SLIGHTLY WICKED is the second in the Bedwyn Family book series and is about Lord Rannulf Bedwyn, the third oldest son. At first, I'll admit I wasn't as excited about this book as Balogh's other ones (I've read all but one of the other Bedwyn books). I hate to admit it, but reading the back summary I was somewhat put off by the idea that the heroine has a random wild fling with a stranger at the beginning of the book. If you're somewhat put off by this, let me tell you - don't be!

MAIN CHARACTERS, Judith and Rannulf:
Judith Law describes herself as "the embarrassingly awkward one, the ugly one, the always cheerful one, the dreamer." She is actually very beautiful, but has absolutely no idea, having been made to think all her life that she is ugly and vulgar. Lord Rannulf Bedwyn is serious, but not at all as stern or brooding as Aidan or Wulf and not as light-hearted as Alleyne. He is passionate, intelligent, and a surprisingly thoughtful and kind man (and a wonderful dashing hero!). At the beginning of the novel he is a somewhat indolent and aimless man, having no real purpose in his life, but by the end of the story he has changed, with a newfound direction and newfound love (surprise, surprise!) in his life.

Balogh has a real talent for creating and developing authentic relationships between the hero and heroine. Though she does a pretty good job again here, I didn't think Rannulf and Judith's bond was as strong as those in some of Balogh's other books (SLIGHTLY MARRIED, Aidan and Eve's story, specifically comes to mind, as I read it a few days before this book). The relationship isn't badly written by any means, however, and you do look forward to each of their interactions.

CRITICISMS:
I did feel the fling period could have used a little work (the way Judith acts then did not seem consistent with her character in the rest of the book; I know she's "letting loose" but it was a little more than seemed believable). The "evil plot" aspect was a little too exaggerated and drawn-out towards the end of the book. Also, Julienne, Judith's annoying 18-year-old cousin, was *unbelievably* stupid, selfish, self-involved, and I could continue with more "S"s but you get the picture - a little over the top; felt like slapping her and I'm not one who ever advocates violence.

SIMILAR BOOKS:
If you like books where the hero and heroine have one night of passion as strangers and later fall in love, check out the following:
~ SIMPLY UNFORGETTABLE (Simply Quartet, Book 1) by Mary Balogh
~ THE SECRET PEARL by Mary Balogh - a spin on the "one night of passion"
~ WHEN WE MEET AGAIN (Effington Family, Book 10) by Victoria Alexander
~ HER HIGHNESS, MY WIFE (Effington Family, Book 5) by Victoria Alexander - premise isn't exactly the same, but similar enough
~ LET IT BE LOVE (Effington Family, Book 11) by Victoria Alexander
~ IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT, anthology - I haven't read it, but I think it is similar

BOTTOM LINE:
It's an entertaining read and I laughed out loud several times. Definitely worth reading as part of the Bedwyn series; relationship wasn't as strong as Aidan and Judith's, but it is still a GREAT read.

(Written December 6, 2008 on Amazon.com) ( )

"Slightly Wicked" is the second book in the "Slightly Series." It follows Rannulf Bedwyn, the third son. Along the way to visit his grandmother, Rannulf comes across Judith Law, who has been stranded by a carriage accident on muddy roads. Judith is on her way to her aunt's house, where she is to take the position of a "poor relative" due to her family's faltering financial situation. Seeing this as the only chance in her life for adventure, Judith - claiming to be the actress Claire Campbell - spends two nights in a hotel with Rannulf before bolting off and returning to the reality of her life. Thinking that those two nights of passion will sustain her for the rest of her life, Judith is shocked to find that Rannulf is actually courting Judith's spoiled younger cousin - at his grandmother's request.

