In a time when ladies are to be seen but not heard, Lady
Alexa Hendrie breaks the mold. Not afraid to tell others
what she
thinks, her family is not surprised she has not been able
to entice someone to marry her. When her brother's actions
force the well bred lady to venture into a gambling
establishment, the rules change due to a chance meeting with
the dashing rake Connor Linsley, Earl of Killingworth.
The Earl lives in two worlds. In one, he is one of society,
respected by the gentlemen and gossiped about by the ladies.
In the other, he is owner of a house of ill repute. A
gentleman must do what is necessary to rebuild the family
estate. Since the off chance meeting with the outspoken Lady
Alexa, he has found it difficult to think of any other lady.
When circumstances out of his control leads to them working
together to solve a mystery occur, will his control be
strong enough to resist the siren call he hears when he lays
eyes on her?
TOO WICKED TO WED is a story filled with suspense and
passion. The mystery is delivered wonderfully and will have
you guessing up to the big reveal. I fell in love with the
band of male friends who are trying to discover who is
trying to sabotage Connor and why. The wit that flows
between them in hilarious and down right charming. Our
leading lady is filled with fire and does not fall behind
any man. Her strength and stubbornness is a driving force
that leads the story down many winding roads. Some end in
hilarity while others bring suspense and turmoil.
The romance element will have the reader on the edge of
their seat. Both leading characters know they shouldn't
pursue their hearts desire but for each reason why they
shouldn't they discover a reason why they should. The mental
tennis match heightens the all too present romantic
chemistry to the point that it seems to jump off the page.
One thing I loved was how realistic the doubt each of the
characters felt when it came to the other's true feelings
even though all the signs pointed to desire in the fullest.
As the first book in the Lords of Midnight series, I think
Cara Elliott did a magnificent job setting up the world and
characters to be seen throughout the adventure. If TO WICKED
TO WED is an example of what we are too expect, this will be
a series loved by many!
Outspoken and independent, Lady Alexa Hendrie enjoys the
heady freedom of making all her own decisions, even though
the challenges of overseeing her family's country estate
are daunting. But when a chance encounter with London's
most notorious rake awakens a secret longing for adventure,
she accepts her aunt's invitation for a Season in
Town . . . only to find that breaking the rules of the ton
has serious consequences.
The Earl of Killingworth uses his rakehell reputation to
hide the fact that poverty has forced him to work for a
living. As the owner of a gambling den and brothel, Connor
has no time for glittering ballrooms or innocent young
ladies. But after a reckless wager leaves him with a new
business partner, he is forced to take a risky gamble . . .
Will the cards fall in their favor? Alexa and Connor begin
to play a dangerous game of intrigue and deception as they
seek to outwit a cunning adversary who wants to put them
permanently out of business. But if they are not careful,
it is the flames of their own fiery attraction that may
destroy them.
Excerpt
Desperate for a few moments of solitude, Alexa glanced
around, then hurried past the withdrawing room for ladies
and turned down a darkened side corridor. With its heady
swirl of silks and scents, of lights and laughter, the
ballroom had suddenly become too oppressive to bear. Every
glittering, gleaming detail seemed a mocking reminder of
how dull she was.
How different she was.
Alexa pressed her palms to her cheeks, feeling the hot
humiliation burn through her thin kidskin gloves. Spotting
a set of arched French doors up ahead, she quickened her
steps and slipped out to the gardens. The small terrace was
deserted, its decorative urns and slate tiles shrouded in
shadows cast by the torchieres on the balcony and the full
moon overhead.
Drawing in a great gulp of the cool night air, she
choked back a sob. Oh, stop indulging in self-pity, she
scolded herself. What had she expected? To dazzle the
gentlemen of London with her beauty and brilliant intellect?
Hah. With a wry grimace, she blinked the beads of
moisture from her lashes. She was a rough-cut bit of
country quartz compared to the perfectly polished jewels of
the ton. To imagine that—
The click of the door latch was followed by a grunt of
surprise.
Alexa whirled around. "I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't be
out here alone—" she began, and then stopped short on
seeing who it was.
"You," growled the Irish Wolfhound. "You seem to have a
habit of straying to places where you shouldn't go." A
breeze ruffled his hair, and the swaying twists of ivy cast
a pattern of light and dark across his chiseled face. He
looked fierce. Forbidding.
Alexa lifted her chin, refusing to be intimidated. "I
needed a breath of fresh air, and a garden terrace is a
perfectly respectable place for me to be." She exaggerated
taking a look around. "Or were you hoping to sneak a quick
tup with one of your lightskirts?"
His lips thinned. "You have a saucy mouth, Lady Alexa
Hendrie. Take care that it does not get you into trouble."
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