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Panthera #1
Seductive Persuasion
As an Elder of a diminishing race, Garrick Forrester has lived through wars, plagues and two arranged marriages. But nothing he’s experienced has prepared him for the discovery of his mate or for her resistance. To keep Aisley Reeves safe from an unimaginable enemy, he must persuade her to become his willing countess, while keeping her under constant guard.
Imagine Aisley’s dismay when the Earl of Danford demands she become his betrothed by the close of a fortnight. Already fearful her work as a healer and her birthmark might tempt some to brand her as a witch, she believes it is best to keep her distance from the dark, mesmerizing earl whose thoughts she can hear and who reminds her of a black leopard patrolling the forest. However, when Garrick’s gifts become her only hope for survival, she must decide if she can trust her heart to a man who is far more than human.
Imagine Aisley’s dismay when the Earl of Danford demands she become his betrothed by the close of a fortnight. Already fearful her work as a healer and her birthmark might tempt some to brand her as a witch, she believes it is best to keep her distance from the dark, mesmerizing earl whose thoughts she can hear and who reminds her of a black leopard patrolling the forest. However, when Garrick’s gifts become her only hope for survival, she must decide if she can trust her heart to a man who is far more than human.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 11, 2009
2 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Frances Stockton
26 books59 followersMy love for storytelling began when I created my first fictional characters in kindergarten, convincing my family and friends that Red Henry and Green Henry were identical twin brothers in my school. They were mischievous, rarely did their homework, and even had girlfriends! Years later, I started to write, completing my first manuscript in middle school. I confess the heroine was a cross between a contemporary Laura Ingalls Wilder and Nancy Drew, who’d been dating one of the Hardy Boys, but when I wrote “the end” I’d known I had more stories to tell. Of course, life intervened, but whether I was in high school, working as a Veterinary Technician, earning a degree in history and secondary education, or teaching, I was always writing and reading romances.
Finally, I met and married my hero and moved to New England. Shortly after, I joined RWA and the New England Chapter and have been writing faithfully ever since. Now I am proud to be an author with Ellora’s Cave Publishing. I invite you to come and meet the Panthera, explore my website, read the reviews, excerpts and more at www.francesstockton.com. Or email me at romance@francesstockton.com. I love to hear from readers!
Finally, I met and married my hero and moved to New England. Shortly after, I joined RWA and the New England Chapter and have been writing faithfully ever since. Now I am proud to be an author with Ellora’s Cave Publishing. I invite you to come and meet the Panthera, explore my website, read the reviews, excerpts and more at www.francesstockton.com. Or email me at romance@francesstockton.com. I love to hear from readers!
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 1, 2012
I stumbled upon a good author the last time I picked a random book to read. But I can't say the same with this random pick. I understand this author writes erotica but this was a historical paranormal and I have to say, it was less than lukewarm. The writing was stilted and the story had potential but was slow and plodding. Quite a disappointing read.
July 27, 2011
I so wanted to like this book. A few parts of it I did. Other parts were so-so. Even other parts, however, didn’t work at all, which really disappointed me because I love shifter stories. But there’s just enough issues to get in the way of it being a good read.
When I started reading this story, it immediately sounded so familiar to me. The more I read, I realized that I started the book a few months ago. I actually got a number of chapters into it, then apparently stopped reading for one reason or another and didn’t remember to go back to it. So on my second time around, that knowledge did not bode well for that reading. Nor did the fact that I started really skimming, picking up points here and there that brought back what I’d read before. And the same glaring issues cried out as they had in my earlier reading.
Number one is the dialogue. While there are sections of dialogue that are fine, there are others that are stiff and don’t have the right tone for the situation. Most of those for me were between Garrick and Aisley during sensual scenes, whether early on when Garrick is wooing Aisley or even later once Aisley gets over her doubt that she’d make a good wife and countess for Garrick. Those conversations were wooden, not tension filled or romantic or teasing as they should have been in each circumstance. I just couldn’t see two people talking in the fashion they did in those scenes.
Another problem for me was the fact that Aisley did reject Garrick’s want of her, his surety that she was his mate for way too long. We ended up with the same scene, thought, wording over and over again. Frankly, I got bored with it. That’s why I skimmed on my second time around. Those scenes didn’t hold my attention the first time, so the second time didn’t have a chance. No matter what Garrick said to convince Aisley that she’s his mate, she used the same old argument every single time. It never changes. Then, of course, when she finally does accept him, falls in love with him, and later learns the truth about him and his race, instead of believing in him and trusting him, her logic is he’s crazy and she wants to get away from him. As hard fought as their love is, I felt she should have been a little more trusting of the man. Thankfully, she didn’t reject him nearly as long on that issue.
Because of that, I didn’t like Aisley’s character nearly as much as I like Garrick’s. She does have her strong points - she cares for people, takes care of them, even going so far as to rescue a young girl from a trickster who makes money off telling people the girl is descended from werewolves. Garrick has his moments, but for the most part, he’s likeable. He’s the second oldest of his kind, does what he has to to insure the continuation of their line, is sure of himself and what he wants. The secondary characters are fine, but they do need a little more depth. The villains are the best written of those characters.
I like the idea of the story as a whole, and absolutely love Sir Knight, as Aisley has dubbed Garrick in his animal form. The scenes in which the leopard appears are quite fun and intriguing at times. I also like the way the author uses Aisley’s freckles as a sore point for her - people think they make her ugly - but a beautiful point for Garrick. He loves her spots. There are a number of little shining moments like this throughout the book, but they’re just too few and far between all the other stuff that detracts from them.
