The Secret to Seduction

by Julie Anne Long

[Amanda]

Julie Anne Long put together a satisfying conclusion to the Holt Sisters Trilogy. (And I still need MOAR JAL.)

There was a lot about this book that I shouldn't have liked... but totally did. (Why do you do this to me, JAL? Why?) Both Sabrina and Rhys had their eyes on other people (for various reasons), and so the their relationship was super slow to begin. Slooooow.

Sabrina was almost painfully green, though, which provided a counterpoint for Rhys "The Libertine" and his constant need to be entertained or to seduce. He's not all that likable at first, but I think his growing attraction (and later, attachment) to Sabrina really helped. And in many ways, Rhys cracked open the cocoon Sabrina held herself in. There was a lot more to Sabrina than even Sabrina knew, but Rhys found a way to draw it out.

(And not just through seduction and sex. Even though both of those happen, obviously.)

As you might suspect, the sisters find a way to be together, and many things come to light, including who was really behind the murder of the ladies' father, the rest of the players that made it happen, and what actually happened to Anna Holt.

And while I like the rift that happened between Rhys and Sabrina toward the end (and also how hard Rhys fell), I don't feel like I got enough of their reconciliation. I wanted more at the end! I also wanted to see more of Rhys's housekeeper. It seemed like a small thread was opened with her and never quite closed.

Still. The Secret to Seduction was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, and now I need more Julie Anne Long in my life... again.