Review: Miss Molly Robbins Designs a Seduction

Miss Molly Robbins Designs a Seduction (Sydney Dovedale - Book 4) by Jayne Fresina

Publication Date: 02/04/2014
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Casablanca
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 384
ISBN-10: 1402285019
ISBN-13: 978-1402285011

(Received for an honest review from Sourcebooks Casablanca)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound

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Books in the series: 

The Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine (2012), The Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne (2013), The Lady Mercy Danforthe Flirts With Scandal (2013), Miss Molly Robbins Designs a Seduction (2014)

Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from, Miss Molly Robbins Designs a Seduction, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

She Designs Dresses for London's Leading Ladies

Molly Robbins is finally stepping into the spotlight. Her unique dress designs have caught the eye of London's elite. And if it means her own dress shop, proper Molly will make a deal with the devil himself—the notoriously naughty Earl of Everscham. But becoming his mistress is not a part of their arrangement. It's right there in the contract's fine print: No Tomfoolery.

He's an Expert at Taking Them Off

Carver Danforthe has a reputation for beautiful mistresses, cutting remarks, and shirking his responsibilities—not for indulging the ambitions of his sister's maid. He must have been drunk when he signed that blasted contract. The stubborn female may thing she's gotten the best of him, but what this situation calls for is a little hands-on negotiating...

All's Fair in Love and Fashion

Thoughts:

Jayne Fresina continues her Sydney Dovedale series, with her latest book, Miss Molly Robbins Designs a Seduction. This a series featuring a Victorian era setting and some very unconventional heroines. Fans of Fresina will love her use of humor and applaud her research. As the roles of women were strictly defined in this time period Fresina's Miss Robbins is a breath of fresh air in a society that is not inclined to change. A great addition to this engaging series. 

What I liked:

This series has the best titles. They are about a mile long and so descriptive. I think the author must have a had a hand in that. Miss Molly Robbins Designs a Seduction is both reflective of the story and a fun title. It shows the author's sense of humor and her idea of how to make even the titles of her books unconventional, much like her heroines. The Victorian area was a such a rigid time period for women. There were so many rules about what you could and couldn't do as a woman in the ton. I liked the fact that Fresina kind of turns that upside down with her lead characters in each of the books in this series.

Molly was a dream of a heroine. She was plucky and inventive and she knew what she wanted out of life. She is expected to marry a very well to do farmer, but she leaves him at the alter and follows her dreams of having her own dress shop and designing for the women of the ton. Unfortunately, at that time in history she couldn't do it on her own. She had to have help from a wealthy backer. I loved the fact that Molly was determined to make her idea a success. Fresina makes Molly a very free thinker. She gives her the guts to go to the Earl and ask for his financial backing. And that's how it all begins. Fresina does a great job with this character who is a little bit before her time. But there had to be a first didn't there?

Carver was not exactly an original in his own right. Many historical romances feature a Duke or an Earl that is a bit of a scoundrel and Carver certainly fits the description. He is a womanizer but he is very charitable. He has a heart of gold, he just doesn't want to give it to only one woman. Until he realizes that his drunken business deal with Molly may have been his undoing in more than one way. I loved the fact that though he is a rake of the first rate, he still honors his obligations and his business dealings. He might have liked to dabble with women but he was still a good person underneath. Fresina writes a character that readers want to read about. He is infectious. 

One of the things that I found most enjoyable about this book was the idea that Molly could see the kind of man that Carver could be, if he only wanted to. She made him want to be a better man and that was such a perfect theme to this book. Not only does Molly want to better herself, but she sees the good in Carver as well. That's how romance should be. You should reflect the good qualities in each other and I think Fresina was really able to bring that across to the reader.

What I didn't like: 

This book had a very fast pace. I think I would have preferred to have a few moments to catch my breath here and there. Molly is head strong and fast moving and her life is as well. It just seemed it ended all too quickly. I suppose that means it was a very good book!

Bottom Line:

I liked this one a lot. I may have been my favorite of the series, so far. Molly was a fantastic character and I liked the hero a lot too. I love the titles for these books and Fresina's use of humor is always fun.

Miss Molly Robbins Designs a Seduction is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Jayne Fresina sprouted up in England. Entertained by her father's colorful tales of growing up in the countryside, and surrounded by opinionated sisters, she's always had inspiration for her beleaguered heroes and unstoppable heroines. She lives in upstate New York. Visit www.jaynefresina.com.

Giveaway Details:

Head on over to From the TBR Pile for a chance to win a copy of all four books in the series, a box of tea and a mug and a tin of English Butter Fudge. You only have today to enter.