Customer Reviews

Wicked Becomes You

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I have to say that Wicked Becomes Her is my first Meredith Duran romance novel and once I finished it, I immediately wanted to read her earlier books!

Wicked Becomes Her works so well -- I love historical romance novels with smart, funny, daring and supremely loyal women. Gwen Maudsley is one of my favorite romantic leads with her hidden depths, quick wit, sharp mind, and loyal soul. I loved that she's abandoned at the altar twice and has to face the ton's gossip - and responds with a flash of spirit! Meredith Duran had me chuckling from the start!

The other romantic lead measures up as well. I love it when the heroes appear dissolute but prove otherwise. And when I come across a book with dialogue that has me laughing out loud and characters as fun as Gwen and Alex, I carefully keep the book to enjoy another day.

If you enjoy historical romances and are looking for a fun, romantic escape, get yourself a copy of Meredith Duran's Wicked Becomes You. Put your phone on silent and turn off your blackberry - you won't want to be interrupted!

ISBN-10: 1416593128 - Paperback
Publisher: Pocket; Original edition (April 27, 2010), 416 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.

This is the first time I've read a book by Meredith Duran and now I'm undecided about reading any more of her books. Don't get me wrong, she writes fluently and with a good style, but the story didn't measure up to what the synopsis suggested, or even what the beginning of the book suggested. For one thing, her writing, while elegant, is just too wordy. There are long bouts of internal musings by the two main characters. I love internal musings when they explain the character's thought process, but most of the musings in Wicked are just arbitrary thoughts describing scenery or a group of people nearby, etc. Every scene seemed to take days to get through and so it seemed to be more descriptive than anything else. The actual story seemed to me to be only about 50% of the book, with the rest being just pages of description on things not that interesting, or circular thoughts of the characters which didn't progress the story that much.

Alex was supposed to have loved Gwen from afar for years, but you couldn't tell it from most of the book. Even in his internal thoughts, he seemed to have little respect for her, much less an unrequited love. He never once said to her or himself that he's loved her all this time, but just couldn't admit it to her or himself. The closest he came to anything like this was a point about 75% into the book where he told her he'd dreamed of getting married, of having a family, etc, but didn't think he would ever be able to. He did say he loved her, several times, but it was more like he was just now falling in love with the her after getting to know her, not pining over her for years.

There's nothing wrong with that type of storyline, it's just not how it was presented in the synopsis, and I know some people are looking for specific types of storylines, and may be disappointed to find this storyline is different than advertised.

Another thing that bothered me was that after being jilted early in the book, Gwen found a note from a "secret admirer" in her room and read it and tossed it aside without much thought. I thought, surely this is from Alex and she'll find out later that he'd loved her all along. In actuality, the letter is never mentioned again and you never know who sent it. I don't know what the point was in adding this to the story, if not the significance that Alex has been in love with her all along. Maybe this started out as part of the plot, but then got changed, but not removed from the entire story. As it is now, it just seemed a pointless page in the book.

There were relatively few scenes in the entire book, but it took 400+ pages to get through them because of the wordiness. Literally, it wasn't until page 98 (chapter 5) that we finally moved on from the one day in which she was jilted. Other than the prologue, the first four chapters (long chapters) were dedicated to her being jilted at the alter and the aftermath.

The ending was poor to me. I liked the story in general, but not the slowness and wordiness of it. And I really didn't like the last minute dreaded "misunderstanding" which was apparently not even a problem to Gwen in the end. She got legitimately mad at Alex about something, but then that problem was tossed aside as unimportant, and a completely new reason was given for her being upset by the time we get to the mandatory "kiss and make up" scene at the end. It seemed like a last minute thing to lengthen the book.

I'm giving this book 3 stars because it lacked enough substance. Good writer, not enough story for 400 pages, at least not as it was presented.

I know, who am I to talk about wordiness after this extremely WORDY review...lol.

One such author who gives in my addictive need for Victorian historical romances is Meredith Duran. Every single book Meredith has published in the past two years have been winners in my eyes. With Wicked Becomes You, Meredith cements my belief that she is one of the most skillful authors of historical romance being published today.

