Sybil’s review of The Rules of Seduction by Madeline Hunter

Alexia Welbourne is a poor relation of The Longworth family. Unknown to any of them, except Timothy (head of the family), they are all living on borrowed time. By chance Hayden Rothwell enters the picture and the clock stops. Timmy has been a bad, bad boy but due to a debt Hayden allows him to try to keep his honor and save face – at least with his family. Timmy’s bright idea is to blame his ‘ruin’ on Hayden. 

This comes to light in one of the first scenes as Alexia gives Hayden a tour of her soon to be old home. These are two great characters and the dialogue is wonderful. They are both adults and they behave that way. Alexia is scared and unsure of her next steps but she doesn’t fall apart and wait for someone to fix it for her.

Hayden Rothwell reminds me of David de Abyndon from By Arrangement. They are both basically good men who have done some bad things. They find themselves in situations not of their own making and try to fix them best way they can. And they both keep a stupid secret from their wives for too long.

They do end up with their wives differently and I admit I found Hayden and Alexia’s first ‘love’ scene together jarring. I expected it to go differently. I didn’t really think he would go through with it. The Rules of Seduction is a perfect example of how to use sex and love scenes to add to the characters, their relationship and move the story along. So much happens from that dirty attic floor to the last page.

The plot is tried and true but with enough of Hunter’s plotting and wonderful characters to make it interesting, entertaining and different. If you have marked Madeline Hunter off your to buy list or haven’t tried her in a while give this one a shot. The Rules of Seduction is a really great read and from the sneak peak for The Lessons of Desire this is a series to watch.

Grade: A-