Seducing an Angel (Huxtable Series)

Not Seduced!

Seducing an Angel is, by far, the least appealing of the Huxtable family series. It is hard to rally behind a heroine who is unlikable in the beginning, due to her scheming to snag the hero, Stephen Huxtable, not as a friend or husband, but as a lover for his money. Stephen Huxtable, though, is an interesting twist on the typical Regency hero - all alpha male, take control sort of man. Stephen is the product of his upbringing by wonderful sister's whose previous stories were fun, inventive with colorful characters and thus, he is sensitive, thoughtful, generous. He is what you might think a man influenced by so many women might turn out. He is totally lovable and so the reader wishes for this man a wonderful woman and Cassandra just doesn't fit the bill. This push and pull love story never really grabs you and it doesn't make you wish it would never end. Thank goodness we have Con's story to look forward to. And if you want to know who Con is, please go back and read the first three novels. You will be glad you did.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

It was just all right...

This book is just all right, certainly not one of her best...but not horrible either.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is the best one of this series

The story of the Huxtable siblings is completed with the final installment featuring Stephen Huxtable in Seducing an Angel. Readers who began with the first book in this series have seen Stephen Huxtable grow from a seventeen year old with no future prospects higher than becoming someone's secretary or perhaps a vicar, into the Earl of Merton and head of the Huxtable family.

As the Earl of Merton, and at the ripe age of twenty-five, Stephen Huxtable knows that it is time for him to think about taking a bride and setting up a nursery. His guardian, his second cousin, and his brothers-in-law have all schooled him in avoiding the most obvious of man-traps that the matchmaking mamas and their charges might lay for him. He has looked over the Season's crop of young ladies and has seen one or two who might be worthy of becoming his wife, but he would like to find the sort of love that has blessed his sisters. Unfortunately, none of the sweet young things he has met has stirred anything of that nature within his heart.

Cassandra Belmont, the notorious widowed Lady Paget, has her eye on Stephen. He seems exactly what she needs to provide a way out of her current situation. He appears to be innocently harmless, almost angelic, and if she must take on a lover to keep her financially sound, then he is her choice. She brazenly attends the one ball she thinks she has a chance of not being turned away from without an invitation in order to make his acquaintance. The Earl and Countess of Sheringford are no strangers to scandal and welcome Cassandra, much to her surprise. It appears that Cassandra's plan will succeed when Stephen agrees to set her up as his mistress.

Stephen is not quite the innocent that Cassandra believed. He has quickly seen through the mask she wears to the woman hiding behind it. Determined to help her clear her name and reclaim her place within polite society, he decides to become her friend rather than her lover. In doing so, he finds himself falling in love with her and becomes determined to win her love. Cassandra is falling for her Angel, as she has taken to thinking of him, but believes he deserves better than a woman tainted by scandal.

Cassandra's reputation is gradually being restored and it seems that Stephen has worked miracles in her life as she becomes reconciled with what remains of her family and finds friendship among the ton. Everything they worked towards is threatened in a careless moment when their growing feelings for one another are revealed. Stephen's actions to save what remains of her reputation could destroy the fragile thing growing between them for marriage is a state Cassandra never wishes to enter into again. To change her mind, Stephen must face the dark secrets that are hidden beneath the civility of some ton marriages and win not only Cassandra's heart, but most importantly, her trust.

In the fourth book of Huxtable family, Mary Balogh has taken the traditional formula for a romance and turned it around to create an engaging story of love and redemption. A woman left with few choices due to circumstances, Cassandra Belmont is not a traditional heroine. She is, if anything, an anti-heroine and a lovely one at that. When paired with the character of Stephen Huxtable as the quintessential hero this delightful reversal of roles makes for a love story that you will want to read with some tissues nearby.

Reviewed by Mairead Walpole of Crystal Reviews (www.crystalreviews.com)

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

entertaining Regency

Widow Cassandra Belmont needs a wealthy lover with a high peerage as a protector immediately if she is to survive the accusations that she murdered her spouse; she also vows that marriage is out of the question as once was enough. Watching how kind he is to his sisters, she chooses Lord Stephen Huxtable, who is rich, nice and a hunk.

