Customer Reviews

A Seduction At Christmas

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After the ending of the last book, in which this book's heroine was introduced, many complained of the not so typical, yet more realistic ending. Because of that I had hoped that Ms Maxwell would give this heroine a complex hero with a comparable conflict and she didn't disappoint. This hero is yummy and deserving of Fiona's love. The sexual tension was wonderfully delicious but it fell a bit short in one element. The consumation was bit too cliche and anti climactic for me . For those who read the preivious book, they know Fiona was brutally raped because of the actions of her brother, however in this one, Ms Maxwell didn't develop Finoa's fear of intimacy very realistically. As yummy as this hero is, Fiona was too willing to accept his intimacy after only a small minor hesitation, this seems to negate her character development in the last book, To me if one had been raped by a group of soldiers her fear of intimacy should have been a stronger conflict even with this understanding hero, but Maxwell seemed to gleen over it only in passing.

Though not her best book in this series it should be read by those who like the period but aren't caught up in the typical setting and romance of this period. She provides the reader with an interesting plot, and a hero/heroine who the reader will care about until the final page is turned. This one reads like a "love story" not just the typical romance of the period. Ms Maxwell's writing is clear and unclutterd despite the need for a stronger developement of imtimacy conflict given Fiona's past. Though this might have been at the behest of her editor, as this seems to be a growing trend in romance, a dumbing down of any conflicts raped heroines have. To fully enjoy this book, I would suggest one should read the preivious book...IN THE HIGHLANDER'S BED to fully understand the character of this heroine.

Fiona Lachlan led a privileged and respected life in Scotland. Her father was well respected and her mother always expected that she would marry extremely well. But when her father stands up for he believes is right it leads to a series of events and tragedies that turn Fiona's life upside down and have her barely surviving in London. Desperation and the promise of 20 pounds lead her to a chance meeting with the Duke of Holburn, and making a few hasty decisions that will change her life's course, again.

Fiona Lachlan is a character that has intrigued me since the previous book. The events that shape her life and the way she overcomes what's been done to her were admirable to say the least. I couldn't wait to see what Ms. Maxwell had in store for her.

Nick (the Duke) has his own past to deal with. Where Fiona was an unwilling pawn and victim in her past, Nick's past has been mostly because of his own doing. The two make an unlikely but fun duo and it doesn't take them long to figure out or acknowledge the sparks dancing between them.

I enjoy romance novels where the characters are upfront and straightforward with their feelings. There are no secrets, games or lies between these two, just a natural and easy companionship with a little sizzle and a lot of promise.

So why the three stars? I was bogged down in the saccharine sweet mushy gushy expressions of love. I don't mind a heartfelt conversation laced with a decent dose of admiration and adoration. But these two are oozing with sap every time they discuss their feelings and most of it made me roll my eyes. Who talks like that? It really detracted from the more intimate moments. If you got rid of the excessive cheese, this would have easily been a 4 or 5 star historical romance.

In the Highlander's Bed
Bedding the Heiress

Cherise Everhard, October 2008

Dominic Lynsted has vowed revenge. On a Grand Tour of the continent financed by his uncles, Dominic, the Duke of Holburn has been robbed of his money and his signet ring while unconscious from drinking too much. Waking up and coming face to face with an Oracle, Dominic is warned to "beware innocence". He takes this advice to heart and vows he will find his missing ring if it is the last thing he does. Dominic has no idea the forces out of his control that are dead set against him being a worthy duke.

Dominic finally has a lead on his ring and agrees to meet at an out of the way tavern. When he comes face to face with the woman that is supposed to be his contact, Dominic instead finds Fiona Lachlan, a woman who has been paid by a vengeful mistress to poison her boyfriend. The fact that Dominic is not the man in question proves to Fiona that something is amiss and when three armed gunman rush into the room with orders to kill, Fiona and Dominic barely escape with their lives. The possibility of their survival is slim at best but they refuse to give up. Their lives began intertwining and just when each thought they would never trust another, they begin falling in love. Never to far from Dominic's mind is the Oracle's warning so each other is all they have to depend on.

