Customer Reviews

Wicked Fantasy: A Novel

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Antonia Maitland first meets the dashing Trey Deverill at the tender age of seventeen at her father's London home. Trey was well-known for his adventures and explorations, most notably his daring pirate battles on the high seas. Antonia never tired of hearing his adventuresome tales and found herself envious of the escapades of this close friend of her father's. Four years later Antonia's father is dead and his housekeeper suspects that Antonia's intended, Baron Heward, is responsible for his death, further believing that once Heward and Antonia are married and he has full control of her wealth, that she too will be killed. The housekeeper requests that Trey investigate Heward and protect Antonia while doing so. An American cousin of Trey's who does business with Maitland Shipping gives Trey insight to unscrupulous business dealings that Heward is participating in while running the shipping business, but Antonia does not want to believe him. Trey repeatedly sets out to intentionally provoke Heward in Antonia's presence, hopeful that he will lose his temper and show his true nature. Once Trey succeeds in humiliating Heward, he is met with brutal retaliation and finds himself needing to escape London, kidnapping Antonia and taking her with him to a secret location until he can prove Heward's guilt. With the assistance of fellow members of the Guardians of the Sword, Trey sets out to protect Antonia and prove Heward's guilt. When Antonia insists on being a part of Heward's downfall, Trey doesn't want to put her life at risk, although he understands her wanting to help put Heward in prison for her father's murder. Trey's plan begins to fall into place what he doesn't plan on is falling in love with Antonia. He knows that Antonia plans to follow her father's wish for her to marry a man of nobility. Realizing that she is falling in love with Trey, Antonia is torn between what her heart desires and the notion that she should do as her father wished. These characters are so well written that they leap to life on the pages. Nicole Jordan's heroes, Trey being no exception, are always strongly masculine, charming and determined in their passions. Antonia is strengthened by intelligence, wit, grace and beauty. Ms. Jordan never fails to deliver a book that is full of historical detail, heart-pounding danger and breathtaking sensuality. The secondary characters are exceptionally written without overpowering Trey and Antonia. WICKED FANTASY has my very highest recommendation, an absolute must-read for lovers of sensual historical romance. Courtesy Laurie/Romance Junkies

Since I've begun reading Nicole Jordan's books, I've not been disappointed. When my romance reading mood is calling for a historical setting, I know I can pick up her latest and prepare to be happily satisfied. Her heros are usually just alpha male enough to be eybrow-raising without being overbearing. Her heroines are never the milksop type. They know how to stand up for themselves.

Antonia Maitland is a charming young heroine who meets Trey Deverill as a young girl at her father's home. At the tender age of sixteen, she had already begun to lose her heart to him after she daringly demanded a kiss from the dashing adventurer. Years later, they encounter one another again as she prepares to marry into the ton (her father was in trade. Oh, the horror!). Trey has grave suspicions about her future husband, Lord Heward, a Baron and has come back to England to make sure she is safe as well as happy. When he sees her again, though, he is, of course, immediately attracted to her. And she herself is not uneffected by his very virile presence. A desperate situation arises that forces Trey's hand and takes he and Antonia on an adventure of their own.

Anotnia turns out to be a very likeable heroine, posessing a strong mind and nature, but is not so overpwering that Trey is overshadowed by her. Trey himself is also a great hero, being completely sure of himself, adorably concerned about Antonia's welfare and completely sexy (Of course! It's a must!). His personality balances out Antonia's. Ms. Jordan always manages to cook up some of the steamiest love scenes, and readers won't be disappointed with them in this book either. Their chemistry is sizzling right from the beginning of the prologue to the end of the epilogue.

It was somewhat refreshing to read a historical where the hero and heroine were more ordinary everyday people (both had noble bloodlines, but were not directly noble themselves) instead of the elite of the ton. Here, the tables were turned and Baron Heward was the bad guy. A nice turnabout, especially with Ms. Jordan's spectacular job of portraying the baron in a bad light. I was amazed at the level he would stoop to to get what he wanted. His evil tendencies only made me love Trey more.

I honestly cannot think of one thing I disliked about this book. It was an uncomplicated, easy and fun read. It's a great one to settle down with over your much needed weekend at home alone. Incidently, if you'r not aware, this was the third in Jordan's Paradise series. Her next one, is Fever Dreams and should be out in June of 2006 (Waiting impatiently here! See the excerpt at the end of Wicked Fantasy). Now, if only Ms. Jordan would reissue some more of her older titles so that I had something to read after this one!

