Too Wicked to Kiss

I like the author and reading her books

Very well written, didn’t want it to end, loved the story!

I love Erica’s books and definitely enjoyed “Too Wicked to Kiss.”

While I have read this author’s work before Too Wicked to Kiss is a departure from her usual style of writing. It did take me a while to get into it, maybe because for some reason I kept imagining Jane Eyre as I was reading it – I’ve no idea why. Perhaps Gavin Lioncroft reminded of Mr Rochester minus the mad wife in the attic of course. It was a bit darker than her other books and is without the customary humour I’ve come to expect from an Erica Ridley novel. She set a believably sinister scene complete with the requisite dark and brooding scarred hero. The heroine Evangeline, well I have to say I preferred Susan as a character to her but the story itself was filled with suspense with a slight paranormal element which I really enjoyed. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

Fleeing her stepfather after several fear-filled days following her mother’s death, Evangeline Pemberton finds herself at the mercy of the charity of Lady Stanton, who invites Evangeline to join her and her daughter, Susan, at a house party. However, Lady Stanton is less than charitable and demands Evangeline help trap the host, the reclusive Gavin Lioncroft, a rumored murderer, but also a wealthy man, into marriage to Susan. Evangeline is loath to participate in such deception, initially terrified by Gavin’s menacing presence, but soon finds herself drawn to him.

Gavin would prefer to keep his peace and quiet undisturbed. He knows the only ones who tolerate his company do so because they want his money. He certainly didn’t want the house party his sister has organized. When one of the guests is found dead, suspicion immediately falls on Gavin, but Evangeline is beginning to wonder if the surprisingly vulnerable murderer could in fact be innocent.

The gothic, slightly paranormal setting of this was delicious. The pacing was a bit slow fo rme, but it wound up being terribly romantic. I’m all for intrigue and mystery, but this did drag out long enough to test my patience just a bit. Evangeline kept falling into the same trap of judgmental thinking and that frustrated me to no end, though thankfully she did learn eventually. I loved the gothic setting, the plot, and the hero, just no so much the heroine.

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

Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed this book.This is a story about passing judgement and the harm that it does to relationships. Ridley is a superb author and even though I thought this book was a bit too long, I still enjoyed every minute of it. I loved the heroine Evangeline Pemberton and her special gifts. She is so caring and gentle. And the hero Gavin Lioncroft is more than an alpha male – he is a dangerous one. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

Page turning gothic romance, with a little regency, mystery and fantasy for added twists and turns! Evangeline is a tall, strong heroine and no fan of marriage. Gavin is a brooding male lead who’s lived a reclusive life. Watching the two lives come together is a delight! Looking forward to the next book in the series.

I have read so many of Erica Ridley’s books and each was great and had me waiting for the next. This is the first Gothic Romance of hers for me, and unbelievably even better then her other series !!! This is a dark, hunting tale of mistakes, murder, compromise/entrapment with wonderful characters. Gavin Lioncroft is the younger son of a Viscount who was accused of killing his parents, when he was seventeen. It was a horrible accident, which his temper, and fight with his father went very, very wrong. He has been paying for it all his life. Staying out of sight, a reclusive at Blackberry Manor, a dark, brooding, haunted castle with secret passageways.
Evangeline Pemberton, just wanted to escape her cruel, evil stepfather after her mother died. She ends up with Lady Stonton and her daughter Susan. She wrongly thought Lady Stonton was a friend of her mothers. Now she founds herself in a position as bad if not worst then what she left.
Lady Stonton is determined to get Susan married to Lioncroft, any way she can. Susan has been tossed out of the ton
for her antics. None of the guest are without secrets, and past history. Added to this strange dinner party is the fact
unknown to them Evangeling is clairvoyant just like her mother.
Gavin and Evangeling have an attraction from the start. These two will need to learn to trust each other somewhat after one of the guest is found murdered in his bed. When anyone touches Evangeling she see visions.
She knows all the people her are hiding things. Only when touched by Gavin does she see nothing but feels like a normal women with longings.
How this all works out with many twist and turns, is a suspenseful, who done it, with the guilty party well hidden.
I read this amazing story in one setting, couldn’t put it down.
Be sure and get your copy you don’t want to miss this one. The next book in this series “Too Sinful to Deny” is starting out to be just as great…..
I received and ARC of these books, and am giving my honest option.

Erica Ridley goes full-on Gothic mystery in this wonderful romance, a truly delightful change of pace! The main characters have lost nothing of their inner goodness nor the prerequisite emotional turmoil hiding behind light banter and sweet romance, but there is added depth and atmosphere to this story that just takes it to a whole new level.

There’s a sensuality in this book that I wasn’t expecting in an Erica Ridley romance, what a lovely surprise! Subtle but unmistakable, the passion and irresistible attraction between Evangeline and Gavin is almost mesmerizing. The love between this unlikely couple was beautifully written and very moving, it creeps up on them when they don’t expect or want it, and more importantly, when they dare not hope for it.

The setting is incredibly reminiscent of Gothic classics like The mysteries of Udolpho, though luckily the pacing isn’t. There’s such a spine-chilling, eerie atmosphere in this story, shadows, a creepy manor, ghosts and… a murder mystery worthy of Agatha Christie. What an unexpectedly thrilling read. I was kept in suspense until the very end.

The early part of the story struck me as a gothic satire. Then it smooths out to the story of a poor woman escaping a cruel guardian tempted by the man she cannot and does not want to yearn to have. There is the misunderstood, handsome recluse with his home complete with secret passageways. The H and h get caught up in a whodunit a la Agatha Christie with a house party full of possible murderers.
I included “whimsical” as there are some chuckle worthy scenes and lines such as this: “Her hand , however, was over-warm. And a bit moist— he hoped due to tears or sweat or some other non-nasal fluid.”