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The Daughters of Erin #3
Lady of Seduction
It's a mad, ill-advised journey that leads the usually sensible Lady Caroline Blacknall to the legendary isle of Muirin Inish, off the windswept coast of Ireland. Even so, she doesn't expect to find herself shipwrecked and then rescued by a man she believed she would never see again. A man who, long ago, held her life in his hands . . . and with it, her heart.
Reformed rake Sir Grant Dunmore knew he could never forget the beautiful woman he once endangered nor will he ever forgive himself. But history seems doomed to repeat itself, for as long as Caroline stays on the island, she is trapped in a secret plot that could forever free Ireland—or turn deadly for all. And yet, now that she is in his arms again, how can he dream of ever letting her go?
Reformed rake Sir Grant Dunmore knew he could never forget the beautiful woman he once endangered nor will he ever forgive himself. But history seems doomed to repeat itself, for as long as Caroline stays on the island, she is trapped in a secret plot that could forever free Ireland—or turn deadly for all. And yet, now that she is in his arms again, how can he dream of ever letting her go?
325 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2011
10 people are currently reading
379 people want to read
About the author
Laurel McKee
8 books72 followersLaurel McKee is the pen name for regency romance writer Amanda McCabe.
Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen--a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject...)
She's never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in Oklahoma with a menagerie of two cats, a Pug, and a very bossy miniature Poodle, along with far too many books.
When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network--even though she doesn't cook.
Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen--a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject...)
She's never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in Oklahoma with a menagerie of two cats, a Pug, and a very bossy miniature Poodle, along with far too many books.
When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network--even though she doesn't cook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
July 16, 2015
Lady of Seduction is my first book by Laurel McKee and having read the summary, I was prepared to adore it. It had elements I love in a romance: a scarred and tortured hero, a bookish and loner-type heroine, and a secluded island in Ireland, which to me equaled character-driven plot and lots of quality one-on-one time. As my rating shows, it did not at all live up to my expectations and I ended up having trouble finishing it: I read four other books between starting and finishing this one – not a good sign.
The book is a semi-reunion romance between two people with à la Devil in Winter history between them. Lady Caroline Hartley has never forgotten Sir Grant Dunmore, the man who four years ago sought to kidnap her older sister and took her by mistake. Caught together in a burning warehouse, not knowing whether or not they would survive, a bond was formed between them. Caroline is now a 20-year-old widow and Grant has become a scarred recluse, yet they have continued to think of each other over the years. Caroline is an avid historian and decides to travel to the island of Muirin Inish for her research so that she can study a priceless and rare book Grant owns … and to see him again.
Growing up, Grant and his mother were shunned by her family and he had made it his goal in life to get back at those who had rejected them. This obsession pitted him against his cousin and drove him to the point of kidnapping a woman – the wrong one, as it turned out. Bearing burn scars and the guilt of his selfish past, he left the Dublin society that had once adored him and now hopes to atone for his actions. The last person Grant expects to find when he runs down to the shore to rescue a shipwrecked passenger is Caroline Blacknall, the very woman he wronged.
The minute they are together again, both Caroline and Grant once more feel the strong bond between them. Unfortunately, Caroline could not have picked a worse time to visit, as Grant is in the middle of espionage-related intrigue. As their relationship progresses and the passion between them explodes (did I really just write that?!), they must battle French spies, another possible rebellion, and the obstacles of their shared history.
So that’s the story – now for what I had problems with. Well, what didn’t I have a problem with? I actually enjoyed the beginning of the book. I was intrigued by Grant and Caroline’s past and curious as to how they would reconcile with it. I also liked the banter between them and the juxtaposition of his prickliness with her carefree manner. Plus, I was definitely feeling the oh-so-important chemistry.
After the first ~100 pages though, everything pretty much went downhill. The love scenes, though relatively frequent (nothing risqué), were completely lacking in spark and for the first time in my entire reading career, I was tempted to skip over them (gasp!). Grant and Caroline also completely lost their personalities, becoming boring and flat; it was like McKee couldn’t decide what she wanted to do with them. Caroline would have Grant up on a pedestal one minute, and then the next she was reminding herself of what he did to her family and doubting his trustworthiness. Grant, for his part, felt just as wishy-washy. There was no real internal conflict for either of them, or in their relationship. I was also bothered by the age issue: the kidnapping incident (and their first kiss) happened when Caroline was 16 and Grant was in his late-20s, if not early-30s.
The historical subplot wasn’t well-integrated and made the story feel choppy. We’re given mystery guests with differing intentions, a possible ghost, a dead maid, and a rebellion in the works. Then they’re traveling through the countryside together, trying to get to Dublin. It was very disjointed and, mixed with the lackluster romance, it made for a boring read.
This book is the last book in The Daughters of Erin trilogy. The first book, Countess of Scandal , focuses on Caroline’s oldest sister, and the second one, Duchess of Sin , features the romance between Grant’s cousin and Caroline’s other sister. Not having seen Grant’s prior “evilness” does perhaps detract from this book’s stand-alone potential, but since I don’t recommend you read Lady of Seduction in the first place, it seems pointless to say you should read the second book prior to this one.
{ Favorite Quote }
* Originally reviewed for Fiction Vixen
The book is a semi-reunion romance between two people with à la Devil in Winter history between them. Lady Caroline Hartley has never forgotten Sir Grant Dunmore, the man who four years ago sought to kidnap her older sister and took her by mistake. Caught together in a burning warehouse, not knowing whether or not they would survive, a bond was formed between them. Caroline is now a 20-year-old widow and Grant has become a scarred recluse, yet they have continued to think of each other over the years. Caroline is an avid historian and decides to travel to the island of Muirin Inish for her research so that she can study a priceless and rare book Grant owns … and to see him again.
Growing up, Grant and his mother were shunned by her family and he had made it his goal in life to get back at those who had rejected them. This obsession pitted him against his cousin and drove him to the point of kidnapping a woman – the wrong one, as it turned out. Bearing burn scars and the guilt of his selfish past, he left the Dublin society that had once adored him and now hopes to atone for his actions. The last person Grant expects to find when he runs down to the shore to rescue a shipwrecked passenger is Caroline Blacknall, the very woman he wronged.
The minute they are together again, both Caroline and Grant once more feel the strong bond between them. Unfortunately, Caroline could not have picked a worse time to visit, as Grant is in the middle of espionage-related intrigue. As their relationship progresses and the passion between them explodes (did I really just write that?!), they must battle French spies, another possible rebellion, and the obstacles of their shared history.
So that’s the story – now for what I had problems with. Well, what didn’t I have a problem with? I actually enjoyed the beginning of the book. I was intrigued by Grant and Caroline’s past and curious as to how they would reconcile with it. I also liked the banter between them and the juxtaposition of his prickliness with her carefree manner. Plus, I was definitely feeling the oh-so-important chemistry.
After the first ~100 pages though, everything pretty much went downhill. The love scenes, though relatively frequent (nothing risqué), were completely lacking in spark and for the first time in my entire reading career, I was tempted to skip over them (gasp!). Grant and Caroline also completely lost their personalities, becoming boring and flat; it was like McKee couldn’t decide what she wanted to do with them. Caroline would have Grant up on a pedestal one minute, and then the next she was reminding herself of what he did to her family and doubting his trustworthiness. Grant, for his part, felt just as wishy-washy. There was no real internal conflict for either of them, or in their relationship. I was also bothered by the age issue: the kidnapping incident (and their first kiss) happened when Caroline was 16 and Grant was in his late-20s, if not early-30s.
The historical subplot wasn’t well-integrated and made the story feel choppy. We’re given mystery guests with differing intentions, a possible ghost, a dead maid, and a rebellion in the works. Then they’re traveling through the countryside together, trying to get to Dublin. It was very disjointed and, mixed with the lackluster romance, it made for a boring read.
This book is the last book in The Daughters of Erin trilogy. The first book, Countess of Scandal , focuses on Caroline’s oldest sister, and the second one, Duchess of Sin , features the romance between Grant’s cousin and Caroline’s other sister. Not having seen Grant’s prior “evilness” does perhaps detract from this book’s stand-alone potential, but since I don’t recommend you read Lady of Seduction in the first place, it seems pointless to say you should read the second book prior to this one.
{ Favorite Quote }
She baffled him, turning his careful world upside down. He wanted her body with a burning lust he had never felt for his elegant mistresses, and that was bad enough. But he also wanted to know her mind, her thoughts and opinions, her feelings. He wanted to lose himself in that calm brightness of hers and be clean again.
(p. 108)
* Originally reviewed for Fiction Vixen
May 21, 2011
LADY OF SEDUCTION written by Laurel McKee
Daughters of Erin Series Book #3
06/11 - Grand Central Publishing - Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
Is love the ultimate leap of faith out of your safety net?
Lady Caroline Blacknall may be the youngest but she is also the strongest and most tenacious of the sisters. She decides to get on a ship in the worst of traveling season to find her way to Sir Grant Dunmore and his isolated island so that he will give up what she craves the most in life – The Chronicle of Kildare. Caroline is a bluestocking and has a passion for historical information and that book will fulfill her inquisitive search for knowledge or so she thinks.