I enjoyed this book a great deal. I loved Judith - she is a complex, strong, yet realistic heroine, and I loved how through the course of the book she comes to see her own worth and her own beauty. A good deal of this book focuses on Judith moving from hiding and hating herself to loving and rejoicing in herself - a change she makes with the help of Rannulf's friendship and love. Rannulf is a good character as well. However, he does not have the individuality of some of Balogh's other male characters, and I found him a (relatively) weak lead. There is a surge in the plot in the last third of the book, but while a lot happens, it does not become confusing or detract from the romantic struggle of the story. ( )

Synopsis: Slightly Wicked is the second novel in Mary Balogh's Bedwyn family series of regency romances. It stars Rannulf Bedwyn, the 3rd Bedwyn brother. It starts out with Rannulf on his way to visit his grandmother who, having made him her heir, has found what she thinks may be a suitable bride for him. On the way there, he comes across an overturned post coach stranded by the side of the road. One of the passengers, exceptionally beautiful redhead Judith Law, accepts his offer of a ride into the next town to seek aid. Intent on a guiltless dalliance, he gives her a false name, not letting on that he is really the brother of the powerful Duke of Bewcastle. He assumes she is a stage actress, one willing to share her bed with the right gentleman, and she does not disabuse him of this belief. In reality, Judith is a parson's daughter who has been farmed out as a poor relation to live with her well-to-do aunt in the country. She has led a fairly uneventful, sheltered life and the chance to pose as a ballsy, flirtatious actress for an hour or so is too good to pass up. She flirts with Rannulf all the way into the next town and they spend a couple of nights of passion together, he believing her an accomplished actress and lover, she thinking him a charming, rakish gentleman. Neither suspects the other's true identity. Of course, they must go their separate ways and Judith slips away in the morning, leaving him only a brief note of farewell.

Both of them think the adventure is over for good, but neither can forget those two nights together. Of course, come to find out that the girl Rannulf's grandmother has in mind for him is none other than Judith's empty-headed cousin, the daughter of the aunt that she has been sent to live out the rest of her dreary days with. They are both shocked to meet again and discover one another's true identity (like we didn't see this coming), but now they must face the reality of their situations: Judith is a poor relation and treated like a nobody while Rannulf has promised his grandmother that he will seriously pay court to the young girl she has chosen for him. Meanwhile, the crabby old aunt, afraid that Judith's natural beauty will detract from her own daughter's attractions, forces Judith to dress unflatteringly and behave as no more than a servant. All the same, Rannulf can't keep his eyes off her and eventually determines to make her his.

And most of that happens in the first 100 pages or so. There's also a dastardly villain in the form of a lecherous cousin, a ne'er do well spendthrift brother, and the theft of some family jewels (for which Judith is blamed).

This book kind of dragged a bit for me. I think maybe it was because it is the first book by Balogh that I did not thoroughly enjoy every step of the way. Judith is an interesting character, with her natural acting talent and her family situation (although I did find her a bit of a victim), but I thought Rannulf was a little lackluster for a hero. He's a nice guy, but he doesn't have a lot of individuality - just your average, garden variety regency romance rake/gentleman. And the bad guy is really bad, almost too bad to be believable. But I did enjoy the bits with the other Bedwyns, particularly the parts with Wulfric but not so much the parts with Freyja. I just don't like her character. She's bitchy and snobby. I didn't like her in A Summer to Remember, either. Her story is the subject of the next novel in this series, Slightly Scandalous.

Best part: Probably when, after Judith is accused of the jewel theft and then runs off to London, Rannulf rides after her and takes her to his family to protect her. He never once believes that she is guilty and he does fight for her - far more than she fights for herself. ( )

From BackCover:
Meet the Bedwyns…six brothers and sisters--men and women of passion and privilege, daring and sensuality…Enter their dazzling world of high society and breathtaking seduction…where each will seek love, fight temptation, and court scandal…and where Rannulf Bedwyn, the rebellious third son, enters into a liaison that is rather risqué, somewhat naughty, and…Slightly Wicked.

With his laughing eyes and wild, rakish good looks, Lord Rannulf Bedwyn is a hard man to resist. To Judith Law, a woman in need of rescue when her stagecoach overturns, Rannulf is simply her savior, a heroic stranger she will reward with one night of reckless passion before she must become a companion to her wealthy aunt. Imagine Judith's shock when the same stranger turns out to be among England's most eligible bachelors…and when he arrives at Harewood Grange to woo her cousin. Certainly, they had made no vows, no promises, but Rannulf never did forget his uninhibited lover…nor did she forget that one delicious night. And as scandal sets the household abuzz, Rannulf proposes a solution…but when Judith refuses to have him--in love or wedlock--Rannulf has only one choice: to wage a campaign of pure pleasure to capture the heart of the woman who has already won his.

Awards:
A TRR 5 Heart Keeper ( )

Terrible bodice ripper ( )