A SEDUCTION AT CHRISTMAS has just the right amount of suspense and sensuality. Focused on trying to find out what the Oracle meant and his blossoming feelings for Fiona, Dominic oftentimes did not know if he was coming or going. With a touch of paranormal added in by the presence of the Oracle, A SEDUCTION AT CHRISTMAS is a delightful take on magic with a historical setting.

Fiona was a female character that was strong but delicate at the same time. Former life altering experiences changed the way she felt about men and it took a very brave woman to follow through with some of the things Fiona had to do. Scared of Dominic at first, then dependent upon him a bit for her safety, I loved watching Fiona falling in love with him. Dominic's life had revolved around his plans for revenge for so long that he almost didn't see the woman that Fiona was; he desired her - that much was plain. His desire quickly turned to smoldering passion that in turn became love.

A SEDUCTION AT CHRISTMAS was well written and included the right amount of intrigue as well. I never suspected the force behind the bad things that continued to happen to Dominic and usually I can guess rationally who the bad person(s) are. This time Cathy Maxwell stumped me and I love when that happens.

Passionate, unpredictable, and particularly addictive, A SEDUCTION AT CHRISTMAS is a must read for any lover of historical romance.

***Natalie S. for Wild on Books***

In 1809 an angry Hester Bowen tells the woman she is two minutes late before realizing that the person she hired Annie Jenkins did not arrive. Fiona Lachlan explains Annie could not make it as she ran off with a soldier so she came instead. Hester wants Fiona to slip a potion into the drink of Lord Belkin. However, instead of meeting Belkin at the inn, she is escorted to the room occupied by Duke Dominic Lynsted who is expecting Andres Ramigio. His first reaction at seeing the beautiful woman who entered his room is that of a vision he had almost a decade ago that warned him to "beware innocence".

However all hell breaks out soon after she entered his room when assassins arrive to kill him. Fiona and Dominic escape through the window heading to his family estate. Pretending to be his ward, Fiona assists Dominic on his quest to find a stolen ring and locate a Spaniard expatriate who vanished without a trace while eluding paid killers. As they fall in love, she wonders how an innocent like her became embroiled in "Scandals and Seductions".

A SEDUCTION AT CHRISTMAS is an excellent Regency romantic amateur sleuth thriller that never slows down from the moment half of England enters Dominic's room at the inn. The story line is fast-paced and filled with plenty of action especially when the guardian and the ward investigate. Cathy Maxwell provides a great historical romantic mystery that will keep her fans up late with a one sitting read.

Harriet Klausner

This historical romance novel was excellent did not want to put it down;1st book of the "Scandals and Seductions" series. Fiona Lachlan was part of society in Scotland but now in London she is now unemployed and broke. She takes a friends place to make a few extra coins and ends up confronting a Duke. This novel has a murder plot, romance and great characters. Enjoy!!!

I love how this autor writes , check out some of her earlier book; Bedding the Heiress, In the Bed of a Duke and In the Highlander's Bed.

To be fair, I've read the last two series by Maxwell completely out of order and have also skipped The Earl Claims His Wife and The Marriage Ring (though I'll read those eventually, I highly doubt they can be better than Phillip and Justin's stories!). However, I followed His Christmas Pleasure (the latest Maxwell novel to date) with In the Highlander's Bed (the novel that introduces Fiona) and then finally read A Seduction at Christmas. And even though I was reading stories that were out of order and a little out of the loop in regard to the storyline, these stories were all strong and could stand on their own.

