Seduced by a Steele

Watching playboy Mercury fall for sweet Sloane in this romantic slow burn and sensual love story was great way spend my quite afternoon. Classic romance for all readers of the genre.

I was disappointed. This book was so much like the last book I read by this author that it seemed like just the names changed.

I really, really wanted to like this book. It was boring. All the brothers in this series seem to be carbon copies of each other. Is it possible for one of them to have a personality? Maybe be a little less arrogant. I think it is the arrogance that really bothers me.

They always talk about being taught to respect women, but sleep their way through whatever city in which they live, ALL the women want them, and these men consider themselves as being respectful of women because the women know the score upfront. Then, the brothers that have gotten married, stand around and talk to the single brother with such a judgmental tone. Like they were not doing the exact same thing before they got married. And let’s not forget the whole TLC thing, really?

Then we have 25 year old Sloane. She exceeded being naive. She had no common sense. She obviously didn’t spend all her time around her parents. She had at least 2 friends that seemed to be self sufficient. Didn’t she ever pay attention, talk to them, wonder how they lived?

Sloane went from being taken care of by her parents to being taken care of by Mercury. And it took them what, 4 days, maybe a week to fall in love? I felt like they had a bit of chemistry, but no chance for a relationship to build. Mercury was too busy propping Sloane up. I don’t believe they had a date, one adult to another. When they did something together outside of helping her build her life, there was no detail given. It was mentioned. I felt there was more time communicating with the Steele brothers then there was building a relationship with Sloane.

This book seemed short to me believe it or not. It can be read as a standalone, but if you haven’t read any of this writer’s other books, you may be a little confused. When you start reading about the Westmoreland’s who married the other Steele’s or someone else who is the cousin to a Steele husband who happened to be a Westmoreland, it can be a bit much.

I want to read Gannon’s book just because I have come this far. But then, I don’t want to because if I get pretty much the same story again, I am going to be disappointed. The early Westmoreland and Steele books is where I became hooked on Brenda Jackson. Maybe I should just re-read those books.

Good book. Wealthy Mercury Steele made a name for himself, first in the NFL, then as a sports agent. There are two things in life that he enjoys: a wide variety of female companionship and his classic car collection. He’s furious when his 1967 Camaro is stolen, and the police can’t find it. He’s stunned to spot his car one morning on his way to work and follows the driver. He can’t believe it when the woman informs him that she bought it for $300 and thinks she got cheated because it’s so old. He’s glad to get his car back and even agrees to drive the woman home.

Sloan is a young woman raised in a very wealthy family. Everything she needed was provided for her, including a fiancé. But Sloan puts her foot down at this point. She doesn’t love Harold, and he doesn’t love her. In fact, he intends to keep seeing the woman he does love after he’s married. Sloan’s father is furious when she breaks the engagement and tells her that it is “his way or the highway.” Sloan chooses the highway and goes to Phoenix to stay with a friend. Unfortunately, daddy is exceptionally controlling and ruthless, and she soon finds herself locked out of her bank account and credit card. She is determined to stand on her own, but circumstances work against her.

I loved that first meeting between Mercury and Sloan. Once he gets past the car problem, he can’t help but notice how beautiful Sloan is. Despite that, he will drive her home and forget about her as he has the feeling she could be trouble. Sloan sees his good looks, too, but her mind is taken up with her problems. Those problems only get worse when she arrives at the apartment she’s sublet from her friend to find she’s been evicted. For all of his playboy ways, Mercury can’t drive off and leave her, and does the only thing he can think of – takes her to his parents.

As Mercury discovers how badly things are going for Sloan, his protective instincts are aroused. The more he learns about her treatment at the hands of her parents and ex-fiancé, the more he wants to help her. Sloan is enjoying her first taste of independence and doesn’t want to rely on Mercury’s help, but thanks to her father, she isn’t given much choice. I liked her insistence that the help was only temporary and that she would pay him back for everything. I loved her excitement at standing on her own, being responsible for her bills and expenses. I liked the support that Mercury gave Sloan, though keeping the extent of his help from her would come back to bite him later.

I liked the development of the relationship between Mercury and Sloan. He is wary of the effect she has on him. He was burned by a college girlfriend who was more interested in his earning potential than in him and has sworn off relationships since then. Something about Sloan stirs up his emotions, and he tries valiantly to resist them. Sloan appreciates Mercury’s help and support, especially when it comes to learning how to deal with her family. I loved the way that she took his advice on “temporary solutions” when her ex showed up to drag her home. The more time that she and Mercury spent together, the closer they grew and the deeper became their attraction. While Sloan recognized her feelings for Mercury quickly, he fought against his. There were a couple of funny scenes with his brothers because they could see what he refused to admit. There’s a little bump in their journey when Sloan’s father shows up, but Mercury’s support gave her the confidence to stand up for herself. There was an interesting twist at the end that explained some things but did not do anything to redeem her parents. I enjoyed Mercury’s big moment with Sloan.

I loved the part that the Steele family played in the book. It is clear that there is plenty of love to go around. Eden and Drew Steele are obviously very much in love with each other, something that Sloan had no experience with when it came to her parents. I loved seeing the whole family embrace Sloan and make her feel welcome. I also had fun seeing his brothers tease Mercury about his fascination with her. There was a hilarious scene where they were grilling him but were doing it in Russian so that she wouldn’t understand them. That is until she said something to them – in flawless Russian. I laughed out loud at their reactions. I loved how the entire family stood behind her against her ex’s threats. There were also some peripheral appearances by a couple of Westmorelands, as well as a link to the Catalina Cove series.

While I haven’t read many of the Steele books, I intend to read the others when I can. This one can easily be read as a standalone.

Seduced by a Steele by Brenda Jackson is book twelve in her Forged of Steele series. This is a Mills & Boon Romantic Suspense: Heart-racing suspense, adventure and romance under extraordinary circumstances.

Well-known Phoenix sports agent, Mercury Steele, sees his stolen 1967 Camaro and gives chase. He follows the car and locates it in a mall parking lot in the possession of spoiled heiress, Sloan Donahue. Mercury is livid and Sloan is indignant. Neither can believe the audacity of the other. Mercury doesn’t know what to do with the woman running from her overbearing parents, but his integrity and his mother’s teachings force him to assist the damsel in distress. Is he opening himself to a persuasive seductress or a woman even a playboy could love?

Brenda Jackson is a master of the romance genre and Seduced by a Steele is another bestseller in the making. The characters are strong yet endearing. The backstory brings the reader up to date and makes this twelfth book in a series read like a standalone. The plot is intriguing and the romance adds just the right amount of spice. This is a quick, entertaining read that rates 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys engaging romance.

My thanks to HARLEQUIN – Romance (US & Canada) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

Chance and ever after collide to create unforgettable. Sloane and Mercury are like fire to gasoline. Combustible in every way. He’s a planner. For Mercury his mind is his greatest asset. She’s a doer. Sloane refuses to let anything get in the way of her independence. The choices she makes puts her on a collision course with danger. Seduced by a Steele is a high-octane, unpredictable, steamy, irresistible, adventure of the heart, that you’ll want to experience again and again.