A Seduction at Christmas (Scandals and Seductions Series #1)

Good story with a little confusion

I liked this story, it was original. Fiona is a heroine that people can relate with, she is low on money, just lost her job and needs a way to make her rent. She fills in for her neighbor on a job and her life changes forever. The Duke of Holburn is a hero that is easy to like and personable. He has family issues and is overall likable. The only problem with the story is that she didn't become his "ward" until the middle of the book. i kept wondering what was going on because the back of the book said that she was his ward. There was also a lot of auxiliary characters that kept popping up in the book and taking away from the main story. The heroine had self doubts about being with the Duke due to a past attack but that was not really mentioned, i felt that i was missing something and needed to read a previous book. There also wasn't a lot of romance because the main characters felt they were destined to be together from the first time they met. I thought there would be more conflict and drama between them but they did make a good team to find out who was out to harm them.

10 out of 11 people found this review helpful.

Not a Stand alone book!

If you have not read "In a highlanders Bed" in the Cameron Sisters Series #5 where Fona's background story about her rape is told, this book will makes her sound very quick to recover from the rape... and that was not the case. I don't understand how Cahty Maxwell can say on her websit that her books "stand alone".

She is a wonderfull writer... but... she does need someone to help her keep her details accurate. In the fist book there was one man who raped Fona, in the second book there was a group? That is not all the details that don't match. Maybe I'm the only one who notices these things?

6 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

I didn't enjoy the book

I have read two of Maxwell's books and both did not keep my attention. I found them to be very wordy. Maxwell is not an author I enjoy reading.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Indulge and Be Delighted !!

Excellent...As always..

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Typical predictable romance novel

Thin plot and too predictable

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A Seduction at Christmas by Cathy Maxwell

Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Nov08<BR/><BR/>Free will or fate? The arguments regarding which of these guides our lives and loves have likely existed since man (and certainly women) began to speak. Cathy Maxwell¿s latest historical romance ¿A Seduction at Christmas¿ is the story of a young man who, through a terrible loss, undergoes an eerie experience and receives a cryptic prophecy from an old crone at the Oracle of Delphi. He then seeks to escape what he believes is his fate, but his actions appear to be useless when his fate catches up to him in the form of a beautiful young, innocent woman.<BR/><BR/>Fiona is desperate. The young Scottish lass has lost her respectable job and needs enough money to keep a roof over the heads of herself and her loyal dog. She accepts a dubious job with trepidation. All she needs to do is pour a potion into the drink of a lord whose jilted lover is looking for a little revenge. Only when she¿s assured the potion will just make the lord violently ill, but not dead, does she agree. When she arrives at the inn, the lord she¿s supposed to meet isn¿t there. Instead, it¿s the man she¿s dreamed of since before her life became one of penury. And when three men appear trying to kill `her¿ lord, she saves his life. Now her life is also in danger, but `her¿ lord has no intention of losing her.<BR/><BR/>Nick has spent many years trying to redeem himself from a youthful folly. After losing his family¿s heirloom ring and receiving a warning/prophecy from a crone at Delphi to `beware innocence¿, his whole life changed. He uses his cynicism to distance himself from any feelings and avoids innocents like the plague. But when Fiona places herself in danger by helping him, even his jaded senses can¿t ignore the way he¿s beginning to feel when he¿s with her.<BR/><BR/>It takes a special author to develop a relationship that feels believable when all the action takes place in a shorter amount of time. Maxwell did a good job of making the circumstances fit the telescoped time frame by forcing the protagonists into closer quarters than would be normal. The action flowed smoothly even with the quick pace, and the supporting cast included some memorable characters that I¿d like to read about again. The only drawback would be the rapid turnaround of the hero¿s character, but since it IS the holiday season, I¿ll just consider that a holiday miracle.<BR/><BR/>Cathy Maxwell¿s regency romance is one that will leave you with a sigh and a smile. Her talented development of the attraction and relationship between the hero and heroine makes this story a kind of Christmas wish come true. Whether their meeting was determined by fate or chance, it was the actions each took and their willingness to trust that determined the course of their romance. ¿A Seduction at Christmas¿ is a happy, more light-hearted story that will provide a welcome distraction from the holiday rush.

