An Invitation to Seduction
Grade : B-

Kitty Robertson, the daughter abandoned by Jessye from Never Love a Cowboy, is the heroine of An Invitation To Seduction and, though Jessye is not exactly in the book, fans will surely be interested in reading about Kitty's life as an American heiress in Victorian England. Although the book features little action and isn't exactly a page-turner that I couldn't put down, it was still an easy and smooth read that many will enjoy.

Kitty Robertson has fought her sexual urges her entire life. Born a bastard, Kitty was given up for adoption by a mother who worked in a common tavern. Yet, she didn't have a wretched life since she was adopted by a loving man and woman who raised her in luxury to become a beautiful, well bred young lady. As an adult, Kitty does everything in her power to resist temptation, to keep her sensuality under control, and become the kind of woman of whom her adopted mother will be proud. These are the very reasons she decides to marry Nicky. Of course, he doesn't exactly incite her passion, but he is honorable, fun, and well placed in society. Yes, her entire life is planned perfectly, that is, until she spies a man she never met before.

Richard Stanbury refuses to be tied down. He knows he will eventually have to please his mother and produce a heir, but for now he values his freedom, especially since he has had his share of misfortune and responsibility and does not need a wife to add to that stress. That is, until he meets a strange woman who has the audacity to spy on him while he swims naked and who tempts him in a way no other woman has managed. They share one passionate kiss and then she disappears. He knows only that her name is Kitty and that she will be in London, so Richard agrees to go with his mother and sister to London in hopes of finding the woman who so enthralled him.

She should not have spied on the man, yet she could not seem to stop herself from admiring his body. Kitty certainly should not have kissed him back, yet she does, giving into a few minutes of passion with a stranger. Although she leaves for London intending to never see the man again, Kitty cannot stop from thinking about Richard and the intense desire he made her feel - desire that she swore she would never give into. Low and behold, while at a party with Nicky, she is introduced to one of her fiancé's best friends, a best friend who just happens to be Richard Stanbury.

Richard should leave the woman alone - she is engaged, after all, to marry his best friend. Yet two problems keep interfering with that plan. For one, Richard cannot get Kitty out of his mind or stop his body from reacting every time he thinks about her. And secondly, Richard knows a secret about dear, fun-loving Nicky that could easily ruin their marriage and his friend's reputation. But Richard has no desire to let Nicky's secret out of the bag, and so he will win Kitty by seducing her with his charms. As easy as it is for Richard to show his attraction and admit his desires for Kitty, she proves to be far more stubborn in admitting her feelings for him. It's true that initially Richard's only wish is to get Kitty in bed, but he quickly realizes that Kitty is the woman he will marry. Even when he admits his honest desires, Kitty still refuses the man. He knows she is attracted to him, yet she will not dump Nicky.

Kitty is so stubborn that at times she becomes rather annoying. Although her reasons to remain pure should be valid, her reasoning just doesn't hold up very well. For a woman of the latter 1800s who is supposedly an untouched virgin, Kitty seems to be surprisingly aware of her sexual appetite and is rather bold. Richard starts as a rather alpha-type male, but he turns into a bit of a nag with his constant need to be with Kitty. He hates American woman and refuses to marry, but quickly tosses these opinions aside as he follows Kitty around, practically begging for her attentions. Overall, the book was too obvious, with not a whole lot happening, and with secondary characters often more exciting than the primaries.

Even with a lack of action, Heath's writing flows so well that the book was a rather fast read. And a surprise twist at the end was particularly interesting. It is because of the flow of the story, the interesting twist, and the fun secondary characters that An Invitation to Seduction is worth reading.

Reviewed by Lori Sowell
Grade : B-

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : August 3, 2004

Publication Date: 2004

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Lori Sowell

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