Grant never would have expected to see Caroline again after the disaster that drove him to the island he now rules from his haunted castle, but when she shows up he realizes all too quickly that she has grown up to become the sister he feels is the one that he was meant to be with. He has saved her before and now Grant starts to believe that she may be his complete redemption in love. Caroline expected to be greeted by a bitter and ruined man in Grant yet what she encounters is a few scars and allot of attitude in a ridiculously attractive man.
However, Grant is hiding a terrible secret that is proving difficult to keep from Caroline especially when visitors arrive unexpectedly at his door. When the truth of what he is really up to conflicts with her chances to get The Chronicle of Kildare the fireworks take place in bed as well as the library. Caroline wants that book but Grant needs to figure out how to keep her happy, his visitors occupied, and a war from exploding on his own island. Grant will do whatever it takes to protect Caroline even drag her home and admit to his sins before faith and family in order to have her in his life forever.
The only bad moment in this book is when you finish and know the series is concluded. These women are sassy, independent, and incredible characters that are matched up with great men and the stories have been historically enlightening. I am proud to be a fan of Ms. McKee’s knowing that while this series ends there are so many more waiting to be written.
Daughters of Erin Series Book #3
06/11 - Grand Central Publishing - Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
Is love the ultimate leap of faith out of your safety net?
Lady Caroline Blacknall may be the youngest but she is also the strongest and most tenacious of the sisters. She decides to get on a ship in the worst of traveling season to find her way to Sir Grant Dunmore and his isolated island so that he will give up what she craves the most in life – The Chronicle of Kildare. Caroline is a bluestocking and has a passion for historical information and that book will fulfill her inquisitive search for knowledge or so she thinks.
Grant never would have expected to see Caroline again after the disaster that drove him to the island he now rules from his haunted castle, but when she shows up he realizes all too quickly that she has grown up to become the sister he feels is the one that he was meant to be with. He has saved her before and now Grant starts to believe that she may be his complete redemption in love. Caroline expected to be greeted by a bitter and ruined man in Grant yet what she encounters is a few scars and allot of attitude in a ridiculously attractive man.
However, Grant is hiding a terrible secret that is proving difficult to keep from Caroline especially when visitors arrive unexpectedly at his door. When the truth of what he is really up to conflicts with her chances to get The Chronicle of Kildare the fireworks take place in bed as well as the library. Caroline wants that book but Grant needs to figure out how to keep her happy, his visitors occupied, and a war from exploding on his own island. Grant will do whatever it takes to protect Caroline even drag her home and admit to his sins before faith and family in order to have her in his life forever.
The only bad moment in this book is when you finish and know the series is concluded. These women are sassy, independent, and incredible characters that are matched up with great men and the stories have been historically enlightening. I am proud to be a fan of Ms. McKee’s knowing that while this series ends there are so many more waiting to be written.
May 19, 2011
My first Laurel McKee turned out to be the 3rd book in her Daughters of Erin trilogy which tells the story of the youngest daughter Caroline Blacknell who finds her happily ever after with Grant Dunmore with whom she has a shared past prior to the start of this book.
Set in Ireland in the 1800's, Lady of Seduction begins in the midst of the journey that Caroline makes to reach the forbidding island of Muirin Inish to seek out Grant because she wants to get her hands on a book that is in his possession, or so she tells herself. Caroline is a widow, whose husband had died just about a year back and Caroline has just begun to find her own purpose in the world. Always happier when she is buried deep under a ton of books, Caroline is the only one out of the 3 sisters who doesn't thrive on adventure, until she seeks out Grant Dunmore, the man who has haunted her dreams ever since their encounter 4 years back.
Once a sophisticated, aristocratic gentleman that all ladies in Dublin had swooned over, Grant had left the high society to live out the rest of his life in seclusion in the cold, damp and crumbling castle that stands on the remote island of Muirin Inish after his role in the incident that had occurred before his move to the island. The Grant that Caroline encounters on the island couldn't be anymore different from what he is in her memories, but the wild, long-haired and tattooed version of Grant still tempts Caroline beyond anyone or anything she has ever encountered in 20 years of her life.
With Caroline stranded on the island with no means of sending her back to where she came from, Grant is no match to saying no to the heady attraction that had always been there between them, that burns out of control when they are forced to spend time together. But the secrets that Grant hides in the name of righting all that he has done wrong in the past puts both of them in perilous danger. Once their journey towards Dublin is over, Grant intends to do the honorable thing and leave Caroline to find ultimate happiness with a man more deserving of a woman like her.
There are a couple of things that I loved about this story. First the setting since I have never read a historical romance in an Irish setting, so this was a first for me. Though the historical accuracy part always flies over the top of my head, the afterword included in the story tells that the author has done a lot of research into the said time period. I liked Grant who has changed his ways from the reckless young man who let his thirst for vengeance and revenge control his emotions and heart for so long to find his solace in warm embrace of Caroline who manages to see into the depth of his dark soul and still love him for who he is. Caroline is one of my favorite types of heroines, the bookish type who doesn't care much about the righteous rules of the society which ALWAYS makes a historical romance interesting. I loved the passion between Grant and Caroline that unfolds in many a imaginatively done scenes that always had me sighing after it was over. And as always, I loved the epilogue in the story which shows the lives of Grant and Caroline one year after the end of their story.
Though I liked many aspects of the story, I still found myself at times wanting to know the details of how Caroline and Grant's pasts entwines, skimmed over in this novel. I believe that readers who are interested in trying out the 3rd book needs to read the series in order so not to miss any vital aspects of their past which I think may have happened to me to make the enjoyable factor a little less for me with this one.
I would recommend this for fans of historical romances who would love to try out stories in new settings, who loves a brooding and scarred hero who finds happiness in the arms of a less than perfect heroine who makes you smile in all the ways that counts.
Memorable Quotes:
"Am I a troublesome prisoner, then?" (Caroline asks)
"Most assuredly you are." He kissed the soft, sensitive spot just below her ear and touched her there with the tip of his tongue.
Caroline gasped at the rush of lightening hot sensation. Her fists closed convulsively on his shirt, and her eyes closed. His lips slid slowly along her neck, open and warm. He bit lightly at the curve of her shoulder, and her knees collapsed under her.
His gaze met hers, and in that instant, Caroline felt something deep and profound shift between them. They saw each other, they understood, and every breath and every heartbeat was like one. She loved him, as she could never love anyone else. And that realization shook her deeply.
Rating=3.75/5
Original Review Posted At: MBR's World of Romance
Set in Ireland in the 1800's, Lady of Seduction begins in the midst of the journey that Caroline makes to reach the forbidding island of Muirin Inish to seek out Grant because she wants to get her hands on a book that is in his possession, or so she tells herself. Caroline is a widow, whose husband had died just about a year back and Caroline has just begun to find her own purpose in the world. Always happier when she is buried deep under a ton of books, Caroline is the only one out of the 3 sisters who doesn't thrive on adventure, until she seeks out Grant Dunmore, the man who has haunted her dreams ever since their encounter 4 years back.
Once a sophisticated, aristocratic gentleman that all ladies in Dublin had swooned over, Grant had left the high society to live out the rest of his life in seclusion in the cold, damp and crumbling castle that stands on the remote island of Muirin Inish after his role in the incident that had occurred before his move to the island. The Grant that Caroline encounters on the island couldn't be anymore different from what he is in her memories, but the wild, long-haired and tattooed version of Grant still tempts Caroline beyond anyone or anything she has ever encountered in 20 years of her life.
With Caroline stranded on the island with no means of sending her back to where she came from, Grant is no match to saying no to the heady attraction that had always been there between them, that burns out of control when they are forced to spend time together. But the secrets that Grant hides in the name of righting all that he has done wrong in the past puts both of them in perilous danger. Once their journey towards Dublin is over, Grant intends to do the honorable thing and leave Caroline to find ultimate happiness with a man more deserving of a woman like her.
There are a couple of things that I loved about this story. First the setting since I have never read a historical romance in an Irish setting, so this was a first for me. Though the historical accuracy part always flies over the top of my head, the afterword included in the story tells that the author has done a lot of research into the said time period. I liked Grant who has changed his ways from the reckless young man who let his thirst for vengeance and revenge control his emotions and heart for so long to find his solace in warm embrace of Caroline who manages to see into the depth of his dark soul and still love him for who he is. Caroline is one of my favorite types of heroines, the bookish type who doesn't care much about the righteous rules of the society which ALWAYS makes a historical romance interesting. I loved the passion between Grant and Caroline that unfolds in many a imaginatively done scenes that always had me sighing after it was over. And as always, I loved the epilogue in the story which shows the lives of Grant and Caroline one year after the end of their story.
Though I liked many aspects of the story, I still found myself at times wanting to know the details of how Caroline and Grant's pasts entwines, skimmed over in this novel. I believe that readers who are interested in trying out the 3rd book needs to read the series in order so not to miss any vital aspects of their past which I think may have happened to me to make the enjoyable factor a little less for me with this one.
I would recommend this for fans of historical romances who would love to try out stories in new settings, who loves a brooding and scarred hero who finds happiness in the arms of a less than perfect heroine who makes you smile in all the ways that counts.
Memorable Quotes:
"Am I a troublesome prisoner, then?" (Caroline asks)
"Most assuredly you are." He kissed the soft, sensitive spot just below her ear and touched her there with the tip of his tongue.
