Joss and the Countess

The Seducers #2

by S.M. LaViolette, Minerva Spencer

An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.

After two loveless marriages to older men, widowed countess Alicia Selwood is more than ready to find a competent lover. But her late night...adventures will require her to take on a bodyguard with a proven track record of professionalism and discretion. Joss Gormley is perfect for the job. Imagine her surprise when she discovers Joss's other qualifications—qualifications that might make him the ideal man to satisfy ALL her needs...

Joss never intended to be anything but Lady Selwood's faithful servant. But the more time he spends with the delectable countess, the more he longs to love and possess her. He's not good enough for her by far, and he knows she'll use him and discard him. But none of those worries can stop Joss from serving her by day...and dominating her by night.

When a ghost from Alicia's past emerges, threatening all she holds dear, she's forced to choose between the only family she has left, and the man who has come to mean everything to her. Can Joss and Alicia stand together and fight for their happily-ever-after—no matter how taboo? Or will society's pressures and expectations tear the two lovers apart?

The stories in THE SEDUCERS series stand alone and can be read in any order.

**TRIGGER WARNINGS**
Abuse, infidelity, incest, power exchange.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Erotica, BDSM, Audiobook, Regency

468 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 28, 2020

About the author

Who is S.M. LaViolette?

S.M. (that’s short for Shantal Marie) writes super spicy historical romance and historical erotic romance. S.M. likes to write about heroes and heroines who don't fit the mold--that means heroes who aren't always dukes and heroines who aren't always virgins.

People have described S.M.'s style as dark, angsty, and dryly witty.

S.M. also writes historical romance under the pen name Minerva Spencer, and historical mystery under S.M. Goodwin.

S.M. has been a criminal prosecutor, college history teacher, B&B operator, dock worker, ice cream manufacturer, reader for the blind, motel maid, and bounty hunter.

Okay, so the part about being a bounty hunter is a lie.

S.M. does, however, know how to hypnotize a Dungeness crab, sew her own Regency Era clothing, knit a frog hat, juggle, rebuild a 1959 American Rambler, and gain control of Asia (and hold on to it) in the game of RISK.

Reviews

[Mei · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting an erotic HR as was Melissa and The Vicar, and actually the erotic moments were present, but what was much more important here was the story and the stories of MCs!

The Countess, Alicia's story was really awful, even if, as she herself admits, she went there with her eyes open and greed in her heart. Still what she suffered was really bad...

Joss, on the other hand, had a loving family and an almost normal chilhood, but he too had some bad secrets to hide.

This was an intricate and artfully told story! I also like that it connected to Melissa's book and that Melissa had a big role to play!

[Merry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but did not love it like I usually do with LaViolette's writing. Truly an older woman and a younger man of the servant class drives the story. The book was lighter on spicy scenes than other books by the author and bit heavier on angst. Abuse and incest. Great writing as always and I rate this 3.75*

[Dagmar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely mesmerizing with lots of interesting plot twists and turns. Holy hotness! Absolutely love that Joss is a footman; so rare to have as a Hero in HR...and it worked. Prepare to swoon. This book had me hooked from page one. SM Laviolette's writing is bold and sensual. I love it.

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... this was so good. Gut wrenching, painful, and sexy. Just a great book from SM LaViolette.

Older woman, class difference, bodyguard. Bit of BDSM..

4.5/5 stars.

TWs: rape, incest, abuse, and infertility. This was heavy, but beautiful.

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my opinion this wasn’t as good as the first book in the series.
Well the first half was great. We got to know Joss and his sweet romantic side and we also got to see Alicia’s growing interest in him (the gloves ;)

But then the book takes a turn the plot thickens and darkens.
And I lost interest in it.
And it wasn’t because of the darkness as much as how it was told.
At the first sight of difficulty, both main characters loose their power and are not able to do anything but to fall prey to the bad guy.

As happy as I was about first book’s resolution, that disappointed I was in resolution of this. I mean the potential was there, it could have been awesome. But it wasn’t. Specially their last intimate encounter that is suppose to solve everything rubbed me the wrong way.





Spoiler





I don’t think someone who has been raped and demeaned for many years, would willing submit to playful abuse. No matter how trendy or hot it is. Even Alicia sounded conflicted in her thoughts. I don’t think anyone should be conflicted when having sex. Plus Joss is not acting as himself. So it was a huge mess in my option.
But I understand how someone can find it fun and attractive. It just wasn’t me.

