Seduced by A Stranger

by Eve Silver

Book Overview

Destitute and desperate, Catherine Weston accepts the summons from her childhood friend Madeline St. Aubyn to attend her at Cairncroft Abbey, a place of secrets, lies and murder. Madeline's health is... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0821781308
• ISBN13: 9780821781302
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Zebra
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.0" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

Could not put it down

I was absolutely hooked after the first page. The story was gripping and the characters were so scarred, so compelling. I loved this authors writing. This was historical romance at its best.

A dark and compelling gothic romance

It doesn't take much convincing to get me to read a gothic thriller especially when it has a strong dose of romance. Seduced by a Stanger is just that kind of book, providing all the creepy twists and turns I crave plus a strong, satisfying romance. Catherine Weston is the impoverished daughter of a Baron. Having recently been released from her employment, she is vastly relieved when her ailing friend Madeline invites her to her cousin's estate and gives Catherine a place to live. The place is Cairncroft Abbey, the Cambridge estate of Sir Gabriel St. Aubyn. Both the Abbey and its owner are dark and cold but Catherine soon finds herself falling under their spell. A disturbing circumstance since women are being viscously murdered and the prime suspect just may be the man Catherine is falling in love with... The strength of this book, for me, was in the romance. Most gothic romances feature a tortured hero and this one is no different, however the formula is shaken up a bit by adding a tortured heroine as well. Both Gabriel and Catherine have suffered tremendously in the past and have since retreated behind well made masks that they show to the world. To watch them slowly reveal themselves to each other was a rewarding experience, especially as they shed their judgements and prejudices. Their similarities made their love story very poignant and I believed in it despite the dark circumstances that lead to them falling for each other. An excellent romance. Of course, there was also a mystery. I'll admit, I don't read historical romances for those but I was totally drawn into this one. It was very creepy and, I warn potential readers, quite graphic and scary at times. I also thought that it was well constructed, for the most part, until it reached the end and was wrapped up too a little too quickly. A common problem for me with mysteries. Not too bothersome though since I loved the romance and the book was so well written. All in all, I really, really liked this book. It was a little dark and a little disturbing. However, it was also interesting, moving and a real page turner. For readers who love romantic gothics or those looking for something a little different in a historical romance, I highly recommend picking this one up.

Edge Of Your Seat Romantic Thriller

England, March 1828 Not far from London a manor lay, its inhabitants and surrounding lands plagued by darkness and despair. Just to the north a forest of ancient trees watches silently, its tangles limbs witness to the evil that had long ago shrouded Cairncroft Abbey in gloom. But it is within the limestone walls and intricately painted ceilings of the manor itself, that if one listens carefully, faint whispers can be heard. Stories spun out of fear. Tales of deceit...tales of madness...and tales of cold, calculated murder... "Please come. I beg of you. Please come." All it took was a few pleading words from her childhood friend and Catherine Weston immediately finds herself in the next available coach to Cairncroft Abbey. After all, it had been Madeline St. Aubyn who saved her life so many years before. Not long after her arrival, Catherine is plagued by the notion that there really is something terribly wrong. Madeline's condition is far worse than she could have ever imagined. And, as if her physical appearance isn't haunting enough, Madeline's mental state is far more deteriorated, leaving Catherine to wonder what exactly has happened to her friend. Then, Madeline's cousin, Gabriel St. Aubyn makes his presence known. Dominantly masculine and undeniably handsome, yet, he is also a man who seems eerily detached of all emotion. No matter how hard Catherine tries, she can't seem to penetrate his icy facade. With a few dark secrets of her own, Catherine knows exactly what it is like to hide your emotions well. She is intrigued by Gabriel, his striking features and mysterious appeal both fascinating and threatening all at once. And with each passing day, she finds herself irresistibly lured to the very man her instincts are telling her to stay far away from. The weeks pass and Madeline's health continues to deteriorate. She claims someone is trying to kill her. Someone very evil, and very close. Yet, even as she entrusts this knowledge to Catherine, she does so in riddles, leaving Catherine to wonder not only why anyone would want Madeline dead, but if--in her current state of distress--her friend might very well be imagining it all. But then, there is a murder. A woman, found methodically mutilated in London at the same time Gabriel had been there. Coincidence? Perhaps. But what about the maid from Cairncroft Abbey that has suddenly gone missing? Then there are the servant's pleas for Catherine to leave, and of course the sinking feeling that someone is always watching her... But, it couldn't possibly be true. Or could it? Could the very man whose tender touch and passionate kisses Catherine has grown to hunger for, actually be a cold hearted murderer? Oh she's good. She got me with this one! Eve Silver had me guessing to the end! When it comes to gothic romance, Eve Silver's talent for formulating a gripping story is in a class all its own. How she manages to come up with these plots, I have no idea. Her tales are going to have you at

absolutely phenomenal!