Caroline gasped at the rush of lightening hot sensation. Her fists closed convulsively on his shirt, and her eyes closed. His lips slid slowly along her neck, open and warm. He bit lightly at the curve of her shoulder, and her knees collapsed under her.
His gaze met hers, and in that instant, Caroline felt something deep and profound shift between them. They saw each other, they understood, and every breath and every heartbeat was like one. She loved him, as she could never love anyone else. And that realization shook her deeply.
Rating=3.75/5
Original Review Posted At: MBR's World of Romance
July 22, 2011
4.5 Stars
I loved this book so much! I loved the romantic setting of a deserted island, a creepy old castle, and a loner hero. Grant was a former society favorite who became scarred and transformed from a dandy to an almost hermit like lifestyle.
I liked that the heroine was older and more experienced. That's always a refreshing change. Caroline seemed so strong in her own right without being 'feisty' or 'stubborn' or any of those other over-used descriptions of a historical romance heroine.
I really felt like Caroline and Grant had a deep connection. On their journey, they really seemed to be in it together. They had each other's backs. Even when they thought there was no way they could be together after the adventure ended, it felt like there was no way they could ever be separated.
A lot of times in romance, I get bored with too much mystery or adventure, but his time I was on the edge of my sett. The author does a great job of keeping the hero and heroine together while searching for clues so the mystery and romance went hand in hand.
I really liked the Irish setting, it was a nice change from the average read. I am curious as to whether the author's next series will be set in Ireland as well, because she writes about the Irish culture so beautifully.
Overall, the perfect fun romantic adventure, with sizzling chemistry between the two leads.
ARC sent by publisher in exchange for honest review
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
I loved this book so much! I loved the romantic setting of a deserted island, a creepy old castle, and a loner hero. Grant was a former society favorite who became scarred and transformed from a dandy to an almost hermit like lifestyle.
I liked that the heroine was older and more experienced. That's always a refreshing change. Caroline seemed so strong in her own right without being 'feisty' or 'stubborn' or any of those other over-used descriptions of a historical romance heroine.
I really felt like Caroline and Grant had a deep connection. On their journey, they really seemed to be in it together. They had each other's backs. Even when they thought there was no way they could be together after the adventure ended, it felt like there was no way they could ever be separated.
A lot of times in romance, I get bored with too much mystery or adventure, but his time I was on the edge of my sett. The author does a great job of keeping the hero and heroine together while searching for clues so the mystery and romance went hand in hand.
I really liked the Irish setting, it was a nice change from the average read. I am curious as to whether the author's next series will be set in Ireland as well, because she writes about the Irish culture so beautifully.
Overall, the perfect fun romantic adventure, with sizzling chemistry between the two leads.
ARC sent by publisher in exchange for honest review
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
May 30, 2011
My first Laurel McKee book and I really enjoyed it. I loved the setting, the storyline was fantastic and so is the writing style of the author. I know I will be going back to read the first two books because I do believe I missed out on some things in the story. You get suspense, danger, secrets, and some smoking hot sex because these to go at it right of the bat. I believe the author done her homework research in writing this book it shows out nicely.
I recommend anyone to start at book one because like I said I felt like I was missing the connection between these two and I wanted to know what it was really bad. What I disliked most was it read like Grant went to this island to get away from Caroline, but when she arrives he just forgets he shouldn’t be with her and goes at it right off the bat and never stops, although he would mention at times that he needed to leave her. Caroline is quite clanging to Grant and she stays there with no fuss whatsoever. Let’s say it left me scratching my head at times in wonder why there wasn’t more tension between these two. I did like reading both characters Grant has a mystery about him and Caroline is tuff as nails and that’s what Grant likes the most.
I recommend anyone to start at book one because like I said I felt like I was missing the connection between these two and I wanted to know what it was really bad. What I disliked most was it read like Grant went to this island to get away from Caroline, but when she arrives he just forgets he shouldn’t be with her and goes at it right off the bat and never stops, although he would mention at times that he needed to leave her. Caroline is quite clanging to Grant and she stays there with no fuss whatsoever. Let’s say it left me scratching my head at times in wonder why there wasn’t more tension between these two. I did like reading both characters Grant has a mystery about him and Caroline is tuff as nails and that’s what Grant likes the most.
January 28, 2023
In 1803, Sir Grant Dunmore's past catches up with him when Caroline Blacknall is washed up on the beach of Muirin Inish, off the coast of Ireland. She is writing a book on the history of Ireland and needs the only copy left of The Chronicle belonging to Grant. Caroline questions Grant's motives when Frenchmen and a woman arrive at Muirin Castle. A rebellion in Ireland against the British and the question of Napoleon, what secrets does Grant keep that could mean his life? A passionate affair begins in a race against time. An informative tidbit of Irish history.
Heat level 4.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Heat level 4.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
October 12, 2017
Hèh jammer ! het 3e en laatste deel in deze fantastische serie . Ik heb ze alle 3 vier sterren gegeven en die zijn echt welverdiend , misschien zelfs wel wat te laag . Deze serie is een zeer goede mix van romantiek en geschiedenis en er zijn leuke stukjes Ierse folklore in verweven .
June 2, 2011
Lady Caroline Hartley sets off on a mad, secret journey to windswept Muirin Inish, an island off the Irish coast, ostensibly to find an ancient manuscript, but also to find the man she's never been able to forget...Grant Dunmore.
The recently widowed and youngest Blacknall sister, bookish Caroline finds herself shipwrecked, and then rescued by the very man she was traveling to see. Grant Dunmore carries the bedraggled Caroline to his island castle where she is bathed, fed, and given clean clothing. Puzzling to Caroline is Grant's change. Not only is the once devastatingly handsome former rake scarred in face and body, he is a loner, quiet and secretive, yet he still pulls Caroline in a way she's never before felt. Marriage to her much older husband was a companionable mating but not a passionate one. Now, she's on a hunt to find the Chronicle of Kildare, which she suspects Grant still possesses. What she discovers is much, much more—lust, danger, and adventure only read about in her books, but never experienced.
Grant, estranged cousin to the Duke of Adair, has forsaken his pro-Union stance and now works on redeeming himself. He's on a secret and dangerous mission which he refuses to reveal to Caroline. However, as they spend time together, and as the danger ratchets up, he realizes two things: he's never forgotten his desire for the bluestocking young woman who seems not at all repulsed by his disfigurement and they seem to take turns rescuing one another.
When they have to flee the island for Dublin, Grant trusts Caroline enough to tell her part of his plan. Caroline must now decide if Grant has truly changed from the self-serving man he was, even though she doesn't know the real reason for their trip to Dublin or who he's going to meet. What she does know is that she's never before felt passion as she does with Grant, and can she bear to part from him once they reach their destination?
Lady of Seduction is book three in Ms. McKee's Daughters of Erin. I enjoyed very much the story of Caroline and Grant, loved his transformation from rake to concerned lover and patriot. Both characters are well drawn, and the setting of Ireland following the 1798 uprising and Unification is one not commonly written about in historical romances and I appreciated its unique appeal.
This Irish history enthusiast felt Ms. McKee did her homework well. That said, there were a few bothersome items: initially, Caroline's purpose seemed somewhat indecisive. She was all over the map with her feelings and I felt both Caroline and Grant could have declared their feelings for each other sooner than they did. Also, there are multiple uses of the term “climax” for orgasm which etymologically did not come into use until 1918, which was a bit too anachronistic for this linguistic purist. I also wondered why Grant uttered numerous Irish exclamations but never used Irish phrases at any other time.
Despite the niggles, other readers will enjoy Caroline's and Grant's story as I did, and will warm to a well-conceived, unique plot. Ms. McKee does an outstanding job with setting, drama and sensuality and populates her stories with enchanting characters.
originally posted at http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...
The recently widowed and youngest Blacknall sister, bookish Caroline finds herself shipwrecked, and then rescued by the very man she was traveling to see. Grant Dunmore carries the bedraggled Caroline to his island castle where she is bathed, fed, and given clean clothing. Puzzling to Caroline is Grant's change. Not only is the once devastatingly handsome former rake scarred in face and body, he is a loner, quiet and secretive, yet he still pulls Caroline in a way she's never before felt. Marriage to her much older husband was a companionable mating but not a passionate one. Now, she's on a hunt to find the Chronicle of Kildare, which she suspects Grant still possesses. What she discovers is much, much more—lust, danger, and adventure only read about in her books, but never experienced.
Grant, estranged cousin to the Duke of Adair, has forsaken his pro-Union stance and now works on redeeming himself. He's on a secret and dangerous mission which he refuses to reveal to Caroline. However, as they spend time together, and as the danger ratchets up, he realizes two things: he's never forgotten his desire for the bluestocking young woman who seems not at all repulsed by his disfigurement and they seem to take turns rescuing one another.
When they have to flee the island for Dublin, Grant trusts Caroline enough to tell her part of his plan. Caroline must now decide if Grant has truly changed from the self-serving man he was, even though she doesn't know the real reason for their trip to Dublin or who he's going to meet. What she does know is that she's never before felt passion as she does with Grant, and can she bear to part from him once they reach their destination?
Lady of Seduction is book three in Ms. McKee's Daughters of Erin. I enjoyed very much the story of Caroline and Grant, loved his transformation from rake to concerned lover and patriot. Both characters are well drawn, and the setting of Ireland following the 1798 uprising and Unification is one not commonly written about in historical romances and I appreciated its unique appeal.
