Customer Reviews

Affair Most Wicked, An

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Well, I was VASTLY disappointed with this novel!! I was a fan of "To Marry The Duke" (you can read my review on its page on Amazon) but THIS was a big comedown. In the first place, Clara and Seger (and how do I pronounce that name anyway?) were just ciphers...they weren't fully-drawn, well-rounded characters. We keep hearing how handsome Seger is -- enough already, after the tenth description of his blond hair, dimpled chin and huge hands (and guess what THAT means, ladies.) I think the author had to keep going on about his good looks in order to give him SOMETHING as a character, since he has no depth whatsoever.

Secondly, Clara, is just a nothing heroine; she's nowhere near as interesting as her sister Sophia was (and in this book, Sophia is as dully written as Clara). Even NOT comparing this book to To Marry The Duke, it's really pretty poor. I think the five-star reviewers must have been carried away by the sex scenes, and they are pretty potent I'll admit, but for me, this novel had NO plot that was worth telling, NO characters worth remembering, nor enough interest to keep me turning the pages...When Seger began to write letters to Clara, I thought, at last, a really interesting plot turn. What a different plot device for these characters; we'll start to learn something about Seger's past; the characters will begin to KNOW each other by exchanging letters...and then, THAT device was blown, because ALL the letters contain are Seger's offers of discreet sexual encounters! Will ya or won't ya, basically. Then, we're supposed to be moved because he makes the effort to redeem himself and pays a respectable call on Clara after writing these offers to her. But this is all so blandly written, you can't be moved by Seger's effort. These are cardboard characters in a boring, draggy plot.

Jeez, this book was a real disappointment after To Marry The Duke. I am really bummed out by how bad this book was, because I was looking forward to it! Despite this bad review, I will probably buy Adele's story just to see what happens, but now I will definitely wait for a "used" version.

I loved the chemistry between the couple and the way they meet, but once they are married all of the issues they should have thrashed out before they tied the knot come to the fore and threaten to pull them apart. As do the villains. Then the emphasis swings to them and we lose the sizzle and spark we had hoped for. It could have been a much better and more sexy book. The ending was also quite predicatable, and I am not impressed with Seger's sudden change of heart after all his brooding. Still a fast and fun read if you don't mind the obvious, creaking plot and a hero who has nothing to recommend him except being a rake.

This is the second book in a series that starts with TO MARRY THE DUKE, and this follows the romantic twists of Clara Wilson, sister of the new Duchess of Wentworth. Clara is encouraged to come to England as the second Wilson American heiress to husband hunt among the British gentry. All the better to forget a near catastrophe during her first New York season. Clara nervously attends her first ball in the company of her chaperone. But instead of meeting up with her sister and the duke, Clara discovers they've unwittingly gained admittance to a secret society ball two houses away. And the masks they've been asked to wear are the only thing keeping the guests from the scandal of discovery.

The romance that develops between this adventurous heroine and Seger, the delicious Marquess of Rawdon, the man she dances with at the scandalous ball, is an exciting look at appearances and what lurks beneath. Most of the characters are far from what they seem at first. And the reader can relish the emotional striptease as Clara and the marquess reach hungrily for the next layer. Painful romantic pasts for both of them - but especially Seger - add an extra level of tension as a rival tries to wrest Clara's love from her grasp.

I loved TO MARRY THE DUKE and gobbled this one even faster than the first. Seger makes women tingle, all right - especially readers! And Clara is a woman with spirit that even a mask can't obscure. I found her struggle to rein in her adventurous spirit endearing in its futility. Can't wait for their other sister's story. These women know what they want and if they don't find it in New York, what's an ocean to stand in their way? I especially enjoy the dialogue - the characters take me by surprise and hit all the right notes.

In my romance world, a 10 rating means perfection - the author and I are in complete accord. 9 is a splendid read. 8 is a page turner but problems are surfacing. 7 is a page turner - but I'm disappointed. AN AFFAIR MOST WICKED is a 7. Seger Wolfe (Wolfe - how appropriate), the Marquess of Rawdon, is a sleaze. The Marquess is the equivalent of a high school senior who has everything: good looks, money, a car, and a varsity letter in every sport including the backseat rhythm. Clara Wilson is the inexperienced sophomore whom everyone has warned. This charismatic guy only wants to use her -- but Clara just knows she is the gal who can reform this sleaze artist.

American heiress, Clara Wilson, has journeyed to England to find a titled husband and to escape the scandal of a social faux pas. It seems Clara almost eloped with an embezzler. Seger Wolfe is living the good life, in and around every available "lady's" bed in England. Seger's scandalous behavior is the direct result of a lost love. Through social blunder, Clara and Seger meet . . . arousal has them both curious. In other words, Clara Wilson and Seger Wolfe are hot for each other. They marry quickly because they can't stay apart. Clara fancies herself in love; Seger knows it is a state of desire. The reader has now reached the halfway mark and marital problems become the story's focus. Woe is me.

At first, the relationship is romantic and wicked. Julianne MacLean has filled the pages with scandalous words and abundant love scenes. But after awhile, too much of a good thing is . . . is just that . . . too much. Some of the love scenes are superficial and pointless.

