From the Design Book of Marcelline Noirot:
The allure of the perfect gown should be twofold:
ladies would die to wear it . . .and gentleme...
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reviews
Jan 21, 2012
Wicked Incognito Now
rated it: 
This is a cross-class romance.
My short opinion: Predictable and melodramatic. Lacking in believable character motivations and interactions.
I know I'm in the minority here. Most reviewers have LOVED this novel. I didn't. But I may be biased against the trope in general.
I really hate cross-class romances. They don't sit well with me at all. I think they're unrealistic. The power balance between the H and H is too off for comfort. The power s More...
My short opinion: Predictable and melodramatic. Lacking in believable character motivations and interactions.
I know I'm in the minority here. Most reviewers have LOVED this novel. I didn't. But I may be biased against the trope in general.
I really hate cross-class romances. They don't sit well with me at all. I think they're unrealistic. The power balance between the H and H is too off for comfort. The power s More...
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(9 people liked it)
Jul 28, 2011
Hirondelle
rated it: 
When the book arrived I was somewhat reassured by its size. I loved the characters and dialogue in LC´s previous book but it was flimsy and with some threads left hanging. This is quite a bit longer, and much more "finished". Though still going on pre-judging by appearances, I hate the cover. It is a particularly horrible dress to put in the cover of a book about a stylish modiste. Oh well.
This book reminded me a lot of Lord Perfect, though a bit simpler, with some common More...
This book reminded me a lot of Lord Perfect, though a bit simpler, with some common More...
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(6 people liked it)
Jul 07, 2011
LuvGirl
rated it:
2.5 stars. Ever since I read MR. Perfect and liked LC humorous prose, I tried most of her past books and started looking forward to her new releases, but alas, none of them were ever as good as “MR. Perfect” with the exception of “Your scandalous Ways” which pushed the limits a little and raised LC’s skills a notch in my eyes. This book was just okay for me. There was nothing spectacular about it. The hero’s fiancé was too unrealistic in that she knew that the heroine was trying to steal her
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5 comments
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(6 people liked it)
Nov 26, 2011
Jan
rated it:
I looked forward to this a lot, since Mr. Impossible is one of my absolute favorite Historical Romances. (Rupert, please come and take me away some day). Alas, for me, the book didn't quite deliver.
For the first quarter of the book I didn't relate to either of the characters. There was witty banter, attraction, wagers and waltzes, but the story didn't grab me, mostly because I didn't get a hold on who they were.
Marcelline seemed a shallow modern single mom who needs finan More...
For the first quarter of the book I didn't relate to either of the characters. There was witty banter, attraction, wagers and waltzes, but the story didn't grab me, mostly because I didn't get a hold on who they were.
Marcelline seemed a shallow modern single mom who needs finan More...
5 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Dec 15, 2011
Sababa
rated it: 
This is Loretta Chase at her best. This is a novel every romance reader should read at least once.
Of course this is about a duke.. a duke who falls in love with a debutantes?? Commoner?? No and no. Our Duke here falls for a dress maker who wanted his attention only to gain control of the wardrobe of the future Duchess of Cleveland. Our dressmaker is not just any ordinary girl. She is the descendant of a disreputable blue-blood family who now has to work for her living. She has a sist More...
Of course this is about a duke.. a duke who falls in love with a debutantes?? Commoner?? No and no. Our Duke here falls for a dress maker who wanted his attention only to gain control of the wardrobe of the future Duchess of Cleveland. Our dressmaker is not just any ordinary girl. She is the descendant of a disreputable blue-blood family who now has to work for her living. She has a sist More...
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 15, 2011
Kelly22
rated it: 
4.00 Stars - Historical Romance!
I loved this book and was glad to pick this up thanks to Sababa’s recommendation. This first installment in the series promotes the good old ‘love-hate’ romance theme of a snarky heroine and a reluctantly obsessed (with her) hero whom she manages to wrap up in her fingers and roams about the whole book only to end up in a beautiful romance story with a refreshing setting.
