Customer Reviews

Too Wicked to Tame

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Lady Portia Derring may have been the daughter of a duke but that didn't keep her from being on the brink of poverty. Portia's grandmother has given her an ultimatum, accept a proposal of marriage or one will be accepted for her. Portia's family is desperate for the money her marriage would bring. Sent by her grandmother to visit the Moreton family, and the unmarried Earl of Moreton, Portia has no intention of marrying despite her grandmother's ultimatum!

Heath, Earl of Moreton is more determined than Portia to never marry. With insanity running in his family, Heath refuses to wed. Portia tempts him from his vow with her very presence. Although Heath fights his desire for Portia, he cannot stop wanting her. Will his family's history of madness keep Heath from his one chance at happiness?

Too Wicked to Tame is the second book by Sophie Jordan. Fans of Ms. Jordan's debut novel, Once Upon a Wedding Night might remember a precocious young girl named Portia. Portia is all grown up and gets her own novel in Too Wicked to Tame.

I really liked the adult Portia too. Portia was clever enough to dodge marrying for years and I admired that about her. I also liked the way Portia interacted with Heath. When she didn't back down from his attempts to run her off, I liked her all the more.

All that aside, I would have chased Heath, Earl of Moreton, to the ends of the earth despite the threat of madness. He was just that yummy. Handsome, rich and possessor of a keen wit that made me want him enough to overlook a little thing like insanity. Seriously!

Historical romance fans will not want to miss Heath and Portia's story in Sophie Jordan's Too Wicked to Tame.

Annmarie
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Once again Sophie Jordan steps out of the rarified world on the ton in a wonderful story of two people who have given up any hope of happiness, only to find love.

Portia is the penniless sister of a duke who would marry her off to the devil himself if the price was right. She wants nothing to do with marriage which in her experience is one step away from imprisonment. Heath is the victim of a family curse which makes marriage impossible, especially to a lady like Portia. And yet when he rescues her on the road in a bitter storm, the need to tempt her is irresistible--and tempt her he does. For the first time in her life, Portia feels desire for a man, and knowing Heath is reckless and dangerous only fuels the attraction. Although nothing technically happens between them, they see in each other a passion that can never be and they part, never to meet again. Or so they both assume.

When they meet again, Heath's outrage at what he sees as Portia's plot to marry him backfires. Instead of driving her away, his insistence that he will never marry her suggests to Portia a way to avoid the humiliation of another season of husband hunting in London. Soon, however, they must deal with the undeniable attraction that could ruin both of their lives.

The characters in the story are especially compelling. Portia is a complex mix of independence and vulnerability, while Heath hides a deep sadness under an exterior of arrogance and anger. Even the secondary characters are multi-faceted people who do more than act as a background to the heroine and hero. While most regency romances tend to focus on social conventions of the time, in Ms. Jordan's story the main characters have been badly damaged by their respective family situations and as a result live on the edge of polite society. Ms. Jordan's story is more in the spirit of a Bronte than Ms. Austin, where raging passions are a curse rather than a blessing and love seems like an impossible dream. Still, this a romance and the final resolution is even more satisfactory because the heroine and hero have had such a transformational journey. Too Wicked to Tame is a beautifully written book historical readers won't want to miss!

Lady Portia Derring does not wish to marry. Then again, neither does the Earl of Moreton, and both of them have very good reason to avoid the shackles of matrimony. Portia cares nothing for love, wanting only the freedom her mother enjoys, and Heath has vowed never to wed, never to sire an heir, and thus, never to inflict his family's madness on another.

But their grandmothers have schemed to get them together, and so Portia departs London for the chilly landscape of Yorkshire, to stay with the Moreton clan and tempt the earl into changing his mind. The earl quickly finds himself bewitched--and irritated beyond measure--and so repeatedly asks Portia to leave. Yet relieved to be away from her family's constant bullying, to be left to her own devices, free to roam the Moreton library at will, Portia is very content to stay.

The pair of them butt heads at every turn, and sexual tension begins to slowly mount, moving them inexorably towards a point of no return. But just when the outcome seems inevitable, a little twist changes everything. With beautifully drawn characters, vivid description, and sensuous details, Sophie Jordan has penned a thrillingly satisfying novel that will leave you breathless with anticipation while wanting to savor every bit.

I loved every second of this book. The sensual tension was palpable and the love scenes were steamy. I could feel the emotional turmoil between Heath and Portia right along with them.

The characters are well developed and full-bodied. Portia was as against marriage as Heath and didn't change her mind as many heroines do. Both of the protagonists were extremely stubborn and perfectly matched.

"TWTT" is a beautiful romantic love story and a definite keeper.

