Portia Crompton's wealth and beauty has given her a bounty of suitors. They all want her for a wife, but she is not interested in any of them. She wants the man she left behind in India. Colin Byrd, Viscount Ratcliffe is not put off by her refusals and continues his campaign to win her and her fortune.

Portia is my type of heroine: feisty and smart. She is forced to watch what she says for her family's sake, but her brain is constantly ticking away. Portia believes herself to be in love, and it is another obstacle in Colin's wooing of her. Colin does have issues that readers are well aware of, and he is not Portia's idea of a suitable husband. He is a rake and quite experienced in the ways of seduction. It should be an easy feat for him to win over Portia, but she proves to be a tough nut to crack. The author does a superb job of developing this couple. It is easy to fall in love with both of them as well as root for their coupling. There is an intense initial chemistry between them, and the author builds on it. They also share a depth of emotion as each is capable of experiencing it.

Seducing the Heiress is a lovely historical romance that has it all. All the characters are well-rounded from the lead couple to all the supporting characters especially Olivia's family. It is filled with witty dialogue and humor, and yes, there is lots of heat/desire emanating from the lead couple too. What more can readers ask for? Lovers of this genre will enjoy this novel!

Reviewed by: Susan T.