Romance Reviews Today

"Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to WHAT TO WEAR TO A SEDUCTION," Sandra Brill, Romance Reviews Today

Lady Edwina Ross needs Prescott Devane. She is determined to catch a blackmailer, and she requires a man to aid her with her plan. And even though Prescott has a roguish reputation amongst the ton, there are certain circumstances that speak for his character, making Edwina sure he is not only capable of helping her but that she can trust him as well. Yet in order to successfully catch the blackmailer, part of her scheme depends upon Edwina and Prescott pretending to be engaged. What's more, they must appear to be in love, otherwise nobody will believe a match between the two. Unfortunately, Edwina has no idea how to behave as if she is in love or how to get a man interested in her, for that matter. All she knows is that Prescott stirs urges inside her that she believed she lacked, and she wonders what it would be like to own his heart in truth.

Prescott Devane has had enough of his frivolous lifestyle among Society and is not interested in Lady Edwina's plight. Because of his looks and charm, he is much sought after by the ladies of the ton, but his humble origins will never let him be truly accepted by them. However, it's obvious to Prescott that Lady Edwina is different from the shallow women he knows, and she is shrewd enough to tempt him with what he wants most. So, reluctantly, he agrees to help Edwina with her scheme and quickly finds himself pulled back into the life he had sworn to forsake. But surprisingly, the ton's condescending attitude doesn't seem so disagreeable with Edwina by his side. She passionately defends him to all who look down upon him, and it is not long before Prescott realizes that to have Edwina's real love would be something special indeed.

WHAT TO WEAR TO A SEDUCTION is a pleasure on many levels beginning with the characters. For her hero and heroine, Ms. Robins creates two people who, on the surface, appear very different; Prescott who is charm personified, and Edwina, a reserved, homely widow. Yet both are restless and unfulfilled and share a desire to break free from the roles in which they have been cast. Edwina is determined to escape from beneath her father's thumb. However, although she thinks like an independent woman, when it comes to actually defying her father she is not quite sure of herself. Meanwhile, Prescott is tired of being just an "escort," and has resolved to make more of himself and his life. Both are amiable characters that make the reader care for them. But they are not the only players worthy of praise. Secondary characters are fully fleshed out and play important roles in moving the story along while adding humor and warmth to the tale.

Edwina and Prescott are a good match, for they bring out the best in each other. Their relationship is all readers could hope for in its passion and poignancy. Yet WHAT TO WEAR TO A SEDUCTION has so much more than an enchanting love story to offer, because in it, a well-developed intrigue is skillfully blended with the sensual romance. Edwina and Prescott have a blackmailer to catch and they spend their time at soirees and balls searching for clues to this person's identity. They work well together as an investigative team. The reader easily becomes involved in the mystery they are trying to solve, and stays intrigued as Edwina and Prescott dodge danger, interrogate people, and set traps for the villain.

Ms. Robins continues to impress me. Her stories are lively and well written, featuring memorable characters. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to WHAT TO WEAR TO A SEDUCTION.

WHAT TO WEAR TO A SEDUCTION
by Sari Robins
RT Rating: **** (4 Stars)
Category: HISTORICAL
Setting: Regency England
Publisher: Avon
Published: May 2006

"A deeply emotional, sensual romance that delves into the darkest recesses of the human soul while keeping a fast pace and a lively romance."

Proper bluestocking Lady Edwina Ross would never consider seducing London's most notorious rake if it weren't to save her friend from a blackmailer. She needs the scandalous Prescott Devane to pose as her fiancé to unmask the villain. How to convince him to come to her aid? Seduce him, of course!

Few know of Prescott's inner torment. His childhood haunts him in his darkest moments, and only Edwina seems to understand what he feels. Only she brings out the best in him.

Edwina knows she's courting scandal with her "betrothal." Just being near Prescott sets her heart pounding and her blood boiling. It's no wonder their passions explode, and though they'll never lose sight of their mission, the love that grows between them is worth any risk.

Robins' talent grows with each new book, and she shines here with a deeply emotional, sensual romance that delves into the darkest recesses of the human soul while keeping a fast pace and a lively romance. SENSUAL (May, 384 pp., $5.99)

- Kathe Robin

"Delightful Regency romance."
Reviewed by Suan Wilson
Posted April 5, 2006

Widow Lady Edwina Ross approaches rogue Prescott Devane with an unusual offer. She needs help in identifying the man who's blackmailing her. Edwina's plan is simple. If Preston poses as her fiancé, it will discourage her suitors and she can concentrate on uncovering the jackal threatening her. At Prescott's refusal, Edwina resorts to exerting pressure by offering him what he cannot obtain, an empty warehouse to use for storing his wares from his new business venture.

