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    A Novel Seduction
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    A Novel Seduction
    Unavailable
    A Novel Seduction
    Ebook357 pages4 hours

    A Novel Seduction

    By Gwyn Cready

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Romance novels save the day in award-winning author Gwyn Cready's fun and sensual take on modern-day love

    Can romance novels save the day

    Snobbish book critic Ellery Sharpe has made the strategic mistake of unleashing her scathing wit on the memoir of the world's leading romance publisher. As damage control, her boss at Vanity Place magazine assigns her the ultimate punishment: write an ode to romance novels, a genre she considers the literary equivalent of word search puzzles. To make matters worse, he hires her sexy ex, Axel Mackenzie, to shoot the photos.

    When it looks like true love hasn't a chance?

    Axel has reasons of his own for wanting to convince the strong-willed Ellery to paint romance in an attractive light. He decides to take his cue from Kiltlander, a much-adored romance, and starts secretly drawing lessons from the book's compelling hero. Because getting Ellery to fall for romance novels might be just the push she needs to believe people can change…even him.

    "Cready's writing is romantic and wickedly witty." —Rachel Gibson, New York Times Bestselling Author

    "Sexy second-chance romance." —RT Book Reviews, 4 stars

    "Delightfully original…an absolute crowd-pleaser." —Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSourcebooks
    Release dateApr 5, 2016
    ISBN9781492631019
    Unavailable
    A Novel Seduction
    Author

    Gwyn Cready

    Gwyn Cready is the award-winning author of numerous romance novels. Some of her works include Tumbling Through Time, Seducing Mr. Darcy, and the Sirens of the Scottish Borderlands series. She lives in Pittsburgh with her family. 

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    Reviews for A Novel Seduction

    3.5/5

    12 ratings3 reviews

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    • 3/5
      I have adored most of Ms. Cready's books I have had the pleasure to read. This one, however, did not hit me the way the others did. It was an interesting concept. I liked the depth of the characters and the depth of the reality the author went to in this book but I just couldn't get sucked into the story.

      I finished this book out of love for the author, that's all I can really say. It wasn't a bad read because Ms. Cready is funny and witty. She knows how to hook a reader, there really was just something about this book that didn't mesh with me personally.

