Reviewed by Buffie Johnson
4 stars

The fourth and final installment in the Last Man Standing series by Victoria Alexander is Seduction of a Proper Gentleman. The series is based around a wager made by four gentlemen – Viscount Warton, Viscount Cavendish, American Daniel Sinclair, and the Earl of Norcroft. The stakes of the bet are a shilling contributed by each gentleman and a bottle of cognac, all of which will be given to the last man of the group to remain single. Seduction of a Proper Gentleman is the story of Oliver Leighton, Earl of Norcroft, and his road to wedded bliss with Lady Kathleen McDavid.

Determined to end a 500-year old curse on her Scottish family, Lady Kathleen McDavid travels to London with her Aunt Hannah in search of the one man in the entire world she must marry to save her family. His name is Oliver Leighton, and he is the Earl of Norcroft. Upon arriving in London, Kathleen bumps into the Earl of Norcroft as he is leaving his club after an evening of leisure. But when he mistakes Kathleen for a beggar and gives her the winning shillings from the wager, she wonders what kind of husband this man will become. Aunt Hannah feverishly tries to convince Kathleen to use some family magic to snag Oliver as her husband. Kathleen steadfastly refuses as she wants to be honest with her future husband and quite frankly she doesn’t believe magic will work. But Aunt Hannah has no qualms about a little magic and thus casts a spell upon the unknowing Kathleen. Kathleen wakes to find herself lying on a sofa in the country home of the Earl with no memory of how she got there, let alone of who she is. The only thing that Kathleen knows is there is an attraction between her and the Earl.

Oliver Leighton cannot believe he is the last man standing. Of all the gentlemen who took part in the wager, Oliver was the only one not opposed to the idea of marriage and yet here he is alone again. His friends have found marriage and happiness. And now, Oliver believes he is ready to find his. However, when a beautiful young woman appears at his country home supposedly suffering from amnesia, Oliver puts his quest for happiness aside to find out exactly what this woman is hiding or more importantly what this woman wants. Though he is suspicious of Kathleen’s motives, Oliver finds it hard to control his desires and not fall for the captivating nuances of his house guest.

I absolutely love books with wonderful dialogue, and this is just one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much. Victoria Alexander delivers the dialogue with finesse and humor. The lively banter between Kathleen and Oliver is perfect. Throw in a few meddling family members, a quirky butler, and a little bit of magic and you have the makings for a wonderfully delightful story. Be sure to pick up a copy of Seduction of a Proper Gentleman and enjoy the experience.