Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: Lord of Seduction
Author: Paula Quinn
Publisher: Warner Forever
ISBN: 0-446-61782-2
Release Date: December 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Romance
Year/Setting: 1084/England
Overall Rating: 4.5
Sexual Content Rating: Sensual
Language (Profanity/Slang) Rating: Mild
Violent Content Rating: Minimal
Paula's Website: www.paulaquinn.com
Lady Tanon Risande was a bit bullied as a child in the year 1072. One of the bigger boys threatened her friend, Petunia (who happened to be a pig). Tanon lived in fear of Roger but couldn’t tell anyone because he threatened to hurt Petunia. One little boy came to visit and he discovered Tanon’s fear. He had no problem telling Tanon’s father and getting the big boy sent away. This little boy became a hero to Tanon.
As an adult, Tanon still thought of that little boy who visited and wondered about him. She discovered she was betrothed to one of the members of that family in order to secure peace between English and Welsh. She has visions of it being Gareth until she hears he has been killed fighting in the north. While a part of her still thought about him, on many levels she was relieved because going to the fierce Welsh country didn’t sit well with her.
Of course, it didn’t help to find out that she was now betrothed to Roger deCourtenay. Roger just happens to be the same boy who bullied her now grown up and returned to their village. Roger is a womanizer and cruel but again because her king has set it up, Tanon will do as requested. She knows that in reality Roger doesn’t want her any more than she wants him so she will just be there on occasion and wait for him to go on his way. That will be that.
Except there is a small fly in the ointment. As the betrothal is to be announced, Gareth shows up. It turns out news of his death was in error and he is ready to claim his bride. Because he was the first commitment and because the king desperately wants to create some peace with the Welshmen, he agrees to the marriage. Within a couple of days, Tanon is married and heading off to a country she doesn’t know or understand.
Tanon is an incredibly strong female character for the story. Sure, she has her worries about how her husband will treat her and she even gets her back up at being part of a treaty but in the end her strength is what will save her. She has great wit and courage to pull herself together and make a new life.
Gareth is a visionary. He has visions of peace and to achieve that he will involve everyone in the village and country where he lives. Every one is important and is treated as such so in his community he is quite loved.
While getting to know Tanon and Gareth individually is interesting, it is the getting to know them as a couple that was great to read. There is sizzle with the electricity running between them, there is hope for the countries to come together and there is the poignancy of fantasy woven through it all. Much like pioneers, they are forging a new life with takes a lot of fortitude.
Lori
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