The Seduction of Lady X

The Seduction of Lady X (The Secrets of Hadley Green #3)

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3.71 of 5 stars 3.71  ·  rating details  ·  355 ratings  ·  58 reviews
The would-be Earl of Ashwood sets his romantic sights on a forbidden prize in the enchanting third novel from Julia London’s addictively sexy new series.The surprising news that dashing steward Harrison Tolly, illegitimate son of the Earl of Ashwood, is the rightful heir to his father’s estate comes at a most inopportune time. With a wedding on the horizon and a baby on th...more
ebook, 400 pages
Published March 27th 2012 by Pocket Books
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BRNTerri
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Julie
I just love Julia London romances! The Seduction of Lady X had me crying often, but smiling at the end! One of the better HEA romances I've ready recently! London's H/H characters are deeply drawn for the reader making the journey they travel one that is completely shared by the reader. Even the side characters make an impact and are far from being superficially done. I also enjoyed reading a romance where the hero was not the wealthy, powerful aristocrat of the story, or the mighty, physically...more
Tina
This is my first time reading Julia London, and I have to say-what a smashingly good novel! The Marquis Carey, a cold-hearted son-of-a-you-know-what, is married and seeking an heir. Drunk most of the time, rude all of the time, and prone to violence and egotism, Carey is the perfect villain.
Enter Lady Carey, or Olivia as she is known to her friends. Kind, gentle, a warm-hearted mistress to her household and devoted wife to the undeserving marquis, she spends most of her time trying to please her...more
Connie Fischer
When Lady Olivia Carey married Lord Edward Carey, she was a lovely and innocent young girl taken with the idea of marriage to a man who appeared to be a gentleman. She quickly found that not to be the case. Instead, Edward was a drunkard who came to her bed to rape her in an attempt to get an heir. Often, the whiskey kept him from being able to perform. He constantly insulted and abused her. She felt that this was to be her lot in life and she did all she could to cajole Edward and put up a brav...more
Shh I'm reading!
If you enjoy angsty, drawn out tales of forbidden love complete with greedy, self-absorbed siblings and abusive husbands then this is the tale for you. The problem for me wasn't the fact that the heroine is married, because very little happens between them beyond a kiss and their rising feelings. The problem was for a romance, Olivia, Harrison, and Alexa (the sister) spent more time looking hopelessly at their situations and whining about the unfairness of it but striving to be stoic for the sak...more
Amy
Jul 15, 2012 Amy rated it 1 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition Recommends it for: Nobody
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Jamie Heustess
The third installment of the Secrets of Hadley Green series is another winner for Ms. London. Harrison Tolly is in a difficult position. He is the steward of the estate for Lord Carey and his family. He also happens to harbor a hidden love for the mysterious Lady X, who just happens to be Lady Carey. Although she knows nothing of his feelings, she does have an immense tenderness for him. To her, Harrison is a bright spot in her lonely days. Her husband is abusive- verbally, emotionally, and phys...more
Kasey
I've enjoyed this series so far, although this one was for the first time not set in Hadley Green and overall spent very little time in the village. It was nice to see some of the past leading characters again. The mystery of the jewels which was still left at the end of the last book do not play a very big role and was a little bit anticlimactic to be honest. I'm sure we will here about them again in the next book.

As far as our romance goes I liked both leads well enough. They are in an unfortu...more
Jennifer
Julia London did not disappoint in her latest addition to the Hadley Green series! My only regret is that because I read the back of the book I knew before hand the Olivia's husband would die. Because of this I do not believe I was as sympathetic or connected to Olivia's character as I should have been. I spent a lot of the book waiting for him to die so things would progress.

Beyond that, Olivia's character is amazingly strong and selfless and I liked that she and Harrison had known each other...more
Karen
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Margaret
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Marsha
Romances have grown up in the past decades. No longer simply about simpering maids who have no concept about what sex is or young girls desperate to get married and the rakehells equally desperate to avoid it, today’s romance features both arousing sex and the mundane troubles that ordinary (or not so ordinary) people endure.

This novel is definitely a cut above as it begins where many end—with a woman already in a marriage. But marriage isn’t necessarily the end-all and be-all of life and this o...more
Elle
London sets up an impossible situation in this book, which nicely rounds out her Secrets of Hadley Green series. Harrison Tolley is the long-lost heir to the Earl of Ashford (conveniently, all the laws of entailment are rendered irrelevant by a royal writ, so that a bastard son and/or adopted daughter can claim the title and lands). Thing is, he's working as a steward for the horrible, abusive Marquis of Carey, and Harrison doesn't want to leave. Seems he's in love--with his employer's wife, and...more
Amanda
I was so disappointed with this story. It was all about a family that was not introduced in either of the first two books, which makes me wonder if this really fits the definition of a trilogy. But, the first two stories were all about a set of jewels, and the their fate was very anti-climatic. My main critique of the story is that the characters are strong and play the hand that they are delt, but this is mostly a reactionary story. The characters only react to situations beyond their control....more
Janine
This book should have been titled "A Series of Truly Unfortunate Events". This book is depressing until the last 2 or 3 chapters and at times just plain hard to read because your imagination cannot conjure up what tragedy will happen next. I have to give the book 5 stars though because I've not read or listened to (I listened to audio version of this book) another Regency Romance that has a plot anything close to this book. I think this book is truly an original.

