A Novel Seduction by Gwyn Cready
Contemporary Romance
October 25, 2011
Simon & Schuster

Reviewed by Mandi

Ellery Sharpe is a literary critic for the magazine Vanity Place. After she writes a scathing review about the memoir of Bettina Moore, the head of Pierrot Enterprises (the world’s most successful romance book publisher), not everyone is happy with her. Especially her boss, who just so happens to be sleeping with none other than Bettina Moore. To appease his lover, Ellery’s boss demands that she write an article about how wonderful romance books are, especially Pierrot best seller Vamp.

Ellery is stunned. She expected her next article to be about John Irving, not some silly romance book. In her eyes, she is an educated, serious writer and romance books are beneath her. But she doesn’t want to be fired. Although she is being wooed by a bigger publisher, and hopes to join that company, they are waiting on one more piece by her, and now that her next piece is supposed to be about romance books, this makes her very nervous.

The photographer assigned to her for the story also gives her a headache. Axel Mackenzie is a very accomplished photographer who was in a pretty serious relationship with Ellery about five years ago. But with Axel partying just as hard as he worked, and Ellery not letting him fully into her life, the relationship disintegrated. Although Axel enjoys his work, his dream is to own a microbrewery, and he is very close to making this happen. He just needs a little more money. When Ellery’s boss promises double his fee if he can help persuade Ellery to write this article about romance novels in a very positive light, Axel can’t refuse. So Axel buysVamp, a historical romance, and he picks up a very popular Scottish time-travel romance book with hopes that Ellery will attempt to read them. They decide to first travel to Pittsburgh where Vamp is set, and then off to London and Scotland to shoot and interview people. And hopefully Ellery will be inspired to write this article.

A Novel Seduction by Gwyn Cready is such a cute book! This book is definitely for the romance readers. And not only because it is a romance book, but because it celebrates what romance books are all about.

Ellery experiences firsthand the fluttering in her belly when she reads an intense scene, the connection with the characters when she can think of nothing else but what their fate will be. And, most special, the camaraderie she finds with other romance readers. I don’t think I needed Ellery to become a champion for romance books to like her character, but I did enjoy her enlightenment … especially as she reads Kiltlander.

Yes, I said Kiltlander. With the hero Jemmie and heroine Cara, who time travels back to Scotland. Of course, this is really Outlander by Diana Gabaldon with Jamie and Claire — one of my all-time favorite books. Ellery is “forced” to read it, and she starts to fall in love with the book. Big time. Throughout the book we get many scenes between Jemmie and Cara, and with Ellery and Axel in Scotland to interview people for the article, it is a really fun inclusion.

The romance is nice, too. Axel and Ellery were already in a past relationship — so that sexual tension is still between them. They just need to get past the issues that broke them up in the first place. Axel needs to show he has grown up and given up his past behavior, when he abused drugs and alcohol. And Ellery needs to let Axel fully into her life and stop keeping secrets. I really enjoyed these two together.

A Novel Seduction is not only a fun romance, but celebrates why we love romance books. This book had me smiling the whole time.

Rating: B

Note: This review first posted at Happy Ever After.

Recent Reviews:
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Romancing Rakes – 5/5
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