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Carhart #1
Proof by Seduction
It’s not easy for a woman with neither money nor family to make her own way in the world, but as one of London’s premier fortune-tellers, Jenny Keeble has managed precisely that. All she has to do is smile sweetly, listen carefully, and tell her clients precisely what they want to hear. It works...until Gareth Carhart, the scientifically-minded Marquess of Blakely, decides to prove that she’s a fraud.
At first, all Gareth wants is to free his gullible cousin from Jenny’s clutches. But he discovers that she’s clever, spirited, beautiful, and not at all the conniving liar that he initially imagined. Still, there’s nothing logical about his attraction to her, and so he refuses to give in to it. He’s vowed to ruin her, so he will—even if he has to break his own heart in the process.
This is an enhanced ebook. In addition to the text of the book itself, it contains pictures, audio, and author commentary. You can read this enhanced ebook on any device, but the audio content may not be accessible on all ereaders. That content has been made available on the web, so you won't miss anything if your device doesn't support audio.
Proof by Seduction is the first full-length book in the Carhart series. The full series is:
This Wicked Gift, a prequel novellaProof by Seduction
Trial by Desire
At first, all Gareth wants is to free his gullible cousin from Jenny’s clutches. But he discovers that she’s clever, spirited, beautiful, and not at all the conniving liar that he initially imagined. Still, there’s nothing logical about his attraction to her, and so he refuses to give in to it. He’s vowed to ruin her, so he will—even if he has to break his own heart in the process.
This is an enhanced ebook. In addition to the text of the book itself, it contains pictures, audio, and author commentary. You can read this enhanced ebook on any device, but the audio content may not be accessible on all ereaders. That content has been made available on the web, so you won't miss anything if your device doesn't support audio.
Proof by Seduction is the first full-length book in the Carhart series. The full series is:
This Wicked Gift, a prequel novellaProof by Seduction
Trial by Desire
350 pages, ebook
First published December 15, 2009
97 people are currently reading
4152 people want to read
About the author
Courtney Milan
68 books5,484 followersCourtney Milan writes books about carriages, corsets, and smartwatches. Her books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. She is a New York Times and a USA Today Bestseller.
Courtney pens a weekly newsletter about tea, books, and basically anything and everything else. Sign up for it here: https://bit.ly/CourtneysTea
Before she started writing romance, Courtney got a graduate degree in theoretical physical chemistry from UC Berkeley. After that, just to shake things up, she went to law school at the University of Michigan and graduated summa cum laude. Then she did a handful of clerkships. She was a law professor for a while. She now writes full-time.
Courtney is represented by Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency.
Courtney pens a weekly newsletter about tea, books, and basically anything and everything else. Sign up for it here: https://bit.ly/CourtneysTea
Before she started writing romance, Courtney got a graduate degree in theoretical physical chemistry from UC Berkeley. After that, just to shake things up, she went to law school at the University of Michigan and graduated summa cum laude. Then she did a handful of clerkships. She was a law professor for a while. She now writes full-time.
Courtney is represented by Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 545 reviews
November 22, 2015
There are so few authors who can make me wish that I could hurry and reach the end of their novel so I can find out what happens, and yet at the same time make me wish that the novel would never end, because that would mean I would have to close the book once and for all. Courtney Milan is one such author. Another rarity among authors is the ability to write emotionally complex characters and not sound “clinical” while doing it. Again, Courtney Milan met that challenge head on and came out victorious with Proof by Seduction where two strangers are brought together by their desire to help one man.
Gareth, Lord Blakely and Jenny Keeble, Madame Esmerelda, were in a battle of wills – and wits – that kept the story moving at a fast pace. They were both looking out for Gareth’s cousin, Ned, who at 21 years old was – in their eyes – unable to look out for himself. And while they both wanted what was best for Ned, they had two entirely different ideas about what that was. The scheming, the plotting and the social status maneuverings made this a story in which I found myself constantly wondering what they would come up with next to test, tempt and torment each other...oh, and of course, seduce.
One of the things I really love about this book was how different it is from most romance novels in that, in most romances, whether they are historical, contemporary, paranormal or urban fantasy, there seems to be a set formula in which the heroine is almost always the one to help the hero free himself of a tormented past to become all that he can be. In Proof by Seduction, while Jenny does play this role, it starts out in a somewhat ‘less affectionate’ manner than we usually see. In fact, it’s her brutal honesty and manipulations directed at Gareth, whom she really doesn’t much care for in the beginning, which makes him start to realize what kind of man others see him as – aloof, demanding, uncaring, unfeeling…
It is Gareth’s unexpectedly honest reactions to what he learns about himself that forces Jenny to take a look at her own life – past and present – and make a choice for what she wants her future to hold.
People who follow my reviews probably get tired of hearing this, but I need to bond with the characters. I need to feel what they feel, otherwise the story is just a bunch of words to me. Courtney Milan did an excellent job of developing the characters into real people. She gave them strengths and weaknesses, qualities and flaws and she did something else that authors too often fail to do; she gave them hearts and souls. I booed their failures and cheered their triumphs. I ached for their loneliness and then delighted in their companionship. Indeed, I connected with them.
A truly awesome story by a truly great author!
August 19, 2022
Took a while for this book to win me over, but I LOVED the transformative moment the hero realized his feelings for the heroine.
Rake Appreciation Society book club pick
Rake Appreciation Society book club pick
March 13, 2022
The h is likable, the H gets there (slowly) but the H's cousin steals the show.
Great angst!
Two things lowered my enjoyment and rating - few outlandish and anachronistic things as also the way the h handles certain things towards the end.
3.65*
Great angst!
Two things lowered my enjoyment and rating - few outlandish and anachronistic things as also the way the h handles certain things towards the end.
3.65*
August 1, 2018
I really hate alpha-asshole main male characters. Especially when they go all 'manly' and 'can't help myself' and force themselves on women who 'really want it' because 'he can tell'. Fuck off and die, asshole. Bodies react for many reasons, and she might even really, in fact, be turned on - that doesn't fucking give you the right to force yourself onto her fuckball 'because I know you also want it'.
Odd how this is something like the 13th book I've read by this author, but whatever.
Odd how this is something like the 13th book I've read by this author, but whatever.
May 31, 2010
Many of my friends have reviewed this book and they've loved it, so I don't think I'll go into too much detail. Of course, every time I say that I follow up with about six paragraphs, so we'll just have to see what happens.
Courtney Milan is a very good writer. Her premise was very nicely laid out right from the first pages. We got action, tension, and a pretty good introduction to the characters in short order.
I thought Gareth's "problem" was both fascinating and heart-breaking. Who hasn't been there and had that feeling balloon to epic proportions? I could really relate and, even when he was bumbling around with his poor attempts at communication, I had to feel for him.
Jenny got on my nerves a bit. I never quite understood her strategy. And she made at least one very stupid move which I thought wasn't completely believable when compared to her obvious quick wit and cunning. I don't know that I can pinpoint it, but she just seemed a pain at times.
All-in-all, though, this is a very good historical romance. It's a bit unusual, but familiar enough to be a comfortable read as well.
Okay, not quite six paragraphs, but enough to give Proof by Seduction the Beanbag seal of approval.
Courtney Milan is a very good writer. Her premise was very nicely laid out right from the first pages. We got action, tension, and a pretty good introduction to the characters in short order.
I thought Gareth's "problem" was both fascinating and heart-breaking. Who hasn't been there and had that feeling balloon to epic proportions? I could really relate and, even when he was bumbling around with his poor attempts at communication, I had to feel for him.
Jenny got on my nerves a bit. I never quite understood her strategy. And she made at least one very stupid move which I thought wasn't completely believable when compared to her obvious quick wit and cunning. I don't know that I can pinpoint it, but she just seemed a pain at times.
