Portrait of Seduction by Carrie Loftie

Portrait of Seduction by Carrie Loftie


Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Historical Romance
Recommended for: Fans of Historical Romance who like to read stories outside England and the ton

Well, this book has been a welcome surprise. Something in the cover and plot description made me think this would be a slow paced and rather tame romance with a big emphasis on the historical background, which is Napoleon's invasion to Austria. I'm glad to say that neither of these assumptions of mine came true. This was fast, sexy and while the historical events were featured in the plot, they did NOT steal the show from the romance.

Gretta is a woman of noble birth living with her uncle after the death of her parents. Her talent lies in creating forgeries of famous paintings and initially, this was not a bad thing since the families who wanted to get their wealth out of Saltzburg before the war, ordered those paintings to put them in place of the real ones they shipped away. On a night to the opera, a rebel tries to attack the duke and when he fails to do so, gets Gretta as hostage. Good thing that Oliver is there, disguised as his brother's valet to save her and thus the story begins. The attraction between those two feel is mutual, strong and seemingly undeniable. But Gretta is planning not to repeat the same mistakes her mother did that caused her untimely death and she just wants a little bit of fun before her wedding to a man of her uncle's choice. Soon though it becomes apparent that the feelings between her and Oliver are more than lust and she will have to make a choice since the time is running out.

What can I say about the chemistry between Oliver and Gretta? It was pulpable, hot and fiery. Those two were just made for each other, there was never any doubt about that. Oliver was proud, protective, calm, strong and steady; a man who was determined to make up for the mistakes he'd made in his past and getting advantage of Gretta certainly is not the way to do that. Gretta on the other hand while she was a strong and stubborn woman, she was terrified of her uncle which, with what she'd witnessed from her parents' treatment, was very logical and realistic. It was good to see her growing up and becoming her own person.

There is also the matter of Gretta's uncle selling some of her paintings as originals that puts Gretta in trouble, Oliver's mysterious friend coming alive after many years and of course Napoleon's invasion to the city, but like I said in the beginning, the focus is the romance; have no doubt about that. I loved the pace and the writting and now I'm looking forward to read Song of Seduction which some of my GR friends say is at least as good as this one.