Stranded and Seduced

by Emmy Grayson

He doesn’t want his inheritance…
but he does want her!

Griffith Lykaois has rejected his family’s billion-dollar legacy. It’s a fitting punishment for his guilt over his father’s death. Only, estate lawyer Rosalind Sutton won’t quit. Amid a raging storm, the infuriatingly alluring woman is on his remote château doorstep determined he claim his inheritance.

Rosalind needs Griffith’s signature; the career she put her life on hold for depends on it. But stranded alone with the brooding tycoon, there’s no way innocent Rosalind can escape her response to their intoxicating clashes… The question is, does Rosalind even want to?

Genres: Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Contemporary

208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published July 23, 2024

About the author

Emmy's interest in romance can be traced back to her love of Nancy Drew books, when she tried to solve the mysteries of her favorite detective while rereading the romantic chapters with Ned Nickerson. Fast-forward a few years when she discovered a worn copy of "A Rose in Winter" by Kathleen Woodiwiss on her mother's bookshelf, and she was hooked. Over 20 years later, Harlequin Presents made her dream come true by offering her a contract for her first book.

When Emmy isn't writing or reading, she's chasing around her baby boy, feeding her menagerie of fur babies or carving out a little time on her front porch with her firefighter hubby.

Reviews

[Esther · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC provided by NetGalley & Harlequin Presents in exchange for a honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I struggled the first two or three chapters, couldn't get engaged. I think the author was prepping the ground work for the hero's story and heroines. I found it somewhat dry and lack luster. More like a litany of fact and words. There was a back drop of how the hero had a horrible accident and his father was killed while he was driving. The guilt of that plus his regret of living a careless and glutenous life after is mother's death. He looks back and realizes what a wonderful father he had but didn't appreciate him. So we have that the first few chapters.

Then we have a few chapters after that (and some interwoven in the hero's background in the first few chapters) of the heroines story, Rosalind. She comes from a small town and first to graduate college from her family. How her parents expectations put a heavy burden on her to succeed. also they wanted her to work for a top law firm. She is just now realizing maybe that's not what she really wants for her life.

In between all this we have woven in how the heroine is trying to get the hero to sign papers for his inheritance and how he's refusing and evading her.

Mid point of the story it got a little more engaging. Rosalind goes to a remote Chateau that the hero's had decided to sequester himself in. His Mother's favorite place to stay and spend time in. She had it renovated and poured so much of herself and her time into restoring it. Rosalind tracks him down and is determined to get him to sign the papers, as her job now depends on it.

A storm develops and they both end up stuck there with no internet and cell service, well it's spotty on good days but with a storm there's no communication. And so the two are stuck and work on being civil and try to respectfully interact.

We have them both sharing their regrets and confide in each other's past. But they also try and work through their expectations on what each wants out of life and challenge each other. They of course fall in love but hero doesn't think he deserves her. But he eventually sees the light and they get their HEA.

Again I would say the first half was hard for me to get engaged in the story. The second half was a little better, with improvement on character development and had me more interested in their interaction.

I have enjoyed some of this authors past books but this one was not my favorite.

[Susan in Perthshire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gosh when I read the 4/5 star reviews, I wonder if we read the same book!

I found this story slow, ponderous and unexciting. The first half of the book was full of introspection and info dumping and the characters unengaging.

Not for me.

[Zee Monodee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad story but also wasn't spectacular. I stayed mostly to see how it'll all be resolved. The slow pace and very pedantic writing almost made me give up, but again, wanted to know how it'll end, so I stuck to it. Griffith's conflict was given much depth (though it did get repetitive), but it was overall well done. Rosalind's was a bit more lackluster, but it worked for both and for the tale.

[Bethany Waterhouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

she should have given him more grief for the way he acted!

[L Powers (Bookish_Mum) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stranded and Seduced by Emmy Grayson
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 23 July 2024

In this scorching forced-proximity romance penned by Emmy Grayson, Griffith Lykaois finds himself at odds with his family's immense wealth, burdened by guilt over his father's untimely death. Despite his refusal to accept his billion-dollar inheritance, estate lawyer Rosalind Sutton remains resolute. Braving a raging storm, she arrives uninvited at Griffith's secluded château, determined to persuade him to claim what is rightfully his.

Rosalind's professional aspirations hinge on securing Griffith's signature, a task she cannot afford to fail. However, as fate strands them together, the tension between them escalates into fiery clashes that only intensify their mutual attraction. Caught in the throes of their escalating desires, Rosalind finds herself unable to resist Griffith's magnetic presence, even as she grapples with the ethical implications of their burgeoning relationship.

As the storm rages outside, Griffith and Rosalind confront their inner demons and navigate the complexities of their burgeoning connection. Despite their initial animosity, they discover common ground amidst the turmoil, each grappling with personal demons and unexpected desires. Their struggle becomes a battle of wills and hearts, where proximity breeds undeniable chemistry and inevitable confrontation.

