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A Yuletide Seduction
Jane has built a successful business, and she's also successfully distanced herself from her former life as a society heiress -- until a Christmas party brings her face to face with Gabriel Vaughan. Will he recognize her?
285 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
4 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Carole Mortimer
1,296 books907 followersI have written almost 250 romance novels in contemporary and Regency.
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 26, 2016
Jane Smith (who's 28) runs an exclusive catering service, and is a personal chef to the rich and influential. While doing a catering job she runs into tall, dark, and handsome Gabe Vaughan (39). He's the last person she wants to meet since she's been trying to avoid him for years.
Gabe and Jane made a good couple and I was happy to see them get their Happy Ever After. This was an enjoyable and entertaining read by Carole Mortimer!
Gabe and Jane made a good couple and I was happy to see them get their Happy Ever After. This was an enjoyable and entertaining read by Carole Mortimer!
December 31, 2015
I wasn't feeling this book very much at first, but I really liked the end of the book. It was very sweet, and I'm always a sucker for a hero who's stone cold crazy about the heroine. There was a real 'aww' moment at the end. I think the plot was rather convoluted, but that's what makes Harlequin Presents books so addictive.
Jane is a caterer and a chef, and being a foodie, I'm all for that. I could have used more food descriptions. Gabe is a big businessman who makes his money buying up ailing corporations. Jane has something personal against him because of what happened between his wife and her husband. He made her life difficult in the aftermath and contributed to an already painful situation. But that doesn't stop her from being attracted to Gabe and falling in love with her.
One aspect of this Harlequin Presents that was different is that Gabe is actually a nice guy. He only appears ruthless in Jane's mind. He doesn't read that way in the story.
There is no big chemistry and tension in this book. It's more of a slow build and a sweet romance. But that's not a bad thing. I gave it an extra half star because the ending was so lovely.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
Jane is a caterer and a chef, and being a foodie, I'm all for that. I could have used more food descriptions. Gabe is a big businessman who makes his money buying up ailing corporations. Jane has something personal against him because of what happened between his wife and her husband. He made her life difficult in the aftermath and contributed to an already painful situation. But that doesn't stop her from being attracted to Gabe and falling in love with her.
One aspect of this Harlequin Presents that was different is that Gabe is actually a nice guy. He only appears ruthless in Jane's mind. He doesn't read that way in the story.
There is no big chemistry and tension in this book. It's more of a slow build and a sweet romance. But that's not a bad thing. I gave it an extra half star because the ending was so lovely.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
March 5, 2019
"A Yuletide Seduction" is the story of Jane and Gabriel.
Jane Smith is a quiet brunette, running her small catering business. She is efficient, yet un-involved in her clients' lives- choosing an isolated life.
Serving in one such party, she ends up "meeting" Gabriel Vaughan- and just like that, the world crashes down around her again! She brushes him off, he does not take the hint. But as she tries to run from Gabriel, he appears to be obsessed with her and does not give up on pursuing her. Can he crack the icy persona she so carefully dons? And what will happen when he actually discovers her true identity..and that he is partially responsible for her masquerade!
A sweet yet heartbreaking love story, in which our h and H are both trapped in crappy marriages in the past, tragedy strikes, causing the h to run away. She tries to hide by taking on a new identity, but as the H enters her life again, her carefully constructed facade shatters- and she is made to face the problems she was running away from, as well as pain she had long forgotten.
I hated both their ex spouses. Their families were sweet, yet the focus of the story is the cautious, yet independent heroine who rises from the ashes, and the nice hero, who does not give up on her. We see how misunderstandings contributed to their past problems, and I liked the confessions we see in the last 3/4th of the book.
The climax is filled with angst, but I really liked the adorable epilogue.
SWE
3/5
Jane Smith is a quiet brunette, running her small catering business. She is efficient, yet un-involved in her clients' lives- choosing an isolated life.
Serving in one such party, she ends up "meeting" Gabriel Vaughan- and just like that, the world crashes down around her again! She brushes him off, he does not take the hint. But as she tries to run from Gabriel, he appears to be obsessed with her and does not give up on pursuing her. Can he crack the icy persona she so carefully dons? And what will happen when he actually discovers her true identity..and that he is partially responsible for her masquerade!
A sweet yet heartbreaking love story, in which our h and H are both trapped in crappy marriages in the past, tragedy strikes, causing the h to run away. She tries to hide by taking on a new identity, but as the H enters her life again, her carefully constructed facade shatters- and she is made to face the problems she was running away from, as well as pain she had long forgotten.
I hated both their ex spouses. Their families were sweet, yet the focus of the story is the cautious, yet independent heroine who rises from the ashes, and the nice hero, who does not give up on her. We see how misunderstandings contributed to their past problems, and I liked the confessions we see in the last 3/4th of the book.
The climax is filled with angst, but I really liked the adorable epilogue.
SWE
3/5
January 13, 2018
Personajes: Janette (Jane) & Gabriel.
Profesiones: Empresario & Cocinera.
País: Londres.
Profesiones: Empresario & Cocinera.
País: Londres.