WICKED FANTASY easily lives up to my over-the-top expectations for sensual, realistic, character-driven Regency love stories; very few writers can meet these expectations, for me, but Nicole Jordan is certainly one of them! Ms. Jordan has truly spoiled me with her delicious novels. WICKED FANTASY, her newest, satisfies all my desires for a GREAT romantic read, all the while leaving me with that yearning for MORE. I didn't want it to end!

Trey and Antonia are both strong characters, unconventional, not really happy or comfortable with the status quo of London high society. Ms. Jordan establishes this early on, and builds on it, so that soon the characters feel so real that the reader falls easily into the story...

Antonia's father, a prosperous shipbuilder, wanted his only child to marry into the nobility. Loving his memory, and wishing to please him, Antonia has vowed to do just that, whether there's love in the marriage or no.

When Trey Deverill, an adventurer whose past occupations have included battling the Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean, begins to suspect that Antonia's noble fiance is not so noble after all, but likely the man who murdered her father, he has to get her out of danger, fast. The fiance won't stop at Antonia's father... he frames Trey for murder, forcing Trey to flee, and to take Antonia with him, into hiding.

What Trey doesn't know is that Antonia has fantasized about him for years... ever since he gave her a scalding kiss, one moonlit night, when she was a mere child of seventeen... hence the title.

Ms. Jordan writes incredibly beautiful love scenes which are quite scalding. She is truly the "queen of sexy historicals," as one reviewer has dubbed her. You come away from the love scenes feeling awed at the passion in her writing, which is transmitted to the characters, and thence straight into the heart of the very thrilled reader. And her characters find deep, lasting love, built on foundations which will last. I will always, always read Nicole Jordan.

Brava, brava, brava! If you want romance, real love, and real characters in a brilliantly conceived and realized storyline, read WICKED FANTASY.

I love Nicole Jordan but I have to admit the other two books in this series did not quite grab me like the Notorious series. This one however was absolutely perfect. Jordan is known for her sizzling sex scenes but when the couple explodes off the page with lust and passion like Antonia and Deverill do, well it becomes quite an intense read. I love how this story built from the not quite so innocent kiss when she was 17 and he was 26 to them meeting again 4 years later, and Deverill is determined to save Antonia from marrying a nobleman that may in fact killed her father. I loved how he was so determined to protect her, how he actually kidnapped her, took her away - it was all so powerful and so romantic. She had fanticized about Deverill after that kiss when she was 17 and soon she would be more than living out her dreams of seduction with this man. Wow, my kind of story. This book really excudes passion, and honest to good romance. This was like have a knight in shining armour drop down and truly save the princess. It was Jordan at her very best and anyone that loves her books I think will love this third in the series!

By the time I finished reading this one, I was just about giddy with delight. Who knew I had a weakness for the typical love story? Two people who are completely wrong for each other embark on a journey borne of deception, murder, etc and fall madly in love despite everything. Normally, it's not my cup of tea. But Nicole Jordan has somehow woven a fabulous story with all of the above, PLUS a super bonus of wickedly wonderful sex scenes. I have to admit that I'm completely taken aback, but delightfully pleased at the same time.
THANK YOU NICOLE JORDAN!!! :-)

Just when I think Nicole Jordan has written a wonderful book, she somehow manages to come up with an even better one. Take her paradise series for example - the first book, "Master of Temptation," was excellent. "Lord of Seduction" followed as an incredible read, a keeper to be certain. This newest novel, "Wicked Fantasy," is well... wickedly fantastic!!!

As a young girl and under unexpected circumstances, Antonia Maitland meets a mysteriously dangerous Trey Deverill. As any curious teenager, she develops an innocent crush on the devilishly handsome adventurer. As she grows into a young woman, her crush evolves into a not-so-innocent fantasy, nightly reoccurring in her dreams.

To honor her beloved father's fondest wish of a high-class marriage, she becomes betrothed to a nobleman. After a tragic year in her life and delayed nuptials, Antonia once again meets Deverill. This time, however, Trey is convinced that Antonia's life is in danger and announces his intentions of championing her. Antonia, a wealthy heiress, and a respected icon of the ton, will have none of him or his forced guardianship.

Deverill will take whatever extreme measures necessary to protect Antonia, even when his sense of duty becomes tangled with unfamiliar emotions. When sizzling passion is part of the emotions to be dealt with, it becomes even more potent in a beautiful setting and in the face of life-threatening dangers. Deverill and Antonia both struggle to accept their true natures and make choices from the heart as opposed to those born of obligation.

