The Seduction of His Wife [Mass Market Paperback]

Janet Chapman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 27, 2006

He set out to seduce her for all the wrong reasons -- but found himself falling in love with her for all the right ones.

Alex Knight is dead -- or so everyone thinks. A widowed logger baron with a risk-taking streak, he took on a South American engineering project and was reported dead after a rebel attack. So when he turns up back in Maine very much alive, his grieving family is shocked. But the biggest shock is Alex's, when he discovers he's now married -- to a woman he's never met.

Sarah Banks is ready for a change from running a quiet Bed & Breakfast, and working for the Knight family offers not only a bigger opportunity, but also the family life she yearns for. So she's glad to help secure custody of Alex's orphaned children, whom she's come to love, by marrying their father by proxy before he's legally declared dead. But when Alex returns, the sexy, determined woodsman upends all of Sarah's plans. Because suddenly she's married to a passionate stranger with an easy smile...and tumbling headlong into a fiery dance of seduction.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Sarah Banks grew up on an isolated island off the coast of Maine. Her innkeeper parents died when she was a teenager, and she found a new family with former guests, the Knights. She agrees to work as their housekeeper over the winter; then, when their oldest son, Alex, is presumed dead, she marries him by proxy so his children can remain with their grandfather and uncles. Sarah is shocked and amazed when a stranger materializes, claiming to be the missing father of the children she loves. After evading rebels in Brazil, Alex doesn't trust beautiful Sarah, who he thinks is scheming for his family's money. As Alex gets to know her, however, he realizes that the spunky, naive blond bombshell has no desire to exploit the wealthy Maine landholders. Now the challenge is to convince Sarah to trust him and make theirs a real marriage. Chapman presents a cast of rugged characters in rural Maine who enact a surprisingly tender romance. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

A native of rural central Maine, Janet Chapman lives there in a cozy log cabin on a lake with her husband.  Three cats and a stray young bull moose keep them company.  The author of the hugely popular Highlander time-travel series, she also writes contemporary romances.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star (June 27, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 141650527X
• ISBN-13: 978-1416505273
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #321,919 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A native of rural central Maine, Janet Chapman lives there in a cozy log cabin on a lake with her husband. Three cats and a stray young bull moose keep them company. The author of the hugely popular Highlander time-travel series, she also writes contemporary romances.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Oh, Betty, What Has She Done?, July 2, 2006

By 

MaryGrace Meloche (Ontario, Canada.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Seduction of His Wife (Mass Market Paperback)

In her latest novel, set in present-day Maine, Janet Chapman allows gentle suspense to flicker. The good news? THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE has some VERY entertaining moments. The bad news? It clearly illustrates The Women's Movement in reverse.

In 1963, Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique" was published. The book's thesis was that women were victims of a pervasive system of delusions and false values that urged them to find their fulfillment and identity vicariously, through their husbands and children. So . . . say hello to Janet Chapman's heroine: Sarah Banks.

Although, Chapman's heroine is basically likable and very sweet, sometimes Sarah Banks' actions border on idiotic. This little domestic queen cooks, cleans, sews, quilts, gathers potpourri pine twigs, and worries excessively over a roasting pan dent. And . . . groan . . . she can't drive a vehicle to save her life. Groan . . . again . . . with her looks, who cares?

Alex Knight and Sarah were married by proxy. Three days later they declared Alex dead. Or so the story went! Alex's father had concocted the idea. Hurriedly, he had found his grandchildren a mom - Sarah Banks. Sarah, now acting as Mrs. Alex Knight, could legally adopt the children and keep them safe - safe from the family of Alex's first wife. However, Alex Knight was not dead, and the children no longer needed Sarah's protection.

Shocked by Alex's return, Sarah suddenly felt inadequate and she vowed she would never let someone make her feel inadequate again - no matter how good looking and attractive. Besides Alex's father had promised Sarah a future and now the Alex Knight family would honor it.

The situation stunned Alex! He had a wife! What a surprise! What a glorious surprise! A wife! Alex's anger grew; the last thing he wanted was a wife. He sipped his drink, leaned back, and looked around. New curtains hung on his spotless windows, his chairs had been re-upholstered, and the usual chaotic disorder was gone. He had a wife! A curvy, gorgeous wife! And his entire family adored her!

In THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE, things start with much promise, move with great humor, and finish with dopey outlandishness. Now, don't get me wrong, Janet Chapman can definitely write. And there are some really nice moments in this story. And ultimately, THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE is a fun read. However, women have come a LONG way, and to have a modern day heroine, act as sharp as a marble, well . . . it seemed TOO hard to take! Ok, ok, if one can forget Betty Friedan's teachings, then THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE shouldn't disappoint . . . TOO MUCH!

Grade: B-

MaryGrace Meloche.

Reviewed for Romance Designs.

This review is based on an Advanced Reading Copy.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Seduction of His Wife, July 22, 2006

By 

M. Nix - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Seduction of His Wife (Mass Market Paperback)

Sarah Banks's husband died leaving her nowhere to go. She worked at his family's bed and breakfast, where she met the Knight family. She is now living with them in Maine as their housekeeper and caretaker for Alex Knight's children, Delaney and Tucker. Alex has been in Brazil for three months working as an engineer in the jungle. Eleven days ago his family was told that he had been killed. Grady, Alex's father, asked Sarah to marry Alex by proxy in secret and to adopt Delaney and Tucker to prevent Alex's deceased ex-wife's family from taking the children.

Sarah never expected to meet her handsome husband and Alex is shocked to come home to find Sarah there. He has no idea what to make of this gorgeous stranger he is married to. Sarah and Alex are very wary of each other and even after a night of shared passion, they struggle to make something of their relationship.

Alex discovers a potential threat in the Knight's lakeside town. When it comes knocking on their door, Alex and Sarah defend their home and family, and in the process they discover that their unexpected marriage may be exactly what they were looking for.

The Seduction of His Wife is a very pleasing and comfortable story. The Knight family, are good, genuine people and their lakeside home is peaceful and charming. Alex is ruggedly handsome and somewhat domineering, but Sarah knows just how to handle him. She is gorgeous, sweet and strong willed. Although it does take Alex and Sarah a while before they give in to their hearts' desires, The Seduction of His Wife is a tender romance. With a bit of mystery and action thrown in, The Seduction of His Wife is a very enjoyable story.

Nannette

Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really, 4 1/2 stars..., August 13, 2006

By 

Monkeyville Citizen (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Seduction of His Wife (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a great book and I love the connection between the heroine, Sarah, and her husband Alex and his children. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the author's overdone references to her own book. While referencing the books is a great idea in theory (Sarah is an avid reader of romance novels and wants to be more like the characters and Alex reads some of the books and they read some together), the cut passages (some of which covered more than a page) were too much.

The plot of the book is a fun one. Alex is presumed dead, so his scheming father marries him by proxy to the housekeeper so that the family can keep custody of Alex's children. It is the perfect solution for Sarah who loves children but, after being widowed from a loveless and sexless marriage, does not want a husband.

Alex and Sarah's relationship gets off to a bad start at their first meeting and Alex spends the rest of the book trying to win her over. This is a great book and a fun summer read.