A scarred marquess and a ruined bluestocking with everything to lose… Lady Annabelle Standish a lesson she’ll never forget.
Lady Annabelle is determined to study the rakes of London. It’s purely for research she wants to share what she’s learned with the ladies of her station. The problem, she can’t find any research subjects. That is until she meets Lord Marks, a reclusive marquess accused of ruining a young lady in her first season. First, she needs to determine if he’s as bad as they say and then… well then she needs to keep from falling under his rakish spell.
What she didn’t count on was that dangerous and mysterious men are also exciting.
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*** 3.5 Stars Rounded Up ***
The series theme is that the ladies are ‘ruined’ bluestockings and they have decided to ‘study’ and research rogues in order to write a paper that will warn other young ladies what to look out for and what situations to avoid, etc. In this book, the lady is ‘ruined’ because she has an inattentive/uncaring father that ruined them financially.
Luke Harding, Marquess of Harding, eschews almost all ton events. His time and efforts are all devoted to the running of his estates and the care of his tenants and holdings. However, he has had to make an exception because he was falsely accused of ‘ruining’ a young lady at a previous event – when he wasn’t even there. So, he is putting in an appearance at the current event in order for the ton to see that he is not in hiding and to assume, therefore, that he is not guilty. Yet, there is a young woman across the room, hiding behind a palm, intently watching his every move. Evidently, there is another young woman out to maneuver him into a forced marriage. Well – that won’t be happening.
Lady Annabelle (Annie) Marks never plans to marry – not that she’d ever get an offer with no dowry. It is her plan to help her friends write their papers on rogues and to study sea creatures. She has been writing and publishing scientific papers under an assumed name and has been saving her money so that she can build a cottage where she and her friends can all live. Her father has promised her that he’ll give her a small strip of land by the sea – and that is where she plans to build the cottage. Of course, her father is flighty and fickle and will likely sell the land to the first person who asks.
Annie has chosen Luke Harding as the rogue she will study for their paper. She’s been standing behind a fern watching him all evening, but he isn’t doing anything particularly ‘roguish’. When he comes over and confronts her and they talk, she begins to wonder if maybe he isn’t really a rogue at all.
Both of our characters have issues stemming from fathers who are definitely not what a father should be. They are drawn together, but each fights the attraction. Luke was the one with more serious issues and it took him longer to realize that he could have a loving home and family despite the upbringing he had.
While this is part of a series, it can totally be read as a standalone.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Luke Harding doesn’t care about the ton or society. His lands, his duty, and the people who depend on him are all that matter. Lady Annabelle is determined to study the rakes of London. It’s purely for research she wants to share what she’s learned with the ladies of her station. The problem, she can’t find any research subjects. That is until she meets Lord Harding, a reclusive marquis accused of ruining a young lady in her first season.
Luke is a scarred reclusive marquis, who has a temper but he doesn’t want to turn into his abusive father. Annie is a bluestocking who’s been neglected by her inventor father. They dance at a ball & for each of them life is altered completely. I loved both Luke & Annie, they were both very much alone but when they were together the world didn’t seem so bleak. Once again the author’s characters are so very well portrayed, I really felt for both Luke & Annie & rejoiced when they discovered each other. He’s scarred, bad tempered, also but also honourable, caring & loving, she’s intelligent & loyal both want to be loved. This book could be read on its own but I’d recommend reading the whole series. I read it in a sitting as I just couldn’t put it down.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Too Wicked to Want: Regency Romance
Chronicles of a Bluestocking Series #2
Tammy Andresen
https://www.facebook.com/authortammyandresen/
Release date 11/12/2019
Publisher Swift Romance Publishing
Blurb :
A scarred marquess and a ruined bluestocking with everything to lose…
Lord Harding doesn’t give a dung pile about the ton or society. His lands, his duty, and the people who depend on him are all that matter. But when Lady Annabelle begins following him about, he won’t stand for it. He’s knows she’s attempting to trap him in marriage. It’s his legacy at risk, after all. It’s time to teach Lady Annabelle Standish a lesson she’ll never forget.
Lady Annabelle is determined to study the rakes of London. It’s purely for research she wants to share what she’s learned with the ladies of her station. The problem, she can’t find any research subjects. That is until she meets Lord Harding, a reclusive marquess accused of ruining a young lady in her first season. First, she needs to determine if he’s as bad as they say and then… well then she needs to keep from falling under his rakish spell.
What she didn’t count on was that dangerous and mysterious men are also exciting.
My review:
She was looking for a rogue, yet she found a man who might be her fall or salvation…
Mrs Tammy Andresen is such a talented writer by bringing together characters who should have never meet, yet they are the perfect cure for one another.
After suffering a harsh childhood under an abusive father’s thumb, Luke Harding retreated inside his own shell, avoiding society’s meddling at the most.
Annabelle Marks is labeled a fallen woman because of her father’s involvement in trade, she marked for her father’s choice. This same father who is barely aware she lives in the same home than he and is too self-absorbed to keep his own promises.
When Annabelle sought after Luke, she thought she had the prefect specimen for her research. Alas she soon realizes she was in the wrong, he is far from a cad, so much a honorable man he steps in to protect her and help her follow her dreams even if it means sacrificing his own.
Hopefully they are both resilient and persistent when Annabelle’s stubbornness for a time at refusing to give up her work and Luke’s determination to leave her alone are what endangered their relationship.
With these two broken characters, Mrs Andresen illustrates rightfully her talent for crafting complex personalities, as some wounds might be visible only on the surface, while the deepest are hidden very thoroughly in the soul of its victims and shaping them and their future.
4.5 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the author, and prior to it I preordered my own.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/498848970704279?d=n&sfns=mo
Not my favorite in the series, but a decent read. Annabelle was well written, but I didn’t really like Luke much.
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Too Wicked to Want is the third book in the Chronicles of a Bluestocking series. This has been such a fun series to read. Four women that have been labeled as “ruined” by society decide to write a chronicle detailing ways for new debutantes to recognize and avoid ruin from rakes. The four friends are smart, independent, witty, sassy and determined to help other women.
Lady Annabelle “Annie’ was considered ruined by society due to her father’s ruined financial situation. She was invisible to her father, who never showed an interest in her. He had promised to give her a small strip of land by the sea, but she is afraid he will sell it to finance his newest ideas. All she wanted was to live by the sea so she could study ocean animals and write scientific research papers. When rumors start circulating of Lord Harding ruining a young woman, she decides he will make a good subject to research for their chronicle.
The Marquess of Harding, Luke Harding, was being accused of ruining a lady at an event that he wasn’t even at. He hates attending society events, but he decides he needs to make a few appearances to show he is not hiding and not guilty. At one event he noticed a woman across the room hiding behind a plant watching his every move. He is intrigued by Annie, but not about to get trapped in marriage.
As Annie continues to follow Luke for “research” she starts to question if he really is a rake. His behavior does not seem to match what she thinks a rake’s should be, especially since he makes her feel so safe.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am so loving this series!! Too Wicked to Want by Tammy Andresen is book 2 in the Chronicles of a Bluestocking. Though in a series this can be read as a standalone. I always find Tammy’s story so charming and delightful but this has a bit of a darker side to it and I love it. Her books are easy to read and I never get confused with the story or characters and they are so wonderful. Too Woo a Wicked Wants is very original and just a fabulous read. This story has a women’s ruined club, a book and study of rakes, misunderstandings, protection, a awful parent, a bad temper, abuse, friendship, a scheme, a marriage of convenience and love. I highly recommend this book.
***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.
Another, sassy, sexy and heartwarming tale from Tammy Andresen! TOO WICKED TO WANT brings two damaged and perhaps misunderstood souls together, all for “science,” of course, but can love be dissected into black and white points? Can the elements of a rake truly be identified as a warning for the fairer sex? Or does what lay beneath the handsome façade defy quantifying?
I do love a feisty heroine, ahead of time, out of her depth, but either strong or naive enough to push on! Lady Annabelle is determined to find a rake to study for her part in the manual on rakes being devised by her friends. Lord Harding certainly has a dangerous reputation, a dangerous look and an attitude toward the opinions of society. Is he all the tongues are wagging about or is he exactly what Annabelle has been searching for?
As always, Tammy Andresen condenses a lot of plot, pluck and passion into a quick read that never fails to transport me into another time and another place while leaving me smiling throughout!
I received a complimentary copy from Tammy Andresen! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Lucas “Luke” Harding, Marquess of Harding, avoids society events as he spends all of his time devoted to his estates, tenants & growing his holdings. His mother & Lucas left his father when he was 7 after years of physical abuse to his mother & then his father sliced Lucas’ face with a knife. They went to live with his mother’s family & she died when he was 10 & then he was forced to live with his father who physically & emotionally abused him. After his father died, Luke has done everything possible to be different than his Father but he worries he will not be able to control his temper which he has inherited from him. He knows he cannot be around a wife & children with the fear he may lose his temper & hurt them but he must take a wife to create an heir & then he will live separately but provide care for them.
Annabelle “Annie” Marks is a “ruined” bluestocking & the daughter of a baron who had forgotten his title & become an inventor spending all of the money on his workshop full of materials & inventions. He has never paid any attention to Annie & her mother had died when she was young so Annie also had a father that abused her in an emotional way & never felt loved. She has come to accept the fact that she will not marry which is fine & has agreed to help compile a guide that demystified the elusive rake. Her target would be the Marquess of Harding a rake & rumored to have ruined an innocent lady in the garden at a ball – she would start her research for the guide with him.
Luke & Annie fight their attraction to each other but eventually love will win! They are such a great couple & when they are together their surroundings seemed so right. The secondary characters were fun & I enjoyed revisiting some people from the previous books in the series. I highly recommend this book (which can be read as a stand alone but the whole series is great.
I was gifted the Advanced Reader Copy of this book & all opinions are my own & have been voluntarily given.
What could go wrong when a group of bluestockings decide to make a study of Rogues? Just write a few notes. Annie gets so much more than she expected. A very well written story that is entertaining and grabs you by the hand, pulling you into the adventure. This book has so much to offer.
Lady Annabelle is used to neglect, but she has a plan. Her self-indulgent father has reneged on every promise he ever made her, using the funds she should have had for her dowry and season for his own pursuits, leaving her scorned by society. When Lord Harding notices Annabelle observing him from across the room, he decides to catch her at her own game. Before he realises it, Annabelle has reeled him and for the first time in years, he is on the dance floor having a most disconcerting conversation with a young lady. Luke understands abuse and in an attempt to avoid the poor example set by his father, he eschews marriage, women and conflicting situations. With Annabelle’s sites set on him for reasons he cannot fathom out, he discovers himself embroiled in all three. He does understand, however, that despite her straitened circumstances, Annabelle has loyal friends who protect her and as he comes to appreciate her need for independence, Luke finds that he is no longer an observer but totally embroiled in her affairs. The story is fairly short, but it is well written, entertaining and romantic. Characters from previous books appear in this one too, and it is like meeting old friends. The novelette is a standalone and comes to an idyllic close. I received a copy of the book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Headlines! Read all about it! “The Scarred Marquess and the Destitute Bluestocking were seen dancing at the ball! How could that be? He rarely makes an appearance and she never gets asked to dance! Could this be the next highly irregular match for the Season? But didn’t he already compromise that debutante and hasn’t her eccentric father the inventor left them with little funds? Why would he seen with her?”
Once you start, you might as well sit back and not get distracted because, seriously, you will not be able to stop until the end. As Annabelle watched him from behind the palm, she could only marvel. “Dark, brooding, massive, not round but large and muscular.” Then when he appeared behind her and wanted to know why she was starring, the excitement started. She asked him to dance. Oh yes, Annabelle was gathering information on rakes and she was determined to learn more about him.
This was exactly what I love in historical romance. Two souls who need each other, both scarred a little from their upbringing and an unlikely, perfect match!!
Perfectly enthralling and delightful!!
Too Wicked To Want is an outstanding historical romance by Tammy Andresen. Ms. Andresen has provided readers with a fantastic story loaded with an amazing cast of characters. Annabelle and her friends are writing a book of tips on rakes and rogues. Her target for the night is Lucas because the rumor mill says he ruined an innocent. Lucas, the Scarred Marquess denies it was him. Lucas and Annabelle’s story is packed with drama, humor, action, spice and suspense. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to my next book by Tammy Andresen. Too Wicked To Want is book 2 of the Chronicles of a Bluestocking 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 Bookfunnel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is a really wicked story but very nice too. Wicked because a few compromised young ladies have decided to write a book, I presume supposedly to warn other young ladies what to watch out for with ‘Rakes’.
And Lord Marks just happens to fall into Lady Annabelle’s trap!
And what a trap it is!
This story is a real delight with many amusing scenes as well as some really serious ones too. Then there is the romancing with some tastefully written ‘hot’ moments too.
Very entertaining, this page-turning kept me enthralled and I am happy to recommend it.
I read an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of the ebook and this is my voluntary and unbiased review of it.