The Study of Seduction (Sinful Suitors, #2)

by Sabrina Jeffries

[stacey_is_sassy]

I’ll take the Reward…and Edwin too.

Romance readers…Historical Romance fans…lovers of LOVE…let me welcome to the stage…Edwin Barlow, the Earl of Blakeborough, also known as my Hero of the Day!!! Yep, The Study of Seduction is going on my Favourites of 2016 list. This book…geez…I struggle to explain it…but this book is EXACTLY why I love historical romance. The hero is a stuffy, arrogant, know-it-all (think Mr Darcy) who acts like he is surrounded by buffoons. The heroine is an intelligent, quirky and beautiful woman who knows how to keep men in their place. When the two of them are together…the sparks fly. He can’t control his emotions and she loses her ability to control…HIM.

The start of the story sees Edwin and Clarissa butting heads and slinging insults…but there is an attraction that neither can deny.

Clarissa has no plans to marry ever, but unfortunately, some of the men of the ton didn’t get the memo. One, in particular, won’t take no for an answer and has made it very clear that he wants her…and will do ANYTHING to get her. Clarissa, at first, thought she could handle it, but Count Durand’s threats get worse and worse. Her cousin Warren was taking the threat seriously and was very worried about her safety. Unfortunately, Warren can’t be in two places at once and Clarissa’s brother Niall is having some problems overseas and he must go and help him. Warren asks his best friend Edwin to take his place in protecting Clarissa.

Edwin couldn’t think of anything worse. This woman makes him feel…things. Edwin has a reputation for being a little stuffy and very honest. He says things exactly as he sees them which hasn’t exactly helped him when it comes to the ladies. He is thinking about finding a wife and plans to spend a season in town when his friend asks him to watch over Clarissa. Edwin is worried. Clarissa makes him feel a lot. Lust, anger, amusement and frustration are emotions he feels regularly in her company. Clarissa has been his little sister’s best friend for many years, so he knows her very well. Or, he thinks he does.

The Study of Seduction sucked me in from the very beginning. I loved Edwin and Clarissa and enjoyed seeing them together. The emotions they bring out in each other vary from anger to humour to passion. Edwin is my favourite type of Historical Romance hero where you can see his bottled-up passions desperate to come out but suppressed because of his gentleman like ways. This guy…I loved seeing him come out of his shell. He thought he wanted a certain type of woman (boring) but the woman he ended up with (exciting), was the exact opposite.

Clarissa and Edwin have dealt with a lot in their past, but what made them perfect for each other was their ability to look past the surface and see what was hiding inside. Edwin was stuffy but with Clarissa’s help learnt to show emotions and feelings. Clarissa had lived through a horrible experience which made her give the outward appearance of happiness, but really hid her loneliness. Edwin gives her the strength to face her past, deal with it and move on a stronger woman.

A story without fault…well pretty damn close. I loved The Study of Seduction and Sabrina Jeffries has done a superb job. She has created a wonderful story with a hero that you can't help but love and a heroine that you can't help but admire. I will definitely be reading this story again and again.

I received a complimentary copy of The Study of Seduction via Netgalley for an honest review.

I’m an Aussie chick who loves to read and review romance, drink coffee, be a Style Setter and stalk David Gandy. To see more of my reviews, fashion, food and pervathons -