After ten years of adventure, Colin Smith, the bastard son of a viscount, returns to the place he most despises –London. But only until he can sell off some of his treasures. He has no use for the stifling rules of the ton, but he’s more than happy to play the game if it gets him what he wants. Lady Claire, daughter of a marquess, is everything Colin loathes about the ton, but she is determined … she is determined to win him over. Her life is a catalogue of dances and evening gowns, and thanks to an eidetic memory, she can remember every blasted, boring second of it. A treasure hunt for the Cleopatra Emerald promises adventure, but Claire wants more. If she can convince Colin Smith to take her with him as he travels the world, then she’ll have the life she’s always dreamed of. There’s just one problem, he doesn’t seem to like her much.
But Lady Claire loves a good challenge and the intellectual beauty may be on her way to the grandest adventure of all.
Each book in the Wicked Secrets series is STANDALONE:
* Twice As Wicked
* Lady Gone Wicked
* Wicked With the Scoundrel
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Colin Smith is back in England, much to his disgust, after 10 years in India and Egypt. He hopes to sell treasures he found and find a patron that will enable him and his business partner Debananda “Deb” Mukherjee to return to Egypt and hopefully discover even greater treasure. His hope is to capture the attention of the Marquess of Chatwell, who is a collector of antiquities and rich.
Lady Claire Harrison, daughter of the Marquess of Chatwell, has accompanied her father to see Colin’s treasures, Claire has an eidetic memory and remembers everything, every boring, mundane moment of her life. She longs for excitement and adventure, but is resigned to her quiet life – until see lays eyes on Colin and falls in love at first sight. Claire is not stupid, she knows that Colin is not suitable as a prospective groom and that her father will never approve, so she comes up with a plan – she will help him find the lost treasure of Scipio which includes the Cleopatra emerald – he will be rewarded and recognized by the crown and then her father would allow him to marry her! Now all she has to do is convince him to “help” her find the treasure and marry her.
Colin is interested in the treasure, but not Claire – or any lady in the “ton”, he has no love for the nobility. His mother was a ladies man and was raped by her employer’s husband and cast out when she learned she was pregnant. Colin reached out to his father when he was a young man and was told in no uncertain terms, that he was not going to help him. Colin’s bitterness against the nobility runs deep, but Claire is different and he likes her – but he still won’t help her.
Claire’s father requests a meeting with Colin and makes him an offer he can’t refuse. Help Claire find treasure – fake treasure – and the Marquess will become his patron. Colin agrees, but underestimates Claire’s determination to have Colin find the treasure and marry her.
This is a well written, amusing, uncomplicated, quirky story with very likable characters, warm love scenes, treasure, secrets, lies, wonderful secondary characters and a sweet HEA, complete with an epilogue. This is the 3rd book in the series, but I have not read the previous books and had no issues whatsoever.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review of an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
She’s looking for an adventure and his heart has her name written all over it. Colin and Claire are total opposites. She’s always has a plan and he’s used to playing things by ear. If they can see past their differences, they might discover the greatest treasure of all. Bright lays claim to every emotion. Wicked with the Scoundrel is an adventure not just for the characters, but for the readers as well. Claire and Colin may try your patience, but by the end of the story, they’ll own your heart.
UGH. I had such high hopes that this author (one I have read and loved before) would break my 2019 curse of only reading 3 star (or less) books. But unfortunately, this was another three star read.
It started off so promising. We meet Colin – an adventure hunter, and Claire – a girl who remembers absolutely everything. When Claire takes it in her head to find a lost treasure she once heard about and tries to enlist his help I was hooked. I remained interested when her father petitioned Colin to help her on this “fools errand”, and I was even more encouraged when they actually manged to work together to find it. Their banter was amazing. The supporting characters (even those from other stories) kept my interest. I was 100% invested in their love story.
And then Colin went stupid. And he seemed to think only of himself and forget all of the reasons why he fell in love with her in the first place (even if she is prone to moments of life threatening stupidity). And then we got this drivel of how he’s going to basically manipulate her into doing what he wants, only to be shocked when she goes against him. Did you hear my eyes roll?
I will never understand why an author takes such strong and amazing characters and then de-evolves them into mere shadows of themselves (although I will say Claire showed more backbone than I would have thought possible).
Overall, I know this story will be a fan favorite (the 4 and 5 star reviews ahead of mine cement this). And I would read more from this author. I just wish she wouldn’t fall into such cliche moments.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
This charming story is book three in Elizabeth Bright’s Wicked Secrets series. I didn’t read the first two and wasn’t lost at all, so you shouldn’t have any problem. Claire is the daughter of a peer and lacked for nothing. She has an amazing memory and could remember every detail. Every. Boring. Detail. Therefore, she wished for excitement and adventure. Colin, too, was the child of a peer, albeit an illegitimate one. He is a treasure hunter who risks life and limb in his quest to make money. Could these two be any different?
Claire immediately fell in love with Colin. He, though, didn’t seem very impressed with her. This is a romance novel, however, so you know of course that he falls in love with Claire. Here is the plot point in the story that tempered my enjoyment a bit. Colin seemed to turn into a totally different person when he fell in love. Of course he wanted to protect his beloved, but he turned into an overbearing nanny. Claire, though, wouldn’t put up with that, and she ended up being the stronger of the two characters. It was still a fun story and I plan to read more from this author.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
England is not his home, at the age of sixteen Colin left it behind, he was the illegitimate son of a lord and a lady’s maid. So society had turned their nose up at him, so after seven years travelling Egypt and India, Colin comes back to sell some of his goods.
