A Not-So-Innocent Seduction

Kavanaghs of Silver Glen #1

by Janice Maynard

Mills & Boon Desire series delivers powerful, passionate romances…

Taming the Untamable 

Secrets have never appealed to Liam Kavanagh. Not since his father disappeared, leaving Liam responsible for the Kavanagh family and their empire with little room for anything else. But when the mysterious Zoe Chamberlain breezes into his life, stirring up all kinds of pent-up frustrations, Liam knows there's more to her vagabond lifestyle than she's letting on. He can see the secrets in her eyes—and he wants her anyway. Will she be more than his orderly life can handle? Or will Liam's strong embrace finally allow this free spirit to put down roots and love again?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Harlequin Desire, Category Romance, Contemporary Romance

190 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Janice Maynard came to the writing life early! When her third grade short story, “The Princess and the Robbers”, won a red ribbon in a school arts fair, Janice was hooked. She followed up that early success with a more commercial piece in the sixth grade… “Why My Mom Loves To Drink Coke”. No advance for that one, but she won a six-pack of Coke… remember those great little bottles?

In junior high Janice began circulating her work to a wider audience. A dozen or so notebook pages stapled together made the rounds in some particularly boring classes, with the riveting tales carefully hidden behind textbooks.

High school meant the big time… editor of the school newspaper, the Maroon and White. Janice used her insightful editorials to delve into such meaty subjects as “locker room odor” and “why we need two-ply tissue in the student bathrooms”.

College brought lots of writing, but very little of it creative… four years later, Janice stepped into the adult world as a fully certified elementary teacher.

Despite motherhood, full-time employment, and keeping up with an “always into something” husband, Janice never lost her love of writing or the desire to be published. In 1996 she realized her long-time dream when Kensington Publishing bought her first book, Sweetheart. That exciting moment was followed by the sales of two more books in the Precious Gem line.

In the fall of 2002, Janice left the classroom to pursue writing full-time.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific start to the series. Liam is the oldest of the Kavanagh family and the one that took responsibility for the family and the business when their father disappeared. Now he tends to be a too serious workaholic. Zoe takes a break from her travels when her van breaks down just outside town. She's not sure that staying is a good idea, but something about Liam and Silver Glen calls to her weary soul.

I really liked both Liam and Zoe. Liam gave up on his own dreams in order to help his family after his father's disappearance. Because he saw what his father put the family through, he doesn't like people who keep secrets. He noticed Zoe as soon as she arrived at his hotel, because of her beauty and also because she didn't look like their usual guest. He's very attracted to her but he can see that she has a lot of secrets.

Zoe has been on the road for many months, never staying in one place for very long. When her van breaks down she takes it as a sign that she should take the opportunity to stay for awhile. She is still recovering from a bad case of pneumonia that has left her physically and mentally exhausted. Liam is nothing like any man she's been attracted to before. She enjoys being with him but she also feels his distrust.

Liam and Zoe are such different types that it was interesting seeing them interact. Liam is serious, focused on making sure everything is just right at the hotel and watching out for his family. Zoe is basically a happy person who loves playing her music for people. I liked the way that she is constantly surprising him and pulling him out of his occasional stuffiness. The chemistry between them sizzles but her secrets are putting a strain on what could develop between them. I liked the way that she started opening up to Liam and telling him some things about herself. When her past catches up with her, Liam is there to support her, but he does it in a way that ends up hurting her more. It takes losing her for Liam to finally confront his issues and take a chance in going after her.

[J.J. Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Zoe Chamberlain's van breaks down in Silver Glen, North Carolina, she decides the quaint town is as good a place as any to stay. She's a girl on the run from a ruthless, controlling father, who just wants to sing and stay under the radar. Unfortunately for her, she meets Liam Kavanagh, the owner of the swanky hotel where Zoe stays. Liam is handsome, charming, and full of sex appeal. But he hates secrets and lies due to his own sordid past. Liam wants to trust Zoe and believe in the love sprouting between them, but he worries he might be blinded by her beauty and charm. Trust is the only thing that can keep their relationship together, but the hardest part for them both to admit.

