Melissa and the Vicar (The Seducers Book 1)

Started Off Well, But Ultimately a Disappointing Romance

This book started out so well; in fact, I thought it was one of the more delightful historical romances I’d read lately… until it went completely off the rails for me. I’m not quite sure, though, why the author refers to the gentleman as a vicar as he is only a curate when the book opens. The best part of the book happens in a small town. The heroine goes to the country for the first time in order to restore her health. We only learn more about what is happening with her that prompted this country idyll, even though it was still a little vague. It also takes a couple of chapters for us to find out precisely what her job is (part-owner of a brothel) and has been (a prostitute, sold into such by her own mother for less than the cost of gloves). To say that she’s a very unlikely and unsuitable match for a curate is an understatement. Despite her past, the heroine is a compassionate and thoughtful woman—at least while she is in the country—even if she doesn’t take anyone’s guff. Our curate is a gorgeous young man who also happens to be smart, kind, clever, nonjudgmental, brave, etc., (again, at least during the first part of the book) causing nearly all the women of the area to fall for him in one way or another. Things progress, but she hightails it back to London after an intimate scene where he asks her to marry him and they both declare their love for each other.

This is where the book went off the rails for me. From what the author had shown us previously of both their characters, what happened after this point was directly opposite of what they had been before. The way they treated each other after this just wasn’t right. I won’t give any spoilers, but I so wanted this book to go another way. The author created fantastic characters here but didn’t give them the story they deserved.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

“There by the grace of God go I”. How many times growing up have I heard that phrase. This story is raw, unvarnished by politeness, loathsome and repugnant. This is an exciting page turning slap in your face dose of reality. Melissa for everything the men in her life had done to her, she still was able to love. She did not think her jaded heart would ever manage to do so but it did. She was a victim just as Mary Magdalen from the bible was. She was sold into prostitution as a child when she had one and only protector. After she got to old for him, he released her. With nowhere to go went to work at a brothel. When a medical condition had her going to a small town in the country to recuperate, she met the curate Magnus. Magnus knew nothing about Melissa’s profession but got to know her and love her. Indeed, throughout the story his belief that people were better than they actually were was a definite blow to him. Knowing Melissa loved him and after he found out how she earned her living, he did not hold it against her. But there were secrets his family held from him and he was shocked when they were revealed. Melissa always felt Magnus would finally feel defeated and get tired of defending her. But she was wrong. There were three secrets she still kept from Magnus but she thought he was better off not knowing. By accident Marcus found out who the fiend, the monster who purchased Melissa as a child and forced her into a life of unspeakable depravity. He was livid, disappointed and furious at the monster. He made sure that Melissa was okay not permanently harmed and showed such love and consideration. But this was not the end. In turned out this was not your typical happily ever after. How could it be? If you want to delve into the nitty gritty truth of a child prostitute and what became of her life than this is a must read. You will not be disappointed.

You will never guess what happens!
A brothel owner and a vicar that would be a scandal even in this age but in regency time oh my and so begin is our tale. I must say that Magnus and Melissa’s first meeting was interesting and the Philpot sisters were fun. Melissa is going to have one fun time in this town. I enjoyed the book there is some heat between the covers and I loved the ending. I thought it was a well-written and entertaining story. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

Mlelissa and the Vicar, by S.M. LaViolette is a smashing good book. The drama in this story will leave your head spinning. The authors writing yet again, traps her readers in historical times where love, honor, justification, betrayal and the will to survive comes into play. I was on a world wind of an emotional roller coaster with our leading characters, Magnus and Melissa. The writer choice of plot to the story, squeezed all what she could take from her characters background stories and through it out there on the field for the drama and the plot to soak up.
I say field because that’s how this story took place, as if it was on the battlefield. Melissa’s enemies played like soldiers who came to fight on that battlefield. But there was one weapon that Melissa had and her enemies didn’t. She had Magnus. The authors writing was articulate and simple.
Everything was explained for the reader to keep track of the stories flow. The author’s readers will enjoy how she is able to provide details that will play on the readers imagination at each turn of the page. You will be so caught up in the drama that your left wondering, Well what the heck do they do now? As the reader you find yourself rooting for both characters, hoping that they will survive their tragedies in the end. Could Magnus and Melissa rely on their friends and family.
Will the betrayal of key players have such a powerful impact too where Magnus and Melissa consider the possibility of giving up on love? These things are what will nibble at the readers curiosity to read that one more page, because you’ve got to know what’s going to happen next. Melissa an independent woman who runs a brothel, has just been informed by her doctor to take a Holiday. Melissa takes a trip to the country where she meets the ever so pleasing to every available woman’s eye Vicar Magnus. The two have no plan of courting each other.
Secretly they tell themselves this because of the lives that they lead. A Vicar and a madam who runs a brothel courting each other? Parish the thought! And yet, this little thing called respect that leads to admiration, which then leads to friendship that grows to warm fuzzy feelings and then explodes with hot passion for each other. These things come colliding together on the beach.
Please read the beach scene. Oh my GOD! I know the readers would faint if they saw a man with a body built for claiming a woman, surface from the water bare as the day he was born. Yes please lay down in the sand bare to the world to see, with that glistening golden body of yours. That’s right close your eyes and let me just look at you from top to- Oh my.
God has been so kind to you. Melissa you little minx. Jump that man right there on the beach. Ride that Vicar to no return! Whew!
The drama, the suspense, the betrayal just heightens this romance story. And its the love and romance between Magnus and Melissa that ignites the wonderfully wicked passion that the readers are looking for. Yes I recommend this book with two snaps and a hello Joss, what’s your story? Until Next time my fellow readers… read on! I voluntary reviewed this ARC after receiving a free gifted copy.

