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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A sparkling tale with a spirited heroine and an appealing hero, July 6, 2010
This review is from: The Wicked Wyckerly: The Rebellious Sons (Mass Market Paperback)
John Fitzhugh "Fitz" Wykerly is a charming, devil-may-care second son who makes his way by gambling, but when his brother dies and leaves him the title, a tumbled-down estate, and creditors littering the lawn, he must reevaluate his lifestyle. Gambling won't enable the new Earl of Danvers to pay long-overdue salaries of the servants, let alone the suffocating debts he's inherited. He must find a way to counter his family's financial disaster or lose his heritage. With his illegitimate daughter, Penelope, in tow, he sets out for London to find a rich wife. Abigail Merriweather is seeking help to regain custody of her four young half-brothers and sisters when a handsome rogue and his irrepressible daughter are deposited on her doorstep. Until the mysterious Fitz can find a way to continue his journey, she assigns him duties on her farm. Meanwhile she awaits an answer from her late father's cousin--a marquess would certainly be able to champion her cause in the courts. Assistance pops up in an unexpected legacy, and she is whisked to London in search of a husband. As Fitz and Abby conduct their separate quests in London, they continue to encounter each other, and their initial attraction ripens into something more, despite the suspicious warnings of a pair of intriguing friends. It seems hopeless, however. He may be very handsome and very charming, but he is very broke. She may be quite adorable and quite determined, but her inheritance is quite small. He can't allow his personal desires to override his responsibilities. And she will never gain custody of her siblings if she weds a penniless gambler. Yet fate keeps tossing them in each other's way. And who, after all, can fight fate? Their delightful love story follows their twisting paths to self-discovery and change, through growth and acceptance.--of themselves and each other. In the first of her "Rebellious Sons" series, Rice gives readers a sparkling tale brimming with a spirited heroine, an appealing hero, and charming, if perspicacious, youngsters. The supporting characters are vividly drawn, as well, with wit and traces of mystery. Rice's last few books have entertained readers with mystical worlds populated by characters whose magic challenged and charmed. In The Wicked Wykerly, the popular author returns to the glittering Regency period where manners and money rule the "polite" world. Her characters, however, have lost none of their ability to transport readers with their searches for the true meaning of life and the honest relationships that make it worth living. Rice may have left her `magic' stories for now, but the magic has certainly not left her stories. Her humor and engaging voice echo from every page of Wyckerly and when the end arrives, readers will have only one question: When is the next "Rebellious Son" story due? Review by Barbara H.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This Regency series starts out with a charming cast of characters and a lively plot...an engaging and fun read., July 6, 2010
This review is from: The Wicked Wyckerly: The Rebellious Sons (Mass Market Paperback)
The Wicked Wyckerly by Patricia Rice Historical Romance - July 6, 2010 4 ½ Starts The Wicked Wyckerly is the first book in Patricia Rice's new historical Rebellious Sons series. This Regency series starts out with a charming cast of characters and a lively plot. The Wicked Wykerly tells the story of John Fitzhugh Wyckerly who as the younger son to the Earl of Danecroft he uses his mathematical genius to make his living. As a successful gambler, he is able to win enough money to sustain an appearance of luxury. Contented with his way of life, his life is turned upside-down with the unexpected death of his older brother. Now he has become the fifth Earl of Danecroft. But upon becoming the new Earl, Fitz discovers he has inherited a crumbling estate and massive debts. This in addition to the mounting money problems are added responsibility of caring for his recently reclaimed illegitimate daughter, Penelope. But Fitz feels he must do the proper thing but he needs time alone to decide on the best way to set things right. So he leaves London to claiming a prized stallion he has won and encounters the lovely and enchanting Miss Abigail Merriweather. Abigail is currently dealing with her own set of problems. The new Earl is immediately enchanted by Miss Merriweather but realizes he can't get involved. For he knows it would be dishonorable to start a relationship when his only way of saving the Earldom is to find a rich wife in London to save his mortgaged estate. So, no matter how delectable Miss Merriweather is, she is a complication he doesn't need. Miss Abigail Merriweather is a woman