Seduce: A Wicked Sanctuary Novel: A Wicked Sanctuary Novel

Wicked Sanctuary #3

by Marie Tuhart

Weird. That one word buried the bold, explorative side of librarian Tessa Ruthledge until she visits Wicked Sanctuary on masquerade night and runs into Damon. The persistent man refuses to let her hide and pushes all the right buttons, fanning the cravings she's suppressed for so long, including her submission. But when her political family starts making noise, Tessa fears her father's reach could ruin Damon and her friends.



Industrial designer Damon Kline wants Tessa in his arms, his bed, and at his mercy. Her spirit, her sense of humor, and everything about her claims his attention. She's the one and getting past her defenses is a challenge he's up for.



When Tessa's influential father takes on Damon and the club, Tessa must choose between protecting her new family or following her own heart's desire.

Genres: BDSM, Romance, Contemporary, Amazon

254 pages, Paperback

Published February 22, 2021

About the author

Marie Tuhart lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her muses, Tommy and Trina her two rescue dogs. Marie loves to read and write, when she’s not writing, she spends time with family, traveling and enjoying life.

Marie Tuhart is a multi-published author of hot contemporary romance for readers fascinated by approachable alpha males in and out of the bedroom. Mare’s fun, safe and sexy stories offer a captivating romantic escape in the arms of likeable characters who know which buttons to push and which are off limits. Go on, embrace the temptation… https://www.marietuhart.com.

To be alerted on new releases on Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/marietuhart or Book Bub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marie....

Also you can join Marie’s newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor... where she gives her group advance information on her books, runs contests and does giveaways just for newsletter readers. Marie can also be found on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/marietuhart/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/marietuhart, and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marietuhart

Reviews

[Cécile Smits · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going through my library,i keep finding books i got for free,that i’m wondering why i downloaded them….
This one wasn’t bad…..but it wasn’t great either.
She has a secret concerning her family that’s going as far as she’s changed her surname to her mother’s maiden name.
Not that her family is into crime,no her father and brother are in politics and will do anything to keep up their good name.
He is a local entrepreneur,owning not only a bookshop,but is an adult toy maker as well.
Plus,he’s a co-owner of Wicked Sanctuary.
I have to admit,it might have been better if i started with book one.
Because they clearly have a history….
Still,looking at the story itself,there’s a decent buildup of their relationship.
She’s familiar with BDSM,but hasn’t done anything with it for a long time.
There are a few moments i doubted how experienced she really was,though.
He’s a Dom,but no real punishments occur doing this story.
He likes to “tease” her with the toys he makes,though.
Revealing their secrets to eachother is done gradually,he reveals more and sooner,she waits too long.
But when it comes to her family coming between them?
I found it anticlimactic,to be honest.
Her father tries to bully her into letting him go,but she,and the town, comes to his defence.
I found out i had Tempt as well…..will i read that one too??
Going to have to think about it……

[Laz the Sailor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first two entries in this series, and several other books by this author, but this one left me wanting more. Because the H and h knew of each other and the club, there was less exploration of their desires, less sexy experimenting. And oddly, they were shy around their mutual friends.

The angsty plot was uneven, and the ending was predictable.

The writing is smooth as always; I had hoped for a more energetic couple.

I'll keep reading MT, as she has proven herself to write with quality.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, but after all the snipping Damon and Tessa did at each other in the previous books I was expecting something more. Plus there was the shocker that Tessa was already in the life style. That was hard to believe with some of the conversations she had with her besties in the previous books.
Damon was great. Loved all his jobs.

[Angela Plumeria]

Not a fan DNFed at 39%. No romantic suspense and characters are kind of flat and boring.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first book in this series, I was charmed by these characters. As we’ve gotten to know them better through subsequent books, I’ve wanted to know even more about them. This time, Tessa and Damon take center stage. But don’t worry, our previous two couples have vital supporting roles getting this pair to Happily Ever After. After the heavier emotional topics of the first books in the series, this one comes as a bit of a surprise. It’s almost light and fluffy in comparison. That’s not to say that Tessa and Damon have an easy road, they don’t. There’s still all the drama inherent with an overbearing family, bad past experiences, and everything involved with being in a new relationship. I loved seeing the way these two worked through their difficulties. Damon’s a dominant alpha who respects, listens to, and cares for his submissive. While Tessa is a submissive who’s soft yet also strong; able to take care of herself but also willing to yield control in the right situations. My favorite thing about this series is the way the author continues to stress “safe, sane, and consensual” even in fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a new to me author and the 3rd book in a series. It can be read as a standalone after a bit of patience in the beginning to put together the friends and connections. This is more a slow burn and BDSM-lite story. It’s big into explaining norms and practices. Everyone is also very polite and nice. They’re likable and controlled characters. Maybe reading the previous 2 books about their friends and being introduced to them early adds more depth? I needed a little more heat and I also kept thinking something big was going to happen, or at least edgier from what did. It’s well written and a nice story, but I kept thinking there was going to be something more around the corner. (That damn building lock had me!!)

