Lady Gone Wicked

Full review posted at Reader’s Edyn on 04/17/20

Adelaide has finally returned to the land of the living. Her plans to murder Nick in an accident thwarted in discovering her target was actually his twin brother and her twin sister’s fiancé. What’s a girl to do when the subject of your ruin turns out to have a twin of all things? And marrying your sister to top it all off! Planning to assimilate herself back into her family as the perfectly respectable, perfectly behaved, perfect daughter, she sets out to find a husband with Nick’s help. Wicked inclinations must be resisted at all costs. He promises to marry her if they cannot accomplish their task, but swearing to present only the best of any possible suitors, he is confident he can match her with someone truly worthy of her. Plan in hand, they set out to secure her future. But passion flared between them for a reason and trying to keep that undeniable flame at bay proves impossible. While they may both long to be together, their futures are headed in a different direction. There’s also that teensy secret Adelaide must guard at all costs … even from Nick. Revealing her truth would mean certain ruin all over again and she’d never be able to come out of such gossip a second time.

Nicholas has finally found her. He knew she was lurking about and she finally turns up on his doorstep of all places – and shoots him. What a welcoming. He planned to marry her to save her from ruin, but that is not what she wants. On the cusp of attaining everything he desires, he admits that marriage would mean a quick death to his plans of a title and recognition, so he relents and agrees to aid her in achieving her goals. He begins with a list in which everyone will be compared to … him. As a former spy and lover to Adelaide, he would know exactly what she needs in a match, so why not? As the end to their time frame draws near, Nick finds fault with every possible match. However, when the suitor who seems to be the match Adelaide needs turns out to be the very man who is behind getting Nick the title he covets, he bows out. But things do not sit right with Nick and suddenly he realizes that Adelaide can have no other perfect match because that role lies solely on him. But the truth of her secret could tear them apart for good, so when it all spills out, Nick is forced with a huge decision which will mean confronting the demons of his past or continuing to run from them. The curse of the second son may have eluded to certain death for a first son, but it has also played a huge part in the inability of Nick to live his life freely.

Oh, how I love this series! I absolutely love to discover historical romance of this caliber. Ms. Bright is a refreshing dose of exactly what every historical romance should aspire to be! I fell hopelessly in love with the Wicked Secrets series when first I encountered Nathaniel and Alice in book 1, about 3 years ago. It took me a while, but I am finally righting a serious wrong in not getting to this next installment sooner than now. Had I realized I was sitting on this ARC version, I would have corrected the oversight immediately. I laughed continually throughout this book as I did in the initial installment. The delightful wit and banter were an absolute treasure within these pages. I recall much of the first book fairly well considering the years that have passed since I read it. I made several predictions at that time. One I will reveal after I have continued with this series to see if I was correct. The other was that Nicholas and Adelaide were more than just a quick affair – despite Alice’s belief to the contrary. Regardless, Adelaide is sent away due to her condition, then had actually faked her death and reappeared only to attempt to kill Nate, believing him to be Nick. Confused? It’s actually quite a delightful series! What a fun spin that two sets of twins should fall in love with one another. Of course, no one revealed the twin factor initially, so when each discovered that the person they were madly in love with actually had a twin, it was quite a spectacle. But I digress in reminiscing about the first book as well as this one. I will say that while this book can be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading in order if for nothing else than the pure joy in meeting these characters from the very beginning, easily welcoming them back into your own reading world each time they reappear in this fantastic tale as it progresses. Although I adore each of these couples, I have been utterly enchanted with Eliza and Wessex from the start and absolutely cherished each of their interactions. Unfortuneately, it seems as if I will still be waiting on those two to just come out and admit what everyone else can clearly see. If they never get together, I may die of heartbreak. And again, if I might say so myself, Wessex nearly steals the book for a second time. He’s simply fantastic! As evidenced by the lines I included above, there is no shortage of memorable thoughts and dialogue, but somehow Wessex always ends up with very nearly the best lines in the book. A man of minimal words, but frequently a life-altering effect. At this point, I suspect Wessex always has a reason for each move he makes and each word he chooses to bestow upon an individual. Time will reveal if I am correct in my prediction.

