★★★★ A feel-good historic romance which felt remarkably like a “what if” spin on The Duchess starring Keira Knightly, if Georgiana’s villainous husband the duke had died shortly after they married and Georgiana had the courage to act on her passions and live her happily ever after. Though, if author Sara Bennett had this idea in mind, from there Seducing the Duchess becomes its own story. A snowstorm brings about a chance meeting for heroine Catherine, Dowager Duchess of Wellesley, and Sebastian, Viscount Albury, a handsome rake-by-reputation whom Catherine hasn’t seen in years, who once suggested in a moment of flirtation the two of them run away together. Catherine longs to experience the passion her marriage lacked, and the viscount is happy to accommodate her. Their affair is quick to occur and hotter than the average historic romance. There is a very interesting backstory for this wounded hero and with it, a couple of shocking twists. It all comes together beautifully in the end. Speaking as a reader who would have loved to see Georgiana Cavendish run away with Charles Grey, hearing Catherine and Sebastian say I love you was everything I had been hoping for.
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