Cassandra plans to seduce the top catch of the season. Stephen is excited when he first sees the siren, but refuses to bow to her terms of engagement as he has his own. The two argue over the rules until they share the greatest night in either of their lives. Cassandra fears her heart is owned by Stephen, but she can never have him permanently as scandal is her name. Stephen is reconsidering what he wants as he no longer is thinking mistress, but instead wants her as his wife though he fears she will never trust again especially since he investigates what happened to her and her spouse.

The fourth Huxtable Regency romance is a fast-paced tale of an independent widow going after what she desires while her choice reciprocates unaware of why she rejects marriage. Mary Balogh digs deep into the effect of alcoholism and spousal violence on the victim who also contends emotionally with a miscarriage. The lead characters especially the profound brave heroine and their evolving relationship make for an intriguing finish to the saga though the ending feels rushed. Still the Huxtable family saga has been an entertaining Regency series.

Harriet Klausner

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Huxtable Series continued...Stephen's story

Fans of Mary Balogh will enjoy the fourth book in the Huxtable series. Cassandra Paget sets out to seduce a gentleman in order to support her small household. Although reprehensible, it seems a simple solution until she encounters Stephen Huxtable. He insists that she offer more than her body.
The story is poignant at times and provides several surprises along the way. The Huxtable characters, well known to Balogh readers, will not disappoint. Stephen, the man, is much more engaging than in earlier novels. Stephen, the Earl of Merton, is peaceable and steady or is that dull?
The conclusion of this series, Con's story is next.....

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

So-So Mary

I really like Stephen. This book was just okay for me. Sometimes I notice Mary B express a point so often that it is like beating a dead horse. Overall it was an alright story but nothing to write home about.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Fabulous series

Our heroine, Cassandra Belmont, Lady Paget, is a rather unusual heroine. Initially she's not particularly appealing - we understand that she has a dark secret in her past and she's on the lookout to seduce a man into making her his mistress as she needs the money. Her attention alights on Stephen Huxtable, a man regularly described in this book as looking angelic, and she sets about her seduction. She's successful - we expect this - but from that point on things don't work out entirely as she wants. The thing that sets Mary Balogh's books above others writing in this genre is that even if her plots aren't particularly new, she somehow leads you to care for her central characters and to want to keep reading. I've been a little disappointed by the Huxtable series over all, finding them less memorable than some of her other books, but compared to the majority of books in this genre that I read these are masterpieces. Mary Balogh fans - and new readers - will enjoy this book, although the large supporting cast of characters from previous books might be a bit overmuch for new readers in places. I do think that it's worth reading these four books in order. Highly recommend.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Huxtable Series is fantastic.

The Huxtable series is a must read.
Pat from port St Lucie Fla

Not the best one...

This was my least favorite book from the Huxtable series. But they are all very much worth reading!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not Good So Far

I am only 1/4 way through with the book, but I really do not feel like finishing it. The heroine is cold and calculating and the hero is seems weak.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Huxtables are wonderful!

If you haven't read any of these, and you like period romance, I'm sure you will enjoy the Huxtable family. I know, for sure, that I've fallen in love with these characters! Seducing An Angel was a perfect rainy day book and was glad to find that my projection of what I thought the story would be about, by reading the title only, was no where near correct. :) I'm glad that M.B. has writen the next installment to the series to tell us about Constatine's story. There has been a lot of mystery surrounding him and I am eagerly awaiting 'A Secret Affair' due out next June. Hate that it is so far in the future though.

WOW once again!

Balogh hits a good one once again! Enjoyed this read and following the characters.

Seducing an Angel, good title

Not nearly as good the first books in the series. Had the feeling the book was rushed.

Wonderful as Always

You can always rely on Mary Balogh for a great story with well-written characters. I can't wait for the last book in the series.

Great romance read

I have loved this series and most everything that this author has written.
This has probabloy been my favorite of her series. SWhe is wonderful for nice romantic reading for relaxing and enjoying, this was a great read.


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Another Great Read from Mary Balogh

Mary Balogh has given readers another installment in her Huxtable Series, and it is a love story in her inimitable style with unforgettable characters. Highly recommended!

Stupendous and Highly Romantic

I love her books. I love her books. She is the best writer of romance fictuion ever. I think that she is a great talent and this book is just another in a long line of her books. I will try and read them all.

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