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thebookcoyote's review against another edition
3.0
This is the last book in the "Swanlea Spinsters" series, and I quite enjoyed it. Morgan Pryce, the twin brother of Lord Templemore of "After the Abduction" is a fun, roguish type of character - the type that Sabrina Jeffries is good at portraying. Clara is very much a do-gooder, the type of character that almost always irritates me, but at least she's proven wrong at the end, which makes me happy. I hate it when self-righteous characters are proven right. Sometimes I wish that Jeffries would concentrate more on her characters than her plot, but it is still an entertaining book and worth reading.
thefauxwriter's review against another edition
4.0
If I fell easily for Sebastian, then I melted for Morgan.
They were brilliant. The premise of the story, the characters, the mystery, and those kids. All enticing and woven wonderfully together. I just love SJ's style and will read anything the woman writes...!!!
They were brilliant. The premise of the story, the characters, the mystery, and those kids. All enticing and woven wonderfully together. I just love SJ's style and will read anything the woman writes...!!!
ninamoskowitz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
smiley7245's review against another edition
3.0
I was just meh about this book. I liked Morgan and Clara but I just was not all that into it. The lies and deceit seemed a bit contrived. Also, I was not surprised about who ended up being the bad guy. I'm not saying this book was bad, I just didn't like it as much as some of her other books. Still, I love Sabrina Jeffries and will continue to devour her books.
rjordan19's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the way Clara was introduced - descended from a long line of reformers and rogues. Her fathers side was Quakers and Wiggs. Her mother’s side was scoundrels, gamblers and debauchers. She’s a mixture of staunch morals and undiscovered passion.
When her Uncle passes, he leaves her 10,000 pounds. She runs the Stanbourne Home for the Reformation of Pickpockets and is eager to put the money to use fixing up the place.
Morgan sells nautical goods to sailers from his shop in Spitalfields since he is on half pay as a Captain. Really, he’s doing some serious work catching a criminal making a face like he is a fence in the area.
The two meet on the street and the story takes on a very loose enemies to lovers trope. I mean, how excited can a woman who runs a pickpocket school be that a supposed thief has set up shop right next door? But this didn’t have the things that have been annoying me about enemies to lovers lately. It was well done. Some arguing, some push and pull, some slight dislike until they fall in together.
I will say Morgan has the classic issues of a hero from back in the day. Or found pretty commonly with Sabrina Jeffries work. Family issues have given him the inability to hope for his future, he has a hard time forgiving and processing things from his past and it affects his ability to have a relationship.
I did think the book had a fairly early first kiss, but it worked pretty good. That usually bothers me too because I feel like the tension is broken too soon. But it was fine.
There is a bit of a mystery/action plot that keeps the story going. It doesn’t take over the book or anything, I felt like their romance was definitely front and center.
I do think this was my favorite of the series so far. This is book 4. While Morgan is discussed in book 2, and appears briefly in book 3, I wouldn’t say you had to read those to get more from this book. This can totally be read as a stand-alone.
So overall a pleasant read. I didn’t get strong feelings from it, or spent every minute devouring it, but still good.
Locations of kisses/sex scenes
Pg 61 (16%) - kiss
Pg 167 (45%) - kisses and fingering orgasm for her
Pg 242 (65%) - kisses, oral for her (orgasm), missionary virginity loss for her (both orgasm)
Pg 328 (88%) - kisses, fingering, then her on top sex on a stone bench in an arbor
Total pages - 374
When her Uncle passes, he leaves her 10,000 pounds. She runs the Stanbourne Home for the Reformation of Pickpockets and is eager to put the money to use fixing up the place.
Morgan sells nautical goods to sailers from his shop in Spitalfields since he is on half pay as a Captain. Really, he’s doing some serious work catching a criminal making a face like he is a fence in the area.
The two meet on the street and the story takes on a very loose enemies to lovers trope. I mean, how excited can a woman who runs a pickpocket school be that a supposed thief has set up shop right next door? But this didn’t have the things that have been annoying me about enemies to lovers lately. It was well done. Some arguing, some push and pull, some slight dislike until they fall in together.
I will say Morgan has the classic issues of a hero from back in the day. Or found pretty commonly with Sabrina Jeffries work. Family issues have given him the inability to hope for his future, he has a hard time forgiving and processing things from his past and it affects his ability to have a relationship.