The audio book was narrated by J...more
Marlene
There was some closure for the series; in that the jewels mystery was solved but it was anticlimatic. The story was OK at best. I did not like the heroine raped by her husband and abused and her seeming passiveness. The Hero was a wimp. The premise was a bit strange with the H/H both in love with each other and no clue revealed until the story unfolds. I have read the other two books in the series and as a whole I rate the series a 6 out of 10. I also did not like that Keira is portrayed as a ba...more
SidneyKay
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Dawn
A nice wrap up to the Hadley Green trilogy. It was not necessarily always a pleasant ride. The circumstances of Lady Olivia Carey and the family steward, Harrison Tolly, appeared to be all but hopeless.

She was in an abusive six-year marriage. Harrison had loved her since she arrived to marry Lord Carey. But he had kept his feelings to himself never dreaming that she would ever be available to him.

When Olivia's sister arrives from Spain pregnant and unmarried, Harrison steps up and offers to marr...more
jackie frye
Harrison Tally fell in love with Olivia the first time he saw her, but she was married to Marquis Carey . . . it was not a love match. Carey was a cruel man who was drunk daily. When Olivia’s 18 year old sister came home from a tour of Spain unmarried and pregnant Carey refused to lend his support. To give the child a name Harrison volunteered to marry her and she accepted after she found out Harrison was going to be an Earl.

This book was good. It was filled with drama and suspense; I kept turni...more
Mskchick
I absolutely despise the younger sister, Alexa. I understand that she is to be there as a foil, but I hate her, hate her, hate her! I hope something horrible happens to her. What a selfish bitch. My loathing increased every time she was in the chapter.

Ok, I am further on in the book now. AlI can say is, what a damned immature slut. Alexa is ruining this book for me. Won't someone please kill her?!

I did cheer loudly when the ass of a husband died.

This book would have been 4 stars, but because o...more
Erin H
Olivia was such a brave heroine for dealing with Edward. I liked how strong she was and how she took care of her little sister Alexa when she needed her the most. Harrison was a great hero. Loving Olivia knowing that he could never truly have her because she was married made me hope that they would get their happy ending sooner than they did. The author surprised me with this book. When Harrison offered to marry Alexa I couldn’t believe it but it showed what an honorable man he was, honorable en...more
Gunda
The author really has a talent for creating unlikeable main characters (here: the bratty younger sister).
I'm a sucker for flawed protagonists, but they should have at least one redeeming quality. And Alexa, the bratty sister from hell, has none: there will never be a person she will love more than her own spoiled self.
(view spoiler)[Even her 'big moment of sacrfice' when she refuses the hero at the altar for the sake of her sister is staged more like a farce: One week before the wedding Alexa fi...more
Alisha
We go back to Hadley Green characters in this new Julia London book. Harry Tolly is secretly in love with a married lady. Lady Carey is an unhappy marriage. Alexa Hastings is enciente. Lord Carey is a horrible brute. The story that follows is sweet and exciting. We also get to meet up again with Lord and Lady Eberlin from the Revenge of Lord Eberlin. Another must read of Julia's. Don't hesitate get to the store and pick up a copy.
Lynne Tull
No. 3 of the series- Julia London did a great job of making me feel the pain of the heroine and the frustration of the hero and the cruelty of the villain and the silliness of the ingenue. I do not normally like to feel so much angst, but the happily ever after was worth it. Hang in there...I think you'll like it. There is more to come...we are still looking for the rubies.
Jess the Romanceaholic
I'm a bit torn on this one. There was some beautiful unrequited love, and quite a bit of delightful angst, and yet there was also explicit rape and spousal abuse, which is not something I had anticipated going in.

While it was well-written and enjoyable story that certainly kept my attention, I think there was just a tiny bit too much "heaviness" to it for my tastes right now.

3/5 Stars.
Sarah
I really loved this one. You go through such emotion with Harry and Olivia. Of course, there is some obvious deus ex machina but it is so worth it that you don't care. You just want the happy ending. I was hoping for more with the brother, but he turned out to be a jerk so whatever. I'm interested if there are any more in this series. Great story.
Joanne
WOW, Julia London earns a 5 star for this romance historical.... There were parts that I laughed my butt off, and parts that I could not put this book down. I stayed up 'til 4:00 a.m. to finish it........a page turner for sure.........funny, romantic, very sensual, great characters that are carried over from the book before this one......a must read!!!!
Mary
This was a good book, but I have to say not as good as The Revenge of Lord Eberlin. I really need my hero's to be wounded in some way (what does that say about me). The hero in this book was a great guy. He is the kind of guy you would want in real life, but not in a romance novel. I really love Julia London's books, so I really did like this book a lot, but I didn't love it.
Mindy
In this third installment in the Hadley Green Series, the inheritance of Ashwood is in flux yet again. The rightful heir is reluctant to accept the estate because as his role as estate manager for another Lord he can look after the Lady of the house who has been abused by her husband. Quite the involved story of self sacrifice and love--thoroughly enjoyable.
Sheila
Trigger warning for sexual assault and violence against women.

I liked it; the pining was well-done, and the triggery stuff was telegraphed enough that I could just skim and not be freaked out by it (although that's just me, YMMV). An enjoyable get-your-mind-off-things read.
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The Seduction of Lady X (The Secrets of Hadley Green, #3)
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Seduction of Lady X  (Audio CD)
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Julia London is the New York Times and USA Today best selling author of more than a dozen romantic fiction novels. She is the author of the popular Desperate Debutantes and Scandalous historical romance series, as well as several contemporary romances, including Summer of Two Wishes and One Season of Sunshine.

Julia is the recipient of the RT Bookclub Award for Best Historical Romance and a four ti...more
More about Julia London...
The Hazards of Hunting a Duke (Desperate Debutantes, #1) The Book of Scandal (The Scandalous Series, #1) The Dangers of Deceiving a Viscount (Desperate Debutantes, #3) The Perils of Pursuing a Prince (Desperate Debutantes, #2) The Devil's Love

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