This Irish history enthusiast felt Ms. McKee did her homework well. That said, there were a few bothersome items: initially, Caroline's purpose seemed somewhat indecisive. She was all over the map with her feelings and I felt both Caroline and Grant could have declared their feelings for each other sooner than they did. Also, there are multiple uses of the term “climax” for orgasm which etymologically did not come into use until 1918, which was a bit too anachronistic for this linguistic purist. I also wondered why Grant uttered numerous Irish exclamations but never used Irish phrases at any other time.
Despite the niggles, other readers will enjoy Caroline's and Grant's story as I did, and will warm to a well-conceived, unique plot. Ms. McKee does an outstanding job with setting, drama and sensuality and populates her stories with enchanting characters.
originally posted at http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...
July 4, 2011
Caroline is a young widow on an adventure. She travels to the isle of Muirin Inish, to find an ancient book and Grant, the man who has it. Before she married, Caroline knew there was something between her and Grant. But when he was badly burned in a fire, he moved away and she went on with her life. Now, on the island, her feelings come rushing back. Only, she is no longer an innocent virgin. She finally understands the passion she is feeling and wants to act on it.
Grant has changed a great deal since his days as a devious and handsome rake. The fire scarred his face and he has hidden himself away. But despite all of his intentions to stay away from Caroline, she breaks down his resolve almost instantly. The pull and the passion between these two is fantastic. And the love scenes are very hot and steamy. It's always a treat to get a heroine who is not a simpering virgin!
Even in his seclusion, Grant is trying to help his fellow Irishman fight for freedom. He is working as a double agent for the French. But that brings danger into his castle... both for him and for Caroline. It forces them to go on the run, as they try to courier the vital information Grant has uncovered. The book did start to lose me a little bit when it really started delving into Irish history. I respect authors who take the time and effort to make sure their novels are historically accurate. However, I'm not terribly interested in Irish history, nor do I have enough of a working knowledge of it for the names and events to be recognizable for me. Other than "Napoleon," everything pretty much drew a blank in my head. And the last third of the book leaned a bit heavily into this area, so I had a hard time following.
This was the third book in a trilogy, and while it was obvious there was backstory, I didn't get lost in that regard. Obviously, Grant and Caroline have a history and I'm a little wistful that I missed out on it. But this still worked as a standalone. The romance was strong and sexy. The hero and heroine come across as equals --who save each other in different ways and at different points all throughout the book. Almost 4 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
Grant has changed a great deal since his days as a devious and handsome rake. The fire scarred his face and he has hidden himself away. But despite all of his intentions to stay away from Caroline, she breaks down his resolve almost instantly. The pull and the passion between these two is fantastic. And the love scenes are very hot and steamy. It's always a treat to get a heroine who is not a simpering virgin!
Even in his seclusion, Grant is trying to help his fellow Irishman fight for freedom. He is working as a double agent for the French. But that brings danger into his castle... both for him and for Caroline. It forces them to go on the run, as they try to courier the vital information Grant has uncovered. The book did start to lose me a little bit when it really started delving into Irish history. I respect authors who take the time and effort to make sure their novels are historically accurate. However, I'm not terribly interested in Irish history, nor do I have enough of a working knowledge of it for the names and events to be recognizable for me. Other than "Napoleon," everything pretty much drew a blank in my head. And the last third of the book leaned a bit heavily into this area, so I had a hard time following.
This was the third book in a trilogy, and while it was obvious there was backstory, I didn't get lost in that regard. Obviously, Grant and Caroline have a history and I'm a little wistful that I missed out on it. But this still worked as a standalone. The romance was strong and sexy. The hero and heroine come across as equals --who save each other in different ways and at different points all throughout the book. Almost 4 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
October 4, 2011
I reviewed this book for Romance Reader At Heart website.
RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:
Caroline Blacknall is a young widow on a quest. She's in a search of a rare copy of `The Chronicle of Kildare'. She knows Grant has it, but can she talk him into giving it to her, so that at last she'll be able to finish the book she always dreamed of writing?
Sir Grant Dunmore was known to the ton as one of the most charming and sought after bachelors in London. It only took him one night and one mistake to forever burn bridges and be alienated from everything he worked hard to get. That night, he realized that what he needed and what he worked hard to get were not one and the same. The road to redemption will be hard, but will it pay at the end?
This is the third book in a Daughters of Erin series, and I recommend you read the other two first. I've fallen in love with this setting and place, which is the early 1800s in Ireland. Caroline's story is the last one in the series, but her happily-forever-after story had begun in the second book when she first met her hero. Without reading it, you may not get the feel of angst that Grant is experiencing in this book.
As all three books in this series, I just couldn't put it down. From the first page to the last, we're drawn into Caroline's adventure and follow her as she discovers all of Grant's secrets; but most of all, we watch this young woman come into her own.
Page after page, we're intrigued by the suspense of this tale, and we slowly start forgiving this hero; but only his forgiveness to himself will set him free. If you're looking for a strong heroine and a fearless hero, and a tale full of suspense, action, and romance galore, LADY OF SEDUCTION will fulfill all of those requirements!
Melanie
RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:
Caroline Blacknall is a young widow on a quest. She's in a search of a rare copy of `The Chronicle of Kildare'. She knows Grant has it, but can she talk him into giving it to her, so that at last she'll be able to finish the book she always dreamed of writing?
Sir Grant Dunmore was known to the ton as one of the most charming and sought after bachelors in London. It only took him one night and one mistake to forever burn bridges and be alienated from everything he worked hard to get. That night, he realized that what he needed and what he worked hard to get were not one and the same. The road to redemption will be hard, but will it pay at the end?
This is the third book in a Daughters of Erin series, and I recommend you read the other two first. I've fallen in love with this setting and place, which is the early 1800s in Ireland. Caroline's story is the last one in the series, but her happily-forever-after story had begun in the second book when she first met her hero. Without reading it, you may not get the feel of angst that Grant is experiencing in this book.
As all three books in this series, I just couldn't put it down. From the first page to the last, we're drawn into Caroline's adventure and follow her as she discovers all of Grant's secrets; but most of all, we watch this young woman come into her own.
Page after page, we're intrigued by the suspense of this tale, and we slowly start forgiving this hero; but only his forgiveness to himself will set him free. If you're looking for a strong heroine and a fearless hero, and a tale full of suspense, action, and romance galore, LADY OF SEDUCTION will fulfill all of those requirements!
Melanie
January 23, 2023
Since I did not read books 1 & 2 in the series, I found myself at a little bit of a disadvantage not knowing the back story. The author did provide enough information through the characters' conversation and personal thoughts to piece together enough for the reader to feel invested in their story. Grant and Caroline are both likeable, and their character development was pretty well done though, again, I think it would have made more sense to have read the previous books to understand their attraction. The romance part of the story was excellent and I liked that they realized the other person was more important to them than self.
I recommend this book for those who love a good love story, but suggest you read the other books first.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I recommend this book for those who love a good love story, but suggest you read the other books first.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 23, 2023
Amanda McCabe’s Lady of Seduction (Daughters of Erin Book #3 / Oliver Heber Books / January 2023) is a charming, historical romance adventure about a usually sensible young woman who makes an ill-advised journey to a windswept island where she discovers a secretive, reclusive man she thought she’d never see again but whom may still be in possession of her heart.
Oh, my goodness! This historical romance had me hooked by Chapter Three! The energy in the writing, the original plot, the hero, the heroine -- they all sprang off the pages. And the wild Irish coast was the perfect character all on its own!
I loved the heroine’s, Lady Caroline Blacknall, strength, spirit, and determination to stick to her goal despite opposition and interference by both man and nature. Even when things went terribly wrong and Caroline was shipwrecked on the island with a man she believed she would never see again, she didn’t sacrifice her goal.
Sir Grant Dunmore is the perfect hero for this story – he embodied the wildness and harshness of the island with his gruff, secretive. When the woman he has struggled to forget is shipwrecked on his island, chinks in his armor appeared, and he began to realize his struggles may have been for naught. He is one of my favorite romance heroes – handsome, tough, a sense of honor, and the ability to be caring and supportive.
Ms. McCabe writes with such spirit – she imbued her setting with such authenticity that I could taste the sea spray, hear the creak of the masts against the wind, feel the creepiness of the castle and the atmosphere of the island. The story is well-crafted with well-drawn characters, plenty of adventure and action, witty dialogue, and a delightful smattering of gothic elements. I thoroughly enjoyed the Irish setting and the infusion of Irish folktales throughout the story; they were a nice change of pace for a settings/plot.
Lady of Seduction, which is book 3, is the first book I’ve read in this series; I will definitely seek out the rest. Because I started at the end of the series, I didn’t have the entire picture/history of the relationship between Caroline and Grant, but my lack of knowledge/understanding didn’t interfere with the overall story and plot. Heat level ? On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being hot, hot, HOT!) I am giving this is 10. There were four (if I remember right) very steamy, very graphic sex scenes. Now sex scenes, per say, aren’t a deal breaker for me in a historical romance; they are part of the successful formula after all, but I think this story’s pacing suffered from two sex scenes too many – the last two slowed the pace of the story way down (almost kicked me right out of it) and artificially and unnecessarily delayed the HEA. I think the removal of those last two sex scenes would have resulted in a tighter resolution of the plot and fixed the story’s pacing towards the end.
