HIS WICKED WISH is Book 5 in Olivia Drake's "Cinderella Sisterhood" series. Actress Madelyn Swan is not normally a damsel in distress. Maddy is normally self-sufficient and earning a decent living, even if many in society look down on actresses. Unfortunately, the unwanted attentions of a creepy peer have made her a little desperate, and have her holding a private auction to find a protector for herself. Nathan Atwood, Viscount Rowley is perhaps not as desperate as Maddy but he is in the frame of mind to make a rash decision. When Nathan hires Maddy to be his wife and be an irritant to his father, all bets are off.

When Nathan first meets Maddy he realizes that a good actress is a better choice for his plans than anybody else he could have picked to be his wife. The sparks from their first meeting set the tone for the entire relationship between Maddy and Nathan. The verbal sparring and flirting is fast and furious and the sexual tension is exquisite. Once they are married and free to give in to their passion, things just get hotter between Nathan and Maddie. I love how many things Nathan and Maddy have in common, along with the things that separate them. Although both characters have members of the nobility for parents and family scandals, Maddy enjoyed a loving relationship with her parents, while Nathan has a very antagonistic relationship with his father the Earl of Gilmore. Maddy and Nathan are both keeping secrets and have revenge plans. As the story progresses, you just know that these long held secrets will blow up in their faces at some point.

Olivia Drake packs HIS WICKED WISH with so many wonderful and amusing complexities, complications, and great characters that I was captivated by this delightfully convoluted romance. Along with the dual revenge plots and unconventional marriage of convenience, the theme of family is highlighted in HIS WICKED WISH. Nathan's and Maddie's struggles with the issues they have with their respective families is a compelling bit of storytelling. Nathan's younger sister Emily is an interesting character and I enjoyed her interactions with Maddie and hope she gets a story of her own in the future.

HIS WICKED WISH is one of the most enjoyable historical romances I've read in months. HIS WICKED WISH combines a stunning romance with elements of farce and suspense in a skillful way. I liked having a dastardly villain to bookend the story and to have as a threat looming over the heroine. Olivia Drake doesn't detract from the romance in HIS WICKED WISH in order to tell other important mini stories. I look forward to reading the next book by Olivia Drake.