Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Tycoon's Seductive Revenge

Rate this book
Ellie Montgomery’s beloved hotel is going up for auction. She must cater to the highest bidder, or she’ll lose her family legacy, her dreams, and the only life she’s ever known.

Carter Stratton plans to be the highest bidder, payback for how the Montgomery family treated him and Ellie’s long-ago rejection. Bent on revenge, he’ll accept nothing less than her complete surrender, body and soul.

When his intent for revenge turns into seduction, Carter must decide whether he wants a chance to even the score, or a second chance with the woman he never stopped loving.

174 pages, ebook

First published December 29, 2012

63 people are currently reading
557 people want to read

About the author

Kristi Avalon

25 books81 followers
A Barnes & Noble Nook best-selling author, Kristi Avalon is passionate about writing romance novels. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing love triumph over adversity, as characters change and grow into better people because of each other. And, of course, happily ever after!

Kristi holds a master's degree in English from John Carroll University. When she's not escaping into fiction, she works as a technical writer, and loves sharing a glass (or two!) of good wine with great friends. She lives in Northeast Ohio with her heroically patient (and handsome!) husband, an enthusiastic Australian Shepherd, and a cranky cat.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
183 (21%)
4 stars
248 (29%)
3 stars
271 (31%)
2 stars
115 (13%)
1 star
31 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
Profile Image for Julie .
5 reviews1 follower
November 19, 2013
Where do I start? My god this book was bad. First off the whole he was poor and in love, dad didn’t like him so he ran away got rich and came back for her, is so over used. Secondly the writing style was poor. We have overdramatized characters. Carter the 100% hero. Saves the 100% "I am a strong woman, but omg I need saving", the over angry police officer that is full of rage and anger. The sleazy rapist "bad" guy in the story Applestone. It was just too much. None of the characters had a balance. In a way Ellie reminded me of Bella from Twilight and Kelsey from Tigers Curse. They want to be strong and brave but deep down they all three have to have their millionaire boyfriends (perfect by Greek God standard) save them.

Plus I had a really hard time believing some of the things in the story. The one that killed me was the helicopter taking off in a Cat 2 hurricane. Unless Matilida was dying, which she wasn’t, they would have taken off during a storm that toppled a tree the size of a Greek column. Then Ellie runs out in the storm?? Ugh just so many bad things. Then 4 months later the story is in April. So...does this mean they had a hurricane in Jan?? While not impossible, but unlikely.

There also needs to be something called proof reading. I understand this was a free book on the kindle (Was because now its like 3 bucks) but it doesn’t change the fact that someone should have proof read this thing.
Profile Image for Amber Dawn.
890 reviews1 follower
February 3, 2021
Romance

I don't know why I read this all the way through. It started out dark and twisted and just became sad. He spends most of his adult life wanting revenge on the girl who broke his heart she just wants her hotel. He treats her like a possession. I was hoping the ending would save it and it could have if they hadn't made her into a love sick puppy.
24 reviews
June 20, 2020
Interesting

From the beginning of the story you know how it will end, but it doesn't put you off reading it. Thoroughly enjoyed
Profile Image for Jeanette montgomery.
2,167 reviews14 followers
January 18, 2021
Highly Recommend!!!!

I love Kristi’s books, she is one of my favourite authors.

I loved this book from start to finish.

I love the characters and the story.
138 reviews1 follower
May 30, 2023
Tycoon

I enjoyed reading this book. It had intended revenge on the girl who dumped him, but he found himself falling for her all over again. Love a happy ending.
Profile Image for Mishel Forte.
225 reviews23 followers
July 20, 2013
I tried to keep in mind that I was reading a kindle freebie but I found myself waiting around for the story to get going. While the characters were fine and the plot was mildly interesting I had to push myself forward a couple of times. The ebook numbers at 174 pages but it literally took me two weeks to read it. It wasn’t bad, it was kind of just – meh…

I liked Ellie more than Carter, but not by much. Ellie is strong and independent but then becomes defenseless and irrational too quickly. I wanted Carter to have some more depth. I get that he had his heart broken when the two were younger but he seemed a little juvenile in his attempts at revenge. I never really took his intentions seriously either.

I was slightly turned off by the author’s need to specifically name the brands of a number of clothing items and accessories the characters wore/used. I basically thought to myself, “Who cares?!”

As I said the contemporary plot was interesting but it didn’t grab me enough. I found the ending to be entertaining but a little over the top. To prevent spoilers let’s just say I enjoy a HEA but not when the heroine risks her life unnecessarily like that. It was definitely a “get a grip” kind of moment, seriously.

Overall, I had an okay reading experience and will likely read another story by the author if it is another kindle freebie.
Profile Image for Tonileg.
2,243 reviews26 followers
May 22, 2013
Contemporary hotel business romance with second chances childhood romance mixed up with lots of miscommunication and secrets.
There is a lot of chemistry between Ellie Montgomery and Carter Stratton since they were first love childhood friends, so twelve years has passed since Ellie had to reject Carter or lose her inheritance (the family hotel). There are lots of secrets, but so deep in the past that she is surprised to find Carter in her hotel while it is going to be auctioned and she is going to lose it anyway. There is a bunch of backstabbing by the town's influential men who just want to sleep with Ellie. So Carter is fortunately around to make sure that someone has her back, even though he initially came to El Dorado Island to get his own revenge. Simple story and writing with nothing original, but a cute second chances story with the poor boy who becomes a rich mongol (seriously used too often plot!) who comes to save the damsel in distress.
HEA guaranteed although it is too dramatic with the storm and crazy inhabitants.
174 pages and kindle freebie (felt like 100ish pages because of the big print)
2 stars
Profile Image for Paula Legate.
Author 17 books25 followers
June 29, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. Carter, and Ellie was in love 12 years ago. Ellie’s dad made Ellie break it off with Carter. During all those years, Carter never knew why Ellie broke things off the way she did. She was the one girl, which Carter could never get over.

