Title: To Seduce a Stranger
Author: Susanna Craig
Series: Runaway Desires #3
Detailed, well-structured, impressive
I would like to thank Susanna Craig, Kensington Books, Lyrical Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Charlotte Blakemore, Dowager Duchess of Langerton, is grieving the loss of not only her recently past husband, but the loss of the only person who’d ever cared about her. Her stepson is more concerned with gaining the assets the late duke had left to his much, much younger wife. He warns Charlotte he’ll do anything to get his entire rightful inheritance, a threat she didn’t take seriously until she spotted the men he’d hired to stalk her. She manages to slip away unnoticed…but a small mistake leaves her stranded at a roadside inn, penniless.
Edward Cary, the long-lost heir of the Earl of Beckley, has finally returned home, and nothing is as he imagined. First of all, he hadn’t imagined inviting a woman with secrets in her dark eyes to travel with him. He also hadn’t imagined no one would be there to welcome him home. There’s a mystery to unravel, but more pressingly, there’s a field to sow. He’s got his work cut out for him, and he can’t afford to be distracted by the beautiful enigma that is his companion. But distracted he is…
I was sucked in immediately. The writing was thoroughly descriptive without smothering the reader with unnecessary detail. It was the little things, gestures and thoughts, that made a scene not just take form, but come to life with meaning that lent layers of depth to the story. Things like the greedy step-son rearranging the items on his late father’s desk possessively; the grooms exchanging a commiserating glance upon learning of last-minute travel plans; the cat pretending to ignore a new toy, though the tip of his tail flicked. The book was written with an intelligence that kept me from finding any flaws in logic but that didn’t try too hard to sound serious—it never forgot it was a romance.
Some might consider a good portion of the plot elements to be overused tropes, but then what romance doesn’t have at least one? If nothing else, Craig gave them a fresh take and blended them together into a seamless narrative. Or at least that’s what I think.
There’s a heavy freedom theme threaded throughout the work. I didn’t have a problem with it because I agreed with the points that were made, but some may think of the book as a very sophisticated SJW rant.
I loved the characters. Edward, Charlotte, Mari, Jack. They seemed very personable and down-to-earth. They were relatable, too, at least as far as their personalities and emotional plights. I LOVED that Charlotte giggles when she’s nervous or uncomfortable. I do that, too!
I don’t have a whole lot more to say. No list of nitpicks for once. I just bought the first two books in the series; I’m curious to see if I like them as much. But be assured, this would read just fine as a standalone. I’m just personally not ready to be done with that world or those characters.
