Seducing Celestine by Amarinda Jones

What would you do if your dream lover turned out to be a real, good-looking guy set on seducing you? And what if you find you can’t say no to him? How about if he keeps showing up and seducing you over and over again?

When the hot, sexy guy intimately caressing Celestine in her dreams turns out to be a real life man in her bed is it moonlight madness or is she just one very lucky girl? Should she be offended this man just wants a moonlight ride with any available woman or let him take her as her heart desires?

The woman in Nick's arms is different to any he has ever tasted. Seducing Celestine into submission becomes one sexy challenge he cannot resist. But someone else wants Celestine and it has nothing to do with sex.

Can lust be love? Can she stay out of trouble long enough to find out?

Warnings: This title contains graphic language and lots of sex.

I have to say something about Seducing Celestine right form the start. The premise/plot, while contemporary, is complete fantasy and anyone wanting something based on anything close to reality should look else where. If you can let you hair down to relax and go with the flow for the story line, then you will enjoy this. Otherwise, you might get upset that there is no way most women would let some strange man who has crept into their room have sex with them…then basically start a relationship basic on this guy stalking the girl to have sex with her in all sorts of places at any time. This makes for nice fantasy but horror in reality. So remember Seducing Celestine is fiction and pretend.

Celestine Holt is having a hard time right now. The company she worked for went bankrupt and her job with it. Her (now) ex-roommate took off with everything of value from the house, stole all her money and charged up her credit cards as well. Then she was in a car accident after her insurance lapsed, leaving her having to replace her car when she was short on funds. So now she is unemployed, in debt, and has a run-down, badly working old car. She is spending a few days at Tess, her best friend’s house, for Tess’s engagement part. This is when Nick visits via the window one night.

Nick Swan has known Tess for quit a while and they are occasional lovers, indulging in what they refer to as a “moonlight ride.” It may have been six months since he has crawled up Tess’s trellis to visit her, but he should have known that her body had not changed that much. Once the woman there makes it known she thought she was dreaming, he introduces himself and convinces her to ‘take a ride’ anyway. Nick is captivated by Celestine from the first and figures out he only wants her from then on. He owns a successful construction company and he comes over the next day to “see about building some kitchen shelves” to officially meet Celestine. Then he sets out to pursue her even more.

Celestine needs to find a job. She can’t hide out at Tess’s forever. And she has to get away from Nick! It seems someone is after her. There is the attempted carjacking. Then the prowler at her house. And the shooting the next morning. But she thinks it just might have something to do with Nick, because he always seems to be around when these things happen. When there are threats against her all over her walls, Nick convinces her to stay in his guest house. Nick wants more than just sex with her but she doesn’t believe him.

Who is after them and why (and which one of them, really)? Will Nick be able to get her to relax enough to have more than just hot sex with him (i.e. a relationship)? Can she believe him about having a relationship or is he out for just the sex?

My problems with Seducing Celestine beyond the unbelievable premise... Nick decides from the first night/sex that Celestine is different then the other women he has had and he “only wants her now”!?? Celestine can’t manage to say no to Nick, not even once?? Celestine never guesses what the bad guys are after (duh!). Celestine and Nick falling for each other but they don’t really form much of a relationship, just lots and lots of sex (really good sex, but that is lust, not love).

Now for the good parts of Seducing Celestine: Oh my, is this an erotic ride! Since Celestine can’t say no and Nick is always after her (when is he working?), there is sex everywhere. One would almost worry he is a pharmaceutical experiment gone wrong he is ready so much. And he is still able to save her from a carjacking, notice that someone is after her, and put the clues together that are right in front of her and she is ignoring. All that sex and he is still able to use his brain, what a combination! Celestine may be a nice person, which is what got her in a jamb in the first place, but all that pride (won’t ask friends/family for help, like my dad) is too much. Though I do think her lies and justifying the lies are funny! Nick is sexy and seems caring but too arrogant. They make a very interesting pair and one can bet they will ‘fight’ just as much as they love!

Seducing Celestine lives up to its name. There is a little mystery, but one almost feels sorry for, while laugh over, the bumbling bad guys (more reality in the book). This one is a bit extreme with the sex, but will leave the erotic lovers happy.