Charlotte and Edward were a lovely couple and made for a steamy romance. It was a first time read of this author and I found that I enjoyed her writing style. Will look out for more by this author.

I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley.

Read about ⅓ and decided this just wasn't a fit for me. Thanks so much for letting me try it!

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. Charlotte has a hard life from the time of her birth to the day the marries a man much older than her. The marriage is his way of helping make her life easier. He dies, leaves her well off financially. His son is determined that she gets nothing and threatens to contest the will. Charlotte runs away and in the process meets Edward, who has his own secrets. The love that develops between them is well written and makes for a good book. I would recommend this book.

Publisher's Description:

Desire waylays the plans of a man with a mysterious past and a woman with an uncertain future, in Susanna Craig’s unforgettable series set in Georgian England.

After her much older husband dies—leaving her his fortune—Charlotte Blakemore finds herself at the mercy of her stepson, who vows to contest the will and destroy her life. With nowhere to turn and no one to help her, she embarks on an elaborate ruse—only to find herself stranded on the way to London. . .

More than twenty years in the West Indies have hardened Edward Cary, but not enough to abandon a helpless woman at a roadside inn—especially one as disarmingly beautiful as Charlotte. He takes her with him to the Gloucestershire estate he is determined to restore, though he is suspicious of every word that falls from her distractingly lush lips.

As far as Charlotte knows, Edward is nothing more than a steward, and there’s no reason to reveal his noble birth until he can right his father’s wrongs. Acting as husband and wife will keep people in the village from asking questions that neither Charlotte nor Edward are willing to answer. But the game they’re each determined to play has rules that beg to broken, when the passion between them threatens to uncover the truth—for better or worse. .

My Thoughts:

I don't read much Georgian period romance as there is much more out there in Regency and Scottish Historical, but I really liked this read.

This was the first time I had read anything by this relatively new author. I can find only two previous books by her all from this same series. I will endeavor to read the first two and if they are as good as this one I am sure to enjoy them too.

Our heroine is a recently widowed Duchess who is believed to be the illegitimate daughter of a French whore.
Her stepson, the new Duke, intends to have her marriage to his deceased father nullified since he feels his father was tricked into the marriage and Charlotte deserves nothing from the estate.

She runs away with only her maid as a companion but due to her endeavors to hide she ends up destitute after sending her maid away disguised as herself.

Her rescuer is an aristocrat who has only just returned home after many years. She thinks him only a steward and he intends to keep her in the dark about his true identity

This begins a compelling story with a bit of mystery added for good measure.

This well written third book in this series makes me want more by this author.

I gave this book 4.25 of 5 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 3 of 5 flames.

I received a complimentary digital ARC of this title from the publisher via NetGalley to read. This in no was affected my opinion of this book which I have reviewed voluntarily.

Charm, mystery and danger!

Unfaltering continuation of The Runaway Desires series. I must admit to guessing some of the storyline before things developed but that was fine.
This is the story of Tempest Holderin's plantation manager and close friend Edward Cary.
Edward returns to England after twenty years absence. A mystery surrounds him and his leaving England, and now that mystery will be revealed.
Half French, Charlotte Blakemore, the widowed Duchess of Langerton finds herself the focus of her stepson's anger and sworn enemy. He vows to seize back what his father has bequeathed to her. Charlotte flees the estate and finds herself without funds, alone in the middle of the countryside. Edward appears on the scene enroute to Gloucestershire, takes pity on Charlotte and rescues her. Needing a place of safety, Charlotte joins him on his journey. Of course that leads to some very interesting situations. Especially as each has there own set of secrets, which to some degree trip over each other and add a certain piquancy to the mix.
I liked both the man Cary portrays and the woman Charlotte presents.
Other Runaway Desires are referenced or make their appearance including the Tempest and Andrew Corrvans, and Sarah and Lord St. John Sutcliffe.
All's well that ends well, despite the anguished beginnings for both leads.
They found do indeed find l'amour after handwringing episodes of fate and fortune.

