With Seduction In Mind [Mass Market Paperback]

The cover of With Seduction in Mind by Laura Lee Guhrke looks like the woman on it is pleasuring herself. That is probably the most shocking thing about this book. As for the story inside, I would say it was a pleasing one but didn't have enough "oomph" where I can rave about it. But the setting is Victorian London 1896 (YAY) and Guhrke's heroines are all on their own, making ends meet and don't rely on a man to make them happy. (Double YAY) These Bachelor Girl books have a subtle feminist feel to them and Laura shows that a woman can have a career and find a man who will support her in her endeavors. The joy in reading is watching these men conform their way of thinking and lifestyle to the heroine's and not the other way around.

Daisy Merrick is too feisty and outspoken and because of that she can't keep a job. Daisy dreams of becoming a published author. She is sick of working for others and wants to have a job where she makes the decisions and doesn't have to deal with men who disrespect her. She is able to find a job as a temporary reviewer for the Social Gazette. (Daisy is friends with the wife of the man who owns the paper). She reviews a play by the respected literary author, Sebastian Grant, Earl of Avermore. Daisy hates it and because of her scathing review, the play closes in a week. Sebastian is livid. He needs the money and the prestige because he has been out of the spotlight for so long. He has lost his writing muse because he has given up cocaine. He became an addict of the drug and now that he is recovering, he has lost his passion for the written word.

Because he has a contract where he has to deliver another book to his publisher, which coincidentally is owned by Lord Marlowe, the same man who runs the Social Gazette, he has no choice but to start writing again. Marlowe wants Daisy to assist Sebastian. This will help her become a better writer and push Sebastian into writing the book that is way past due. Sebastian is insulted, first because Daisy wrote that review and the fact that she can really find the problems with his writing. Sebastian has no choice and must accept Daisy's help. But he is scared because what if she figures out that he is a hack and his masterful writing was all due to the drugs he took?

With Seduction in Mind had its moments I really enjoyed from the interactions between Daisy and Sebastian in the beginning where they seem to have a dislike for one another to where they talk about their literary aspirations. They are both able to see the truth about one another that lies deep inside. Daisy and Sebastian have doubts that almost consume them. The possibility of failure scares them both. Daisy is ashamed because she doesn't want to disappoint her sister like the countless times she has done in the past. Sebastian's need for acceptance is a bit deeper and because of it, he turns to Daisy for everything. She soon becomes his new drug that he wants to lose himself in.

Sebastian is tortured because of his addiction and lost of self. His constant pity party for became a bit too much at times. Daisy is very vocal with Sebastian and tells him to snap out of it. But it takes Sebastian too long to come to these conclusions about himself and that is where the story drags. Daisy and Sebastian's attraction to one another was lukewarm and not the passionate coming together I would have liked to see.

With Seduction in Mind was simply okay.

Katiebabs

The hero is a recovering cocaine addict who had been a great writer early in his career but now is just a Has Been. The heroine is a down-on-her luck aspiring novelist whose outspokenness and attractiveness get her fired from every a variety of low-wage jobs. Finally she gets a lucky break reviewing the hero's latest play. Her review is unfavorable & upsets hero. Fate intervenes in the form of Lord Marlowe, a book and newspaper publisher and also the hero of the first Girl Bachelors novel, who decides to hire the heroine to help the hero finish the book he still owes the publishing company.

They end up isolated together in the country, sparks fly, they inspire and challenge each other etc etc. The dialog is witty, the developing relationship rings true and everything works beautifully until the ending. The conflict of the relationship is based on the hero's cynicism and inability to recognize his feelings even while he seduces the heroine. Without giving away any more specifics, the problem is not the conflict but the resolution. I would guess that readers will want the hero to suffer a little more and see a little more humility and growth after the way he had treated the heroine, ie; taking her for granted. The pacing was far too quick and didn't seem true to the earlier characterization of either hero or heroine. It actually felt like the author had reached her minimum page limit and decided she was done. UGH.

It feels a little ironic writing an unfavorable review about this book. Much of the plot centers around the conflict between writers and critics--specifically critics that don't have the right credentials to review books. LLG has a lot of quotes about the difficulties of writing beginning each chapter. One quote in particular rang true (not only regarding LLG, but all genre authors who must be given insane deadlines): that a writer begins an artist and ends a prostitute.

That said, LLG's latest book is well worth the time and money. I have enjoyed everything LLG has written and I look forward more and more from her . . .

Things I liked:

-I definitely enjoyed Sebastian, despite his many flaws.

-Most of the book takes place in the English country side, which is described beautifully.

-I loved they way it ended. Perfect for romance lovers.

-I like that it takes place around the turn of the century. 1896 I think is when it's set. A lot of historical romances take place during the regency era so I was glad for a little change.

Things I Disliked:

-I have come to expect from this author witty dialog and laugh out loud situations. I didn't laugh once.

-Sebastian spends a lot of time dwelling on his tortured (which isn't really that tortured) past, it got a little repetitive.

-I found Daisy a little boring, the past 4 books of Laura's I have read I absolutely loved both the hero and heroine, not not this time.

- I had a hard time getting into the book, nothing really happens for the first half. It was really slow to start.

Overall only ok, but I should say every other book I have read of Laura's I have loved so I will keep buying her books in the future. I think I was so hard on this book because of that, I had high expectations for this one and they just weren't met this time.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 13 reviews  3.5 out of 5 stars