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*****I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I usually enjoy historical romance, but unfortunately, I could not connect with the characters in this series at all. Since this collection includes all the books in the Seduction series, I had the chance to read them back to back without waiting, which I initially thought would help me become more immersed in the story and its world. However, even with that continuity, none of the characters managed to grow on me.
One of the main issues for me was the lack of depth in the characters. I struggled to feel invested in their emotions, motivations, and relationships. While the stories had potential and the setting was fitting for the genre, the characters themselves felt distant and at times repetitive, which made it difficult to stay engaged throughout the series.
I am aware that I may be comparing these books to the historical romances I read years ago, but I still believe the genre has plenty of room for fresh, creative, and compelling storytelling. Strong character development and emotional depth are what make historical romance memorable for me, and sadly, this series did not fully deliver on that expectation.
That said, readers who are looking for a lighter, easy-to-read historical romance series might still find something to enjoy here, especially if they prefer straightforward plots over deeply layered characters.
I really enjoyed reading this series. My favorite book was The Duelist's Seduction but I liked all of them. In the Duelist's Seduction, Helen takes the place of her twin brother in a duel and ends up becoming the mistress of his combatant and then ultimately falling in love.
In The Rakehell's Seduction, Ambrose "saves" Alexandra after she is the subject of a bet on who can ruin her first. He decides he must be the person to save her versus just telling her about her fate, but ultimately they fall in love.
The Rogue's Seduction wasn't my favorite but I still enjoyed it. Perdita allows the "Devil of London" to "save" her from another villain trying to trap her into marriage. Lauren Smith's books do have "morally grey" heroes quite a bit but I do enjoy her books.
The Gentleman's Seduction is Helen's brother from the first book. He tries to get payback from the man who threw he and his sister out of their home, and ends up taking the man's daughter for "payment". Again, the books are a bit more traditional Regency in that the men appear to be "helping" or "saving" the heroines, but they ultimately fall in love with the women and treat them well.
I've read many of Lauren Smith's books, she is a go to author for. me.
Rakes who are honourable with good hearts who believe they are not capable of or are worthy of love and the women who bring light into their lives with courage and warmth. What a wonderful collection for many days of engrossing read!
I received an ARC of this enjoyable set and leaving my review voluntarily.