A NetGalley ARC
(April 2017)

To Seduce A Stranger is a beautifully written Regency romance of two people with difficult pasts who find sanctuary in each other. There are some pretty deep themes in the book, including slavery and abolitionism and how those in English high and low society thought and interacted with both former slaves and those who had been their masters in the West Indies.

A side character in the book, Mari is a freed former slave who has decided to make her own way in England. It is in interaction with Mari that we see the true measure of the heroine Charlotte’s character; when Charlotte (who has had by no means an easy life, thinks:

It would be wrong to compare their past struggles, for nothing could compare to what Mari had endured.

It is in that moment that we realize Charlotte’s true greatness of character; even deprived of all the wealth and comforts to which she was accustomed (and entitled, as a dowager duchess!) she never thinks poor me, never treats anyone with anything less than courtesy and respect.

Edward, rightful Earl of Beckley, has endured suffering of his own since he ran away from home as a child in a desperate attempt to protect his mother from his father’s cruelty. What he saw in the West Indies left him with a deep distaste for violence and cruelty, and his protective instincts kick in when a frightened woman begs him for help in a busy coaching inn. Charlotte is clearly hiding something, but then so is he. Perhaps in the deserted, semi-ruined manor of Ravenswood, his childhood home, they can both find themselves again.

I absolutely loved this book. Susanna Craig has three degrees in literature and a career as an English professor, and it really shows in the amazing historical accuracy and detail, and in the quality of her writing. I think I just found another author for my must-read shelf…

Two people with a past they are running from. Widow, Charlotte Blakemore, runs from a stepson who wants her fortune. Meanwhile, after years away, Edward Cary runs to return in secret to help restore his estate ruined by his abusive father.

They meet at a roadside in and both choose to lie about who they are. Charlotte believes Edward is a steward instead of an Earl and pretends to be his wife when she thinks she is being followed.
The pacing of the story ruined it for me. The set-up dragged on forever due to an abundance of storylines that could have been cutout. There were too many characters to set up with not enough time spent on the romance.

To keep up the running motif, the love story just seemed to come out of nowhere and the story wrapped up in a sprint compared to the long distance pace of a start. The interval training had me exhausted by the end.

To Seduce a Stranger has one of my favorite tropes in Historical Romance, the fake marriage. I specifically look for plot lines that incorporate this into them.

The premise is pretty simple Edward has been away from his family home for a very long time and has finally decided to return to claim his inheritance and eventually confront the father he hated when he was a child. Charlotte on the other hand is recently widowed and needing to hide from her stepson for a while until the finances can be worked out. He has vowed that he will see her inherit nothing from the very short marriage.

When Charlotte tries to escape her stepson’s prying eyes she runs into an incognito Edward and remarkably they fall into claiming to be married so none would suspect either of what they are really doing. Neither thinks the other is being extremely truthful and so each tries slowly to draw the other out and discover their secrets.

This read a little slow for me. The beginning outlining why Edward ran off was a good start but then It seemed that the book took a long time to get where it was going. I liked Charlotte well enough, she is a likeable character and I felt bad that she up until this point in her life had a pretty unloved life. The only man who was ever kind to her did her a favor in one sense but then cursed her in another. I did like Charlotte’s backstory once we got to it.

There were a few surprises along the way but nothing that really grabbed me. I maybe just wanted a little more chemistry between Edward and Charlotte or fun banter. There is a little but not quite what I’m used to in the Historical Romances I’ve read in the past.

There were some references and appearances by other characters that perhaps if I’d read the first two books in this series I might have picked up on or cared more about. For instance the references to Tempest and the ship captain she ends up with in the second book seemed like it might be more for me. I might just give one of the other books in this series a try.

<b>Overall:</b> The characters were a little Meh for my taste but it could have just been this story I wasn’t really into.

Book three in the Runaway Desires series, To Seduce a Stranger, joins together Edward Cary and Charlotte Blakewell two people that were surrounded in mystery. As the story exposes what they thought they feared the most they come to find that it is the possible loss of their newfound love that is the true fear that terrifies them.

