Helen Banks is going to die. When her twin brother gambles away their fortune, she must save his life and take his place in a duel to satisfy the honor of a man her brother couldn’t pay. Disguised as her brother, Helen faces the one man she’s admired from afar, a widower with a dark past and eyes that scorch her very soul.
Since Gareth Fairfax lost his wife, the darkness in his heart continues to … continues to grow. Lashing out at anyone who opposes him, Gareth is stunned to face a lovely young woman opposite his dueling pistol. After discovering Helen’s deception, he offers her a choice: become his mistress or her brother dies.
Their devil’s bargain turns into a slow, sweet, intoxicating seduction. With each passing hour, Helen uncovers Gareth’s secret heartbreak and yet she can’t help but fall for the man who has ruined her. With Helen in his arms, Gareth wonders if he might yet be saved. All it takes is one passionate embrace, a kiss from the depths of his soul and a night of wild abandon.
more
It is the blurb which appealed me to read this novella.
I know short reads are not the best ones to discover an author’s work.
Even if in some way, it lacked depth and development, it was a lovely read.
The short length of the story showed perfectly the turmoil the main protagonists felt, it could have been better explored but it would have need more pages.
Helen Banks has prepared herself to die instead of her brother, why she never expected to be discovered and proposed by her twin’s opponent. If not with her life, she will settle his debt with her virtue. Whatever the result, she will be ruined with few hopes left but for her brother, she will do anything. She was a kind of weather vane, often changing her mind but it is easily comprehended, even if she had been attracted to Fairfax for quite some time, giving free reign to her lust will only hurt her more. She is caught in crossfire, drawn to him but also lucid of the price to pay afterward, one step forward, two steps back.
Gareth Fairfax has many sins, so when the sister of one of his debtor, he sees immediately how to erase the debt. While in fact, he is a man hiding behind a facade, morning the loss of his wife and unprepared to love again.
Helen has lost any hope while Gareth has lost faith, together, they will reignite what they were missing.
It is not really an insta-romance as Helen cherished Gareth from far away, but he never know she existed so close.
A cute short read with nice wounded characters trying to find their way toward another.
What an original story! I enjoyed this story so much. Who seduced who in this story? At first you are sure it’s Gareth Fairfax, a wounded soul , widower, who lost his wife in childbirth 7 years ago. But as the story moves forward you begin to wonder if it isn’t the wallflower Helen Banks, who is taking on the responsibilities of gambling twin brother Martin. These are 2 lost and lonely people looking for someone to love and care for them.
The story opens on a duel between Gareth and Martin, who is actually Helen dressed as Martin. Martin has been piling up gambling debts in attempt to gain funds to support he and Helen now that their parents have died. The money is gone and Helen decides that Martin has options in the future as a man but she’s doomed to prostitution and decides death is a better option. Gareth discovers the ruse when Helen accidentally grazes him having never handled a gun before. Gareth ends the duel and makes a deal with Helen that he’ll cancel the debt if she goes home with him for an unspecified length of time. She says yes. Oh this is a delicious story. Helen is released from desperation and hunger. Gareth begins to see the world through Helen’s eyes and begins to feel again. She is sunshine and courageous with a feisty spirit he can’t resist.
This is a beautiful romance, that is well written and entertaining. Helen, disguised as her twin brother Martin, appears at dawn for the duel that was issued by Gareth over a gambling debt. Ready to duel, Helen accidentally pulls the trigger and grazes Gareth’s arm, then she immediately throws down the gun and runs to his side giving away her deception. A deal is made and in the end there is a HEA, even though Gareth almost loses out on the best thing to come into his life. This is a great romance that is worth reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Bookfunnel and are voluntarily leaving a review.
Helen Banks disguises as her twin brother to fight a duel with Gareth Fairfax the one man she’s admired from afar, a widower with a dark past and eyes that scorch her very soul.
Gareth a widower is stunned to face a lovely young woman opposite his duelling pistol. After discovering Helen’s deception, he offers her a choice: become his mistress or her brother dies.
Gareth is winged & Helen returns to his home. A short story which stood out in an anthology.
My first book by the author & I’ve since gone on to read most of her other work. The characters are well developed, the pace is fast & things move quickly but it is a short story. It’s very well written & a very enjoyable read
In the first book in the Seduction series, Helen Banks dons a mask and her twin brother’s clothing to partake in a duel. Her twin, Martin, has gambled away their meager inheritance and is now indebted to a wealthy man who demands payment in any form.
Gareth Fairfax didn’t expect to find a woman meeting him for the duel and sees in her a new opportunity. He refuses to follow through with the duel even though she shot him, and he decides to let her pay her brother’s debt by coming home with him. Though he knows she’s an innocent, he doesn’t care, and their affair turns into more than he ever bargained for.
Helen is a realistic, self-sacrificing woman. She knows what her future holds and is prepared to die if necessary. Gareth is desperately lonely and so fueled by pain he demands an illegal duel in order to be killed or hanged for murder. I liked Helen for the most part, but I couldn’t connect with Gareth. He never physically hurt Helen, but he still didn’t treat her right.
The sex scenes were hot and took up a good deal of the book.
The story is told mostly in Helen’s POV and occasionally in Gareth’s. I think I would’ve liked and understood Gareth better if I could’ve seen things from his perspective more often.
The story is a little repetitive with some minor grammar issues. Also, when did Helen and Gareth arrive at his home? Morning or night? Both words were used interchangeably.
Anyway, the plot is solid, the characters interesting, and the scenery beautifully detailed. I would like to read more books by Ms. Smith.
3.5 Stars
A brother with gambling debts, a twin sister who enters a duel in his place, and the handsome, cold lord who she accidentally shoots. Now the lord wants her to come live with him to pay off her brothers debts. She is not sure whether to be scared or excited at the prospect of going with him to see what exactly he expects from her. Maybe the lord isn’t as cold as he seems.
A captivating story that is well written and caught me from the first to last page.
I like have the characters learn to live from each other. Martin is also getting more mature by the end.
A story with romance, love, protection, emotions, twists and characters that are likeable and different than they want to show others.
I think Lauren Smith has written a historical romance that is filled with heart and emotions. She could have written it in a language that would be more true to the time period but apart from that an amazing read.
I read this book a while ago and decided to reread it again this week.
It made me feel all kinds of things for young Helen who was foolishly trying to save her twin brother, a gambling wastrel, from certain death.
Of course Gareth discovers who she really is during a duel.
I really didn’t his character and nature in the beginning but he kind of grew on me after a while.
The story really hots up with all kinds of things happening and both characters going through a range of emotions. The ending is truly delightful.
The story is well written, a page turner and a totally enjoyable read from Lauren Smith. I admit that I enjoyed it even more on this second reading and it is one that I am very happy to recommend.