11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Spicy and Hot Victorian Historical Romance (B+ Grade), September 29, 2009
This review is from: When Seducing a Duke (Mass Market Paperback)
When Seducing a Duke takes place in London, 1877. Greyden Kane, Duke of Ryeton is a very rich and privileged man. He has lived a very debauched life where he has seduced both mothers and daughters alike, enjoyed taking the virginities of young innocent misses and has "frigged" more than his own share of widows. Then an event three years ago changed his life forever. One night while he was enjoying himself and had too much to drink, he was attacked and given a six-inch scar on his face. He turned his back on his friends and the London society who came to despise him. Because Grey's beautiful face was ruined, he hid, literally behind a mask he know wears to hide his scar.
Grey still has wants and desires and for some reason he joins his younger, equally rakish brother Archer to Saint's Row, a club that gives the appearance of propriety and good manners, but beneath it all many are able to act out their most scandalous desires. This night the Kane brothers enjoy a masked ball where many anonymous women are open to having a few hours in a secluded room with the men of their choosing. Grey doesn't want just any woman. He lusts for Rose Danvers, a woman ten years his junior. Rose's deceased father helped Grey in so many ways. And as Danvers lay dying, he made Grey promise that he wouldn't touch Rose or ruin her. Grey makes that promise even though he yearns for Rose to the point where it hurts. As Grey is watching the orgy like events below him, he spots a masked lady in the distance who robs him of all breath. She reminds him so much like Rose. He will have one night with this mysterious lady. She welcomes his attentions and they engage in amazing sex in one of the special rooms.
The masked woman is Rose and she knows what she has done is beyond foolish. But she has always loved Grey and wants to belong to him, even with his past. She wonders if Grey really has no clue she was the masked woman he so wonderfully loved. Grey acts towards Rose with kindness as much as a brother would. Because he feels he owes the Danvers a world of gratitude, he will pay for Rose to go out into society so she can find herself a husband. This eats at Grey away inside, but since he can't stand to attend balls and the parties where he would be ostracized, he stays at home hungering for Rose. He even goes back the Saint's Row where he sees his mysterious lady again. And then he is able to put two and two together, especially one night when Rose, who has too much to drink tells Grey her feelings for him.
When Seducing the Duke is a luscious and sizzling historical with a hero who aches for his heroine. Grey has much to atone for because of his shocking past. He lives up to the Duke of Slut many times over. His redemption comes in the form of Rose who shows Grey that through love, that he has been forgiven. Grey's guilt over the night he was scarred and the death of Rose's father eats away at him. He battles the demons inside because he wants Rose so deeply. He lusts for her to the point he is ready to go mad but denies himself because of all the wrongs he has done to other women.
Rose is a bit of a saucy wench. She loves to read dirty magazines that no women of her station should know about. She enjoys her sexuality and wants Grey to enjoy it with her. The language these two share is very spicy, as well as the love scenes between them. Kathryn can sure write some hot love making!
I found the beginning of When Seducing a Duke to be reminiscent of a past Elizabeth Hoyt novel. Some may find it a bit unbelievable with Rose being plundered by Gray where he doesn't know that it is she right away. Kathryn quickly nips that in the bud. The next step is watching these two try to decide what their future holds. It isn't that hard to figure out but watching Grey try to stay away from Rose was great to because his eventual downfall, that will lead into Rose's arms, will be all the more sweeter.
The relationship between Grey and Archer is wonderful. These are two brothers who would die for one another if there came a time. Archer is a rascal and I can't wait for his own story. Kathryn gives you an idea who his heroine may be, but keeps you guessing. She puts some possibilities out there, but the fun in reading is trying to figure out who will be his luck lady.
Spicy, hot, steamy and passionate are only a few words that come to mind while reading When Seducing a Duke. Historical romance fans are not going to want to miss out on this one.
Katiebabs
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
At last..., December 1, 2009
This review is from: When Seducing a Duke (Mass Market Paperback)
...romantic cliches are smashed in a most satisfying manner! Ms. Smith has taken what is generally accepted in historical romance and broken it to pieces, and it's about time! The Duke of Ryeton is a typical rich, irresponsible, womanizing man-slut until violence is committed against his person. He readily admits he deserved it and for the past few years, has lived in shame and reclusion, hiding not just his ruined face but his ruined soul, feeling so remorseful about the way he's lived his life that he literally can't look himself in the mirror. Good for you, Ms. Smith!
I thoroughly enjoyed watching the relationship between Greyden and Rose develop and found their reasons to stay apart quite believable. I also enjoyed watching Rose, your typical spoiled debutante, stop idealizing her protector and deal with his very real feet of clay. Though I agree that there were many grammatical and linguistic errors that made the book sound too modern, I was happy to overlook them and enjoy this brave and completely unformulaic book. Readers looking for something with more depth than a "typical" romance will come away deeply satisfied.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THIS STORY WAS EVERYTHING A ROMANCE SHOULD BE!!!!, December 16, 2009
This review is from: When Seducing a Duke (Mass Market Paperback)
I loved this story!! and I highly recommend; you to read it. BRAVO TO KATHRYN SMITH!!! The story is about Duke Greyden Kane and Rose Danvers. The Duke has a very rakish, rogue type past that he now regrets because of all the harm it has done to himself and the people he loves. Rose is a beautiful, loving, bold and forgiving young women who has loved Greyden for many years. After her fathers scandelous ruin and death Greyden becomes Rose and her mother Camillia's benefactor and protector. I won't give out any spoilers but this is a story of how TRUE LOVE can Heal your Soul. The book is fast paced, and has great character development even the secondary characters are well written, you can see the images of the story in your mines eye. their is a good amount of back story to each character, but not over written, just enough so you get a complete understanding of what the characters are about. Their is NO REPETITION!!! in Ms. Smith's style of writting, she gets to the point and keeps the story moving. The Sex scenes are SIZZILING HOT!!!! but very skillfully done. I hope this is a new series, as I would like to read more about Greydens brothers and Rose's friend Eve and I would also, like to keep up with Greyden and Rose. This story will leave you feeling HAPPY WARM AND FUZZY. TRULY A LOVE STORY OF REDEMPTION!!!! This is a re-read and goes on my keeper shelf!! I also, loved and highly recommend Kathryn Smiths Vampire series Knights of the Templar!!!! If you are SICK Of the Who-Done-It Murder Romance Novels and the Lets Abuse the Female Herion Romance Novels!! Than you will Love this Story about Greyden and Rose. Its just Pure Historical Romance!!! A Very Pleasant Change.
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