on her own. She needs to find a solicitor who will help her to reclaim her younger siblings; children who were unfairly taken out of her custody due to the lack of male influence. When she meets Fitz she is immediately drawn to him but both of them soon recognize any relationship will not end well. Luckily fate takes a hand in the form of the recently widowed Dowager Marchioness of Belden. She is a distant relative of Miss Merriweather's and whisks Abigail off to London. Where despite their best efforts Abigail and Fitz are constantly thrown together! As a result, both have a hard time keeping their increasing feelings for one another a secret. Patricia Rice is a fabulous storyteller. This book was an engaging and fun read. The 2 main characters are great. Both are somewhat flawed which makes them all the more real. This allowed me to easily relate to them and hope they would end up happily together. The main characters are appealing and as their troubles mount their personalities make them more compelling to read. The many sub characters add extra sparkle and extra excitement to this charming romance. I can't wait for this series to continue and hope for more stories that continue more characters' journeys toward love. For readers who are looking for an enjoyable historical romance that is chocked full of entertainment and includes characters that make readers feel invested in their lives then THIS is the book for you! Reviewed by Mary from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
The Wicked Wyckerly by Patricia Rice, August 4, 2010
This review is from: The Wicked Wyckerly: The Rebellious Sons (Mass Market Paperback)
Abigail Merriweather has found herself very alone, and she doesn't like it. Her four half brothers and sisters were taken from her after her father and step-mother died. The executor deemed the children needed proper male guidance and shipped them away to a more "suitable" guardian. She is desperate to get them back, even if that means taking a husband. Her solitude is suddenly interrupted by a dashing man with a very unruly six year old in tow. John Fitzhugh Wyckerly, or Fitz, is now the seventh Earl of Danecroft after the passing of his brother. But this title brings does not bring him happiness, rather extreme debt and the press of many creditors who want their money. Fitz is at a loss of how to begin the task of organizing the estate and paying back the debt. He knows he must marry wealthy, but his first obligation is to visit his daughter, whom he finds abandoned by her mother and being raised by poorly mannered servants. So he finds himself in a coach with a very loud, and dirty Penelope in front of Abby's house. Abby, having much experience with raising children helps Fitz get Penny under control. She also can't help but find this stranger very attractive. She offers him to stay in her guest house and work the fields while she tends to Penny. Of course, Abby has no idea this is an Earl she has staying at her house. She writes hoping that her distant relative, The Marquess of Beldon might be able to persuade the executor to send the children back. Fitz, accustom to the ton circles, knows the Marquess has recently died, and his wife, Isabella is in charge. Fitz can't help wanting to aid the lovely, head strong Abby. Abby goes to London to meet with Lady Isabella, hoping with her guidance, she will land a husband, and then retrieve her siblings. But Fitz and Abby's paths will cross again. What to say about The Wicked Wyckerly - first, "wicked" is used to describe Fitz countless times in this book, and guess what - I never found him to be that wicked at all. Apparently he comes from a family of wicked, careless men - but the Fitz I read about cares for his abandoned daughter (although he does wait six years to figure out she needs him) and wants to be respected by Abby. Which is all fine and dandy, except I wanted to see the more reckless side of him. I didn't buy into the fact that he would drop everything from his old life and immediately start living with morals and responsibility. Abby never appealed to me. First she takes in this total stranger because she is smitten with his cute daughter. She assumes he is a lower class man, not an earl - but either way, she trusts this man to stay on her grounds? Then she ends up under Isabella's guidance and finds herself letting go to a stranger again. I understand she will do whatever it takes to get her siblings back, but when the time comes and she receives a marriage proposal from Fitz, she refuses him because of his gambling problem. But she only hears of his gambling through a third party. Before you throw away your chance at getting your siblings back, don't make a rash decision! The supporting characters also fell very flat for me. I never warned up to Fitz's friends, nor did I find Isabella nor her partner in crime, Quentin fun to read about. I can't recommend this one.
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