All-in-all, though, this is a very good historical romance. It's a bit unusual, but familiar enough to be a comfortable read as well.
Okay, not quite six paragraphs, but enough to give Proof by Seduction the Beanbag seal of approval.
February 8, 2010
This book rocked. The main characters are Jenny Keeble, an educated woman who masquerades as Madame Esmeralda, a fortuneteller, and Gareth Carhart, the Marquess of Blakely, a scientifically driven, cold, awkward man. Gareth tries to unveil Jenny of her fake identity since his cousin, Ned seems to take her word as law. And so begins the battle.
I loved both of the characters. Jenny was very real and essentially a modern independent woman, who carries her share of scars. She's exceedingly smart and manages to counsel Ned when he is depressed (that was really ingenious). Gareth is so perfectly awkward. I love how his mind works and whenever he makes a mistake. It is one of the few HR that portrays the Hero with self-esteem issues (he's really NOT good at making friends). The Elephant is one of the funniest cutest part.
A great debut novel and worth reading and even adding to your collection.
I loved both of the characters. Jenny was very real and essentially a modern independent woman, who carries her share of scars. She's exceedingly smart and manages to counsel Ned when he is depressed (that was really ingenious). Gareth is so perfectly awkward. I love how his mind works and whenever he makes a mistake. It is one of the few HR that portrays the Hero with self-esteem issues (he's really NOT good at making friends). The Elephant is one of the funniest cutest part.
A great debut novel and worth reading and even adding to your collection.
August 15, 2022
So.. Gareth wins the best grand gesture I think I've ever read in a historical romance..
This was full of angst and these two sparked against each other in wonderful ways. Really I was moved more than I was expecting.
Tune into Rake Appreciation Society for our August discussion.
5 stars
2.5 on the spice scale
This was full of angst and these two sparked against each other in wonderful ways. Really I was moved more than I was expecting.
Tune into Rake Appreciation Society for our August discussion.
5 stars
2.5 on the spice scale
August 21, 2009
With a tender, passionate romance, a touch of sly humor, and a gruff and incredibly sexy hero, Courtney Milan’s PROOF BY SEDUCTION is a delicious read from the first page all the way to the very satisfying ending. If you love historical romance you must read this book!
March 14, 2022
Overall: 2.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖
Feels: ���🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Very light humor – there’s a few parts but overall it’s a heavy book
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )
Should I read in order?
You don’t have to. Yes, this is book 1, but there’s 2 short stories available for free on Milan’s website, and also a prequel novella, This Wicked Gift, but this one is fine to pick up without reading those.
Basic plot:
Gareth has a goal of getting ‘Madame Esmerelda’ to admit she’s a fraud and leave his cousin alone.
Give this a try if you want:
- Early Victorian time period (1838)
- Medium steam – 3 scenes if you’re generous, one is only about a page
- Class differences – hero is a marquess, heroine an orphan pretending to be a fortune teller to eke out a living
- A bit of enemies to lovers feel in the beginning
- Experienced heroine
- Secret identity – the hero doesn’t know the heroine’s real name for about half the book
- Rags to riches story
- You have to be okay with a jerk hero
Ages:
My notes were confusing on this, so I’m unsure – I think heroine is around 19 and hero is either 26 or 30 (haha, not sure if that’s helpful)
My thoughts:
This was just one of those books I never got into. I started it forever ago and would pick it up, read a few pages, and set it down. I struggled.
It’s quite dark, emotional, and heavy. And I usually love that stuff so perhaps it was just my mood. But I never connected with either of the main characters.
Gareth is very much a jerk. And if you haven’t read Courtney Milan before and this is your first, I encourage you to try her again because this really isn’t typical of her character’s behavior. But he thinks his cousin Ned is being fleeced by a cheating ‘gypsy’ (Milan’s words), and he’s out to prove her a fraud.
He’s just mean and nasty for much of the book. Condescending towards her and uncaring on a number of situations. I am not convinced of their HEA. I am not a big fan of romance novels where the ending pages don’t leave with the solid feel of a happily ever after. It was too little, very late in the book for me with what Gareth did for Jenny.
Jenny I liked more than Gareth but I still struggled to connect with her. Her story is heartbreaking and this book really shows how limited, unsafe, and unfair life is to women in the 1800s.
This book has a heavy set up for the next book in the series, where Ned is the hero and that really limited my enjoyment of the story. It didn’t feel like a romance between Gareth and Jenny. It was the story of Ned and his mental struggles and depression and Gareth trying to control everyone around him.
Here’s a few random parts that I wanted to note from the book
Content Warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖
Feels: ���🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Very light humor – there’s a few parts but overall it’s a heavy book
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )
Should I read in order?
You don’t have to. Yes, this is book 1, but there’s 2 short stories available for free on Milan’s website, and also a prequel novella, This Wicked Gift, but this one is fine to pick up without reading those.
Basic plot:
Gareth has a goal of getting ‘Madame Esmerelda’ to admit she’s a fraud and leave his cousin alone.
Give this a try if you want:
- Early Victorian time period (1838)
- Medium steam – 3 scenes if you’re generous, one is only about a page
- Class differences – hero is a marquess, heroine an orphan pretending to be a fortune teller to eke out a living
- A bit of enemies to lovers feel in the beginning
- Experienced heroine
- Secret identity – the hero doesn’t know the heroine’s real name for about half the book
- Rags to riches story
- You have to be okay with a jerk hero
Ages:
My notes were confusing on this, so I’m unsure – I think heroine is around 19 and hero is either 26 or 30 (haha, not sure if that’s helpful)
My thoughts:
This was just one of those books I never got into. I started it forever ago and would pick it up, read a few pages, and set it down. I struggled.
It’s quite dark, emotional, and heavy. And I usually love that stuff so perhaps it was just my mood. But I never connected with either of the main characters.
Gareth is very much a jerk. And if you haven’t read Courtney Milan before and this is your first, I encourage you to try her again because this really isn’t typical of her character’s behavior. But he thinks his cousin Ned is being fleeced by a cheating ‘gypsy’ (Milan’s words), and he’s out to prove her a fraud.
He’s just mean and nasty for much of the book. Condescending towards her and uncaring on a number of situations. I am not convinced of their HEA. I am not a big fan of romance novels where the ending pages don’t leave with the solid feel of a happily ever after. It was too little, very late in the book for me with what Gareth did for Jenny.
Jenny I liked more than Gareth but I still struggled to connect with her. Her story is heartbreaking and this book really shows how limited, unsafe, and unfair life is to women in the 1800s.
This book has a heavy set up for the next book in the series, where Ned is the hero and that really limited my enjoyment of the story. It didn’t feel like a romance between Gareth and Jenny. It was the story of Ned and his mental struggles and depression and Gareth trying to control everyone around him.
Here’s a few random parts that I wanted to note from the book
Content Warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
February 17, 2015
This book came along at the right moment for me, ready to lift up my spirits which it did admirably.
This was Milan first publication back in 2009. I could recognise Milan’s signature in it and compared to her recent work I could easily see her beginning with this one. We got the unconventional heroine, Jenny, whom I liked because of her can do attitude and her positivity against adversity. There are holes in her story which I am sure that had Milan been writing now, would have been well filled. But if I close my eyes and ignore the holes than yes I enjoyed this story because of all the characters involved, Gareth and especially Ned, the character development, the inner dialogue and the banter and the smiles and the elephants.
