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    Proof by Seduction
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    Proof by Seduction
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    Proof by Seduction
    Ebook391 pages5 hours

    Proof by Seduction

    By Courtney Milan

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    It's not easy for a woman with neither money nor family to make her own way in the world, but as one of London's premier fortune-tellers, Jenny Keeble has managed precisely that. All she has to do is smile sweetly, listen carefully, and tell her clients precisely what they want to hear. It works...until Gareth Carhart, the scientifically-minded Marquess of Blakely, decides to prove that she's a fraud.

    At first, all Gareth wants is to free his gullible cousin from Jenny's clutches. But he discovers that she's clever, spirited, beautiful, and not at all the conniving liar that he initially imagined. Still, there's nothing logical about his attraction to her, and so he refuses to give in to it. He's vowed to ruin her, so he will-even if he has to break his own heart in the process.

    This is an enhanced ebook. In addition to the text of the book itself, it contains pictures, audio, and author commentary. You can read this enhanced ebook on any device, but the audio content may not be accessible on all ereaders. That content has been made available on the web, so you won't miss anything if your device doesn't support audio.

    Proof by Seduction     is the first full-length book in the Carhart series. The full series is:

    - This Wicked Gift,     a prequel novella
    - Proof by Seduction
    - Trial by Desire

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Publishers
    Release dateJul 7, 2014
    ISBN9781622667697
    Unavailable
    Proof by Seduction
    Author

    Courtney Milan

    Courtney Milan lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, an exuberant dog, and an attack cat. Before she started writing historical romance, Courtney experimented with various occupations, none of which stuck. Now, when she's not reading (lots), writing (lots), or sleeping (not enough), she can be found in the vicinity of a classroom. You can learn more about Courtney at http://www.courtneymilan.com.

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    Reviews for Proof by Seduction

    4/5

    168 ratings18 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I have been looking forward to Courtney Milan's first book since first reading about it on her blog over a year and a half ago, and it was well worth the wait. It's difficult to know where to begin. The first thing that tempted me to read Milan's work was her clear knowledge of the period in question. The second was the hero's interest in ornithology. Duch a delightfully nerdy hobby for a Marquess! And it's the unique hero and heroine that make this book stand out. Our hero, as I said, is a man of science who would be much happier in Brazil than managing his estate, although he takes that responsibility seriously. And although he's not a nerd in the stereotypical sense outwardly, he does have the intensity (and the tendency to discuss intimate activities in terms of "research") that one would expect of a man of science at heart. Our heroine is a sham fortune teller. Both of them have been isolated throughout their lives. She, in particular, is terrified of being abandoned again, whereas he has never quite learned how to be close to people. The story of their learning how to trust each other is told with great wit and great eroticism where appropriate. If you are a fan of Kalen Hughes or Delilah Marvelle and need another historically believable yet extremely atypical set of protagonists to hold you over, pick this up. You'll find yourself as eager for the sequel, Trial by Desire, as I am.
    • 5/5
      What a wonderful book! I had trouble putting it down - I wanted to read it as fast as I could and at the same time I didn't want it to end.
      Jenny is a very wise and likeable person and the way she thaws Gareth is wonderful. Usually historical romance novels where there is such a big social gap between hero and heroine are unbelievable, but not in this case.
      I can't wait to read the next book by this author.
    • 5/5
      Oh jeez, I don't even know where to start! GAH. I guess I'll start at the front. First off, I LOVE the cover for this book, its absolutely beautiful. I love the use of color and again, its just gorgeous. Lets see, I love everything about this book. I love how creative Courtney Milan is in coming up with a truly unique story line. I have never read a book with a plot or story scenario quite like this one, and it works, I adored it. I love how rich each character is as well. From Gareth, to Ned, Laura, and Jenny; Courtney Milan wrote each and every one so you feel as if you know them personally, such as a long lost friend you have finally gotten to see again and you are listening to them tell you where they have been. It was perfect. I love the honesty each character emblazons and how you feel the emotions of each of them rolling off the pages. The plot is perfect, not to fast or slow, and contained critical information the whole way through, I never once though...'oh, why is that here'. I guess you are starting to get the point, this book is amazing. I also have one last bit of praise to impart. I was completely amazed at Courtney Milan's vocabulary skills, odd I know but she employed her skills well, I even had to bust out a dictionary...which was a GREAT thing. I didn't feel stupid while reading...which made me happy
    • 4/5
      Two unforgettable characters go toe-to-toe in an exhilarating battle of wits.

