REVIEW: The Season to Sin by Clare Connelly

The Season to Sin by Clare Connelly is book 1 in her Christmas Seductions series and is a companion to her Harlequin Desire romance Bound by Their Christmas Baby. Though both are written as standalone stories the heroes in them are best friends and foster brothers who find themselves won over by the women in their paths.

Noah Moore has been ordered by his friend and tech business partner Gabe to seek professional therapy after the death of his foster mother. But on his first meeting with the psychologist Holly Scott-Leigh he already knows things aren’t going to work between them for business – but for pleasure? Oh yes, he’s got a plan.

Holly is attracted to Noah from when she first lays eyes on him, but she won’t cross the ethical line of sleeping with a patient. But nothing is stopping her from seeing him on a personal level if she refers him to someone else. Noah clearly needs some help; he’s not been sleeping at all and she wants to know why. If he won’t confide in her professionally, maybe he’ll let her in as a friend. Noah doesn’t want friendship. He wants sex. And he’s an expert at seduction. They start a heated affair, one that will draw them emotionally towards each other. Both have been scarred in the past. Can this be the relationship to heal them?

I really enjoyed this darker, emotional, erotic romance. Noah’s problems are understandable, given that he’d been through a series of foster homes, then lost the only woman who seemed to ever care about him (even though she had to give him up). He’s learned not to get attached and only trusts his friend Gabe who has been through similar circumstances. Holly also has her issues. She’d been married to an abusive man who is now in jail. She’s a single mom, taking care of her four year old daughter. She feels the guilt and shame of not having seen what her ex-husband was capable of before it was almost too late. Trusting another man after that experience is hard for her, but with Noah, she can explore her sexual side again, without fear of commitment. Well, until she falls for the tortured bad boy.

Holly’s daughter Ivy is important too, though she is often with her grandmother (leaving Holly free to spend weekend nights with Noah). Noah doesn’t want children, he’s emphatic on that point, leaving Holly to assume that their affair will have a time limit since Ivy is her world. They have different feelings about Christmas too, with Holly celebrating every year, and Noah despising the season for the negative memories he has of it. They are opposites, but attracted to each other and it’s Noah who will have to search his heart to see if there is room for Holly and Ivy in it. Of course they get their happy ending but it’s not an immediate one, and it takes hard work and compromise. I loved how it turned out and the ending makes you believe their relationship will last. It’s an intense, sexy, and very enjoyable read!

Book Info:

Publication: Dec 01, 2018 | Harlequin Dare | Christmas Seductions #1

Bad boys are her weakness…

Is he too magnetic to resist?

Storming into psychologist Holly Scott-Leigh’s life, bad boy billionaire Noah Moore is so hot he leaves Holly breathless with just a glance. He’s her potential client and she’s never crossed that line before. But delicious Noah tempts her to sin… This festive season, from his hip London loft to a luxurious Paris hotel, Noah will show Holly how good it feels to be on the naughty list!