MacLean has chosen to draw her heroine, Clara, from the innocent, sympathetic and understanding mold -- a nice touch. Seger Wolfe, on the other hand, becomes a bore after the wedding vows. He is not fun anymore. However, the biggest problem with the book is the contemporary feel both in the dialogue and the attitude.

No doubt, Julianne MacLean is on her way. This lady will probably become a big star for the Avon publishing house. Her writing style is smooth and easy. However, in AN AFFAIR MOST WICKED, the author just hasn't found the historical niche. Grade: B-

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

This book is a sequel (middle book in a trilogy) to TO MARRY THE DUKE. The first book was entertaining, not great literature, not historically accurate, not populated by well-defined or believable characters--just entertaining. This book is an embarrassment. The hero is a self-pitying, embittered, and arrogant boor with one or two redeeming qualities. The heroine is irritating, impulsive, spoiled, self-centered, and totally lacking in common sense (among other things). The author describes her as charming, refreshing, and witty. The two characters fall in lust-at-first-site (can't imagine why) and the whole book flows from there. It is supposed to be set in Regency England, but could have been set in 21st Century Manhattan without changing the characters (just their wardrobes). There is a possibility, I suppose, that the book got better after page 195. But, by that time, I figured I had punished myself sufficiently for having spent the $6.00.

AN AFFAIR MOST WICKED caught me from Page 1. The romance is hot and steamy! But it's the developing love story that really caught my attention. For once, the level of attraction between the hero and heroine is deeper than just a strong case of lust. It was fun to follow the romance as their mutual attraction slowly turned to love.

Another thing I liked about the story was the American heiress heroine. Her very American reactions to Victorian England society made me laugh. Her nationality brought a freshness to the story that wouldn't have been there if she'd been a British heiress. It's a great read!

I lost a fair bit of sleep over this book as I simply could not put it down. The author had a long way to go to make me like this book even more than TO MARRY A DUKE, the first in the series, but she succeeded and then some. The characters were vividly drawn and the hero, Seger, was one of the best I've ever come across. You loved him instantly. Clara is strong and well thought out, and the plot flows from one event to the next to keep you rivetted. There is a line on page three that reads something to the effect 'Death was rather permanent in that regard' that still resonates. If you're a lover of historical romance, buy this book. If you aren't, buy it anyway and you soon will be.

based on the previous reviews i thought this book would be better then it actually was. the first half of the book was pretty good, but after the got married, the doubts and the mistrust between the two of them just got really annoying. it seemed to be the sterotypical oh you don't trust me kind of scenario.

This book contains my number one pet peeve in a romance: the heroine has concerns with the treatment she recieves from the hero's family and he completely disregards her misgivings! I really hate that because it implies an acute lack of trust--unless the heroine has shown a propensity for lying about his family, I'd think that he should listen.

But that's enough of that. I purchased AAMW not only because of the blurb and the cover, but also because I'd forgotten what a bland read To Marry the Duke was.

The blurb promised an ellicit correspondence between the hero, Seger, and the heroine, Clara, but that only happened for one chapter! As a fan of correspondence romances(especially ellicit ones), I felt very cheated.

I felt even more cheated by the utter lack of unique characterization and the same plotting problem the previous book had--it felt as if it were going through the paces.

The only thing I can recommend about this book is the fact that it deals with something most historical romances don't: a hero and heroine who are in such intense lust, that they marry and forget about the relationship outside of bed. If the hero and heroine had been compelling and unique, that whole scenario would have made this book excellent. Unfortunately, it fell off of its track the moment Seger and Clara marry and Seger's aunt and cousin begin their inane and ill-fated sabotauge of Seger and Clara's relationship.

Their machinations would have been interesting if not for the fact that Seger and Clara were already MARRIED and if his cousin had succeeded in stealing Seger away from Clara, she would have only been his mistress. So that subplot was so hilariously sad.

Seger's rakedom was unconvincing due to the fact that it hinged on the weak fact that he had loved and lost. That reason would have been strong if his lost love had been used as a standard he held all women up against for the rest of his life, as opposed to a reason to sleep his way through the ton. Clara possessed a bit of the same characterization as her sister; perfect, highly sexed and a doormat.

Topping off the suspended disbelief and irritation at author manipulation was the surprise character thrown in at the end. The revelation of love Seger had upon meeting this surprise character was too little, too late, unconvincing and too boring.

This book recieves 3 stars compared to TMTD's 2 simply because the promise of MacLean's sparkling prose and dialogue was shown a bit more here than in the first book. The hot love scenes were a nice little additive, but not enough to make this book a stand-out read.

A great sequel to "To Marry the Duke." Rawdon is very hunky and sexy, and Clara is a bit wild and incautious. These two can't stay away from each other, but they discover more than passion as Rawdon finally deals with his past hurts even as both of them deal with those who have and would destroy their happiness.

Well-written and enjoyable, though sometimes Clara is too trusting, which doesn't seem to jive with some of her experiences. Little problems like that, plus a somewhat restrained emotional quality, lead to the 4 stars instead of 5