A Lady of Persuasion: Amazon.co.uk: Tessa Dare: Books

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Mass Market Paperback, 29 Sep 2009

Book Description

Publication Date: 29 Sep 2009

Tessa Dare spins a witty, wanton tale of passion and conquest, as a reformer and a rake find unexpected love.

Only one thing could convince Sir Tobias Aldridge, an incorrigible libertine, to profess undying fidelity to a woman he’s just met. Revenge. What better way to get back at an enemy than by stealing the scoundrel’s sister? Not that Toby finds it a chore, seducing a beguiling, sultry beauty freshly arrived from the West Indies. When the prize is Isabel Grayson, vengeance is doubly rewarding.

Isabel is determined to marry a wealthy, powerful lord and become a lady of influence, using her rank and fortune to fight social injustice. Sir Toby, with his paltry title and infamous reputation, is unsuitable husband material–but he makes her blood race, her heart pound, and her long-buried passions come to the surface. If she can reform the charming devil, she’ll get exactly what she craves: society’s respect. But it’s a dangerous gamble. For if Toby wins this battle of persuasion, Isabel could lose her heart.

#outer_postBodyPS { display: none; } #psGradient { display: none; } #psPlaceHolder { display: none; } #psExpand { display: none; } Tessa Dare spins a witty, wanton tale of passion and conquest, as a reformer and a rake find unexpected love.

Only one thing could convince Sir Tobias Aldridge, an incorrigible libertine, to profess undying fidelity to a woman he’s just met. Revenge. What better way to get back at an enemy than by stealing the scoundrel’s sister? Not that Toby finds it a chore, seducing a beguiling, sultry beauty freshly arrived from the West Indies. When the prize is Isabel Grayson, vengeance is doubly rewarding.

Isabel is determined to marry a wealthy, powerful lord and become a lady of influence, using her rank and fortune to fight social injustice. Sir Toby, with his paltry title and infamous reputation, is unsuitable husband material–but he makes her blood race, her heart pound, and her long-buried passions come to the surface. If she can reform the charming devil, she’ll get exactly what she craves: society’s respect. But it’s a dangerous gamble. For if Toby wins this battle of persuasion, Isabel could lose her heart.

Product details

Mass Market Paperback: 344 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books; Original edition (29 Sep 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780345506887
ISBN-13: 978-0345506887
ASIN: 034550688X
Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 2.3 x 17.4 cm

Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 398,791 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The Delights of Persuasion 8 Oct 2009

By Book Gannet TOP 1000 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The last thing Sir Toby Aldridge, jilted fiancé and scandal sheet favourite, wants is to see his former bride-to-be again. Especially in the company of the man who whisked her away from him. But Toby can't help himself. So when he sees Gray dancing with the only interesting debutante in the room, he has to interrupt. A petty form of revenge, until he discovers the woman's name, and comes up with a better plan.

Isabel Grayson hardly knows what to do when such a handsome man sweeps her from her brother's arms. Especially as he's the last she could possibly marry. She has plans, great plans of political reform and charitable endeavours, and for that she needs money, social influence and a great title. No mere baronet will do.

At least, that's what she thought at the start of the evening...

Having first appeared as the object of girlish infatuation (Goddess of the Hunt), then jilted without thought (Surrender of a Siren), Toby comes as something of a surprise. He may start out bitter, and at times be a little too charming, but his good nature and need to be everything Isabel wants is lovely. That doesn't mean he doesn't make mistakes, but he's mostly sympathetic in his faults. He's no all-conquering, marauding hero, but he is romantic.

Which is good because Isabel isn't. She's good, really good, but her passion saves her from being tiresome. (Altruism is a wonderful thing, but rarely makes for good romance.) Her troubles, inner demons and notions make her a frustrating heroine at times, but like Toby she's sympathetic enough to remain interesting.

With Toby's teasing charm against Isabel's earnest honesty, this tale is a delight to read - especially with a hero unafraid of declaring himself. Characters from the previous novels make welcome returns as this tale whirls from the heights of London to the bucolic delights of the countryside. It's a light, mostly fluffy read, designed to make a reader feel good. Dare is a delightful addition to the genre.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Book 3 6 Oct 2009

By Detra Fitch TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Sir Tobias "Toby" Aldridge's bride-to-be ran off to seek adventure. She has recently returned to London as the wife of Benedict "Gray" Grayson. Toby is still pondering how to achieve some revenge on the scoundrel who stole his bride when his eyes catch sight of a woman who takes his breath away. Toby decides to court the lady; however, she is seeking to wed a wealthy, powerful lord and become a lady of influence. This way she could help the needy. Sir Toby utilizes his talent for smooth debating to convince the lovely lady that should she consider him as a husband, she could and would be able to achieve her desires. Learning that the lovely lady is Isabel "Bel" Grayson makes her acceptance of his marriage proposal deliciously sweet, because Bel is the sister of Gray.

