Erica Ridley

Prelim Review: I adored Ridley's first gothic historical romance "Too Wicked to Kiss" and was eagerly awaiting this next book (which features the cousin of the main characters in Too Wicked). It did not disappoint at all!

Gothic romances and me have a sort of love/hate relationship, and make no mistake this is definitely a gothic romance. There are more dead bodies in this book then eligible bachelors--and there's about twice as many suspicious characters besides! Susan was quirky, curious and determined to do the right thing, even at the expense of her own life (multiple times at that). She was as quick with her tongue as she was with her smiles and infinitely clever. Evan was a puzzle, a smuggler and libertine he didn't quite fit the same mold the others in the book were in. Which outside of being explained later on, are shown through his actions.

Full review to be posted at Romance Readers at Heart!… (more)

So we're all clear I would happily read a longer novel of Amelia managing everyone's lives. She is my new heroine.



There was something so very...charming about how Amelia would constantly startle her brother with her almost preternatural ability to think through all possible problems. Just as there was something equally charming about Justin's bafflement over how Amelia could just sweep in and everyone was bending to her will. I fully believe if Amelia had been on the battlefield she would have ended the conflict before the enemy even thought to raise their weapons. She was frightfully competent.

Though even more then that it was her poise and assurance that she knew what was best because she cared about the details. She knew to have a glass of port and biscuits on a tray sent when her brother "suddenly" came to talk because the possibility was there. She knew Justin would possibly make her wait (or not be at home at all really) when she arrived because the possibility was there. In the end though every road led back to her getting what she wanted.

I would have liked to see more of Justin - see how exactly his 12 hours of work then 12 hours of play exactly worked. It didn't occur to me until after I was done reading, but when did he SLEEP exactly? Did he consider that part of the "play" hours and thus calculated it that way? How long did he sleep and could he then in good conscience say he spent 12 hours at play if he slept away half of them?

Is he secretly a robot?

As this is the precursor to a larger series (The Dukes of War, who are referenced by that name by Amelia to her brother and Justin's obvious annoyance) I can only HOPE to see more of them in the next books. I think it will be delightful to watch as the two combine their strengths (of managing people and time so efficiently) to terrorize their friends and family. Or just to see how thrilled Amelia remains once she has kids. I don't think I've ever read of a heroine who is anticipating having children solely so she'd have a new obstacle to manage!

I've read Ridley before (I greatly enjoyed her rather more gothic books TOO WICKED TO KISS and TOO SINFUL TO DENY) so I knew going in I would enjoy her writing style. I was pleased by the humor as well, though I have to wonder if the next books in the series will have as much (unlike the Dukes of War, Justin did not go to war and thus doesn't seem to have the same demons they do).

All in all this was a delightful quick read that I wish was longer, but am content to just imagine all the hijinks these two are getting up to in the name of order and amusement.… (more)