Maybe I should concentrate on Nick and Adelaide now. Finally. You can see how much this series has impacted me. I hope it has the same effect on each reader who chooses to immerse themselves in this brilliant world. If Alice and Nate are perfect for each other, then Adelaide and Nick are even more so. These two are exactly what the other needs, but their desire to run from past mistakes and haunting family legacies effectively squashes their ability to see through to a future together. And so they run … until they don’t. I believe, for Adelaide, a turning point was at the cake tasting party in which she overhears her sister acting like the wicked being she herself is trying so desperately not to be. For Adelaide, her attraction to Nick is the singularly most wicked part of her personality. That desire led to ruination and love for a man she cannot have and so, in her mind, wicked inclinations are completely unacceptable. Consequently, a cake fight ensues which may have been the absolute best scene of the entire book. Both Nick and Nate admit how turned on they are in a rather hilarious way and I could not stop laughing out loud – much to my family’s amusement. I do not believe that Adelaide’s secret was much of a shocking revelation, but I did enjoy how things played out as they took a direction I have not yet come across. This is one of Ms. Bright’s many talents … putting her own unique spin on a story in a new and engaging way. I found the Bursnell parents horrific. While their behaviors were pretty much in line with societal beliefs for that time, I’m more of a romantic and would like to think that a parent’s love for their child would trump society standards. Sure, that’s the bit of dreamer in me, but it’s who I am. Because of their constant nagging on Adelaide and inability to see that Alice had flaws, I despised them. Necessary characters, mostly, but definitely the bummer aspect of the book. The complete opposite of their awful attitudes was the refreshing enlightenment provided by Nick’s father. Initially, I wasn’t entirely fond of him, but after he lets his guard down a bit and confesses his own regret (especially the beautiful epilogue), my heart went out to him. Two completely opposite sides of the fence these parents were.

What I found to be a welcome addition to the book was the slight time frame jump in the final chapter and then the eight-year jump in the epilogue. Ms. Bright left absolutely nothing to chance and tied everything up nicely. But here’s the clincher. She did it in a way that spoiled absolutely nothing for any future reads. Even Freesia could still have her own book – and dare I say … the Bursnell/Eastwood children could continue the series on for generations to come. I know I am jumping far ahead of myself as this is merely the second book in the series, but I can see so much set up for future reading enjoyment. I wouldn’t cry one bit if this series turned into something like Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory family saga. The potential is most definitely present. I have no doubt. If I am lucky, I will be correct in my predictions. I have done well so far. From Alice to Nate, Adelaide to Nick, Freesia, and (hopefully soon) Eliza and Wessex, if you have yet to experience Ms. Brights’s enrapturing Wicked Secrets series, I strongly encourage you to fix that alarming mistake posthaste. Loathe as I am to admit it, I believe I will have to wait for Eliza and Wessex to proclaim their obvious love as the next couple seemed to have been set up in the final chapter of this book. *sobs* Absence makes the heart grow fonder … I suppose … maybe. *still sobbing* #BentonWessex #ElizaSebastian Despite my momentary state of grief, any lover of HR can easily call Ms. Bright a go-to author and should add her books to the top of their TBR list. I can promise with confidence that regret will be the last of any feelings provoked within this enchanting series.

Kindle version provided by NetGalley/Entangled in exchange for an honest review.

A great addition to the Wicked Secrets series. So, we were all lead to believe that Adelaide might have died but she comes back and needs to become respectable before scandal catches up with her. Nicholas needs to maintain his respectability so he can get his reward from the Crown. I love Ms. Bright’s writing style. It is engaging and funny. Secrets, misunderstandings, and cake fights, this story has it all. Seeing Nicholas try to maintain control over his feelings is the highlight of the story for me.

I still have more questions. Will Montrose see a happy ending? He deserves one. What about Freesia? Who does she marry? Also, looking forward to the adventures of Wessex and Eliza. Love Wessex.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Lady Gone Wicked is my first book by Elizabeth Bright, but won’t be my last. Ms. Bright has given us a book that is well-written. Her characters are phenomenal. Nick was thrown away by his family at the age of 12. He has earned his way in the world and is now awaiting a title. Adelaide is an unwed mother, sent to a convent when her parents discovered she was pregnant. Adelaide and Nick’s story is loaded with drama, secrets and sizzle. I enjoyed reading Lady Gone Wicked and look forward to reading more books from Elizabeth Bright in the future. Lady Gone Wicked is part of the Wicked Secrets Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.