From a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author:TRAPPED IN DARKNESSViolet Whitechapel committed an unspeakable crime to save a child. To escape the hangman’s noose, she takes refuge in a crumbling abbey with secrets darker than her own. When its master offers her a temporary post, Violet cannot say no. Just as she begins to see him in a new light, her past catches up to her and endangers … new light, her past catches up to her and endangers them all…
THEIR PASSION BURNS BRIGHT
Alistair Waldegrave keeps his daughter imprisoned in the black heart of his Gothic abbey. As he searches for a cure to the disease the villagers call demonic, his new governess brings much needed light into their lives. But how can the passion between them survive the darkness encroaching from outside their sheltered walls?
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After inadvertently being involved in the deaths of two men, Violet Whitechapel, former guttersnipe turned teacher flees for her life. She eventually collapses from hunger and exhaustion within the grounds of Waldegrave Abbey; here she finds refuge and a new purpose as governess to nine-year old Lilian Waldegrave, a sufferer from acute sensitivity to uv rays. The plight of the child is truly horrific and the reader can’t help but feel for both her and her devoted and protective father. The gothic element comes from the darkness in which the entire abbey is kept with it’s boarded up windows, creepy catacombs and self locking doors. Violet brings life to father and daughter but she is still a woman on the run with a price on her head. Both Violet and Alastair keep secrets which then threaten to derail their budding romantic relationship. A good read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Violet Whitechapel has found safety & happiness teaching art but when she catches new owner of the home attacking a child she doesn’t think but just acts. To escape the hangman’s noose, she takes refuge in a crumbling abbey with secrets darker than her own. When its master offers her a temporary post, Violet cannot say no. Alistair Waldegrave keeps his daughter imprisoned in the black heart of his Gothic abbey. As he searches for a cure to the disease the villagers call demonic, his new governess brings much needed light into their lives.
A well written well paced book that drew me in from the start & held me captivated until the final page. Strong likeable characters added to the enjoyment. I loved the way Violet ‘s patience worked wonders on Lily & how Alistair & Lily’s relation also changed. I did feel the ending was a little rushed
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
This book is a Gothic Love story, which Erica Ridley can write well. This is a love story not only between a man and a women, but also the love of a child. Violet caused a death defending a child, which causes her to run away. She runs to Waldegrave Abbey. I have read this book under the previous title Dark Surrender and I have enjoyed re-reading this story again. You will also.
Good romance, with a great backstory of a child who has to be kept totally from sunlight. Also a good intrigue. I received an ARC of this book.
“Too Wanton to Wed” by Erica Ridley
Two adults trapped in their secrets and the daughter who may be the key to their liberation. I did truly enjoy the adventure Violet and Alistair lead me through. A spicy romance with dark secrets that kept me turning the pages until my eyes refused to focus without rest. I was given an ARC copy of this story by the author and this is my review. Happy Reading !!
One of my favorite authors but the story moved too slowly for me.
TOO WANTON TO WED is the fourth book in the Gothic Love Stories series, but was originally released as a stand-alone novella, DARK SURRENDER.
Violet was born to nothing, not even a real name of her own. Through luck, she is taken in at the Livingstone School for Girls in Lancashire. Because of her talent, she later became an instructor in art. Unfortunately, for those born with nothing, bad luck becomes normal and expected. When the school is closed and one of her students is attacked, Violet finds herself on the run with only the clothes on her back, a few coins, and her wits. When she falls on the doorsteps of Waldegrave Abbey, Alistair Waldegrave instructs the staff to provide her with bath, food, and a night of rest. One night as a Good Samaritan recipient becomes a temporary position for Violet as governess to Alistair’s daughter, Lillian.
There are many avenues of passion in this story – art, parental love, and romantic. All are well written and all consuming. The story is well paced and continually moving forward. I never wanted to put it down to deal with real life. This was definitely a book to get lost within the pages.
Who should read it? Anyone who likes romance, a touch of crime novel, and a hint of paranormal activity.
Note: While I received this book as a gifted ARC, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
Title: TOO WANTON TO WED
Series: Gothic Love Stories #4
Category /Genre: Historic Romance
Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing: received as an unedited ARC
Received from: Erica Ridley
An Absolutely Wonderful & Dark Story. I give it 5 Stars
Unfortunately Bookbub will not put it down.
