Silk Is For Seduction [Mass Market Paperback]

Loretta Chase (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 28, 2011

“One of the finest romance authors of all time.”
—Julia Quinn

“[Loretta Chase has] a rare talent for creating crackling sexual tension and characters so fresh and compelling that readers won’t be able to forget them.”
—Susan Elizabeth Phillips

One of the most beloved authors in the field of historical romance, the remarkable Loretta Chase proves that Silk is For Seduction. The acclaimed New York Times bestselling author brings readers the first in a very sexy, emotionally rich new series in which sisters from a rather scandalous aristocratic family—the purveyors of the most fashionable shop in Regency London—discover passion and love as sumptuous as the exquisite gowns they create. Stephanie Laurens fans will adore this sensuous love story, as ambitious dressmaker Marcelline attempts to win the patronage of a future duchess…and ends up inadvertently enchanting the Duke!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

From the Design Book of Marcelline Noirot:
The allure of the perfect gown should be twofold:
ladies would die to wear it . . .
and gentlemen would kill to remove it!

Brilliant and ambitious dressmaker Marcelline Noirotis London's rising star. And who better to benefitfrom her talent than the worst-dressed lady in the ton,the Duke of Clevedon's intended bride? Winning thefuture duchess's patronage means prestige and fortunefor Marcelline and her sisters. To get to the lady,though, Marcelline must win over Clevedon, whosestandards are as high as his morals are . . . not.

The prize seems well worth the risk—but this timeMarcelline's met her match. Clevedon candesign a seduction as irresistible as her dresses;and what begins as a flicker of desire between twoof the most passionately stubborn charmersin London soon ignites into a delicious inferno . . .and a blazing scandal.

And now both their futures hang by anexquisite thread of silk . . .

About the Author

After a heroic attempt to be an English major forever, Loretta Chase stoically accepted her degree but kept on reading and writing. As well as working in academe, she had an enlightening, if brief, life in retail and a Dickensian six-month experience as a meter maid. In the course of moonlighting as a corporate video scriptwriter, she succumbed to the charm of a producer, who lured her into writing novels . . . and marrying him. The union has resulted in what seems like an awful lot of books and quite a few awards, including the Romance Writers of America's RITA^®.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon; Original edition (June 28, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061632686
• ISBN-13: 978-0061632686
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #468,623 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Loretta Chase holds a B.A. from Clark University, where she majored in English and minored unofficially in visual art. Her past lives include clerical, administrative, and part-time teaching at Clark and a Dickensian six-month experience as a meter maid. In the course of moonlighting as a corporate video scriptwriter, she fell under the spell of a producer who lured her into writing novels... and marrying him. The union has resulted in more than a dozen books and a number of awards, including the Romance Writers of America's RITA® Award.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#83 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Historical Romance

#84 in Books > Romance > Historical

#83 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Historical Romance

#84 in Books > Romance > Historical

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 72 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Silk is for Seduction June 28, 2011

By A. Schreiner TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Marcelline Noirot and her two sisters own a dress shop, a moderately successful one, having only one larger, more prestigious client. Marcelline lives and breathes this shop. It not only supports her family, but designing is in her soul. It is her passion. But they know they need someone big, someone who will get all the ton pointed in their direction so they can wipe out all of their competition. When they read in a gossip paper that the Duke of Clevedon, may finally be coming home from Paris to claim his bride Clara, Marcelline knows they need this future duchess as a client. But instead of wooing Clara, Marcelline heads for Paris to go on a hunt.

Clevedon and Clara have been intended for each other for years. Clevedon is actually her father's former ward. Growing up together, they are great friends, and actually have love for each other. But over the past couple years, Clara has needed to time to mourn the passing of her grandmother, and Clevedon has needed time to go abroad and sow his oats. They write letters every week to each other, and are fond of one another. But Marcelline storming into Paris, with her amazing gowns and vibrant personality, may just be enough to throw Clevedon off track. After seeing her at the opera, and getting an introduction, Clevedon starts to become a bit obsessed. Marcelline knows exactly what she wants from Clevedon - his future bride. But as she plays this game with Clevedon to win over his money, she also starts to fall for him.

Meanwhile, Marcelline's dressmaker competition, Downes, will do anything to steal her designs, but the sisters are not dumb, and they are ready for a battle.

Silk is for Seduction is one of my favorite books I have read this year.There is so much that stands out in this book. Marcelline is just a shopkeeper with no title. For her, her appearance is everything. It is what gets her noticed or when she doesn't want to be noticed, just part of the crowd. She must look and play the part - so at first we must focus on her outside beauty, and how she portrays herself. Of course, she wouldn't last long in upper society if she didn't have an internal strength and smarts about her. She can curtsey like no other. She can flirt with the best of them. She is witty, sly, and never loud or obvious. She is a mystery to Clevedon. Her beauty is what draws him to her at first. But then who she is intrigues him. Just as he slowly unravels the real Marcelline, Loretta Chase does the same for the reader. She drops in small (and sometimes large) tidbits very nonchalantly. You feel surprised and a bit baffled right along with Clevedon.