"In Her Service" explores the irresistible pull between two individuals thrust together by circumstance, challenging them to confront their deepest fears and desires. Emmy Grayson weaves a tale of passion and conflict, where conflicting ambitions and undeniable attraction collide amidst the opulent backdrop of Griffith's ancestral home.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harlequin Presents, and the author, Emmy Grayson, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rosalind & Griffith.

This was a missed opportunity. All the growth was shown in the epilogue. As it was structured, this didn’t do it for me.

MMC was all “woe is me”, and “I’ve been self-destructing since losing my first parent.” Not my favorite, kind of boring and repetitive, but fine, roll with it. Until the FMC came in and, after a spark of sexual attraction, suddenly was willing to make all sorts of allowances for him, to see his “hidden depths” that no one else saw. (Yes, that boilerplate phrase appeared.) To be supportive and to push him at the same time…after barely meeting him.

Meanwhile, the FMC was a pushover with regards to her family, her boss, etc. But somehow, in this situation, with this sexy, hyper-attractive, billionaire client, she’s feisty and gutsy? And she’s been saving herself for marriage, but now suddenly she’ll give up her virginity for a fling? It felt like she was one person before the story started, and then did a 180 with the MMC.

I found the dialog really stilted and cringy. It took me almost 2 weeks to wade through. I found the problems not compelling (due to the presentation, not because they weren’t serious.) I found the “I love you’s” and life long commitment coming after week of barely doing anything but avoiding each other, arguing, and a few days having sex even cringier. (It felt like it should be the start of a dating relationship, not the culmination.) I felt like the FMC was giving the MMC extra favoritism because he was sexy, which happens in the real world, but is not romantic.

Just not my cup of tea. Epilogue was surprising. If this was what the author intended to highlight, it should have been incorporated into the main story.

[Madoka Kamimura Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emmy Grayson brings us another installment in The Diamond Club books. We meet Griffith as he is suffering from the pain and grief from losing his father. Meanwhile, Rosalind has been trying to catch up with him so he can sign some legal paperwork. What happens when she finally catches up with him in France only to have mother nature intervene? Griffith must deal with Rosalind when she shows up unexpectedly at the chateau in France, but a storm knocks down a tree blocking the only way off of the property and into town? With just the two of them, will they give in to their attraction, or will the past keep them apart?

Emmy Grayson brings us the story of two individuals who are stuck with each other until the path is cleared. That gives them just enough time to be in each other's presence. But will it give them enough time to act on this connection they feel for each other, or will it just pass just as quickly as the storm? Read to find out how these two try to figure out who they are and what they want out of life.

I have read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Presents for this privilege.

[Sarah S · Rating 1 out of 5]

Could this have been any slower. It starts out strong with his scar story and how he's avoiding the world. So it's all his pov for a beauty and beast type of setup but then he saves her from rain. like seriously - rain???? And then she's stuck all day doing nothing while he does what in his office? They don't meet for a single meal or try to watch a movie at night the entire time. And then right before she's about to leave, they hook up. It was like the first 5% of the book was interesting and then that was it.

[Susan Underbrink · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Presents for the eARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. These books are usually a quick read and very light. I felt for Kacey, as she was just trying to do her job. Griffith is grumpy and hostile. Makes for explosive chemistry. I enjoyed the scenery and the story. This was a fun read, pretty intense. Well worth the read. 4 stars

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The forced proximity trope is one of my favorites and this fast and easy read checked all the boxes. The writing was excellent, although I did have trouble connecting to both main characters, overall I was immersed in the story and setting. Predictable and sweet, recommend for anyone wanting a light summer read. Thank you to the author and GR for this giveaway!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read a lot of forced proximity romances lately and I enjoyed this one. I like it when the heroines don't need a man in their lives to be successful. In Stranded and Seduced, Rosalind Sutton had a job to do and she wouldn't stop until it was done. I also liked seeing the main characters change over time. This is a quick romance read.

[Em Reads Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was an okay read, nothing to write home about. the formatting was weird on my kindle too.

[Harlequin Books]

Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
The Diamond Club (Book #8)

[Harlequin Books]

Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
The Diamond Club (Book #8)

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a prize book. Due to illness I have had to delay reading it. However, I have enjoyed reading this book. It takes you from enemies to happily ever after.

[Hsiau Wei · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emmy Grayson delivers another captivating installment in The Diamond Club series. In this book, we follow Griffith, who is grappling with the grief of losing his father. Meanwhile, Rosalind has been trying to track him down to get some legal documents signed. When she finally finds him in France, a storm complicates matters, felling a tree that blocks the only route off the property and into town. Trapped together at the chateau, Griffith and Rosalind must confront their unexpected situation. Will their growing attraction prevail, or will their pasts keep them apart?

Grayson weaves a tale of two people forced to stay together until the path is cleared, providing just enough time for their connection to deepen. Will this brief time together be enough for them to act on their feelings, or will it pass as quickly as the storm? Discover how these characters navigate their identities and desires in this engaging read.