Seductive [Paperback]

At the age of seventeen, Elizabeth Massey became the bride of the older and impotent Earl of Shenstone. She endured a loveless marriage for seven agonizingly long years until he died one night of a heart attack while trying to get her with child.

During her marriage, Elizabeth hadn't been faithful to her husband. Instead, she entered into an affair with Peter Romanov, a Russian royal who dissolved their liaison when he was ordered to do so by his family. But now Elizabeth is an heiress in control of her dead husband's vast fortune and suddenly she has the chance to get reacquainted with her old flame. She thinks everything is finally beginning to go her way until a letter from a solicitor arrives informing her that her deceased husband's nephew has been located and all of the money she thought was hers will revert to Nicholas' control.

Nicholas Massey dreams of only one thing: revenge. He swore to his mother on her deathbed that he would claim the title and lands, thereby avenging his father who had been disowned by the former earl. He had planned for every contingency before returning to England to make his mark, but he hadn't planned on the instant and primal attraction he possesses for Elizabeth, his dead uncle's widow.

Elizabeth fancies herself in love with Peter, but Nicholas doesn't let that knowledge dissuade him from seducing the countess into his bed. The only problem for the new earl is that once he has her where he wants her, he doesn't want to let her go...

There are many aspects of this novel that make Seductive a must-read, Devine's trademark scorching hot love scenes among them. How erotic is this erotic romance you might ask? On a scale of one to ten, I'd rate it an eleven.

Another attribute this book has going for it is a strong and well developed cast of characters. From the fallible yet lovable Elizabeth to the enigmatic and darkly sexy Nicholas (and all of the secondary characters in between), each one of them contributes to creating a page turner of a story.

If you're a Devine fan you don't want to miss this one, as Seductive is destined to be remembered as one of her most powerful novels to date. Though not as dark as her usual erotic offerings, the novel is gothic enough to please longtime followers and mainstream enough to tempt new devotees her way.

Get out your fans ladies: the Queen of Erotic Romance is once again holding court.

The pearls are used as an instrument for their ...and through out the book, the sex gradually loses its captivation without any emotions. The mystery is appalling and Thea Devine rambles on only to find that the twist is much too predictible.SEDUCTIVE coming from a erotica writer as vintage as Thea Devine, comes out disappointing and not so devine after all.

Nicholas Massey learns that his deceased father was actually brother to an Earl and that he inherited Shenstone. Nicholas informs Elizabeth that she is a penniless widow, who can stay if she has sex with him. He promises that as a by-product she will be able to seduce her Peter. As they make love in every nick and cranny, they begin to fall in love, but that does not stop Elizabeth from stealing kisses with Peter nor search for evidence to prove Nicholas is not the heir. Meanwhile Nicholas worries that a killer, perhaps Elizabeth, wants him dead.

SEDUCTIVE tries to satisfy too many diverse readers, as the tale never decides between what it wants to be: an erotic romance or a historical romantic suspense. The story line is fast-paced, but overwhelmed with too many subplots. Readers will feel a mixed bag towards Elizabeth, but admire Nicholas, a hunk, who belongs in the Olympics or Guinness for his ability to make love in the weirdest of locations. Thea Devine is a talented author, but her latest tale is not quite the divine novel expected from her.

Harriet Klausner