The richest bachelor in England plays matchmaker…for an heiress he wants for himself! For beautiful, witty Lavinia Gray, there’s only one thing worse than having to ask the appalling Parth Sterling to marry her: being turned down by him.Now the richest bachelor in England, Parth is not about to marry a woman as reckless and fashion-obsessed as Lavinia; he’s chosen a far more suitable bride. But … Lavinia; he’s chosen a far more suitable bride.
But when he learns of Lavinia’s desperate circumstances, he offers to find her a husband. Even better, he’ll find her a prince.
As usual, there’s no problem Parth can’t fix. But the more time he spends with the beguiling Lavinia, the more he finds himself wondering…
Why does the woman who’s completely wrong feel so right in his arms?
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Series: The Wildes of Lindow Castle #3
Publication Date: 7/31/18
This is a wonderfully entertaining and romantic book. It is excellently written, well plotted and filled with wonderfully lovable and relatable characters. Now, the Wilde’s seem a little over the top, but they are such a joyful, happy family. This is the first book I have read in the series and I had absolutely no trouble at all keeping up. However, I can say that reading this one just made me want to go back and read the earlier books.
The hero and heroine from the second book are heavily featured in this book and they are a delight. I definitely want to go back and read their story.
Lady Lavinia Gray is the toast of London – a diamond of the first water. She is a rich heiress and receives proposals on a daily basis. Well – except she isn’t a rich heiress anymore. Her mother has not only lost Lavinia’s dowry, she’s stolen from friends and family to support an addiction to laudanum. Lavinia is desperate! Somehow she has to find the money to repay the friends and family her mother stole from, she also has to find someone powerful enough to keep her mother from going to jail. She has but one choice – marry a powerful and rich man.
Parth Sterling is obscenely rich, a much-loved ward of the Wilde’s and a fixer of problems. Imagine his shock when Lady Lavinia Gray appears at his door one evening and proposes marriage. Why in the world would she be there? While she smiles at and charms everyone else she meets, she derides him and calls him names. Heaven help him – he likes it – but he’ll never admit that. So, he very promptly refuses her offer and she flees his lodgings quickly.
Parth has already found the woman he intends to marry. An Italian countess who is bright, funny, beautiful, and she certainly doesn’t need his money. They will have a companionable, amicable marriage. He certainly has no desire to saddle himself with a termagant like Lavinia Gray.
Parth decides to help her find a husband and, to his dismay, is very successful at it. He introduces her to a Norwegian prince – and the prince immediately falls head-over-heels for Lavinia. Lavinia really wants Parth, she’s always wanted him, but every time she’s around him she’s tongue-tied and can’t think of anything to say that isn’t an insult. However, she may have to let him go and marry the prince instead.
It is a fun romp to watch these two dance around each other. Each wants the other, but neither is able to own up to it. Throw a wedding for North and Diana in the mix and things are busy and about as mixed up as they can get.
I can highly recommend this fun read and I’m really looking forward to going back and reading the previous books in the series.
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
Fun, romantic, lighthearted read by Eloisa James. I skipped to this third book in the series because I’ve been purposefully seeking out historical romances with main characters of color, but now intend to start from the beginning so I can get to know the rest of the Wildes. A lovely, easy read that was a nice change of pace from my usual dark fare.
My favorite of the so-far three Wilde books.
4.5 stars rounded up.
Parth Sterling and Lavinia Gray have been at odds since the day they met, but when Lavinia learns that her mother is not only addicted to laudanum but has spent their entire fortune AND stole money and jewels from her ward, she is desperate for a rich husband and decides Parth is just the man for the job.
Parth has lived with the Wilde family since he was five years old, his parents lived in India and sent him to England as a ward to the duke. His family died and the Wildes have made him one of their own. Through hard work, Parth has built a fortune and is now one of the richest men in England. He is beyond shocked when Lavinia asks him to marry her, an offer he quickly refuses. Before he can get answers, she apologizes and leaves. Later that day he reveals that he is going to marry and is going to London to woo his bride – a widowed contessa named Elisa. Lavinia feels ill at the news, but it turns out she really is ill, Parth scoops her up and takes her to her room. Over the next few days, he helps care for her and tells her he will help her find a husband.
