Customer Reviews

More Than Seduction

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I can honestly say that I've read all of Ms. Holt's efforts, and some have been great, others have been not so great. This one was a decent read but didn't make it onto my keeper shelf.

I had a rather difficult time getting into the story. Ms. Holt had all the makings of a great story, wounded war hero needing space, time, and attention to heal, no-nonsense heroine in order to see her hero on the mend. Problem was I found our hero Captain Stephen Chamberlin to be more then a little spoiled and Mrs. Anne Smythe a little less then...inspiring. Yes, their relationship does eventually take off, and there is plenty of Ms. Holt's trademark sensuality to be found within the pages. At the same time the storyline did improve but there were several pages, and chapters that had to be slogged through in order to accomplish this. I only did so because I truly enjoy this authors talent and had been looking forward too one of her reads. The book was worth finishing it just did not leave me thinking about our newfound friends after the final page was read.

Again I won't say that this was a great book, but in the same breath it's not horrid either. If you are a constant reader (as I am) of Ms. Holt you may find this read a little less than inspired. If you are a newcomer to Ms. Holt, I highly recommend you picking up one of her later titles as well as this title in order to see what she is truly capable of.

Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com

I've read all of Ms. Holt's books. I've loved them all, except her last two efforts, this book and the one before it. Both books are almost identical in key plot elements: one major plot and three subplots (and therefore far too many characters), lots of class warfare, and largely unsympathetic characters. PLEASE do not have a hero and heroine from different classes, if all they're going to do is whine incessantly about how their different stations must keep them apart. I found Stephen's vanity and arrogance about his class superiority appalling. There was nothing at all heroic about him. And, I'm sorry, but he didn't all of a sudden become heroic simply because of the way he came to Anne's rescue at the very end. Not only was Stephen vain, but he had no integrity. He went on and on about how he was too proud to work for a living, too proud to let Anne support him through her spa, but was not too proud to marry Felicity for her fortune! The distinction of course is that Anne would have control of her money but, by law, he would control Felicity's fortune. He was, simply put, disgusting. Anne deserved so much better. With the exception of Kate, I found all of the characters in this book dispicable, self-pitying and annoying. I am sorry that I paid for this book. I think from now on I'm going to check Holt's books out at the library. She's no longer worth the money.

Commoner Anne Smythe runs a health spa for women. Stephen Bristol, a wounded aristocratic soldier, needs her services. It would be scandalous for a man to even cross the threshold of a haven for women but Stephen's fed-up sister, Eleanor, along with his commoner friend, Charles, dump him on Anne's doorstep and run for London. Stephen has been irascible and unhappy since being wounded in Spain. Anne, seeing that she has no choice, takes him in and attempts to help him. The pampered Stephen finds that he is attracted to her no-nonsense attitude. Meanwhile, Charles discovers that he's in love with Eleanor. Will these two aristocrats stoop and find happiness below their exalted status?

Toss into the mix Anne's lesbian helper Kate, the crazy man next door Willie, who runs a semi official jail and is in love with Anne, his abused sister Prudence, and Camilla, a former mistress of Stephen's - a slutty aristocrat, and you've got trouble. Stephen also has a fiancée in London who loves someone else but feels duty bound to stick with him.

MORE THAN SEDUCTION started a bit slow but heated up after all the characters were introduced. There was plenty of sex and intrigue as the characters attempted to overcome the barriers posed by class and status in England at an earlier period. It would have been helpful if we had been told exactly what time period was involved. For readers of romance it is a good choice.
(RAWSISTAZ Rating: 3.5)

Reviewed by alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Sometimes I come to expect Holt books to be a little steamier than this one and for that I give it only 4 stars. The premise of the book is a wonderful one -- A defeated, war torn hero so totally shattered with his mind and body that he cares not to live. When Stephen Chamberlain was left at the doorstep of the 28 year old Anne at her healing spa - that was his condition. The spinster Anne had no men on her premise and no intention of having any men there. But Stephen was so pitiful how could she not try to help him. And the beginning of their interlude showed great promise - I just think Holt could have had Stephen be a tortured sole a bit longer and not so easily start to heal under Anne's care. You felt the love but it seemed to happen too quickly - There were the secondary character plots too that were good, Stephen's sister and his best friend Charles (who also had had a rough life) and their love seemed real too. However I do not think the book was long enough to show all of the character development with both emotional stories. In addition their is the intrigue of the horrible next door neighbor Willie who was one sick man - thinking he was a magistrate fighting for purity and justice and had quite a little sicko prison of torture next to Anne's healing spa. This book has a lot of good stuff going on for it but all of it might have been a little bit more developed. With all of this one can see why the bedroom scenes were less frequent and that is kind of a bummer in a Holt book!! I would give it at least a 4 though and if you are a Holt lover as I am - give it a look most of you will enjoy it very much!