With just over two months until their wedding date, Toby must promise Bel anything she asks. Otherwise, Bel would break their engagement. This is how Sir Toby ends up promising to run for a seat in the House of Commons, though the very thought of possibly winning horrifies him. But as Toby's passion for Bel deepens into something more powerful, Toby must choose between a miserable political life or a miserable private life without Bel.

*** THREE STARS! An entertaining story that is perfect for warm, indoor reading on a rainy afternoon. Joss, Bel and Gray's widowed brother, is part of a romantic sub-plot with a physician's daughter. So readers will have the pleasure of two romances within this story. Tessa Dare's future as a romance writer looks bright indeed! ***

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com ^(beta)

Amazon.com: 3.1 out of 5 stars 23 reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars First 2 were amazing...this one is so-so 20 Oct 2009

By L. Perrault - Published on Amazon.com

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I would be curious to see a review from someone who did not read the 2 books before this one. I'm wondering if I just didn't like this book because I loved Tessa's first 2 so much...it was hard for this one to live up to the others?

I found Toby to be BORING. He was such a shallow character to me. I get it...he was the perfect gentleman but lazy and now his wife wants to make him a better man and he wants to try for her. And then the wife who is too perfect and giving and loving and shy but encouraging in bed. (YAWN)

I read the first 2 books in 2 days. It took me almost 2 weeks to finish this book. The plot was boring and the characters were almost like afterthoughts..."I have to write a trilogy, I have plot for 2 books...guess I'll throw the sister and the jilted groom together and see what happens." The end was a bit redemptive and the reason it got 3 stars instead of 2.

The best parts were revisiting the characters from the first 2 books. Loved hearing about Lucy's pregnancy and how Sophia and Gray were doing together in London.

I HIGHLY recommend Surrender to a Siren and Goddess of the Hunt. But you can probably skip this one.

***In response to comment***
I agree. The last chapter was great for getting to know how everyone is doing in the future. So...go ahead and open the book and read the last chapter.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Points for trying something interesting... 29 July 2010

By B. Proczko - Published on Amazon.com

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I feel that Ms. Dare had a great idea for a heroine, but had a hard time wrestling that idea into submission, while at the same time feeling pressure to bring back all the main characters from the previous two books in the series (sometimes plausibly, sometimes not - see also: final scene). Toby is great to laugh with and at, falling prey to what many of us have a habit of doing in idealizing the object of one's attraction. Isabel, however... well, she was nearly interesting. I liked "Surrender of a Siren" better, and "Goddess of the Hunt" was a solid start. Go back to those, if you haven't read them yet.

15 of 20 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Admit - read half, skimmed rest 17 Oct 2009

By Mademoiselle Osa - Published on Amazon.com

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I bought this book eagerly despite not enjoying 'surrender of a siren' (but loving Goddess of the Hunt). The book is well written enough - but, it is the heroine, lord help me, that was so over-the-top priggish that I simply could not finish it! I felt sorry for the hero to have to be saddled with her - yuck. It's one thing to believe in justice or have a religion - it's another to subject others to misery because of it....ironic, really. She could not find love if it hit her over the head. After reading almost half of it trying to decide if I'd finish it, I skimmed the final half to see if there was any redemption for her. Much later she sort of gives a mea culpa. But, I couldn't bring myself to subject myself to her brand of misery for however many hour(s) it'd steal from my life to get to it. I didn't feel interested in the tension/issues that the novel revolved around - because it entirely revolves around the heroine being a stubborn, absorbed unloving whelp. She's so obessed with being 'perfect' she can't even be nice. So - the one star is not just the heroine but the effect her personality has on the entire story. Too bad, too - I did like Toby, but only pitied him in this one (he is in Goddess of the Hunt & is jilted in 'surrender of a siren'). Tessa Dare is a great writer (in the romance genre) & I will buy her next book (next year, I think) - but, this heroine was just awful!

A Lady of Persuasion [Mass Market Paperback]

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