With Seduction in Mind

I liked this one. I thought Daisy was very personable, and Sebastian seemed like a realistic character to me. I also enjoyed that the conflict was internal -- no spies, no secret murderers, just two people with flaws falling in love. I agree with one of the other reviewers that the ending was rather abrupt; other than that I found it very enjoyable.

In 1896 London, Daisy Merrick is fired from her typist job for her unbecoming behavior when the boss tried to fondle her and she refused him. Soon afterward, Social Gazette critic George Lindsay writes a sarcastic mocking review of Sebastian Grant's new play calling it "rubbish". The duke is irate and goes after Lindsay who called him "a second rate Oscar Wilde" only to learn Lindsay is Daisy Merrick and his publisher demands he work with her on completing a novel that is past deadline. She agrees under the condition her book be considered for release too. Sebastian tries to hide from Daisy that since he stopped using opiates, he suffers from writer's block. He decides to seduce her, which he hopes will lead to his writing again. However, his plan is to use her as a one-time muse before ending their partnership. However, though they argue like cats and dogs they fall in love, but will he realize she is his permanent muse. This is an amusing late Victorian romance starring two likable enemy combatants in a gender war mindful of the 1930s screwball comedies. The story line is a series of back and forth bantering as Daisy becomes the new cocaine for Sebastian. Fans who enjoy a humorous historical romance will want to read the war of the authors. Harriet Klausner

The hero is a recovering cocaine addict who had been a great writer early in his career but now is just a Has Been. The heroine is a down-on-her luck aspiring novelist whose outspokenness and attractiveness get her fired from every a variety of low-wage jobs. Finally she gets a lucky break reviewing the hero's latest play. Her review is unfavorable & upsets hero. Fate intervenes in the form of Lord Marlowe, a book and newspaper publisher and also the hero of the first Girl Bachelors novel, who decides to hire the heroine to help the hero finish the book he still owes the publishing company. They end up isolated together in the country, sparks fly, they inspire and challenge each other etc etc. The dialog is witty, the developing relationship rings true and everything works beautifully until the ending. The conflict of the relationship is based on the hero's cynicism and inability to recognize his feelings even while he seduces the heroine. Without giving away any more specifics, the problem is not the conflict but the resolution. I would guess that readers will want the hero to suffer a little more and see a little more humility and growth after the way he had treated the heroine, ie; taking her for granted. The pacing was far too quick and didn't seem true to the earlier characterization of either hero or heroine. It actually felt like the author had reached her minimum page limit and decided she was done. UGH. It feels a little ironic writing an unfavorable review about this book. Much of the plot centers around the conflict between writers and critics--specifically critics that don't have the right credentials to review books. LLG has a lot of quotes about the difficulties of writing beginning each chapter. One quote in particular rang true (not only regarding LLG, but all genre authors who must be given insane deadlines): that a writer begins an artist and ends a prostitute. That said, LLG's latest book is well worth the time and money. I have enjoyed everything LLG has written and I look forward more and more from her . . .

I have to say that I fall more and more in love with Laura Lee Guhrke's writing with every, single book! Girl Bachelor Daisy is someone to root for...a reader can appreciate her outspokeness, her struggles, her determination, and her humor. She and hero Sebastian are well matched and interesting; the chemistry was sizzling! I loved their arguments and their writing "rules." The story flowed so well, and I had a hard time putting it down. I seriously hope more Girl Bachelor books are on their way.