In 1813 Anne Paxton Smyth, illegitimate daughter of an earl, pretends to be a widow so that she run Mrs. Anne Smythe's Healing Spa and Bathing Emporium for women. Lady Eleanor Chamberlin arrives desperately pleading with Anne to nurture her war wounded brother Stephen back to health. Anne says no in spite of the vast sum of money offered. Hopeless, Eleanor leaves Stephen on the stoop before departing.

Anne takes Stephen inside to hide him from her female patrons. When he acts ugly she returns in kind refusing to let him wallow in pity. Stephen soon finds a reason to live as Anne heals his body and soul with her love for him that he reciprocates. However, a nasty patron uses a local stalker to harm and perhaps kill Anne if necessary with only Stephen and Anne's assistant trying to keep her safe.

This is an entertaining Regency romance that showcases how love can overcome battle fatigue syndrome, but not easily especially when physical injuries are also present. Anne is a terrific heroine, but the anguish of Stephen makes the tale as a veteran who wants to die until his angel saves his soul. Treachery adds suspense but feels unneeded as this is a wonderful character study starring two delightful protagonists enhanced with a second subplot of love between his sister and his most loyal pal.

Harriet Klausner

Cheryl Holt and Nicole Jordan have a lot in common. Both authors can write steamy sex scenes, but their stories generally lack something. Most of their books leave this reader unfulfilled. Cheryl Holt filled MORE THAN SEDUCTION with sweltering sex scenes, but in the end I was disenchanted.

The story opens in 1813; Anne (Paxton) Smythe has inherited property near Bath -- Bath famous for its mystical hot springs; waters believed to have mysterious healing properties. Anne Smythe works hard to maintain her successful healing spa/bathing business. A business open for women and for women only! Lady Eleanor Chamberlin Dunworthy will hear none of it. She begs Anne to take her brother in, Captain Stephen Chamberlin, a crippled war veteran. When Anne refuses, Lady Eleanor literally dumps him on her doorstep . . .

Anne Smythe is a feisty woman; she refuses to put up with Stephen Chamberlin's childish behavior. Of course, Stephen and Anne become lovers. Unfortunately, Captain Chamberlin knows that he and Anne cannot be. They are from different worlds. He has nothing to offer Anne. So they must be content for the moment and not look to the day Stephen will leave.

Cheryl Holt writes the beginning of her book with vigorous spirit. I enjoyed Anne in the starting pages; in fact, the female characters carry this book. Stephen's sister, Eleanor, and her tale are a wonderful addition to the story. I almost wished Eleanor had her own book! And I must applaud Cheryl Holt for her handling of the homosexual relationship she chooses to explore. Regardless of your feelings on this subject, Holt does write this section well.

My discontent? I wish Holt had delayed the sexual fulfillment, relying instead on desire and lust while Anne helped Stephen recover. With the hurried sexual activity, the characters never seem to grow in the reader's mind or heart. Instead, they remain cold. There just isn't enough depth to their personalities. The story is sexual, but insensitive. Finally, Holt astounded me with the handling of the villain. Part of me thought wee Willie received his just dues, but a bigger part of me thought "whoa." Grade: B

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

My only problems with this book were Stephen's arrogance through the first half of the book, and the sick and twisted perverted Willie. Some of those scenes were gut-wrenching. Besides that, the story itself was an adventure.

I've read all Cheryl Holt's books save "Sleeping with the Devil". No doubt her sex scenes are steamy but varies little from book to book. Her heroes are always rakes with plenty of experience and her heroines are always 25-26 year old virgin spinsters. The plots could use some sprucing up. Doesn't really measure up compared to other writers in her genre in terms of romance.

I truly enjoyed this book! Ms Holt's hero's are not always the most likeable guys; generally selfish and arrogant. Stephen Chamberlain while he was arrogant, I found him completely likeable. As a war hero who returned home a little worse for ware we see his vulnerabilities and his insecurities. Anne Paxton Smythe is a wonderful herione, who knows her own mind and is an established independant lady. The secondary story of Stephan's sister is also a nice treat. Many might be turned off by the level of violence in the novel, but as a whole I thought the book was quite refreshing.

This is one of my favorite authors. But this book would not be my first choice of her books. It gets a little slow in the middle. Which is unlike Cheryl Holt. I love her as an author. I would suggest one of her other books like... Total Surrender! That is one of my favorite erotic historical romance novels.