The title of this book is quite misleading. Not only is the subject matter neither wicked nor wonderful, the characters cannot be labeled as such either.Judith Lovington escaped a Bad Situation by running off to join a traveling troupe of actors and performers. The group winds up on the grounds of Lord Kelthorne, who has a reputation of being quite the rogue. He and Judith meet cute (in an apple orchard ... forbidden fruit and all that) and instantly are attracted to each other.But of course, this being a romance novel and all, true love takes a while to reveal itself. Raw lust? Not so much. That clicks pretty much immediately. Judith has to slay her personal dragons, and Kelthorne needs to figure out if he's going to marry the woman his sisters selected for him.It isn't that this is not an amusing little book - it is. It won't challenge you on any level, and you may find it a pleasant diversion. But if you are looking for a Hot Romance Novel, this is NOT the book for you. There is not Hot Romance. There is no rocking of the headboard. There are a few passionate kisses and lingering embraces, but no one's bodice is ripped open, no one's breeches are strained by a throbbing organ, and no one experiences bliss amongst the bedding. And that, my friends, make this just a so-so book for me.Valerie King creates decent characters, but ... it just is not a riveting book. I need more, Valerie King. I need some Hot Romance! However, if you want a tame, sweet little story, this is for you.Published on cupcake's book cupboard. @VivaAmaRisataThanks to NetGalley for the preview.
Author: Valerie KingPublished By: Spencerhill Associates, Ltd.Age Recommended: 14+Reviewed By: Arlena DeanBlog For: GMTARating: 4Review:"Wicked and Wonderful" by Valerie King was a sweet wonderful love story. From the title I thought it would have been a little more wicked but it wasn't but still good read. The novel was of a women who had left her noble family to become a 'songstress with a group of traveling actors.' What had brought Judith to this way of life? This traveling groups of performers ended up on Lord Kelthorne where he meets up with Judith in the apple orchard and the story take off. Would there be a instant attraction for Judith and Lord Kelthorne? These two main characters will provide entertainment as you met up with the secondary characters that provide even more. I will say that in order to understand this novel you must pick it up and read it to really get a full understanding of just what this "Wicked and Wonderful" is all about. It will all come together for the reader.I found "Wicked and Wonderful" a very nice sweet love romance and yes I would recommend this one to you.
A Clean Regency Era Book,if you want a romance that has temptation, lust, mystery but no sex then you'll enjoy this book, it was a intriguing glimpse into this era. Judith was a very interesting character, she had to leave her home at a tender age to escape a horrible fate and managed to make a life for herself that was suited to what she could do. She was both strong and vulnerable, generous and loyal.Lord Kelthorne i had mixed emotions about him sometimes i want to shake him,slap, hug,kiss but i ended up loving him. He was a frustrating, enjoyable character, he was protective of his sisters but he didn't have the best reputation.This was well written, had a lovely cast of characters some to love and some to hate and was fun to read a romance that didn't have sex scenes but built the romance on other things that made it intimate, also had some heart-pounding scenes in more then one way.I recieved this book in exchange for a honest review
—Jessica Hale
My first suggestion is to read Kathy's review, which I should have done prior to picking up this book. There is no grand plot, essentially, which coupled with horrible characterization on the hero's part - he is a hypocritical, lecherous, adulterous ass, to put it mildly - makes this a rather bland read (some may even call it bad). Unfortunately, the heroine, while kindhearted and in possession of those nice heroine-y qualities to be desired in Regency romances, is cookie-cutter and falls in love almost at first sight with the handsome hero who stole a kiss from her. What proceeds from there is a plot that bears no mentioning and some more badly-formed reflections on part of the hero. This is not worth your time.
—Mary C. *Nulla in mundo pax sincera*
Okay, I SWEAR I'm going to lay off Regency romances ... at least until the next time I'm offered a freebie. If you like sweet (clean) Regencies, this isn't a bad one. Plus points for having an unusual setting (heroine is part of a theatre troop) and having an interesting secondary character in the heiress the hero is trying to work himself up to proposing to. Plus and minus points for (okay, I'm marking this next part as a spoiler because it technically is, but honestly, if anyone who reads Regencies thinks the story is actually spoiled by reading it, I'd be astonished) (view spoiler)[having the hero decide he wants to marry the heroine even with her shady background and friends, but having it go down in such an unrealistic fashion. (The hoity-toity sister gets on the hero for being a hypocrite? Seriously?) (hide spoiler)]
—Tadiana ✩ Night Owl☽
