Customer Reviews

Secret Seduction

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

 

 

Nina Dowling was happy on her island home, despite the missing two years of her life. Then a stranger arrives, bringing flashes of memory and pain. Ryan Flint has pushed his way into Nina's life, forcing her to remember what she can't bear to think about, from their life together to why she ran away.

An old plot that was too predictable. Flat characters with only flashes of Napier's usual brilliance. Terribly disappointing contribution from a writer who has always been one of my favorites in the torrid, overbearing male subgenre of romance.

This is not your typical harlequin romance ... woman who has lost her memory rescues a stranger in a storm, only to later come to realize that she remembers him ... he was her lover. But it is only near the end of the book that you discover that there was far more she had yet to remember ... difficult content, but I felt was worth the effort. Not a washout by any means, but more of a drama than a lighthearted romance. Still, I recommend - Susan Napier does an excellent job of putting you in touch with the characters and their emotions ... not an easy task when the main character has lost her memory! And I agree with the previous reviewer about the shower scene - it was deliciously steamy!

Description from the book back cover:

A forgotten affair? Nina knew she'd lost her memory. She confirmed it when she rescued a stranger from a storm and he clearly recognized her, but Nina had no idea who he was. And Ryan Flint was highly memorable! Had they once been lovers? Ryan was obviously hiding something and seemed angry with Nina, yet intent on seducing her. The tense sexual attraction between them demanded release, but when their passion finally exploded what secrets would be revealed?

I agree with both of the reviews that this isn't one of Susan Napier's best books, but the shower scene is just so great that it can't be completely dismissed. Ms. Napier is an excellent writer who uses complicated plots and writes love scenes better than anyone I've ever read. I do not dismiss books simply because they have the Harlequin title: either a book is good or it is not. That it is a romance should not mean that you have to put up with shoddy writing. I have been known to throw books away where the characters are idiots and the plots unbelievable. Ms. Napier's books are keepers, to be re-read whenever one feels the need to escape into a funny, believable story line and great characters. I methodically have gone on-line looking for her books and snap them up as soon as I find them.

Artist heroine isolated herself in a small island town since she got there 9 months earlier b/c she can't remember the past 2 yrs of her life. She helps injured Hero whose head was hit by a tree & seemed to not remember his identity. She later becomes suspicious about his lost memory when she finds his credit cards. But Hero is intent on staying with her & questioning her about her previous life, which she appears content to not remember.

This Napier book could have been better. The premise was pretty good but the writing was inconsistent. There were some parts, like the beginning, where author gave too many descriptions about the location. The pages would've been put to better use filling in details about Hero & heroine's relationship. The romance & sexual chemistry was good towards the end but lacking in description about their beginning. Emotionality got better towards 2nd half of book.

Partially recommended.

I was quite dissapointed with this book, it lacked romance and filled in the blanks with a morbid suspense. I spent the whole story waiting for something to make me smile and just found a deeper sadness. Just when i though the happy ending was on the horizon, it was spoiled by more sad news. Not for someone wanting romance.