HIS WICKED REPUTATION is book one in the new Wicked
Trilogy,
a Regency romance series by Madeline Hunter. This trilogy
will feature three brothers whose eldest brother just
died.
The fourth brother Percy just died of a mysterious
illness,
and the three remaining siblings might be suspected by the
general public of murdering the awful deceased brother.
HIS WICKED REPUTATION showcases Gareth Fitzallen, the
illegitimate half-brother, son of the earl and his young
mistress, who was the daughter of the earl's butler. This
book does a nice job of smoothly setting things up for
book
two with a different brother as well.
Now that his half-brother Percy is no longer alive to
dispute his inheritance, Gareth travels to Langdon's End
to
restore the property he inherited from his father the
earl.
Gareth is a perfectly pleasant rake, who quickly gives up
his indiscriminate bedroom capers once he meets the
appealing Eva. An art broker, his brother the Crown
Prosecutor requests his brother Gareth to track down
looted
art from a massive art cache, drawn from many lords'
collections as they tried to hide their paintings in fear
of
Napoleon's possible invasion of the English countryside.
The stolen paintings have disappeared without a trace, and
Gareth must range far and wide to track them down. The
mysteries of the brother's death and the missing artwork
add
a lovely spice to the romance, and drive the plot along
merrily.
Eva Russell is an impoverished spinster gentlewoman,
trying
to support herself and raise funds to marry off her lovely
sister by copying Gainsborough paintings that she's found
in
Gareth's previously abandoned country house. Eva and
Gareth
very (too?) quickly fall into bed shortly after a
disagreeable first meeting, although Eva keeps trying to
break their affair off. Eva is plucky and resourceful,
and
I feel I should like her more than I do. Perhaps I am
distracted by what I feel to be a somewhat unbelievable
reason why Eva feels she cannot trust Gareth with her
truths?
While I found HIS WICKED REPUTATION to be a pleasant
afternoon read, I did not find it compelling. Madeline
Hunter is a favorite author of mine, however, and I
definitely plan on picking up her next book as soon as it
is
released. I love her sweet turns of phrase and lively
dialogue, and while not her best, HIS WICKE REPUATION is
still a diverting read.
From the New York Times bestselling Madeline Hunter comes this first in a stunning new trilogy about three irresistibly attractive brothers. This is the story of Gareth, the bastard brother.... For fans of Mary Balogh and Amanda Quick. Gareth Fitzallen is celebrated for four things: his handsome face, his notable charm, his aristocratic connections, and an ability to give the kind of pleasure that has women begging for more. Normally he bestows his talents on experienced, worldly women. But when he heads to Langdon’s End to restore a property he inherited—and to investigate a massive art theft—he lays plans to seduce a most unlikely lady. Eva Russell lives a spinster’s life of precarious finances and limited dreams while clinging to her family’s old gentry status. She supports herself by copying paintings while she plots to marry her lovely sister to a well-established man. Everyone warns her of Gareth’s reputation, and advises her to lock her sister away. Only it is not her sister Gareth desires. One look, and she knows he is trouble. One kiss, however, proves she is no match for this master of seduction.
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