, 2nd)

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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 all of her books. 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.

It's truly a guilty pleasure to see Emma Holly going beyond innocence to present a full-fledged seductive read. Her debut historical romance Beyond Innocence though racy and steamy comes out of platitude because of the constraint of its typical plot. In Beyond Seduction, she delivers a much more provocative romance that explores different facets of sexuality.

Merry Vance, the daughter of Duke of Monmouth cherishes her freedom and has no intentions of abiding by her mother Lavinia's fervent wishes for her to marry Baron Althrop's son Ernest. Fear of her past affair with Althrop being exposed to her husband, she is forced to compromise Merry's happiness. Merry is pushed to the wall and finds herself succumbing to being a model for the notorious but talented artist Nicolas Craven in a twist of fate. What she did not gamble on was the inexplicable attraction that bounded Merry to the complex Nicolas...

Emma Holly's latest historical romance may be sexually explicit and at some times challenging the boundaries of romance to hint of decadent carnal adventures like menage a trois and homosexualism. It is precisely Ms. Holly's courage to push the envelope that makes Beyond Seduction her most accomplished historical romance. Her characters, Merry and Nicolas are flawed and both vulnerable with their insecurities. Merry's plain beauty catches the eye of Nicolas in his portrait of her as Godiva. It is her candor and independence - and ultimately her undying love for Nicolas that makes him confront his own demon and guilt to his "son".

Beyond Seduction is lusciously tempting with the flagrant sexuality but it is even more evocative and poignant when Merry and Nicolas both fight off temptations and remain committed. It explores facets of sexuality - from naivete, experimentation to understanding faith and promises. Though I would like the ending to be less abrupt with Lavinia's sudden shift of character and less fairy tale like, it remains quinessentially a romance. Ms. Holly has proven that she has gone further beyond seduction to present a romance with heart that rekindles wounded souls. This is no doubt the erotic romance of the year.

I write the above warning, because this is without a doubt the most sexually graphic romance novel that I have ever read. To give you some idea, Amazon rates Lori Foster's book "Too Much Temptation" a 10 for sensuality and this book, in my estimation, rates at least the same if not a little higher. Don't get me wrong, because it's not a bad thing in my opinion. But, if you like your romance novels sweet and light, this ain't the book for you. If you are sexually adventurous, at least in your reading, this book is sure to please.

The book starts with a character from EH's last book "Beyond Innocence," Merry Vance. Merry is now 20 years old and looking to avoid marriage to a suitable young man that her mother has chosen for her. Merry's mother has ulterior motives for wanting this marriage and is pressuring her daughter incessantly. To escape the marriage, Merry schemes to pose for a notorious artist in the hopes that this will make her unsuitable for marriage to anyone as she longs for "freedom" to live the way she wishes. The artist she has chosen is Nic Craven. Nic is talented, handsome, and a rake who is reputed to be a real Lothario. She lies to Nic and tells him that she is only a servant when she is really the daughter of a duke. Nic is immediately attracted to plain little Merry and decides that she must move in with him so that he may use her as a model for his paintings. From there their affair begins and what an affair it is!

I know from my earlier comments that this book sounds like nothing but a sex-fest, but there is actually a poignant love story amid deception, guilt, denial, and lust. Nic is a man who is plagued by doubt and guilt over his past. He cannot get over what happened to him when he was a teenager and thus considers himself unable to love nor feel he deserves love. While Merry unconsciously feels as if she will never measure up because of her looks or lack thereof. She makes bad choices and later, too late, realizes the selfishness of said choices.

I give it four stars instead of five because of the ending. The ending was a little too neat and tidy. Nic's revelation about his family background was too convenient. It's a small complaint, nonetheless, to an otherwise satisfying story.

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.

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!

Merry Vance was something of a hellion, spoiled, with a mind of her own. Being the daughter of a powerful Duke she was also expected to obey and marry. Determined that she would not lose control of her destiny to a mere husband not of her own choosing she would take matters into her own hands - she would do something so scandalous as to ruin herself in the eyes of the ton.

Having met the scandalous and most sought after artist Nicolas Craven who just happened to have rescued her form being accosted one night, she thought he might be just what she needed. He thought her a servant, and as such, offered her his card wishing she would come and model for him. Working out an elaborate ruse with her best friend so that her family thought she was away in Scotland, she approached Nicolas as the servant he thought her to be, saying she had just been tossed from her position.

Nicolas was not immune to a woman's charms - he'd had several models and affairs, none ever lasting longer than a month or so or until the painting was done - quite a lover but never in love. Divine sexual satisfaction would be all they would get from him - but nothing more. Merry knew this, but the feelings he stirred in her were also something she would have no control over - and for that matter, she had no intention of ever marrying anyhow so...

The nude painting of her was done, the centerpiece of Nicolas' exhibition. Merry's original intent was to scandalize herself in the eyes of the ton but when it came right down to it she was a coward to face her parents. She ran again, still not telling Nicolas who she was, she took him up on an offer to see Venice. Her brothers finally caught up with her and dragged her home. Leaving Nicolas feeling bitter and betrayed.