2 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Non-stop action from the first page until the very end.

Dominic "Nick" Lynsted, Duke of Holburn, has been hunting the Spaniard named Andres for over nine years. Back then, after a night of drunken debauchery, Nick had woken to find his priceless signet ring stolen - along with bits of clothing. Nick had still not shaken off the effects of the night when he spied what could not be anything other than an oracle. After nine years he could still hear her say "Beware innocence." It was advice Nick took to heart. Unfortunately it was the only advice he took. Nick began gambling and soon lost his fortune. Now Nick believes that his only hope of salvation is to find that ring. To this end, Nick goes to an arranged meeting in a private room at The Swan's Next. Nick expects to capture Andres as the man enters the room. Instead he finds his hands filled with a lovely lady from his past. <BR/><BR/>Fiona Lachlan had been born a magistrate's daughter. She met Nick at a ball but left shortly thereafter to help her brother and his new wife escape London before they could be captured. It has been a long time since then. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Fiona is penniless and needs funds to keep a roof over the heads of herself and a big wolfhound named Tad. For twenty pounds Fiona agrees to help a courtesan named Hester teach an ex-lover a lesson. Fiona is to slip an elixir into the man's drink to entice stomach pains only. Instead of the man Fiona expects to be in the room, it is occupied by Nick. They quickly find themselves on the run from assassins. <BR/><BR/>***** Non-stop action from the first page until the last. I could not put the book down. Of course the heroine, Fiona, is putty in Nick's hands she still has sense to keep her distance. Fiona had been violated a year prior and wants nothing to do with men. This makes for some interesting reading because the hero has his work cut out for him to win the heroine's affections. Nobody writes Regency Historical Romances like Cathy Maxwell. Pure bliss! ***** <BR/><BR/>Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Sweet

Loved it. Sweet love story.

An enjoyable romance with likable characters and a mystery to ke

An enjoyable romance with likable characters and a mystery to keep the plot going at a good pace. A must for Maxwell fans; this title should gain her even more devoted readers.

Great Story!

Great Story!

I wouldn't necessary call a seduction at Christmas though. I truly enjoyed this story. The author draws the reader in. I felt the action as Fiona and Nick tried escaping the Irish henchmen. You have people being murdered and uncles stealing his ring. He has being after Andres for sometime for a ring he stole although he did steal it, it was behalf of his uncles. 'Beware innocence' she had me going I was sure it was the little old aunt but I surprise and who it turned out to be. I would have like to feel the pain Fiona must have felt but I did not. I have a habit of reading sequels out of order. T read &quot;His Christmas Pleasure&quot; first and enjoyed it but now I understand the connection between the Duke and Andres. What I don't know is what happen between Gilliam and Andres; I will have to see what other books she has written maybe I discover the answer.

Unexpected!!

I really loved this one. Usually I can see whats behind the twists and turns but there were several that I was truly surprised by. It was refreshing.

Loved it for a short read

Very entertaining book, with all the plot twists it could have been way longer. But overall if you are looking for a quick read and love the historical romance and a little bit of action I reccommend this book.

Wonderful story

A great must read cant wait to read more!

L

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0 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Great READ :D

Great READ :D

BEAUTIFUL

Loved it

Please can someone add me;)

Can someone please add me

Peace&Love

0 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Who Could Want the Duke of Holburn Dead?

A Seduction at Christmas is a good fast paced read. It is the story of Nick, Duke of Holburn, and Fiona Lachlan. Their meeting was chance and set them on a path of mystery and danger. I never did figure out who was behind the evil shinanagins that followed the Duke and Fee, as he later dubs her. This is a good quick read that anyone will enjoy!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Loved it!

I couldn't put the book down...I tried to stop reading to work on other things but the book just got better and better as you read along. I had to keep reading to find out what would happen and there was always excitement.

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