      On more positive notes: I liked the cover and the book was very well written as far as style and creativity. I enjoyed Ellery as a character, she is pretty kick-ass and I appreciated that about her. There was also kilts in this book...that is always a bonus. I will of course read everything Ms. Cready continues to write, as should you make you own decisions about this novel.
    • 4/5
      What a fun book. Ellery is the book critic we all love to hate - the one who puts down romance novels and those who read them. At the start of the book, she has written a scathing review of the memoir of a romance publisher. Unknown to her, her boss is sleeping with said romance publisher and he is not happy with what she wrote, as it has put him in an awkward spot with his lover. He decides that the only way to fix it is to have Ellery write another story, this one from the other side of the issue. Ellery is not happy about this assignment. She had other plans for her next article, one that would put her on the top of the list for a new job. This one is liable to make her a laughingstock in the business. To top it all off, her boss has assigned Ellery's ex as the photographer for the job. Alex really needs this job to work out. If he can get Ellery to do the job right, he'll get a bonus that will enable him to make a move into his own dream job. So he gets some advice from his sister and a bookstore clerk on books that will convert Ellery to a romance lover.This is where it really gets fun. The books he picks are a Regency style historical romance, a Twilight style vampire novel published by the maligned memoir writer, and a wildly popular book called Kiltlander. Ellery starts out with her nose stuck firmly in the air, but thanks to Axel and some location work, her opinion slowly begins to change. Axel also takes the opportunity to show Ellery that their feelings for each other are still there. There are some flashbacks to their previous relationship, showing what was right and what eventually went wrong. Parts of the story told from Axel's point of view show that he's changed and wants another chance with her.Their trip starts with a visit to a bar set up like a location from the vampire novel. Ellery has read some of it with her prejudices still firmly in place. Thanks to a little too much to drink, she finds herself slipping into the story, and behaving in a very uncharacteristic manner. Ellery's inhibitions get crushed by the alcohol and a need to show Axel that she can still have fun. I loved seeing Axel try to take care of her while at the same time trying to make his own dream come true. The attraction between them starts to flare back to life, but Ellery resists.From there, they travel to London, setting of the historical romance. Ellery has read some of this one also, and surprises herself when she begins to enjoy it. They hit up some of the locations, one of which brings up some dark memories for Ellery. She's stunned by the depth of the emotions it has brought forth, and Axel's attempts to comfort her. There are some guilty feelings that also come out, having to do with something from their past, and she has to decide how to deal with them. There's a really funny scene in the hotel room as she and Axel "discuss" some of the descriptions of lovemaking in the book. That evening she has a meeting with a romance book club, another eye opening experience for her attitude toward romances. Kiltlander is the book under discussion, and the similarities to Outlander are obvious. I loved seeing Ellery's responses to the things she's reading and hearing, but she's still fighting hard to keep her original attitude. It is here that Ellery's future and Axel's past collide, in the person of Ellery's competition for the new job. Axel's feelings being what they are, he tries to protect Ellery, and ends up getting himself into trouble with her because of it.Their final destination is Scotland, to speak with a sociologist about romance novels. This lady also lives near one of the iconic locations for Kiltlander, giving Axel and Ellery more chances to connect with the story. Her conversation with the sociologist batters away at her prejudices. In spite of her growing appreciation for romances, Ellery is still fighting against writing the required article because of the effect it could have on her job opportunity. Her attempt at a compromise article is a disaster and causes problems with her boss, Axel and the potential new boss. I loved seeing how Ellery finally sees the light and what she does about it.I loved the resurrection of the relationship between Axel and Ellery. Through the flashbacks we saw that they were not really ready for the strength of their feelings. Axel is older than Ellery and set in his bachelor party animal ways. He cares for her, but he's not prepared to change his lifestyle. Ellery is still fairly young and idealistic. She has her plans for her future and wants Axel to be part of it. But something happens that shows her that maybe he doesn't feel the same way and she starts to pull away, eventually breaking off the relationship. Six years later, forced to work together, they will also have to face their pasts. Axel has had a life changing event that shows him that it is time to make major changes. He knows what he wants them to be, he just has to find a way to make it happen. His work with Ellery could be part of it. He also wants Ellery back in his life, but he's not sure how to make it happen. I loved seeing him reading the romances and trying to use the heroes as role models, though he is also confused by some of the things he sees as contradictions. It looks like he's making good progress until something happens that makes him question whether he knows her at all. Ellery is fighting her feelings for Axel from the beginning. The attraction is still there, but she doesn't want to risk her heart again. She isn't convinced that he has changed. But the more time they are together, the more she wants to give in. She starts to think that she hadn't been fair to him all those years ago, and when he steps up to help her with a problem with her sister, she finally admits her feelings. I loved the ending and how everything worked out for them.
    • 4/5
      Ellery sticks her literary foot in her mouth when she writes a review dumping on the latest it book about vampires and romance in general. The biggest problem is that her boss and editor is having an affair with the author of the vamp book she just lambasted. He ex hottie, photographer Axel, takes up her boss on a dare (and a bit of cash) tries to convince Ellery to write a postive article on romance and girlfriend, he can't turn it down. Ellery thinks romances are best used for kindling. So, when Ellery starts to research her article on romance, she becomes swept away into the historical world she is creating in deciding to write her own. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this whole story line! The humor woven through is enough to keep my snark happy and well, the chemistry between Ellery and Axel just sparks. If you enjoyed the Outlander series, you will be thrilled at the references and sly nods that Cready slips in with Kiltlander book that Ellery decides to read and get swept up in. There are also many pointed references to the vampire threads that are so immensely popular right now that I couldn't help but think, "how true". Overall. this is a wonderful contemporary romance with a good dose of humor that is completely believable. YAY!