Customer Reviews

The Seduction of His Wife

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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

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.

I really enjoyed this book. It had everything I look for. Romance w/a plot. The only thing I found annoying was the obvious plugs for her previous series (The Seductive Impostor and The Dangerous Protector) throughout the whole book. She even went so far as to include excerpts. If you can get past the obvious advertising I defiantly recommend this book.

An appealing hero carries the day in this pleasant read about an initially resistant couple, scarred by disastrous first marriages, that steadily grows to admire and care for one another. Widower Alex Knight is reported killed while working in South America. Before his death becomes public, his dad arranges for a proxy wedding between Alex and his children's beloved (and beautiful) widowed housekeeper, Sarah Banks, who then immediately adopts the two children. This is all done so that the kids cannot be taken by their undesirable maternal grandparents. Alex and Sarah have never met one another, so things become quite sticky when - just a week later - Alex shows up at the family logging homestead very much alive. The couple gets off to rocky start, for both are mistrustful of the opposite sex. However, they agree to stay "married" for a while so that there will be no legal troubles. Can they let go of their pasts and begin anew with one another?

Although this story had more potential than it realized, it was a good fast read. I liked the mystery element and the backdrop of increasingly threatening events on the Knight's land and logging operations. I felt that Alex was a treasure - sweet yet utterly masculine. Sarah was a little too hesitant about everything, and her continuing resist Alex physically seemed odd after a while. Nevertheless, they seemed good for each other, and I never stopped rooting for them to succeed. I enjoyed the occasional encouragement and ribbing of the couple by Alex's dad and children, but felt that more interplay like this was needed. There clearly were conversations begging to be had by the seven people, including his two younger brothers, all living under one roof. The Knights are an intriguing family, and I hope to learn more about them in future books in the series.

I was lucky enough to catch this author's first book 'Charming the Highlander' and have looked forward to every new release since. I normally don't care for shy virgins as heroines but, I came to understand why circumstance might have turned Sarah into the woman she was. Alex Knight was a sexy, masculine hero and I truly enjoyed the interaction between him and Sarah. This story was full of wonderful secondary characters who I am looking forward to seeing in the next two books in this trilogy. One thing I can say for Ms. Chapman, she knows how to create a warm, heartfelt story that not only makes you fall in love with her characters but, also gives you a vibrant picture of life in rural Maine.

Let's count the stars this book deserves:

1 The perfect love story.

2 Both of them, Alex and Sarah are the heroes all the time without embellish or diminish the other one.

3 A well kept tight family.

4 The thrilling part is easy going and not gory at all.

5 You'll not be able to close the book till you finish it.

6 A wonderful reading.

So I easily rate this book with SIX stars.

This was a good book for me sometimes Sarah made me get a are you for real expression on my face but she was still likable along with Alex and the whole family,I am about to read the second book hope it is as good. This is the first read for me from this Author. I did like how the author incorporated her other romance novel in the story, the book Sarah was reading.

The only thing i don't like is that the story didn't need to be so many pages, i guess thats why some readers think some stories are being dragged out.Reviewed by

This book is the perfect 3 star for me. It wasn't great, it wasn't terrible, it was just ok.

My main gripe is with Alex. I just didn't like him. He was an arrogant, horrible, spiteful man who, in my mind, didn't deserve Sarah. The first three chapters where Alex learns that he's been unknowingly wed to Sarah and his treatment of her were enough to make my stomach turn. Why Sarah would look back onto their first "encounter" with anything but disgust is beyond me.

Although he spends the rest of the book trying to make things right, he still has "lapses" where he treats her rudely and badly. I find nothing romantic about that.

The kids were sweet and a nice addition to the story. I really liked Grady, Alex's dad, and wondered how such a wonderful man could've sired such a jerk! I also am intrigued by Ethan. However, he did show some tendencies to be a complete jerk like his brother so I think I 'll contemplate whether or not to subject myself to the sequel "Stranger in His Bed".

I understand why this book would appeal to some, but it just wasn't for me.

I just loved this book. I read it in one sitting and just could not put it down.