Ellie’s dad passed away, and the family hotel was passed down to her. All the past taxes, and bills were also passed down to her. There was no way out, she had to put the hotel that she loved up for auction.

Carter came back to the island in attempt to buy the hotel. He also came back for revenge. That chemistry and passion that had been there 12 years before was still there burning hot. There are times revenge can turn into love. This was an Awesome story. You will have to read it, to enjoy Carter, and Ellie’s journey. I do believe in soul mates, and lifelong love, and I’m glad the two had a second chance for Love.

Profile Image for Tanya Mayes.
710 reviews23 followers
June 12, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this story about Carter and Ellie. Ellie needs to sell her family hotel because she is in debt. Carter sees the ad in the paper. He sees this as a chance to finally go back home and get his revenge on his childhood love who broke off their relationship but not for the reason that Carter thought. It's been twelve years and when they see each other again nothing changed they still have that strong attraction. Ellie is to afraid to give into her feelings and she knows that she doesn't want to leave the island but Carter sets out to get revenge and starts to fall in love with her and she is in love with him now what do they do. All this time she is trying to sell the hotel things constantly happening and Carter has to rescue her.
Profile Image for Sue.
856 reviews1 follower
October 12, 2015
With all the twists and turns of this revenge vs love novel, it came up with 5 stars.

There's nothing worse than young love - when you don't know, yet, how to be completely honest, and you still bow to the demands of a strong and willful parent. The results, years later, can be a need for revenge, despite the love of a lifetime.

Follow the unhappy couple as they do the dance. She is between a rock and a hard place. With nowhere to turn and no one to trust, her first (and only) love reappears and makes demands she cannot give in to though it might mean losing everything she has fought so hard to save.

Giving ultimatums to the one woman he ever loved is not as easy as he thought it would be. Enter a total sleazeball, a mean cop, and a hurricane. What could possibly go wrong?
Profile Image for Carina.
1,902 reviews1 follower
June 15, 2016
Oh boy... looking at the notes I made whilst reading this book I don't think there is anything positive I can say about this... so, going to keep it brief.

The book suffers pacing issues, characterisation is all over the place, there are a lot of clichéd plot elements throughout, the romance between the leads is... non-existent (there is, for me at least, a major consent issue going on).

I didn't really enjoy this though it killed a few hours. That said, well done to the author for publishing a book you're clearly doing something right that other people are enjoying. This simply wasn't for me.
Profile Image for TJ.
558 reviews
August 22, 2013
I wanted to like this this book but Ellie ruined it for me. Her guilt and superstitions really worked my nerves. carter I didn't get him either for someone so bent on revenge he failed miserably at it. Just when the book got interesting Ellie would start with why she couldn't leave the island or when Carter makes any attempt to help relieve her burden she throws a hissy fit. I can't tell you how many times I groaned grow up and put your big girl panties on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jo Smith.
695 reviews4 followers
December 14, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Returning to his home, Carter is a different man, he'll bent on taking his revenge on the one woman who broke his heart & never allowed him to love again. Life hasn't been easy for Ellis but with plenty of gumption she has tackled each challenge head on. Thrown back together their bodies remember & heighten their awareness of one another. Great plot, strong characters, twists & turns, hot passion & constant surprises.
Profile Image for Christi Lofton.
408 reviews
July 18, 2013
This was a good quick read for my Sunday evening. I had gotten the book for free and enjoyed it. Even though it was somewhat of a typical plot, I did enjoy some of the psychological aspects that made it a little different. Only found one spelling error, so it appears to have been fairly well edited. It will hold your attention for the couple of hours that it takes to read it.
Profile Image for Jenna.
205 reviews
September 25, 2015
This was a free kindle book. It was alright.. Thankfully it was quick. Ellie and Carter were likable enough; they obviously had chemistry, but for me their history and their break up was lacking, underwhelming. It felt as if there was going to be a great story, and then, rushed to finish it with a lackluster ending..
Profile Image for Melanie Tikalsky.
240 reviews
September 13, 2013
Not a bad story
Not a bad story line or premise. It took a while for me to like the main hero because he was hell bent on revenge. Once the author showed us his redeeming qualities it really was a good story. I will look for more from this author.
Profile Image for Judy Bolick.
79 reviews
October 7, 2015
The Tycoon's Seductive Revenge

Ellie inherits a old hotel on El Dorado Island! It is deeply in debt and is to be auctioned off! Her lost love from twelve years shows up at her hotel! This is a must read for one of the best Romance Stories!
134 reviews
May 20, 2013
Meh. Once again, the story had potential but it never went deep enough. Maybe expecting some meet to the bones for these romance stories is just wrong on my part and I need to keep an open mind?
Profile Image for Rosanne.
358 reviews
June 1, 2013
Contemporary Romance

2 1/2 stars.

Not horrible but not great. Story was somewhat predictable. Female character was boring.
Profile Image for Ashley Clark.
Author 2 books13 followers
June 2, 2013
These books are all almost the same thing but still okay reads
Profile Image for Jenna.
28 reviews
June 8, 2013
a lot of bouncing back and forth with moods Jekyll. hyde syndrome
Profile Image for Pauline.
544 reviews15 followers
June 23, 2013
A typical Miss & Boon style read. Feels like a secret vice; really enjoyed this book!
8 reviews
June 29, 2013
ok.......................
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.