      Grim, humourless and scientifically-minded aristocrat Gareth is determined to prove to Ned, his cousin, that the fortune-teller Ned has been consulting for two years is a fraud. He's convinced that it will only take a few minutes to expose her. It doesn't.

      The fortune-teller proves to be an intelligent, educated and articulate woman living on the brink of poverty. She gives as good as she gets and in no time Gareth and "Madame Esmerelda" are locked in extended but good-natured combat.

      It's a pity that Ms Milan was unable to sustain the brilliance of the first half of the book. With several fascinating narrative threads rushing towards a climax, she applies the brakes and decides that she needs to explain the psychology of the main characters using extended narrator comments.

      She has already adequately illustrated the personalities of the protagonists through their actions and dialogues, so this latter half of the book sags like a portly gentleman's stomach.

      Fortunately the pace of the narrative picks up again and the book finishes with a splendid flourish.
    • 4/5
      Summary Jenny, is a fortune teller, and has a sophisticated clientele. When one of her regular clients, Ned, comes to her to convince his cousin of her authenticity. Gareth is a man of science, and ever since he came into his title, he has had to bear the weight of his title and all the responsibilities. Ned is young and innocent enough to be taken advantage of. When he hears about "Madame Esmerelda" he plans to discredit her, because he knows she is deceiving his cousin. At first he challenge her, and she in return challenges him back, and he finds her spirited and lovely and finds her irresistable and can't wait to get her into his bed. However he doesn't plan on ever falling in love....especially with a woman that matches him in all the ways that matter.The Hero (Gareth Carhart)Gareth, Lord Blakely has a passion for the scienes. And on the outside may seem cold and withdrawn but craves companionship and hates the feeling of loneliness. However he doesn't fully realize it until he meets Jenny, who turns his world of order into a world of chaos. He knows she is far different from him, but from the first time she spars with him, his desire for her encompasses him and it takes all his effort to keep his self control in check and not make passionate love to her for days on end.The Hero (Jenny Keeble)Jenny, is a fortune teller, which is not as easy as it looks. Jenny has worked hard over the years, for her reputation. She depends on her regular clientele in order to survive here in London. Now Lord Blakely is threatening to ruin everything, including her friendship with his cousin, who is like family to her. The only person that has ever shown kindness to her. But Gareth is very different, he makes her feel alive for the first time in her life, and finds herself falling in love with her.My Thoughts Proof By Seduction is the second in the series, and I now wonder why I haven't read more from this author before now. Milan has a very unique style of writing, one that instantly draws the reader instantly into the story. From the first sentance in the story I was hooked. I loved how from the first couple of pages, we see the first meeting of Gareth and Jenny. I have to say I found myself cracking up seeing them interact, it was like witnessing a sparring match, only verbally. I love the witty characteristics that played out throughout the story, and how you see these two people fall in love who may seem different in the beginning, are perfect for each other. I also loved the creativity of this author, and some of the scenes were definitely not commonplace. Overall a creatively written and fun story filled with endearing characters, engaging plot and intensely romantic that will make you shed a tear or two.
    • 2/5
      Although both characters and plot seemed a bit unrealistic and dumb, I did warm to Jenny. Sort of.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Well written, passionate, and satisfying. The ending surprised me because it hinted at a trite "Gilbert and Sullivan" resolution but did not actually do that.
    • 4/5
      I bought this book on the recommendation of Tessa Dare and I'm glad I did. It was exactly what I was in the mood for the day I read it. The tone and characters matched perfectly what I was feeling and I came away from the book completely satisfied.