BR with Ingela and Irina – thanks girls
November 3, 2013
I like Courtney Milan's writing. I do. But I think it says something that my favorite pieces of her work have been her short stories. Her characters are phenomenal, her plots are interesting, sex scenes are hot without crossing the line into trashy, and I enjoy the fact that her stories aren't just a bunch of superficial fluff. Real people with real issues, not all of them pretty or petty. That being said, sometimes the characters allow their issues to run roughshod over their own existences, and that turns reading about it into a rather trying ordeal. If Milan could construct more compelling obstacles, her work would probably wring four (perhaps five) stars out of me. With her short stories, having the characters balk and hem and haw over things that don't really matter isn't a huge deal because it's over with rather quickly (much as in real life). When you're reading a full length novel, however, the protestations of "Oh, I just can't be with him/trust him!" become a grating irritant.
February 5, 2021
“Oh he’d sunk to new low, contemplating a woman’s wardrobe.”
Totally exceeded my expectation. I loved how awkward and straightforward Lord Blakely was. Just shipped him and Jenny like crazy! Their whole relationship was one sexy, angsty, satisfying and hilarious roller coaster ride that I finished in a span of one day!
One thing stopped this from being a shoo-in 5 stars = that second couple.
Just no.
When you got the main pair this strong, it’s just a waste of papers/time and actually subtract from your novel... What a shame for that...
Totally exceeded my expectation. I loved how awkward and straightforward Lord Blakely was. Just shipped him and Jenny like crazy! Their whole relationship was one sexy, angsty, satisfying and hilarious roller coaster ride that I finished in a span of one day!
One thing stopped this from being a shoo-in 5 stars = that second couple.
Just no.
When you got the main pair this strong, it’s just a waste of papers/time and actually subtract from your novel... What a shame for that...
August 28, 2015
I think (?) this was CM's first book, and it's so bloody good. The first 20% or so is easily the weakest part. It's a bit jarring in relation to the suddenness with which everything happens and the descriptions and characterisations are a little on the nose - less would've been more. But Milan finds her stride as the book goes on and it gets better and better. The h/H are simply wonderful. Blakely is nicely done, at the start his straight scientist, no emotion, blunt talking schtick felt, as I've said, a bit heavy handed but it was fleshed out by his history and it was lovely seeing Jenny break it down and see the man underneath. The growth in his character was deftly done and it was powered by the romance. Then there's Jenny. Strong and clever and a little flawed but not too much and a great counterpoint to Blakely. They're a great couple with a believable romance, although I thought Blakely's sudden conversion to marriage was a bit too neat. Sex is great as well, although CM uses the word 'womb' [wombs clenching around cocks, just: no, people. No.] which honestly would be enough for me to dock a star all on its own. The secondary characters were a bit wanting & I'll be reading Ned's book but I wasn't left with a burning desire to know or read more about Ned. I feel like there Have been a lot of criticisms in this review. They're all small ones because overall this book is really, really good.
January 24, 2010
There really isn't anything better than reading a wonderful book and left feeling happy after it is over. The story revolves around Gareth (Marquess of Blakely) and Jenny (Madame Esmerelda). Gareth is a scientist and restricted to his numerous responsibilities of being a Marquess. Jenny is a well educated orphan who is trying to live an independent life. She has few options available to her so she decides to be a fortune teller. Gareth's cousin, Ned, comes to depend upon Jenny for advice and Gareth fears he is being taken advantage of. Gareth threatens to expose Jenny and in the process falls in love with her. There is so much more to this story and depth to the characters than what I am writing about. I know I am NOT doing this book justice with my review! "Proof of Seduction" was a beautiful love story where two complicated and intelligent people came together in a perfect fit. This book reminds me of Tessa Dare and Julia Quinn's (especially her older ones) books. If you like those writers, I think you will really like this one too. Courtney Milan has become a new (favorite) author for me to read and I cannot wait until her next book comes out!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2009
When I began reading Proof by Seduction I wasn’t sure what to make of it. We have our heroine, Jenny Keeble who is a fraud by playing the role of a fortune teller named Madame Esmerelda. She lives in near poverty but because she is skilled at deceit and believes she isn’t a good person and hasn’t been since she turned nine years old, she does what she has to do to survive. Jenny is not some virginal, innocent British miss but a mature woman of thirty. The only respect she gets is from her clients, especially a young idealistic gentleman, Ned Carhart. Jenny enjoys having Ned as her client because he’s such a nice guy and she doesn’t feel lonely, even though she continues to take his money. And she doesn’t really feel that guilty because if he’s that gullible, it’s his own fault. But what Jenny doesn’t know is Ned has a cousin with a very critical mind and when he hears about Madame Esmerelda, he goes with Ned to visit her. The moment Jenny meets Gareth Carhart, Marquess of Blakely she knows her days are numbered.
Gareth is not only cold, distant and very rude, but Jenny also finds herself attracted to him. I think in part it has to do with him being compared to a “tawny, ferocious and a little feral” lion. Jenny is good at reading people and she’s on point when it comes to Gareth. Ned is very protective of the Madame, while Gareth is annoyed. Not only is Ned being played for a fool, but Gareth has been forced away from his busy schedule to handle this situation. He hates having the responsibility of being a father type figure to Ned. Gareth isn’t comfortable with people, even his own family. He’s been away in Brazil for years working on a nature expedition and now only just returned to England when his grandfather died and had to take over the responsibility of his title. He hates his new life and longs for the freedom and seclusion he sacrificed.
Jenny will not be pushed around by Gareth. Actually, she enjoys the banter with him and wants him to loosen up, to smile and enjoy himself. She comes up with a game of sorts to prove she’s authentic. Jenny is skilled at making things up. She tells Ned the spirits have come to her and stated Gareth will marry a woman at a ball they are going to attend. From an orange Ned cuts up, she sees a vision of an elephant. She predicts Gareth will approach his future bride and give her a carved elephant. Gareth is stuck in a hard position because if he exposes Jenny for what she really is, it will break Ned’s heart. He goes along with the ruse but Jenny will also be involved because if he’s going to be made look like a fool, than Jenny will also.
Jenny and Gareth are complete opposites in everyway. Even though life has been less than ideal for Jenny, she finds humor in the world around her. She tries to make the best of her situation. Gareth is so strung tight and can barely function in society or even with his own sister who wants his approval but seems frighten of him. As soon as Jenny walks into Gareth’s life, he changes for the better. He kicks and screams and doesn’t want to change, but Jenny forces him. Unfortunately for Jenny, Gareth is much like a hurricane. Once he has been unleashed, he won’t be controlled. Even though he treats Jenny with contempt, he longs to hold her in his arms, to bring her pleasure and have it returned. And most importantly he wants Jenny to call him by his first name of Gareth because Gareth the man is very different from Gareth the Marquess. Jenny is now playing with fire because she decided to tangle with this lion.
Proof by Seduction is a dance between two people. Gareth and Jenny are spectacular together. When Gareth comes to the conclusion he needs Jenny, that’s when things really pick up. He wants her with a desperate need because she’s able to pick at his emotional scabs until they are oozing. Gareth has cut himself off, all because of a sad and lonely childhood that shaped him into the man he has become. Coincidentally, Jenny’s own childhood is much like Gareth’s. Jenny is willing to give everything to Gareth, even become his lover without the benefits of marriage, but won’t become his mistress where she’ll be bought with an expensive trinket or a nice house in town. She tries to teach Gareth these differences with some interesting results.
The change from disdain to passion and lust Gareth and Jenny have for one another happens quickly and may make the reader do a second take. But the scenes where Gareth invites Jenny to sin with him are incredibly sexy. These are two people who need touch and intimacy to feel alive and because they have been denied it for so long, they latch onto each other. There’s so much meaning behind the reasons Gareth wants Jenny to call him by his first name. There aren’t a whole slew of love making between these two, but they sure make up for it with their kissing and lusty looks. When they finally act on their desire, it sizzles, even though there was one statement that really jolted me out of the story. At one point as Gareth is giving Jenny the much anticipated loving with his tongue, it’s mentioned he enjoyed tasting the salty sweetness of the woman that is Jenny. Sorry, I suddenly have a craving for chocolate covered potato chips for some reason. Even with that small purple prose description, I enjoyed the rest of the passage.