Alexander Ramsey is a world traveler. He is not a fan of England but has come back to attend the funeral of his best friend, Richard Maudsley, who was killed in Italy. Alex made a promise to watch over Richard's sister Gwen, who is the darling of English society. Alex is more of an outcast due to his sins that are "numerous and novel" but also "heavily fictionalized." Gwen is the complete opposite of him, and because of that, he becomes fixated on her. Alex finds Gwen to be an oddity because behind her smiles and easy going nature, he can sense she's hiding her true nature. He is very curious to learn her secrets and bringing out the "real" Gwen. But in order to do that, he would have to stick around and build a more personal relationship with her. Because Alex isn't comfortable with the relationships he has already, and doesn't want to form new ones, he leaves before he can fall for Gwen's charms even further.

Two years later, Gwen is about to be married to Viscount Thomas Pennington. Gwen has had a bad string of luck with men, since her first fiancé jilted her. Now she thinks she will have the perfect life, being married to a high ranking man who she cares for, and who seems to care for her in return. But Gwen is left literally at the altar after Thomas runs out of the church. Gwen is not only humiliated once again, but Thomas has her father's ring, which was handed down to her brother Richard. After going through the motions where she cries and rages, she comes to the conclusion that she is no longer going to be Miss Mary Sunshine and will follow Thomas across the continent to get back her ring and hopefully do a few outrageous and shocking things while she's at it.

Alex arrives in England after his twin sisters sent him telegrams begging him to come back. Alex's older brother Gerard, the Earl of Weston, has gotten himself into a bind. Gerard sold the family's Cornwall estate called Heverley End to a somewhat unscrupulous gentleman, a Rollo Barrington. Alex has no real love for Heverley End, but since his twin sisters are in a tizzy over it being sold, he will try and get it back from Barrington, who is in Paris. And because Gwen's former fiancé is also rumored to be in Paris, she will follow him there. Alex is not amused, and because he feels he must protect Gwen, he orders to stay put and find a new man to marry. Too bad Alex has no idea that Gwen has a new outlook on life and will do what she wants.

One of Alex's nosy sisters sends him a telegram about Gwen off and running away to Paris with a less than aware chaperone. Alex has no choice but to take Gwen under his wing while he searches for the elusive Barrington. Gwen isn't too happy with Alex being her shadow, but since he is much like a brick wall when it comes to her welfare, and she won't allow Alex to walk all over her, they come to an agreement. Alex will show Gwen more risqué types of fun that a gentlewoman like herself has been missing out on. Gone are the trips to the museum and opera, now it's all about attending the Moulin Rouge and giving people fake names. And when Gwen meets Barrington, Alex figures out a way to get back Heverley End. Gwen is all too willing to help Alex. The rush of it all is a dream come true for her, where not only does she see Alex in a new light, but he finally sees the woman Gwen truly is and one he's certain he can't walk away from when their adventures ends.

Meredith Duran is what I call the anti-wallpaper author. Her stories are so very delightful and thrilling to read. I can't help but compare Wicked Becomes You to the television reality game show, The Amazing Race. Gwen and Alex are not only on a race to find and take back a something that may have been stolen from Alex, but they are racing away from everything that has been instilled in them from birth. Alex is running away from his responsibility and the devotion expected of him from his siblings. Gwen is forced to conform to society's rules and is expected to only find joy in marrying and having a family. She is much like a bird in a gilded cage who wants to break free. And when she does, there is no turning back for her. And there is only one person who really understands her needs, because he has them also.

Gwen and Alex make a great team, a partnership and unit we have seen many times before in Meredith's past novels. Her heroes and heroines are very much on equal footing, and they treat one another as such. At first glance they are adversaries, who grow into a comfortable friendship of sorts that becomes deeper and more intense and eventually leads to the bedroom. Gwen and Alex's love making is so very heated and all consuming. Alex whispers tender words of love into Gwen's ears as they make love that have hidden meanings. When Gwen expressed her concerns where she may not be able to please Alex, he simply says, "Everything about you is right."

Alex has a secret from Gwen that comes out of nowhere and unnecessarily adds a last minute conflict at the end between these two that I felt could have been left out. Other than that small issue on my end, everything about Wicked Becomes You is close to perfect and one excellent, not-to-be missed book.

Katiebabs

WICKED BECOMES YOU is a fabulous read and I cannot recommend it enough. You know those books where you find yourself going back and rereading paragraphs or sentences and grinning stupidly and foolishly despite yourself? That was me with this book! This is my first Meredith Duran, though I own two others by her and just haven't gotten around to reading them yet. April 27 was a blockbuster romance day - both for contemporary and historical - and I'm not sure why I decided to start off with Duran's book, but I am **so glad** I did (though she ruined me for the others)!! I am a longtime historical romance reader and this book truly has it all.