Melissa Griffin has tried to make the most of a difficult life and is now the successful owner of an exclusive London brothel. She’s become fairly wealthy, but stress has taken its toll on her health, leading to the necessity of a stay in the country to convalesce. Developing real feelings for the village curate was never her intention. It’s forbidden and she knows they can’t have a future together, but neither can she deny her feelings.

Magnus Stanwyck has never felt much temptation to forsake his vow to remain celibate until marriage, but meeting Melissa stirs all kinds of thoughts he’d rather not have. The woman is both beautiful and kind and all too soon Magnus’ heart is fully engaged. Though a simple curate, Magnus was raised the son of a marquess and is used to getting what he wants, which now includes Melissa. But with everything standing between them, their future happiness seems increasingly unlikely.

I have a lot of feelings about this book and not all of them necessarily good. Melissa’s struggles and the box society put her in made her very pitiable, especially given how much she truly enjoyed a simple life with Magnus. Despite that though, I couldn’t bring myself to like her and she got on my nerves more and more as the book went on. I know she was trying to protect Magnus, but he obviously didn’t want or need her protection, and a lot of what she kept from him and especially the ways in which she manipulated him were just unforgiveable for me. Magnus was no gem either, but rather spoiled and naïve, but he readily admitted to those weaknesses and owned them and I felt he deserved that same sort of honesty from Melissa. All that said, I did find this to be very well-written and extremely steamy and I will read more from this author.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Melissa Griffin is the owner of one of London’s most exclusive brothels, The White House, but her failing health is telling her she can’t continue to keep working at her current pace. A relaxing stay in the country is exactly what she needs. So she rents a home in the village of New Bickford where she meets the villagers & the curate. Magnus Stanwyck is the youngest son of a marquis & found his calling as a curate after being present at a funeral. He also vowed to be celibate until he married & never resented this vow until meeting Melissa. As beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside, the mysterious woman captures his heart in a way he never could’ve anticipated.
Another novel from the author that packs a punch, the first half is a lovely story of two people falling in love in the idyllic setting of an English village but then Melissa’s past comes to haunt them & the mood of the book changes & becomes even more riveting. The characters have depth with the good guys being very likeable & the villains being vile. The pace is very good & never lags. I adored Magnus who was a truly lovely man, non-judgemental, loyal, caring & more than a bit naïve. I also loved Melissa who was such a strong woman to have survived all that was thrown at her & to have emerged stronger & resilient, no wonder she earned the name the Ice Maiden, together the pair were soul mates but their budding romance seemed doomed to fail because of all the secrets. The book took me on a roller coaster of emotions & I found it very hard to put down. The author has written a book that whilst a lovely romance also has a darker side delves into the multi layers of Regency society & highlights the hypocrisy, which was rife. I’m glad the villains received their just desserts (personally I would have liked them to have suffered more) & the epilogue rounded the story beautifully & gave an insight into the next book.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

WOW!!! LaViolett/Spencer never disappoints. Her characters are always developed to give a well-rounded story. Emotional and enthralling, her hero is a curate with a warmth and positive outlook on life. The woman he loves has a dark past and is the owner of a well-known and private brothel in London. Love changes both their lives, but it’s not an easy road to travel. Includes explicit sex, which you may not be looking for in a romance. I was gifted a copy of this book.