Gareth is one of those wonderful, misunderstood, stubborn heroes you want to hold close to your heart because of his internal suffering. I did feel Gareth held back a bit too much. I wanted to see more of an explosion on his part, an impassioned plea where he finally understands why he’s the way he is and how he would fix it.
Courtney Milan’s debut is a wonderful read. I really loved how Jenny tore off the mask Gareth wears and how they were able to come together and find happiness and love. The ending is sweet, tender and everything in between. Ned also brings forth some lighthearted moments, especially his appreciation for a woman’s ankles and his sudden feelings for the woman he believes is Gareth’s future wife.
Courtney Milan is a very welcomed debut author in the historical romance world and I look forward to her future releases.
Gareth is not only cold, distant and very rude, but Jenny also finds herself attracted to him. I think in part it has to do with him being compared to a “tawny, ferocious and a little feral” lion. Jenny is good at reading people and she’s on point when it comes to Gareth. Ned is very protective of the Madame, while Gareth is annoyed. Not only is Ned being played for a fool, but Gareth has been forced away from his busy schedule to handle this situation. He hates having the responsibility of being a father type figure to Ned. Gareth isn’t comfortable with people, even his own family. He’s been away in Brazil for years working on a nature expedition and now only just returned to England when his grandfather died and had to take over the responsibility of his title. He hates his new life and longs for the freedom and seclusion he sacrificed.
Jenny will not be pushed around by Gareth. Actually, she enjoys the banter with him and wants him to loosen up, to smile and enjoy himself. She comes up with a game of sorts to prove she’s authentic. Jenny is skilled at making things up. She tells Ned the spirits have come to her and stated Gareth will marry a woman at a ball they are going to attend. From an orange Ned cuts up, she sees a vision of an elephant. She predicts Gareth will approach his future bride and give her a carved elephant. Gareth is stuck in a hard position because if he exposes Jenny for what she really is, it will break Ned’s heart. He goes along with the ruse but Jenny will also be involved because if he’s going to be made look like a fool, than Jenny will also.
Jenny and Gareth are complete opposites in everyway. Even though life has been less than ideal for Jenny, she finds humor in the world around her. She tries to make the best of her situation. Gareth is so strung tight and can barely function in society or even with his own sister who wants his approval but seems frighten of him. As soon as Jenny walks into Gareth’s life, he changes for the better. He kicks and screams and doesn’t want to change, but Jenny forces him. Unfortunately for Jenny, Gareth is much like a hurricane. Once he has been unleashed, he won’t be controlled. Even though he treats Jenny with contempt, he longs to hold her in his arms, to bring her pleasure and have it returned. And most importantly he wants Jenny to call him by his first name of Gareth because Gareth the man is very different from Gareth the Marquess. Jenny is now playing with fire because she decided to tangle with this lion.
Proof by Seduction is a dance between two people. Gareth and Jenny are spectacular together. When Gareth comes to the conclusion he needs Jenny, that’s when things really pick up. He wants her with a desperate need because she’s able to pick at his emotional scabs until they are oozing. Gareth has cut himself off, all because of a sad and lonely childhood that shaped him into the man he has become. Coincidentally, Jenny’s own childhood is much like Gareth’s. Jenny is willing to give everything to Gareth, even become his lover without the benefits of marriage, but won’t become his mistress where she’ll be bought with an expensive trinket or a nice house in town. She tries to teach Gareth these differences with some interesting results.
The change from disdain to passion and lust Gareth and Jenny have for one another happens quickly and may make the reader do a second take. But the scenes where Gareth invites Jenny to sin with him are incredibly sexy. These are two people who need touch and intimacy to feel alive and because they have been denied it for so long, they latch onto each other. There’s so much meaning behind the reasons Gareth wants Jenny to call him by his first name. There aren’t a whole slew of love making between these two, but they sure make up for it with their kissing and lusty looks. When they finally act on their desire, it sizzles, even though there was one statement that really jolted me out of the story. At one point as Gareth is giving Jenny the much anticipated loving with his tongue, it’s mentioned he enjoyed tasting the salty sweetness of the woman that is Jenny. Sorry, I suddenly have a craving for chocolate covered potato chips for some reason. Even with that small purple prose description, I enjoyed the rest of the passage.
Gareth is one of those wonderful, misunderstood, stubborn heroes you want to hold close to your heart because of his internal suffering. I did feel Gareth held back a bit too much. I wanted to see more of an explosion on his part, an impassioned plea where he finally understands why he’s the way he is and how he would fix it.
Courtney Milan’s debut is a wonderful read. I really loved how Jenny tore off the mask Gareth wears and how they were able to come together and find happiness and love. The ending is sweet, tender and everything in between. Ned also brings forth some lighthearted moments, especially his appreciation for a woman’s ankles and his sudden feelings for the woman he believes is Gareth’s future wife.
Courtney Milan is a very welcomed debut author in the historical romance world and I look forward to her future releases.
May 29, 2017
Oh frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! (with apologies to Lewis Carroll). You know that moment? When you start an HR with great optimism, you get a quarter of the way in and then you have a really bad feeling: this is going to be a book I don't like?
I am happy to say the Ms Milan totally exceeded my expectations here:)
This was a lovely book. One that I finished with a huge smile and a warm glow in my heart. After all the angst and emotional turmoil, a wonderful outcome.
The story centres around a young woman- well, older for an HR, she is 32- who has had a really tough start in life. She does not know who her parents are but was sent to a school (one of those cold places where girls learned the etiquette of the fork and spoon, and where all emotions, hopes and dreams were crushed) that was paid for until her 18th birthday by some mysterious sponsor, whereupon she was to become a governess and spend her life in lonely servitude. Jenny decided to break out and run away. With a man. Well, it didn't work out that well and we find her, years later, transformed into Madam Esmerelda, fortune-teller extraordinaire.
Then Jenny meets Gareth (the Marquess, Lord Blakely.) He is the cousin of a young client of hers, a man who came to her in a very depressed, suicidal state some two years before, and whom she helped enormously. The marquess, however is a cold, rational, scientific man full of completely repressed emotions, unable to express his feelings and blessed with a massive superiority complex, courtesy of his grandfather. He is determined to expose Jenny as the charlatan she is, but has so little empathy that he does not realise how seriously depressed his cousin was, or that by exposing her, he may well pitch his cousin back down into his well of despair.
The author is marvellous at gradually peeling back the layers of her main characters. My initial dislike of the marquess was tempered with increasing understanding, and what was terrific was that Jenny, although with her own faults, never once gives in to him in the way he wishes her to. She battles his buttoned down arrogance and challenges him to open himself up to his feelings and thus, to real relationships, These include a very touching relationship with a much younger sister, as well as his relationship with his cousin, with an "employee" - heaven forbid!- (his man of business) and then, of course, with Jenny herself. To me, he is definitely someone who is "on the spectrum" as we say here in Oz (Asperger's) and the steep learning curve Gareth goes through is sometimes excruciating, but always gripping. Watching Gareth's struggle with intimacy is difficult, his repeated failures where he beats himself up for not knowing the right thing to say or do painful, but ultimately so rewarding. I found myself cheering him on and rooting for their HEA with all my heart.
Jenny grows throughout the book, and she is complex character in her own right, not just a vehicle for the hero's redemption, as is so often the case in HR novels.