Both Nicolas and Merry had secrets they hid from one another - their true identities were one, Nicolas' son another, as well as the love they both began to feel towards one another. They both gained from the relationship as well, Merry, finally realizing that she was beautiful when seen through Nicolas' eyes, and Nicolas, opening up to finally tell her the truth about his son and, knowing he loved her, the strength to admit who he truly was and to try to live up to be the person Merry deserved.

I really liked this story. I love the fact that both of these people grew so much. It took a bitter parting and time, but they needed the time to discover hidden strengths within themselves. The sex in this story was really, really hot - more so I think than the first novel - but tastefully done. It was a very good story, again, not for the faint hearted but one I would definitely recommend.

Never having read Emma Holly before I was a bit wary of this book. I didn't want to read about nothing but endless meaningless sexual encounters and hoped there would be more story to it than that. Wow, was there ever! I was surprised at the character development and depth of story. Merry and Nic were both complex, compelling, likeable characters. You cared what happened to them.

Both Merry and Nic have secrets. But while they are together, it seems nothing else matters. Society's rules don't apply. Merry, the unconventional, independent, open-minded and utterly unfashionable daughter of a Duke is trying to avoid marriage long enough to receive her inheritance and live on her own. But her mother is being blackmailed into marrying Merry to the son of a former lover. To avoid her fate, Merry poses as a servant in need of a job and agrees to sit for infamous painter and rake Nicolas Craven in order to ruin her reputation so that she won't have to marry. Nic turned his back on Society and his past long ago to live his own unconventional, wild life as an artist. But he is racked with guilt and depression over events from his past and an underlying dissatisfaction with his current life. But the minute Merry enters his life, he is attracted to her vibrancy, independence and courage. Obviously, sparks fly and over the course of the painting, the two fall for each other.

But once the painting is finished and the day of reckoning when the painting is to be unveiled approaches Merry must truly face the consquences of her actions and how they will affect not just herself, but her family, friends and Nic as well. Nic has his own day of reckoning when his past finally catches up with him, causing him to reexamine his life, his responsibilities, his feelings for Merry and his future.

I really enjoyed this book. Yes, the sex scenes are a bit more than the typical romance, but nothing that caused me to get creeped out. There was plenty of emotion to ensure that the sexual relationship was not empty and cheap. The pace is fast and I didn't want the story to end. A great read.

First, let me say that I don't like Emma Holly's modern erotic novels, and think her werewolf books are unreadable. Beyond Innocence, her other historical romance, was just OK for me. So I was surprised and very pleased with this book, which I absolutely loved and can't find any fault with.

It's a perfect blend of romance and sensuality. The heroine is not a nymphomaniac, as in Ms. Holly's modern novels, and the hero is warm and believable and doesn't have a mustache or any of the other unattractive attributes that her characters sometimes sport. Both hero and heroine are solid, likeable, three-dimensional characters who come together naturally.

I found this book to be much better written than anything the author has done previously. Characterization, plot, setting, even secondary characters are all so well-crafted that it actually took me by surprise. This is as good as any historical romance I've read, and is in a class with books by authors like Lisa Kleypas, Candace Proctor, and Jill Barnett.

I loved the exotic setting of much of the book in Venice, and the evocative way that the author described that city. It gave the book richness and depth. The fact that the hero is a painter and the author clearly bothered to research the time period and incorporate this into the book really made the story and the characters come alive.

I loved the hero - not just another alpha male, but a tortured, sympathetic character. He's a gorgeous and talented, but tormented artist, and the story of how he overcomes so many obstacles to be with the heroine is really believable and makes him completely loveable. The heroine is virginal, but neither weak, stupid, nor especially naive. She is a powerful figure in the love story, making bold choices and taking fate into her own hands. She really seems like an equal match for the hero.

Since this is an Emma Holly book, one also can expect a lot of sensuality. This book doesn't disappoint.

Well I was really looking forward to this book. I really enjoyed the first book "Beyond Innocence" and I was hoping this book would be just as good. It was. I did blush a bit at the erotic love scenes. They are very graphic but they also show that sex is a natural and beautiful thing. I liked the characters and the story line was interesting. I did wish that the heroine was more forceful like she was in the first book. She seemed a bit to demure. She went from being very high spirited to shy. I still found her to be a likeable woman but thought she came across better in the first book.

The story starts off with our heroine, Merry, being practically forced into a marriage with a man she likes as a friend but nothing more. She wants her freedom to do as she pleases with her life but her parents won't hear of it. She decides that they only way to get out of it is to do something scandalous and then no one will want to marry her. She decides to pose nude for the the notorious rogue, Nicholas Craven.

Nicholas has no clue as to her real identity and thinks that she is a maid that has been cast out and he saves from the street. He is highly attracted to her but is willing to wait until the right time to make her his. He has never had a mistress for more than a few weeks so he is troubled when he finds that he doesn't want to let her go. He tries to shock her over and over and she still stays. He soon finds that he cannot live without her but when her real identity comes to life he may be forced to give her up.

This is a very very erotic, passionate tale that keeps you wondering what will happen next.

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!