Then Comes Seduction by Mary Balogh

http://www.marybalogh.com/
There are two things I want to say before I talk about Mary Balogh’s Then Comes Seduction. Number one, Mary Balogh’s has always been one of my favorite authors, however just because she is one of my favorites doesn’t mean that every one of her books is a winner. Number two, let’s talk about “rakes”, I have studied history quite a lot and when I run across a real rake in those long ago days, he is an incredibly horrible man. a drunk, a womanizer, sometimes doing things that would in these times land him in jail. Not someone that would ever reform, usually someone who dies young from a liver disorder. Our romance books have taken these rakes and cleaned them up.

Now, to the book. When I started reading the book I really had trouble getting into it because the two main characters Jasper and Katherine were so unlikable. Jasper was what I would classify as a real historical rake, really selfish, a drunk, a womanizer, really a creep. And Katherine was brain-dead.

Did I put the book down? Nope! This is a Mary Balogh’s book after all, she will save these two. And, she did, as only Mary Balogh’s can do. Mary Balogh’s can really write about emotions. She can turn unlikable characters into lovable characters.

Short plot description: Jasper wages on anything, in a drunken stupor, he wages that he can seduce a virgin in two weeks. Guess who that is? Katherine falls into his arms like a plucked chicken/ripe plum…whatever. The seduction scene is very memorable mainly because it’s so painful to read. The scene takes a surprise turn and I get to see Jasper's charm/wit and that Katherine isn't the push over we thought she might be.

Now comes the three year separation (don't get excited it's only a paragraph separation in real life.) It is at this point that Ms. Balogh’s writing swings into full gear and I get to watch them fall slowly in love.

Loved this book, I’m not sure if I’d give it as high a score as the first one, I found the pacing to be a little slow. However, don’t let that stop you from reading, especially if you like clever men that are too clever for their own good or I believe the term "hoist by his own petard" might apply.
And yes, you get to see an older Stephen and an even more mysterious Con. Really looking forward to those two books. The third sister’s story (Margaret) is next: At Last Comes Love.
Rating
Sensuality Rating: Warm