I liked this story. I thought it held the perfect balance between story and romantic scenes. I enjoyed the budding romance between the two main characters and liked their interactions and teasing with one another. I would have liked to seen more of the scenery-- the town that was build around a silver mine sounded splendid and this had an almost old-fashioned Wild West feel to it. I also wanted to learn more about Liam's dad and the mystery that surrounded his disappearance. That was alluded to in the story, but never really fleshed out or explained. I thought the ending took a quick shift away from the parts of the story I enjoyed, moving the characters out of Silver Glen into other parts of the country. I just didn't care for that and thought it took away from the story. But otherwise an enjoyable read.

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The heroine was a secretly-rich flower child who travels around in a vintage volkswagon van named Bessie, and the hero was a boringly responsible hotel owner-manager who was kind of a jerk but in an understandable (because of his past) way. I LOVED IT.

But it's impossible to discuss why without major spoilers. A complete and spoiler-filled review can be found at my blog, here: http://themummyreads.blogspot.ca/2014...

[Marguerita · Rating 1 out of 5]

I been trying to finish this book for several days now, but every time I start reading my mind drifts and I get frustrated. This book dragged on and by a third way in I just though in the towel. So I made the decision not to finish it? My problem is that there is just too much back and forth with the attraction between them and for me, there are just too many secrets.

[Harlequin Books]

"Maynard scores yet another hit with this pleasing start to The Kavanaghs of Silver Glen series. Humorous bedroom dialogue will bring a smile to the reader's face and is a sweet bonus to an already engaging story (RT Book Reviews)". 4 stars

Miniseries: The Kavanaghs of Silver Glen

[Emma Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complicated

Complicated is how I would describe the relationship between Liam & Zoe. They both had baggage they carried around with them. Trust issues on both sides got in the way, but eventually they sorted it out and lived "Happily ever after."

[Julia Griffis - The Romance Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Not-So-Innocent Seduction" was a great Harlequin Desire novel by Janice Maynard. I am completely in love with the Kavanagh family, and I can't wait to read Dylan's story!

[Aly is so frigging bored · Rating 3 out of 5]

3*
I really should stop reading this stuff

[Christina Montminy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first in the series about the Kavanaugh men of Silver Glen. I enjoyed this cute story. The romance between Zoe & Liam was an interesting one, with advances & retreats galore. They both danced around each other until they could no longer stand it but Zoe had an air of secrecy about her & Liam found it hard to trust her. When their desires finally do run over it's extremely interesting to see Liam's reaction & his decision to be all in even before he knows Zoe's feelings on the matter. Determined describes Liam & he'll do whatever he needs to,to keep Zoe with him. Definitely recommend.

[Caitlin Warrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this whole series but this was the best one. I like it when a man will do anything to save the woman he loves even if it means sacrificing a lot for himself. I had a hard time putting this book down. It's a must read series.

[Deivid Mwania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with interesting characters.

[Mary Shreffler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally Liam gives up his workaholic life for free spirited Zoe

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Being human is to be lonely. It’s a rare gift in life to find the person that completes you.”

When Zoe Chamberlain’s VW bus, Bessie, breaks down in Silver Glen, North Carolina, Zoe takes it as a sign that it’s time to kick back for a while. Zoe is constantly on the road and has spent many nights sleeping in Bessie, so booking a room at the Silver Beeches Lodge for six weeks straight is a huge indulgence. The most Zoe expected was to enjoy pampering at the lodge and have time to explore the beautiful town of Silver Glen. Zoe gets much more than she bargained for in the form of one of the owners of the Silver Beeches Lodge, Liam Kavanagh. Life on the road can get really lonely, and there might be more to explore here than just the town.