Erica Ridley did a Fantastic job writing this Book. The Story, Scenes & Characters were so Wonderful I honestly had a hard time putting this Book down. I truly couldn’t believe I would enjoy reading a Dark Gothic Book.
Erica wrote these Characters so well, I was truly appreciative of it. I don’t watch horror Movies or go to haunted houses/Mazes yet I was able to read this Book without any issues whatsoever.
To read about a Disease which no doctor can find a Cure for & be stuck inside without being able to get fresh air or be able to see the Beautiful things around you will make anyone feel like they are in bedlam.
Especially a child.
Violet is on the run from the hangman’s noose and has found refuge at a gothic abbey complete with catacombs as the governess of Alistair Waldegrave’s young daughter. A child who he keeps locked away as she has the misfortune of suffering from an illness that leaves her vulnerable to the superstitions of the villagers.
I can honestly say that Too Wanton to Wed is my favourite book in the Gothic Love Stories series. The characters are all well developed and the setting described so vividly I can visualise it in my mind as I read. The story moves at a steady pace making it easy to read. Definitely a book I’ll be happy to re-read at a later date.
This book took me on a journey I found to be too short for my liking.
This story is one about wanting what was best for a child but in the process ended being second chance at love. I really liked Violet. She was running and ended up finding her safe place in the arms of Alistair and his daughter. The little girl was probably my favorite character in this book.
Even though at times Alistair made me roll my eyes due to his daughter illness I still liked him.
This story made me laugh, cry and smile at the end of it. I’m turning into a huge Erica Ridley fan and I can’t wait to see what’s next in store for us.
Enjoyed it
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Gothic romance
Part of a series: Gothic Love Stories
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue
I look forward to reading more from this author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC.
Former street urchin turned art instructor Violet Whitechapel is now on the run after committing a terrible crime to save a child. Delirious with hunger and fatigue, she stumbles upon a secluded abbey and begs refuge. When its master offers her a position as a governess to his daughter for a one month trial period, Violet cannot refuse.
Alistair Waldegrave keeps his daughter, Lillian, locked away for her own safety. Both he and Lillian are afflicted with a terrible disease that renders them incapable of tolerating any sunlight. As he continues to search for a cure to their disease, the new governess begins to bring him hope he hadn’t felt since the death of his beloved wife. But just as Violet begins to feel comfortable in her new home, her past catches up to her and threatens any hope she was building for a future with the Waldegraves.
This was a good read and I enjoyed the overall story and mostly enjoyed the characters, though the pacing was too slow to hold my interest entirely in some parts. Overall, this was a good ending to a solid series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Believing herself responsible for the deaths of two men, Violet Whitechapel is running for her life. Exhausted and hungry, she comes upon a boarded up, crumbling abbey, or so she thought. Waldegrave Abbey is the home of Alastair Waldegrave and his daughter Lillian. Lily suffers from such a severe allergy that she cannot tolerate any sun at all. Alastair is determined to find a cure and to protect his daughter from superstitious villagers. After they talk and he learns that she has some teaching experience, Alastair offers Violet refuge and a position as governess to Lily. Violet brings with her understanding, caring, and love to give. Lily begins to bloom, and Alastair gets a second chance at love. It seems fate might have brought them together at just the right time. What will happen if Violet’s past catches up with her? How will Alastair cope with the danger the villagers’ fear brings? This is a well-written compelling Gothic romance with truly unforgettable characters. I read and reread this as Dark Surrender, and then again with the new title. It is a favorite.
Too Wanton to Wed is an updated and re-edited version of Ms. Ridley’s Dark Surrender which I read and reviewed last year. I have to say, this is quite a good atmospheric, gothic romance written by the author.
Our heroine, Violet Whitechapel, flees when she believes she accidentally murders someone violating one of her art students at the soon to be closed school at which she teaches. She ends up broken down and hungry at an old abbey estate in a small, superstitious community. She is fed and taken care of by the lord of the estate and his employees, and soon offered a position by the lord to act as a governess for his daughter.
Alisdair Waldegrave and his daughter Lillian, are virtual prisoners, confined to the environs inside the old abbey and outbuildings, due to their light sensitivity illness. Lillian’s mother died in delivering her daughter, and Alisdair has done everything he can to protect and provide for his daughter with the help of his few trusted retainers.
