Avon
Featuring: Edward Wolcott; Lady Olivia
384 pages ISBN: 0062666649 EAN: 9780062666642 Kindle: B0716GZV8M Mass Market Paperback / e-Book Add to Wish List
It was not a charitable thing to do, but in a way, Lady Olivia
Howlett was pleased that her sister Eleanor had married
another, and not Bennett, Lord Carson. Olivia knew that Bennett
was "the One," surely, he realized that! Olivia is prone to
speaking and acting before thinking, and she humiliates herself
in front of Bennett and also unfortunately, Mr. Edward Wolcott,
Bennett's friend since school. Edward is exceedingly wealthy,
tremendously handsome, has impeccable manners and education,
and he is also illegitimate.
LADY BE RECKLESS is my favorite Megan Frampton book to date,
and possibly her best as well. Ms. Frampton gives an inspired
twist to the unlikely romance between a "bastard" and a lady of
the aristocracy in the Victorian era and makes it believable
and utterly delightful. Imbued with her irresistible sense of
humor, LADY BE RECKLESS features Ms. Frampton at her
artistic best. The writing is as smooth, as sophisticated,
and as
refined as the finest cashmere. The descriptions sparkle with
pertinent and lovely details, and the characters are assuredly
the author's most charming ever. Olivia is imperious, a bit
selfish, quite bossy; she will not back down when she sets her
mind on something. She is also kind-hearted, if judgemental,
but she's working on the latter. Edward is, as deemed by
Olivia, "adorable and endearing," but he knows his worth, even
if the Ton won't see it.
I was cheering for Olivia and Edward from the onset because
they are such formidable characters, they belong together, and
I loved how Ms. Frampton proceeded to bring them closer. It
felt natural and inevitable. The sexual tension simmers,
sizzles, sparkles, and combusts; it seemed to emanate from the
characters, and not from an author's pen -- or keyboard keys.
Edward's backstory is superb, his relationship with his father,
Mr. Beechcroft is unusual and a most welcome one. Mr.
Beechcroft is only one of the splendid secondary characters in
LADY BE RECKLESS: poor Bennett is intriguing and very
appealing; Pearl and Ida, two of Olivia's sisters, are
fabulous. The dialogues are brilliantly written, and every
conversation feels genuine. There are also all sorts of
unexpected lovely things that left me joyful, tearful, and
everything in-between. I was under Megan Frampton's spell
throughout LADY BE RECKLESS; let yourself be seduced by this
enchanting romance!
The Duke’s five daughters have beauty, breeding, and impeccable reputations. Or at least, they did. Now that two have chosen to follow their hearts, can the others be far behind? Lady Olivia refuses to repeat her siblings’ scandalous mistakes. Instead, she will marry the lord rejected by her sister and help with his good works. When he resists, Olivia forms another plan: win his lordship’s admiration by helping his illegitimate best friend find a bride. How difficult can it be to transform the rakish Edward Wolcott into a gentleman? To ignore his virile good looks? To not kiss him in a moment of impulsive madness? Apparently, very difficult indeed. Edward Wolcott promised his ailing father he would marry well, and it appears Lady Olivia wishes to assist him. The sparkling firebrand intends to smooth his way through London’s ballrooms, parlors, and eligible ladies, while all Edward’s thoughts suddenly revolve around bedrooms . . . and Lady Olivia herself. Only a scoundrel would seduce the duke’s most dutiful daughter. And only a truly reckless lady would risk everything to be in his arms . . .