I read the enhanced Kindle version- love the insight it gives into the writing process and the author's intentions.
This one is definitely a keeper!
I am happy to say the Ms Milan totally exceeded my expectations here:)
This was a lovely book. One that I finished with a huge smile and a warm glow in my heart. After all the angst and emotional turmoil, a wonderful outcome.
The story centres around a young woman- well, older for an HR, she is 32- who has had a really tough start in life. She does not know who her parents are but was sent to a school (one of those cold places where girls learned the etiquette of the fork and spoon, and where all emotions, hopes and dreams were crushed) that was paid for until her 18th birthday by some mysterious sponsor, whereupon she was to become a governess and spend her life in lonely servitude. Jenny decided to break out and run away. With a man. Well, it didn't work out that well and we find her, years later, transformed into Madam Esmerelda, fortune-teller extraordinaire.
Then Jenny meets Gareth (the Marquess, Lord Blakely.) He is the cousin of a young client of hers, a man who came to her in a very depressed, suicidal state some two years before, and whom she helped enormously. The marquess, however is a cold, rational, scientific man full of completely repressed emotions, unable to express his feelings and blessed with a massive superiority complex, courtesy of his grandfather. He is determined to expose Jenny as the charlatan she is, but has so little empathy that he does not realise how seriously depressed his cousin was, or that by exposing her, he may well pitch his cousin back down into his well of despair.
The author is marvellous at gradually peeling back the layers of her main characters. My initial dislike of the marquess was tempered with increasing understanding, and what was terrific was that Jenny, although with her own faults, never once gives in to him in the way he wishes her to. She battles his buttoned down arrogance and challenges him to open himself up to his feelings and thus, to real relationships, These include a very touching relationship with a much younger sister, as well as his relationship with his cousin, with an "employee" - heaven forbid!- (his man of business) and then, of course, with Jenny herself. To me, he is definitely someone who is "on the spectrum" as we say here in Oz (Asperger's) and the steep learning curve Gareth goes through is sometimes excruciating, but always gripping. Watching Gareth's struggle with intimacy is difficult, his repeated failures where he beats himself up for not knowing the right thing to say or do painful, but ultimately so rewarding. I found myself cheering him on and rooting for their HEA with all my heart.
Jenny grows throughout the book, and she is complex character in her own right, not just a vehicle for the hero's redemption, as is so often the case in HR novels.
I read the enhanced Kindle version- love the insight it gives into the writing process and the author's intentions.
This one is definitely a keeper!
May 3, 2015
4.5 Hilarious Stars!
February 23, 2010
If you knew me personally, you would know I have not read HR in years! You would also know that I would be the last person to pick up a book with the main character being a fortune teller! But this year, thanks to authors like Charlotte Featherstone and Courtney Milan I have found a new love for going back in time with some very beautifully real, flawed and engaging characters.
Gareth, The Lord Blakley, is a stone cold realist. His past shows a stern upbringing and he is taught early on that a "man of worth and status" does not show emotion or love of anything but the family business. Jenny, Madame Esmerelda, has grown up without knowing her parents and has felt unworthy in society and as a person all of her life. Both Gareth and Jenny have hid behind their titles in order to survive in a harsh world and that is exactly what they do until their lives collide.
What I loved most about the story is that usually redemption comes one sided in a lot of historical romances but with Proof By Seduction, there is an awakening in both Jenny and Gareth and how they are perceived in the world. Through their desperate need for love and companionship Jenny and Gareth learn what they are and what they desperately want to be hence uncovering a heart and soul in each other.
Milan gives a well rounded amount of humor, sensuality, honesty, and strength throughout the story and really draws you into connecting with both characters which is the most challenging role for an author. Milan delivered and I was breathless, aching, cheering, wanting to slap them up until the end.
Proof by Seduction is beautifully real and I look forward to more of Courtney Milan's work.
Gareth, The Lord Blakley, is a stone cold realist. His past shows a stern upbringing and he is taught early on that a "man of worth and status" does not show emotion or love of anything but the family business. Jenny, Madame Esmerelda, has grown up without knowing her parents and has felt unworthy in society and as a person all of her life. Both Gareth and Jenny have hid behind their titles in order to survive in a harsh world and that is exactly what they do until their lives collide.
What I loved most about the story is that usually redemption comes one sided in a lot of historical romances but with Proof By Seduction, there is an awakening in both Jenny and Gareth and how they are perceived in the world. Through their desperate need for love and companionship Jenny and Gareth learn what they are and what they desperately want to be hence uncovering a heart and soul in each other.
Milan gives a well rounded amount of humor, sensuality, honesty, and strength throughout the story and really draws you into connecting with both characters which is the most challenging role for an author. Milan delivered and I was breathless, aching, cheering, wanting to slap them up until the end.
Proof by Seduction is beautifully real and I look forward to more of Courtney Milan's work.
July 14, 2015
I've read Brothers Sinister but even having finished that I still haven't decided then if I liked Courtney Milan or not. After Proof by Seduction, I am now convinced that I DO like her! I didn't expect to be so affected by this book but I was. Both Gareth and Jenny were quite compelling characters and while they were going through some hard ships, my heart literally hurt. Yes, I was THAT involved with the story.
Gareth or Lord Blakely is not your average dreamy alpha Hero but he has his moments. Having grown up an awkward child, he turned to sciences and so that he will not be bullied, learned to be cold and calculating to intimidate those who would dare to make fun of him—he is also arrogant and clearly thinks himself above all as a marquess. Jenny Keeble a/k/a Madame Esmeralda makes her living by way of fraud only. She is no flimsy little miss, but a mature 30 year old woman who was "ruined" by society standards. She is strong, willful and will not let herself be pushed around by Lord Blakely.
I adore this two characters and this book will probably stay in my mind for a long time, I think.
Gareth or Lord Blakely is not your average dreamy alpha Hero but he has his moments. Having grown up an awkward child, he turned to sciences and so that he will not be bullied, learned to be cold and calculating to intimidate those who would dare to make fun of him—he is also arrogant and clearly thinks himself above all as a marquess. Jenny Keeble a/k/a Madame Esmeralda makes her living by way of fraud only. She is no flimsy little miss, but a mature 30 year old woman who was "ruined" by society standards. She is strong, willful and will not let herself be pushed around by Lord Blakely.
I adore this two characters and this book will probably stay in my mind for a long time, I think.
March 1, 2015
Gareth Carhart– Marquess of Blakely – scientist.
Jenny Keeble – Madame Esmerelda – seer and predictor of the future
Ned Carhart – Young cousin of Gareth and client of Madame Esmerelda
Surprisingly, I loved this book. I didn’t think I would. Reading the cover, it was hard for me to imagine I would like, much less love, a hero who was so “rigidly logical, a scientist who retreated behind scientific proof”. But you soon fall in love with this broodingly handsome, complex, intense man.
I loved Jenny, her independence, intelligence and her desire to not only survive but thrive in a world that had at best treated her cruelly. Having no family, no known relatives, I found myself rooting for her to get her HEA.
From the beginning with Gareth’s intent to prove Madame Esmerelda as a fraud and therefore stopping all association with her from his young cousin, Ned, I found myself enthralled. A great historical that I found intensely romantic, witty and sexy.
A debut book from Courtney Milan and I am so glad I read this one!
Jenny Keeble – Madame Esmerelda – seer and predictor of the future
Ned Carhart – Young cousin of Gareth and client of Madame Esmerelda
Surprisingly, I loved this book. I didn’t think I would. Reading the cover, it was hard for me to imagine I would like, much less love, a hero who was so “rigidly logical, a scientist who retreated behind scientific proof”. But you soon fall in love with this broodingly handsome, complex, intense man.
