Smitten by Books

Vow of Seduction
Author: Angela Johnson
Publisher: Kensington
Pub. Date: October 1, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-1420108576
Retail: $4.99
352 pages

Sworn to support King Edward, Sir Alex de Beaumont had to leave his new bride on their wedding night to fight in the Crusades. Captured and left to languise in a lonely prison, the warrior knight is kept alive by the memory of love — and of Lady Katherine’s innocent passion as she cried out his name in ecstasy and made him her own. Upon his escape and return to England, he is shocked to find his beloved is about to marry another man…

Kat refuses to forgive him. But Alex will not be gainsaid. He vows to seduce her all over again and his searching kisses reawaken the sensual fire they once knew–until an enemy determined to destroy them both closes in. Now Alex must risk everything for the one woman whose love he wants forever…

~*~*~

Alex thought fighting in the Crusades and being imprisoned were the most difficult trials he had to face in his life. That was until he returned home to the unforgiving wife he abandoned after their wedding night, vowing to seduce his way back into her bed…and her heart.

Vow of Seduction by Angela Johnson is a tale of fear, regret, hatred and love. It had me in its grip from the first chapter. I was intrigued from the beginning on where the story was going and how this couple’s story would conclude.

Angela’s writing is classic. There were times she gave additional details that in other cases would drag down the story. In her case though, they improved the story. Her details sharpened the picture of the time period. The historical background she includes is wonderful. She has a strong feel for the time period and kept the reader swept away in the classical world she crafted. The chemistry she created between the two leads is undeniably steamy. It is hard to deny the sensual heat between Alex and Kate. The passion they both share is intense and chilling at the same time.

The hero wore his heart on his sleeve from the get-go and it’s really a charming and unusual thing to read…he is not the typical hero holding his feelings in reserve.

“Whether you believe it or not, I spent four agonizing years in prison dreaming about you. I vowed that one day I would return to claim you. I know I do not deserve a second chance, but I am going to do everything in my power to earn your forgiveness and win you back.”

It was a very enchanting story and I was with the book ultimately until the very end. The last ten pages I became so exhausted with the heroine’s anger and frankly, her stupidity. Her anger was justified throughout the book but when her anger seemed to lack merit, she still hung onto it diligently. Perfection would have seen the story fleshed out just a trifle bit more to justify Kat’s ultimate change of heart. I wanted to know more of her past to understand why her beliefs were so strong to her.

So ultimately the book was not perfect, but that wasn’t to say I didn’t enjoy it immensely. Romance novels set in a Medieval time period are not usually my favorite, but if more were written like Vow of Seduction, my appreciation of the sub-genre would grow drastically.

Rating: 7 (Very Good)

Heat-Level: 4: (Hot)