It is often problematic to write a character that stands by their convictions without them coming off as preachy and self righteous, this author not only managed to do so but presented an incredibly attractive hero in Edward. Kind and sincere Charlotte stood out as a brave heroine in a time where women had very little control over their lives and was superbly matched with Edward. Their physical allure developed into a mutual esteem and concern for the other that made their relationship solid in the face of multiple test of their trust. Fate's ministrations in this work were plausible in even the most far-fetched circumstances giving this story an abundance of unexpected events and a firm grasp on the audience's attention. Susanna Craig did an outstanding job of joining history with her fiction in a well-balanced and engaging way that exemplifies the strong talent of her writing.

To Seduce a Stranger by Susanna Craig
Runaway Desires #3

*****FIVE STARS*****

Why?
Because I liked this book!
It took me away and into the lives of Charlotte and Edward.
It made me care about the characters both main and supporting.
It made me think, “What would I have done if…?”
It pleased me in more ways than one.

I forgot that I had read and enjoyed the first book in this series and wish I had not missed book two as I looked back and realized I was reading book three. This author seems to be able to hit my “like” button so I know I will be looking for more of her work in the future. She creates strong multi-dimensional characters that have issues to deal with but when dealing with these issues find they are stronger together than apart. Her writing is easy to read and entertaining and hard to put down. It left me happy I had read this book and made me eager to read her next one.

Anyway...since the blurb for the book is spot-on and tells you what to expect I will just reiterate that this was a special book that hit the spot and made my day a whole lot better.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books – Lyrical Shine for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

'Review For: To Seduce a Stranger' by Susanna Craig is book Three in the "Runaway Desires" series. This is the story of Charlotte Blakemore and Edward Cary. I have read the other books but feel this is easily a standalone book.
Edward left home when he was a child because he overheard his mother talking that she will leave her abusive husband once Edward is a away and safe at school. Edward knew he would leave for school for two years. So Edward thinks to leave to help make his mom safe. Now 22 years later he is back from Antigua to make his way home. But before he gets there he runs into Charlotte who tells him that she is traveling alone...and is a lady's maid. Edward feels that she is hiding something from him.
Charlotte was living with a Aunt when she met the Duke who was in his seventies at the time. The Duke asked her to marry him as he knew that Charlotte wasn't happy living with her Aunt. But now the Duke has past and he has left her a very large portion of his money. This has made her an enemy of her Step-Son who calls her a 'French Whore'. Charlotte has grown worried that he intends to do something and she tries to go into hiding. This is how she met Edward. Now Edward has taken her to his home and is pretending to be married.
Very interesting story from the start!
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2HX0B5ELOPP5Z?ie=UTF8&ref_=sv_ys_3
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1831318-sissy-s-romance-book-review-for-you
https://www.facebook.com/RomanceBookReview
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1709181636033417/
http://sissymaereads.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/soapsrus68
https://romancebookreviewforyou.wordpress.com/
http://booklikes.com/blog
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/romancebookreviewforyoublog
https://plus.google.com/+SissyHicks
https://www.pinterest.com/u2soapsrus/

I really like To Seduce a Stranger, the plot is one that has been done many times before, but this is classy! Susanna has taken a well used plot and made it into a new and loving tale of Romance and intrigue. The relationship between Edward and Charlotte sizzles right from their first meeting, he knows that she is hiding something but yet he is drawn to her exotic looks and mysterious air, she is so unlike any other woman that he has met before and as much as he tries to keep his distance, to protect himself, her gaelic charm soon wears him down.

Edward is as reluctant as they come to announce who he is, he is more than happy to go on as he is but he knows that now he is back on English soil he will eventually have to face his demons. Edward is a great character, you know deep down that he is a bit of a recluse but he has that old aristocratic duty running through his veins and he isn’t one to let is responsibilities lapse. He is fiercely protective of those he loves, he is a good, kind and undeniably a hard-working man who on seeing injustice goes above and beyond to correct it.There is some really loving and touching moments between him and Charlotte, I especially like when they paddle in the stream and he tells her to keep still so the minors can nibble her toes – you have to read it!

