Wicked Angel

I started out really loving this book. I loved the characters, I loved how the plot was developing...I loved it. Really. Then, a little over halfway through, it developed "ESBS" Syndrome: "Everyone Suddenly Becomes Stupid." I suspect that what may have happened is that the author might have seen that she was about to wrap up the story, but she was WAY off on her word count, so, needed to write several more chapters in order to make it to her word count goal. And, the only way to do that, apparently, is to pile on the unnecessary problems and make the characters completely miserable before you finally make them happy in the last chapter.

Where it started out as a beautifully flowing story with characters I loved, it suddenly became this show more jumbled mess of misunderstanding after misunderstanding with characters I was starting to hate because even though they'd confessed their mutual love for each other near the middle of the book, the author kept finding idiotic reasons why they couldn't be together. They would make love, and tearfully profess their undying love and devotion to each other, then one of them would go, "Oh! But we can't be together because (insert stupid reason here). He leaves her, then finds her again, then she leaves him, then he comes after her, but she's too busy being a martyr, so he gets irritated and leaves her again, but she decides she can't live without him, so she goes after him, and he shuns her, so she leaves...on and on and on. The heroine during this period is almost always crying, and the hero is almost always drinking. For several chapters. It gets very tedious after awhile. By the end, I was just skimming, because I could no longer continue to read the continual melodrama.

I am a romance fan, and I do understand that a bit of melodrama is to be expected. But this was way too much. And I was probably irritated by it more than usual because I loved the beginning so much, and it just became ruined by the pages and pages of unnecessarily added angst. show less

I tried to finish this, I honestly did. With such an interesting start---amusing orphans, a quirky house, a clever heroine, a hero who enjoys the simple things in life---I thought I was in for a treat. Instead, as the book went on, the characters and the plot became more and more pedestrian and, frankly, impossible to like.

The heroine whimpers and whines about her impossible love. The hero broods and whines about his impossible engagement to another woman. The other woman, who could've been a sympathetic character, turns shrewish and jealous even as she can't bear the hero's touch. And they circle around one another for chapter after chapter after chapter. Good grief!

Considering how much I liked Sutherland in the previous book, The show more Devil's Love, I'm immensely disappointed to see him come to such an ignominious end. But I have to admit, I'm also immensely relieved to be escaping the "for Chrissakes" and "Holy Mother of God" and "God!" I found tossed at me every other paragraph. Distracting? Holy Mother of God, yes! show less

I have given this book a lower rating because I was very frustrated with the whole thing. Don't get me wrong this is a well written book with characters that invoke emotions that range for anger to joy. So be sure to keep the tissues handy and try not to drinking anything while you are reading. My frustration comes from so much going on and the "BIG MISUNDERSTANDING" plot line. I understand that in historical romances that authors are restricted by what was acceptable and expected by society during the time period of the story. However someone as powerful as the Duke of Sutherland could have weathered a scandal fairly easily. I am also upset that Lauren was so treated so badly when she was trying to do what was right.

Alexander "Alex" show more Christian is a man in a position that he never wanted. He was the second son of the dukedom and was able to do what he wanted. When his older brother dies in an accident he takes of the seat. He has done what is right including agreeing to marry the young woman that his brother was betrothed to before his death. Alex doesn't love the woman and I don't think that he actually thinks about her much either. He is more interested in politics and his shipping businesses. I don't think that Alex ever thought that he would find the love of his life and he probably wouldn't have if he hadn't been chasing a stag. When he first meets Lauren is very funny. I was a little unhappy with him because of the way he treated Lauren while they were in London. I think that if someone loves someone they should respect them.

Lauren Hill is a very smart and enterprising young woman. She tries to make things right in her family home after the death of her very ancient husband. She and her brother have taken in a number of orphans to help pay the bills. She loves these children and wants nothing more than to live in her family home and live a simple life. I think that her uncle is the most despicable man that I have read about in a very long time. I think that he desires a worse fate that what he has but I didn't write the book. I am also not happy with Paul Hill, Lauren's brother. I think that a brother would have supported his sister a little more that Paul did for a few chapters in the story.

Overall this is a good story and quick fun read. I was glad that we got to see some more of Abbey and Michael from THE DEVIL'S LOVE. For those that enjoy the historical romance genre you will probably enjoy this story. show less

After essentially being sold into marriage with a senile Bavarian count, Lauren Hill has finally returned home (widowed) to her beloved estate at Rosewood. Though the property has fallen on hard times, Lauren is determined to make enough money to continue supporting the many children she has taken in and all without marriage, thank you very much. No thoughts of romance, that is, until she lands on top of the handsome and charming Alexander Christian while fleeing an irate hog. But Alex is far from a simple country gentleman. As she discovers later, he is the wealthy Duke of Sutherland - a strong political influence in Parliament, and engaged… though he can't get Lauren off of his mind.

The scenes at Rosewood in the country are quite show more lovely. The persistence of some of Lauren's more unsuitable suitors had me howling with laughter, and I loved the way Alex interacted with the children (even if I'm not a big fan of children in romances). Everything was pleasant and downright idyllic in the country. Once the action moved to Town, however, and the characters learned one another's True Identities, everyone was terribly bent out of shape for all the wrong reasons. Everyone is very Proud and Self-Sacrificing. This was accompanied by a lot of rationalizing about a Gentleman's Word, a Lady's Honor, and the Greater Good - making absolutely everyone completely miserable including the various fiances. It was pretty much a huge melodramatic mess, and I just don't have the patience for it, even with characters I liked as much as these.

On the positive side, I really did like the characters. I liked Alex, loved Lauren, definitely want to see more of the sexy cousin David, hope to see Magnus happily ensconced with a charming girl, etc. I loved that Lauren constantly threw out little quotations from her reading and that Alex was completely charmed by it. I loved Alex teaching the boys how to fence… I also really enjoyed the heated moments between Alex and Lauren - the chemistry was definitely there. It was just the practical relationship issues that drove me up the wall.

I'll be looking for more by this author in hopes of hitting a plot more to my taste - anybody know if Westfall has his own book?

Also posted at my blog. show less

I don't understand why Julia London shows "The Devil's Love" and "Wicked Angel" as "Stand Alone Historicals" when the characters are actually contained in the "Rogues" series of books. I would recommend you read these 2 books before reading the Rogues series.

Ella corría a toda velocidad cuando aterrizó estrepitosamente encima de un jadeante y estupefacto desconocido, era el hombre más guapo que nunca había conocido. El desconocido aturdido sólo veía la cantidad de niños huérfanos que tenía a su cargo, pero robó el corazón de Lauren Hill con un beso abrasador antes de irse. Lauren no podía decirle que era una condesa viuda que pasaba momentos de apuro. Trató de olvidarle -hasta que se lo encuentra de nuevo en un baile en Londres. El hombre que la hechizo, con el que sueña desde entonces es un duque, está fuera de su alcance... y además está comprometido con otra mujer.
La encantadora condesa bávara despierta la curiosidad de toda la sociedad. Alexander Christian, Duque de show more Sutherland, queda estupefacto al conocer a la dama que ocupa la mayoria de los rumores de la temporada, no es otra que Lauren la chica de campo que ha capturado su corazón. El deber le ha forzado a comprometerse con otra persona, una capaz de ocupar el lugar que por derecho le pertenece en la sociedad y el Parlamento. Pero el quiero una noche con su hechicera de ojos azules, después intentará alejarse de ella de nuevo, va a arriesgar todo por estar con la mujer que hace hervir su sangre y domina sus sueños....su ángel malvado. show less