Because the book started really well and it is written well, I am giving it 2.5 stars rounding up to 3.

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok read. A little tamer then some her other books I've read and better plot than the others.

Unique story with just ok characters that have actual real problems to solve. I like strong heroines and Alice was a very capable female who I admired. Joss was faithful and endearing. What I liked best about this book, however, was that Joss was 100% a servant in an upper-class home. He wasn’t some bastard son of a Duke or some long lost heir, he was a tried-and-true servant “serving” his master *wink wink*

[Missy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't think this author is for me. I do enjoy reading her steamy/erotic scenes but her stories just aren't interesting to me.

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough to read at times because of the evilness of some of the characters and it was hard to warm up to Alicia at times. But as usual, I ended up loving the romance. Loved the epilogue,

[~839 book boyfriends~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was kinda a let down for me

i mean it had an amazing plot and storyline and could’ve been a hit

they were sooo sweet and good together
everything was perfect
the way they cared for each other was also pretty sweet

but the repeated mentions of the hero’s previous sexual exploits kinda ruined it for me

the heroine hired the mmc to escort her to her recent fling’s house who btw was a disappointment
which okay go girl! i was pretty happy when i saw a fmc being sexually independent but ofc the guy was an asshole and never made her come

one day after coming back from there, the hero finds a maid, annie in his bed naked so naturally he fucks her which is mentioned very graphically….
(honestly wasn’t interested in reading about his fuck with annie at all)
also he hadn’t been with anyone since being employed but annie (brownie pts for that ig)
the heroine although has never been shown having graphic sex with anyone

what even was the pt of showing us the hero fuck another woman was beyond me

then we find out that he was a sex worker who catered to the women of the ton

now all that would’ve been fine (almost but i would’ve been able to put it aside) bc both the hero and heroine were sexually active individuals
and i loved that!

but…..
the hero keeps thinking about his previous lovers
theres a lot of ow drama
from annie throwing herself at him to him meeting an ex lover he had feelings for from 7 years ago
he couldn’t stop thinking about her (the ow) and blah blah blah

now what made the book a complete let down was the fact
that the heroine had never orgasmed during sex and always had been left unsatisfied with her flings( which btw were 2)

ofc the hero has an amazing night with annie which again mentioned pretty graphically
and has had mind blowing sex in the past
while the heroine feels unnatural for wanting things she shouldn’t and has never been made felt good by a man

i don’t understand why authors do this
like either she’s a virgin or an unsatisfied sexually active woman
bc only a man can have good sex with ow
the woman ofc can only be made felt good by the mmc

the continuous mentions of ow made me sick
i mean once fine
twice also fine ig
but again and again and again….all while the hero is supposedly “falling” for the h

and while yes in real life maybe this happens
however this is not what i look for in a romance
its fiction for a reason!


also ps: the hero was a sexist pig
in one scene he feels that the h was feeling very emotional but brushed it away by the fact that she was a “female” and they have a tendency to do so often
wtf🤢

[Bonnie G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second book from S.M Violette (who also writes as Minerva Spencer) and I loved it even more than the first. LaViolette gives us romantic beautiful stories that bring home the ways the powerful create and reinforce a system where gender and social class leave those not in the elite at the mercy of those who are part of the ruling class. I particularly loved how LaViolette made clear that this power dynamic lives outside of economic success, that money helps navigate the system but never allows one to ascend to power. Those structural barriers get lost much of the time when inequality is discussed. I also loved the clear discussion of how choosing to cede power (in this case in sexual play) is 100% different from having power seized. Rape and sexual submission are diametrically opposed to one another, and LaViolette does a wonderful job of illustrating that fact. I love a book that is both sexy and substantial, arousing and affirming, prurient and pedagogically sound, erotic and economically correct - stop me before I alliterate again! This one is quite likely to make my 2024 romance best-of list.

One quibble -- the audio narrator, Ella Lynch, has a lovely voice until she tries to do an American accent (the FMC is supposed to be from NYC.) In addition to falling in and out of the accent, the accent itself is terrible. It is like she thinks Americans speak like Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday (she gets that accent wrong too, but it sure sounds like that is what she is going for.) We don't. None of us do. It is sometimes painful and always grating to listen to.