Prescott, an orphan and a former cicisbeo(male escort), has come to a critical juncture in his life. At the death of his mentor, Headmaster Dunn, and the loss of his best friend due to marriage, Prescott realizes he can't continue to get by on his looks and charm. He needs to have self- respect that his current occupation will not give him. Prescott decides to start a business providing society with certain goods. This should keep him busy and ease the pain caused by people not staying long in his life.

Needing the warehouse, Prescott accepts Edwina's offer. He's appalled at her lack of self-worth. Her rigid father tried to fit her into a mold, and her late husband continued where her father left off with constant criticism of her faults. Prescott bolsters Edwina's self-confidence, while falling in love with her. If Edwina has the courage to defy her father and accept Prescott, she may find the love she seeks.

This is a sweet tale of two lonely people of unequal rank who must accept their self-worth before they can find love. Ms. Robins adds a secondary character, Janelle, whose tart observations enhance the story even further.

"Excellent Regency romance"

- Harriet Klausner

In 1811 London, Prescott Devane has vowed to never be an escort again after overhearing the Ton talk about him with disdain. As he recovers from injuring his hands rescuing a little girl who was on fire at the orphanage where he was raised, he is also mentally shook up because of the murder of his mentor Headmaster Dunn and his best friend at the orphanage who married someone else and kept it a secret from him that she was an aristocrat in hiding.

Widow Lady Edwina Ross tries to hire Prescott as a fiancé to help her catch an aristocratic blackmailer. He says no until she mentions she has business ties at the docks that could help his ventures so he agrees. Then he kisses her; both are shook by the reaction. At the same time Spymaster Tristan Wheaton asks his retired mentor Sir Lee to unmask Alexander Quince who is blackmailing the Ton apparently using information gathered from espionage circles. As the two cases converge, Prescott and Edwina fall in love, but he knows she is too good for him.

The fine lead couple whose diverse background serves as a key ingredient in the plot makes this an excellent Regency romance as their relationship slowly grows once respect occurs. The solid support cast especially her peers at the Society for Enrichment & Learning for Females and those at the orphanage add depth to understanding Prescott and Edwina respectively. Though the climax seems too easy, fans will enjoy Sari Robin's latest "Anderson Hall" tale (see ONE WICKED NIGHT and MORE THAN A SCANDAL).

What to Wear to a Seduction
by Sari Robins
Reviewed by Valarie Pelissero, Rakehell Reviews

What to Wear to a Seduction is a yummy treat that you can enjoy without any added pounds to your waistline. It's going on my Keeper Shelf, and I intend to enjoy it again and again.

Prescott Devane was first introduced to readers in Ms. Robins last book, More Than a Scandal, and I was intrigued by him. He was complex and tortured soul who tried very hard to hide his vulnerability, and I am glad that he found a woman who was able to heal him. What to Wear to a Seduction brings together two people who have been hurt deeply by the actions of those closest to them and who find the solace they didn't know they needed in each other. Being with Prescott gives Edwina the confidence she needs to face confrontations head on rather that running from it as she has always done. The scene were Edwina was frantically trying to figure out what to wear for her rendezvous with Prescott is one that women in any century can relate to as she discards outfit after outfit to find the perfect thing to wear. Edwina was a character that you can easily dismiss at first, as Prescott did when she first approached him. But as I learned more about her life, I grew to admire her fortitude in trying to be independent, despite her family's belligerence.

Prescott's mother was disowned by her family for marrying beneath her. Prescott always believed that his mother had made a huge mistake renouncing her family for love and he doesn't want Edwina to do the same thing for him, no matter how much losing her would kill him. Prescott never wanted to be a hero, but saving little Evie placed him in that reluctant role and Edwina's admiration kept him there. But, what truly made him a hero was his willingness to give up Edwina rather than having her renounce her family as his mother did. Knowing what it was like to have no family made it doubly hard on him to make that sacrifice, but that is what made him such a great character to read about.

Prescott and Edwina are perfect together, each a perfect compliment to the other, which is what made this story such a joy to read. What to Wear to a Seduction is a yummy treat that you can enjoy without any added pounds to your waistline. It's going on my Keeper Shelf, and I intend to enjoy it again and again.

For the full review go to: http://www.rakehell.com/article.php?id=847&Title=What-to-Wear-to-a-Seduction