I highly recommend Lady of Seduction by Amanda McCabe!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Oh, my goodness! This historical romance had me hooked by Chapter Three! The energy in the writing, the original plot, the hero, the heroine -- they all sprang off the pages. And the wild Irish coast was the perfect character all on its own!
I loved the heroine’s, Lady Caroline Blacknall, strength, spirit, and determination to stick to her goal despite opposition and interference by both man and nature. Even when things went terribly wrong and Caroline was shipwrecked on the island with a man she believed she would never see again, she didn’t sacrifice her goal.
Sir Grant Dunmore is the perfect hero for this story – he embodied the wildness and harshness of the island with his gruff, secretive. When the woman he has struggled to forget is shipwrecked on his island, chinks in his armor appeared, and he began to realize his struggles may have been for naught. He is one of my favorite romance heroes – handsome, tough, a sense of honor, and the ability to be caring and supportive.
Ms. McCabe writes with such spirit – she imbued her setting with such authenticity that I could taste the sea spray, hear the creak of the masts against the wind, feel the creepiness of the castle and the atmosphere of the island. The story is well-crafted with well-drawn characters, plenty of adventure and action, witty dialogue, and a delightful smattering of gothic elements. I thoroughly enjoyed the Irish setting and the infusion of Irish folktales throughout the story; they were a nice change of pace for a settings/plot.
Lady of Seduction, which is book 3, is the first book I’ve read in this series; I will definitely seek out the rest. Because I started at the end of the series, I didn’t have the entire picture/history of the relationship between Caroline and Grant, but my lack of knowledge/understanding didn’t interfere with the overall story and plot. Heat level ? On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being hot, hot, HOT!) I am giving this is 10. There were four (if I remember right) very steamy, very graphic sex scenes. Now sex scenes, per say, aren’t a deal breaker for me in a historical romance; they are part of the successful formula after all, but I think this story’s pacing suffered from two sex scenes too many – the last two slowed the pace of the story way down (almost kicked me right out of it) and artificially and unnecessarily delayed the HEA. I think the removal of those last two sex scenes would have resulted in a tighter resolution of the plot and fixed the story’s pacing towards the end.
I highly recommend Lady of Seduction by Amanda McCabe!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 24, 2023
I have to start with I have read book one in this series, missed book two and now have finished book three. I had no problem getting into this book, but I will be going back to read book two. Probably would be best to read them in order. That being said I was hooked within the first couple of pages.
Lady Caroline Blacknal was always the sensible one till now. She is a widow with a step daughter and has set off to find a ancient manuscript she needs to finish the book she is writing. She made sure not to till any of her family as the book is on the remote Isle of Muirin Inish. Even being warned of the danger of the sea and sailor's not wanting a woman on ship she is determine to find the information she needs to finish her book. Unfortunately, she didn't plan on a few things, one being shipwrecked and two being recused by one man she could never forget and thought to never see again.
Sir Grant Dunmore once had it all. He was wealthy, a rake with women falling at his feet, beautiful homes and welcomed by the ton. Then he lost it all after kidnapping a young Lady which ending with a fire that endanger her and left him with scars on both the outside and inside. He is beyond shocked when the sea delivers her straight into his arms in the last place she should ever be.
When hidden secrets, plots, villains, mystery and lots of misunderstanding this is a wonderful tale. Add in all the history, castles and two very determined people who will let nothing get in their way.
There is something for everyone in this story, lots of steam between our couple but all fit the story.
This is a story not to be missed, the whole series is great. I received and ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it. One can never go wrong with a story from Amanda, she writes so you feel like you are right their which is sometimes scary.
Lady Caroline Blacknal was always the sensible one till now. She is a widow with a step daughter and has set off to find a ancient manuscript she needs to finish the book she is writing. She made sure not to till any of her family as the book is on the remote Isle of Muirin Inish. Even being warned of the danger of the sea and sailor's not wanting a woman on ship she is determine to find the information she needs to finish her book. Unfortunately, she didn't plan on a few things, one being shipwrecked and two being recused by one man she could never forget and thought to never see again.
Sir Grant Dunmore once had it all. He was wealthy, a rake with women falling at his feet, beautiful homes and welcomed by the ton. Then he lost it all after kidnapping a young Lady which ending with a fire that endanger her and left him with scars on both the outside and inside. He is beyond shocked when the sea delivers her straight into his arms in the last place she should ever be.
When hidden secrets, plots, villains, mystery and lots of misunderstanding this is a wonderful tale. Add in all the history, castles and two very determined people who will let nothing get in their way.
There is something for everyone in this story, lots of steam between our couple but all fit the story.
This is a story not to be missed, the whole series is great. I received and ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it. One can never go wrong with a story from Amanda, she writes so you feel like you are right their which is sometimes scary.
January 22, 2023
In the book before this one, the second part of trilogy, Grant Dunmore was the antagonist, the villain bent on destroying the hero's life. Yet there were also tender moments between him and Caroline, the younger sister of the heroine of that story. However, any form of a connection between the two seemed out of the question. Until now, years later, Caroline visits him. She has a goal, but also wants to see him again. The attraction is still there, but there is not much time to enjoy their time together, as they end up in dangerous adventures, which have everything to do with the theme of this series: the wish for independence in Ireland.
Caroline is a researcher of ancient Irish history, which is why she undertook the bizarre journey to Grant's Island in the first place. She learns a secret that Grant wants to keep quiet: great proof that he has changed, because making the secret public could turn out to be beneficial for him. A minuscule part of the story, but I mention it because it did engage me. I would have liked them to reveal it
Entertaining, steamy scenes, slow paced. The best part of the story is when they are on the island. The island where Grant lives already creates a dark atmosphere and Grant's mysterious visitors add to that. From the moment they leave the island and head for Dublin, the story becomes more disjointed, but also a bit slower, it doesn't help for a build up of suspense, so the story stays a bit flat.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Caroline is a researcher of ancient Irish history, which is why she undertook the bizarre journey to Grant's Island in the first place. She learns a secret that Grant wants to keep quiet: great proof that he has changed, because making the secret public could turn out to be beneficial for him. A minuscule part of the story, but I mention it because it did engage me. I would have liked them to reveal it
Entertaining, steamy scenes, slow paced. The best part of the story is when they are on the island. The island where Grant lives already creates a dark atmosphere and Grant's mysterious visitors add to that. From the moment they leave the island and head for Dublin, the story becomes more disjointed, but also a bit slower, it doesn't help for a build up of suspense, so the story stays a bit flat.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 25, 2023
LADY OF SEDUCTION is my favorite of the three books by Amanda McCabe featuring the tenacious Blacknell sisters. A compelling take on the classic Beauty and the Beast tale, this opposites attract romance is sure to please historical fans. The remote Irish isle stetting complete with dilapidated castle and rumors of a ghost make the perfect backdrop. Bookish Caroline and former rogue Grant make a perfect pair. Their tumultuous history, palpable chemistry, and unexpected love captivated me from the beginning. Throw in some espionage, nefarious Frenchmen, family drama, and the threat of another freedom uprising, and readers are in for an exciting adventure.
I really enjoyed my time spent with Caroline and Grant and wish there were more books beyond the Daughters of Erin trilogy to read. LADY OF SEDUCTION is a fine example of author McCabe’s story telling abilities. Highly recommended to fans of historical romance, particularly those interested in the Irish setting.
I received an ARC of this title from Booksprout and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
I really enjoyed my time spent with Caroline and Grant and wish there were more books beyond the Daughters of Erin trilogy to read. LADY OF SEDUCTION is a fine example of author McCabe’s story telling abilities. Highly recommended to fans of historical romance, particularly those interested in the Irish setting.
I received an ARC of this title from Booksprout and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
January 24, 2023
After reading the first two books in McCabe's Daughters of Erin trilogy, Countess of Scandal and Duchess of Sin, I knew I was in for a treat. Beautifully written, and filled with history and adventure, reading this reminded me of the Gothic Novels I read as a teenager with a hint of Beauty and the Beast for good measure.
Although this book stands perfectly on its own, do yourself a favor and read the first two. You will gain a deeper understanding of Caroline and Grant's history and their beloved Ireland.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Although this book stands perfectly on its own, do yourself a favor and read the first two. You will gain a deeper understanding of Caroline and Grant's history and their beloved Ireland.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 25, 2023
Caroline and Grant met under rather unpleasant circumstances. She is a widow now and has not forgotten him. She sets off on an adventure to find him. A storm and shipwreck brings her to Grant’s home. He isn’t happy to see her on his island, or he doesn’t think he is. Will the two of them find their HEA? The chaos in Ireland runs this one as with the first two books in the set. The final book in the Daughters of Erin series is full of secrets, suspense, danger, and a lovely second chance romance; a lovely end for an exciting series.
I received an ARC of this book via BookSprout and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
I received an ARC of this book via BookSprout and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
January 21, 2023
This is my first read by Amanda (Laurel) and it won't be my last. I really enjoyed this read. The beginning was action packed with the ship wreck and seeing Grant save Caroline on the beach and then take care of her was swoony. I think this was an intriguing read with spies and fighting. I didn't get loss without reading the first 2 books. I look forward to reading more!