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joss and The Countess
The Seducers Series #2
S. M. LaViolette
https://www.facebook.com/MinervaSpenc...
Release date 06/02/2020
Publisher Crooked Sixpence Press

Blurb :

After two loveless marriages to older men, widowed countess Alicia Selwood is more than ready to find a competent lover. But her late night…adventures will require her to take on a bodyguard with a proven track record of professionalism and discretion. Joss Gormley is perfect for the job. Imagine her surprise when she discovers Joss’s other qualifications—qualifications that might make him the ideal man to satisfy ALL her needs...

Joss never intended to be anything but Lady Selwood’s faithful servant. But the more time he spends with the delectable countess, the more he longs to love and possess her. He’s not good enough for her by far, and he knows she’ll use him and discard him. But none of those worries can stop Joss from serving her by day…and dominating her by night.

When a ghost from Alicia’s past emerges, threatening all she holds dear, she’s forced to choose between the only family she has left, and the man who has come to mean everything to her. Can Joss and Alicia stand together and fight for their happily-ever-after—no matter how taboo? Or will society's pressures and expectations tear the two lovers apart?

**TRIGGER WARNINGS**
Abuse, infidelity, incest, power exchange.

My review :

Will their love be enough to free them from the shadows of their past ...

If there is one author whom always shaken my world, I would say it is S.M. LaViolette, this is the kind of read I would not normally read.
I like my stories to be rather sweet, with sparkles and rainbows and here, there is nothing sweet, the feelings are raw, the violence is measured and controlled, the needs cruelly filled, the characters have all a past and even present packed with the worst abuses, the villains are the dregs of humanity.
Yet, at the end, their HEA is even more fulfilling because of their journey only paved with heartaches and pain.
So now that said, after Melissa and The Vicar, I did not know what to expect from Joss’ story, could there be a more desperate fate than Melissa’s, a worst depraved creature, alas it seems they have all applied to Mrs LaViolette’s listing of evil beings.
To not spoil the book, the trigger warnings at the end of the blurb summarize all.

Joss has not had a sad upbringing, it was not perfect, with its flaws, yet it was his own choice to come to work for the White House as a paid stud. And because he has always been a romantic in the soul and while the coins were easy, it became a burden on his spirit.
So he left for less soul weighing works, until his new post as the bodyguard for a woman, a woman who stirs longing of more when she seeks her pleasures with others.
Alicia is the proof of women having no real weight on their own future if they choose the wrong path, and alas she did it, one bad decision, and her life became hell.
While her life could have been easy after her first marriage left her quite wealthy, she sought more, a more that cost her much more than she expected, as she finds herself shackled, helpless to go out of her predicament.
Then there is this new hired man, a man who awakens needs she seems unable to reach, when she is still in a jail from her last marriage.

Their journey is one of secrets, betrayals, past shames and current wounds. Plus the distinctive schism between them as employer-employee is sure to tear them apart as where begins pleasure and when stops duty.
And as they thought to have reached the bottom, new issues wait them in dark corner.

Another five stars read, moving, heartbreaking as the more wounded are not the one expected.
I can only recommend to everyone this series, while it is no pink and ribbon read, the HEA is rewarding.

I was granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...

[Amy ~ Love At 1st Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s nothing more titillating than a forbidden romance. Wanting someone society says you shouldn’t have. Those stolen moments always add to the intrigue and drama. For Joss and Alicia, there were so many factors to keep them apart. But their passion for one another could not be denied. And for me, the bigger the risk the characters are willing to take, the stronger and more deserving I find their relationship.
After surviving a horrendous marriage, Alicia Selwood was looking for a competent lover who could give her what she needed. Bodyguard and former White House employee Joss Gormley was the man who accompanied her on those most private of errands. In those late night carriage rides and assignations, the two couldn’t help but develop an attraction to one another. There were definitely sparks. And sparks can only go so long before igniting into flame. And once they experience that, they only want each other more. Joss knew he’d never have Alicia. That Alicia was only using him for what he could give her. And Alicia knew any scandal of her involvement would threaten all she held dear. Was the passion they shared worth the consequences?
Like the first book in this Seducers series, this is a gripping tale of love conquering all with lots of twists and turns that make the characters’ happily ever after all the sweeter. And like the first book, these two characters were so real. Shaped by the choices, both good and bad, that they’d made in their lives, and by events they’d had no control over. Though they lived in different worlds, they had much in common. Both had been shaped by events of their childhoods, both had been used in life. Both hid secrets that could destroy them, but both were strong enough to take the risk for love.
I’m loving this series. S.M. LaViolette breaks the stereotypical mold of historical romance. In both books in this series, I’ve been riveted from beginning to end. With secrets, beautifully flawed characters, betrayal, and loads of steam, your every bodyguard fantasy will be fulfilled with Alicia and Joss. You’ll fall in love with these characters that break the romance rules and quickly want to add this series to your list of “books too sexy to read in public”.