And they just couldn’t bring the grade up any higher for this reviewer.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
When I started reading this story, it immediately sounded so familiar to me. The more I read, I realized that I started the book a few months ago. I actually got a number of chapters into it, then apparently stopped reading for one reason or another and didn’t remember to go back to it. So on my second time around, that knowledge did not bode well for that reading. Nor did the fact that I started really skimming, picking up points here and there that brought back what I’d read before. And the same glaring issues cried out as they had in my earlier reading.
Number one is the dialogue. While there are sections of dialogue that are fine, there are others that are stiff and don’t have the right tone for the situation. Most of those for me were between Garrick and Aisley during sensual scenes, whether early on when Garrick is wooing Aisley or even later once Aisley gets over her doubt that she’d make a good wife and countess for Garrick. Those conversations were wooden, not tension filled or romantic or teasing as they should have been in each circumstance. I just couldn’t see two people talking in the fashion they did in those scenes.
Another problem for me was the fact that Aisley did reject Garrick’s want of her, his surety that she was his mate for way too long. We ended up with the same scene, thought, wording over and over again. Frankly, I got bored with it. That’s why I skimmed on my second time around. Those scenes didn’t hold my attention the first time, so the second time didn’t have a chance. No matter what Garrick said to convince Aisley that she’s his mate, she used the same old argument every single time. It never changes. Then, of course, when she finally does accept him, falls in love with him, and later learns the truth about him and his race, instead of believing in him and trusting him, her logic is he’s crazy and she wants to get away from him. As hard fought as their love is, I felt she should have been a little more trusting of the man. Thankfully, she didn’t reject him nearly as long on that issue.
Because of that, I didn’t like Aisley’s character nearly as much as I like Garrick’s. She does have her strong points - she cares for people, takes care of them, even going so far as to rescue a young girl from a trickster who makes money off telling people the girl is descended from werewolves. Garrick has his moments, but for the most part, he’s likeable. He’s the second oldest of his kind, does what he has to to insure the continuation of their line, is sure of himself and what he wants. The secondary characters are fine, but they do need a little more depth. The villains are the best written of those characters.
I like the idea of the story as a whole, and absolutely love Sir Knight, as Aisley has dubbed Garrick in his animal form. The scenes in which the leopard appears are quite fun and intriguing at times. I also like the way the author uses Aisley’s freckles as a sore point for her - people think they make her ugly - but a beautiful point for Garrick. He loves her spots. There are a number of little shining moments like this throughout the book, but they’re just too few and far between all the other stuff that detracts from them.
And they just couldn’t bring the grade up any higher for this reviewer.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
May 10, 2011
Review: Garrick, Earl of Danford, has returned home after many years of fighting for king and country. After centuries of living and surviving two previous marriages, he now senses his true mate nearby. Garrick must find her and claim her before his enemies do. Aisley is the village healer and is shocked when Lord Danford insists they marry. She resists, but finds herself drawn to the persistent lord and the strange feeling he stirs in her. Garrick must work quickly to bring her into his home even as his overbearing presence unnerves her. Destiny has brought them together. But can Aisley accept the man as her husband when she learns that he is more than human?
Seductive Persuasion is a historical romance laced with passionate emotions and paranormal intrigue. As the characters come to life, they pull you into a steamy romance that builds with each page you turn. The sexual tension and unfolding plot will keep you glued to the pages, which makes this read a hard one to put down. Frances Stockton has created a mesmerizing world with vivid characters and thick with emotions. I cannot wait for her next story with her Abcynians and the fascinating lives they lead. If you want a romance that leaves you reeling in emotions and peppered with paranormal intrigue then Seductive Persuasion is a must read. Enjoy!
Seductive Persuasion is a historical romance laced with passionate emotions and paranormal intrigue. As the characters come to life, they pull you into a steamy romance that builds with each page you turn. The sexual tension and unfolding plot will keep you glued to the pages, which makes this read a hard one to put down. Frances Stockton has created a mesmerizing world with vivid characters and thick with emotions. I cannot wait for her next story with her Abcynians and the fascinating lives they lead. If you want a romance that leaves you reeling in emotions and peppered with paranormal intrigue then Seductive Persuasion is a must read. Enjoy!
March 21, 2012
You know your reading a good book when your rooting for the "good guys" and seceretly hoping the "bad guys" trip on their own swords. Warning this book is highly addictive and has some detailed sex scenes. The two main characters of the book is Garrick Forrester who is from an ancient race older than the Romans. Garrick can shift into a panther. Ainsley Reeves is a healer in Danford. She lives alone. One night Garrick and Ainsley meet when Ainsley tries to rescue a little girl from a con man claiming the girl is a werewolf. Garrick finds out that he can communicate with Ainsley through their minds and realizes she is his true mate. But life throws some twist and turns to challenge their relationship. Its a must read book. Im on the third book in the series and love it.
May 15, 2013
I have to admit, after browsing around goodreads I wasn't too sure if I was going to like this story or not. I was really pleasantly surprised by how good it was. I thought both main characters were likable and the story kept me interested. This was my first book by Ms. Stockton, but I don't believe it will be my last.
March 6, 2012
A good read.
March 4, 2012
Liked it- did not-liked it- did not....just needed a little more
August 7, 2012
Well written medieval, romance, not explicity, characters felt v authentic.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews