After two loveless marriages to older men, widowed countess Alicia Selwood is more than ready to find a competent lover. But her late night…adventures will require her to take on a bodyguard with a proven track record of professionalism and discretion. Joss Gormley is perfect for the job. Imagine her surprise when she discovers Joss’s other qualifications—qualifications that might make him the … him the ideal man to satisfy ALL her needs…
Joss never intended to be anything but Lady Selwood’s faithful servant. But the more time he spends with the delectable countess, the more he longs to love and possess her. He’s not good enough for her by far, and he knows she’ll use him and discard him. But none of those worries can stop Joss from serving her by day…and dominating her by night.
When a ghost from Alicia’s past emerges, threatening all she holds dear, she’s forced to choose between the only family she has left, and the man who has come to mean everything to her. Can Joss and Alicia stand together and fight for their happily-ever-after—no matter how taboo? Or will society’s pressures and expectations tear the two lovers apart?
This is a full-length novel with forbidden love between the classes. If you’re a fan of older woman, younger men romances, you’ll adore Joss and Alicia’s love story.
The stories in THE SEDUCERS series stand alone and can be read in any order.
TRIGGER WARNINGSAbuse, infidelity, incest, power exchange.
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JOSS AND THE COUNTESS is book two of THE SEDUCERS series by S.M. LaViolette, and this is a dark, sexy romance that breaks all rules of the Ton. The strong, moving tale of survival is filled with flawed characters, their secrets, betrayal, and tons of sizzling heat. Alicia Selwood’s late-night trysts require a bodyguard, and her servant, Joss Gormley, fits the bill. Joss never intends to be anything but her ladyship’s faithful servant, but the more he spends time with the delectable countess, the more he longs to love and possess her. The attraction between them ignites, burning to so hot, that they are unable to survive without the other. As the plot unravels in JOSS AND THE COUNTESS, the more shocking the events unfold that leaves me gasping in shock. S.M. LaViolette is bold and brilliant authoress to break away from the standard historical romance and write wicked, steamy plots, fueled by the twists and turns, and the stunning conclusions. Her stories are so addictive that I cannot wait for the next book.
Prepare for a emotional roller-coaster….
I was very intrigued for Joss character after reading his letters in the first book. As it happens I fell in love with him after just a few pages. He has a heart as big as himself, who wouldn’t fall for a man who is serious, respectful, honorable, an avid reader and of course a great lover? He was just perfect. Alicia is a woman who has been through a lot, and after all her suffering, she still don’t know what she really wants until she meet Joss. I liked so much that she is older than him, it was a refreshing detail. Well, again, nothing in Minerva’s books are typical or cliché.
There are so many convencionalisms that keeps them apart, but nothing as evil as the villain, a very despicable character.
Their journey to be together and be happy at last is full with obstacles, but their desire to love and be loved are much, much greater, no matter first impressions, both of them are tender and sensible and definetely deserve one another.
P.D. I can’t waint for Hugo story! I love his little appearances.
After two marriages to older men, widowed countess Alicia Selwood is more than ready to find a competent lover. But her late night…adventures will require her to take on a bodyguard with a proven track record of professionalism and discretion. Joss Gormley is perfect for the job. Joss never intended to be anything but Lady Selwood’s faithful servant. But the more time he spends with the delectable countess, the more he longs to love and possess her. When a ghost from Alicia’s past emerges, threatening all she holds dear, she’s forced to choose between the only family she has left, and the man who has come to mean everything to her.
This is the second book in the series but it’s easily read on its own or read out of sequence. Another very well written book that flows effortlessly & I was drawn in from the start & I read well into the night to finish it. The characters had lots of depth, I loved Joss from the start & the more we got to know him the more I liked him. I liked Alicia at the beginning but didn’t love her however as more of her background emerged & all that she’d experienced the more I liked her. The road to their HEA is strewn with problems and obstacles but this made the journey all the more enthralling & the ending more satisfying. If you’re looking for a light frothy, sweet read then this isn’t for you but if you like an intense steamy romance with strong characters then like me you’ll love it. A captivating read, which I just loved
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Joss and The Countess
The Seducers Series #2
S. M. LaViolette
https://www.facebook.com/MinervaSpencerSMLaVioletteAuthor/
Release date 06/02/2020
Publisher Crooked Sixpence Press
Blurb :
After two loveless marriages to older men, widowed countess Alicia Selwood is more than ready to find a competent lover. But her late night…adventures will require her to take on a bodyguard with a proven track record of professionalism and discretion. Joss Gormley is perfect for the job. Imagine her surprise when she discovers Joss’s other qualifications—qualifications that might make him the ideal man to satisfy ALL her needs…
Joss never intended to be anything but Lady Selwood’s faithful servant. But the more time he spends with the delectable countess, the more he longs to love and possess her. He’s not good enough for her by far, and he knows she’ll use him and discard him. But none of those worries can stop Joss from serving her by day…and dominating her by night.
When a ghost from Alicia’s past emerges, threatening all she holds dear, she’s forced to choose between the only family she has left, and the man who has come to mean everything to her. Can Joss and Alicia stand together and fight for their happily-ever-after—no matter how taboo? Or will society’s pressures and expectations tear the two lovers apart?
**TRIGGER WARNINGS**
Abuse, infidelity, incest, power exchange.
My review :
Will their love be enough to free them from the shadows of their past …
If there is one author whom always shaken my world, I would say it is S.M. LaViolette, this is the kind of read I would not normally read.
I like my stories to be rather sweet, with sparkles and rainbows and here, there is nothing sweet, the feelings are raw, the violence is measured and controlled, the needs cruelly filled, the characters have all a past and even present packed with the worst abuses, the villains are the dregs of humanity.
Yet, at the end, their HEA is even more fulfilling because of their journey only paved with heartaches and pain.
So now that said, after Melissa and The Vicar, I did not know what to expect from Joss’ story, could there be a more desperate fate than Melissa’s, a worst depraved creature, alas it seems they have all applied to Mrs LaViolette’s listing of evil beings.
To not spoil the book, the trigger warnings at the end of the blurb summarize all.
Joss has not had a sad upbringing, it was not perfect, with its flaws, yet it was his own choice to come to work for the White House as a paid stud. And because he has always been a romantic in the soul and while the coins were easy, it became a burden on his spirit.
So he left for less soul weighing works, until his new post as the bodyguard for a woman, a woman who stirs longing of more when she seeks her pleasures with others.
Alicia is the proof of women having no real weight on their own future if they choose the wrong path, and alas she did it, one bad decision, and her life became hell.
While her life could have been easy after her first marriage left her quite wealthy, she sought more, a more that cost her much more than she expected, as she finds herself shackled, helpless to go out of her predicament.
Then there is this new hired man, a man who awakens needs she seems unable to reach, when she is still in a jail from her last marriage.
Their journey is one of secrets, betrayals, past shames and current wounds. Plus the distinctive schism between them as employer-employee is sure to tear them apart as where begins pleasure and when stops duty.
And as they thought to have reached the bottom, new issues wait them in dark corner.
Another five stars read, moving, heartbreaking as the more wounded are not the one expected.
I can only recommend to everyone this series, while it is no pink and ribbon read, the HEA is rewarding.
I was granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/633105923945249/?d=n
A matter of class, maybe.
A protector, definitely.
A love affair, inevitably.
A dark, twisted secret involving the lady, unfortunately yes.
A great ending with a surprise…YES!
Would I read it again? You bet!
5 STARS and counting!!!
Gifted a copy by the author who wrote this fantastic and amazing book!