Charlotte is equally fascinating, even though I feel very sorry for her, she is pushed into a marriage with a man old enough to be her grandfather; but who turned out to be a genuinely decent man. Within weeks she is a young widow, threatened by her stepson over her inheritance. She is a sad, lonely young woman who, being half French and not entirely trusted she hasn’t any friends to turn to in her moment of need. Meeting Edward she has finally found the opportunity to be herself – even if she is lying about her identity. She is actually really good for Edward she brings him out of himself and makes him view life without his cynical tinted glasses on, and vise-versa.

They are an adorable couple, at first living under an illusion and then that illusion turns into something else. I love how Edward gets very angry when people shorten their names, how he insists that they use the name they were given, it might seem a bit random, but you have to read it to understand where I am coming from.

Full review at Chicks Rogues and Scandals
https://chicksroguesandscandals.wordpress.com/2017/03/30/review-to-seduce-a-stranger-runaway-desires-book-3-by-susanna-craig/

This is an honest review in exchange for this ARC. Very complicated but delightful story. Developed and intriguing characters. This book will keep your attention.

Thanks Kensington Books and netgalley for this ARC.

This is just the kind of romance I love. Respect for each other first then romance, danger, and an exciting conclusion.

This is book three in the Runaway desires series by the author. I had really liked Edward Cary's character in the previous book, "To Tempt an Heiress" and I couldn't wait for him to have his own story. This story starts a little slow but I would say, just hang in there and keep reading this book. The characters of the hero and heroine are exquisitely written with romance that touches your heart and love making scenes that set the sheets on fire. I really adored Edward and Charlotte and fell in love with their story.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

While a decent read, I was still not convinced it was a great read. It seemed slow and sluggish. There were many loose ends and knots in the story that did not seem to pull together. However, with a little editing it would of been a great read! (My opinion). The author is talented, but some things seem to happen without reason and some characters are popping up you know nothing about. All in all.. a decent beach read. I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna

TO SEDUCE A STRANGER by Susanna Craig is book 3 in her amazing "Runaway Desires" series, but can read as a stand alone. Set in Gloucestershire, England.
A woman with an uncertain future and a man with a mysterious past find more than they were looking for upon first meeting.

This is a breathtaking tale of Charlotte Blakemore, a young widow, left to the mercy of her errant step son and Edward Cary, acting as a steward, although, of noble birth, on a journey of unforgettable passion, secrets, romance and determination.

I was captured by this story from the beginning, because it literally spoke to my heart. The characters each brought so much to this story, the characterization, and details are wonderful. The historical details was a definite plus for me as well as the romance.
Charlotte and Edward both have secrets and a determination to right the wrongs others have committed. Will they be able to find their HEA? Or will their secrets destroy the forever kind of love, they have found? Can the "Lost Duchess" be found and will she stand up for herself and finally find love?

Ms. Craig has written a story that is heartwarming, dramatic, and compelling. Ms. Craig has a voice readers will appreciate, as they're draw into her captivating Regency world, her characters and her plot. A definite must read Regency Romance. Strongly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy.

Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: mild
Reviewed by: AprilR

After her much older husband The Duke of Langerton dies, leaving her his fortune, Charlotte Blakemore finds herself at the mercy of her stepson Robert, who vows to contest the will and destroy her life. With nowhere to turn and no one to help her, she embarks on an elaborate ruse,only to find herself stranded on the way to London with no money as she’s picked up the wrong satchel.
More than twenty years in the West Indies have hardened Edward Cary, but not enough to abandon a helpless woman at a roadside inn—especially one as disarmingly beautiful as Charlotte. He takes her with him to the Gloucestershire estate of Ravenswood he is determined to restore, though he is suspicious of every word that falls from her distractingly lush lips.
As far as Charlotte knows, Edward is nothing more than a steward, and there’s no reason to reveal his noble birth until he can right his father’s wrongs. Edward is in fact the heir to the Earl of Beckley. Acting as husband and wife will keep people in the village from asking questions that neither Charlotte nor Edward are willing to answer.
Misunderstandings abound also secrets & everyone seems to be hiding something. A well written page turning novel. The characters are well portrayed. The plot so well paced, I didn’t want to put the book down. Edward managed to forge a successful life for himself in Antigua & to make himself a much better man than his father. Charlotte has always been looked down at & vilified, she has managed to rise above it although would rather run than face unpleasantness. There are twists & turns & it’s very satisfying when all is revealed. This is the third in the series & reads very much as a standalone novel, the Earl of Fairfax does make an appearance & references are made to Tempest & Andrew. I look forward to reading more of the author’s books

After her much older husband dies—leaving her his fortune—Charlotte Blakemore finds herself at the mercy of her stepson, who vows to contest the will and destroy her life. With nowhere to turn and no one to help her, she embarks on an elaborate ruse—only to find herself stranded on the way to London. . .