Marcelline came about as an ambitious 19th century dressmaker who is More...
I loved this book and was glad to pick this up thanks to Sababa’s recommendation. This first installment in the series promotes the good old ‘love-hate’ romance theme of a snarky heroine and a reluctantly obsessed (with her) hero whom she manages to wrap up in her fingers and roams about the whole book only to end up in a beautiful romance story with a refreshing setting.
Marcelline came about as an ambitious 19th century dressmaker who is More...
10 comments
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(9 people liked it)
Jun 23, 2011
Mandi
rated it:
Favorite Quote: He was a predator. So was she.
Marcelline Noirot and her two sisters own a dress shop, a moderately successful one, having only one larger, more prestigious client. Marcelline lives and breathes this shop. It not only supports her family, but designing is in her soul. It is her passion. But they know they need someone big, someone who will get all the ton pointed in their direction so they can wipe out all of their competition. When they read in a gossip paper that the More...
Marcelline Noirot and her two sisters own a dress shop, a moderately successful one, having only one larger, more prestigious client. Marcelline lives and breathes this shop. It not only supports her family, but designing is in her soul. It is her passion. But they know they need someone big, someone who will get all the ton pointed in their direction so they can wipe out all of their competition. When they read in a gossip paper that the More...
11 comments
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(17 people liked it)
Feb 02, 2012
Mara
rated it:
The heroine made the book.
She had no morals to speak of, but her survival instincts were acute.She was smart and sexy and daring, just what any heroine worth her salt should be.
She walked quickly as they left the box, thinking quickly, too, as she went. She was aware of the clusters of opera-goers in the corridor making way for her. That amused her, even while she pondered the unexpected problem walking alongside.More...
She’d known the Duke of Clevedon was a handful.
She’d vas
Jan 01, 2012
Candice
rated it:
I have to preface this review by saying how much I despise the fashion of the 1830s. I'm a Regency girl at heart, but there are other periods of fashion that I like. But the 1830s, IMO, represents the absolute nadir of female fashion.
Having said that, I must confess that Loretta Chase has done the impossible. In this book, she made me feel as though the fashions of 1835 (the peak of 1830s hideousness) were actually beautiful. Her glorious descriptions of the dresses, the loving deta More...
Having said that, I must confess that Loretta Chase has done the impossible. In this book, she made me feel as though the fashions of 1835 (the peak of 1830s hideousness) were actually beautiful. Her glorious descriptions of the dresses, the loving deta More...
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Dec 28, 2011
Margaret
rated it:
I have a slowly flourishing love affair with Loretta Chase's novels. The first one I read was Lord Perfect. I thought it was okay, but I didn't love it. It didn't quite make it to the Keeper's Shelf. However, repeated recommendations brought me back to her and I'm so glad they did. I gobbled up Mr Impossible, the Last Hellion and Lord of Scoundrel's and I realised that Chase is an author who does comedy, exquisite detail, wit and romance.
When I saw the plot for Silk is for Seduction More...
When I saw the plot for Silk is for Seduction More...
Oct 30, 2011
Mai
rated it:
“Wooden “heroine ! “less than intelligent “ hero !!
This book really wasn’t that bad .I was entertained many times .but why did I give it 2 stars only ?
Before I start I should warn u there are POSSIBLE SPOILERS
And the fact is that this is just my opinion and how I felt about the book.
The heroine :
I felt I never KNEW the hero and the heroine .The heroine was cold ,WOODEN ,manipulative and she seems to lack emotions .I had the same problem with LORD OF SCOUNDRELS .Jes More...
This book really wasn’t that bad .I was entertained many times .but why did I give it 2 stars only ?
Before I start I should warn u there are POSSIBLE SPOILERS
And the fact is that this is just my opinion and how I felt about the book.
The heroine :
I felt I never KNEW the hero and the heroine .The heroine was cold ,WOODEN ,manipulative and she seems to lack emotions .I had the same problem with LORD OF SCOUNDRELS .Jes More...