I loved Jenny, her independence, intelligence and her desire to not only survive but thrive in a world that had at best treated her cruelly. Having no family, no known relatives, I found myself rooting for her to get her HEA.
From the beginning with Gareth’s intent to prove Madame Esmerelda as a fraud and therefore stopping all association with her from his young cousin, Ned, I found myself enthralled. A great historical that I found intensely romantic, witty and sexy.
A debut book from Courtney Milan and I am so glad I read this one!
August 24, 2012
This book needs a trigger warning for suicidal ideation (not either person from the main couple, but the third main character in the book). I'm not sure everyone would say this next thing needs a trigger warning, but I'm giving it one for rape culture. I was extremely creeped out by the "hero's" penchant for forcing his way into the heroine's home and kissing her - once, after she said no, so not only did he not usually wait for explicit positive consent - the rule that "yes means yes" - but one time he ignored her explicit negative response. At another point, he threatened a minor female character with deportation to Australia, telling her she would be sent in the male prisoners' cabin. I can't stomach that as a cheap "laugh" and a throw-away line. On top of all this, he's also a romance-typical arrogant, insensitive jackass in other ways.
The book tries to explain his jackassary, and to a certain extent succeeds - but that explanation certainly isn't pertinent to his creepiness, which isn't at all defensible. I am SO GLAD that after this, Milan's first novel, she decided to buck the conventions and not make her future male protagonists gross "alpha" jerkwads. Her writing and empathy and finesse with complicated backstory is such that even here I wanted to empathize with the male protagonist - to the point of his arrogance, not his indefensible rape culture stuff - but for me, the bad in him by far outweighed that impulse.
So this would have gotten one star from me, but the thing is, I loved every single other character in this book. I loved Jenny and Ned and Feathers and Kate. I loved them.
I also appreciated how Milan tried to address mental health issues with respect and dignity, although I thought she made some horrendous choices that I am choosing to put down to the characters' misunderstanding of mental health, rather than her own. (Literal gambling with the issue of self-worth in a suicide risk? really? REALLY? That upset me so much I can't describe it.)
I'm not sure I realized how upset I was with this book until I started reviewing it. Look: Ned and Jenny were wonderful. The rest of the book...wasn't.
The book tries to explain his jackassary, and to a certain extent succeeds - but that explanation certainly isn't pertinent to his creepiness, which isn't at all defensible. I am SO GLAD that after this, Milan's first novel, she decided to buck the conventions and not make her future male protagonists gross "alpha" jerkwads. Her writing and empathy and finesse with complicated backstory is such that even here I wanted to empathize with the male protagonist - to the point of his arrogance, not his indefensible rape culture stuff - but for me, the bad in him by far outweighed that impulse.
So this would have gotten one star from me, but the thing is, I loved every single other character in this book. I loved Jenny and Ned and Feathers and Kate. I loved them.
I also appreciated how Milan tried to address mental health issues with respect and dignity, although I thought she made some horrendous choices that I am choosing to put down to the characters' misunderstanding of mental health, rather than her own. (Literal gambling with the issue of self-worth in a suicide risk? really? REALLY? That upset me so much I can't describe it.)
I'm not sure I realized how upset I was with this book until I started reviewing it. Look: Ned and Jenny were wonderful. The rest of the book...wasn't.
July 26, 2017
2.5 stars.
At 38% I pretty much loathed the H and felt sorry for the h. As other reviewers stated, the H was really an arrogant jerk. It was hard to like him, impossible even, and I couldn't understand why the h would want him. It was the classic "I can't help but dissolve into a puddle of hormones in the presence of his brooding broodiness" and I couldn't help but sigh. I struggled with putting this down as a DNF or powering through.
Upon finishing, I can't say I regret finishing this. DNFs always bug me and I was happy to find out what happened in the end. That being said, I'm conflicted on how to rate this book. The first third would have rated a one star. The rest of the book a three. I'm bumping the average up half a star for readability. I mean, honestly, the fact that Ms. Milan's writing compelled me to finish this in spite of an awful H says a whole lot.
So back to the story. The h's backstory is really quite sad. How she arrived at her present day vocation was realistic, but unfortunately the resolution of this story wasn't. The H's backstory was also realistic but cliche to the max. Groomed from a young age to assume the title and responsibilities? Check. Grandfather taught him a lesson about how love is worthless? Check. Taught to stifle all emotions as was expected of his station, but needed a passionate woman to teach him how to live and not just survive? Check. Needless to say, the H underwhelmed me in lack of originality. Then again, it didn't bother me much since Courtney Milan knows how to tell a tale well.
However, in the end, the H's transformation from an automaton to a flesh-and-blood man was lacking. In short, he didn't grovel enough. And really, he needed to. A lot. Not because I'm a sadist and enjoy others' suffering but rather because the h was worth it. Even though her hormonal ridiculousness bothered me a lot. To the point where I'm writing in fragments. Because it bothered me that much.
Overall, a nice way to pass the time if you can get over how mean the H was in the beginning, how fast the h was to forgive him, and how little he needed to grovel in the end.
At 38% I pretty much loathed the H and felt sorry for the h. As other reviewers stated, the H was really an arrogant jerk. It was hard to like him, impossible even, and I couldn't understand why the h would want him. It was the classic "I can't help but dissolve into a puddle of hormones in the presence of his brooding broodiness" and I couldn't help but sigh. I struggled with putting this down as a DNF or powering through.
Upon finishing, I can't say I regret finishing this. DNFs always bug me and I was happy to find out what happened in the end. That being said, I'm conflicted on how to rate this book. The first third would have rated a one star. The rest of the book a three. I'm bumping the average up half a star for readability. I mean, honestly, the fact that Ms. Milan's writing compelled me to finish this in spite of an awful H says a whole lot.
So back to the story. The h's backstory is really quite sad. How she arrived at her present day vocation was realistic, but unfortunately the resolution of this story wasn't. The H's backstory was also realistic but cliche to the max. Groomed from a young age to assume the title and responsibilities? Check. Grandfather taught him a lesson about how love is worthless? Check. Taught to stifle all emotions as was expected of his station, but needed a passionate woman to teach him how to live and not just survive? Check. Needless to say, the H underwhelmed me in lack of originality. Then again, it didn't bother me much since Courtney Milan knows how to tell a tale well.
However, in the end, the H's transformation from an automaton to a flesh-and-blood man was lacking. In short, he didn't grovel enough. And really, he needed to. A lot. Not because I'm a sadist and enjoy others' suffering but rather because the h was worth it. Even though her hormonal ridiculousness bothered me a lot. To the point where I'm writing in fragments. Because it bothered me that much.
Overall, a nice way to pass the time if you can get over how mean the H was in the beginning, how fast the h was to forgive him, and how little he needed to grovel in the end.
February 1, 2010
I had a hard time reading this book. It was not because I did not like the character's, I did. The story to me was just not that good. While I was reading it, I liked it but when I'd put it down, I had a hard time wanting to pick the book back up. I kept waiting for it to grab me and it did the last part of the book was very good.
If you are thinking about reading this book and read my review, please do not not read this book because of my review. Most of the woman who read this book really liked it or loved it.
If you are thinking about reading this book and read my review, please do not not read this book because of my review. Most of the woman who read this book really liked it or loved it.
June 12, 2018
There is definitely some fantastic grovelling here at the end. Thanks Kim!
December 30, 2009
Prior to getting Proof By Seduction, I heard a lot of buzz about this book and debut author Courtney Milan. I was eager to get my hands on a copy, and I was just as eager to see how this book would hold up to all the talk. I am happy to say it held up well, more than well. Courtney Milan writes a very smart, funny and romantic book.