November 17, 2009
Quite enjoyable but the heroes actions in todays society would probably have landed him with a restraining order.
December 30, 2019
More like 3.5 rounded to 4.
The heroine is a private chef, she caters for wealthy clients. It's after one of these dinners when her client comes to the kitchen to compliment her, and she is followed by the Hero. The Hero extends his compliments as well and seem attracted, but the heroine is very reluctant.
Three years ago, the heroine had to pick up her life again and this is when she decided to cook for rich people. She used to be wealthy and married, but her husband died in a car crash with his mistresses. He also had gambled away all her money. That abd the ensuing scandal were too much for the heroine, that she had a miscarriage. She changed her name and look and tries to rebuild her life.
The Hero doesn't recognize her, but the heroine knows who he is. His wife was the woman her husband was having an affair with and died w him in the car crash. The Hero and the heroine have never met face to face. Three years ago, he tried to contact the heroine but she hid from him, she thinks he was out for revenge, and somehow blames her also in the death of his wife.
Anyway, now he is actively pursuing her can cant understand why she wont give him time of day!
The book was good since it kept up my interest waiting for the shoe to drop. When it finally does there is a nice twist in the end and the epilogue is cute too.
The heroine is a private chef, she caters for wealthy clients. It's after one of these dinners when her client comes to the kitchen to compliment her, and she is followed by the Hero. The Hero extends his compliments as well and seem attracted, but the heroine is very reluctant.
Three years ago, the heroine had to pick up her life again and this is when she decided to cook for rich people. She used to be wealthy and married, but her husband died in a car crash with his mistresses. He also had gambled away all her money. That abd the ensuing scandal were too much for the heroine, that she had a miscarriage. She changed her name and look and tries to rebuild her life.
The Hero doesn't recognize her, but the heroine knows who he is. His wife was the woman her husband was having an affair with and died w him in the car crash. The Hero and the heroine have never met face to face. Three years ago, he tried to contact the heroine but she hid from him, she thinks he was out for revenge, and somehow blames her also in the death of his wife.
Anyway, now he is actively pursuing her can cant understand why she wont give him time of day!
The book was good since it kept up my interest waiting for the shoe to drop. When it finally does there is a nice twist in the end and the epilogue is cute too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2020
Una storia molto drammatica sin dall’inizio ma con il procedere della lettura risulta divertente e molto scorrevole.
October 6, 2017
Carole Mortimer certainly is the best when it comes to WONDERFUL romantic stories like this one...
I just love the plot and the circumstances the hero Gabriel Vaughn and the heroine Jane Smith meet and fall in love after both their marriage partners died together three years ago.
Gabriel Vaughn was a different kind of hero.The unhappy and love-less marriage he had with his first wife didn`t make him cold towards love and marriage a second time,which usally leaves a scar to most heroes.But not Gabriel,he had always loved the heroine and he welcomed it and i just love it when he chased Jane and fought stubbornly to win her heart.
He is a brave man risking his heart like that...and no wonder that Jane fell for him.I would certainly fall for him TOO!
The ending was so beautiful!!!!..only Carole can make a delightful ending like that!
I just love the plot and the circumstances the hero Gabriel Vaughn and the heroine Jane Smith meet and fall in love after both their marriage partners died together three years ago.
Gabriel Vaughn was a different kind of hero.The unhappy and love-less marriage he had with his first wife didn`t make him cold towards love and marriage a second time,which usally leaves a scar to most heroes.But not Gabriel,he had always loved the heroine and he welcomed it and i just love it when he chased Jane and fought stubbornly to win her heart.
He is a brave man risking his heart like that...and no wonder that Jane fell for him.I would certainly fall for him TOO!
The ending was so beautiful!!!!..only Carole can make a delightful ending like that!
September 29, 2018
This is an interesting story about two people connected by a tragedy in the past. Jane has rebuilt her life and is now a personal chef, catering for the rich when they give private dinner parties in their homes.
Gabe Vaughan turns up at one of these parties and Jane is petrified that he will recognise her, despite her changed appearance. They never met but after their tragedy, their photographs appeared together in news items about the incident.
Gabe instantly goes into pursuit mode and Jane finds herself attracted to him, while knowing that if he recognises her, he would want to have nothing to do with her.
I really enjoyed this story. It was nice to read a hero in pursuit who reveals himself as a nice guy and has you batting for him long before the end.
Jane was stubborn but as the past is revealed, we understand her reactions.
Both hero and heroine had previous marriages.
Gabe Vaughan turns up at one of these parties and Jane is petrified that he will recognise her, despite her changed appearance. They never met but after their tragedy, their photographs appeared together in news items about the incident.
Gabe instantly goes into pursuit mode and Jane finds herself attracted to him, while knowing that if he recognises her, he would want to have nothing to do with her.
I really enjoyed this story. It was nice to read a hero in pursuit who reveals himself as a nice guy and has you batting for him long before the end.
Jane was stubborn but as the past is revealed, we understand her reactions.
Both hero and heroine had previous marriages.