Sep 28, 2011
Regina
rated it:
I thoroughly enjoyed so many things about this book! Right off the bat I loved how the hero and heroine met and interacted (because of her beauty and confident and sensual nature, he believed she was a noblewoman, and was quite flummoxed to discover shortly after that he had been flirting with mere shopkeeper!); The heroine, Marcelline, was not a prim and proper miss, but a schemer and cheater--nearly as much of a scoundrel as the hero! He was the typical arrogant, self-entitled duke who truly b
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Jul 31, 2011
Kathy
rated it:
When I picked this up, I was looking for a light and fluffy book of historical fiction to use as a palate cleanser between more meaty books. That was not what I got! This story was wonderful. It was filled with intense emotion. It was also a very good look at what a rigid class structure is like.
Marcelline is in trade. While she has aristocratic ancestry, they were not the upstanding, honorable type of aristocrats. They were the black sheep of their families. She has been raised witho More...
Marcelline is in trade. While she has aristocratic ancestry, they were not the upstanding, honorable type of aristocrats. They were the black sheep of their families. She has been raised witho More...
Jul 29, 2011
Book Binge
rated it:
I haven't read all that many books by Loretta Chase but when I do read her books, I'm not disappointed. Chase has a way of telling a story that pulls the reader into the thick of it all and I'm always entertained. This book wasn't any different.
This story tells the story of the Duke of Clevedon and Marcelline Noirot and what a story it was. I thoroughly enjoyed the book from the beginning all the way to the end. The chemistry between Clevedon and Marcelline was off the charts and it wa More...
This story tells the story of the Duke of Clevedon and Marcelline Noirot and what a story it was. I thoroughly enjoyed the book from the beginning all the way to the end. The chemistry between Clevedon and Marcelline was off the charts and it wa More...
Jul 28, 2011
Karen
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jul 28, 2011
Ilona
rated it:
Dear Readers,
On Tuesday Lady I__, who as we all know, loves swimming for it is the only sport besides badminton in which she ever showed a passable proficiency, could be seen within the crystal clear waters of her backyard pool. However, instead of swimming side to side and floating upon the water in the manner usual to her, Lady I__ instead perched upon the pool steps with a paperback and remained stationary. It is said that she giggled in the most silly manner and all attempts to d More...
On Tuesday Lady I__, who as we all know, loves swimming for it is the only sport besides badminton in which she ever showed a passable proficiency, could be seen within the crystal clear waters of her backyard pool. However, instead of swimming side to side and floating upon the water in the manner usual to her, Lady I__ instead perched upon the pool steps with a paperback and remained stationary. It is said that she giggled in the most silly manner and all attempts to d More...
11 comments
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(36 people liked it)
Jul 24, 2011
Bettie
rated it:
What did I think? When I could pull myself out of the story enough to think, I thought "Loretta Chase is a frickin' genius!" Silk is for Seduction is a tale of romance, passion and fashion, all told in Chase's wonderful prose. This book is the historical romance I've been wanting to read for as long as I've read historical romance. If it weren't for the fact that I owe Lord of Scoundrels an eternal debt of gratitude for introducing me to Chase's work, Silk is for Seduction would probab
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Jul 23, 2011
Barbara
rated it:
Four and a half stars from me, if I could.
My luck with Loretta Chase's book is hit or miss-everything from DNF to 4+ stars. This one was a hit.
No one does obsessed, dense heroes like Chase. And our poor hero, the Duke of Clevedon, is obsessed with Mrs. Noirot, London modiste of the first order(at least that's her ambition). And he takes a really long time to figure out why he has trouble proposing to Lady Clara, a young lady he has known and loved since childhood.
Mrs Noirot (Mar More...
My luck with Loretta Chase's book is hit or miss-everything from DNF to 4+ stars. This one was a hit.
