Customer Reviews

Just Wicked Enough

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Marquess of Falconridge is forced to sell the last thing he possesses of value, his title. While other English aristocrats may try to woo American heiresses into marriage in order to gain their fortunes, Falconridge chooses another route. He arranges a very private auction with some of America's wealthiest fathers. At auction's end, Falconridge finds himself engaged to Kate Rose.

While Kate's mother may wish her daughter to marry English nobility, Kate wants a marriage based on love. Falconridge knows that love is the one thing he can never give the lovely Miss Rose.

Just Wicked Enough left me with a dreamy smile on my face. Lorraine Heath balances sumptuous sensuality with heart melting romance. Just Wicked Enough is a novel I will surely read again and again.

The hero, Michael, Marquess of Falconridge, is as refreshingly unique as this beautiful love story. I can't recall a hero recently in a historical romance that was so wonderfully strong and so much in need of love. I adored him and I know you will adore Lorraine Heath's Just Wicked Enough!

Annmarie
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I really thought this book had possibilities but about 100 pages in I still didn't like either of the characters. Both lacked the depth I needed to empathize with their story. Michael was emasculated almost at the beginning. I could suspend my distaste and disbelief of him auctioning himself to the highest bidder. What I couldn't get past was him letting Kate control him with the fact that she had all the control over the money. Maybe it's me but a hero groveling to his wife for every penny is just a big turn off.

Kate was just not a character I could like; her expectations of the marriage were unrealistic and selfish. She wanted him to earn her love but did nothing to earn his. Both characters had secrets that I suppose for the times would have cause a bit of scandal but I just couldn't feel any depth in the secrets or the characters. As the couple began to fall in love with each other I was left wondering why. Towards the end Michael and Kate became a little more tolerable but never did they make me want to cheer them on to happiness.

When I read a book I tend to judge it based on whether the characters and plot still occupy my mind once I have finished the book. Kate and Michael will be easily and quickly forgotten.

Usually I enjoy Lorraine Heath's novels but this one I simply did not like. The concept was interesting, a titled noble putting himself on the marriage auction block literally and the opening chapter was very witty as hero Michael, Marquess of Flaconridge ticks off each father's assets and liabilities in his head as he waits to see who has the highest bid for his title. In fact I really liked the first chapter and the last three or four. It was everything in between which I disliked.

Part of my problem with this book was that the heroine Kate was so incredibly self centered. She was the darling daughter of really rich American parents hunting for a titled son-in-law. She was most insistent that Michael had to make her happy. She seems to forget that this was the man she chose to marry, and yes, she did have a choice, it wasn't the middle ages, she could have told her parents that she would not bow to their wishes or at least sought out another nobleman. To make sure that he appeased her, she held the purse strings, and held them tightly. It was awful the way Michael had to almost beg her for funds, and it wasn't for gambling or wenching but rather for a noble purpose albeit to her credit Kate did give him the money. She also tosses a few crumbs here and there to let him know he can voice an opinion but she is in charge period.

Michael swallows his pride again and again. Part of this is his own fault for not being open with the heroine but she isn't exactly sharing many secrets either. She protects her feelings by thwarting Michael. She will not sleep with him as he must love her first but she is not required to love him back. She realizes her incredible selfishness very late in the novel. She also has a past which rears its ugly head in the form of a former love.

As stated earlier, the ending is quite good and saves this from being a one star novel. Finally, finally, Kate wises up to her own selfish nature and how she put this man through the ringer but for me Kate's epiphany came way too late.

The first time I read this book, I wasn't that crazy about it. The other day, I picked it up for a re-read and I was in between new books. And I liked it! It's still not my favorite Lorraine Heath, but it's staying on my keeper shelf. I'm glad I didn't donate it to the library before I gave it a 2nd chance.

I guess this just shows that how you feel about a book/movie depends a lot on what's going on in your own life at that particular time.

I liked the concept of Michael auctioning himself off to the highest bidder. And the bit about his mother was sweet. Kate took a bit of warming up to, but I liked her in the end.

While the plot of the book was interesting enough ( marquess auctions himself to highest bidder for marriage)the character of Kate, the heroine, was awful. She was a shallow, spoiled brat, as well as immature, not overly bright or particularly interesting.