Lady Claire wants out of England, she’s bored of the society life, she wants adventure, she has a memory that remembers EVERYTHING, and she’s tired of being treated as “different” and after she meets a certain Mr Colin Smith, she’s fallen in love she wants to travel the world and thinks he would be a great guide, but propriety dictates that she can’t travel on her own, and certainly not without a travel companion (and not a male) so she proposes a solution to Colin …..
Colin can’t believe his ears !!! A marriage proposal and to daughter to a Marquess no less !!! He thinks it’s all a nasty joke, but after Claire explains it all (she needs a guide and to find a treasure, it will set the pair of them up for life)
And when he is approached by Claire’s father, he wants to take Claire on a fake adventure, and in return he will set Colin up for life in his business venture. Colin has to think logically (but her father says that he is to keep it “business” only)
During the adventure Colin sees Claire as more than just than a soft debutante with a silly notion of adventure. He sees a young woman struggling to find her identity. He sees past her dowdy exterior, and sees instead a passionate and fun loving young woman, slowly Colin warms to her.
Yes it’s the usual bastard meets debutante, she softens him and changes his outlook on life.
But I liked this one, the adventure in Egypt was so a little far fetched, but entertaining non the less, there were a few funny moments, the dance lesson was very funny.
So does Claire get her happy ending ? Does Colin get past his bitterness, with his hate of high society ?
And more importantly, do they find the treasure ? Because if not, the outcome could wreck both they’re lives.
Books in the series …..
Twice as wicked
Lady gone wicked
Wicked with the scoundrel
Wicked with the Scoundrel
by Elizabeth Bright
One fast paced adventure that leads to the only treasure worth it’s weight in gold. Lady Claire is unconventional daughter of the Marquise of Chatwell. Looking for adventure to break with her very staid life. She’s instantly hit by Cupid’s arrow and vows to make the object of her heart -Colin Smith- to fall hopelessly in love with her……he just doesn’t know it yet.
Colin Smith isn’t happy to be back on English soil he only wants to sell his treasure and be on his way again. But first he needs the Marquise of Chatwell to fund his new venture. Only one catch he needs to take Claire on a treasure hunt, easy peasy until Claire pulls a fast one on him and snatches his heart.
A heartwarming tale that keeps the reader entertained. Funny and witty dialogue, plenty of chemistry make this a pleasure to read.
I recieved a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest unbiased opinion.
Wicked With the Scoundrel by Elizabeth Bright is book Three in the Wicked Secrets Series. This is the story of Colin Smith and Claire Harrison. I have read the previous books, but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Colin mother was raped by a title holding man which set the tone for his dislike for the ‘Town’. So when he has to return to sell his treasures he doesn’t plan on doing anything else. Claire and her father have a chance to see Colin, and Claire is very smitten. So board with the life on the Town she goes to think up a way that she can get Colin and her father’s approval for Colin to ask her to marry him. Enjoyed their story.
The stories of those who went to Egypt to hunt for treasure before it was restricted are fascinating. Colin Smith is just that adventurer! After being gone for ten years he returns to London to sell some treasures he has found and is looking for a patron to back his further expeditions. Despising the people and rules of the ton, he is eager to obtain what he needs and return.
When he finds a Marquess who is willing to fund him, he also finds his daughter Clair who is determined to go on a treasure hunt with him to find a priceless jewel. Of course she is totally smitten with him upon first glance but she is everything that Colin has stayed away from. Will he take her and what will they find? Will he change his mind and find love with Clair?
Elizabeth Bright has written an enjoyable tale with captivating characters that will keep you entertained until the end! I am anxious to go back and read the first two books in this series, but his can be read as a standalone.
Colin Smith, the bastard son of a viscount, has returned to England after ten years of treasure hunting Lady Claire, daughter of a marquis, is everything Colin loathes about the ton, but she is determined to win him over. The pair meet in Bath & for Claire it’s love at first sight. Claire persuades Colin to help her search for the Cleopatra Emerald. If she can convince Colin Smith to take her with him as he travels the world, then she’ll have the life she’s always dreamed of.
I enjoyed this third book in the series but not as much as the first two. I always find instant love hard to believe but it was handled well & Claire didn’t deviate from her feelings. I also felt Colin went from being lukewarm to Claire to being desperately in love with her. He needs the money from selling the finds to give his mother & himself some security. I liked both of them & their road to a HEA was very entertaining. The story flowed well & held my interest all the way through. Claire’s total memory recall was a different slant & I felt this could have been given greater scope. Overall an enjoyable read that with a little bit extra could have been so much better
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
An adventurous tale. Claire is an unconventional young lady who instantly falls in love with Colin the first time she sees him. She sets her sights on marrying him and devises a plan to do so. They go on a treasure hunting trip where they scrap and argue until they end up in bed. There are funny moments and plenty of disasters that will make you cringe. Claire is fierce and determined and eventually she achieves the goal she set out to do.
I love Ms. Bright’s writing, everything is amazing. Adventures, Egyptian treasures, more Wessex (if only just a little) and a strong woman. I am so there. Colin, a scoundrel? Not really but he is terribly wicked which makes me love him (oh and he loves his mother, swoon). We all love a strong woman and Claire is so strong and know what she wants and goes after what she wants. No demure woman and I love it! These stories are so interesting and different and fresh. If you have not read Ms. Bright, she is fairly new (only three books), run out and get these books and have a grand time reading and getting lost in another time.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
The story revolves around Colin, an illegitimate son of a Viscount and Claire the daughter of a Marquess. Claire has the ability to recall anything and everything that had ever happened in her lifetime with vividness. This is at times frustrating to others in that she creates lists of the incidents with absolute recall. Colin meets Claire and she becomes intrigued by him and wants to further their relationship. Colin in an adventurer who has returned to England to find support for another expedition to Egypt and along the way they fall in love and plan to return to Egypt in search of hidden treasures. There is a lot that comes about before this happens. It is a good read.