Never Seduce a Scoundrel (The School for Heiresses, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Sabrina Jeffries (Author) "Who would ever guess balls could be boring?..." (more)
Key Phrases: Major Winter, Lady Amelia, Lord Pomeroy (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Lady Amelia Plume is bored with Regency London society and tired of the same unappealing gentlemen seeking her fortune. Craving adventure while attending a ball, she agrees to deliver a note to the host's bedroom. While there, she ends up snooping in the room where an American soldier, Lucas Winter, is staying, and discovers papers that may implicate her family in a scandal. When she runs into him, she acts like a silly flirtatious twit, starting a game of cat and mouse to find out about his investigation. Lucas hates the English and cannot wait to complete his mission and leave, until he meets Amelia. He believes she is the key to his success, so he pretends to court her. Then, just as he begins to suspect that her silly manners are an act, her kisses become addictive, complicating his mission. Or is his mission complicating his courtship? Jeffries delivers lively lovers in an entertaining, sensual historical romance. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"Jeffries not only beguiles readers with scenes of passion and vivid characters but steadily builds the story's tension to an exciting conclusion."

-- Publisher's Weekly on One Night With a Prince

"Sexy!"

-- Romantic Times

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (February 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416516085
• ISBN-13: 978-1416516088
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #123,384 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 1 in The School for Heiresses Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3 1/2 stars...an engaging read...not spectacular, but good, March 2, 2006

By	statengirl (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

This is the first book in Sabrina Jeffries' new "School for Heiresses" series, and it is fast-paced and engaging, but less sophisticated than her previous series. The book's heiress is Lady Amelia Plume. The daughter of an earl, she has lived the majority of her 21 years very frugally, since her father had little money. Then two years ago, the earl married a wealthy American widow, Dolly, and Amelia's circumstances changed drastically. With Dolly's money, Amelia was sent to finishing school and gifted with a large dowry, and she is now considered a very desirable marriage prospect. Amelia has yet to find a suitor who appeals to her intellectual and adventurous nature, but that changes one night when she attends a London society party. On a dare, Amelia goes upstairs to sneak a love letter from her girlfriend into the host's bedchamber. She winds up in his American cousin's room, where she stumbles upon some very disturbing documents. This cousin, Major Lucas Winter, is apparently secretly investigating some criminals on behalf of the American government, and his primary suspect is none other than her beloved stepmother, Dolly. Adventure-loving Amelia immediately goes into espionage mode and begins a flirtation with Lucas in order to gain information and help protect Dolly. Lucas, who does not realize that Amelia is on to him, employs the same strategy, trying to wheedle or seduce as much information as he can from Amelia in hopes of incriminating Dolly. Of course, there is a remarkably strong attraction between two people "feigning" interest in each other. Soon the conflicted Lucas has become quite the jealous suitor, and Amelia is torn by her contradictory feelings towards him. How can this impossible situation ever be resolved?

I have always enjoyed Sabrina Jeffries fun style of writing, and this book is no exception. That said, this story is a little less romantic than some I have read by her, although certainly not short on erotic encounters. The romance seemed to lack a certain tenderness and maturity, and seemed more raw and purely physical. I did like Amelia as a heroine, however, and thought she behaved admirably and with a cool head under difficult circumstances. Lucas was more difficult to empathize with, for his sometimes overbearing military ways were a little hard to warm up to. The intrigue aspect was probably the strongest part of the story, as I remained curious throughout as to how the Dolly dilemma would be resolved. Overall, this was a good and a pleasant read, just not a momentous one. I look forward to reading the next installment, featuring Amelia's friend Louisa North, Marcus' sister from "To Pleasure a Prince."

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sensually Laden Regency - New Series, March 3, 2006

By	M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Lady Amelia Plume was a graduate of Mrs. Harris' School for Young Ladies, more commonly known as the School for Heiresses. The very high-spirited young heiress sought adventure. In her second season she was growing bored with the balls of Mayfair offering the same dull fops and fortune-hunters. While attending Dowager Viscount Kirkwood's annual ball with Mrs. Harris as her chaperone she noticed the rakishly handsome yet arrogant American Major Lucas Winter. Even though he appered haughty, talk of his dangerous exploits appealed to Amelia's taste for adventure.

Doing a favor for a friend, Amelia innocently entered the wrong bedchamber and discovered Lucas' papers showing his true purpose in England of investigating rather than socializing. From the notes she saw, Amelia determined that the person he was looking for was none other than her beloved step-mother. Almost caught by the scoundrel, she decided that she wasn't about to let any insolent American destroy her family and that two could play the same game.

As they played cat and mouse with one another, each trying to ferret out information, their games took on a very sensual tone. When Lucas came to Amelia's rescue after a suitor kidnapped her intending to ruin and then marry the heiress, Lucas saved her and her reputation by marrying her himself. Further adventures on the way home from Gretna Green led to some enlightening truths as Amelia now found herself married to the enemy.

*** This was a sensually laden regency adventure featuring two lively protagonists who spiced up the pages sparring with snappy dialogs as well as some very hot physical encounters. In this first book of a new series, Jeffries introduces Mrs. Harris who has a mysterious and anonymous benefactor (think of Charlie's Angels) funding her school. Additionally she sets the stage for a sequel featuring Amelia's enticing friend Venetia and the `Scottish Scourge' who seems to hold a huge grudge against Venetia's father. If the sequels come anywhere near as hot and spicy as this initial entry Jeffries is bound to have another spectacular series on her hands and I for one will be anxiously awaiting those sequels!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Pleasure to Read!!, April 9, 2006

By	M. Nix "Joyfully Reviewed" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Lady Amelia Plume is pursued by beaux interested only in her fortune. But Amelia longs for adventure; something none of her suitors can provide. When Major Lucas Winter arrives from America, Amelia is immediately drawn to the mysterious man. Soon Lucas is pursuing Amelia and is wooing her with romantic kisses. As their passion increases, so does Amelia's suspicions. For Amelia suspects that Lucas' motive for courting her has little to do with marriage and could potentially prove disastrous to her family... and her heart.

I very much enjoyed Luke and Amelia. These two share quite a bit of chemistry that, at times, left me quite breathless. In fact, my favorite scene of the book involved a very romantic scene with Luke and Amelia onboard a ship. At the scene's end, I was panting for Luke more than ever before.

I am a fan of Sabrina Jeffries. When I discovered this newest series, I was very excited. Finding good historical romances is a hard task, but I have yet to be disappointed by Sabrina Jeffries. Strong character development adds to the tension-filled plot, creating a satisfying story. Never Seduce a Scoundrel was indeed a pleasure to read!

Annabelle
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed