Andrew Carrington, the Earl of Bellingham, Bell for short, is looking for a new mistress. Innocent widow Laura Davenport, Lady Chesfield, catches his eye at Lady Atherton's ball. Laura wants nothing to do with him until desperate times calls for desperate measures. In an effort to keep her wayward stepson, Justin, from his scheming uncle and guardian, Montcleif, Laura declares herself engaged to Bell. Montcleif is suspicious of the sudden nature of the betrothal and attempts to enlist Lady Atherton to uncover their deceit. Lady Atherton decides to matchmake instead. Reluctantly, Bell joins the charade and throws himself into the cause with the full force of his honor behind him. Bell and Laura become friends to keep Justin on the straight and narrow, their pasts keep them from admitting they want more. When others show an interest in Laura, Bell finds it hard to keep things just friendly.
WHAT A WICKED EARL WANTS is the first book in VICKY DREILING'S new series THE SINFUL SCOUNDRELS. The first chapter bounces around from clichΓ© to clichΓ©, but I'm hooked by the end of the chapter by a clichΓ© that I know is coming. The audacity of the seemingly naΓ―ve Laura is the impetus behind the story. Bell is a well-to-do rake with a tragic backstory who easily falls away from his "I'll never get married, mistresses only" stance when the right woman comes along, even if he does not realize it. In the presence of others Laura is seen as effervescent as a meringue and is easy to underestimate, in private one sees that she has much more to her. She is a fighter and a schemer and she will do anything to keep her stepson. Together they make a compelling couple and their interactions are by far my favorite parts to read. Bell and Laura with the other players makes WHAT A WICKED EARL WANTS a well-rounded, comfortable romance novel.
On the second page of the book we are introduced to Bell's friends, Colin and Harry. As savvy romance novel readers we immediately know who the other books will be about, I look forward to reading Colin's book next.
WILL A RAKE'S WICKED WAYS Andrew Carrington, Earl of Bellingham, believes in being a gentleman, whether it's fishing a soggy stranger out of the Thames or assisting a fetching lady into his bed. If the stranger becomes a friend and the lady a mistress, all the better. He certainly welcomes the opportunity to help Laura Davenport, a dazzling young widow with a rebellious stepson. Her gratitude, he hopes, will take an amorous form. But from the moment he sets foot in her drawing room, he gets far more than he bargained for ... LEAD THE LADY ASTRAY? It was a moment of desperation. On the brink of losing her stepson, Laura turned to the notorious Lord Bellingham for help. Suddenly she, a vicar's daughter, is in the precarious position of resisting his tantalizing advances. How Bell earned his wicked reputation is clear; the surprise is how much more there is to him than the gossip sheets could possibly reveal. Now every moment with this dangerously desirable man puts Laura's good name at risk- and promises pleasure unlike any she has ever known ...
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