Lavinia slowly recovers from her illness and learns that Aunt Knowe has sent her mother to a manor to overcome her addiction. Lavinia worries about her mother’s theft and the debts, but decides to take charge of Diana’s trousseau. Diana, Lady Knowe and Lavinia travel to London and Lavinia is delighted to discover that vendors are willing to pay her a commission for having the future duchess’ business. She loves fashion and is in her glory designing and managing Diana’s and several members of the Wilde families wardrobes. She is still embarrassed about her proposal to Parth and tries to avoid him. But when she runs into him at a vendors shop with his soon to be betrothed in tow, she is forced to act nonchalant. She is also surprised to learn how much she likes Elisa. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, she slips out for a breath of air and is confronted by Parth – he is upset that she is out in the rain so soon after her illness. He is insulting to her, but not on purpose, he is just incredibly blunt and tactless. Their argument ends when he kisses her.
When another argument leads to another kiss, Parth has changed his mind, he wants Lavinia, not Elisa. Lavinia tries to avoid Parth, especially after Lady Knowe and Diana return to the country and leaving her to tie up things with Diana’s trousseau. Lavinia refuses his offer of escort back to the castle. She thinks of him constantly, but like everyone else, thinks he is going to marry Elisa.
She returns to Lindow and throws herself into her work, Parth inserts himself into her life, making sure she rests and eats. They form a friendship and begin to learn more about each other. When things between them turn heated, she agrees to marry him. He is elated, but must return to London. He says he will return with Elisa before the wedding. She misses him and knows she should have told him the truth about her mother, but is consumed with the work that needs to be done for Diana’s wedding gown.
When Parth returns, eager to see her, he overhears the end of a conversation between Lavinia and Diana. He is hurt by what he hears and seeks out North instead. When she finally sees him, he is distant and cold. They have a fight and she tells him that she has changed her mind and will not marry him.
She flees the castle and goes to see her mother. Parth follows, he knows he messed up and is frantic to repair the damage. But Lavinia is firm, he doesn’t respect her and thinks she is shallow, she cannot marry a man like that. He learns the truth about her mother and bows to Lavina’s request and leaves, but this is not over.
He returns with reinforcements and presses his case. She is still set on refusing him, but when her mother disappears, Parth is the person she turns to for help. When thinks take a violent turn, Parth finally gets his chance to prove his feelings to Lavinia, but is it too late?
This was a great story, I will be honest, I was a bit unsure that I would like it once I learned he planned to marry Elisa and thought this might devolve into a angsty love triangle, but instead I was delightfully surprised with how Ms. James handled the situation and even ended up hoping that she finds a match for Elisa! The book has a lot of witty banter, many amusing scenes, a bit of heartache, steamy love scenes and a sigh worthy ending.
This is the third book in the series, but I think it could be read as a standalone with no problem, however, I have read all three books and feel that my reading experience with this book was enriched by reading the books in order.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an uncorrected eARC that was provided to me by Edelweiss and the publisher.*
This is such a fun story with an independent, creative heroine and a slightly grumpy, smoldering hero! Even though there are quite serious issues dealt with, such as addiction, theft, and bankruptcy, Lavinia and Parth have such witty interactions, that I was laughing through most of the book. That isn’t to say there weren’t some teary moments too, as the couple dealt with misunderstandings between them and their own self-doubts. I really liked the fact that the romance built slowly, since they were both so unsure if they should trust their feelings for each other.
I loved that Lavinia was a strong heroine who found a way to solve her own problems, even though everybody else thought all she had to do was marry a rich man. Parth was great as he tried to fight his feelings, be overprotective, and find Lavinia a husband all at the same time.
The rest of the Wildes were such fun in this story too! Lady Knowe practically steals the show, as we get to see a lot more of her character. Diana plays a big part, and Betsy is just waiting in the wings for her story.
First let me say how appreciative I am to have won a giveaway for this ARC of Born to be Wilde. Now that that I have finished the book, I am still bubbling with excitement over this. I read this book in one sitting. I was pulled in and could not put it down.