My only fear about writing my opinion about this book - and thus a glowing review - is that when a person's expectations are so high they're almost invariably disappointed, and I want everyone who reads this book to enjoy it as much as I did ... Oh well, because I just have to share ;-) - especially since after a number of bad new romance releases, I seem to have miraculously stumbled upon a lucky streak with Sarah MacLean's Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, Anne Gracie's The Perfect Rake (which isn't new, but was to me), and now this utterly delightful read that is definitely joining my all-time favorites.

THE PROS:
(I haven't written any cons, so don't bother looking for that section)
The leading characters were fantastic - complex, perfect together though believable, presenting one another with a challenge, and two of my favorite leads of all-time. The tension between them was charged, the chemistry sizzling, and the banter absolutely a delight to read. There were many, many scenes and exchanges that had me literally laughing out loud (and even now bring a smile to my face) and the historical backdrop was detailed (without being overwhelming), authentic, and vividly described.

The twists and turns were unexpected, keep you on your toes and unsure, yet don't overshadow the main feature of the hero and heroine's relationship and also don't seem obvious contrivances by the author (well ... I mean, taking into account that you are reading fiction of course - and historical romance fiction at that!). The little surprises that Alex and then Gwen spring at the end, which prolong our wait for their HEA, only made the story better IMHO. This is one of those books where you wish there was a sequel that continues the main characters' story so you can encounter and enjoy them again.

OUR HEROINE AND HERO, Gwen (23) and Alex (28):
These two characters were so wonderful, which in this case was completely essential, since it is really a character-driven book. You wouldn't think so, because there are other plots going on, questions lurking in the background, the story moves from London to Paris to Nice to Monte Carlo, etc. However, when it comes down to it, this book is about one woman discovering that she is not who she has been trying to force herself to be for so many years; it's about one woman actually living life for herself, instead of for others. And it's about the one man who has suspected she was different than she seemed, has seen glimpses of this possibility in her for years, and who joins her in her discovery and along the way faces his own fears. (God, could I make it sound cornier? But it's true! And need I say - wonderfully, skillfully done!).

Gwen and Alex are so perfect for one another, though you (definitely) wouldn't think it at first. She's the nice, proper, darling of the ton, whom everyone loves. Gwen lives strictly within the rules of society, afraid to vary from the norm in any way, living a careful balancing act and playing a part that she has come to believe - or wanted to believe - is true. Alex lives to confront and deviate from any strictures or society guidelines he meets, and of course holds nothing but gentle contempt and amusement for people like Gwen. He runs from any hint of ties or roots to people or places (what she yearns for above all), has traveled the world, is from the aristocracy but earns (very successfully) his own living, and is comfortable in his skin no matter where he is.

Gwen is from "new money" and was sent off to school at a young age to learn how to be a proper young lady, her parents died shortly after, and then her brother died a few years later. She is utterly alone, and yet/therefore has surrounded herself with people whom she has made/charmed to like her. Honestly, in the first two chapters she seems spineless and weak, her friends are vapid and twittery, and I was afraid that Gwen was not going to be a likable heroine. This was not at all the case!

Gwen's transformation is wonderful and believable and a rocky roller coaster ride that the reader experiences along with her. Alex's contempt and condescension for what he sees as an urge she will quickly repress is invariably turned on its head. She challenges him at every turn, while at the same time Alex also challenges her, betting she won't take the plunge and then surprised when she does - though always with her own twist and still tentative, trying out her newfound wings. He is overprotective yet not wanting to be, anxious to see her change while at the same time afraid of no longer being able to stay away from this "new Gwen," and in the end so sweet and tender towards her. ::Sigh:: Basically: JUST READ IT!!!

UPDATE, 5/3/2010: Just finished Duran's Bound by Your Touch - was also fantastic and definitely a five-star read, though in some ways WICKED BECOMES YOU was better (mainly because the relationship was tenderer/sweeter and the book was so laugh-out-loud funny).