This is such a beautifully romantic tale. I felt as though I witnessed an incredibly witty, adventurous and timeless courtship, which shaped into a breathtaking love. Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!

I have been a long time fan of Ms. Jordan going as far back as her western historicals published by Avon. Her latest series is just as entertaining, sensual, and romantic. Than again I'm bias when it comes to Ms. Jordan.

Antonia Maitland has a fire in her spirit. She wants to do right by her loving papa but at the same time she can't help but wish that she had been born a male so she could experience all that life has to offer that gender. All the excitement that her proper life lacks. Well, one should be care for what one wishes as her life is going to get real exciting sooner rather than later. Starting off with her first glimps of a naked man and later (that same day...trust me you need to read the book) a kiss that ruines her for the rest of mankind delivered by none other than handsome, yummy, sexy, sensual...well, you get the point Trey Deverill.

Fast forward four years and our hero Trey is back in England after a rather long absence in India only to find out that his friend Sam Maitland is dead, his beloved daughter is betrothed to a nasty piece of work, and that the same daughter is now not only a beautiful lady but the hoyden has grown into a woman that Trey can't ignore...and when he's honest with himself doesnt' want to ignore. But now he needs to keep her safe and a very real threat is out there. Will Antonia allow her tender heart and personal safety to be kept by the dashing, yummy...Trey, or will the villian win out at the end of the day?

Well, it goes without say that Ms. Jordan can pen a sensual read like no ones business. But on top of that she creates characters that the reader truly wants to know and care about. Although part of series I still feel that this read is a stand alone in it's own right. Trey and Antonia are fun characters and although the reader my find themselves getting frustrated with Antonia at times (okay, okay I admit) she is still an endearing character that is well matched for our hero Trey. This book will sweep the reader back to a time and place that no longer exists and right into a romance that is truly romantic. Ms. Jordan is an author that I highly recommend with no qualms.

Official Reviewer for Romance Designs

This is the 4th book by NJ that I have read in the past few months. I also read "The Lover" (didn't care for it), "Lord of Seduction" (average) and "Master of Temptation" (fair at best). I selected and bought a few books at one time by this author as the reviews by readers was strong and her plot lines all seemed appealing when I read about them in advance. I guess the biggest drawback to me in most of her books once I was done reading, is that she writes about sex ALL the time. The sex scenes happen too early in the book, too often (practically every other chapter) and the rest of the story falls away in light of so many sex passages. She is tasteful in her writing and it is always appealing so, that's not the problem. She simply takes a good thing and overdoes it. If you are a reader that simply wants lots of sex scenes and limited anything else - this is the author for you. If you crave deep characters, interesting plots lines and then some serious sexual anticipation and intensity on the side - this isn't the author for you.

On a positive note, I do think this author is very talented and has lots of potential but, it gets lost along the way. After four books now, I can say they all share a pattern and my guess is the other books I still have to read will all follow suit. Perhaps this is the "niche" NJ and her editor and publisher all want for her to fall into - the "sexy and smutty" author. I think her ability is greater than this but, she gets stuck in this quagmire and it gets dull very fast. That's too bad. Maybe as she develops in the future she'll tone this down and become the writer I think she could be. I noticed from other reviews if this is the type of book you like, high marks. If you are critical of it, low marks. As expected.

This book, "Wicked Fantasy" was simply a continuation of the other two books in the series LofS and MofT. Although I would give this last book higher marks than the first two it still fell into it's predictable pattern - just a little later than the earlier books. Lots of sex, limited character development and a dull and uncreative plot line. Like the other books in the series, I just never connected well with Deverill or Antonia. He was an interesting but, not very dynamic or mysterious hero. He was hot looking, loyal and had some past blemishes but, nothing remarkable. Antonia seemed a bit sheltered and spoiled and followed daddy's orders to the point of being a bit one sided and dull and then suddenly she wants to be a woman of high adventure - almost like two characters in one. So...she was sometimes interesting, sometimes not. I would say out of the three books, at least this hero and heroine each had some redeeming qualities and more likeable traits that made reading much easier than the earlier books.

All of the earlier characters from the previous two books showed up again in this book - Max and Caro, Lady Isabelle, Sir Gawain, Thorne & Diana etc. If I had really liked all these earlier characters it would have been interesting to hear about them again but, since I never got into these characters - revisiting them was empty for me.