She has left a former husband she claimed to adore because her parents said he was a fortune hunter and anulled the marriage. She marries the marquess because she also wants to have a prominent place in society, but says she wants the love she had with her other lover -so she refuses to sleep with her new husband until he proves he loves her. She does nothing to deserve to be loved, or makes any attempt to endear herself to her new husband. Instead, she holds her family fortune over his head, and throws his reasons for marrying her in his face constantly. Frankly, her own reasons aren't any more praiseworthy - in fact they're less, as at least the marquess has dependants to take care of and is trying to make the best of the situation. Not one of Heath's best.

I tried very hard to like this novel. It had an interesting premise, and I really like liking books, if that makes any sense.

Well, I suppose I sort of liked the book. The writing was decent, and I could almost feel affection for Michael; he tried so very hard! And he was so sweet! It was hard not to feel at least some like for the guy, he was such a little kid at heart.

But I couldn't stand Kate. At the beginning, I felt some sympathy for her; as time went on, I got madder. It's hard to sympathize with someone so essentially selfish. For instance, halfway through the book, she kisses her previous beau. Kisses him. After demanding that her husband show absolute loyalty and love to her. She sneaks into a dark corner and lets another guy kiss her. Seriously, what. And when Michael (inevitably) catches them, does she feel the remotest bit of guilt? No! She actually guilt trips him! And then blames him for various things that somehow didn't blaze as brightly in my mind as, oh, adultery, and then ups and runs off to stroke her own ego in silence. I just couldn't like her after that.

All in all, I was sort of disappointed. I'd hoped for better; but I'll still probably read the rest of Lorraine Heath's books.

Just Wicked Enough by Lorraine Heath was excellent! I started it after supper and could not put it down until after mid-night. Micheal marries for money and Kate marries because her rich american family wants a title! The author takes a familiar story and takes it to a higher level. Off to read more by this author!

If you enjoy this genre, I would also suggest In the Prince's Bed by Sabrina Jefferies,All about love by Stephanie Laurens and A Loving Scoundrel by Johanna Lindsey.

***Desperate for riches, penniless Michael Tremayne, Marquess of Falconridge, is willing to auction away his only possession of any value-his title-to the highest bidding American father. But Kate Rose was the last daughter he had in mind to marry. The willful and headstrong Kate requires from marriage the one thing Michael is unable to give-powerful, unending love....

***Kate refuses to give into her husband's sensual demands until he has earned her love. Michael is not one to back down from a challenge, but neither does he believe in playing by the rules. While he is unfamiliar with love, he is extremely intimate with passion. He is determined to convince Kate that one can substitute for the other. And what better way to convince her than by patiently and skillfully seducing her?


***Just Wicked Enough is an absolute delight! Lorraine Heath is a master at writing emotional stories with strong, lovable characters and this second book in her Rogues and Roses series is no exception. This gem has just the right amount of sensual tension and humor to balance out the heart warming emotion. Another keeper from the great Lorraine Heath!

Loved the book, could not put it down, never read this type of book, but now I want to read all of Lorraine Heaths books.

In 1888 England impoverished Marquess Michael Tremayne knows he has nothing of value to sell except his title. So he offers it to the wealthy American banker James Rose, who seeks a title for his second of four daughters; having obtained one for his other offspring Jenny (see A DUKE OF HER OWN). However, Michael is irate when his future father-in-law chooses the shrew Kate as his take her or leave her mate.

Obstinate Kate has always dreamed of marrying for love not money or title so she is disappointed with the nuptials. Thus she rejects his efforts to get her in his bed until he proves he is worthy of her love. Michael feels he must tame the shrew not through love, but through passion. His scheme is simple: seduce his wife into needing him by being JUST WICKED ENOUGH to entice her into sharing a bed.

This fine Rogues and Roses Victorian romance is a wonderful bedroom drama as the lead couple battle over passion and lust with both unable to believe the other loves them. The story line is fast-paced as the pair falls in love but hides their feelings out of a sense of vulnerability. Fans of Lorraine Heath's historical series will enjoy the latest gender war of the Roses.

Harriet Klausner