The Seducers Book 1
This is Minerva Spencer’s alternate writing name for her steamier historical romances. I don’t think I’ve read anything by this author in either name. Here we have the older woman trope and she’s the one with all the experience, while he’s a virgin.
Melissa Griffin is taking a break from the stress of running her business, a high-class London brothel, and seeks a bit of rest and recreation, after a bout of ill health, in a small country village.
She soon becomes the subject of interest from the locals but is keen to keep her profession a secret from the prim and proper country folk. However, her attraction to the young and handsome parish curate may cause a problem.
Magnus Stanwyk has chosen to become a man of the church despite having a fortune and property of his own. He is a man of deep faith, selflessness, integrity and empathy. However, Magnus finds himself attracted to the beautiful Miss Griffin despite his vow to save himself for marriage.
Melissa and Magnus fell in love a bit too quickly for my liking, they’d barely had a handful of brief conversations before they declared their feelings. Those passionate feelings, however, make for passionate encounters and high heat levels.
I had a couple of issues which each character. First, I wasn’t comfortable that Melissa lied to Magnus. She took his virginity and misled him about her intentions. Then, Magnus seems doggedly blind to the consequences of their marriage. He wants Melissa and threatens her to marry him, but she knows what will happen and prepares. However, Magnus still doesn’t seem to consider how people will react, including his parents.
Obviously, the secret will be revealed and used to blackmail Melissa, but she’s a realist while he’s very naive. So, the reader is on tenterhooks the entire time, waiting for Melissa to be exposed. The author does a good job of building the tension, leading the reader in one direction and then slamming them with an unexpected plot twist.
It all comes crashing down around them in a spectacular mess. But then it doesn’t really. She confronts the problem and tries to eliminate it and it all seems to be wrapped up nicely and neatly with a big bow. After the unexpected twist, I wanted a little more.
The author handles the issue of prostitution with a great deal of realism and sensitivity. Just a warning, there’s quite a bit that may be difficult for some readers, including child prostitution and rape.
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Feels: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
