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Seducing the Heiress by Olivia Drake

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(Mass Market Paperback)

  • Pub. Date: December 2009
  • 312pp
  • Sales Rank: 16,078

Reader Rating: (4 ratings)

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    Product Details

    • Pub. Date: December 2009
    • Publisher: St. Martin's Press
    • Format: Mass Market Paperback, 312pp
    • Sales Rank: 16,078

    Synopsis

    The first in Olivia Drake’s captivating series, SEDUCING THE HEIRESS introduces a fabulously rich family of commoners who take London society by storm…and three sisters who share a dangerous secret.

    SHE VOWED TO RESIST HIM

    Her wealth and beauty have made Miss Portia Crompton the catch of the season. Secretly determined to wed the maharajah’s son she left behind in India, Portia ignores the money-hungry bucks who ply her with bouquets and bonbons. But one suitor will not be deterred: Colin Byrd, Viscount Ratcliffe. He is persistent and presumptuous—and wickedly tempting.

    HE VOWED TO HAVE HER

    Colin has no delusions about romance. He’s a rogue, a womanizer, and a murderer, and seduction comes as easily to him as breathing. Portia’s fortune is an irresistible lure until Colin’s mercenary scheme hits a snag. Winning her dowry is no longer enough—he wants her heart and her passion. The more adamant she is in her refusal, the more determined he is to seduce her…

    “Guaranteed to seduce readers everywhere. This book is something truly special, an unforgettable story filled with passion, intrigue, and sweep-you-away romance.”
    —Susan Wiggs

    Publishers Weekly

    This decadent Regency romance debut is carried along by a spunky heroine and sumptuous descriptions of upper-class life. Raised in India, beautiful Portia Crompton arrives in London just in time to be the premier debutante of the season. Portia—independent, witty and pragmatic—knows her many suitors really just want her enormous dowry. The disgraced, impoverished and devastatingly handsome Viscount Ratcliffe, Colin Byrd, romances her shamelessly, leaving Portia struggling to reconcile her forbidden love for her Indian childhood sweetheart with the passion Colin inspires. Portia's socially ambitious mother would like to see her wed to the immoral duke of Albright, but as Portia uncovers the true nature of Colin's character, she warms to him, and readers will too. The culminating bedroom scene does not justify the long buildup, but there's enough glitz to keep readers coming back. (Dec.)\

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    Biography

    Olivia Drake is a New York Times bestselling author who lives in Texas. Her novels have won critical acclaim and numerous industry awards including the prestigious RITA. She invites you to visit www.oliviadrake.com

    Customer Reviews

    • Reader Rating:
    • Ratings: 4Reviews: 2

    Witty and Completely Romanticby Barbara25

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    December 08, 2009: Drowning in debt, Colin, Lord Ratcliffe must find a way to get money or risk losing everything. He concocts a scheme to seduce the wealthiest and most desired heiress of the Season. Portia Crompton. It should be a simple enough task, seeing as Colin happens to be quite a ladies man and knows exactly what it will take to seduce his would be bride. Only problem is, he never expected the beautiful debutante to be so quick to catch on to his scheme.

    Portia may be young, but she's no fool. She knows full well that Ratcliffe merely desires her dowry to settle all of his gambling debts. She won't deny her immediate attraction to the handsome rogue, but that doesn't mean she's about to fall for his schemes. With rumors of murder, a trail of women in his wake and of course his mountian high stack of debts, Ratcliffe is the last man Portia would ever consider entrusting her dowry to, let alone her heart.

    Besides, Portia has plans of her own. She's in love, and no one--especially not Ratcliffe--will stand in the way of her being with the man she truly wants to marry.

    Ratcliffe, however, isn't so easily dissuaded. Besides, he knows Portia desires him and it's merely a matter of time before her will to refuse him breaks. But what begins as a test of wills soon turns in to an all consuming love that neither of them expected.

    I absolutely adored this story! Both the hero and heroine were wonderfully written. I fell head over heels in love with Colin. The perfect hero. The banter between these two was witty and hilarious, and the love story, completely romantic.

    Readers will enjoy this entertaining historical romance where nothing is quite like it seemsby harstan

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    November 18, 2009: Viscount Colin Byrd needs to marry a wealthy heiress rather quickly to pay off his debts. He targets Miss Portia Crompton who grew up in India and only recently returned home with her family. Colin knows it will not be easy as he is blackballed for killing his father, leaving his mother rusticate, and has exorbitant gambling debts. He sneaks into a ball hosted by his family's enemy the Duke of Albright and meets Portia by throwing strawberries at insulting Mrs. Bardsley. However, Albright kicks him out before he can make much progress. His plan remains the same to get Portia to love him so she will marry him, but has had problems seeing her as her parents banned him.

    Portia is unhappy as she has not received a letter from her beloved Maharajah Arun in a year. They fell in love, but his dad rejected her and her parents rushed her back to London. Portia is home alone with her sisters and the servants when she finds Colin in her room. Unafraid Portia asks about his dad and if he would pursue her if she was broke. He says his father died in a tragic accident, and her money made him aware of her, but since he met her he would pursue her. Meanwhile Albright does what he can to paint Colin as a killing wastrel, bur Portia is attracted to him anyway while the truth remains to be seen through a hazy web of lies.

    .

    The changing relationship between the lead couple is superbly developed so that the audience can see and understand the metamorphosis of both of them. Her family is terrific as fully developed characters while his mother is so shallow she seems real. Although the villain's motive does not ring true especially since he conceals his deep anger so effortlessly, fans will enjoy this entertaining historical romance wherenothing is quite like it seems.

    Harriet Klausner