Clevedon has long been intended to Clara. They have never been lovers, but they are good friends. Both are not dreading this impending betrothal, but both are not rushing towards the alter either. My first thought was - how am I going to feel about Clevedon on such good terms with Clara, falling for another woman? And while he doesn't necessarily hide the fact that he met and spent time with Marcelline, he never comes clean with the actual emotional attachment he has with her at first. Of course when they all end up in London together, Clara catches on quick. And I love that she doesn't hide. She confronts Marcelline. She may be a little naďve, but I give her credit for not sitting in the shadows. Is Clara hurt? Sure. But I don't think she is ever betrayed. And I like that we get to see the journey Clara goes on, and she is better off for it.

The Clevedon we come to know is such a sweet, good guy. There are a few parts towards the end, where Marcelline needs help and what he does for her made me smile so big and I might even have wiped away a tear. We not only get these lovely warm moments, but the banter between Clevedon and Marcelline is so entertaining and well done.

And before I go, I must mention the smexy parts - while there is wonderful tension in this book, the love scenes are intense and filled with as much passion as these two characters. And there is carriage smex, does it get better?

"It was as stormy a kiss as the last time, but different. He was angry with her;she was angry with him. But far more than anger was at work between them. This time she wasn't in control. She was drowning in feeling, in the taste of him, and the scent of his skin and the feel of his hard body under hers, and his hand so tight in her hair, possessive.

A lifetime had passed since a man had held her like this.

She knew - a part of her mind knew - she needed to break away from him. But first...oh, a little more."

Most importantly, this book is so romantic. The looks between the Clevedon and Marcelline. The witty banter. The tension. The heartbreak and angst. The warmth and humor. Oh - all done so well. One of the best books I have read this year.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Silk is for Seduction--a Keeper! July 9, 2011

By Romance Novel Customer

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Story: 5 stars
Romance: 5 stars

This one is going on my Keeper Shelf with only about 30 other books. (That's probably impressive only if I admit that I read more than 200 books per year.)

When determining if a book is a "keeper" or not, I don't just want an "escape" (since every book should provide that to one extent or another). Rather, I take note of my EMOTIONS as I read. Another indicator is that feeling of... "I can't wait to read the next page, chapter, etc but at the same time, I don't want it to end."

This story had me chuckling from the very beginning. I was absolutely charmed by Marcelline's style, wit and fearlessness. She creatively brazened her way through sticky situations that would have intimidated most others. No wonder the duke was dazzled! Speaking of the duke, I laughed out loud when Ms Chase described his "ducal phallis." Waahaha!!

Of course, I immediately fell in love with Lucie as well as Leonie and Sophia. Since this series is titled "Dressmakers" I assume that each of the sisters will get her own story and HEA. Wow, I am so anxious to get the info on the next book!

I loved this wonderful story and will enjoy reading again and again.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Silk Is For Seduction September 28, 2011

By M. Nix

Format:Kindle Edition

Marcelline Noirot may be part of the notorious "Dreadful DeLuceys," but she and her sisters are not a pack of liars and thieves. Marcelline is, however, incredibly ambitious, and she's determined to be London's premiere dressmaker. And what better way is there for her to win over the ton than to dress the Duke of Clevedon's future bride? Marcelline tracks down the scandalous duke in Paris and sets out to convince him to patronize her shop. But there's one thing Marcelline didn't count on when she set out to capture a duke: that she'd come to want his heart, not just his wallet.

Loretta Chase brings 1830s fashion to vivid life in Silk is for Seduction. The amount of detail allotted to dressmaking in Silk is for Seduction is sure to please fashion enthusiasts. Unfortunately for this reader, it felt like more attention was paid to dresses than characters or plot, making Marcelline and Clevedon's story fall flat. Marcelline's personality seems to be limited to her ambition and Clevedon's character doesn't come to life except when he's thinking of how he lusts after Marcelline. The future heroines of the Dressmakers series, Sophia and Leonie, have no personality whatsoever, making it very difficult to find something to interest me in Silk is for Seduction. The one character of note is Clara, Clevedon's intended. Clara is the one character that leaped off the page and I found myself wishing that the book was about her rather than Marcelline and Clevedon. Theoretically, Clara's almost-engagement to Clevedon would be the major obstacle of Silk is for Seduction, but strangely this element of the book never really seems to hit its full potential.

Silk is for Seduction plods along with its tepid romance and weak attempts at intrigue until the very end of the book. Ms. Chase does finish up Marcelline and Clevedon's story nicely, but not enough to make me want to revisit Silk is for Seduction. Readers who already are fans of Ms. Chase's might enjoy this book, but those who are new to her work would be better served by looking to another one of Ms. Chase's stories to read instead of sitting down with Silk is for Seduction.

Shayna
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed