Stevie‘s review of Wicked, My Love (Wicked Little Secrets, Book 2) by Susanna Ives
Historical Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 03 Mar 15
Gentle humour in historical fiction is wonderfully endearing when it works, but there’s always a danger of it falling flat, especially where politics is involved. I felt that Ives pulled off the humour perfectly in the previous novel of hers that I read, Rakes and Radishes, and so picked this one up eagerly, in spite of its being the second in a series.
The series aspect definitely isn’t an obstacle, as this book very much stands alone as far as I can tell. Isabella, the heroine, took a while to grow on me, mainly because her main rebellion is against her bluestocking cousin Judith, whose encouragement and editing has led to Isabella’s book on finances for single, widowed and abandoned women becoming an overnight success. Isabella, however, is keen to find a man of her own, the charming Anthony Powers being a prime candidate; although she’ll settle for anyone half-decent with the exception of her neighbour, business partner, and childhood nemesis, Lord Randall.
When Powers turns out to be a cheat and a fraud, absconding with the life savings of a wide range of the investors in Isabella’s and Randall’s bank, the pair embark on a mission to track him down and recover their own and everyone else’s stolen fortunes – ideally before Isabella is due to receive an award for her book. The pair adopt a series of improbably disguises, Randall puts on some rather unconvincing lower class accents, and Isabella discovers just how many women her book has helped: most of whom stand to be ruined if Powers’ evil schemes come to fruition.
While the humour is my main stumbling block with the beginning of the book, mainly because I have a lot of sympathy for Judith’s ideals and motives, I grew to love Isabella’s determination and resourcefulness. Randall, on the other hand, strikes me as rather weak willed as the book progresses and I really couldn’t accept him and his politics as belonging to the Tory party for any reason other than family tradition.
Overall, I enjoyed this story, and plan to go back and catch up with the previous instalment in the series. However, what I’d really like to see would be the continuation of Judith’s story.
Grade: B
Summary:
A smooth-talking rogue and a dowdy financial genius
Handsome, silver-tongued politician Lord Randall doesn’t get along with his bank partner, the financially brilliant but hopelessly frumpish Isabella St. Vincent. Ever since she was his childhood nemesis, he’s tried-and failed-to get the better of her.Make a perfectly wicked combination
When both Randall’s political career and their mutual bank interests are threatened by scandal, he has to admit he needs Isabella’s help. They set off on a madcap scheme to set matters right. With her wits and his charm, what could possibly go wrong? Only a volatile mutual attraction that’s catching them completely off guard…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
