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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wicked Pleasure, May 18, 2000
This review is from: Something Wicked (Paperback)
I thoroughly enjoy the work of best-selling author Jo Beverley. Something Wicked the third of five in this Georgian series about the Malloren family is not only my favorite book of the series; it is my favorite Beverley book over-all. Lady Elf Malloren 25, and her twin Lord Cynric are the youngest of the Malloren siblings. Her only sister Hilda, two years her senior, had been safely married off in her teens. Somewhat wilder for being allowed to join in her twins adventures Elf finds herself on the shelf. No doubt some of this is due to her over protective older brothers, least of which is the imposing Marquee of Rothgar. At times Elf has found their hovering a bit stifling. When the opportunity presents itself Elf takes fate into her own hands. Her twin has just married the scandalous Chastity Ware and her remaining siblings are all away from home. She attends a masquerade at Vaux Hall hoping for some excitement. While wondering one of the secluded paths designated for clandestine meetings she overhears a dastardly plot. She is discovered and pursued, her only recourse is to trust herself to the care of the one man who has reason to hate her family most. Fortitude Ware has no love for anything Malloren. We get a glimpse of his cruel upbringing in My Lady Notorious the first book of the Malloren series. His sister's marriage to Elf's twin has not softened his attitude. In fact it is at their wedding that he is forced into an action that makes him hate the Mallorens with a passion. The reader gets the impression that Elf has always been intrigued by Fort and as she puts it, it is not surprising that twins should have similar tastes. She had gotten into the habit of baiting him at every meeting. The masked Elf introduces herself as Lisette, knowing Fort would have nothing to do with her if he knew of her true identity. Fort, intrigued by her audacity, rescues her and offers her a tantalizing proposition as he is currently without a mistress. Elf manages to elude his attentions but then has second thoughts. If she is to die and old maid, she would take one night in the arms of the man she desperately wants. She claims a night of passion with the Earl of her dreams but insists on remaining masked. Fort indulges her. Their night of love becomes perilous as the two are captured in their sleep by those Elf had overheard plotting treason. They awaken imprisoned in a dark basement with no means of escape. Not knowing their fate, Fort bares his soul to the woman he is already becoming deeply attracted to. Danger fuels their passion as well. Their rescue is both a blessing as a curse for Fort learns of the identity of his lover. He is furious at being duped and devastated at exposing his vulnerability to his enemy. The treasonous plot proceeds with both Mallorens and Ware playing heroes. Fort is injured and during his convalescense Elf does everything within her means to win him over. His pride will not allow it, though deep down he's softened a bit. He determines to marry another, anyone suitable, rather examime his turbulent feelings for Elf. Even Elf's brothers will do nothing to aid her in her battle. Rothgar goes as far as to lecture her on the perils of using people. Though she cannot believe that she could love so deeply and not have the love returned, she concludes that loving Fort means putting his happiness above her own. She resigns herself to letting him find his own way even if it means she will lose him. Will the next masquerade determine her fate? I do so love a dark and wounded hero. This story was pure wicked pleasure.
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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read, January 24, 2001
This review is from: Something Wicked (Paperback)
This was my first Jo Beverley book, being difficult to please, I really enjoyed the book. I regret that I found out later it was part of a series of books. I've read three of the five books on the Malloren story and this is by far my favorite. I could not put it down. I recommend the entire series: #1 My Lady Notorious #2 Tempting Fortune #3 Something Wicked #4 Secrets of the Nigt and #5 Develish. The fist 2 are not in print currently but are available via auction. The characters are strong, the plot and storyline is definetly wicked if you are familiar with the etiquette of the era and the trials are awesome. I've read it twice in one month, which I never read a story twice.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Exciting romance and political intrigue in Georgian London, December 11, 2000
This review is from: Something Wicked (Paperback)
Elf Malloren, adored younger sister of the Malloren clan, is bored and lonely: her twin brother has just married, and the family has dispersed, leaving her in London with a married friend. She's a 25-year-old virgin with a sensual nature, strong-willed and determined, and longing for excitement. She also longs to understand what all the fuss is about where sex is concerned, but can't bring herself to marry one of her 'convenient' suitors. She wants to be in love. Fort, Lord Walsgrave, has just become her twin's brother-in-law. Elf finds herself strangely drawn to Fort, but he hates all Mallorens with a vengeance. By coincidence, however, Elf falls into Fort's hands at a masquerade which she attended disguised as a demi-rep, Lisette, wearing a mask and speaking only French. Fort takes her home with him (this is all part of the political intrigue sub-plot, in which he is involved), but, although his kisses tempt her to make love with him, she can't go through with it, and escapes. The next time she meets Fort, she acknowledges to herself that she is attracted to him; she makes an attempt to end the feud, but all he will promise is not to provoke a fight with her brothers. He calls her Vespa, a wasp, and makes it clear she holds no attraction for him. Desperate situations call for desperate measures; the Lisette disguise returns, and Elf propositions Fort. They share a wonderful night of love... until they're kidnapped by the plotters, and the morning after, once they're rescued, Fort sees Elf without her mask and recognises her. In that moment, she's lost him. This is the second Malloren book I've read, and again, while I prefer Mary Jo Putney's work, I did enjoy this very much. I am surprised at reviews below describing the book as 'disappointing' or 'boring'; I found it fast-paced and with an interesting plot. The only point at which I found myself getting a little bit bored was when Elf started taking an interest in the silk trade; I don't think we needed as much information as Beverley gave us here. Something Wicked gets four stars rather than five because I don't think Beverley explained Fort's change of heart adequately. She wrote several passages of the book from Fort's point of view, so she could certainly have allowed us more insight. We go from Fort being furious at Elf's deception and never wanting to see her again, to a point a week or so later when he gives her his hand and says, "Friends?". What brought about that change of heart? We are not told. Likewise, he then leaves her for about four months before making contact again; the only excuse he gives her was that he was 'abroad'. Why were we, the readers, not told what he was up to during that time? Why weren't we privy to his changing feelings for Elf? Without these insights, I found it hard to accept how Fort's hatred of all things Malloren - and especially Elf - could disappear virtually overnight.
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