After the first book in
the MacBride Family Trilogy, "The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell,"
the MacBride family is back in England after the tumultuous ending in
India, with two wounded and brooding brothers Alec, the Duke of Glendon
and his brother Aidan, but also a happy ending with Annabel MacBride
and Simon Blackwell's marriage.
"The Seduction of An Unknown Lady" highlights Aidan, who is continuing
to struggle with his physical and emotional injuries that took place in
that final battle. Home in England as a hero, he feels anything but a
hero, and spends many a long night brooding, until one night on a dark
street he meets and rescues an Unknown Lady. Immediately something
draws the handsome Aidan to the lonely and beautiful, Fionna Hawkes.
Aidan has his physical and emotional struggles to deal with after the
family's return, being partially blind in one eye, but also feeling
deep guilt over the loss of numerous comrades in a battle in which he
blames himself for. Fionna is a local bookseller and writer who
secretly uses the pen name, F. J. Sparrow so she can assist her ill
mother and provide the best of care for her.
Friendship soon develops into passion and a growing love as Aidan
spends more and more time with Fionna. Fionna is frightened by Aidan's
seduction and the intense passion she feels for him, while at the same
time she understands the inner struggles he deals with and feels the
need to help him, but at the same time does not trust enough to share
her own burdens of her mother's illness and secret writing with Aidan.
When Aidan discovers Fionna needs his protection from an unknown
follower, he realizes that the beauty he has been seducing and is
falling in love with has many unknown secrets. Aidan feels he must do
whatever he can to help this beauty and what haunts her deep inside.
Mysteries are revealed as love and passion bloom and soon Aidan learns
that by revealing the unknown Fionna and the demons that haunt her dark
world, she has helped him overcome his demons. Eventually their
friendship and love deepens into more than a simple seduction of an
unknown lady.
Every book Samantha James writes is a delight. Her writing style is
captivating with characters that have depth and struggles to overcome.
Her sensual scenes between the love interests are well-written while at
the same time discovering true love and happiness are what really
matter. It will be interesting to read Alec's story next, as the
MacBride Family is one that is endearing and one which the reader can
become absorbed in and enjoy. Ms. James has written another sensual
romance with mystery and suspense that are again, like this story,
difficult to put down.
Publisher: Avon
(April 2008)
Reviewed
by Beverly,
Beverly Romance Books
