The Seductive One

Susan Mallery

When she was growing up, all Brenna Marcelli wanted was to work at and later run the family winery business. She loves the whole process and loves working with and creating the best wines. But she made a bad marriage and was gone from the vineyard for ten years. Her husband then left her and she returned. Now she has returned and has taken over as manager of Marcelli Wines. Unfortunately, her grandfather, who owns the winery, doesn't like anything she is trying to do with the winery.

Brenna believes that Grandfather Lorenzo will either leave the vineyard to her long lost brother or sell Marcelli Wines. She can't imagine doing anything except wine making. She decides to take a step out on her own, get a loan, buy some acreage she has spotted, and start her own small wine business. Without her grandfather's backing, no bank will give her the loan. She approaches Nic Giovanni, their neighbor and grandfather's enemy, to borrow a million dollars.

Brenna and Nic had a Romeo and Juliet relationship ten years earlier. When they broke up because she couldn't give up her family, Nic's grandfather banished him and she married. She hopes that Nic has put that behind him. She pretends she's put it behind her, but he still is the sexiest man she knows. She knows she is the guilty one in their break up.

Nic hasn't forgotten or put it behind him. His grandfather made him choose between Brenna and Wind Seas vinyards. He chose Brenna. He and his grandfather never reconciled even when his grandfather finally brought him back to take over the business. He hasn't forgiven the Marcelli family. Brenna has given him a method to get back at them. But can he do that? And can he get over the lust he still has for her?

The Seductive One is Susan Mallery's third book about the Marcelli family. The Marcellis are a close knit Italian Irish family in the California wine country. Romeo and Juliet is a common theme that still works well. Mallery has made the most of it in a modern day setting.

Brenna was a strong woman who let herself get caught up in a bad marriage and feels she has to stay loyal. He is the one who left the marriage. She now has to rediscover the woman she really is and has to be able to stand up to her grandfather. The Marcelli sisters are close, which adds depth to the books. Their brother had been given up for adoption, but now he is returning to their lives, adding more potential conflict. Grandfather Lorenzo even offers him the business with Brenna standing there listening.

The relationship between Nic and Brenna tingles with excitement and sex. Both can't forget the past even as they try to remain as business associates in the present. The atmosphere crackles between them. As things progress, Nic realizes that if Brenna learns what he is doing behind the scenes she may never forgive him. Can he do that to her?

The Seductive One is an enticing read and a good escape.

Notice:  Explicit sexual content