Customer Reviews

Upon a Wicked Time (An Avon Romantic Treasure)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I like Rake's. I don't mind bad boy behavior but Jered was a bore and over the top in his poor behavior and as for our heroine, Tessa - get some self-esteem!!! It is all well that she wanted to be his friend, wanted sex, he was gorgeous, but to be constantly made aware of his poor behavior (kissing his mistress in front of her) well, get a grip girl. He deserved to be spanked for such boorish behavior. This was not romantic, just a story of a world weary man taking advantage of a young girl. If only Ms. RAnney had given Tessa some backbone, like her mother. Also, the Jered showed such disrespect for his in-laws too that there was really nothing to like about him.

I was very excited about this book. I have found Karen Ranney to be a very enjoyable read. However, the story of Tessa and Jered is one a bit different than her other books that I have read, (After the Kiss, GREAT book!)In the first chapter Tessa and Jered are married. His only need for a wife is to have children, otherwise he is not interested in her. She on the other hand loves him. He goes out of his way to make her hate him. He becomes so mean and unkind (leaving for his other home the night after there wedding without telling her, Kissing his misstress in front of her, to name a few) that I had to put the book down and come back later when I was not so made at him. In the end I was glad that I finished it, because I did enjoy it. It was a good book, but you have to be able to read and get past Jered's actions to fully enjoy and even finish the book!

I thought kept hoping that Jered would reform but it didn't happen until the very end of the story--but it was too little too late. By the time Jered was penitent and realized his mistakes, it was too late for me to like him. Tessa was excessive in her forgiving nature. I kept wishing she would exhibit some spunk, a spark of independence or teach him a much deserved lesson. She never really does and I was further annoyed/disappointed. I suppose her nature is much preferred to those overly proud characters found in other books-- but I would like to see a little more backbone. I found her character to be a bit annoying, overly child like. She prattled on, asking too many silly questions.

I am not saying that this novel is entirely without merit, it had its momments, but on the whole it was mediocre.

Still, I find Reding has a nice writing style. I will still give her other books a try.

Karen Ranney definitely has a flair for writing but I must disagree with everyone who thinks Jered Mandeville is the best thing since Swiss cheese. How depraved can one person be? Tessa certainly didn't deserve a jerk like him. She should've found someone who didn't go from voyeurism one night to depraved parties the next. I think Tessa's parents were a stronger couple than Tessa and her duke. Also, if I didn't see the date in the beginning of the book, I would really have never guessed that this took place during Georgian times. Where were the wigs and the high heels? After reading so many stellar reviews, I was a little disappointed.....

When I read the prologue for this book I thought it would be a good read, but boy was I wrong. From chapter 2 this book was hard to swallow. The "hero" of the book does nothing but humiliate, insult and push away the "heroine". I found myself gasping outloud at some of the things this man did. Okay so he was gorgeous and extremely wonderful in bed, that to me is not worth losing your self respect. The only reason I kept reading the book was because I kept waiting for the woman to get some pride and give back with equal measure. All she does is sit there and regally (per the author) submit herself to all his humiliations. How many of us would tolerate our husband to fondle a tavern maid's breast right in front of you or would accept your husband to talk freely about his lack of a mistress and his mistress's sexual qualities??? Perhaps I would of accepted all this if only the heroine would of gotten a grip and grown some pride and turned the tables around on him but she never did. I don't want to ruin the ending but that itself was not even worth all the irritation I had got from reading this book. If you like your heroines to be treated like, well you know, then this is the book for you.

Those who skip this book because of the reviews warning against it will miss a wonderfully written novel. It is true that the hero acts very badly towards the heroine (no violence - it is more of an emotional torture, if you will). She follows him into his wicked world, as she wants to get to know the man she has loved for years. He is more than just a little bit frightened of the strength of his feelings for her, and not just the passion either. No, his fear does not excuse the many different ways he tries to push her out of his world, his life and his mind. However, as the book continues, willing readers will see more into our hero's mind, his past and the reasons he feels the need to act as he does. By the end, you are convinced of the happily ever after they will experience, and it was well worth the ride.

It seems to me that the heroine of this book is a spineless woman. She stalked her husband everywhere and well, did quite a number of stupid things. She is also hopelessly naive. Not a great read.

I will not repeat the synopsis of the story since it was wonderfully done by some of the reviewers here already. I do like to address a couple of points that other reviewers pointed out and what made them hated the story so much. It seemed like there are just as much dislike for the hero as the heroine and for different reasons. Yes, Jered is a jerk and an ass but I don't think he was as evil as everyone thought him to be. He did those things to repulse and disgust Tessa into hating him so she can go back to Kittridge and leave him alone to live his old life. At that point he did know that Tessa loves him therefore she was not just repulsed by those actions but deeply hurt and heartbroken by his callousness. He was more wicked than evil, he didn't hate Tessa just didn't want her to get in his heart (but bed is fine of course). The changes in him came slowly, this happens even before Tessa got injured but that event definitely served as a huge catalyst for self-reflection. Since he had severed all normal emotions with other human being since his mother's death he simply didn't know how to deal with those strange feelings that Tessa evoked in him. Even though the changes are slow and subtle it is way more realistic and believable than have him to become a love fool in 5 pages. I hate stories in which the hero is a first rate jerk then 2 pages later he professed undying love like a love sick puppy, quite unrealistic. I know these are romances but they don't have to be fairy tales. We have to measure what is important to the characters and what they are willing to sacrifice for each other and judge from there but this varies from story to story. Obviously the London house and gaming club memberships are important to Jered as they symbolized his old way of life, he threw away all that so he can start anew with Tessa and I think in a way is a huge gesture for his character. To some readers it may not seem to be enough but we have to look at it from his point of view. For someone who hadn't have to answer to anyone for the majority of his life, giving up little pieces of his freedom like that is a huge sacrifice.