More than twenty years in the West Indies have hardened Edward Cary, but not enough to abandon a helpless woman at a roadside inn—especially one as disarmingly beautiful as Charlotte. He takes her with him to the Gloucestershire estate he is determined to restore, though he is suspicious of every word that falls from her distractingly lush lips.

As far as Charlotte knows, Edward is nothing more than a steward, and there’s no reason to reveal his noble birth until he can right his father’s wrongs. Acting as husband and wife will keep people in the village from asking questions that neither Charlotte nor Edward are willing to answer. But the game they’re each determined to play has rules that beg to broken, when the passion between them threatens to uncover the truth—for better or worse. . .

Charlotte has spent her life feeling unloved. She was taken as a baby to her uncle’s house because her mother died and her father took off to parts unknown. Since she was illegitimate they treated her as the hired help instead of family. When things started heating up in France (her mother was French, her father an English Earl) she left and stayed with her father’s family in England. They treated her horribly as well. When an elderly Duke who was friends with her aunt offers for her she accepts and thinks that maybe she’ll now get the love that she’s been missing. Unfortunately he doesn’t touch her physically and then dies 6 weeks later.

The will is read and Charlotte receives a huge portion of the Duke’s estate but his son, the new Duke, plans on proving that his father was crazy and getting the will overturned. Charlotte and her maid take off for London to stay in the house that was left to her but Charlotte believes she’s being followed by one of the Duke’s men so she trades places with her maid and stays behind at an inn. Unfortunately she grabbed the wrong valise and the money she had stashed away is now with her maid. Fortunately for her a kind man offers to take her with him to his family estate.

Edward Cary is the son of an Earl but his father is a monster. He beats Edwards mother regularly and Edward would do anything to save her. When he hears that she’s waiting to leave until Edward is in school he decides at the ripe old age of 9 to runaway so she can get away sooner. He heads off and takes a job on a ship. He returns to confront his father 22 years later but runs into Charlotte on his way back.

When Edward and Charlotte reach his family seat he finds it empty and in horrible condition. He hears his mother died not long after he left home and his father went to London and never returned. Edward introduces Charlotte as his wife to the “caretaker” of the property which puts them into an awkward position. It also causes problems when a man claiming to be the new Earl (Edwards father apparently passed) shows up and recognizes Charlotte for the Duchess she is. Both Charlotte and Edward need to come to terms with who they are and confront those who would keep them from claiming their titles.

To Seduce a Stranger was a good story. I liked both Edward and Charlotte and while they each had their own issues, they were truly good people. Charlotte had confidence in herself in some aspects of her life but she’s been told she wasn’t worthy of love and she believed it. Coming to terms with the fact that she could receive that love from Edward took her a while but she finally saw it for what it was.

Edward had had a horrible life to a point but then a good one after that. He’d seen horrors both at home and while on the ship but he’d survived and made a good life for himself in the West Indies. I had to give the guy props, he’d not only done well but tried to help with the slave issue as well. Just a good guy. I liked that while Edward helped Charlotte he didn’t completely trust her right off the bat because A) she was someone who needed help and b) she was a woman. Charlotte knew that Edward was keeping secrets as well but she trusted him too quickly imho. Edward was a smart man and I liked his character.

The book was a good one but was a bit crowded with characters. There were so many supporting characters that it was hard to keep up. There were also people who were mentioned or showed up, I assume from previous books in the series, that I was unfamiliar with. I think the author assumed the reader had read those books so plopped their names in. Despite that this was a decent standalone novel.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5

This will post as a guest review on Book Binge.
http://bookbinge.com/