I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
January 15, 2023
I loved this complicated love affair. Its not only complicated, its twisted, dangerous and seducing. I could not put it . I was mesmerized from beginning to end. The characters were perfect for each other.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout because it was the perfect way for me to get an introduction to the Author and I am glad to voluntarily leave this review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout because it was the perfect way for me to get an introduction to the Author and I am glad to voluntarily leave this review.
January 26, 2023
How does a Gothic novel start? A storm. A rescue. A dark 'beast' of a hero. A crumbling castle. And so starts this novel. But the sense of high drama soon leaves the story, as both our hero Grant, and heroine Caroline, admit that they seem to be in a Gothic novel...
And yes, we have secret passages, plots, spies and dastardly villains with a (true) aborted Rebellion thrown in for good luck, yet the writing is light and simple and does not labour with the heavy prose more usually expected of this genre.
The Rebellion of 1803 really happened but in the eyes of historians, was little more than a Dublin riot. Emmet didn't have the support he needed, and the French were no longer interested. Unlike in 1798 which was a major Irish Rebellion and where between 10 and 70 thousand died or were transported.
All of which led to London ruling Ireland until 1922.
You don't need to have read the previous books in the trilogy as their stories have little impact on this one.
I enjoyed the overall plot especially as it was set realistically in history and books about Irish history with the odd myth thrown in do tend to be heavy on the romance of the island.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
And yes, we have secret passages, plots, spies and dastardly villains with a (true) aborted Rebellion thrown in for good luck, yet the writing is light and simple and does not labour with the heavy prose more usually expected of this genre.
The Rebellion of 1803 really happened but in the eyes of historians, was little more than a Dublin riot. Emmet didn't have the support he needed, and the French were no longer interested. Unlike in 1798 which was a major Irish Rebellion and where between 10 and 70 thousand died or were transported.
All of which led to London ruling Ireland until 1922.
You don't need to have read the previous books in the trilogy as their stories have little impact on this one.
I enjoyed the overall plot especially as it was set realistically in history and books about Irish history with the odd myth thrown in do tend to be heavy on the romance of the island.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2023
Really enjoyed this wonderful conclusion to this trilogy of stories about three sisters during the Irish Troubles.Really enjoyed this wonderful conclusion to this trilogy of stories about three sisters during the Irish Troubles.
January 24, 2023
A lot going on.
Last Caroline is a young widow, who is shipwrecked on Muirin Inish…where she encounters a blast from her past, the rake Grant Dunmore. There’s plots aplenty and plenty of steamy times.
Last Caroline is a young widow, who is shipwrecked on Muirin Inish…where she encounters a blast from her past, the rake Grant Dunmore. There’s plots aplenty and plenty of steamy times.
January 23, 2022
Les 60 dernières pages devenaient presque ennuyantes
January 24, 2023
This is the last story in the Blacknall sister trilogy. The story is filled with historical background on the Irish fight for independence. This is the story of the part played by Caroline and Grant. It is an action packed story as they defend against their enemies. It is also a wonderful love story of two people who are getting a second chance with each other. It is witty and entertaining as they make their way through the challenges.
August 28, 2011
Lady of Seduction is a great concluding tale to the Daughters of Erin series. Fantastic characters and a wonderful romance make this novel a great read.
Sir Grant Dunmore never thought he would see Lady Caroline Blacknall again. Yet here she is, shipwrecked and on the shore of his exotic isle, Muirin Inish, to capture his heart once again. Grant once endangered the life of Lady Caroline in an attempt to win a marriage to her sister Anne. That was long ago and while times have changed, so has Grant. He has lived a life mostly in solitude in order to atone for his sins.
Caroline has come for a book in Grant’s possession that will assist her with a piece she is writing and now he just wants her safe. Which he concludes would be anyplace else but with him, because Grant is currently involved in a secret plot concerning Ireland’s freedom. Unfortunately, Carolina has become involved as well. Since they have found each other again, new emotions are developing between them, and they realize they may never be able to part again.
I loved Grant because he was a great tortured hero. Feeling sorry for himself because of his past, made him such a charming and sensitive soul. Before Caroline walked back into his life he had nothing to loose, but now his attraction to her developed into something far more serious. He realized he would do anything to see her happy and would be lost without her. His character’s development during the book was fantastic. It was like he was just a man of existence, but came alive when he finally had Caroline in his arms.
Caroline was a jewel of a heroine! She knew what she wanted in life and while she may have been hesitant to take it in the beginning of the novel, by the end she was a true fighter. I adored her understanding and caring nature that she extended to everyone. Her character had a very life altering experience, because when she was with Grant, she felt alive and adventurous. You couldn’t help but see she was the perfect match for him.
Lady of Seduction is a bit more passionate than your average historical romance. McKee writes spectacular love scenes for her characters in this novel that leave you breathless. The power of Caroline and Grant’s amazing attraction could be felt through the pages. Yet at the same time, their emotional connection during these scenes is strengthened to such a degree, it’s makes the romance that much more satisfying. It delivers a romance that is sexy yet charmingly sweet as it explores the extraordinary passion and connection these two characters share.
I have not read the first two books in this series and I hate to admit it, but I felt at times that the emotional value of this book would have been increased had I known their back story. It sounded like these two had a rocky start when they first knew each other and I would enjoyed knowing more about it. While the first two books are not required prior to reading Lady of Seduction, I would still recommend reading them first. I’m sorry I hadn’t...but only because I did not feel like I knew the characters as well as I could have!
I enjoyed Laurel McKee’s Lady of Seduction very much. I loved the characters, the adventure, the Irish history...all of it combined to make a great novel. While you may not want to pick this up as a stand alone novel, you still will not be disappointed if you do. I can tell you that the enjoyment I had from reading this installment has encouraged me to pick up the rest of the trilogy! McKee pens a lush and fabulous historical romance that will steal your heart and make you smile. I strongly encourage any romance reader to try her work.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 4/5
Lisa @ Once Upon A Chapter
Sir Grant Dunmore never thought he would see Lady Caroline Blacknall again. Yet here she is, shipwrecked and on the shore of his exotic isle, Muirin Inish, to capture his heart once again. Grant once endangered the life of Lady Caroline in an attempt to win a marriage to her sister Anne. That was long ago and while times have changed, so has Grant. He has lived a life mostly in solitude in order to atone for his sins.
Caroline has come for a book in Grant’s possession that will assist her with a piece she is writing and now he just wants her safe. Which he concludes would be anyplace else but with him, because Grant is currently involved in a secret plot concerning Ireland’s freedom. Unfortunately, Carolina has become involved as well. Since they have found each other again, new emotions are developing between them, and they realize they may never be able to part again.
I loved Grant because he was a great tortured hero. Feeling sorry for himself because of his past, made him such a charming and sensitive soul. Before Caroline walked back into his life he had nothing to loose, but now his attraction to her developed into something far more serious. He realized he would do anything to see her happy and would be lost without her. His character’s development during the book was fantastic. It was like he was just a man of existence, but came alive when he finally had Caroline in his arms.
Caroline was a jewel of a heroine! She knew what she wanted in life and while she may have been hesitant to take it in the beginning of the novel, by the end she was a true fighter. I adored her understanding and caring nature that she extended to everyone. Her character had a very life altering experience, because when she was with Grant, she felt alive and adventurous. You couldn’t help but see she was the perfect match for him.
Lady of Seduction is a bit more passionate than your average historical romance. McKee writes spectacular love scenes for her characters in this novel that leave you breathless. The power of Caroline and Grant’s amazing attraction could be felt through the pages. Yet at the same time, their emotional connection during these scenes is strengthened to such a degree, it’s makes the romance that much more satisfying. It delivers a romance that is sexy yet charmingly sweet as it explores the extraordinary passion and connection these two characters share.
I have not read the first two books in this series and I hate to admit it, but I felt at times that the emotional value of this book would have been increased had I known their back story. It sounded like these two had a rocky start when they first knew each other and I would enjoyed knowing more about it. While the first two books are not required prior to reading Lady of Seduction, I would still recommend reading them first. I’m sorry I hadn’t...but only because I did not feel like I knew the characters as well as I could have!
I enjoyed Laurel McKee’s Lady of Seduction very much. I loved the characters, the adventure, the Irish history...all of it combined to make a great novel. While you may not want to pick this up as a stand alone novel, you still will not be disappointed if you do. I can tell you that the enjoyment I had from reading this installment has encouraged me to pick up the rest of the trilogy! McKee pens a lush and fabulous historical romance that will steal your heart and make you smile. I strongly encourage any romance reader to try her work.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 4/5
Lisa @ Once Upon A Chapter
June 22, 2011
Note: This review, and all my reviews, comes from my blog - Romantic Rose's Bookshelf (http://romantic-rosesblog.blogspot.com)
Book 3 in the Daughters of Erin Series
Caroline Blacknall is the youngest sister in our trio from the Daughters of Erin series, and she’s the adorable bookish bluestocking. Marriage to her first husband at seventeen was for totally practical reasons (a.k.a. the use of his extensive library), but he died two years later leaving her a lovely young widow. Now, at age twenty, Caroline is ready to take on the world of history (her preferred subject) by writing her own book on the history of Ireland – but the source she seeks to complete her work is in the hands of a half-enemy/half-love from the past who lives on a remote island – Sir Grant Dunmore.