[Diane Shearer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Giddy. Aunt! This woman can write! The plot takes center stage here over the romance, but it’s the heart of the story that makes this a five star book. Once again LaViolette is not for the faint of heart. There is abuse, rape, and incest. This is a very hard book to read once all the secrets come out, and not because of the sex. It could have been set in any time period and it would still ring true because human nature doesn’t change and 10% of any population are sociopaths. I feel scarred after reading this and I will never forget it. She writes bad guys so well it makes my skin crawl. Jocelyn, Joss, is wonderful. I love the name Jocelyn for a man, especially this man. It sounds so delicate while Joss is anything but. The contrast between what happens in the whore house and what happens in the manor house is genius. She writes about prostitution with so much grace and understanding, it breaks my heart. The lesson is you can’t appease an abuser, or a bully, or a blackmailer. Ever. Do whatever you need to do to get out. The audiobook is very well done. On to the third book. This should be interesting because in this book Hugo is very unlikable. We shall see.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

After two marriages to older men, widowed countess Alicia Selwood is more than ready to find a competent lover. But her late night...adventures will require her to take on a bodyguard with a proven track record of professionalism and discretion. Joss Gormley is perfect for the job. Joss never intended to be anything but Lady Selwood's faithful servant. But the more time he spends with the delectable countess, the more he longs to love and possess her. When a ghost from Alicia's past emerges, threatening all she holds dear, she's forced to choose between the only family she has left, and the man who has come to mean everything to her.
This is the second book in the series but it’s easily read on its own or read out of sequence. Another very well written book that flows effortlessly & I was drawn in from the start & I read well into the night to finish it. The characters had lots of depth, I loved Joss from the start & the more we got to know him the more I liked him. I liked Alicia at the beginning but didn’t love her however as more of her background emerged & all that she'd experienced the more I liked her. The road to their HEA is strewn with problems and obstacles but this made the journey all the more enthralling & the ending more satisfying. If you’re looking for a light frothy, sweet read then this isn’t for you but if you like an intense steamy romance with strong characters then like me you’ll love it. A captivating read, which I just loved
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Sandra R · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good story that kept me turning the pages. Excellent historical details and character development for the H/h and some steamy romance that was beautifully written. There could be triggers for some though, so be aware of that. This book is filled with drama and some BDSM type scenes, but not any that are too in-depth. Can't wait for Hugo's story. 😉 4.5 stars.

[Evie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just skimmed through this, writing style really isn't for me but still curious what happened to this MC. He's a little bit interesting but not interesting enough to make me appreciate the whole story. I do like his "authoritarian" attitude sometimes, which he only uses when he needs (or wants) to.

Also, what kinda man is named Jocelyn? Really, Jocelyn??? Thankfully Joss sounds like a good nickname still.

[Nabilah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as Hugo and the Maiden, IMO. One of the problems being that I don't really like it when the hero's station is beneath the heroine (in this case, Joss was a footman and Alicia was a countess who also happened to be his employer).

The plot was engrossing enough, though. It had an element of mystery and this compelled me to read until the end. The story had a good flow and the writing was good. The villain was a real piece of work. It was an entertaining enough read.

Trigger warning: rape, incest, light bdsm

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the first book in this series, but this one was more average. One of the characters kept ghosting the other, and eventually being called out on it, and seeming to realize it was wrong, and then doing it all over again. And that was kind of off-putting. At least it was addressed though, I would have been more annoyed if it was just passed off as 'fine' behavior. Quite a bit of the drama was due to unnecessary secret keeping, which is also sort of tedious. The first half was better than the second though, and effort was put into the steam. CW for several dark topics - Infertility, murder, suicide, coercion, mental health, incest, and sex work.

[Sarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars 🌟 3.5 🌶️ Uhhhh wow. I am quite literally swooning over Joss 😅 Alicia was a conundrum at first- but as she slowly unravels
Having Joss’s POV was everything. He was a big, sturdy, alpha but an absolute softy inside and the yearning for his Lady was breaking my heart! This was on the edge of too much angst for me- I just didn’t know how we were going to reach a happy ending and had to put it down a few times because it got pretty heavy. But the steam? 🥵 my lord Minerva Spencer knows how to write spice!

