365 books in 365 days challenge ... book #249

The Seduction Trap - Sara Wood
Harlequin Presents 
Harlequin, 1999
ISBN: 9780373187102
Reissue - Harlequin Treasury, 2011
eISBN: 9781459252400




My rating

From the back cover:

"An irresistible temptation!

Tessa came to France to visit her long-lost mother. Instead she found three cottages and Guy de Turaine, who clearly intended to charm her out of her mother's property! Well, his ploy wouldn't work, no matter how attractive he was—.

Guy wanted to return the cottages to his family estate, and if that meant seducing Tessa, then so be it! He was determined not to succumb to his desire for Tessa, however. He'd seen how his father's obsession with her mother had been the ruin of him, and he refused to make the same mistake!

Neither wanted to be trapped by seduction but, as anger turned to passion, they fell right in..."

This is a book from the Harlequin Treasure line, which is an ebook exclusive line.

The hero Guy has returned to the French village of his birth fro the first time in many years, as it's new seigneur after the death of his father. He is keen to rebuild the struggling community after the neglect of his selfish father, but first he wants to gain ownership of three properties his father's mistress owns and then drive her out of the village. However she flees and leaves her daughter Tessa, the heroine, to pick up the mess she left behind. Tessa only came to France to finally meet the mother that abandoned her as a baby, and is shocked to find her gone and to find out she is now the owner of three very rundown cottages. Guy makes it clear he will stop at nothing to get the properties, including what seem to be many attempts at sabotaging Tessa's efforts to improve things. Tessa is also upset to learn the truth about her mother's behaviour, and Guy realises that she is nothing like her avaricious mother. He also realises that the fierce desire he feels towards her is much more than lust, but Tessa can't trust his motives.

This is the first book I have read by Sara Wood, and I really enjoyed it. The story is interesting and well written. The interaction between the hero and heroine is nicely done; witty dialogue and nice chemistry. The heroine is very appealing, she is really down to earth and has some nice quirks (such as overeating when she is nervous!). The surrounds are described with richness and depth, and the whole story is really well executed.

A good, classic read.

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