I did think the book had a fairly early first kiss, but it worked pretty good. That usually bothers me too because I feel like the tension is broken too soon. But it was fine.
There is a bit of a mystery/action plot that keeps the story going. It doesn’t take over the book or anything, I felt like their romance was definitely front and center.
I do think this was my favorite of the series so far. This is book 4. While Morgan is discussed in book 2, and appears briefly in book 3, I wouldn’t say you had to read those to get more from this book. This can totally be read as a stand-alone.
So overall a pleasant read. I didn’t get strong feelings from it, or spent every minute devouring it, but still good.
Locations of kisses/sex scenes
Spoiler
Pg 61 (16%) - kiss
Pg 167 (45%) - kisses and fingering orgasm for her
Pg 242 (65%) - kisses, oral for her (orgasm), missionary virginity loss for her (both orgasm)
Pg 328 (88%) - kisses, fingering, then her on top sex on a stone bench in an arbor
Total pages - 374
iliketypeo's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Cute and fun.
jacqueline1989's review
4.0
Maybe it's just more proof I'm odd, but when characters come onto the scene with really fascinating backgrounds, and current things-I'm-doing, I go ga-ga!
Sabrina Jeffries was absolutely fabulous in setting up an amazing character platform with both her hero, Morgan, and heroine, Clara. I was enthralled! The fact that our rockin' author established Clara to be extremely unique in her reformation efforts astounded me. Quite often, authors like to proclaim their characters are of a particular bent, in this case, social reform. My primary problem deals with the fact that such authors typically tell, rather than show. Jeffries allotted for a very unique setting by having Clara run a Home for wayward pickpockets of youth.
Such creativity was truly great to see, for instead of seeing the heroine playing the role of society-butterfly-with-a-heart-of-gold, we see Clara as being a character who acts her feelings by running her Home. Such positive allowed for Dance of Seduction to have a fresh change of scenery. The classic, sometimes overused but still loved "glittering ballroom" setting is entirely void in this novel. Instead, the reader truly gets a chance to experience the gritter side of London, complete with a wonderful cast of characters to go with.
Aside from loving the above mentioned realities of this book, I found myself enthralled with both the romantic and suspenseful story lines herein. Jeffries does a masterful job in keeping your attention to the emotional tension of Morgan and Clara, as well as curious to the driving external plot of the book, too. In conjunction, the secondary characters, though minor, do an excellent job at staying interesting and relevant to the story.
My one and only criticism of the book comes, alas, at the end. I've often noticed that Jeffries has a tendency to write a really tasty novel, but seems to have a difficult time ending her books. Once more, a book of hers felt randomly ended, slightly cut off at the knees as it were. Additionally, the epilogues, in this case, too, feel a bit overly joy-joy. I adore my HEAs, yes, but Dance of Seduction seemed a bit overly euphoric. I enjoyed that hyperbole of happiness, no doubt, but it did, sadly, decrease me total appreciation for this book.
Still! A great story, not at all a waste of time! Rah-rah Jeffries, you entertained me once more!
Sabrina Jeffries was absolutely fabulous in setting up an amazing character platform with both her hero, Morgan, and heroine, Clara. I was enthralled! The fact that our rockin' author established Clara to be extremely unique in her reformation efforts astounded me. Quite often, authors like to proclaim their characters are of a particular bent, in this case, social reform. My primary problem deals with the fact that such authors typically tell, rather than show. Jeffries allotted for a very unique setting by having Clara run a Home for wayward pickpockets of youth.
Such creativity was truly great to see, for instead of seeing the heroine playing the role of society-butterfly-with-a-heart-of-gold, we see Clara as being a character who acts her feelings by running her Home. Such positive allowed for Dance of Seduction to have a fresh change of scenery. The classic, sometimes overused but still loved "glittering ballroom" setting is entirely void in this novel. Instead, the reader truly gets a chance to experience the gritter side of London, complete with a wonderful cast of characters to go with.
Aside from loving the above mentioned realities of this book, I found myself enthralled with both the romantic and suspenseful story lines herein. Jeffries does a masterful job in keeping your attention to the emotional tension of Morgan and Clara, as well as curious to the driving external plot of the book, too. In conjunction, the secondary characters, though minor, do an excellent job at staying interesting and relevant to the story.
