Lady Phoebe Woodson dreams of being a writer, and practices daily in her secret diary. The hero in all of her tales is one Nathan Carruthers, Earl of Basingstoke. The rumors surrounding his wicked assignations are beyond anything she could dream of, and once enhanced by her wild imaginings, she’s created a lover no man could live up to.Basingstoke has ignored the rumors about his romantic … romantic scandals for the most part, accepting them as part of being a single gentleman with a title. In one way, it’s kept the marriage-minded mothers from thrusting their daughters into his reach. Although a staunch member of the Wicked Earls’ Club and enjoying his carefree ways, he admits he’s reached an age when he would like to marry. Luckily, those supposed scandals aren’t keeping away the woman he’s grown to love–Lady Phoebe.
When Basingstoke discovers Lady Phoebe’s diary, he blames her for creating the rumors. Hurt to the bone, he wants nothing more to do with her. Heartbroken, she goes in search of the real rumormonger. Can she prove her innocence and regain Basingstoke’s love?
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4.5 stars, I really enjoyed this installment of the Wicked Earls’ Club and for a relatively short novella, there is quite a bit going on!!
Lady Phoebe Woodson, she has been infatuated with Nathan Curruthers, Earl of Basingstoke since she met him three years ago, too bad he doesn’t remember her… She writes fantasy “on dit” about the two of them in her journal and has been warned by more than one person to get over her infatuation of him and find a nice man. But Phoebe still holds out hope that Nathan will finally “see” her and they will fall in love and live happily ever after.
Nathan has been thinking of finding a wife, the ton believes him to be wicked and that he fathered an illegitimate son, but he longs for a simple life and at 29 he believes it is time. So he begins his search, he arrives at Almacks (thankfully his mother is friends with Lady Sefton!) to begin his “hunt”. He spots Phoebe and is immediately interested, he begs for an introduction and is promptly mortified to learn that they had already been introduced. He asks her to dance. Phoebe is floored, she must be dreaming because the man of her dreams has just asked her to dance and seems interested in her. But all too soon her mother drags her away.
Nathan calls on Phoebe, he is smitten, she is everything he never knew he wanted and he wonders how long he will have to wait before he can ask for her hand. But not everyone is happy with his interest in her, her parents are dead set against a match, but her mother allows her to spend time with him, thinking she will see his true colors and find a better man.
But Phoebe and Nathan are clearly meant to be and things progress between them and it seems like a HEA is inevitable. But then a nasty rumor is printed in the gossip pages saying Phoebe was seen leaving Nathan’s house in the middle of the night and her father forbids her to associate with him. Phoebe is still not ready to give up, she meets with him in private and they make plans to see each other at upcoming events, but Nathan doesn’t show. Days later, she sees him while visiting the menagerie with friends and he is not alone, he has a young boy who must be his son with him. The gentleman she is with makes cruel remarks and Nathan leaves, angry that Phoebe is not the woman he believed her to be. But when he returns later and she is still there, she apologizes for the man and strikes up a conversation with Ben. Nathan knows he judged her too harshly and they reconcile.
Nathan is planning on asking for her hand and is excited for a future with her. But when his friend shows him her journal and the gossip pages are almost an exact match, Nathan believes he has been played. He heads to the newspaper to find out if his suspicions are true but gets no answers. As he is returning, he runs in to Phoebe, she is heading towards the paper and he assumes the worst and without letting her speak, ends things with her.
Phoebe is heartbroken, she has no idea what happened to turn Nathan away from her and can’t figure out a way to make things right. Nathan is equally unhappy and hopes in time his heart will heal enough for him to try and find love again.
It seems like all hope for a happy ending is lost, until one very determined Duchess gets involved and sets Nathan straight. But is it too late? And will the secrets he has been keeping prevent them from having their hearts desire?
This was a very well written, fast moving novella. There are no love scenes, save a kiss at the end, but there is quite a bit of angst and heartache, a fair number of misunderstandings, a hero who needs a smack up side the head and finally a HEA.
** This review is for the UPDATED edition of the novella released on 2/6/18
Phoebe Woodson & Nathan Carruthers’s.
