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Book Review of Seven Secrets of Seduction (Secrets, Bk 1)

Seven Secrets of Seduction (Secrets, Bk 1)
Seven Secrets of Seduction (Secrets, Bk 1)
Author: Anne Mallory
Genre: Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
reviewed on + 113 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2


Unlike many books, this one is exactly what the title suggests. Every paragraph, every page, every thought throughout the first half was about titillation, nothing more, nothing less. Maximilian is an expert at seducing young women for the sheer game of it and he always succeeds. So, when he decides to deflower and open the eyes of sweet Miranda, the idealistic but innocent bookstore worker, it is a given he will get what he wants - he always does. Miranda is supposed to be a smart, observant yet optimistic young woman who just happens to lose every intelligent thought and fall in a heap of burning desire (in spite of her strict upbringing and her REALLY lame attempts at refusing) whenever Maximilian steps into a room. He makes no pretense to her about his shallow objective and his seduction is blatant. Still, she just can't control herself enough to have any backbone whatsoever, she just must give in, forget the cost - he wants it!

From there the storyline goes from merely eye-rolling to smash-the-book, rip-the-pages-out and burn-each-individually, infuriating, as Miranda succumbs, revels in the tryst, then accepts his invitation to spend an entire weekend at his country home. By this time Max has decided he will take her as his mistress, buys her expensive bobbles, the whole nine yards. While rollicking in the bedsheets for the weekend, Max stops to finalize his betrothal agreement and marriage arrangements to another woman, making sure to include the caveat that he will keep his mistress (Miranda) . Miranda had absolutely NO idea he was planning on marrying but overhears the proceedings. When Max admits his plans, she AGREES!!!! He proceeds to "make her happy" by taking her to all the "lower" entertainments, those where men and their playthings can be seen. She endures all the leering, eye-waggling, degrading behavior thrown at her because she can't live without him. What can be said? Disgusting... revolting.... sickening.....T.S.T.L.???... blech, blech, pshew, spt, phleew... just can't spit the nasty taste out... words fail me. It's really that bad.

*The one star is credit to Mallory's obvious and impressive talent, if not for that, I would have devised some way to lower that rating*