I received a copy of this book from Hidden Gem ARCs for an honest review.

[Deanie Nelder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Librarian Tessa and adult shop owner Damon seem like they should be opposites, but they actually make a great couple. Their romance is well-written and nuanced, and they're really great characters. The supporting characters from the Wicked Sanctuary series are always fun as well. However, Tessa's overbearing family members are very one-dimensional, and would have made better "villains" if they'd been more fleshed out. Still, I liked the ending where the community and local politicians support Damon. It's a very good book, though there was room for improvement.

[Jessica Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seduce, the third book in the Wicked Sanctuary series follows Damon Kline and Tessa Ruthledge as they navigate the ins and outs of their new Dom/sub relationship in the BDSM community of Pleasant Valley, Washington. Following the footsteps of her closest friends, Tessa re-embraces her interest in kink and finds herself having a deep connection with Damon. Throughout their relationship, Tessa is relearning her own preferences and finding out what it’s like to be wanted by someone who shares the same passion. Unfortunately, her past is catching up with her the deeper she gets into the kink life and it’s only a matter of time before conflict arises. She has to choose if she’s willing to sacrifice her happiness to protect a life she loves or is she ready to go all in.

This was a good read. This is the second book I’ve read on the Wicked Sanctuary series and it was still all done very tastefully and it wasn’t awkward or cringey in any way. I really enjoyed the back story of Damon and Tessa and I definitely enjoyed the group dynamic, they seem like they have a great supportive friendship. I enjoyed basically all of the book, there were just a few instances where I thought I would have liked to seen them be more playful instead of constantly interacting like a Dom/sub. But overall a great book and a good addition to the series. Looking forward to the next book.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

[Debbie Orazi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this light BDSM romance story. This is the perfect book to get a beginner level overview of the lifestyle. Though the book is listed as can be read as a standalone, there are several references in the story that go completely over the reader's head without having read the other books in the series. I found the characters to be relatable and well developed. The story was well paced and kept my interest until the final page. I would recommend reading the entire series in order to get the most from the books.

Tessa Ruthledge is a librarian into the BDSM lifestyle. She was born and raised in DC with a Congressman for a father so she has always had to be above reproach. She changed her name to her Mother's maiden name when She moved to the west coast to distance herself from her father. She decides to get back into the lifestyle by attending the Valentine's masquerade party at Wicked Sanctuary.
Damon Kline owns an adult store, makes adult toys and is an owner of Wicked Sanctuary. He takes the opportunity to get closer to Tessa at the party and is wildly attracted to his lady in blue. They begin a relationship that turns into their HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nedra81 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting look into a bdsm lifestyle, with an emphasis on trust. What I was shocked to discover was there were two previous books of this series, and had I known, I would have read the first two for a better understanding. Not saying there was a tremendous amount of holes, but it would have been nice to have a better idea of the characters history.

Tessa, a librarian with some bdsm history in her past, born into a political family and wanting to venture off on her own. Wicked Sanctuary allowed her to reintroduce herself into the needed lifestyle.

Damon, part owner of Wicked Sanctuary and owner of an adult store, sets his eyes on the newcomer (or not so newcomer) from the moment she stepped into the Masquerade Ball and never let up after.

The connection and spark between these two was indescribable and mostly electric dynamic foundation. Their exploration upon beginning of dom/sub relationship, was somewhat satisfying but lacked depth and experience knowledge of this lifestyle. Would have liked to see a little more depth, but overall, great read.

[Anna M_82 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This steamy book features light BDSM and the Dom/sub lifestyle. Damon is captivated by Tessa when they first meet through mutual friends. A masquerade night at his club is the turning point for them. She is ready to get back into the lifestyle and he wants to be the Dom to guide her. Damon has some interesting aspects to his work and life that we discover. I won’t give them away but it definitely adds to their play. Let’s just say he puts his engineering degree to a very interesting use. The biggest thing in the way of their HEA, is that her father and brother are high level political figures. She has tried to hide away from the spotlight but it’s going to find her again and cause some problems. This was a good story and I enjoyed the characters and the steam. This is a stand-alone in a series so it can be read in any order, but I think it would be interesting to read the other books as well.