[Jo Lim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first started reading S.M. Laviolette when she was writing as Minerva Spencer. I was hesitant to read Dangerous as the storyline is rather unusual but once I picked it up, I was hooked to the end.

Since then, her books are auto buy for me. I have to say I didn’t enjoy Barbarous & Scandalous as much but I have certainly enjoyed Melissa & the Vicar as well as Joss and the Countess.

What I like is that her H&h are broken yet survivors. They do what they can, in the worst circumstances, to fight for their lives or the lives of their loved ones.

I definitely love that the heroes are strong and the heroines are bold and sassy. Not to mention the love scenes are steamy and panty melting hot.

To be honest, even her erotica - The Harlot, The Valet & The Countess, have storyline albeit not as rich as the rest. And one thing for sure, there is always something unusual in all her books. For instance, in Joss and the Countess, its a younger H with an older h. And what a twist that while the h is wealthier, she is not as well educated, the opposite of the H. I shall leave you to find the uniqueness of the rest.

Of course, we are also guaranteed a happy ever after ending and Im a sucker for a baby thrown in.

So, thank you Ms S.M. Laviolette for another wonderful read! Can’t wait to read your next book. ❤️😍

[Elizabeth A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prepare for a emotional roller-coaster....
I was very intrigued for Joss character after reading his letters in the first book. As it happens I fell in love with him after just a few pages. He has a heart as big as himself, who wouldn't fall for a man who is serious, respectful, honorable, an avid reader and of course a great lover? He was just perfect. Alicia is a woman who has been through a lot, and after all her suffering, she still don't know what she really wants until she meet Joss. I liked so much that she is older than him, it was a refreshing detail. Well, again, nothing in Minerva's books are typical or cliché.
There are so many convencionalisms that keeps them apart, but nothing as evil as the villain, a very despicable character.
Their journey to be together and be happy at last is full with obstacles, but their desire to love and be loved are much, much greater, no matter first impressions, both of them are tender and sensible and definetely deserve one another.
P.D. I can't waint for Hugo story! I love his little appearances.

[Karen Hackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

JOSS AND THE COUNTESS is book two of THE SEDUCERS series by S.M. LaViolette, and this is a dark, sexy romance that breaks all rules of the Ton. The strong, moving tale of survival is filled with flawed characters, their secrets, betrayal, and tons of sizzling heat. Alicia Selwood’s late-night trysts require a bodyguard, and her servant, Joss Gormley, fits the bill. Joss never intends to be anything but her ladyship’s faithful servant, but the more he spends time with the delectable countess, the more he longs to love and possess her. The attraction between them ignites, burning to so hot, that they are unable to survive without the other. As the plot unravels in JOSS AND THE COUNTESS, the more shocking the events unfold that leaves me gasping in shock. S.M. LaViolette is bold and brilliant authoress to break away from the standard historical romance and write wicked, steamy plots, fueled by the twists and turns, and the stunning conclusions. Her stories are so addictive that I cannot wait for the next book.

[MJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joss and the Countess is a story about a groom and his employer, a countess, who enter a sexual relationship. In addition to the class difference, the countess is 11 years older, twice married, barren, and extremely wealthy. Joss is a taciturn, large and broody man and former male sex worker from a working class family.

Why I didn't love this book:
I initially liked that Alicia was a sex-positive woman who hired her groom for the specific purpose of accompanying her to her assignations. As the book continued on, I respected Alicia less and less because despite seeming to have control of her body and her life, she is quite weak in every other aspect in her life. She let everything happen to her in life as if she were a brainless pawn. She had no backbone, no spunk, and no inclination to change things for herself and others despite wanting to. She went through some tough sh*t, no doubt about it. But I can't respect a character who just wrings her hand and cries when she has resources to change things.