Parth and Lavinia’s tale delivered everything I hoped for. Her sass and fashion, his smoldering – most importantly a love story that unfolds in a way that feels genuine. Nothing is forced. It feels organic and real. Eloisa James continues to build a world in which this wealthy Georgian era family steals my heart. I find that within all of James’ novels, there is a strong bond within friendships and family members that highlights the story without detracting from the main storyline. You find yourself so endeared to these casts of supporting characters, that you are on pins and needles waiting for the moment their story unfolds within the pages of their own book.
Born to be Wilde is a gem of historical romance. Lushly descriptive you’ll be submersed into a world that rivals a Baz Luhrmann production. Ooooooooooo the settings and trousseau. Sigh. Divine. This is a beautiful love story that manages to be eloquent and steamy. Issues that are relevant today are tackled respectfully which adds layers of texture to this storyline.
I really enjoyed this story of Parth and Lavinia and how they had to overcome many obstacles, mostly from within, to fully embrace their love. Eloisa James masterfully tells this tale full of imagery very relevant to modern day, but clearly accurate to history. I felt so much compassion for Lavinia and how she had to work through finding her sense of self, learn to appreciate who she truly is at her core, and then accept that she is worth love. Parth, a fascinating character, had his own inner thoughts to work through and fully embrace that love is something worth pursuing. This is a tale that shows the best of what family can provide – The Wilde Family is a delight! – as well as how so many can overcome when they may not have a traditional family to lean on, and instead form their family from those around them.
Eloisa James has done it again. She has captured me with another transformation of a secondary character, Lavinia Gray. Parth Sterling is beautifully dark and brooding. Eloisa has taken me back to memories of the cute boy who sat in front of me in 6th grade, who used to tease me and steal my pencils. I had no way to handle the fact that I had a crush on him, so of course, I never said nice things to him. I could totally understand the childhood bickering between Parth and Lavinia.
There is something magical about a character who is transformed throughout a story. Lavinia who had the world at her feet and never had to ask for anything is challenged by her change in circumstances. She sees herself as shallow even as she begins to change. When I read The Secret Garden for the first time, I was entranced by Mary Lenox’s evolving from a nasty self-centered little girl into a beloved one. Through hardships, Lavinia also starts to bloom. I grew to love her through her struggles, hard work and how she cared for those around her. When she found her own self-worth through fashion and that she could stand on her own two feet, not needing to depend on Parth, it brought a new dimension to their relationship. Parth also opened up and grew as their childhood attraction for one another developed into admiration and a deeper form of caring. It was Lavinia, who had me glued to the story and had me cheering at the end.
There are great details about fashion, cloth, lace and seamstresses throughout the story. Drama was provided by Lavinia’s mother and her addiction to laudanum. I was missing all the wonderful wonderful pets and children that I adored in the first two books. Sweetpea must be off wandering the world with Willa. I had to be satisfied with the masked ball scene where I could picture Lavinia surrounded by her little fairies spouting feathers from Fritzy and Floyd. The Wilde family has found its way into my heart and I don’t want the stories to end.
I received a free, advanced copy of the book from the author as a member of her Review Crew. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
At the end of the last book, Miss Lavinia Gray learns that her mother had not only spent her dowry, but had also stolen from her two best friends, money from Willa, her mother’s ward and emeralds from her cousin, Diana. Afraid that her mother will be put in goal, she needs a plan. Now Diana is engaged to North and encourages Lavinia to be bold and ask Parth Sterling to marry her. At 5 years old, Parth’s parents had sent him from India to England for education and he became a ward of the Duke of Lindow. He was raised with the 3 older Wilde sons. Building companies and then a bank, he is now one of the riches men in England.
Livinia has been in love with Parth for years, but thought he looked down, so she responded with cutting remarks. He was also entranced by her, but thought she was to lively and frivolous for him. He refuses her proposal, but promises to find her a wealthy husband. But the more time he spends with her, he realizes that he wants her for himself.
Meanwhile, Livinia finds out that her mother is addicted to laudanum. Being a fashionista, she volunteers to help chose all the clothing for the ducal wedding. When offered a commission by some of the merchants, she not only finds a way to raise the money to repay Willa and Diana, and earn her own dowry, but finds her calling. Accidental eavesdropping parts of conversations pushes them apart, when Parth does not realize that Lavinia has always felt not being good enough. Can the man who can fix every situation, fix his own mistakes and convince Livinia that she is all he ever needed?
