Then Comes Seduction (Huxtable Series)

Then Comes Seductionhttp://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?ATH=Mary+Balogh Mary Balogh

It is a sacred rule in historical novels, that rakes do not seduce, talk to, or any way engage young ladies of good families without marriage in mind. Jasper Finley, Baron Montford violates this rule big time. He wagers (in drunken revelry on his 25th birthday) that he can seduce Katherine Huxtable within a fortnight. Thus begins Ms. Balogh's story. Jasper is a character I was ready to despise but Ms. Balogh knows how to write, and what she wants her readers to feel. She wants us to know that Jasper does not like himself very much, but needs to grow beyond that to grow into the man he will and should be. Katherine is just the woman to get him there. She longs to be married for love, but gets drawn into a forced marriage after the terms of the wager become know throught the ton.
Katherine's development is another triumph of Ms. Balogh's writing. After Katherine's initial TSTL moment with Jasper at Vauxhall Gardens, she too grows into a woman we can like, feel for and root for as she battles for her and Jaspers' happiness. Great read.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

a charming tale

The drunken rake Jasper Finley bet he could have sex with innocent Lady Katherine Huxtable within a fortnight. However, when he sobers up the Baron knows he stepped over the line even for a rogue like himself so he claims he failed to win the wager.

Three years later Jasper and Katherine run into each other at a gala. Though still an innocent she makes it clear she is attracted to the rake. He wants her so he offers her a wager seduce him into falling in love with her. Knowing failure would mean probable scandal and a definite broken heart, Katherine stuns Jasper and agrees to his bet as his wife; now she must get her husband to fall in love with her like she is with him.

The second Huxtable sister Regency romance (see FIRST COMES MARRIAGE) is a charming tale starring two delightful lead characters who gamble on love. Jasper and Katherine are a perfect pairing as each raises the stake in what turns into a scandalous love affair enhanced by overarching family issues. Mary Balogh is two for two with one sister left to come seduce the author fans and perhaps a younger brother who deserves that magical Balogh historical touch.

Harriet Klausner

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Favorite of the series so far!

I loved this book and fell a little in love with jasper! I recently finished megs story snd while it was ok this one was great. You could feel their love growing, as opposed to some books where it feels contrived and forced. I will probably read stephens story, though i am not sure i will like the heroine, i would rather skip to cons! This is a great read even if you are not following the series.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great story

This is my favorite of the Huxtable sisters' stories. Strong characters, good dialogue, lots of tension and romance.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Highly Recommend-you must check it out.

Loved this series. The characters are wonderful.

Mary Balogh wins again.

The seduction of Katherine Huxtable was supposed to be an easy wager for Jasper Finley, Baron Montford, but just at the moment when was upon him Monty drew back and his non-existent conscience prevented him from taken advantage of the beautiful country mouse.

Three years later, they meet again and circumstances force them into a marriage that could destroy them both, or become their salvation.

This is the second in the Huxtable series and it far surpassed the initial installment.

Okay book, with good characters...best left for a rainy day.

I wanted to try to read a different author to see if it can top Julie Garwood, but this book fell flat for me. At times, it held my intrest, but overall I found it boring. When I love a book, I can finish it in less than two days (with a husband, 2 boys & full-time job...LOL). However, it took me almost a week, just because I wanted to just be done reading it. I did love Jasper & Katherine's witty sense of humor, but that wasn't enough for me. I knew I had high expectations so overall it was an "okay" book to me.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great

I really like Mary Balogh's books and have read several starting with the Huxtable series and this was one of my favorites. I will read again.

Good Villian

I really liked Jasper. There was some descriptive scenery paragraphs that I skimmed over but the story of the two main characters was interesting. She did a good job making me loathe Clarence.

Mary Balogh has done it again...

