How (Not) To Be Seduced By Dukes by Marian Tee

At 34 years old, Rathe Wellesley, a powerful and gorgeous billionaire nobleman, has his life all planned out – or so he thinks until he meets Mary, a lovely but socially awkward genius who is nothing like his future duchess should be.

Raised by a crazed and oppressive stepfather, 18-year-old Mary Ashton finds herself swept off her feet by the duke and tossed out of her home for daring to kiss a man before marriage.

By choosing to be with Rathe, Mary’s life is completely transformed, leading an ordinary life as a college student during the day…and living the glamorous and passionate life as the duke’s mistress at night.

It’s not the life she’s dreamt of but the look in Rathe’s eyes keeps Mary from leaving. It’s a look that tells her maybe, just maybe he could fall in love with her, too.


So I mentioned in Twitter last night that I wanted to take a break from all the hot athlete and rockstar heroes I've been reading about too much lately. Because I. Wanted. Normal. And then I ended up reading this book instead. Which had a duke in it. Ggg, sometimes I do have difficulty defining normal. Ha!

I think this may the first book I read that really tackled age differences. I'm sure there were innumerable times when it has been mentioned in books...but merely in passing. But in this story, it was a serious part of the plot to the point that it really affected the personality of a main character.

But I couldn't help but like Rathe. He tried to his best to avoid  this relationship because he was much older than Mary. And I somehow thought though that Mary was too young in a sense that MT should've aged her a bit older (say, 20?) because I know I could handle a story with an older hero instead since the age gap was really one of the focal points of the story.

This may have been the shortest Pusketeer book but this also had the darkest undertone. I was pretty used to the feel good ones that I read first that I was kind of expecting the same thing here. This turned out to be surprise...and a good one at that.

So this was the last MT that I have in my TBR pile but probably not going to be my last. I really still need to warm up to her style. But I still had a fun time everytime I read her books. Yep, I will most likely read some more of her stuff.


Finale verdict: 6/10. Okay read.


Pusketeer series reviews:
How (Not) To Be Seduced by Billionaires
How (Not) To Be Seduced by Rockstars

How (Not) To Be Seduced By Rockstars by Marian Tee

When Fangirls Lie

Sapphire “Saffi” March used to be known as an eccentric genius, the girl who had made a laughingstock of her illustrious family. But she’s reinvented herself since then. Now a post-graduate honor student, Saffi is determined to be a dutiful daughter, with no one in her world ever supposed to know she’s also the most diehard fangirl of Sweden’s #1 Sex God.

It’s her greatest secret, and the times she watches the sex god

sing and dance are the only times she could just breathe…and be herself.

Handsome like a classical statue but earthy and sexy like a pagan god, Staffan Aehrenthal is the most wildly successful rockstar that ever came on stage. He should be celebrating being on top of his world, but a woman’s betrayal had Staffan forging a path to self-destruction instead.

Life no longer meant anything--until serendipity introduced him to a beautiful and funny girl with an adorably unique fascination with fishes.

When their worlds collide on one fateful weekend, Saffi is disguised as a gum-chewing hardcore groupie while Staffan pretends he hasn’t been trailing after her all over the Internet. It’s a recipe for the most hilarious and heartbreaking of disasters because when fangirls lie, the craziest things can happen--like a rockstar falling in love.


I read this serial as a bundle so I'm posting this review as one.

Let me just say that personally, I am a fangirl. Saying I'm a huge fangirl of just about anyone--music people (boybands!), moviestars, athletes--is an understatement. That was probably the reason why I gravitated towards these books.

I just couldn't help but feel envious about Saffi catching StafFan's eye. Honestly, that is every fangirl's dream. I may have at least one foot on the ground and never went as overboard as fantising to this extent. But to be given a chance to speak with one of my favorite rockstars at length is a dream! Lucky Saffi, really. I loved how she was a bit nerdy on one side but also had a naughty side to his personality--and was not afraid to show it either. 

This was an easy read. Still not the best I've gotten my eyes on but it was just ridiculously easy to go through with all the giggles along the way. This may not be something that I would recommended to everyone, espcially the pickier readers. Simply put, MT's writing style is an acquired taste.



When Fangirls Cry

Wonderful white marlin!
Fish-loving Saffi March is no longer a boring post-grad student by day, hopeless fangirl at night. Now that Sweden’s #1 Sex God Staffan Aehrenthal is in love with her, it’s only a matter of time before she has her happily-ever-after...right?

Devastating daggertooth pike conger!
Staffan Aehrenthal is determined never to fall in love again. Saffi hasn’t told Staffan she’s pregnant--and he ends up learning about it from the tabloids. She had made him believe in happily-ever after endings but now he knows it’s an illusion...just like the Saffi he thought he knew and loved.

Optimistic Oriental loach!
With Staffan and the whole world mistakenly thinking she’s carrying the baby of a desert prince, a happily-ever-after for her and Staffan doesn’t seem possible any longer. But Saffi is determined not to lose hope, not even if the man she’s only ever loved is the man who’s hurting her the most.


As much as I enjoyed some parts in this book, I hated the lying part the most--white lies, lying by omission, outright lying. They're all more or less the same. So when Saffi withheld important information from Staffan and continued lying about it even if she had chances to be honest about it, it just didn't sit well for me. When Staffan found out about it through the papers and all hell broke lose, there was noone I could blame but Saffi.

This was pretty much a light reading. I'd say there was a serious undertone in some parts...I won't say much to avoid spoilers, but all in all, it was a fun read. The incorporation of social media was a good touch and even if I felt that the ending was a bit rushed, the story still left me with some good vibes.



Final verdict: 6/10. Okay read.

How (Not) To Be Seduced By Billionaires by Marian Tee

My name is Yanna Everleigh. I used to think that being an old-fashioned virgin would be enough to keep gorgeous, sexy billionaires away--well, the kind who didn't do love, at least. But I was wrong. If anything, it simply made my billionaire want me even more.

His name is Constantijin Kastein. He blows hot and cold, arrogant and cynical one moment and then disarmingly sweet the next. He makes me forget all about waiting for true love and just go for mind-blowingly hot sex. He makes me want to be his, even though he seems to want other women, too.

But he's also Netherlands' #1 playboy, and I'm my own worst enemy. I must be on my guard.

Maybe if I tell him first that I love him--maybe if I pretend that I don't see the coldness in his eyes when we talk about that word - pretend that I don't feel him putting distance between us when I ask for something he's not yet ready to give - maybe he'll finally realize that he doesn't have to seduce a woman who loves him. He just has to love her back.

Or not.


This series was originally released as three separate novellas: Chased, Courted, and Caged. Since I read the entire thing as one whole book, my review will be for the entire series.

What I liked about this read: it was hilarious, romantic, had great sex but nothing eeky, had fun secondary characters (that deserve their own stories/novellas/books...if you have read this and think that Drake and Alyx wold make a great couple then I think I love you), had good pace, and ***SPOILER*** a begging, crying hero in the end. I just melt into a puddle when they do that for their ladies. Mmm-hmm.

What I didn't like: there were too many name-dropping and pop culture referencing, and the story telling could also use a bit more polishing. The writing was good and enjoyable enough but I really wanted the narration to be more solid.

Nevertheless, this turned to be a quick one-sitter for me. Some reviews point to this as some sort of a Fifty Shades rip-off but what the heck, I really enjoyed the characters' quick banter and fluid exchange. This was easy to go through and even easier to finish. Trust me, I just suffered through a few days of reading funk and this helped me in getting back to the grind. With that said, it's guaranteed that this will not be the last MT book that I will be reading.


Final verdict: 7/10. Good read.