Basingstoke and Phoebe’s story
was Absolutely Adorable. This was
Another Clean Romance Novel.
Wicked Earl decided 1 day he wants a Family & doesn’t know how to go about finding a wife. Basingstoke sets off to Almack’s. After seeing his friends going into the card room he started after them then spots Her standing twisting her hair smiling at him & he is intrigued. He sets off to find Lady Sefton, one of the patronesses of Almack’s Assembly Rooms, so he can get introduced to the Beautiful brown haired girl who seemed to know him.
Apparently they met 3 years prior & Phoebe was so smitten with Basingstoke she daydreamed about him & wrote in her Diary her imagination with Basingstoke but never used thier names she created Lord B & Lady P.W.
Unfortunately, somehow somehow her words were being printed in the Gossip Column in the newspaper was printing Gossip about Lord B & Lady P.W. as she had written in her Diary.
Between the Gossipmongers, Basingstoke’s 1/2 Brother Benjamin (Who everyone assumes is his illegitimate son with a courtesan), Phoebe’s father & Phoebe’s indecisiveness, Basingstoke still wants to be with Phoebe. What is it going to take to get through this mess?
This book was sweet, nothing wicked. It was a fast read. I look forward to reading the rest of the book in the series.
Quick read, fast paced, sweet romance. Overcoming bad reputations and misunderstandings.
Another great book by ms Fish. I adored this book. The characters were so real i could have been there. The plot is marriage but with a twist. The earl of Basingstoke is a little bit of a handful.
I have now read 9 of the 13 Wicked Earl Club novellas and have enjoyed the story line in each. My only negative would be that some are too short and one would wish the story would be developed a little more.
Lady Phoebe Woodson puts all of her dreams into her secret diary. The hero in all of her tales is one Nathan Carruthers, Earl of Basingstoke. The rumours surrounding his wicked assignations are beyond anything she could dream of, and once enhanced by her wild imaginings, she’s created a lover no man could live up to. Basingstoke has ignored the rumours about his life, then he meets Phoebe.
Misunderstandings & rumours threaten to destroy the budding romance. Another page turning lovely short read. I’m thoroughly enjoying my weekly fix of the Wicked Earls Club & as quite a few of the stories are part of the authors .other series I’ve found plenty to read over the coming months
I only received the first four chapters & quite a number of people have left negative reviews because of Amazon’s mistake, I hope they update their reviews after reading the full story which was corrected within a couple of days. Afterall it isn’t fair or just to penalise the author for something out of their control
4.5 Stars
What a delightful addition to the Wicked Earl’s Club series. It may be a novella, but you surely don’t feel shortchanged – there is a lot happening. PLEASE NOTE: There was a problem with the first version of this book that Amazon sent out. It wasn’t the author’s fault, but I’ve seen reviews zinging the book and author because of it. Please don’t allow those reviews to affect your choosing to buy the book because It is a lovely book. This review is for the corrected release.
Lady Phoebe Woodson has fantasized about Nathan Curruthers, Earl of Basingstoke for three years – since they were first introduced. Sadly, he doesn’t remember her. None of that keeps her imagination from working overtime or from updating her journal with all of the lovely things they do together. Well – I did say she fantasized about him! She’s now been through three seasons and while she’s been pursued, she has turned them all down – none can compare to our Wicked Earl.
There have been lots of marriages among the Wicked Earl’s Club members lately, and it has gotten Basingstoke to thinking of starting his own family. He has a lot to overcome though. He has quite a reputation and many think he has fathered a child. There probably isn’t a father in the land who would allow him to court or marry his daughter – no matter how much money he has. That doesn’t deter him though – he sucks it up and heads to Almacs. There – across the room – he spots the one he wants. Yes, you guessed it – it is Lady Phoebe.
He calls the next day and the day after and the next. He’s in love – he can’t believe it. Lady Phoebe is ecstatic – the man she loves is courting her. YIKES! She’s so happy. But, the course of true love can never run smooth. Misunderstandings happen, fathers intervene, gossip flies – and determined duchesses come to the rescue.
This is not a steamy read – I think there is only one kiss, but it is wonderfully sweet and lovely. I hope you’ll give it a try and enjoy it as much as I did.
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