Book Review: Lady of Seduction by Laurel McKee

This is a warm romance with historical intrigue.
 Lady of Seduction (Daughters of Erin) by Laurel McKee

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Forever; Original edition (June 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446544779
• ISBN-13: 978-0446544771

Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating:  4.25 of 5.0

Product Description
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?

Review: This is an engaging read with steady intrigue and growing romance.
Lady Caroline is the quiet bluestocking of the Blacknall daughters. She met Sir Grant four years earlier (Duchess of Sin) when he showed her the wonderful antique manuscript The Chronicle of Kildare. She was fascinated by the book and the man but suffered disillusionment when Grant kidnaped her older sister and her. Grant was injured in a fire as he escaped and Caroline didn’t really expect to see him again.

Now Caroline’s older, scholarly husband has died and she is restless.  She sets out to the isle of Muirin Inish with the purpose of seeing The Chronicle of Kildare.  Of course to see the book she will have to see Grant.  Before Caroline reaches the isle she is shipwrecked. She is pulled from the water and awakens to look into the eyes of the man she seeks. Caroline still finds him devastatingly attractive even with the burn scars along the left side of his face.

Grant has secluded himself in a derelict castle on a reclusive isle. He knows that his past was misdirected and he hopes to find a way to redeem himself.  He has dreamed of his short exposure to Caroline but he never expected to see her again. 

Caroline is stranded by storms in a castle that is shrouded in mystery and darkness. Although Grant is willing to give her access to his library he isn’t willing to let her see The Chronicle and he wants her to remain out of sight while he receives some expected guests. Caroline doesn’t obey orders well and manages to stumble into troubles.  First she finds secret doors in the library and later she runs into the French Captain whom Grant was trying to hide her from.

The story is driven by the growing relationship between Caroline and Grant. The romance is lovely and sensual. Running behind the romance is the underlying intrigue involving the United Irish rebellion. There are spies, betrayals, murder attempts, a race against time and pretty much constant danger. 

The writing is easy, the descriptions rich, and the story moves along well. The combination of action and romance makes for an engaging story presented with the backdrop of an interesting historical event. I love this summary that underlies their love: “I save you, you save me,”... “I think it’s our fate.”

xxx

Thank you to Hachette for this book to read and review. Check the triple book Giveaway in Forever's Hot Historical Romance blog tour.