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I really liked the interactions in this book. Tessa and Damon are attracted to each other but Tessa resists. After she returns on the Valentines masquerade at Wicked Sanctuary, things heat up between Tessa and Damon as they learn about each other and explore their relationship. I think they are very well suited. Tessa is spunky when she needs to be and submissive when they play. Tessa's strong character shows when her father threatens her relationship with Damon and to ruin him if she doesn't give into her father's wants. Instead they fight for their relationship even when they expose Damon's interesting business as a sex toy designer. I liked how the local politicians and people support them. The best is the news Tessa gets from her mother.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of "SEDUCED" This was a delightful story I thoroughly enjoyed Tessa Rutledge & Damon Klines's journey trouble with her family.
Tessa goes to Wicked Sanctuary Masquerade Night where she meets Damon who wants to release the desires she kept hidden for a long time & get her submission he wants her.
Tessa has a run in with get father who's into politics she might be submissive in the bedroom but she srong enough to fight her father he's trying to ruin Damon's business & her friends.
I definitely recommend to get this book well written will Tessa choose Damon or her family when things get bad you must get this book to see if they get their HEA I loved these two characters so well worth the read.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the very beginning, I fell in love with the main characters in this book. Coming from a family of politicians, Tessa is tired of being a pawn or having her private life invaded. She moves away, assumes her mother's maiden name and lives her life quietly out of the limelight. When she is presented with an opportunity to resume her membership and lifestyle at Wicked Sanctuary, she attends thinking she will be anonymous. Damon is well off and lives the lifestyle in all facets of his life and makes no excuses for it. When Tessa is is outed, she needs to make the decision to hide their relationship and continue denying what she wants or finally break from her family. There are a few steamy scenes, but the story of being true to yourself for your happiness is what keeps your interest.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tessa is a librarian who is interested in BDSM. Damon owns an adult book store, another business and develops adult toys. They meet when she attends a masquerade party at Wicked Sanctuary. Being a daughter of someone highly political, even if it is on the opposite coast, can cause a lot of issues. Tessa and Damon grow in trust and Ds, have a tight-knit group of close friends, and start a romance that is intense between them. Suspense hits when her brother and father start to cause trouble. Twists are good and bad, but the best was her mom leaving her father. Loved the storyline and can not wait to read another in this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kelly DeMarco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, sexy and sensual
Seduce (A Wicked Sanctuary Novel #3) by Marie Tuhart is a well written romance with a delicious dominant hero and sassy yet sweet heroine. Damon is assured and focused almost from the get go. Tessa is hesitant for a variety of reasons all of which are tested throughout this book.
While the plot and setting are titillating and sensual, there’s also deep emotional connection as well as the suspense of Tessa’s background - the source of this couple’s antagonism.
Overall, this wonderful romance with elements of BDSM with an emotionally present dominant pursuing and persevering the heroine who truly deserves a HEA meant just for her. Damon decidedly delivers.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved Damon and Tessa’s story!
You meet Damon and Tessa in prior stories of Wicked Sanctuary series, so you know they more likely butt heads than hold hands. When Tessa goes to the Valentine’s masked party at the club, she almost immediately bumps in to the big bad wolf, Damon who asks her to dance. This sets the ball rolling to Tessa’s training with Damon as her dom. But Tessa’s past keeps her on the shy side in public, so worries how her present life will be affected when her brother visits. Will Tessa fight to keep Damon by her side? You have to read to find out and won’t put the book down until you turn the last page! The ending is perfect!

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series that I have read and they don't disappoint.
When Tessa and Damon first meet she doesn't particularly like him but soon that turns to desire but will she give into her feelings.
Damon is a Dom at the club he and his 2 friends own and he can't get Tessa out of his mind especially when she visits the club on valentine's day.
I loved how they were together and slowly they take their relationship to a higher level but what happens when her family starts to get between them.
Loved the ending and I am looking forward to reading Ravish.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seduce is the third book of this steamy BDSM romance series and I enjoyed it a lot. The characters are likable and the story kept my attention all the way through. Damon, like his friends, Max and Jordan, is a sexy dominant who is thoughtful and considerate and caring. He has had his eye on librarian Tessa for a while now but she isn't making it easy for him! Tessa is actually finding it hard to resist Damon, and she has a few surprises in store for him and her friends. This book meshes perfectly with books one and two. The writing is great and I am really enjoying this series.

