Reviewed by Andrea Williamson
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central)
Release Date: July 28, 2009
4.5 stars

Fielding Grey is a treasure hunter.  While he enjoys the adventure and the thrill of the hunt, his ultimate motivation is money.  Because his father’s obsessive search for a legendary treasure ultimately led to his death and the family’s impoverishment, Fielding has had to rely on his own resources to replenish the household coffers.  And he has done so, quite prolifically.  After successfully completing a mission, Fielding is approached with a lucrative proposition by a member of Solomon’s, a very exclusive and very secret club of legend hunters.  At first, Fielding wants no part of it as he holds Solomon’s responsible for the death of his father, a former member.  Eventually he accepts because the price is right, the prize is more than worthwhile and he wants answers.  And thus begins his journey for the legendary Pandora’s Box.

Esme Worthington’s interests have always lied in her father’s extensive library instead of the ballrooms of London society, especially after she boldly corrected a duke in his own home during her debut.  She has never been able to live that down and hasn’t spoken to her married sister since.  Now, Esme lives a quiet, scholarly life sharing a small home in London with her aunt.  Quiet, that is, until two men break into her house demanding a key.  Esme has no idea what key they are referring to until after they kidnap her and bring her to a remote location in England and unearth Pandora’s Box, an artifact that Esme has studied extensively.  The pendant her father gave her years ago was labeled as the key to Pandora’s Box, but Esme didn’t realize it was actually the key to open it!

Little do Esme and her captors know that Fielding is watching them and waiting for his chance to grab the box and bring it back to Solomon’s.  From his hidden spot, he sees the two villains (who he knows work for the Raven, another treasure hunter) open the box, reach inside and each emerges with a gold band that won’t come off of their wrists.  When the men finally nod off, Fielding knows that this is his chance to get the box, though he didn’t count on having to rescue a damsel in distress as well.  It isn’t until after they reach a safe haven and the inquisitive Miss Worthington gives in to her curiosity and opens the box herself, thus gaining her own gold band, that Fielding realizes that this job isn’t going to be as easy as he first thought.  Esme explains that there are four gold bands representing greed, disease, lust and hope and that she obtained the band of lust.  They discover that the bands must be brought together to be returned to the box and that it must be done before the next lunar eclipse, the time in which each wearer will perish if the bands are not returned.  Not only are Esme and Fielding racing against time and their growing lust for each other (which they believe is because of Esme’s bracelet), but also an evil villain who wants the box for himself.

Seduce Me is a sexy, thrilling adventure story that is very reminiscent of Indiana Jones.  And I love me some Indiana Jones!  Both Esme and Fielding are completely down-to-earth, intelligent characters who have wonderful chemistry together.  Thanks to her mother and sister, Esme spent her entire life thinking that she would never meet a man that could actually appreciate her mind.  And then along comes Fielding, who saves her life and not only values her mind, but has complete respect for her as well.  Fielding’s past isn’t perfect either, but Esme listens to him and understands him better than anyone ever has.  And I admired Esme immensely for not overreacting when Fielding confesses a secret.  Several memorable secondary characters (who I think might be future heroes) and a few unexpected twists make this first entry in Ms. DeHart’s Legend Hunters series a winner!  Count me in as one who can’t wait for the next adventure!