Mary Balogh does have a gift for writing engaging love stories with believable heroines and redeemable bad boys. Then Comes Seduction is the second novel in Mary Balogh's newest series featuring the Huxtable family. While each of the four novels will stand on its own, those who prefer to read a series in order should start with the first book in the series, First Comes Marriage, as it sets the stage for the Huxtable family's change in circumstances and subsequent entry into the ton. The second book in this series is just as entertaining as the first and follows the youngest sister, Katherine as she is launched on her first London Season and finds that beneath the genteel appearance of society there are dangers that her past has not prepared her to handle.

Katherine Huxtable has never had a shortage of admirers or proposals, even when she had no dowry as the impoverished daughter of the village vicar. As the sister of the new Earl of Merton, Katherine is enjoying a successful first Season and it seems only a matter of time before she makes an advantageous match. Despite a number of worthy suitors, Katherine fears that true love may not be in the cards for her. None of the men she has met has caught her attention like the one she has been warned away from. She knows he is dangerous, she knows she should avoid him at all costs, but there is something about him that draws her in and leads her to the brink of ruin.

Jasper Finley, Baron Montford, is a rake and proud of his standing as the ton's most disreputable and dangerous one. Jasper's never made a wager he couldn't win, so when the seduction of Katherine Huxtable is the objective of a drunken challenge, Japer can't resist. The lovely and innocent Katherine has not escaped his notice and Jasper puts a plan in motion to pursue and seduce her. His plan is flawless and success is within sight, but there is just one thing he hadn't counted on; namely his heart.

Both Jasper and Katherine retreat from London and try to forget their encounter. Three years later, fate throws them together again. Much as she wants to hate the man who once carelessly wagered on her virtue and nearly ruined her reputation, Katherine still feels a strong attraction to him. For his part, Jasper has never been able to put her far from his mind, or his heart. As the London Season whirls around them, they find themselves thrown together frequently. It seems as though, older and wiser, they may have a second chance until they find themselves in the way of someone else's plans.

As the threat of scandal surrounds them, Jasper and Katherine find that all bets are off when love enters the picture.

Mary Balogh has done it again. Then Comes Seduction, is an entertaining read and she does a marvelous job painting Jasper Finley as just enough of an anti-hero to fulfill the bad boy fantasy of any reader. If one is looking for a good romance to snuggle up with, don't miss this one.

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

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Great Read!!!

The third book in this series, is a great read. While I was reading the other books First Comes Marriage, and Then Comes Seduction, I constantly wondered what would happen to the ever self-sacrificing Meg. Meg soon becomes more real and more human as a lie spoken to her childhood sweetheart to save face gains a life of its own and leads her to finding happiness. I must say that she does get a great story in this book despite being a background character throught out most of the series.

The third in the Huxtable Series.

I love anything by Mary Balogh and this was no exception. I am torn with her books, between reading them quickly to get to the end or reading them slowly so I don't get to the end. I can't wait for the final chapter which is due out in June.

Mary Balogh does it again!

AS usual May Balogh writes a superb storyline. I can't get enough of her books. I can't wait for JUne 1st for the next book. BUT.... we need Con's story.

Excellent Book!

I have always found Mary Balogh's books to be excellent. This one was no exception.

A Pleasant Read

I have enjoyed this series, although I have found it a little inconsistent. The first in the series is still my favorite, but this comes in second. I think the relationship between the two main characters could have had a little more sizzle.

love Mary Balogh

I happen to love Mary Balogh's writing. I love the fact she always has a series when she writes a book. You get to see what happens with all the characters because she always has a continuation with each book. I can actually get lost in the writing and I feel as if I'm there watching everything that is going on. I've just gotten the next book At Last Comes Love. Can't wait to see what happens with Margaret.

Not great

Like the first book in this series, but not in a positive way. This series has just been really middle of the road. It doesn't bring the usual strong characters and emotions that Balogh normally writes with. I only finished reading it because I paid for it, not because I was anxious to find out how it ended. Also, I had hoped that the conflict between Con and and his cousin- I can't even remember his name- would be resolved but it's not. What was the point of bringing up that conflict in the first place if it's not resolved? We've seen even less of those characters now, anyway. I hope that the final two books are better than the first two, because I think the series has potential, if it were written like Balogh's others.

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