Customer Reviews

The Wicked Earl

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When the baron Cyril Farquharson, rich but unappealing in the extreme, forces his attentions on Madeline, her mother could not be happier and she could not be more repulsed. When this evil man traps her in an uncompromising situation, another mysterious man protects her but also threatens her reputation --- he is known as the Wicked Earl. Torn between two men, which one is more wicked? Will she love either of them or will she pay with her life?

Margaret McPhee's descriptions of the villain are fantastic....really creepy and disgusting and made me think of Charles Dickens, Uriah Heep and worse! Hissing, sneaky, slithering, slimy and just downright wicked! The heroine is both innocent and wise, reticent and spunky. Madeline knows how to protect herself one way or another. Her choices and dilemmas create a well-rounded character beyond the reader's expectation. Margaret McPhee's characterization breathes suspense in every moment.

From the opening scene, the plot drives the romance forward while creating suspense like a serial novel. One place in the novel had a quick suspenseful scene change that could have used a sentence or two more preparation but otherwise Margaret McPhee delights with fast-paced action, tense suspense filled scenes, and a fine mixture of scene changes to heighten suspense and create vivid characters. For that reason and more this romance deserves a 5 star rating.

Readers will enjoy the scene of the heroine reading Jane Austen and thinking of Mr. Darcy as well as having the scene placed in a crucial turning point in the romance. In addition, King Arthur fans will enjoy the heroine's musings on Tintagel Castle where Uther seduced Ygraine under her husband's eye and where Arthur was conceived. Setting one of the final scenes there was a masterstroke --- just enough parallels to create intrigue but enough variation to heighten the expected suspense. I just loved the way she played this scene! The first two-thirds of this romance were so well-written and suspenseful that I imagined the last third and ending could only be anti-climatic. Not at all! Even the last line tantalizes!

I'm very tired of the new crop of regency novels that take this unique genre and try to cram modern morality down its delicate throat. This book is as far from those slimy bits of refuse as can be imagined.

This story is true romance with an intelligent heroine who is both saved by the hero and her own acumen. Don't let the "wicked" title fool you-this isn't a bodice ripper. Its well written, clever, & historically accurate. If you're looking for a true romance in the style of a real regency novel--wit & heart, sans gratuitous sex-this is the novel for you.

The Wicked Earl (Harlequin Historical Series)

I loved this book!! She grabs you into her world and doesn't let go! I loved this book so much that I bought the other 3 that she had written, and loved them as well!!

Just finished it. Couldn't put it down! The characters were well drawn out and very admirable. The hero and heroine were both mature - no silly misunderstandings that last for chapters and chapters. The heroine was wonderful - shy and reserved, but with strength and intelligence. They were both honest with each other and themselves. The hero was sweet and strong and honorable. The villain was pure evil, with helped the plot along. And the secondary characters were great as well. Great storyline - it kept moving along. I would buy other books by this author!

This was a very sweet and nice romance story. There is a little mystery that is unveiled slowly throughout the story, and it is pretty suspenseful at the end.

At first, I was unsure if I would like the heroine in the Wicked Earl. In the first part of this story she comes across as timid and way too malleable but fortunately she develops a backbone a third into this tale. The bigger problem with this novel is the hero who talks past the heroine and is unable to read subtle and not so subtle signs from his leading lady.

Madeline Langley is unfortunate to have one of the most grasping, controlling mothers in all of England. Her mother wants Madeline to encourage Cyril Lord Farquarson suit (I kept thinking of the movie Shrek every time I read this man's name). Lord Farquarson is a toad of a man, amoral, coarse but he hides it from Madeline's mother. Madeline is almost compromised by him but a dark stranger comes to her aid twice.

Lucien known throughout the ton as the Wicked Earl has a past with Cyril and he is determined that Cyril will not harm any more unsuspecting young women, so when he sees him manhandling Madeline he rushes to the rescue. Lucien does not know what to think of Madeline. She obviously does not like Cyril but Lucien sees her with this evil nobleman soon after she is warned away.

Madeline initially does not know how to stand up to her mother. This was frustrating but when push comes to shove Madeline does protect herself from her mother's machinations. She trusts Lucien implicitly and acts on his advice when he provides an answer to her dilemma regarding Cyril.

Lucien at first is very likeable but by the middle portion of this book he bceomes less appealing because he misinterpreted the heroine's actions a lot. He makes the mistake of thinking he knows her when in actuality he has not spent enough time with her to divine what Madeline is thinking. This was a bit frustrating and slowed down the middle portion of this book.

The last third of the novel moves at a better pace and this is due mostly to Madeline and outside forces pushing her to rethink her decisions. I thought Madeline grew tremendously by the end of this novel. I did not see such dramatic changes in the hero which would have made this story more exciting.

I enjoyed this novel...I think I prefer it to the sequel with the Earl's brother. The villain in this is truly evil, and the hero is truly heroic. Very enjoyable.

It was a good book, but it wasn't a great book. It had an interesting plot and a terrific villain but I found myself getting bored. There were parts where I was even skipping ahead because I found the author would drag on and on. Plus, there was only one sex scene and that wasn't until the second to the last chapter, and it was VERY short, to say the least.

There was some things I liked though. The main characters Lucien and Madeline SLOWLY falling in love. That was a nice change of pace, but I wish Mcphee could have added more juicy things along the way. Making out, or maybe a couple cop-a-feel, steamy moments,...

Tiffany Wilson "Romance Vixen"'s review summarizes exactly how i felt about this book!

no more by this author for me!