Lessons in Seduction [Mass Market Paperback]

Sara Bennett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2005

What is prim and proper Miss Vivianna Greentree to do when her precious haven for orphans is threatened? She has no choice but to turn to the owner of the property, Sir Oliver Montegomery—yet the heartless scoundrel refuses to be swayed by reason. So Vivianna must resort to other means of persuasion ...

Under the tutelage of Madame Aphrodite, London's most notorious courtesan, Vivianna is determined to learn the sensuous secrets that will render a man weak with desire, to melt Oliver's stony heart with a kiss, a caress and a promise. But as her encounters with Oliver become more intense, Vivianna unexpectedly discovers a fiery passion that leaves her breathless. And soon it becomes unclear exactly who is seducing whom ...

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sara Bennett has always had an interest in history, and to survive a series of mind-numbing jobs, she turned to writing historical romance. She lives in an old house with her husband and two children in the state of Victoria, Australia, where she tries to keep the house and garden tidy, but rarely succeeds—she'd rather be writing or reading.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060584386
• ISBN-13: 978-0060584382
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #665,512 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Very Good Begining To A New Series!, March 27, 2005

By 

Kristi Ahlers (Illinois) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lessons in Seduction (Mass Market Paperback)

Ms.Bennett is an author that I truly have no problems recommending. Her reads are always entertaining, the hero's are always yummy, and she manages to pair them with the most extrodinary of females. This story is no different.

Vivianna Greentree's life in the beginning was not a happy one. Kidnapped and than abandoned with her two little sisters they were mercifully taken in by the kind and generous Lady Greentree. Lady Greentree raises these three little girls as if they were her own flesh and blood. Vivanna though never forgot the fact that she was indeed an orphan and eventually her path leads her to helping care of orphans as an adult. Her safe haven for children left behind though is threatened when one selfish lord takes it into his head to tear the building a down. This just won't do so Ms. Greentree heads off to London in order to change the mind of the gentleman. If this means she must seduce him, than seduce him she will. Once she learns how that is. Lord Montegomery has no idea what his fate has in store for him.

Oliver has his own reasons for closing the property that is housing the children. He plans on making good his promise to find them a new "home." He is after a murder and he just knows that the answers he's looking for are in the building known as Candlewood. When confronted though by the beautiful and sassy Vivianna he is dumbfounded by his reaction to her. She is seducing his senses and he might not every recover them. Will he be able to find a killer and the passion that he has found with Vivianna?

Vivianna and Oliver are well matched protaganist. This is really a combination of historical romance with a dash of suspense added to keep thing entertaining. Ms. Bennett has done a find job setting up her new series without taking away or derailing the current story. My only complaint is in the confrontation between Oliver and the "bad guy." In many ways this was a little bit of a let down. Secondary characters are very engaging and add just the right amount of umph to the story. This was a very good read that I have no problems recommending. I look forward to the next in this series and wait not so patiently for it to be released.

Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars enticing Victorian romantic suspense, February 26, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lessons in Seduction (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1840 Vivianna Slater stalks Lord Oliver Montgomery as she wants him to reconsider tearing down Candlewood Estate because the Shelter for Poor Orphans is located there. She follows him to a brothel where unable to resist Oliver kisses Vivianna and finds he wants more; so does she. Owner Aphrodite tells Vivianna to use her feminine wiles to get what she wants from Oliver.

Vivianna learns that Oliver's older brother Anthony committed suicide at Candlewood after seeing his almost fiancée kissing him. Oliver believes that Lord Lawson, the next Prime Minister, killed Anthony because his brother found incriminating documents. Oliver feels the papers are in a hidden room at Candlewood that he plans to find even if he needs to tear down the place.

Vivianna realizes she must seduce Oliver to get him to change his mind, but needs a teacher. She asks Aphrodite for lessons. The madam agrees on the condition that Vivianna explain her passion for the orphanage. She tells her that she and her sisters were abandoned as children; Aphrodite is stunned. Oliver tells Vivianna he has fixed up another of his properties for the orphans. That night they make love. Afterward he tells her that Lawson killed Anthony and that a confrontation is coming.

This enticing Victorian romantic suspense stars a strong lead couple with the secondary characters enhancing the look at the motivations of the prime duet. Most interesting to sub-genre fans is how cleverly and effortlessly Sara Bennett establishes two sequels without intruding on this fine story line. Though some readers will think the final confrontation was too anticlimactic (this reviewer thought it was perfect), fans will enjoy this terrific historical.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars new writer, October 18, 2005

By 

Marvilynn (Rosharon, TX, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lessons in Seduction (Mass Market Paperback)

I was a little scared to read this book by someone that I had never heard of. Thank goodness I did. I not only enjoyed this refreshing romance, but she wasn't afraid to get down and dirty. No shy helpless heroine for this author. BRAVO Sara Bennett. I will continue to look for more books with your name on them. You really brightened up my weekend with Lessons in Seduction.