In order to break a 500 year curse, Lady Kathleen MacDavid sets out to seduce and marry the Earl of Norcroft. But when she loses her memory her plans go awry. Or do they? Somewhat formulaic, but still an enjoyable story. ( )

Victoria Alexander is great at comedic dialogue and this book was filled with it. I felt the plot was far-fetched, even for a romance, and the hero was more than "practical". He was dull. ( )

Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Sep 08

Tart and spicy with a heavy seasoning of humor. When I read the blurb on the back cover of “Seduction of a Proper Gentleman” by Victoria Alexander, I was a bit disappointed. All I could think of was…oh, amnesia as a plot device. But I actually found this story very intriguing and different. This is the final book in her ‘Last Man Standing’ series about four Regency gentlemen who make a wager as to who will be the last one to wed. And, as often happens in fiction, the winner is the only one who wasn’t anti-marriage to begin with!

Oliver has won, so he sits alone. It’s not as if he hasn’t been looking and there’s certainly nothing ‘wrong’ with him…why any woman would be thrilled to be his bride. Probably the best thing for him to do is retreat to his estate and ponder his future while enjoying the tranquility of the country. And tranquil it is, until a strange woman lands on his doorstep. She’s beautiful, well bred, and apparently can’t remember anything about her life. Nothing! Not even little things; like her name, where she’s from, if she’s married…Wait! Why would that be important to Oliver?

Lady Kathleen is a sensible woman. But even sensible women can be driven to believe the unbelievable. She and her family are cursed. And so is Oliver’s family, they just don’t know it. So she sets off for London determined to marry Oliver and break the curse. There are, of course, a few problems. She’s never met Oliver, she doesn’t have a plan, and her Aunt appears to be dabbling in witchcraft. Not that it would ever work, and Kathleen certainly WILL NOT fake amnesia to spend some time getting to know Oliver at his country estate. Unthinkable…until Kathleen wakes up in a strange house and can’t remember a thing.

I laughed through most of this book. Ms. Alexander’s way with wit and words comes through loud and clear via her characters’ sizzling dialogues. Almost all the story takes place in the country so readers get a break from London and ton balls and carriage rides through the park. But the beauty (and occasional gloom) of the English countryside is evident as is the author’s knowledge of regency customs. Her love scenes are exquisite and will have your heart racing and palms sweating.

I’ve read many of Victoria Alexander’s novels. I tend to savor them like a treat when I am looking for crisp writing and heavy doses of humor embodied in characters I would enjoy getting to know. I especially enjoyed “Seduction of a Proper Gentleman” as Oliver gets the woman he needs and deserves at last…along with a bit of adventure for the most staid of the four bachelors from this series. Grab a copy of the book, settle back in your comfy chair, and enjoy! ( )