Once Wicked (Mass Market Paperback)

by Sherri Browning (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Dylan Marlow, disinherited by his uncle, the Earl of Stoke, and desperately short of funds, must find a wealthy wife to finance the maiden voyage of the ship that will launch his business. To supplement his income in the meantime, Dylan masquerades as a highwayman, robbing the ton even as he moves among their ranks searching for an eligible heiress. After robbing Amelia Benedict, he proceeds to kiss her and finds himself falling in love. While Amelia returns the highwayman's intense emotions, she is romantically pursued by the unscrupulous Lord Chadworth, who is determined to win her hand in order to conceal his own affair with Lady Melbourne. When Dylan learns the true nature of Chadworth's intentions, he attempts to save Amelia from a loveless marriage and assist her charitable but unfashionable endeavors to aid a home for orphans. After anonymously giving Amelia enough money to repair the orphanage roof, Dylan engages in one last robbery, with near fatal results, and Amelia confronts the reality of their precarious romance. The sweet, fairy-tale love story between the highway man and his lady redeems the sometimes ponderous prose of Browning's old-fashioned romance, and a wedding on board Dylan's ship provides the requisite happy ending. (July)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
Don't miss Sherri Browning's debut novel the Scoundrel's Vow.

"A beguiling story."
--Romantic Times

"An enchanting tale."
--Huntress Reviews

"I'd try her next book in a quick minute!"
--The Romance Reader -- Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Dell (July 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440235286
• ISBN-13: 978-0440235286
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,619,342 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another great new regency historical from Sherri Browning..., July 17, 2000

By	Barbara Deane (Elmhurst, IL USA) - See all my reviews

Once Wicked by Sherri Browning Review by Barb Deane, Barb's All Romance Book Store

Sherri Browning's second historical romance from Dell is a July release entitled Once Wicked. Like The Scoundrel's Vow, Sherri's first book, Once Wicked is a delightful regency-era historical. You may order Once Wicked by clicking on the cover above. Here's our review:

Amelia Benedict is a wealthy young woman with a loving heart. She gives her time and money to help her uncle and the orphans he takes care of, partly because she herself was orphaned. She has endured censure by the ton due to her philanthropic endeavors, including being barred from Almack's. But now that she's decided she wants to get married and have a family, she's begun attending many social events while making up her mind on the man she will fall in love with. On the way home one night, she is held up by a highwayman.

Dylan Marlow is an impoverished pseudo-gentleman. The only nephew of an Earl, he was nonetheless disinherited due to a childish prank that got him expelled from Oxford. When his father died and left Dylan a shipyard, he also left Dylan a load of debt. Once the debts had been paid off, the only ship he still owned was in dry dock, awaiting repairs. Dylan was faced with the challenge of finding a way to pay for the necessary repairs so that he could get his shipping business on its feet again and start earning money again.

Enter the highwayman - Dylan's clever idea for making money. Unfortunately, the first coach he stops is Amelia's and he gets more than he bargained for - he finds an intriguing woman that he can't get off his mind. Dylan decides to pursue Amelia as an Earl's nephew because she is so wealthy and would suit his purpose wonderfully. Instead, he falls in love with her. However, since Amelia is attracted to the highway and annoyed by Dylan, it presents a bit of a problem for him to win her over.

The chemistry between these characters is delightful, as is the humor of the Dylan vs. Amelia sparring. The dark intrigue of a mysterious highwayman adds to the sexual tension. Sherri has shown herself to be not a one-hit wonder, but a promising new author with serious talent. Don't miss this one!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wickedly sensual, August 9, 2000

By	Kelly (FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This is the first book I have read by Sherri Browning. What a fun time I had reading this book. The tall dark and mysterious highwayman robs Amelia Benedict and she robs his heart... Dylan Marlow was disinherited by his rich uncle and left to a life of poverity. Thankfully it really doesn't come to that. He decides he will be sort of a robin hood rob from the rich to take for himself. His first victim in none other than Amelia...Now he wants to steal her heart. Find out what he does.....

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightfully wicked romance, July 12, 2000

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In 1812 England, Miss Amelia Benedict feels she is wealthy enough to live life without the burden of a husband. That changes when a highwayman steals her beloved ring and departs with a kiss that shakes the very core of Amelia's being. Passion has exploded inside the formerly aloof Amelia.

Dylan Marlow swears he will restore his family fortune. To accomplish this Herculean feat, he robs from the rich as a highwayman. He also plans to marry someone wealthy. Dylan has selected Amelia whose shared kiss shook his bones. However, he quickly learns that Amelia loves his alterego. Still, the scoundrel vows to win his beloved's heart without donning a mask.

ONCE WICKED is a humorous, entertaining Regency romance that will please sub-genre fans or anyone who enjoys their novels having a comical twist to the plot. The story line is fast-paced, filled with action, and an intriguing triangle. Sherri Browning provides readers with a wonderfully jocular historical romance.

Harriet Klausner