As for Tessa, I disagreed with the reviewers who said she needs to have more self-esteem and grow some backbones. I thought she was courageous, brave and held up quite well against Jered actions. Everything she said and did took a great amount of guts, especially at those times where such actions would make her unfit for polite society. She never gave up on Jered even when he treated her horribly, although she was resigned to the fact that Jered may not ever love her back. Sometimes you love someone for no reasons other than they are what they are, it is probable and inexplicable. It is Tessa's love that made Jered see good in himself, like Tessa said at the end he was never dishonorable just that he tried so hard not to be happy that he took refuge in miseries. I read too many fluffs lately where the heroes are supposed to be rakes but didn't act like one at all, this one really did rakes right!

I loved our heroine, Tessa, and would give her the Congressional Medal of Honor for putting up with our hero, Jered. Now don't get me wrong, I kind of liked Jered in a warped sort of way, who wouldn't want to reform a rake like that? His nonchalant and depraved attitude towards life, leads to some very interesting sexual scenes. I really did want to hate Jered after all he did, but I suppose even the worst of us are redeemable. His struggle with himself, and the philisophical discussions he engages in with his uncle are enlightening to read. Truly, the love of a good woman changed this seemingly hopeless specimen. Tessa has a great support system in her family,(whew! 6 brothers!!!) and though Jered could have had similar support, he turned from his family when struck with tragedy.

This is one of the instances where I found the story ran flat. We never have any sort of reconciliation with Jered and his sister or his mother's family. He was reaching out towards that at one point in the story, but it was never resumed. I also thought there was a bit too much attempt at using literary license. The scene changes (between chapters) were very abrupt and sometimes uncomfortable. I don't need everyhting spelled out for me, but there are times when emotions are peaking, then the next thing you know, a week is past. It takes some getting used to where you are supposed to be in the story.

Once Upon a Wicked Time has a rake that is very hard to like, but a heroine who is gutsy, funny, idealistic and persistent. These leads have a difficult relationship throughout most of this story due solely to the hero.

To begin, the opening chapter of this novel is innocently romantic. When the leads meet for the first time, Tessa is a sweetly unaffected Scottish teenager who finds her knight in Shining armor. The object of her affections is Jered Mandeville, Duke of Kittridge. Karen Ranney creates a whimsical atmosphere in this early meeting. Don't expect it throughout the rest of the story because when the two meet again, which is several years later on their wedding day, Jered is a hardened rake.

Tessa is thrilled to be marrying Jered, she is so in love with him but he does not reciprocate her feelings in the least. For him, this is a union solely for heirs and he does not want his spirited wife inconveniencing him in any way. He is so insensitive that he leaves her the morning after their wedding so he can continue his carousing in London.

Tessa follows him determined to become indispensable to him and she just knows he will be a great husband if only given the chance. She is terribly wrong about most of her assumptions. Jered is furious that Tessa has left their estate and even angrier that she dares to interrupt his life. Tessa does this with aplomb and she is like a general planning a campaign when it comes to forcing her husband to notice her. She shows up at the most inauspicious gatherings, totally embarrassing her husband. She utters the most outrageous yet honest words too. I laughed aloud at her biting wit.

Eventually though, Tessa is forced to see Jered not as the romantic hero she imagines but the man he really is, disillusioned, and selfish in the extreme. Jered finally does convince her she is wasting her time seeing something worthwhile in him and he does this through despicable ways.

It is only when the two are separated that Jered really examines his life and his relationship with Tessa. He begins to make really positive changes in his life. The problem is Tessa is safely in the bosom of her family and her mother is as protective as a mother bear with Tessa.

Jared does have a plan to heal his relationship with Tessa and it works to a point. I felt that Jared needed to show a more repentant heart than what he did. His gestures while romantic never showed true sorrow for his unkind actions toward Tessa. He can become self pitying and when this happens he turns into a cold unfeeling man. I never warmed up to him. Tessa, on the other hand, is cheerful and very kind with a social conscious that Jared lacked for most of the novel. She really does become his conscious and this turned out to be a good thing for Jered because it saves him from being a total reprobate.

I so wanted Jered to show a better side of himself earlier in the novel. Too often he hurts and at times humiliates Tessa. I could not help but like Tessa because she really understands that unconditional love can change people and she was unafraid to show this from the most deserving like her family to the least worthy like her husband.