Helpful Score: 1
Loved the story. Very well written & holds interest to end.
Helpful Score: 1
An unremarkable, rather disappointing effort from Anne Mallory. This author has been very hit or miss, some books with good characters and interesting situations, others with vapid, boring characters doing things that wouldn't happen in reality. The Viscount's Wicked Ways falls into the latter category.
Those who gave this book good reviews have probably read little historical romance. This book offered a very tepid heroine with an interesting occupation and a hero with whom we are only briefly acquainted in the first person early in the book. Most of the story is told from the heroine's perspective and we are left in the dark about the hero. Ordinarily this would be intriguing but in this case just made for two very empty characters.
There was much "telling" of the story rather than "showing" and a rapid resolution at the end that was so perfectly pat it rendered the entirety of the multiple plot devices unnecessary.
Sensuality in this book was withheld until near the end of the book and was lukewarm.
I'll probably skip further books by this author, this was just a letdown.
Those who gave this book good reviews have probably read little historical romance. This book offered a very tepid heroine with an interesting occupation and a hero with whom we are only briefly acquainted in the first person early in the book. Most of the story is told from the heroine's perspective and we are left in the dark about the hero. Ordinarily this would be intriguing but in this case just made for two very empty characters.
There was much "telling" of the story rather than "showing" and a rapid resolution at the end that was so perfectly pat it rendered the entirety of the multiple plot devices unnecessary.
Sensuality in this book was withheld until near the end of the book and was lukewarm.
I'll probably skip further books by this author, this was just a letdown.
A good read!
He has a way with women...
Thomas Ashe, the brooding Viscount Blackfield, is a man any lady would shun. But Patience Harrington, try as she might, has never been a proper lady. Her bumbled London season left her with no marital prospects and no recourse but to accept her father's invitation to travel to gloomy Blackfield Castle. Surely, spending a few nights in the presence of priceless antiques and a devilish viscount can't be as bad as facing the ton gossip.
Focused solely on his secret government project, Thomas cares little for the valuable antiques he's recently inherited. The troublesome young woman who has come to assess them, however, stirs his senses in every way. Patience is a distraction Thomas can ill afford -- a beautiful temptation that makes him ache with desire. For a spy is threatening to destroy all he has built, and Patience is hiding something. With so much at stake, Thomas must do whatever it takes to seduce the truth from Patience's lips before lives -- and his own heart -- are lost.
Thomas Ashe, the brooding Viscount Blackfield, is a man any lady would shun. But Patience Harrington, try as she might, has never been a proper lady. Her bumbled London season left her with no marital prospects and no recourse but to accept her father's invitation to travel to gloomy Blackfield Castle. Surely, spending a few nights in the presence of priceless antiques and a devilish viscount can't be as bad as facing the ton gossip.
Focused solely on his secret government project, Thomas cares little for the valuable antiques he's recently inherited. The troublesome young woman who has come to assess them, however, stirs his senses in every way. Patience is a distraction Thomas can ill afford -- a beautiful temptation that makes him ache with desire. For a spy is threatening to destroy all he has built, and Patience is hiding something. With so much at stake, Thomas must do whatever it takes to seduce the truth from Patience's lips before lives -- and his own heart -- are lost.
delightful book this is the first book of Anne Mallory's that I have read so do not have much to compare with but I enjoyed it nice light reading
Patience Harrington has never been able to behave to the standard of the Ton. So when she fumbles her Season, Patience is left with one option offered by her father. She is to visit ominous Blackfield Castle to appraise and catalogue the antiques.
Viscount Blackfield, Thomas Ashe, does not want any visitors especially one as distracting as the lovely Patience even for a few nights. He wants her to leave, but she refuses insisting she will first finish her task of assessing the antiques he inherited even though he does not seem to care about anything except brooding and glaring at her. In reality, Thomas struggles to stay focused on uncovering who endangers so many lives. Still for the first time since he became a spy, Thomas is unable to keep alert and concentrate on his inquiries as he desires Patience who he believes has been sent by his enemy to spy on him. Perhaps he can kiss the truth out of her lips.
This is a fun gothic historical romance that uses amusing scenarios to refresh and lighten the usual serious tone of the sub-genre. Thomas is out of patience with his desire that he fears hides his unwanted guest's nefarious activities while Patience ponders whether her host is the Frankenstein monster. Fans will enjoy this gender war starring two terrific combatants who misconceive everything about the other except love.
Harriet Klausner
Viscount Blackfield, Thomas Ashe, does not want any visitors especially one as distracting as the lovely Patience even for a few nights. He wants her to leave, but she refuses insisting she will first finish her task of assessing the antiques he inherited even though he does not seem to care about anything except brooding and glaring at her. In reality, Thomas struggles to stay focused on uncovering who endangers so many lives. Still for the first time since he became a spy, Thomas is unable to keep alert and concentrate on his inquiries as he desires Patience who he believes has been sent by his enemy to spy on him. Perhaps he can kiss the truth out of her lips.
This is a fun gothic historical romance that uses amusing scenarios to refresh and lighten the usual serious tone of the sub-genre. Thomas is out of patience with his desire that he fears hides his unwanted guest's nefarious activities while Patience ponders whether her host is the Frankenstein monster. Fans will enjoy this gender war starring two terrific combatants who misconceive everything about the other except love.
Harriet Klausner
Thomas Ashe, the brooding Viscount Blackfield, is a man any lady would shun. But Patience Harrington, try as she might, has never been a proper lady. Her bumbled London season left her with no marital prospects and no recourse but to accept her father's invitation to travel to gloomy Blackfield Castle. Surely, spending a few nights in the presence of priceless antiques and a devilish viscount can't be as bad as facing the ton gossip.
Focused solely on his secret government project, Thomas cares little for the valuable antiques he's recently inherited. The troublesome young woman who has come to assess them, however, stirs his senses in every way. Patience is a distraction Thomas can ill afford -- a beautiful temptation that makes him ache with desire. For a spy is threatening to destroy all he has built, and Patience is hiding something. With so much at stake, Thomas must do whatever it takes to seduce the truth from Patience's lips before lives -- and his own heart -- are lost.
Focused solely on his secret government project, Thomas cares little for the valuable antiques he's recently inherited. The troublesome young woman who has come to assess them, however, stirs his senses in every way. Patience is a distraction Thomas can ill afford -- a beautiful temptation that makes him ache with desire. For a spy is threatening to destroy all he has built, and Patience is hiding something. With so much at stake, Thomas must do whatever it takes to seduce the truth from Patience's lips before lives -- and his own heart -- are lost.
