The Seduction of Lady X is the fourth of the Secrets of Hadley Green series. If you have not read the series THE SEDUCTION OF LADY X can be read as a standalone novel, however to truly understand and appreciate the story I believe that the series should be read in its entirety. Packed with unrequited love, the terrors of regency married life, and the pain of not being socially acceptable this one was as sweet as it was heartbreaking.

THE SEDUCTION OF LADY X presents to us an unlikely pair. The story begins by telling the tale of Lady Olivia and her marriage to the Marquis of Carey. The marriage is a horrible one with an abusive husband; and by abusive I mean on all levels that a husband can be abusive. The only sunshine in the Lady's life is the steward, Harrison Tolly, who was born a bastard of a Lord.

Suddenly on the scene is Lady Olivia's unmarried and certainly pregnant sister Alexa Hastings. Alexa is in dire straits and needs the help of her sister in a most grievous way. Unmarried pregnant women are socially scorned, publically humiliated, and completely ruined.

Knowing the heartache of bastardry, and wanting to be Olivia's knight in shining armor, Harrison comes to the rescue and offers to marry Alexa pretty much sight unseen. In the midst of this chaos Harrison is informed that despite his birth his father has died and he is the sole heir and the new Earl of Ashwood.

Alexa was not a very strong character for me; she lacked the intelligence and strength that I wanted to see in her. She remained, throughout the book, a mixture of a child with childish ways and a lady trying her best to make her way in the world. Despite the love Alexa could see between her sister and her husband she clings to her marriage far longer than need be.

Olivia on the other hand was a very strong woman. Her story was tragic on so many levels that my heart just broke for her. I loved how London portrayed her strength, endurance, and her will to go on. This woman has a backbone of steel and was in desperate need of a happily ever after. THE SEDUCTION OF LADY X by itself was very well written. I loved the complexities that had to be overcome; true to London's style nothing is ever easy.

However, as part of the series I did have a few disappointments. First, the series is based around jewels that were stolen, yet I did not feel that they remained important as they should have for the series. Second, the series left quite a few questions unanswered almost as if London is planning a fifth? What about the Earl that vanished before we knew his dark secret? Did he die or is he lying in wait for another victim? What about the aunt? Did she kill herself or did the Earl really stage her suicide?

I am hoping for more answers from Ms. London, but until then we are left feeling that the series as a whole is yet unresolved.