I agree with others that Fiona's character doesn't entirely seem the same in 'A Seduction at Christmas' as when she's first introduced in Constance and Gordon's story. But, Maxwell does stipulate that a year has passed since the two stories AND Fiona was surviving in London on her own along with dealing with her past pain. The Oracle's prophecy introduced to Nick at the beginning, the elements of danger and mystery throughout, Nick being the absolute PERFECT anti-hero duke, all combined with the Christmas theme make this story that much more emotional (but, admittedly, it's a bit of a stretch). I think the Oracle-theme really worked much better in this story than the 'Sword of the McKenna' superstition in the twins' and Gordon's stories. And I absolutely love the fact that Nick and Fiona opened this series, while Andres and Abigail closed the series - definitely a full-circle happily ever after.

Great story (and series) for the romantic at heart, but certainly not enough substance for those who like stronger plots and less mad-cap adventure and sensuality.

I thought the book was silly in the beginning and I just rolled my eyes at most of it, but than as the booked progressed it did get a little better. The flow of the story line just didn't happen as well as it should and I still don't know what Beware Innocence means!!!

I expected I wouldn't like this story based on the reviews I read and boy was I wrong. I hate it when a romance novel just says the h/h fell in love without the love ever growing. It leaves me thinking they can't be in love because they've only been in the other's presence for a few hours. There was a mention of love early on in this book and I felt myself cringe, but the romance developed and you felt the characters fall in love. The heroine had faced enormous tragedy and carried with her a burden that could place a huge barrier to a loving relationship. The hero comes into her life carrying burdens of his own, but he trusts her to help him through and that faith in her builds her trust in him as well.

It's interesting how two people can read the exact same thing and have different opinions. I finished the book and the first thought that came to my mind was that it was loving and intimate without being saccharin sweet. Then I got on here to write my review and read where someone else called it just that. I hate books that are that way, especailly when the characters don't know one another, but these characters did. I thought it was an enjoyable and entertaining read and I'm so glad I didn't skip it because it's definitely a worthwhile read...very loving and emotionally intimate. And now I can't wait to read Gillian's story!!

Having read the other's of this set (Marriage Ring, etc.) this one is probably my favorite of the batch. Fiona Lachlan's character is not utilized to it's fullest, the passion of the woman is barely touched upon. In Maxwell's "In the Highlander's Bed" Fiona is portrayed, to me, very differently than she appears in this story. What fire, sorrow, and needs touched upon in "Highlander" doesn't carry over in Seduction. Which, really, is all right-- the story develops fast. At first glance, the speed makes it almost ridiculously unbelievable.
You go from zero to sixty in the first chapter with Fiona's poisoning of the Duke after a quick, under-developed seduction that strains the mind.
But these types of books, in my opinion, are meant to be read quickly, so getting past the "introduction" phase fast seems fine and after you read it a second time, it's definitely better.
The danger in the beginning of the story seems to just up and disappear (within two chapters), and even though later it's revealed that there is a much closer threat, it still makes you want for a little more damsel-in-distress story telling.
I think Maxwells imagery is decent, she never gets overly florid or descriptive which is nice compared to other authors who have to tell you every-little-thing about every single thing! Though the story could've been fuller and fleshed out in the conspiracy/threatening avenues, it's still good enough to get you to keep reading.

If you want something to read for a couple hours, this one holds your interest and won't let you down in the true-love, happy ending department. But in the credulity, believability section, you may suffer the disconnecting "yeah right" a reader suffers when things are unreal and unbelievable.

I don't know what it is about Cathy Maxwell, but for me, she is one of the most inconsistent writers I know. One book will have emotional depth and great story. The next one will feel like its been written by a 5 year old. This book sits somewhere in the middle. It was not as bad as I thought it would be. However, I felt the romantic suspense wore off after the first couple of chapters, and the ending was very hastily brought about. There wasn't enough emotional angst for me, especially considering Fee's background. Having said that, I loved the Duke and was really glad Fee had a loving hero to make up for the terrible experience she had when she was raped. This book is fine as a light read - my favourite book in this series is the story of Richard Lynsted and Grace MacEachin in The Marriage Ring.