      There were some flaws, but they didn't bother me in the mood I was in. I'm not sure if I had read this on another day if I would have enjoyed it as much, but as it stands I'd have to say it was an excellent book.
    • 5/5
      I appreciate a book that can make me laugh uproariously and bring tears to my eyes. I was sold in the first chapter when the heroine tells her client to eviscerate an orange so she can practice augury with it. I also enjoyed the exploration of how the hero and heroine, on opposite ends of the class/wealth spectrum, are trapped by their circumstances.
    • 4/5
      I really liked the story of Gareth and Jenny. I am a sucker for a very imperfect hero and Gareth is terrific. He is scientifically brilliant, but socially inept. Jenny learned to handle him very well. The fortune teller angle was a little unbelievable, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
    • 5/5
      What truly impressed me were the characters in this book, especially Gareth. I don't think I have ever encountered a truly memorable and unforgettable hero such as the Marquess of Blakely. Probably because I have a weak spot for the scientific gentleman with awkward social grace, and Courtney Milan created him with delicious detail that I fell in love with him as he tried to befriend his manservant and failed miserably at first. Madame Esmeralda - or her English name Jenny - was also fantastic in her own right. Definitely an independent woman, not afraid to speak her mind, not afraid to be intelligent and independent, but afraid to be tied down by any man even if she loved him.It should come as no surprise that such awesomely-crafted characters yielded some awesomely-witty dialogue. Which makes Proof By Seduction the perfect romance for me. I suppose others may consider the dialogue to be rather too silly, but I think it was perfectly reasonable and realistic because I hold such silly conversations with my significant other. If you do choose to read Proof By Seduction or have read, I'm pretty sure my nonsensical post title will make perfect sense. :)Proof By Seduction is a light and fluffy read, but it will also tug at your heartstrings. If you love it as much as I do, then Gareth will haunt you days after reading it.
    • 5/5
      I've read a lot of historical fiction and it all starts to blur after a while, but Milan has something different here, bringing a much needed fresh twist to the genre. I loved the character of Madame Esmerelda/Jenny, the fortune teller with secretes of her own. She just worked so well for me. I liked the men Lord Gareth Blakely and his cousin Ned as well, but Jenny just shone, as a woman torn by the few options left to a woman of gentle breeding but no money. Her vulnerability and common sense, her innnate goodness and sensuality, it just worked. A keeper, and the best 19th century romance I've read in a long while.
    • 4/5
      I loved Milan's humor and the unique characters that she created. Not only was this story sweet, sexy and touching, but I also never knew what to expect. A very refreshing historical read. I'm looking forward to the story of Gareth's cousin Ned (who plays a large role in this one and is super adorable) in August's Trial by Desire. Milan's prequel novella, which features Gareth's man of business, can be found in The Heart of Christmas. It's called 'This Wicked Gift' and it's just as good as Proof of Seduction.
    • 4/5
      Historical romance is hard to do. It is difficult to give a sense of the period and still follow the romance writer's genre conventions. The upper-class rarely married for love, and insisted on rigid adherence to society's mores, and that plays havoc with happy endings. Then there is the problem for romance set in eighteenth and early nineteenth century fiction set in England in always being compared to Georgette Heyer who made that period live and breathe in her books.Courtney Milan does a good job of it in her book. She doesn't immerse one in the period as well as Heyer, and she plays somewhat fast and loose with what would have been possible at the time. But she makes you WANT her story to be true.Jenny Keeble makes her living as Madame Esmerelda, a fortune teller. Young Ned Carhart, heir to the Marquess of Blakely, has been devoted to her advice for two years. Blakely, however, is a man of science and tries to force Ned to see Esmerelda as a fraud. Jenny, of course, can't let him do that much damage to her livelihood, but what is she to do about the great attraction between herself and Blakely?Fairly well written, good characterization, though the writer is sometimes inclined to tell us about the characters rather than reveal who they are by their words and action.Quite readable, and Milan's next book due out about Ned should be worth reading as well.