When we first meet Grant in book two of the series, Duchess of Sin, he comes across as a rakish, obstinate villain. It was interesting to see how McKee changed him – and how Caroline forgives him for past atrocities as they save one another’s lives again and again. Grant was everything a good romance hero should be – though he does have scars on the side of his face and chest from a fire that occurred at the end of book two. He is still devilishly handsome to Caro, which I think is cute. I found it a little unbelievable how Irish Grant was in this book, given how ‘snobby, glittering English aristocrat’-like he was in book two. But he was brave and caring and loyal, once he got past his bitterness.
Unfortunately, I expected more out of both Caroline and the plot. Caroline was brave and cute at times, but her bookishness got shoved out of the way in this story and I felt she was no longer the bluestocking girl I was hoping to read of. While brave, she has occasional idiotic moments where I just shook my head in disbelief. Her thoughts and actions often contradicted one another and I felt that McKee didn’t take enough time getting to know her – which was unfortunate because she had a lot of potential.
The plot was confusing. There were events, people, and places that I didn’t understand and were never fully explained. What Grant was doing/involved in I never understood. There were so many unanswered questions and unnecessary details included and there were never any main climaxes or resolutions. It was a mess – everything was all over the place like a series of vignettes thrown together before a deadline. Also, some of the questions I’d been hoping to see answered from the previous books never were, so that was disappointing. It seems McKee has issues keeping all of her story in her mind at once so that she can answer all of the foreshadowings and questions she strewn about so haphazardly. It was annoying the way I kept searching for answers and found none. Also, what was the significance of The Chronicle’s secret? There’s some big secret revealed that, to me, didn’t seem all that important. Overall, the plot was a flop.
The romantic plot was a little… underdeveloped. I was hoping there would be a little more ‘lets-get-to-know-each-other’ and less ‘love-at-first-sight’ from the practical bookworm, but they got together about a quarter of the way through the book. I felt they never had any really meaningful conversations – they were just in love and that was that. It didn’t bother me immensely, but the romantic plot definitely could’ve used more build-up. As for the Gaelic endearments, they felt false from Grant’s lips. In book two, Conlan was the Irish one and Grant was as English as could be. I was expecting change in Grant – but maybe not that much change.
“Sexy”ness rating: So… so hot
Overall Rating: C+
Bottom Line: A great hero, a shaky heroine, a confusing plot, and a rushed romance. Hmmmm… well…
Book 3 in the Daughters of Erin Series
Caroline Blacknall is the youngest sister in our trio from the Daughters of Erin series, and she’s the adorable bookish bluestocking. Marriage to her first husband at seventeen was for totally practical reasons (a.k.a. the use of his extensive library), but he died two years later leaving her a lovely young widow. Now, at age twenty, Caroline is ready to take on the world of history (her preferred subject) by writing her own book on the history of Ireland – but the source she seeks to complete her work is in the hands of a half-enemy/half-love from the past who lives on a remote island – Sir Grant Dunmore.
When we first meet Grant in book two of the series, Duchess of Sin, he comes across as a rakish, obstinate villain. It was interesting to see how McKee changed him – and how Caroline forgives him for past atrocities as they save one another’s lives again and again. Grant was everything a good romance hero should be – though he does have scars on the side of his face and chest from a fire that occurred at the end of book two. He is still devilishly handsome to Caro, which I think is cute. I found it a little unbelievable how Irish Grant was in this book, given how ‘snobby, glittering English aristocrat’-like he was in book two. But he was brave and caring and loyal, once he got past his bitterness.
Unfortunately, I expected more out of both Caroline and the plot. Caroline was brave and cute at times, but her bookishness got shoved out of the way in this story and I felt she was no longer the bluestocking girl I was hoping to read of. While brave, she has occasional idiotic moments where I just shook my head in disbelief. Her thoughts and actions often contradicted one another and I felt that McKee didn’t take enough time getting to know her – which was unfortunate because she had a lot of potential.
The plot was confusing. There were events, people, and places that I didn’t understand and were never fully explained. What Grant was doing/involved in I never understood. There were so many unanswered questions and unnecessary details included and there were never any main climaxes or resolutions. It was a mess – everything was all over the place like a series of vignettes thrown together before a deadline. Also, some of the questions I’d been hoping to see answered from the previous books never were, so that was disappointing. It seems McKee has issues keeping all of her story in her mind at once so that she can answer all of the foreshadowings and questions she strewn about so haphazardly. It was annoying the way I kept searching for answers and found none. Also, what was the significance of The Chronicle’s secret? There’s some big secret revealed that, to me, didn’t seem all that important. Overall, the plot was a flop.
The romantic plot was a little… underdeveloped. I was hoping there would be a little more ‘lets-get-to-know-each-other’ and less ‘love-at-first-sight’ from the practical bookworm, but they got together about a quarter of the way through the book. I felt they never had any really meaningful conversations – they were just in love and that was that. It didn’t bother me immensely, but the romantic plot definitely could’ve used more build-up. As for the Gaelic endearments, they felt false from Grant’s lips. In book two, Conlan was the Irish one and Grant was as English as could be. I was expecting change in Grant – but maybe not that much change.
“Sexy”ness rating: So… so hot
Overall Rating: C+
Bottom Line: A great hero, a shaky heroine, a confusing plot, and a rushed romance. Hmmmm… well…
July 18, 2011
Join me July 18th on my blog, Seduced By A Book, where I will be giving away a copy of this book, along with two other books in a giveaway.
"I haven't even started learning who I might be." he had told her as they sat together in that freezing warehouse, kidnapper and captive bound together in the moments before the inferno. Bound together by an understanding that was strange and deep.
Several years ago Lady Caroline Blacknall had been kidnapped by Sir Grant Dunmore. In a plan to kidnap Caroline's sister, Anna, whom he wished to marry, Caroline had accidentally gotten ensnared by his trap as well. In that moment before all hell broke loose, she'd seen into his soul. To his true self. They had kissed. It wouldn't be for another year, while she'd been in the midst of planning her wedding, that she'd find out he'd survived....
"Why, Caroline?" he whispered, his voice filled with rough torment. "Why are you here?"
"Because I had to see you again," she said simply.
A year after her husband had died, Caroline had set off for the tiny island of Muirin Inish in hopes of convincing Grant to let her see 'The Chronicle of Kildare', a history of Ireland written and illuminated by Brother Michael of the St. Ceolach monastery. She was trying to write a book about the legends of Ireland and the book was vital to her work. That was the lie she told herself....
I absolutely loved this story. I didn't read the previous books, but wished I had. Not because I felt lost, because I most definitely did not, but because I wanted to know about the other stories that were just hinted at in this book. The beginning of the book was brilliant with an attention grabber that had me hooked from the start. I loved how Grant and Caroline's feelings couldn't be denied, yet were complicated by the fact Grant had kidnapped Caroline and her sister years ago. I liked how Ms. Mckee didn't immediately start Grant and Caroline's story up where it left off after the warehouse fire, cleverly avoiding the possibility of Stockholm Syndrome, which may have upset some readers. I loved seeing how Grant was determined to make up for his past sins, and how Caroline had to put her trust in him. I also loved the fact Ms. McKee created her own legend, that of The Daughters of Erin. I really adore that in a story, especially when it involves dragons. The chemistry between Caroline and Grant was incinerating and I love that their true emotions were first sparked in a warehouse fire all those years ago. Also, I appreciated that Ms. Mckee added an Author's note at the end. I had no idea about The Rising of 1803 which is the backdrop to this story. I love it when I can learn a little something about history in my romance novels. I gave this book a 5 out of 5 roses.
May 23, 2011
Books are meant to swing a reader’s emotions up and down as they follow along with the story. Suspense and drama tease our minds, committing us to the characters on the page. Lady of Seduction doesn’t hold anything back from the first page forward. The opening scene is rather dramatic as we first meet our heroine in the midst of being shipwrecked and almost drowned at sea. Fortunately for Lady Caroline, she’s pointed herself in enough of the right direction to land in the arms of Sir Grant – the man she is searching for. For brevity, I won’t go into why she’s looking for him, but it factors in to some extent with the story’s ending.
From there we jump straight into a relationship that has its foundations in the first two books of Laurel McKee’s Daughters of Erin series. I haven’t read either of those books, but it didn’t detract from this story. McKee developed enough of a background to Caroline and Grant’s previous history that it made complete sense in regard to the familiar way they had with one another when they were reunited.
I was able to determine that Grant must have been quite a villain prior to Lady of Seduction. He burned a lot of bridges as they relate to Caroline’s family. Apparently, he tried to force her sister to marry him at one time – kidnapped Caroline by mistake – got horribly scarred in a building fire then disappeared from society all together. Horrid man…but wait, all this time he’s been gone, he’s spent trying to find redemption for his evil actions.
Which brings us to the twist of the book: he’s up to something and Caroline wants to know what it is. He’s determined to hide certain truths from her, but she’s equally determined to uncover them. There’s no hope for it. He’s a lost cause to her stubbornness and perseverance!
Much of the relationship between the two covers Grants feelings of unworthiness in regard to Caroline. He’s done her family such a bad turn that it doesn’t feel like he can ever recover from that. I am glad, however, that Caroline forces the matter and gets her happily ever after. They had a great sense of chemistry towards one another and it would have been a waste to see Grant throw it away.
