Review: The Scoundrel's Seduction by Jennifer Haymore

TEMPTATION KNOWS NO BOUNDS . . .

Undercover agent Sam Hawkins has devoted his life to protecting king and country. So when he receives orders to assassinate a ruthless traitor, he doesn't question his mission. But Sam didn't know his deed had a witness—the beautiful and mysterious betrayer's wife. Now he has no choice but to take her as his prisoner—one he can neither trust . . . nor resist.

Élise, Lady Dunthorpe, will do anything to escape her powerful captor—including seducing him senseless. She didn't know of her miserable husband's crimes, but she has secrets of her own, secrets that threaten everything she holds dear. With his piercing dark eyes and gentle touch, Sam inflames Élise's deepest desires, but how could she ever trust a man who won't let her go? Caught between the crown he's sworn to serve and the woman he's come to love, Sam will risk his heart—and his very life—to keep her safe.

The Scoundrel's Seduction is the final book of the House of Trent series.  In it, we the reader should find out the resolution of the mysterious disappearance of the Dowager Duchess of Trent, who has been missing since the first book, The Duchess Hunt.  The theme here, in addition to the suspense of finding the Dowager Duchess, is that Hawkins men take unconventional women for their wives.

Sam Hawkins is an undercover agent. He has infiltrated Dunthorpe House in the hopes of catching Lord Dunthorpe is an assassination plot. What he finds, however, is Elise, Lady Dunthorpe, whom he must take with him since she has seen his face.  He believes that Elise knows facts about Dunthorpe's business, and that she may be involved too.  As he learns to know her, he determines Elise had no idea what Dunthorpe and his secret cronies may have been doing. 

I felt the storyline moved very slowly, probably because I wanted Sam and his brothers to find their mother quickly after the dead ends of the past books.  I liked Sam and Elise individually and I liked them together, but there seemed to be a vital piece of their connection missing. Almost as if "Oh, you're convenient and close to my age.  Sure!  I could totally love you!"  

Maybe because I was disappointed with Sam and Elise that I felt doubly disappointed with the Dowager Duchess's reasons for disappearing.  Wait -- I can understand her reasoning for the initial disappearance, just not her reasoning for staying away.  

The Scoundrel's Seduction is certainly not my favorite from Ms. Haymore, but I do imagine I'll read more of her historical romances.  I was glad everything worked out in the end for the unconventional House of Trent.

(A very special thank you to Forever Romance, Hachette Book Group, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Scoundrel's Seduction.  I also bought a copy of this book.)