Violet readily takes on the role she was hired to do though Lillian is a difficult, temperamental child to establish a relationship with. Violet is soon successful and a loving bond is established with Lillian as her pupil. At the same time, feelings are growing between Violet and Alisdair, though Alisdair is reluctant to trust Violet and withholds secrets from her, as she does with him.
Ms. Ridley has established plenty of Gothic atmosphere with creepy catacombs, dark passages, boarded up windows, superstitious villagers plus a few villains. She has also done a good job with the emotional portrayal of both main characters and managed to create a moving story of how they were able to overcome the challenges each one of them had faced in their lives, how they came to trust one another, and then accept and embrace their love for one another. Please note, there are some passionate love scenes in this work but not overly abundant.
I received an ARC of this book and offer this voluntary review. All opinions stated are my own.
Full of mystery, shrouded in darkness a love for a child and a romance grows. This was not only a dark story but the characters lived in the dark also. Violet Whitechapel was running from her past when she came upon Waldegrave Abbey. They took her in and Alistair Waldegrave offered her a position as governess to his daughter Lillian. Lillian suffered from an incurable ailment. But she was also starved for emotional love and mental stimulation. Violet made great strides with Lillian and at the same time the attraction between her and Alistair could not be denied. But there were secrets between Violet and Alistair that took their toll and almost took the life of sweet Lillian. Then Violet’s past caught up to her and she had to fight her way out of her situation or surely, she would be killed. An exciting read, That I highly recommend. I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Lily, Alistair and Violet all have tragedy touch their lives but fate brings them together and this story will keep you turning the pages.
This was a good story of a father’s love. The multiple explicit sex scenes ruined it for me. Good tale but R rated.
Can two persons keeping secrets from each other find a way to another heart and trust.
So this is the last one in this re-edited series, here, no paranormal aspect, only a dark house looping over its inhabitants and their own darkness.
It was also a romance with not two but three protagonists, the incommensurable love of a father for his ill child, the fresh love of the woman who takes care of this child and the newly found love between the father and this woman.
It was a lovely story, each one withholding the blackness of their past, afraid they may push back the other.
The tale is articulated around Lily’s care and how love and understanding succeed where everything else failed.
Violet is no damsel-in-distress nor shrinking violet, she has a past, and innocent she is not having grew up in the slums of Whitechapel but she won’t let wealthy peers get the better of her just because they have their rank for them. This is how during her escape she stumbles upon this desolated edifice and in the life of its residents.
Alistair has molded his life to the rhythm of his daughter’s. For her he has sacrificed everything but alone he is unable to convey his love to her when she sees herself as his prisoner.
Lily suffers from a severe affliction with unable her to see the light of the sun. Because of past burns, her father keeps her locked after she might hurt herself more, not seing the damage it does to her own view of their very particular family.
Violet’s arrival is the fresh breath they needed.
But she also awakens pains and demons they thought buried.
This was a lovely tale of second chance, with very flawed characters whom love will bring on the right path.
4.5 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the author but I had previously preordered the whole series.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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This book transported me to a whole new world. I was sucked into the drama of Violet outracing criminal charges and Alistair willing to do anything and everything to protect his daughter. In the meantime, we watch this pair snipe and snap their way first to a truce then fall head over heels for each other while loving the heck out of Lillian. On a side note, I think she’s one of the best written child characters I’ve ever read. I loved Violet and Alistair as a couple. She’s able to get him to loosen the reigns of his control a little and he gives her the safety and stability she’s really never known.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.
ONE OUTSTANDING DELIGHT!!!
Grand slam! Erica lets her vivid imagination free and let’s it set the stage for this action packed, hard hitting, page flipping dynamo. When the world as you know it crumbles at your feet and you’re left with nothing but the dust some hard decisions have to be made. And made they are. All the skepticism, speculations and revelations are revealed only to have more questions than answers. A churning eddy of inadvertent mishaps and a slew of surprising events launch your emotions into play with every color on the spectrum. Dynamics, personalities, attitudes are 100% spot on for realism. All the trials and tribulations along with so many plot twists blast this baby to life spectacularly. Scenes, characters, location and details are so realistic there’s no trouble interpreting each scenario as they play out perfectly. Remarkable job Erica, thanks for sharing this baby with us.