    • 2/5
      this was well outside of my preferred reading, but i figured i'd give it a chance. i can't say it was awful, but it was far from amazing. as long as you don't have any high expectations for literary brilliance, you'll probably be left mostly satisfied here.the characters were mostly believable, although they held little depth or substance. gareth was probably the most intriguing of the lot, bringing some spice to the otherwise vanilla cast. the plot was unique, but was very thinly held together and didn't really work for me. like i said, it wasn't awful, but it could have been better.if you like romance novels, i can see how this could be a very enjoyable book to pick up. thankfully, for me, it was a quick read (less than 300 pages, according to the e-reader) and i can move on to something more my tastes now
    • 4/5
      I have been looking forward to Courtney Milan's first book since first reading about it on her blog over a year and a half ago, and it was well worth the wait. It's difficult to know where to begin. The first thing that tempted me to read Milan's work was her clear knowledge of the period in question. The second was the hero's interest in ornithology. Duch a delightfully nerdy hobby for a Marquess! And it's the unique hero and heroine that make this book stand out. Our hero, as I said, is a man of science who would be much happier in Brazil than managing his estate, although he takes that responsibility seriously. And although he's not a nerd in the stereotypical sense outwardly, he does have the intensity (and the tendency to discuss intimate activities in terms of "research") that one would expect of a man of science at heart. Our heroine is a sham fortune teller. Both of them have been isolated throughout their lives. She, in particular, is terrified of being abandoned again, whereas he has never quite learned how to be close to people. The story of their learning how to trust each other is told with great wit and great eroticism where appropriate. If you are a fan of Kalen Hughes or Delilah Marvelle and need another historically believable yet extremely atypical set of protagonists to hold you over, pick this up. You'll find yourself as eager for the sequel, Trial by Desire, as I am.
    • 5/5
      You certainly don't need to have read Milan's novella, This Wicked Gift, from the anthology, The Heart of Christmas, to enjoy this book but it doesn't hurt. Plus it's a spectacular story and I recommend it highly. Milan is an excellent story-teller. Her characters are well-rounded and believable. It's hard to believe she's just starting out. I was worried that after enjoying her debut story so much I might be disappointed by this book. Not at all. It is a strong story, well-told. I've run out of superlatives to describe these stories or Ms. Milan's talent. Go ahead, call me a fangirl. I don't care, she's earned the gushing. We first met the Marquess of Blakely in This Wicked Gift. Proof of Seduction is his story (and that of Jenny), but it introduces Ned whose story will be told in her next book, Trial by Desire. I cannot *wait* to read it.
    • 5/5
      There's been a lot of buzz flitting about the Romance world about Courtney Milan and her writing prowess. The almost universal adoration of Milan's talents had me both excited and nervous for her full length debut novel, Proof by Seduction. Equal parts ready to have my mind blown and or to be thoroughly disappointed, I jumped at the opportunity to read the advance copy.My feelings about Milan's writing can be pretty well summarized as follows: The hype was not hyperbole. Milan uses the frustrated alpha male as a perfect counterpoint to her willful and bright heroine. Her Lord Blakely is well-rounded, intriguing, and charming in his social naivety. She also manages to make a man well-versed in natural science seem exciting and smelling fresh as a daisy, not steeped in stuffy mothballs and formaldehyde. The other half of the lead couple, Jenny, is a scrappy, resourceful woman who manages to instruct Blakely through the pitfalls of social communication without sounding like a harpy or acting like a righteous bitch.The story was charming and emotionally touching, and lead to an extremely satisfying ending. The side story involving Ned (scheduled to appear in Milan's next book) was a lovely touch of comedic relief, while providing a reef for her main characters to break upon. Overall, I'm thrilled with the book and eagerly await the next! I look forward to forcing this title upon all of my friends, demanding that they read it so that they can keep their eyes open for my real life Lord Blakely.