[Ruchika Mahajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Few authors are daring enough to write stories about people who are broken n have endured unimaginable pain. This is one such story. Alicia is a brave and courageous woman who has undergone physical and emotional abuse in her past marriage. She is willing to take chances now for her happiness. Joss is a decade younger n belongs to an inferior class n is her servant. Circumstances don't stop them to act on their attraction towards each other. They find pleasure and love along the way. Things get more complicated n difficult.
Joss is a wonderful, strong n dependable man. Once he realises his love for Alicia, he makes sure she is safe. Finally they have their much deserved happy ending.
It's difficult to imagine the pain poor Alicia endured at the hands of her so called husband. But she doesn't let that break her spirit. Her love for her step daughter was heart warming.
Though I liked Melissa and the vicar more than this book. This was more dark n serious.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

CW: sexual assault, child abuse, trafficking, incest

Another fun read! But definitely look up detailed content warnings because, like the first book, this deals with some pretty insidious aspects of society. This whole series really gets into the ways in which aristocratic men exploit women and children and how their friends and families excuse that behavior, and that could be seriously triggering for some readers.

However, I really like that SM LaViolette writes heroines with sexual experience who seek out sex. Here, we get Joss's story -- Joss is Melissa's best friend and former employee who now works as a bodyguard for the widowed Countess Alicia. Of course, they fall into lust and then into love, despite their class difference. A steamy read that challenged a lot of standard tropes and assumptions of the genre! I would also note that this is the first romance novel I've read in which there was a graphic sex scene between an MC and another person--even though it isn't cheating, that may bother some people.

[Anjali · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful emotional roller coaster. Loved reading every page. Each character is deeply layered, and plot simple but intricately woven with no loose ends. All situations are well tied together. Joss, son of a butcher, raised as a gentleman’s son on his mother’s insistence that he read, write and speak well, turned male prostitute, turned stable boy, turned bodyguard. His job with the Countess, changes when their relationship goes through upheavals.

Oh boy, he goes through a roller coaster of emotions and experiences, but his core personality stays the same.

Ms Spencer/ S M Laviolette plays with very strong emotional characters who are unapologetic and true to themselves no matter what they do, it is who they are and they accept themselves. A very well written story with strong characters (every one of them), good plot and great dialogues.

[Bridget Love to read Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Male whore?

I thought this story could not possibly be better than the first....I was wrong!!! Joss was a male whore who serviced female clients at an exclusive brothel! Alicia hired him for his escort around town and to her lover! Joss knew with one look that she was going to be trouble! Alicia is a widow after a despicable piece of human her ex-husband was! More loathsome is her stepson! Everyone has secrets and Alicia is ashamed and embarrassed to share hers! If course Joss has several not just because of his old occupation!! Just when you read the worst of humanity Alicia stepson is more depraved and deranged than is conceivable! Passion, betrayal and rape! So if you are sensitive this is Not for you! But if like triumph and a life lived well in spite of pure evil!! Read on.....

[Bookish.Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this second book of The Seducers series. Joss is so endearing. His insecurity as a servant falling for his employer is so achingly rendered that it’s hard not to love him. Alicia’s troubled past, and her own insecurities that result from it, make her a totally sympathetic character. As a reader, you were rooting for them the whole time. There was quite a bit of darkness in this story, but the ending brings in enough light to make up for it. The serious steam and emotion made the book difficult to put down. Note: I’m not sure why this was book two in the series. I think it would’ve made more sense to be the first book as Joss and Alicia are mentioned in book one’s epilogue (kind of spoiling the ending in book two which makes no mention of Melissa and Magnus as a couple at all). Overall, though, a solid 5 stars! Looking forward to reading Hugo’s story next.

[Kate W · Rating 4 out of 5]

First a massive content warning for rape and incest and medical incarceration and murder and suicide. Also, the main characters have sexual activity with other characters, which I know a lot of readers don’t love. This book gets dark.

I don’t normally enjoy miscommunication or meddling, and this book has both. A lot of both. But I kind of loved it. Things got very messy and complex before this couple got their HEA.

Whereas the last book I read didn’t have enough plot, this book had A LOT of plot. This book really stood in stark contrast with my last book in many ways. It was effortless to read it all the way through. Joss and Alicia were lovely characters and I enjoyed the secondary characters and found family too.

[Fiona Moriarty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could probably have enjoyed this series more if there were a metric ton of trigger warnings. This one has rape, incest, coersion, murder, institutionalization, rape of a minor, and more rape. There were many parts of the book that I liked, but the rape and incest threw me out of the story over and over. And the big "romantic" scene where they meet again is really upsetting, I have no idea why Joss's best friend would set up something so traumatizing instead of just being honest and putting Joss and Alicia in a room together like normal humans. There were so SO many ways that plan could have gone wrong!