The story line for Wicked Becomes You sounds interesting - a woman jilted twice, decides to break out of her conventional life and live the way she wants. For me, the execution of the book, however, totally drained all interest out of it. Duran's writing is not direct - she gives a lot of time to describing the main characters' thoughts, but those thoughts are never very revealing of what they feel or how they see the world. For example, there are references over and over and over again to Alex being sick in childhood. By about page 100 I inferred that he had been asthmatic, but it wasn't "revealed" until page 308, by which point, who cares? It's hardly the dramatic denouement that the secretive dragging out of the revelation implied. The author also loses track of plot points. For much of the book Alex is hardly sleeping and is having a lot of trouble keeping on top of things mentally. Suddenly all references to his insomnia stop, and we have no idea what's happened. Finally, as several other reviewers have remarked, it's just too wordy. It's not the length per se that's the problem, it's that there's very little of interest described by all those words. There is remarkably little action spread across 400 pages, there's next to no description of places or people, there's just constant reiteration of stream-of-consciousness self-analysis. The whole thing left me feeling vaguely depressed, not what I buy a romance novel to feel.

I was very excited to read this book. It got glowing reviews here as well as several other sites I frequent. But, it just wasn't my cup of tea. I will freely admit that not everyone has the same taste. Most people loved this book. I was not that enraptured with Gwen. I don't think she really had that spark that makes a book come alive. While I did think Alex was several steps above Gwen on my likability scale, he also didn't make it to the top echelon of romance heroes for me. He was close but not quite there.
I am familiar with this author's previous works and I will admit that I didn't care for them either. There is something about her writing style that is a little disjointed. For me, it didn't flow. I think there was a tinge of melancholy below the whole thing. The feelings Alex had because of Gwen's brother Richard, the sort of desperation in Elma, and Alex's relationship with his brother all sort of combined to leave me with sort of a sad feeling.
I also got a little bored with the Rollo Barrington sub-plot. It really took me out of Alex and Gwen's story.
Please, don't lambaste me. This is strictly my opinion and I realize it's in the minority. But, not every book works for everybody. To each his own.

First off, I want to say that I really thought this book would be terrific. It had such a great start with Gwen, the heroine rebelling against all the years she had done 'the right thing' to please others and got jilted at the altar not once, but twice for her trouble. She decides to do all the fun and exciting things she always wanted and runs off to Paris. Alex, the hero follows her determined to look after her because of an old promise to her brother, now dead and Alex's dear friend. I tried, I really did, I just couldn't get through this book. It moved so slow and when Alex and Gwen's trip to the Moulin Rouge was boring, I gave up and skimmed through to the sexy parts. (That is never a good sign) However, I won't give up on this author. I have another of her books so I will try it. This one just didn't do it for me.

As romances go, this is absolutely one of the best I have read, and I have read way too many. It just seems like 99 out of a hundred are just plain trash, but this book is pure treasure! I agree with another reviewer than this writing is on par with Judith Ivory, who is one of the few truly talented romance writers out there.

I am a hard sell, so the fact that I fell in love with Alex and I actually like Gwen is impressive. The subtle detail on her writing made the characters vivid and the intimacy sensual. It was just the right mix of hot and sweet. Maybe I could have asked for a little more heat a little sooner, but I wasn't disappointed by the end. It was not corny, and there was tension and chemistry without anyone abusing each other - which is hard to do.

Someone else mentioned that the storyline was not new or inventive. I agree, although bohemian France isn't all that common these days. The fact that it is typical further illustrates what a great writer Duran is. And I have to say that her last two books, which were more unusual in terms of plot, did not impress me so much.

In my opinion this book has elevated Ms. Duran to an elite level of romance writing. It's a club very few authors seem to belong to these days. Wish there were more like her and I can't wait for the next one.

I've read all her books, and I still can't help being surprised at how GOOD the writing is. Her characters are intelligent, real, and absolutely made for each other. The dialogue is fantastic, and her heroes are tortured, but without the useless whining found in most romance novels. If you haven't read Meredith Duran, you are seriously missing out. Absolutely the best book I've read since - well - her last book!

I wouldn't say I "hated" this book, but I can only give 1 star to a book that I couldn't even read the whole way through! This is the first novel I've read by Meredith Duran and I'm not sure I'll read another. The premise of the story seemed so promising and I was excited to read it...but...the author's writing style is so weighed down and, well, wordy. It just didn't flow and made the story go so sloooooooow. I found myself going back to re-read passages because it would become so bogged down. After pushing through the first few chapters, I skimmed ahead trying to get to a part that interested me. I read bits and pieces, but never got into it. I didn't get why Gwen was such a society darling. Alex never came across as someone who had carried the torch of unrequited love for years for her. Eh, skip it.