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques Oh my, Seduced by a Stranger is absolutely phenomenal! Catherine Weston has a secret to hide that holds the truth of her past. The gossip is everywhere, so when her old friend Madeline St. Aubyn requests Catherine visit her at Cairncroft Abbey, the St. Aubyn family estate, Catherine is happy to go. She owes an old debt to Madeline, who saved her life as a young girl. However, when Catherine arrives, it is obvious the Abbey has a dark history as well, not the least of which is Madeline's declining health and terrible fear of her cousin, Gabriel St. Aubyn. Gabriel St. Aubyn has a very dark past that affects all he feels and does. He has no desire to share these secrets though if anyone could break down his walls, it would be the enchanting friend of his cousin. When a young woman with ties to Catherine ends up dead, Gabriel becomes a prime suspect because of the very past he keeps hidden. Now it appears Catherine may be in danger as well and she is torn - trust this man who haunts her dreams or fear him for the villain he might be? Catherine has been Seduced by a Stranger and it could mean her death... or her greatest fantasies come true. Seduced by a Stranger is a story of overcoming the sins of the past to find happiness and love in the present. However, it is also so much more than that. Catherine and Gabriel are two deeply wounded individuals who have experienced horrors no one should ever have to face, especially alone. They each have plenty of reasons to doubt one another and turn their backs on love, but these two are so much stronger than they believe they are. They belong together and following along with them as they finally let go of the past to find happiness in the present makes for a beautiful love story. Most everything Eve writes is dark in tone, but Catherine and Gabriel's story is her darkest yet. Also I feel it important to point out, if you are squeamish or have problems with reading graphic violence, you may want to think twice about Seduced by a Stranger. There are several parts with explicit descriptions of the murders the villain commits and of the torture one of the characters suffers as a child. I do think however, that Eve did a fantastic job of giving just enough detail for us to understand what drives the characters and how these events affected them, without crossing the line into unacceptable. Just be forewarned when you start this one. I have read everything Eve Silver has written, under both pseudonyms and she only gets better with each book. I was sucked in to Seduced by a Stranger from page one. Here we have a highly complex tale of passion and intrigue that keeps us reading long into the dark night, though most likely leaving the light on when it is time to go to sleep. There are a few stunning plot twists and I was completely blown away by the conclusion and exactly how everyone was involved. Eve Silver is an amazing writer and I for one cannot wait to read her n

Spine-tingly Goodness!

After receiving a letter from a childhood friend pleading for her to visit, Catherine packs her bags and journeys to Cairncroft Abby. A place where unbeknownst to her, secrets lie. Terrible, disturbing secrets. As the story unfolds, so too does the romance between Catherine and Gabriel. Together they shed their secrets, freeing their souls, opening themselves to each other to grasp and hold the love long denied them. If you haven't read an Eve Silver Gothic historical, I would urge you to pick one up. She is simply an amazing story-teller. I have not read any thing that compares to the eerie tone that she sets in each of her books. She is one gifted author in the art of making your eyes widen, your blood curdle, your skin crawl, your heart to beat in anticipation, as each scene unfolds, engaging you further and further into the disturbing plot and the lives of each of the characters. Without a doubt, Seduced by a Stranger is Eve Silver's darkest, most twisted tale to date. I wondered how she would top His Wicked Sins, and as I read this one I was amazed all over again at her uncanny ability to seduce you into the mysterious, dark and at times morbid lives of Gabriel, Geoffrey, Sebastien, Madeline and Catherine. Eve Silver builds such amazing intensity, leading you to the culminating ending. If you want to read a little something dark, and completely riveting then this book is sure to meet your needs.