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Seduzione D'estate (2013)

by Candace Camp(Favorite Author)

3.78 of 5 Votes: 5

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Harlequin Mondadori, I Grandi Romanzi Storici Special 175

series

Legend of St. Dwynwen

review 1: I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH I ENJOYED THIS BOOK, WTF, not, like, I was expecting it to be terrible or anything, but I had some worries early on what with the whole situation of the heroine (she's the illegitimate daughter of a nobleman, someone is trying to kidnap her, WILL THE HERO ACCEPT HER EVEN THO SHE IS OF ~IGNOBLE BIRTH~/WILL HE SAVE HER). Unfortch some of those worries were not unfounded, as the ending gets kind of ... yeesh*, but on the fortch side of things, YOOOOOOOOOOO, THAT ROMANCE THO. Damaris is so great - she's outgoing and flirty and sexually experienced and she's never shamed or whatever for being a widow/having sexual experience (altho tragically this book does delve into the sort of trope that frequently accompanies heroines who have done it before they me... moreet the hero, aka Sex With The Hero Is So Much Better Than Any Sex She Ever Had Before, O, She Never Before Knew Pleasure!!! because nobody in historical romance novels is aware of masturbation, I guess) and she Takes Charge of her own business and even saves Alec, The Hero, a couple times which is nice - AND while I was super worried that Alec would be an unbearable asshole given he is, after all, Icy & Proud, he is in actual execution an upstanding, decent guy who doesn't really give a fuck about society's expectations. WHATEVS, HE AIN'T CARE, HE'S GONNA MARRY THE WOMAN HE LOVES AND ALL Y'ALL CLASSISTS CAN EAT IT (That said, I love/appreciate that this series acknowledges that he can do this/get away with doing this because he is so very privileged both in terms of wealth & title.)*THE YEESH: There's a bit where Damaris explains her valid resentment of her noble father for basically abandoning her and her mother to marry a noblewoman, and Alec's like CAN'T U SEE, HE DID ALL THESE THINGS BCS HE LOVED U, and I'm like, man, she's ... allowed to feel hurt by her dad leaving. IDC what society expected of him; she's not in the wrong to resent him for leaving her.BUT the biggest yeesh iiiiiis, Damaris is threatened with rape at the climax, and Alec saves her before [spoiler] can actually assault her but at the same time it's kind of like: wow, really? Could we just take rape off the table? I'd like that. So that's why this book only has three stars - that just really soured my Sweet Tarts. (Narratively I understand why it was present - Camp needed a reason in text to essentially, uh, eliminate [spoiler] and the obstacle he presented to Alec and Damaris' future together - but I also think that it would have been possible to replace that scene with, say, Alec acting out in self-defense vs rescuing Damaris from rape. So.)Otherwise: very enjoyable! The OTP is lots of fun! Some thoughtful critiques of class unfortunately marred by inconsistency. Could've done without sexual violence there at the end. Love love LOVE that the romantic hero is NOT an asshole! (Ah. Such high standards.)I forgot to note this but Genevieve and Myles are amaaaazing in that book. Both are supporting characters, with Genevieve in a more substantial role as Alec's sister; it's her eventual approval of Damaris, the heroine of A Summer Seduction, that signals the emotional resolution of the book (plus Genevieve and Damaris' awkward proto-friendship is just delightful esp at the end). But Myles frequently accompanies Genevieve, and they are GREAT together, arguing a great deal, yes, but never meanly, and they are clearly super in love and it is A W E S O M E.
review 2: Damaris Howard has learned to avoid romantic entanglements to protect the independence afforded to widows. Besides, she has no desire to be some lord’s mistress, not even if such lord is the handsome and utterly intriguing Lord Alec Rawdon. It is far better to engage in a few flirtatious remarks, if only Damaris could keep her renegade thoughts under control whenever Alec is around.Alec is done with romance. His former fiancé has left him for someone else, and he would rather not have history repeat itself. Still, he cannot seem to stem the interest for the widow Howard. She is utterly unlike any female he has ever had the occasion to know.When Damaris is attacked by ruffians in London, she runs to Alec for aid. Never could she imagine a protector like Alec who stays by her side through the worst circumstances. Nor could Damaris ever know that her shady past will come knocking in such a startling and dangerous fashion. In the end, it is Damaris’s own desires that become her most dangerous adversaries.With sparkling dialog and characters full of vivacity and action, this is an entertaining read. Alec is a dashing hero only slightly removed from his Viking forebears. Damaris matches him perfectly. The twist at the end is slightly over the top, but all in all, this book is well worth picking up.Kaitlin Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More less

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