The Seducer

July 28, 2003
The roar of the discontented London mob and the edgy atmosphere of Paris following Napoleon's defeat can be felt throughout this darkly seductive, Regency-era romance between orphaned beauty Diane Albret and her mysterious guardian, notorious seducer Daniel St. John. Though an innocent, Diane knows enough upon leaving school in the company of her handsome benefactor to realize that only two paths are open to her: becoming a governess or becoming a mistress. When Daniel begins showering gowns and trips to the opera on her, she believes she's being groomed for the latter, perhaps even for Daniel himself. But Daniel is playing a more subtle game, using the fresh purity of Diane to lure an old enemy within striking distance. Like waltzers locked into the steps of a dance begun 15 years earlier, Diane and Daniel must discover if new love can triumph over old hate. Hunter (Lord of a Thousand Nights, etc.) sweeps both her readers and her characters up in the embrace of history. Lush in detail and thrumming with sensuality, this offering will thrill those looking for a tale as rich and satisfying as a multi-course gourmet meal. (Oct.)Forecast:Though she is best known for her medieval romances, Hunter should have no trouble expanding her readership with this Regency-era romance, which will be followed by
The Saint in November and
The Charmer in December.

September 1, 2003
Hunter's latest sensual historical features Diane Albret, who has spent most of her life in a dreary French boarding school where her curiosity about her lost family grows as she does. When her dashing benefactor is called to the school, she decides to travel to London and search for any trace of her roots. Daniel St. John has taken on the task of overseeing Diane's welfare. No matter what the political climate in France, he manages to visit her once a year. This time he sees that she's older than he thought, and when Diane asks him to take her to London, he decides that this is his chance to finally destroy his enemy by using Diane. He knows her history and keeps her in the dark, but as they spend time together, it becomes difficult to continue on a course that began long ago. Hunter portrays two lost souls whose need for love outweighs the need for vengeance in her latest intriguing and redemptive tale.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)