The beautiful and penniless Lady Portia Denning is traveling to the Yorkshire estates of the Earl of Moreton when her coach breaks down, her coachman takes off, and to make matters worse, a dark, handsome rogue nearly runs her over, splashes her with mud, and then sweeps her off her feet and onto his horse. She soon discovers the handsome bounder is the Earl of Moreton, the very gentleman her family insists she wed. She is more than determined to not marry him. Known as the "Mad" Earl of Moreton, Heath has lived with the scandal of family madness and is determined never to marry. When he discovers that his and Portia's grandmothers are arranging a marriage between them, he is livid. An emotional struggle of wills and physical desire ensue between the passionate couple. Heath is realizing the "mud pie" he discovered on the road is extremely desirable. Portia attempts to avoid the dark, handsome Heath, but no matter how she tries, her attraction builds. When Portia becomes lost in a storm while riding, she shelters at the hunting lodge on the estate. Heath rides out to find her. Discovering her in his retreat, he is disturbed when they have no choice but to spend the night. A night that heats up with intense passion that can no longer be denied, and they make love. The following morning Heath informs Portia that even though he has taken her innocence, he will not marry her. Realizing he is too wicked to tame, angry and hurt she leaves the estate to return home, penniless and vulnerable to the evil businessman Simon Oliver. When longtime secrets are revealed, Heath realizes he loves Portia and longs to win her love and marry her, but will it be too late?

Too Wicked to Tame is a wickedly pleasurable read. Sophie Jordan is one of the best newer romance authors with the talent to write romance that sizzles with desire and passion.

Maybe part of my problem with this novel was that I was led to believe it would contain witty dialogue. I might have liked it had there been witty dialogue. Better yet, had there been witty characters. Or even charming characters. Or even something I could care about in this book. Right up to the predictable "dramatic" rescue at the end I still was hoping something would happen to make these characters interesting. To make this story interesting and not just a silly mishmash of several formulaic plot rehashes. Look elsewhere for a good read.

After five seasons, headstrong and wishing to remain unwed Lady Portia Derring is once again in the hot seat. Her family, tired of parading eligible suitors in town, has sent her to the wilds of the Yorkshire moors in a last ditch attempt to marry her off to the wealthy "Mad" Earl of Moreton. The grand-daughter of a Duke, Portia is attractive, but without a farthing to her name the family insists she snare the wealthy Earl or they will choose for her.

An avowed bachelor, Heath has sworn to never marry, to never pass down the madness that runs in his family. Galloping his stallion home through a storm, he came close to trampling a mud-splattered, rain drenched Portia. Not an auspicious beginning he and Portia did not start out on the best footing. Later discovering that his grandmother had sent for Portia in another attempt to trap him into marriage, Heath did his very best to be boorish and insulting. Although bound and determined to remain unmarried, Portia with her sharp tongue and shrewish behavior intrigued him as no other woman had. Was she truly as adamant as he in remaining single or had Portia finally met the one man who set her soul and body on fire?

*** From the very first pages I was completely enthralled with Portia and Heath's story from their humorous first muddy meeting to their numerous emotional and sensual encounters thereafter. Portia was fleshed out remarkably well showing a hard exterior that masked a lonely and very vulnerable young woman whose abandonment as a child by her mother left a lasting impression. In like fashion Heath was also crafted with emotional complexity and I was thoroughly intrigued at the way the author worked a rather remarkable and original explanation into the story which gave substance to a lifetime of torment and self denial. Both leads were well developed and well-thought out characters that showed enormous growth as the story progressed. I loved Portia's resilience in thwarting Heath's attempts to make her leave his home after she discovered which was for her, a treasure trove of a magnificent library that she could avail herself of while staying at Moreton Manor. From beginning to end I was thoroughly entertained, with the fast pace, well-plotted and well-written romantic elements, the witty and humorous dialogs, and especially the very heated and sensual encounters. With this gem, Ms. Jordan proves she is a talent to be reckoned with and this book will surely find it's way to a multitude of keeper shelves!

Marilyn Rondeau, for [...]

Too Wicked to Tame is a wonderful follow up to Sophie Jordan's debut. The Plot is unique, the dialogue natural and witty, and the pacing keeps you turning the pages to find out what happens next. The Characters are full bodied and likeable - you'll root for them, want to tap the hero upside the head at times and fall in love with them. The ending leaves you with the satisfied 'awe' feeling.

I've placed Ms. Jordan's books on my keeper shelf to read over and over - I've no doubt these will be worth tons in the future! I can't wait to read her next book and can only hope it comes out soon!

Based on customer reviews, I bought this book, not knowing anything about the author. What a wonderful surprise! The weather, the contradictions of duty, the clouds of distrust, and the hopelessness of fate are themes that open the story and follow it to its end. Portia is heroic. Heath is obsessed. They need each other and act out their need in graphic sexuality that sizzles the imagination! This is an author I will be seeking out from now on.

I would be so happy if there were more romances like Too Wicked to Tame. It had everything I like in a romance and none of my no-nos. The heroine, Portia, was feisty but always likable. She didn't want to give up her freedom to be married but she just couldn't resist her rescuer, Heath. I don't think many women would have been able to resist him either. He was delicious!! He had a reason for not marrying, as well. But, as this is a romance we all know neither one is going to stay unmarried.
This book didn't have a whole lot of extra stuff going on. I liked that. It allowed time for Heath and Portia's story to remain front and center. There were some little snippets about Heath's sisters, probably setups for future stories. I would like to read more about these two girls.
To sum up, this was a very pleasant book with a likable heroine and a yummy hero. This author has a very pleasant, readable style. I look forward to more from her.