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.