Liam Kavanagh has lived in Silver Glen all of his life – his ancestors actually helped to build the town. Since the death of his father, while Liam was still a teenager, Liam has shouldered his family, including his mother, a multitude of siblings, and the family business, the Silver Beeches Lodge. Liam loves his job and the fact that he has loads of family right down the road, but there just has to be something more. Then Zoe Chamberlain walks into the doors of the lodge and takes his breath away. Liam knows he just has to get to know her, but that’s easier planned than accomplished.

Liam is a handsome man and Zoe is interested. The two of them start to spend time together, but where Liam shares himself with Zoe, she continues to hold back. Now, Liam knows how secrets and the pull of mystery can lead to devastation--he witnessed it with his father. So, how can he be falling in love with Zoe when he doesn’t believe he can trust her? Zoe is enjoying her time in Silver Glen and the man she’s spending time with, but the problem is that time runs out. It is only a matter of time before she’s discovered and has to move on, but how can she leave the place and the man that are just beginning to feel like home?

A Not-So-Innocent Seduction is the first novel in The Kavanaghs of Silver Glen series. The second novel in the series is Baby for Keeps; it tells the tale of Dylan Kavanagh, who plays a part in helping his big brother Liam take a chance on his love for Zoe.

[Melody Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read and a great start to a new series. I was quite pleased and really enjoyed the H and h.

[Tess Audree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would call this a 'beautiful couple' book. Basically the leading couple is beautiful and wealthy and their heat for each other carries the rest of the book. Sometimes that's the book you want to read and that's ok. I wouldn't say the story was flat but it was trying at times. There was some back story and it worked with what was going on. The story was supposed to be about secrets and lies, but mostly I found that part of the story tedious and over stated. We get that Liam doesn't like secrets. We understand that he has reservations about being with her. STOP BEATING US OVER THE HEAD WITH IT. My other major issue was that Zoe was really hard to follow in her motives. One minute she was doing one thing and then just a few lines later she was changing her mind. She was awfully convoluted, way beyond flighty blonde bimbo sadly. I wanted to read more about Liam as his character was more rich. The ending was tied up pretty neatly too, which isn't exactly my thing, but it is kind of expected. There were a few cliche moments, but overall it was a nice story. I will go on to read about the rest of the family in the next novel (I just hope Dylan is written as well as Liam was).

[Janie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Not-So-Innocent Seduction" by Janice Maynard is the first book in the 'Kavanaughs of Silver Glen.' We meet Zoe Chamberlain who is a light hearted, funny person. We also meet Liam Kavanaugh who is the responsible older brother of the Kavanagh clan.

Both are hiding a few secrets from their past that affects their relationship. Zoe may even be able to change Liam's mind about how life should be lived. It is a hot romance with a few twists that add to the couples likability. There is also much more to the story that I am not telling because it is a great book to read.

Fairly easy read, I found if I had to put the book down that it was easy to pick up where I left off. Very enjoyable.

[Mem · Rating 5 out of 5]

D2296 Apr14 Kavanaghs of Silver Glen #1 Liam Kavanagh has been responsible for his family since his father left them to hunt for a lost silver mine and died. He is suspicious when Zoe Chamberlain shows up to stay at the resort for 6weeks while her VW bus is repaired. He wants answers to his questions: her vagabond life style, her platinum credit card, and the money hidden in the VW's door.

[Jenn C Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable. My biggest issues were some of the more cliche moments in the book (especially during love scenes) and the end. Maynard wrapped everything up in a perfect little bow before you even knew what was happening.

[Dorel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book I read Janice Maynard. This book's story line was okay. I liked Liam's character. I didn't liked Zoe's character. I didn't like how Zoe treated Liam even when Liam was being nice to her. Zoe's secrets got on my nerves. Maybe I will liked the 2nd book in this series.

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Not-So-Innocent Seduction review

A Not So Innocent Seduction is the first book in the Kavanaghs of Silver Glen series written by author Janice Maynard.

[Josie]

The writing style didn't engage me; it seemed quite stilted at times.

[Tanya Mayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. More review to come.

[karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the Kavanagh family. I wish Janice wrote more future endings about the wedding etc

[mer · Rating 1 out of 5]

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

From what I remember, Safe.