Lady Zoe Keane has received information from her aunt that she may not actually be the biological child of her parents. She is in line to inherit the title of countess upon her father's death because he has no other children, a rarity for a female. Zoe actually approaches her father, and asks for the truth, but he won't even discuss it, and tells her to forget it. In an attempt to find out her true heritage, she contacts the investigators known as the Duke's Men, who owe her a favor. Tristan Bonnard is the man assigned to her case, much to her dismay, as they have had a somewhat antagonistic previous encounter.

Tristan is the illegitimate son of a viscount, and was raised with his two legitimate half-brothers until his father's death. At that time, the heir, George, destroyed a document that bequeathed a horse, among other things to Tristan, leaving him and his mother and sister destitute. George also had them removed from his land. Enraged and powerless, the then seventeen year old Tristan took the horse, and sold it to get enough money to transport him and his family to France. Because horse thieves are hanged, and George is very vindictive, he's unable to return to England until a friend who is a Duke forces George to drop the theft charge against Tristan.

It's now thirteen years later, and Tristan is partner in the investigative agency with his other half-brother, Dom, who was also disowned by George. He is the logical man to handle Zoe's case, because the trail leads to gypsies who were Tristan's friends as a child. Sparks fly immediately between these two. At the beginning, Zoe sometimes acts as the toplofty countess-to-be, and doesn't give Tristan much respect. In turn, he plays the scoundrel, baiting her, and not bowing to her superior social status. When they aren't bickering, they are sharing stolen kisses.

HOW THE SCOUNDREL SEDUCES takes place in a relatively short period of time, but there is a whole lot of action packed into it. In addition to the search to find out the truth of Zoe's birth, Tristan is trying to find a way to be free of his odious half-brother, George, who is still intent on destroying him and his business. Sabrina Jeffries has very cleverly crafted this story to have ties to Tristan's past, as well.

The plot is very well written and holds your interest. I found myself hating to have to put the book down, and read it in two sittings. Despite all this, the romance was the focus of the book. I particularly liked watching Tristan develop from a true scoundrel to a hero. His vulnerability as he fell in love was touching.

The first two books in the Duke's Men series have related characters, and in particular, What the Duke Desires will enhance your enjoyment of HOW THE SCOUNDREL SEDUCES, though it can be read alone. I feel this is one of Sabrina Jeffries best books -- it's exciting, romantic, sexy, and an all around satisfying read.

Book Summary

Investigator Tristan Bonnaud has one aim in life—to make sure that his half-brother George can’t ever ruin his life again. So when the pesky Lady Zoe Keane, the daughter of the Earl of Olivier, shows up demanding that the Duke’s Men find a mysterious gypsy woman, he seizes the opportunity to also hunt for a gypsy friend who knows secrets about George.

Tristan doesn’t expect to uncover Lady Zoe’s family secrets, as well…or end up falling for the woman who will risk all to discover the truth.