Eloisa Jame is one of my favorite authors. Her books all have marvelous characters, with unique conflicts, witty dialogue and steaming hot heroes. This series is no exception. While each book ends with a HEA, there is also a cliffhanger, so best to read them in order.
When I started reading this, I thought I wasn’t going to like Lavinia. She was a bit addicted to fashion. But as I read the book I realized she was just pursuing her passion for fabrics as much as using her eye for fashion! Parth was pretty perfect except he had a habit of jumping to conclusions. Both the H/h wanted a family and a place to fit in, with it taking a bit to realize they had both with the Wildes! Loved the epilogue as well! Thank you for the ARC and the chance to read this story ahead of time!
It is one of my favorite book.The main characters,Parth and Lavinia,have a great chemistry ,the plot is well built.All the details about dresses,fabrics,etc, make the book more interesting. I find it appealing the way their story grows.It is a story about how a passion can shape a seemingly frivolous young woman into a strong woman
I liked this book, but I didn’t love it.
I’ve read books before where the heroine is particularly gifted in fashion, but this is the first time I really felt like I understood what that meant. Eloisa James was very thorough in showing us what fashion meant in this time period and how Lavinia’s eye and dedication really set her apart from other ladies who cared about fashion. It led to a really interesting character, as Lavinia sacrificed so much to follow through on her passion and build a reputation as a surreptitious modiste.
As for the hero, Parth is supposed to be devastatingly handsome, protective, and smart. I get the handsome part. However, I found him to be very overbearing – to the point where I wanted to throw the book across the room. He followed Lavinia on her travels after she specifically told him she did not want nor need his help. To me, that’s not sexy. That’s just controlling. Similarly, she told him to leave her alone when she was visiting her mother, and instead, he invited the entire Wilde family to visit. While Lavinia seemed to like this, I did not.
The plot was not particularly intricate, which was fine. I appreciated that the Other Woman character was not an evil, crazy person and that Lavinia actually got a long with her. (But she wasn’t that much of an Other Woman, since Parth decided he wasn’t interested in her pretty early on.) Lavinia’s mother is addicted to laudanum, which is the main source of villainy in this novel. I thought it was handled well, but at the same time, her mother doesn’t have all that much of a redemption arc.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book, but I wish Parth had been less controlling.
I probably loved this book more than the previous two in this series. Although Parth is not a true Wilde, he was raised by them and is considered one of the family. Lavinia is Willa’s best friend of Wilde in Love and we are introduced to both characters briefly in that book. What evolves is a wonderfully written story about not judging a book by it’s cover. As always, any of Eloisa’s books are always a great read.
Lavinia Gray is beautiful and men tend to fall at her feet or ask her to marry them. She is witty and loves her bonnets. However, if she wants more bonnets she must marry since her mother spent her dowry on her drug addiction. Lavinia goes to Parth Sterling’s bedroom and ask him to marry her, never thinking that he would turn her down. Instead of accepting the proposal he promises to play match maker…
Parth Sterling is the richest man in England, and he is not about to marry a woman who is reckless with her spending habits and is as “shallow as a puddle”. He’s chosen a far more suitable bride, an Italian Contessa. Maybe, he will find Lavinia a prince.
Parth has a problem and it can’t be fixed. The more time he spends with Lavinia, the more he finds himself drawn to her allure and he wonders if his opinion of her was all wrong. Can he be the right man for her? Why does it feel so right when she is in my arms?
This is my first book by Eloise James and I couldn’t put it down. It’s beautifully written and the characters are heartwarming. Lady Knowe was my favorite character in the story. You can’t go wrong with this book. I look forward to reading all the books in the series.
The reader is allowed to know the characters, they seem to come alive, the pretty girls are real women and the rich men have personalities and vulnerabilities that are not cookie cutter. The happy endings do stretch the imagination, but that is what I hope for in romance novels.
I can’t wait to read the next book! Diana from
‘Too Wilde to Wed’ is still one of the dumbest characters ever. I would love to see the aunt in a relationship!
Wild about the Wildes!
Very reliable author. Always a good choice
I really enjoyed this book. I could not put it down once I started it.