Fisher Chugatt knew the moment he saw Paige Percy’s zebra print jeans she didn’t belong on Takinsha Island. This remote Alaskan town was not for a pampered L.A. deejay, no matter how well she knew her job or filled out her clothes. There is no denying the attraction between them, but Fisher has sworn off women and he has no qualms telling Paige to go home. Too bad she insists on staying and driving his libido nuts.

Paige doesn’t understand Fisher’s insistence she doesn’t belong on Takinsha. Sure she is used to sun and sand, but she’s ready for a change. Can she convince a self-proclaimed hermit to take a chance on love?

Seducing the Hermit delivers a captivating romance with plenty of humor, foibles, and bumps along the way. Paige and Fisher make an interesting couple. Paige has an instant charisma that translates easily to readers, while Fisher is more solid, dependable and endearing. Their chemistry and subsequent relationship is laced with humor and a true appreciation of the other. The secondary characters provide plenty of twists for the plot and keep the telling light. Ms. deMello offers a few forays into the serious when Fisher’s reasons for being reluctant to enter into a relationship become clear. This shift allows for a broader range of emotion in the characters and introduces a deeper conflict for Paige and Fisher to overcome. While I can appreciate the addition this makes to the story, I do feel that at times the change from serious to lighthearted becomes forced or disjointed and loses the natural flow of the story. The story concludes well and brings the love of these two characters into sharp, touching, clarity for the reader.

Reviewed by: Amanda S.