WEDDED BLISS is the fifth book in Celeste Bradley's
Wicked
Worthingtons series. With the Worthington
family, Shakespearean allusions are inevitable, and this
tale of mix-and-match couples is no exception. A dark and
stormy night and a hidden groom might normally add up to
disaster but, in WEDDED BLISS, it adds up to a glorious
happily-ever-after. As a fan of this series, I was eager
to see Bliss Worthington and Lord Neville Danton find
happiness together, and take their sweet flirtations to
the next level. In WEDDED BLISS, Bliss and Neville find
that the best-laid plans can go awry with unexpected yet
delicious results.
There is a primary romance in WEDDED BLISS and a
secondary romance. The primary romance is between Bliss
and Captain Morgan Pryce -- Neville's dashing and well-
intentioned half-brother. The secondary romance is
between Neville and the girl who picks up the pieces of
his broken heart. I enjoyed Neville's story, but it was
Bliss and Morgan's fiery romance that kept me reading
past my bedtime. At the outset, it would be easy to think
of Morgan as the villain that ruined a burgeoning
romance, but he proves to be a more complex character
than that as well as being a man possessing quite a few
heroic qualities. Although the circumstances that led to
Morgan and Bliss being married and living together are a
little convoluted, Celeste Bradley does a wonderful job
of making the gradual mutual respect and tentative tender
feelings, that eventually develop between them, ring
true.
This is a story that is character-driven in many
respects, and the characters are expertly written with
Celeste Bradley's usual wit and charm. I love when Morgan
eventually learns how much he has in common with Bliss --
since they are both illegitimate. Both main characters
know what it's like to be on the periphery of a family
that is not quite their own, but both had very different
reactions to their circumstances. Morgan became a sea
captain and embraced independence and a sense of
adventure, and enjoyed not being tied down by any kind of
family connections. For Bliss, being essentially
abandoned by her parents made her feel a little unsettled
and craving security. She was attracted to Neville for
his easygoing and mild-mannered temperament. Neville was
primarily attractive for the stability he could offer
her, rather than any financial benefit or elevated social
status that Morgan is originally led to believe she
wants. Even though Morgan is led to think the worst of
Bliss before ever meeting her, I'm glad that he winds up
coming to his own conclusions and never says anything too
harsh that can't be taken back later.
WEDDED BLISS has an entertaining battle of wills that
takes a delightful turn toward romance. The sexual
tension between Morgan and Bliss is palpable and
delectable before they finally give in to their
attraction. Supporting characters like Paulette Beckham
and thirteen-year-old Atalanta Worthington are a hoot,
add humor, and lighten the tension. Attie proves that
she's still a force to be reckoned with and that she's
the most dangerous Worthington. I look forward to reading
about the rest of the unattached Worthington siblings in
future books.
From the New York Times bestselling author of I THEE WED comes a Wicked Worthingtons novel of a love that will not be denied.... As a ship’s captain, highborn bastard Morgan Pryce has spent his life sailing away from England. The last thing he needs is a wife. But when he fears that his titled half brother, Neville, is about to be snared by a gold digger, Morgan aims to protect Neville by tricking the lovely crook into marrying him first. He knows he can't allow himself to believe a word she says. If only she weren’t so convincing.... Determined beauty Bliss Worthington is not terribly fond of finding another man waiting for her at the altar—after all, no one tricks a Worthington and gets away with it. Somehow she must persuade her dangerously handsome new husband to grant her an annulment, because her heart is set on his brother. Soon the newlyweds must deal with a secret but mutual attraction. Morgan finds himself oddly devastated by her tenderness and braveness. When Neville shows up to rescue her from a loveless marriage, she will have to quickly decide which man is the right one for her....
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