Besides the relationship between Caroline and Grant, this story is chock full of espionage and intrigue. The Irish rebellion is a character unto itself, as is the dark and foreboding Isle of Muirin Inish. There are some good historical accounts woven through the framework of the book. That is the best kind of story, isn’t it? Where you capture a glimpse into a historical event through a cozy love story?
I gladly recommend this Regency for its suspenseful setting, along with McKee’s creation of characters with a good deal of history and depth --scars and all.
From there we jump straight into a relationship that has its foundations in the first two books of Laurel McKee’s Daughters of Erin series. I haven’t read either of those books, but it didn’t detract from this story. McKee developed enough of a background to Caroline and Grant’s previous history that it made complete sense in regard to the familiar way they had with one another when they were reunited.
I was able to determine that Grant must have been quite a villain prior to Lady of Seduction. He burned a lot of bridges as they relate to Caroline’s family. Apparently, he tried to force her sister to marry him at one time – kidnapped Caroline by mistake – got horribly scarred in a building fire then disappeared from society all together. Horrid man…but wait, all this time he’s been gone, he’s spent trying to find redemption for his evil actions.
Which brings us to the twist of the book: he’s up to something and Caroline wants to know what it is. He’s determined to hide certain truths from her, but she’s equally determined to uncover them. There’s no hope for it. He’s a lost cause to her stubbornness and perseverance!
Much of the relationship between the two covers Grants feelings of unworthiness in regard to Caroline. He’s done her family such a bad turn that it doesn’t feel like he can ever recover from that. I am glad, however, that Caroline forces the matter and gets her happily ever after. They had a great sense of chemistry towards one another and it would have been a waste to see Grant throw it away.
Besides the relationship between Caroline and Grant, this story is chock full of espionage and intrigue. The Irish rebellion is a character unto itself, as is the dark and foreboding Isle of Muirin Inish. There are some good historical accounts woven through the framework of the book. That is the best kind of story, isn’t it? Where you capture a glimpse into a historical event through a cozy love story?
I gladly recommend this Regency for its suspenseful setting, along with McKee’s creation of characters with a good deal of history and depth --scars and all.
April 12, 2016
What made me want to read this was the heroine being shipwrecked. That made me think of older romances and I was so hoping this one would remind me of an oldie. It didn’t.
The beginning of the story had a very gothic feel to it and I really liked that. We learned of someone in Grant’s employ dying previously and no one was sure if it was an accident or not. The story, at that point, reminded me of a gothic novel and I got a bit excited and was real interested in learning what really happened to her. When it was revealed, there was no excitement from me. It was just blah and no creativity was put into it.
We meet a French villian early on. I liked his character and was interested to see what was going to happen with him. He ends up rising from the dead, so to speak, which I thought was really farfetched.
The hero and heroine definitely had chemistry with each other. They’d had some sort of past together but, strangely, we were never told what it was. There were four or five sex scenes and there wasn’t any graphic language. Normally I love sex scenes but I felt there were too many and I didn’t ever feel like this was a true romance. There was adventure from the start that continued the entire way through and I just didn’t care for that.
Again, like so many newer books I’ve read before, there was next to no backstory on the lead characters. We know that a few years before, Grant was burned in a fire and the left side of his face, neck and side is scarred. What about his childhood? We weren’t told a darn thing. Same with the heroine. We only know that she was married at seventeen, is widowed and has grown stepchildren.
It was mentioned that people gossiped about Grant and ‘what happened’ before he was burned in a fire. Well, what did happen? We weren’t told. He did kidnap Caroline’s sister when she wouldn’t agree to marry him. Maybe that’s what the author was referring to but I’ll never know for sure. The whole kidnapping thing was skimmed right over. We weren’t given any details about that either. I can only assume that was detailed in the previous novel, Duchess of Sin, since Caroline’s sister is the heroine of that one.
My enthusium for this novel died when I realized this story was just one big adventure. I just didn’t care for that. This was more of a romantic suspense novel and I was let down because I was expecting a ‘romance’. I have the two others in the series but after rereading the synopsis for each, I’m going to have to pass, I think.
* I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The beginning of the story had a very gothic feel to it and I really liked that. We learned of someone in Grant’s employ dying previously and no one was sure if it was an accident or not. The story, at that point, reminded me of a gothic novel and I got a bit excited and was real interested in learning what really happened to her. When it was revealed, there was no excitement from me. It was just blah and no creativity was put into it.
We meet a French villian early on. I liked his character and was interested to see what was going to happen with him. He ends up rising from the dead, so to speak, which I thought was really farfetched.
The hero and heroine definitely had chemistry with each other. They’d had some sort of past together but, strangely, we were never told what it was. There were four or five sex scenes and there wasn’t any graphic language. Normally I love sex scenes but I felt there were too many and I didn’t ever feel like this was a true romance. There was adventure from the start that continued the entire way through and I just didn’t care for that.
Again, like so many newer books I’ve read before, there was next to no backstory on the lead characters. We know that a few years before, Grant was burned in a fire and the left side of his face, neck and side is scarred. What about his childhood? We weren’t told a darn thing. Same with the heroine. We only know that she was married at seventeen, is widowed and has grown stepchildren.
It was mentioned that people gossiped about Grant and ‘what happened’ before he was burned in a fire. Well, what did happen? We weren’t told. He did kidnap Caroline’s sister when she wouldn’t agree to marry him. Maybe that’s what the author was referring to but I’ll never know for sure. The whole kidnapping thing was skimmed right over. We weren’t given any details about that either. I can only assume that was detailed in the previous novel, Duchess of Sin, since Caroline’s sister is the heroine of that one.
My enthusium for this novel died when I realized this story was just one big adventure. I just didn’t care for that. This was more of a romantic suspense novel and I was let down because I was expecting a ‘romance’. I have the two others in the series but after rereading the synopsis for each, I’m going to have to pass, I think.
* I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2011
As much as I wanted to love the characters of this book, something kept holding me back. Maybe it was Caroline's desperation in clinging to Grant Dunmore, or perhaps it was Grant's unwavering cold mask. Whatever it was, with just some slight tweaks, this book could have been one of my favorites.
First, I must say I love the setting. It's entirely unusual to find a historical romance set anywhere other than Scotland or England these days, and this one was wonderfully set on the fictional island of Muirin Inish, Ireland for most of the book. With its gloomy castle and brooding hero, at the beginning, I was all set for a sweeping romance.
Grant Dunmore has been hiding on Muirin Inish for years after he ran into trouble in Dublin. He wants to make amends for past wrongs (some of which I never really understood because I hadn't read the previous two books in the series). When Caroline Blacknall--now widowed--washes ashore, he remembers the passion between them in Dublin before he disappeared from the city. Caroline remembers it as well and never quite forgot Grant. Her excuse for finding him is The Chronicle, a book covering some of the history and myths of Ireland. Caroline needs it for a book she's writing about the country.
Caroline gets much more adventure than she bargains for, though, when she's caught up in a dangerous--and possibly treasonous--scheme Grant is operating. Grant does his best to keep Caroline out of harm's way, but being the proverbial curious cat, she can't. The more involved she becomes, the more danger she places them both in.
I suppose what bothered me most about Caroline was her gushing phrases of adoration and, eventually, love. The adoration doesn't develop slowly. It flames up right from the start, and while I understood there was a history, I felt that Caroline confused her passion and lust with true love and affection. Grant, while mostly likable, was a bit too stoic at times. As a reader, I wasn't allowed into his head enough to really understand his motivations. I understood he wanted to protect Caroline, but at times, his actions seemed almost selfish.
Overall, this was a good book. If only Grant had been more open and Caroline a little less...mushy, I think I could have given it a full five stars.
First, I must say I love the setting. It's entirely unusual to find a historical romance set anywhere other than Scotland or England these days, and this one was wonderfully set on the fictional island of Muirin Inish, Ireland for most of the book. With its gloomy castle and brooding hero, at the beginning, I was all set for a sweeping romance.
Grant Dunmore has been hiding on Muirin Inish for years after he ran into trouble in Dublin. He wants to make amends for past wrongs (some of which I never really understood because I hadn't read the previous two books in the series). When Caroline Blacknall--now widowed--washes ashore, he remembers the passion between them in Dublin before he disappeared from the city. Caroline remembers it as well and never quite forgot Grant. Her excuse for finding him is The Chronicle, a book covering some of the history and myths of Ireland. Caroline needs it for a book she's writing about the country.
Caroline gets much more adventure than she bargains for, though, when she's caught up in a dangerous--and possibly treasonous--scheme Grant is operating. Grant does his best to keep Caroline out of harm's way, but being the proverbial curious cat, she can't. The more involved she becomes, the more danger she places them both in.
I suppose what bothered me most about Caroline was her gushing phrases of adoration and, eventually, love. The adoration doesn't develop slowly. It flames up right from the start, and while I understood there was a history, I felt that Caroline confused her passion and lust with true love and affection. Grant, while mostly likable, was a bit too stoic at times. As a reader, I wasn't allowed into his head enough to really understand his motivations. I understood he wanted to protect Caroline, but at times, his actions seemed almost selfish.
Overall, this was a good book. If only Grant had been more open and Caroline a little less...mushy, I think I could have given it a full five stars.
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