Lord Gareth Blakely is a broken man, a cold, tortured soul. He was raised to take over his title, and it left little room for fun. He knows nothing of showing his emotions or how to interact with people. One of my favorite things is that Gareth stays broken throughout much of the book. There are no overnight miracles. He doesn’t take one look at Jenny and start frolicking through a meadow the next day. He has been an emotionless being all his life, and it takes time, and as he learns, much determination, to become someone better.
Jenny is posing in her life as Madame Esmerelda, a fortune teller, who possesses no actual gift, except the gift of persuasion and trust. She has taken what life has thrown at her and made the best of it. Although she in essence swindles money out of people, she has a good heart and would not choose this life if there were other alternatives.
Gareth, a scientist is determined to prove Madame Esmerelda a fraud for his cousin’s Ned’s sake. Ned went to Jenny years ago with severe depression, with thoughts of ending his life and Jenny predicted a future of happiness and hope. Ned has prospered since then, and Jenny feels a fierce loyalty and protection over him. Blakely feels the same feelings toward Ned, and sees Esmerelda as a liability to him.
Ned, desperate to show Gareth that Jenny is the real deal, pleas with her to predict something. Jenny doesn’t want to let Ned down, nor does she want to admit to Gareth that she is a fraud. So she comes up with this prediction – at an upcoming ball, at a certain time, Gareth will look upon the woman he is to marry and then he must perform three tasks, to be named at a future time, to secure this match. Gareth seeing right through Jenny’s absurdities, makes her come to the ball with him, so she can be their to witness this great coupling. The more Gareth and Jenny spend time together, they more their shields start to come down, and love is allowed to seep out.
For as much as Gareth is the serious, stern character, I found myself laughing out loud many times during his scenes – and that is how you will start to root for him. Courtney Milan puts him in situations where you can’t help but have a little pity for him and he melts some of that ice off.
There are ridiculously, funny moments in this book – Jenny “sacrifices” an orange on her first meeting with Blakely, looking into the pulp for clues to his future. Jenny knows this is hogwash, and she knows Blakely knows, but she is determined to duke it out with him. His first task involves carving an elephant in a piece of ebony to give to his future bride. Then he must compose a poem about Ned. Let’s just say, Gareth has no talent in the art department, and my stomach hurt from laughing.
Jenny has her moments of contradiction. Matching wits with Blakely as Esmerelda she is strong and smart. Then there are times as Jenny, where she wants to prove to Gareth that she is better than a mistress, yet finds herself unable to deny him entry to her house at night. They both are yearning for companionship and love and their desperation to have it is what drives them together.
Jenny and Gareth both want Ned to be happy and towards the end of the book it felt like Ned is forgotten a bit. He is such an integral character at the beginning I kind of thought he got lost in Jenny and Gareth's romance. Jenny has her fair share of personal problems, but for as much as she fights for Ned at the beginning of the book, she lets him down towards the end.
Courtney Milan does a great job of writing two characters that each hide behind a mask. Gareth hides behind Lord Blakely and Jenny hides behind Madame Esmerelda. As the two of them slowly strip away their masks, their love story is truly wonderful. When Gareth strips away everything and looks at Jenny just as Gareth, it is beautiful and almost heartbreaking. A truly lovely story, that I can’t recommend enough.
Lord Gareth Blakely is a broken man, a cold, tortured soul. He was raised to take over his title, and it left little room for fun. He knows nothing of showing his emotions or how to interact with people. One of my favorite things is that Gareth stays broken throughout much of the book. There are no overnight miracles. He doesn’t take one look at Jenny and start frolicking through a meadow the next day. He has been an emotionless being all his life, and it takes time, and as he learns, much determination, to become someone better.
Jenny is posing in her life as Madame Esmerelda, a fortune teller, who possesses no actual gift, except the gift of persuasion and trust. She has taken what life has thrown at her and made the best of it. Although she in essence swindles money out of people, she has a good heart and would not choose this life if there were other alternatives.
Gareth, a scientist is determined to prove Madame Esmerelda a fraud for his cousin’s Ned’s sake. Ned went to Jenny years ago with severe depression, with thoughts of ending his life and Jenny predicted a future of happiness and hope. Ned has prospered since then, and Jenny feels a fierce loyalty and protection over him. Blakely feels the same feelings toward Ned, and sees Esmerelda as a liability to him.
Ned, desperate to show Gareth that Jenny is the real deal, pleas with her to predict something. Jenny doesn’t want to let Ned down, nor does she want to admit to Gareth that she is a fraud. So she comes up with this prediction – at an upcoming ball, at a certain time, Gareth will look upon the woman he is to marry and then he must perform three tasks, to be named at a future time, to secure this match. Gareth seeing right through Jenny’s absurdities, makes her come to the ball with him, so she can be their to witness this great coupling. The more Gareth and Jenny spend time together, they more their shields start to come down, and love is allowed to seep out.
For as much as Gareth is the serious, stern character, I found myself laughing out loud many times during his scenes – and that is how you will start to root for him. Courtney Milan puts him in situations where you can’t help but have a little pity for him and he melts some of that ice off.
There are ridiculously, funny moments in this book – Jenny “sacrifices” an orange on her first meeting with Blakely, looking into the pulp for clues to his future. Jenny knows this is hogwash, and she knows Blakely knows, but she is determined to duke it out with him. His first task involves carving an elephant in a piece of ebony to give to his future bride. Then he must compose a poem about Ned. Let’s just say, Gareth has no talent in the art department, and my stomach hurt from laughing.
Jenny has her moments of contradiction. Matching wits with Blakely as Esmerelda she is strong and smart. Then there are times as Jenny, where she wants to prove to Gareth that she is better than a mistress, yet finds herself unable to deny him entry to her house at night. They both are yearning for companionship and love and their desperation to have it is what drives them together.
Jenny and Gareth both want Ned to be happy and towards the end of the book it felt like Ned is forgotten a bit. He is such an integral character at the beginning I kind of thought he got lost in Jenny and Gareth's romance. Jenny has her fair share of personal problems, but for as much as she fights for Ned at the beginning of the book, she lets him down towards the end.
Courtney Milan does a great job of writing two characters that each hide behind a mask. Gareth hides behind Lord Blakely and Jenny hides behind Madame Esmerelda. As the two of them slowly strip away their masks, their love story is truly wonderful. When Gareth strips away everything and looks at Jenny just as Gareth, it is beautiful and almost heartbreaking. A truly lovely story, that I can’t recommend enough.
February 26, 2018
Well, this took me by surprise. This is, I think, my fifth book by Milan and I understand it is her first but it is my favorite thus far. The premise, a fortune teller and a Marquess out to expose her as a fraud, did not sound particularly interesting to me but I thought I would try it anyway. So glad I did. I love me some angst, and this had plenty without becoming melodramatic. There were even some lighthearted moments thrown in.
I suppose I shouldn't have liked our arrogant hero Gareth in the beginning, but somehow, Milan gave enough little hints as to why he had built this shield around himself, that I never disliked him. In fact, as time went on, my heart went out to him and the lonely boy who became the solitary man. And Jenny, our heroine and fake fortune teller, was spunky and likeable from the start. She too had a lonely existence and only took on the "job" of a fortune teller because options are few for an eighteen year old all alone in the world.
When Gareth and Jenny meet, both are a little older than MC often are in romance novels. He is 34 and she is 30. They meet when Gareth accompanies his nephew, and heir apparent, Ned, on a visit to "Madame Esmerelda", the name Jenny went by in her role as a fortune teller. Gareth is determined to expose Jenny for the fraud he believes she must be. After all, Ned has been a faithful client of hers for two years now. Ned stands my his belief in Jenny and wants Jenny to prove to Gareth that she does have the power to foresee the future and her guidance for the last two years was not a sham.
