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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
exciting Victorian romantic intrigue, January 9, 2002
This review is from: Too Wicked to Marry (Avon Romantic Treasure) (Mass Market Paperback)
In 1880 while attending a decadent party, Lord Martin Kestrel realizes he loves his daughter's governess, Abigail Perry. He immediately leaves for London to propose marriage. A stunned Abigail says no and vanishes before Martin can persuade her otherwise. Martin cannot find Abigail until a letter from her great aunt arrives. He visits her relative who sends him to meet Ian and Hannah MacLeod on the Isle of Skye where Martin demands to see Abigail who informs him that she is actually Harriet MacLeod, an English spy assigned to protect his daughter and him. An angry Martin, already filled with mistrust after the infidelity of his deceased wife, calls Harriet a liar before leaving. However, she finds that she needs his services to gain entry to a house where her brother might be held prisoner. He accepts the job only if she agrees to be his mistress during the scenario, making a permanent relationship even less likely between them.
Susan Sizemore is known for her strong historical novels, but her current tale, TOO WICKED TO MARRY, may be the awesome author's best work to date. This exciting Victorian romantic intrigue stars a gender-bending heroine assigned to protect the lead male protagonist and a strong support cast. With a refreshing action-jammed story line for the ensemble to star in, Ms. Sizemore provides one of the best historical tales of the year. Harriet Klausner
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
To Wicked to Marry is Awesome, January 24, 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: Too Wicked to Marry (Avon Romantic Treasure) (Mass Market Paperback)
My first Susan Sizemore read and I loved it!!! Martin Kestrel, a British diplomat is in love with Abigail, his daughter's governess, but he's also in love with Harriet the Spy, and Cora the Mistress. Yes, Martin Kestrel is in love with all three women, yet he's in love with one woman. Yet Martin was not aware that Abigail was placed in his household to have 'someone to watch over him'. Confusing!! Very, but funny and sensual. Abigail, aka, Harriet the Spy, is deposited in Martin's to protect his negotiations for the British Foreign Service. As a diplomate, Martin is privy to making political contracts and deals that ultimately could dispose the British government. Martin;s choice in wive's and mistresses doesn't help either. Most were proven to be less than trustworthy and patriotic. Yes, Abigail performs her duty to his daughter and to Martin unknowingly. But when Martin proposes to Abigail, he doesn't realize he's in love with a fictional character. Therefore, the real Harriet the Spy takes flight and returns home to contemplate her assignment or her affection for Martin. Martin manages to track Harriet down and late realize that the entire possible deranged family is involved in espionage. Yes, Harriet's family decides to use Martin's availability to locate a secret courier and rescue their wayward offspring that has been captured and tortured by the enemy. But whom had captured their beloved Michael and who and where was the courier. Thus the games begin. This book is a one night sitting read. Susane Sizemore writes with humor, sensuality, and an intrique that keep you page turning. Martin may not be the 'James Bond' of the 1860s, but his common sense and ability to reason and negotiate aids Harried MacLeod and her family of spies. Hope you love it as much as I did!
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18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sensual, Sophisticated, and Funny, January 18, 2002
This review is from: Too Wicked to Marry (Avon Romantic Treasure) (Mass Market Paperback)
This is a romance not only about grown-ups, but for them. I enjoyed reading about Harriet and Martin because they so enjoyed each other. My only complaint is that the writing seemed a bit stiff in the beginning, but once the story got going...wow! She's a spy. He's a diplomat. While posing as a governess, she's used him as cover for covert operations and has nearly been killed protecting him, though he doesn't know it. After several years of knowing "Abigail", Martin Kestrel asks her to marry him. She's says no. He's affronted when she runs off. She confesses to really being "Harriet" when he tracks her down at her family home on the Isle of Skye, and then the verbal fireworks really begin. These two know how to argue! Their conversations are the best part of the book. So's the sex. They were a pair of adults who liked each other as much as they loved and lusted and fought. They liked each other's company even when they were the most hurt and angry. They didn't act like a pair of spoiled kids having a Big Misunderstanding. The issues of trust, betrayal and duty over personal desire were very well explored, but somehow treated with a light hand as well. The author's style is fresh, witty and sophisticated. The plot is outrageous - featuring a family of spies, a high-handed, handsome lord of the manner, a heroine who is in no way intimidated by this overbearing man, and eccentric secondary characters (Mrs. Swift is a hoot). If this is the start of a series, I'm looking forward to the next adventure of the MacLeod clan.
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