February 18, 2016
Letto per la prima volta il 9/02/2012 nella raccolta "Sentimenti nella bufera"
In rilettura!!!!
Finito e confermato stelline!!!
In rilettura!!!!
Finito e confermato stelline!!!
September 28, 2025
Heroine thought her change in hair color was a bullet-proof disguise. LOL. Hero recognized her as the women he fell in love with 3 years before when they were both in bad marriages.
Their spouses were killed together in a car accident and heroine was convinced hero blamed her. (??) Her evil husband was also responsible for the demise of her father's business. So heroine has a lot of guilt. Hero just returned to the US and kept making money.
The story opens when the heroine is catering a dinner party and hero, a dinner guest, walks into her kitchen. He immediately asks her out and she immediately freaks out.
This is the usual courtship plot with the big mystery being why the heroine is so averse to the hero and what exactly happened with her ex.
The entire story takes place the two weeks before Christmas, so suspend that disbelief!
Their spouses were killed together in a car accident and heroine was convinced hero blamed her. (??) Her evil husband was also responsible for the demise of her father's business. So heroine has a lot of guilt. Hero just returned to the US and kept making money.
The story opens when the heroine is catering a dinner party and hero, a dinner guest, walks into her kitchen. He immediately asks her out and she immediately freaks out.
This is the usual courtship plot with the big mystery being why the heroine is so averse to the hero and what exactly happened with her ex.
The entire story takes place the two weeks before Christmas, so suspend that disbelief!
June 12, 2018
Es la primera novela que leo de Carole Mortimer. Y tengo que admitir que empecé a leerla no teniendo muchas expectativas, pero realmente me ha sorprendido este libro. Nos cuenta la historia de Janette y por que se ha cambiado de identidad y todo los cambios que ha sufrido durante tres años. Hasta que, cuando menos lo esperaba, Gabriel Vaughan irrumpe en su vida, sin saber que ella es la mujer que un día conoció (o eso es lo que le hace creer Gabriel a Janette). Tengo que admitir que en las primeras páginas odié a Gabriel... Me decía: "Él no puede ser el protagonista". Pero luego, a medida que la novela avanza, me fue agradando.
En pocas palabras, es una novela corta, donde ambos protagonistas se darán cuenta que encontraran el amor verdadero, en la persona en quien menos piensan.
En pocas palabras, es una novela corta, donde ambos protagonistas se darán cuenta que encontraran el amor verdadero, en la persona en quien menos piensan.
December 2, 2017
A totally smitten hero. Love at first sight for him. I really enjoyed this one, even if the Christmas element was mostly non-existent.
I think I've been reading too many new adult books lately, because some of this shit that came out of his mouth had me giddy as hell. I really do miss my HP heroes and their....subtleness.
Lol, in new adult, he'd be like...."Damn baby, your curves are smokin'."
I couldn't decide throughout the book if he remembered her or not. And I won't ruin it for you.
That cover model looks familiar....I know I've seen him somewhere. Maybe a Lifetime movie or something....
I think I've been reading too many new adult books lately, because some of this shit that came out of his mouth had me giddy as hell. I really do miss my HP heroes and their....subtleness.
Mmm. Tell me. What do you do for exercise?
Lol, in new adult, he'd be like...."Damn baby, your curves are smokin'."
I couldn't decide throughout the book if he remembered her or not. And I won't ruin it for you.
That cover model looks familiar....I know I've seen him somewhere. Maybe a Lifetime movie or something....
December 27, 2022
En realidad está pequeña novela romántica tiene 156 páginas. Y puedo decir que la disfrute mucho. Es una historia entretenida ✨ dónde tenemos a esta chica que tras tener una gran perdida busca salir adelante, pero cuando menos se lo espera llega este buenaso a seducirla tremendamente 💞 por lo que, por más que se resista algo no saldrá como ella lo espera. 💖🤩
July 5, 2020
Likable, warm characters
Read
July 27, 2011Christmas...with Gabriel
Everybody knows her as Jane Smith -- a successful businesswoman. What they don't know is that Jane has also successfully distanced herself from her past.
Until she meets handsome American Gabriel Vaughan at a Christmas party. Gabe's determined to get close to her, seduce her, and sooner or later he'll recognize her...as a former society lady with a secret....
Everybody knows her as Jane Smith -- a successful businesswoman. What they don't know is that Jane has also successfully distanced herself from her past.
Until she meets handsome American Gabriel Vaughan at a Christmas party. Gabe's determined to get close to her, seduce her, and sooner or later he'll recognize her...as a former society lady with a secret....
November 28, 2012
I read this before, like years ago now and I remember it clearly. It was a fucked up story about and unlikely couple meeting. Since both of their spouses had an affair with each other and were killed. Eventually they hook up, accept the past and get their happy ever after.
September 1, 2015
Me tenia intrigada pero cuando llegue al meollo del asunto me desilusiono, no tiene sentido el final.
January 13, 2016
una historia muy linda y romantica esas que te dan un soplo de alegria y disfrutas. desde que terminas de leerla te quedas con un sonrisa
December 7, 2016
So many games played, but I do like the characters.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews