Seraphin Stone is a gripping romance story that follows 17-year-old Mari Seraphin and her unconventional friendship with David Stone. Mari is an ambitious and determined student who has big plans and her whole life ahead of her. As she is preparing for college, she has a catering business with her best friend Alysson. Mari and Alysson cater a dinner party for David Stone who is a 33-year-old corporate executive. Entranced by Mari, David follows her and Alysson while they go on their European vacation in hopes that he can get Mari to fall in love with him.

Author Ginette Mayas has written an unpredictable and alluring story that can be a little provocative at times. The author seamlessly shifts the story from Mari’s perspective to David’s perspective between chapters. The story explores the desires of an older man and his lust for a younger woman, and his nonchalant approach to the situation will leave readers wondering about his state of mind.

I enjoyed the change in points of view because I was able to get a better understanding of both characters. This is important because this thought-provoking story is very much a character driven drama, with a focus on the characters relationships, how they develop and what they develop into.

This book has an engrossing plot, but I felt that I would have enjoyed it more if the story built toward a climax. Instead, readers follow Mari and David and watch their relationship evolve into something like ‘friends with benefits’. Mari at first tells David that she is not attracted to him but befriends him. Their relationship then slowly progresses to kissing and touching, but no intimacy. Mari’s best friend is jealous of David and Mari’s relationship, and I would have enjoyed seeing more interaction between Mari and Allyson and explore the result of this tension further.

Seraphin Stone is a poignant romance novel with intriguing characters. This story ends abruptly and leaves the reader hanging, but if you enjoy character driven provocative drama then this novel is perfect for you.

Pages: 306