BOOK REVIEW: How to Seduce A Scoundrel by Vicky Dreiling

Forever  June 28 2011

448 pages   By Vicky Dreiling

BLURB ON BACK OF BOOK:

Miss Julianne Gatewick is in a pickle. It started when her brother's best friend-for whom she's long nursed a secret tendre-agreed to act as her guardian for the Season, only to seduce her with a risqué waltz. But when the music stopped and the expectant ton waited for Marc Darcett, Earl of Hawkfield, to claim her as his own, he made his disinterest clear. Rather than succumb to humiliation, Julianne does what any self-respecting, recently discarded young miss with a wicked sense of humor would do. She secretly pens a lady's guide to enticing unrepentant rakes . . . and it becomes the hottest scandal sheet in London.

Every honorable rake knows that friends' sisters are forbidden. But suddenly Julienne has a spark of mischief in her eyes that Hawk can't resist. Try as he might to push her away, he spends his days listening for her laughter and his nights dreaming of kissing her senseless. He's always avoided innocents and their marriage-minded mothers, but has the man least likely to wed finally met his match?

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I will be honest and admit I am not a real fan of the light-hearted Regency romp that is stuffed to the gills with an over abundant use of dialogue. So after the first few chapters, I figured I was in for a tough read, just my personal preference in a historical setting, nothing against Vicky's writing.

I am so glad I kept reading.  There is so much more depth and emotional layers to this story than the witty repartee that is sprinkled liberally throughout the book.

Marc Darcett, Earl of Hawkfield, is placed in charged of the guardianship of Miss Julianne Gatewick (sister to Tristan, hero of Vicki's debut, 'How To Marry A Duke.')  Really? I know Tristan and Hawk are friends, but to place a notorious rake in change of his innocent, virginal sister? Just go with it. How else are they going to be thrown together so much. It makes for some very interesting confrontations and interactions, so in that way, it works well.

Hawk breezes through life, devil may care, indulging in all matters of pleasure, foregoing responsibility at every turn. He is rather fond of his 'Julie-girl', but drat her, when did she grow up into such a luscious, glorious young woman?

Julianne is an fine heroine, she has carried a tendre for Hawk since she was a child, and impetuously proposed to him when she was nine. Her feelings had not wavered in all that time. She is given a golden opportunity here with Hawk acting as her guardian, she will get him to notice her at last!
It seems to working, a sizzling waltz that has the ton agog, Hawk announces publicly he thinks of Julianne as a sister only.
Julianne is heartbroken, but, she emerges vowing to get Hawk to notice her. She pens a brochure, a subplot that held some amusement. She is also surrounded by the 'cubs' as Hawk calls them, five young men vying for her attention, much to Hawk's consternation.

Back to Hawk, it was a delight watching him struggle with the growing attraction and lust he is feeling toward Julianne. Vicky deftly builds the sexual tension between these two. But when Hawk's past is slowly revealed, I was utterly engrossed. Layer by layer is revealed, and I won't give anything away, but, I think I fell a little in love with Hawk myself. He is so much deeper than the outward, witty facade he shows the world. Julianne knows this. She knows just how to handle him, their scenes were touching, and heart wrenching, especially when he takes her on a tour of his past.

After seducing Julianne quite thoroughly, he proposes marriage. Of course, she wants to hear those 3 magic words, of which Hawk is totally clueless. It takes his Aunt Hester (a delightful secondary character) to give him the figurative kick in the breeches. Lovely happy ending.

How to Seduce a Scoundrel had it all, the light hearted witty moments, interspersed with raw emotion and deep feeling. And a glorious hero. Hawk was wonderful.I highly recommend~

3.75 stars out of 4 for the book