I am voluntarily reviewing an advance reader copy of this book.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This is a more mellow, BDSM lite story. No overt scenes or complications. Damon and Tessa have a slower burn romance. Trust is the underlying theme: who has it, where can it be found, how easy is it to lose. For Tessa, family is a taboo subject. Her past hurts with them, as well as a previous relationship makes it difficult for her to open up. For Damon, his profession has caused all sorts of trouble with previous relationships. Will these two learn to open up about what they need and desire? Will the possibility of hope be enough to risk their heart?

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the series but it can be read as a standalone. Tessa is a librarian and hides who she really is because of her political father. She goes to a masquerade night at Wicked Sanctuary and sparks fly when she meets Dominant Damon. Tessa is worried her powerful father will ruin Damon and her new found family. Will she choose to protect those at the club or follow her heart? Fast-paced read with great characters, loads of drama and steam. The story has plenty of twists and turns and keeps you entertained throughout. I liked it.

[Keema Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind blowing ending... I have to admit Tasha and Damon was made for each other. They bring out the best in each other as well as chemistry. I must say they have come a lone way, but if you ask me I would have to say it was built up anticipation that finally exploded with so much heat. I loved their comedic antics and open honest communication, it’s well rounded. Above all I love the bond they share with their friends, it’s more like family then anything.

I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seduce is the third book of the Wicked Sanctuary series. The books are stand-alone reads, there is enough background information that I did not have a feeling as if I was missing something. Also, you will meet characters from the former books.

Damon and Tessa do have quite some chemistry. I was dragged into the story right from the beginning and I loved Damon and Tessa. The intimate scenes were sensual and very, very hot. Damon is such a sweet and caring man and also a great Dom. I would not mind meeting someone like him in real life. It was a great book to read.

[Mulan Book Princess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rate this book 4.5 stars.

Tessa makes me smile. She is so strong and independent, yet so kind and sweet. It's not wonder that Damon is so attracted to her. Damon is quite the alpha yet really caring and noble in that he wants to take things slow as he is sure that Tessa is important to him. There is enough excitement that happens in this story to keep it entertaining, and enjoyable to read.

I received a free advanced review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my fair and honest opinion.

[Sassy Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing story by Marie Tuhart. I love this series by her. I was thrilled to read Tessa and Damon's story. Tessa loves being a librarian and tries to keep a low profile. Her family is in politics and she hates the spotlight. Damon and her don't have the best first interaction but Damon is not going to give up. He knows that they could be good together. They share similar tastes and kink. When her family comes into town and make trouble, will Damon let her distance herself from them?

I received an ARC from the author/publisher for an honest reivew

[Laure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tessa Ruthledge is a librarian with secrets. Damon Kline is an engineer, a Dom, and he wants to know her secrets. I thought this was a wonderful book with well written, and realistic characters. While Damon is a Dom, and Tessa a submissive, their interactions are sexy and tastefully written. Light BDSM, and an unexpected twist in the plot kept me engrossed in this book.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Elaine Swinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an ARC copy through BookFunnel and I voluntarily chose to review it. I am a Marie Tuhart fan and I enjoy her books. This is a well written story with wonderful characters. I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series. This is a BDSM themed story so please keep that in mind if you decide to get this book. If that isn't your type story you will not like this book. This was a quick easy read for me. I enjoyed this story and I think you will also.

[Mel ReadingWithMAC · Rating 4 out of 5]

For catching book 3 in a series, there wasn't much I felt I was missing. There are parts referring to previous books, but nothing overly redundant.

There are areas that felt like wishful thinking - couple gets hot and heavy with her naked and they just cuddle and go to sleep, twice? Yeah hard sell there - but otherwise the story fit nicely. There are some story arc issues, but for a fluff read it's easy to overlook.

*I received an ARC for free. My review is my own.

[Shirley Holt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tessa and Damon had combustible heat in the continuation of this series. Should have been straightforward but Tessa has a family she would rather forget but will they get in the way of this sey couple. I do like books who have the same couples running through their stories. Totally recommend this series and look forward to the next.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seduce the third book in the Wicked Sanctuary series, a well written story that held my interest throughout. I enjoyed reading librarian Tessa Ruthledge and Industrial designer Damon Kline's story, her father was not a nice man. I liked the way this story ended. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.