No one does obsessed, dense heroes like Chase. And our poor hero, the Duke of Clevedon, is obsessed with Mrs. Noirot, London modiste of the first order(at least that's her ambition). And he takes a really long time to figure out why he has trouble proposing to Lady Clara, a young lady he has known and loved since childhood.
Mrs Noirot (Mar More...
Jul 20, 2011
Jo (Mixed Book Bag)
rated it:
Marcelline Noirot is the daughter of Mr. Edward Noirot and Miss Catherine DeLucey. Both the Noirot’s and the DeLucey’s are noted for “seducing and swindling every dupe who crossed their path”. Since Edward and Catherine carried on this tradition you would think that their children would follow the same path. That is not what happened. Their three daughters are making an honest living as dressmakers. Marcelline is the oldest and determined to make her shop the one the highest echelons of the
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Jul 15, 2011
Karyn
rated it:
I adored this book, it could be called 'The Duke and The Dressmaker." Utterly charming and seductive, the characters sparkle.
The handsome Duke of Clevedon is on an extended visit to Paris, over three years to be exact. He has an impending marriage in his future, something he doesn't seem to anxious to finalize.
Marcelline Noirot is an over ambitious dressmaker, she has heard the whispers of the Duke's coming nuptials to Lady Clara Fairfax. Her scheming brain begins to tur More...
The handsome Duke of Clevedon is on an extended visit to Paris, over three years to be exact. He has an impending marriage in his future, something he doesn't seem to anxious to finalize.
Marcelline Noirot is an over ambitious dressmaker, she has heard the whispers of the Duke's coming nuptials to Lady Clara Fairfax. Her scheming brain begins to tur More...
Jul 12, 2011
Christine
rated it:
I really love Loretta Chase and her take on romance, though I'm still embarrassed to carry any of her books in public even after reading all of them. One of Ms. Chase's strengths in writing since forever is her ability to create strong, unconventional females and write snappy dialogue between the leading man & woman in most of her novels.
This novel started out really well - the sparks between the main 2 characters fairly blazed from the very first and the resulting dialogue was fabulo More...
This novel started out really well - the sparks between the main 2 characters fairly blazed from the very first and the resulting dialogue was fabulo More...
Jun 27, 2011
Judy & Marianne from
rated it:
originaly posted at http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/...
A breath-holding air of expectancy ripples through Silk is for Seduction. Like the subtle whisper of silk brushing against a trouser leg, the hum of sexual tension charges the atmosphere around Marcelline Noirot and the Duke of Clevedon.
The Duke, known as a seducer of only the crème de la crème of aristocratic beauties, gets blindsided by “of all things” a dressmaker, albeit a dressmaker that turns heads and s More...
A breath-holding air of expectancy ripples through Silk is for Seduction. Like the subtle whisper of silk brushing against a trouser leg, the hum of sexual tension charges the atmosphere around Marcelline Noirot and the Duke of Clevedon.
The Duke, known as a seducer of only the crème de la crème of aristocratic beauties, gets blindsided by “of all things” a dressmaker, albeit a dressmaker that turns heads and s More...
Jun 21, 2011
Mary
rated it:
SILK IS FOR SEDUCTION written by Loretta Chase
06/11 - HarperCollins Publishers - Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
In love, are your choices to either control the relationship, or let it be out of control?
Gervasise Angier, the seventh Duke of Clevedon is the most handsome man on any continent. However, Marcelline Noirot did not want him for his stunning good looks; no, she had a much more important mission as she was interested in the woman that would be his Duchess. Mar More...
06/11 - HarperCollins Publishers - Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
In love, are your choices to either control the relationship, or let it be out of control?
Gervasise Angier, the seventh Duke of Clevedon is the most handsome man on any continent. However, Marcelline Noirot did not want him for his stunning good looks; no, she had a much more important mission as she was interested in the woman that would be his Duchess. Mar More...
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Jan 15, 2012
Suz
rated it:
4.5 Stars. I enjoyed this quite a bit more than I expected to. The characters were likable but not perfect. I enjoyed that the heroine was the alpha, and that she was strong and sensible. I liked that she was shamelessly pragmatic without being selfish or cruel.