My one and only criticism of the book comes, alas, at the end. I've often noticed that Jeffries has a tendency to write a really tasty novel, but seems to have a difficult time ending her books. Once more, a book of hers felt randomly ended, slightly cut off at the knees as it were. Additionally, the epilogues, in this case, too, feel a bit overly joy-joy. I adore my HEAs, yes, but Dance of Seduction seemed a bit overly euphoric. I enjoyed that hyperbole of happiness, no doubt, but it did, sadly, decrease me total appreciation for this book.
Still! A great story, not at all a waste of time! Rah-rah Jeffries, you entertained me once more!
jacqueline1989's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe it's just more proof I'm odd, but when characters come onto the scene with really fascinating backgrounds, and current things-I'm-doing, I go ga-ga!
Sabrina Jeffries was absolutely fabulous in setting up an amazing character platform with both her hero, Morgan, and heroine, Clara. I was enthralled! The fact that our rockin' author established Clara to be extremely unique in her reformation efforts astounded me. Quite often, authors like to proclaim their characters are of a particular bent, in this case, social reform. My primary problem deals with the fact that such authors typically tell, rather than show. Jeffries allotted for a very unique setting by having Clara run a Home for wayward pickpockets of youth.
Such creativity was truly great to see, for instead of seeing the heroine playing the role of society-butterfly-with-a-heart-of-gold, we see Clara as being a character who acts her feelings by running her Home. Such positive allowed for Dance of Seduction to have a fresh change of scenery. The classic, sometimes overused but still loved "glittering ballroom" setting is entirely void in this novel. Instead, the reader truly gets a chance to experience the gritter side of London, complete with a wonderful cast of characters to go with.
Aside from loving the above mentioned realities of this book, I found myself enthralled with both the romantic and suspenseful story lines herein. Jeffries does a masterful job in keeping your attention to the emotional tension of Morgan and Clara, as well as curious to the driving external plot of the book, too. In conjunction, the secondary characters, though minor, do an excellent job at staying interesting and relevant to the story.
My one and only criticism of the book comes, alas, at the end. I've often noticed that Jeffries has a tendency to write a really tasty novel, but seems to have a difficult time ending her books. Once more, a book of hers felt randomly ended, slightly cut off at the knees as it were. Additionally, the epilogues, in this case, too, feel a bit overly joy-joy. I adore my HEAs, yes, but Dance of Seduction seemed a bit overly euphoric. I enjoyed that hyperbole of happiness, no doubt, but it did, sadly, decrease me total appreciation for this book.
Still! A great story, not at all a waste of time! Rah-rah Jeffries, you entertained me once more!
Sabrina Jeffries was absolutely fabulous in setting up an amazing character platform with both her hero, Morgan, and heroine, Clara. I was enthralled! The fact that our rockin' author established Clara to be extremely unique in her reformation efforts astounded me. Quite often, authors like to proclaim their characters are of a particular bent, in this case, social reform. My primary problem deals with the fact that such authors typically tell, rather than show. Jeffries allotted for a very unique setting by having Clara run a Home for wayward pickpockets of youth.
Such creativity was truly great to see, for instead of seeing the heroine playing the role of society-butterfly-with-a-heart-of-gold, we see Clara as being a character who acts her feelings by running her Home. Such positive allowed for Dance of Seduction to have a fresh change of scenery. The classic, sometimes overused but still loved "glittering ballroom" setting is entirely void in this novel. Instead, the reader truly gets a chance to experience the gritter side of London, complete with a wonderful cast of characters to go with.
Aside from loving the above mentioned realities of this book, I found myself enthralled with both the romantic and suspenseful story lines herein. Jeffries does a masterful job in keeping your attention to the emotional tension of Morgan and Clara, as well as curious to the driving external plot of the book, too. In conjunction, the secondary characters, though minor, do an excellent job at staying interesting and relevant to the story.
My one and only criticism of the book comes, alas, at the end. I've often noticed that Jeffries has a tendency to write a really tasty novel, but seems to have a difficult time ending her books. Once more, a book of hers felt randomly ended, slightly cut off at the knees as it were. Additionally, the epilogues, in this case, too, feel a bit overly joy-joy. I adore my HEAs, yes, but Dance of Seduction seemed a bit overly euphoric. I enjoyed that hyperbole of happiness, no doubt, but it did, sadly, decrease me total appreciation for this book.
Still! A great story, not at all a waste of time! Rah-rah Jeffries, you entertained me once more!