I think if you are a long term romance reader and have developed a finer taste and higher appreciation for really good historical romances, a book like this will be fine to pass the time but, will never really stand out or be one you keep in your personal library for all time. NJ clearly has her fans - as all authors do. But...she is not for me or it appears to some others with more discriminating tastes.

I would recommend some other authors if you are looking for intensity, emotion, anticipation along with passion, deep characters and a touch of humor and interesting plot lines. I love a good romance like other readers of this genre and a sexy and hot hero and heroine can never be over-done but...I don't think every author can write a really good story. I think a lot of authors do good enough to please the masses but, it's the really special ones I am interested in after 20 years of romance reader. Enjoy this author if she works for you. If she doesn't, there are certainly other really special authors and books out there. (Brenda Joyce, Katherine Sutcliffe, Meagen McKinney, Judith McNaught, Lisa Kleyaps. New authors - Cathy Maxwell, Victoria Alexander, Gaelen Foley, Jillian Hunter, Patricia Grasso, Laura Guhrke, Jacquie D'Alessandro, Sabrina Jefferies,
Mia Ryan, Christina Dodd and Susan Wiggs).

I gave Nicole Jordan three stars for being decent over-all but, not much more. I won't give one or two stars as the writing itself was fine and didn't deserve a negative rating like that. On the other hand, I can't give four or five stars as the content and interest was clearly missing. So...she gets down the middle for trying but, no more as she didn't step out of the box to bring more to the table. This book was simply a continuation of the same old thing from earlier. I guess NJ is guilty of the worst crime in writing - being PREDICTABLE!

But...Don't give up. Just keep reading!

In a moment of embarrassing impropriety, walking in on a stark naked man emerging from his bath, will forever shape and twist one woman's life. Awakening dormant and untapped desires not yet explored...

A sixteen-year-old Antonia Maitland will never forget the day she walked in on Trey Deverill in his entire glorious splendor. That bathroom plunder will be permanently etched in her mind. Deverill is a visiting business acquaintance of Antonia's father, Samuel Maitland. After dinner they encounter each other again, which leads to Deverill enlightening Antonia with her first kiss.

Four years later, Antonia is betrothed to James Heward and missing her dearly departed father. Just before their official betrothal is to be announced, Deverill steps back into Antonia's life. Deverill returns to England after getting word that the circumstances surrounding Samuel Maitland death may not have been heart failure. Lord Heward's whispered involvement and betrothal to Antonia, has Deverill's suspicions on high alert. When Deverill comes face to face with Antonia, she is no longer a gangly young girl, but a ripe and luscious siren. Their attraction to one another is immediate and intense.

Wicked Fantasy follows in the footsteps of Master of Temptation and Lord of Seduction (Paradise series). Wicked Fantasy could be read as a stand-alone, but you will be running out the door to get the rest of this sensual series!

When it comes to creating drama, majesty and passionate gratification, Ms. Jordan does not disappoint! Ms. Jordan penned another scorching historical that titillates and stimulates the senses. Drawing the reader in by mastering of a storyline woven articulately and executed faultlessly! The dialogue between the characters is the crowning touch, with its strong sensuous contents. Ms. Jordan is one of the best in her field of historical romance and this should be an award winning year for her!

The flame-haired beauty mesmerizes Deverill. Antonia's alluring zest for life and unconventional attitude captivates and pulls at Deverill's unrequited soul. Antonia is fantasizing and dreaming about the carnal devil incessantly. Deverill's sexual allure and commanding presence, is exhilarating to Antonia.

With Heward dangerously connected to Antonia, Deverill can not fail her, having the demons from his past mistakes still haunting close. Yet, he can not afford nor desires anything remotely permanent. Deverill's commitments lie with the Guardian and his quest to help mankind. Sometimes what one thinks they crave, does not the outcome make.

If you are a fan of Ms. Jordan's or looking for a sexually intoxicating historical filled with action and adventure then hurry to get your copy of Wicked Fantasy by Nicole Jordan today! It's a must read historical for 2005!

Reviewed by Janalee Ruschhaupt, 2007

This was my first title from Nicole Jordan, and I will admit, it was sitting on my "to be read" shelf for quite a while. I took it with me on vacation, and it was the perfect book for realxing in the sun. Light and fast paced, with likeable characters, a good story, and steamy scenes. NJ is a good writer and spins a fun tale. I will be reading the other books in her Paradise series to be sure.