The hero was as arrogant as you might expect a high ranking aristocrat from this time to be, but his was the arrogance of youth given to him by a lifetime of privilege, not a lifetime of fighting and taking what he wanted. More...
The hero was as arrogant as you might expect a high ranking aristocrat from this time to be, but his was the arrogance of youth given to him by a lifetime of privilege, not a lifetime of fighting and taking what he wanted. More...
8 comments
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(5 people liked it)
Jul 09, 2011
Jill
rated it:
After three years abroad Gervaise Angier, the Duke of Clevedon is at last returning to England. Though not officially engaged to Lady Clara, the Earl of Longmore's sister, she is nevertheless his intended and word is about that she will soon become the Duchess of Clevedon.
Marcelline Noirot and her sisters, Sophia and Leonie are the proprietresses of 'Maison Noirot', the dressmaking establishment for ladies of the upper classes. Upon hearing this bit of news, Marcelline decides to tr More...
Marcelline Noirot and her sisters, Sophia and Leonie are the proprietresses of 'Maison Noirot', the dressmaking establishment for ladies of the upper classes. Upon hearing this bit of news, Marcelline decides to tr More...
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(4 people liked it)
Jul 06, 2011
Jen
rated it:
Marcelline Noirot comes from a family of swindlers. But now that her con-artist parents are dead, she and her sisters are working to make a respectable living as dressmakers. Of course, they may have to resort to an underhanded trick here or there, but Marcelline is a skilled modiste. She just needs to establish the right clientele.
She sets her sights on the future Duchess of Clevedon. It's true that the dowdy Clara isn't actually engaged to the Duke yet, but society deems that it's More...
She sets her sights on the future Duchess of Clevedon. It's true that the dowdy Clara isn't actually engaged to the Duke yet, but society deems that it's More...
Jul 12, 2011
♥ Beth
rated it:
It was amazing! 5 HUGE ★!
Wow... I'm not sure if I can adequately express how much I loved Silk Is For Seduction. I was completely drawn into the story from page one and couldn't put it down! The heroine, Marcelline Noirot is easily one of my favorite heroines ever. With so much smarts, determination, spunk and sass, she is definitely a lady born before her time and she is not above using some sly methods to achieve her successes. So when the Duke of Clevedon, who has had his life More...
Wow... I'm not sure if I can adequately express how much I loved Silk Is For Seduction. I was completely drawn into the story from page one and couldn't put it down! The heroine, Marcelline Noirot is easily one of my favorite heroines ever. With so much smarts, determination, spunk and sass, she is definitely a lady born before her time and she is not above using some sly methods to achieve her successes. So when the Duke of Clevedon, who has had his life More...
6 comments
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(9 people liked it)
Dec 21, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
Oh I liked this book. Loretta Chase is fast becoming one of my favorite romance novelists. Strong, smart heroines. A story that held my interest from beginning to end. And gorgeous clothing. Ahh, what an enjoyable romp.
The story revolved around two very strong willed characters - a handsome wealthy duke, and a milliner (seamstress) who sought to use him to build up her business. No shrinking wallflowers here.
I read this book on the heels of another Regency romance More...
The story revolved around two very strong willed characters - a handsome wealthy duke, and a milliner (seamstress) who sought to use him to build up her business. No shrinking wallflowers here.
I read this book on the heels of another Regency romance More...
Dec 14, 2011
Artemis
rated it:
I found this to be a really exciting read. First book I've read from this author, I found our heroine to be saucy and spicy. Middle class shopkeeper, Marceline Noirot goes to Paris in order to seduce the duke to pick her fashion house to cloth his future bride. There's a bitter rivalry between dress makers in the background and Marceline's pride in her work and independence is to be applauded. I only wish the duke had some more wits about him, he reminded me of a caveman at times with his respon
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Jan 29, 2012
Jasey
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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