Review: The Seductive One - Susan Mallery

Author -  Susan Mallery
Category - Fiction
Genre - Contemporary Romance
Rating – 3.5/5

Story Blurb

Brenna Marcelli is the only Marcelli daughter who dreams of running the family winery business. She has at last returned home after her marriage failed. But taking charge of the winery is still a long way since her grandfather has other plans for the business including handing it over to the long lost Marcelli heir whom they have reconnected with. Desperate for a solution, Brenna decides to open her own winery and approaches Nic Giovanni, her neighbor for loan. Nic Giovanni and Brenna’s family has been at loggerheads since many years. Both their great-grandfathers were friends who came from Italy to start their own business but soon the families turned bitter towards each other after Marcelli’s accused Giovanni of tampering with their grape vines. Brenna and Nic were once in love but she chose family over love. Nic is still bitter about the past but agrees to loan Brenna money to start her own business. He has a hidden agenda, buying Marcelli winery and hence agrees to loan money to Brenna to control her fate. However, seeing Brenna’s enthusiasm over her new business and their growing proximity Nic’s desire for revenge slowly starts dying. Both Brenna and Nic’s rekindled passion towards each other makes them realize that their love hasn’t died. But is Brenna brave enough to choose love over family this time?

My Thoughts

I like stories where lovers are separated and then get reunited. Brenna and Nic’s story is one such where they are separated and then fate intervenes and brings them together. What is good or rather different about the story is that for once it was not the guy who broke the relationship but rather girl’s fear and insecurity due to which she could not commit to their relationship in the past. 

Finally a Marcelli story where Grandpa Lorenzo redeems himself by supporting Brenna in the end and letting go of the past to accept Nic and Brenna’s relationship. The scenes between Nic and Brenna throughout the story are very engrossing and reflects the ease they both had with each other due to their past. The manner in which Nic convinces Brenna in the end was quite brilliant on the part of the author. I found it missing in Mia’s story in “The Marcelli Princess”.