Milan builds the story first around Gareth's attempt to expose Jenny and then, as they get to know one another, the story shifts to how Gareth comes to know himself and fall in love with a strong, but lonely girl who believes in her own worthiness.
I always know when I am going to rate a book five stars. When I have trouble putting the book down, when I wake up thinking about the characters (as if they are real people), and when I rush to finish and then am sad when I do. Those things all happened with this book making it a five star, re-read someday book for me.
I suppose I shouldn't have liked our arrogant hero Gareth in the beginning, but somehow, Milan gave enough little hints as to why he had built this shield around himself, that I never disliked him. In fact, as time went on, my heart went out to him and the lonely boy who became the solitary man. And Jenny, our heroine and fake fortune teller, was spunky and likeable from the start. She too had a lonely existence and only took on the "job" of a fortune teller because options are few for an eighteen year old all alone in the world.
When Gareth and Jenny meet, both are a little older than MC often are in romance novels. He is 34 and she is 30. They meet when Gareth accompanies his nephew, and heir apparent, Ned, on a visit to "Madame Esmerelda", the name Jenny went by in her role as a fortune teller. Gareth is determined to expose Jenny for the fraud he believes she must be. After all, Ned has been a faithful client of hers for two years now. Ned stands my his belief in Jenny and wants Jenny to prove to Gareth that she does have the power to foresee the future and her guidance for the last two years was not a sham.
Milan builds the story first around Gareth's attempt to expose Jenny and then, as they get to know one another, the story shifts to how Gareth comes to know himself and fall in love with a strong, but lonely girl who believes in her own worthiness.
I always know when I am going to rate a book five stars. When I have trouble putting the book down, when I wake up thinking about the characters (as if they are real people), and when I rush to finish and then am sad when I do. Those things all happened with this book making it a five star, re-read someday book for me.
August 31, 2012
This is my third Milan book and the one I've enjoyed the most so far.
The novel immersed me into the characters such that, when I was reading in their POV, I felt I could truly understand what and why they were acting. I felt why they needed each other and the love they felt for each other.
Strangely, my example for how well Milan does this involves the secondary (tertiary?)character of White, Gareth's man of business. In the beginning of the novel, White is a faceless man in a suit scribbling away at papers. As Gareth begins to see the people around him as people, White begins to take shape as a character. We understand just how much Gareth is changing because we see White change.
Of course, most of Gareth's changing understanding of the world surrounds Jenny, but what struck me so much was how Milan structured Gareth's change to encompass as otherwise unimportant characters. Gareth could have easily only begin to [i]see[/i] Ned, Jenny, and his sister. Instead, Gareth's transformation is so complete that White changes as well.
Wonderful.
The novel immersed me into the characters such that, when I was reading in their POV, I felt I could truly understand what and why they were acting. I felt why they needed each other and the love they felt for each other.
Strangely, my example for how well Milan does this involves the secondary (tertiary?)character of White, Gareth's man of business. In the beginning of the novel, White is a faceless man in a suit scribbling away at papers. As Gareth begins to see the people around him as people, White begins to take shape as a character. We understand just how much Gareth is changing because we see White change.
Of course, most of Gareth's changing understanding of the world surrounds Jenny, but what struck me so much was how Milan structured Gareth's change to encompass as otherwise unimportant characters. Gareth could have easily only begin to [i]see[/i] Ned, Jenny, and his sister. Instead, Gareth's transformation is so complete that White changes as well.
Wonderful.
October 25, 2012
The story line is novel, the narrative and dialogue flows, but the characters didn't have much impact on me, emotionally. Not sure why ... too cerebral? Anyway, this is one of Milan's first books. She keeps improving.
I liked her Turner series better, and am now enjoying her Brothers Sinister series.
I liked her Turner series better, and am now enjoying her Brothers Sinister series.
August 10, 2022
4 stars
Really enjoyed its complexity and Courtney Milan's lively writing style, Proof by Seduction might be too level-headed and analytical at conveying its emotions, hence it doesn't quite come across as a sweeping, grandiose romance, but as a diverse reader who simply appreciate skilled storytelling, this fully delivers as a narrative well-told.
The discussion on class difference, misogyny, and even mental illness is deeply woven into the plot; in a way the setup also reminds me of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, where characters' opposing belief (emotionally-driven vs. fact-based) are being challenged. At the expense of giving space to thoroughly articulate, argue for/against both perspectives, the romance can feel like it is constantly fallen by the wayside — Proof by Seduction oftentimes reads like a (really good) historical fiction, rather than a historical romance, as categorized.
Still, this being my first time reading from Courtney Milan, Proof by Seduction has definitely left a very good impression: the levity in her writing and some excellent instances of literary gymnastic, a roster of tangible, dimensional characters, and a plot-focused narrative, I'll definitely be checking out more of her backlist!
***The Rake Appreciation Society Book Club | August 2022***
Really enjoyed its complexity and Courtney Milan's lively writing style, Proof by Seduction might be too level-headed and analytical at conveying its emotions, hence it doesn't quite come across as a sweeping, grandiose romance, but as a diverse reader who simply appreciate skilled storytelling, this fully delivers as a narrative well-told.
The discussion on class difference, misogyny, and even mental illness is deeply woven into the plot; in a way the setup also reminds me of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, where characters' opposing belief (emotionally-driven vs. fact-based) are being challenged. At the expense of giving space to thoroughly articulate, argue for/against both perspectives, the romance can feel like it is constantly fallen by the wayside — Proof by Seduction oftentimes reads like a (really good) historical fiction, rather than a historical romance, as categorized.
Still, this being my first time reading from Courtney Milan, Proof by Seduction has definitely left a very good impression: the levity in her writing and some excellent instances of literary gymnastic, a roster of tangible, dimensional characters, and a plot-focused narrative, I'll definitely be checking out more of her backlist!
***The Rake Appreciation Society Book Club | August 2022***
July 1, 2022
La primera novela larga de C. Milan es muy buena. Si le pongo tres estrellas es solo porque después escribió otras todavía mejores.
Gareth Carhart es un aristócrata pagado de sí mismo, con un complejo de superioridad de aquí a Lima. Cumple con sus deberes sin gran entusiasmo porque a él lo que le gusta sobre todo es la ciencia, lo racional. Se le llevan los demonios cuando ve que su pariente Ned cae en manos de Jenny Keeble, joven sin dinero ni familia, pero que ha sabido salir adelante trabajando de pitonisa, o sea, con mucha psicología y habilidad para captar datos del cliente y decirle lo que quiere oír. Gareth se siente superior por ser noble, y que Jenny no es digna de él. Tiene que sufrir una transformación para dejarse de tanta chulería, bajar de su pedestal y comprender que no son más que seres humanos. Y así Jenny puede lograr la relación igualitaria a la que aspira.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
Gareth Carhart es un aristócrata pagado de sí mismo, con un complejo de superioridad de aquí a Lima. Cumple con sus deberes sin gran entusiasmo porque a él lo que le gusta sobre todo es la ciencia, lo racional. Se le llevan los demonios cuando ve que su pariente Ned cae en manos de Jenny Keeble, joven sin dinero ni familia, pero que ha sabido salir adelante trabajando de pitonisa, o sea, con mucha psicología y habilidad para captar datos del cliente y decirle lo que quiere oír. Gareth se siente superior por ser noble, y que Jenny no es digna de él. Tiene que sufrir una transformación para dejarse de tanta chulería, bajar de su pedestal y comprender que no son más que seres humanos. Y así Jenny puede lograr la relación igualitaria a la que aspira.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
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