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While Miss Zoe Armstrong may be one of the most beautiful and wealthiest heiresses in London, she was born on the wrong side of the blanket and so, her choice of husbands was severely limited to a list of London’s most unsavory fortune hunters. Since a true-love marriage seems hardly possible, Zoe has accepted her fate and has rebelliously cultivated the image of society’s biggest flirt and mischief maker. However in one reckless moment her future has gone up in flames; dragging along her best childhood friend along with her. Stuart Rowland, the uptight Marquess of Mercer, has stood in the wings watching Zoe and his scapegrace brother Robert fall into more scrapes and transgressions in which he had thus far saved them from. However, there were witnesses to this latest scandal and there was nothing Stuart could do to prevent Robert’s and Zoe’s forced betrothal. While Robert and Zoe sequester themselves at Mercer’s estate away from the prying eyes of the ton, to adjust to the inevitable, Mercer and Zoe discover an unquenchable passion that could further destroy the lives of most people they love. *** Ms. Carlyle has totally enthralled me from day one with her richly researched and impeccably drawn novels. With WICKED ALL DAY, one could say it is the grown up version and continuation of the her very first two novels MY FALSE HEART (featuring Zoe’s father the Marquis of Rannoch), and A WOMAN SCORNED (telling the story of Mercer and Robert’s mother Jonet). Carlyle’s novels are so riveting that it is a delight to come back and see these wonderful characters re-emerge and find out how they’ve carried on and what their offspring have in mind for the next generation. All Carlyle’s characters from her first books on seem to pop up every now and then; some with their own stories and/or as essential parties to whatever sensual adventure this gifted author creates. However, be advised that each and every book stands completely on their own! Zoe was fleshed out with great care in showing that as spoiled and pampered as she was by her doting and guilt laden father, her formation to appearing uncaring was simply a shield to protect herself from the sly and hurtful whispers of being a bastard. Her love and devotion to Robert, especially when she sensed how totally devastated his life was after being forced to offer for her showed how loving a person she actually was – selfish yes – but not so when she realized the havoc her actions had caused. Mercer had his own guilt to bear, whereby he realized his reactions to Zoe all his life were coupled with that green seed of jealousy. He wanted to be the one Zoe smiled at instead of his brother, he wanted – but never realized that while he was growing up, it wasn’t disdain he felt at Zoe’s over exuberance but that of being left out. Just as Zoe thought Mercer always watched her to attest to her wickedness, she never realized that he watched out of love, just as her as she secretly loved him but knew her illegitimate background would never be accepted by his family. Carlyle knows how to pen a masterful tale of intrigue and passion, and knows how to bring two people together with heart stopping romance and pulse pounding sensuality. WICKED ALL DAY is highly recommended and this author is suggested to all fans of historical romance to add to their lists as an auto-buy! Sensational!
Reviewed by Marilyn Rondeau for CK2S Kwips and Kritiques |
wicked all day
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