Too Wicked to Wed

How close do I have to get to the fire before I am burned?

Lady Alexa Hendrie is a country-bred woman that is destined she believes for spinsterhood. She may flirt with the idea of a season in London but the reality of trying to be a tame, controlled woman of society is not going to happen. Connor Linsley, the Earl of Killingworth affectionately known to his Hellhound friends as the Irish Wolfhound. He runs a brothel and gaming hall and is a menace to proper society. Connor wants to run his business, not have Alexa interfering with it but a determined woman can always overrun a snarly man.

Alexa and Connor are connected through her brother but only remotely but enough to give Connor a headache over her requests. He has problems of his own with a mysterious someone trying to ruin his business at best and kill him as a bonus. But a tender kiss and sweet caress is going to be the undoing of Connor too great a temptation for Alexa. Connor has to keep his head in the game to avoid losing everything he cares about but when he starts to care about Alexa the stakes may be too high even for a man who loves to take a chance.

A near fatal accident leads to time secluded for Alexa and Connor where they discover the strength they have together is more powerful than they could have ever imagined. It is more than facts, figures, or business forecasting that has Alexa it is about taking chances and rolling with the circumstances. But the lives of many are being threatened and the mysterious shadow lurking in the background trying to eliminate Connor and all he cares about is drawing closer. Connor may have enemies but not enough to create this situation so solving the problem quickly will put everything to right even his relationship with Alexa.

Commitment may have been a problem for Connor in the past but now his decisions are going to be based on the future even if he is not sure where this will lead.

Cara Elliott writes what every historical romance reader wants - romance with a side of intrigue. Her stories are so rich with character depth and filled with that hint of mystery that make it the perfect complement to every reader's heart. I look forward to every Cara Elliott book because they are always fascinating and remind you of how timeless true love is.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful characters.

I love a strong heroine, and have been disappointed lately with most of the historical romances I have read lately. It seemed that although most of the historical heroines don’t sit around wringing their hands waiting to be rescued, most are too busy waiting in the ballroom for the right husband to come along and are too worried about their lace to be all that interesting. Alexa is more a modern heroine sent back to the past. She doesn’t want to sit around learning how to sew pillows and play the harpsichord. She learned how to manage the business of her family estate and to make it profitable. She’s smart and wants to be useful. Although she does have some issues with self-esteem due to the constant barrage of society and relatives telling her that her behavior as well as her sun-kissed looks are out of line with the current wants of the ladies of society. She is used to being dismissed by men as just being a woman and by woman as not being lady like. But she does not let that stop her from being herself. Connor is a bit of a grumpy, lone wolf. He is too used to taking care of himself and seems a bit uncomfortable when someone shows him concern or friendship. Although he is quick to snap, he is still a likeable character and it is interesting to watch him soften up to Alexa. There is the whole intrigue of who is trying to harm Connor’s business which kept the story moving, along, but to me the more interesting part of the story were these two characters.

Simply not my cup of tea

Many ladies dream of receiving their first kiss ¿ stolen in a moonlit garden, seduced during a waltz, somewhere definitely romantic. The least romantic would be inside a notorious brothel, yet that is exactly where Lady Alexa gives up her first kiss to the Wolfhound in exchange for the whereabouts of her brother. A harmless bargain really that should not have mattered one bit to the Wolfhound, but little did Connor Linsley know that the kiss would bind him to this unconventional lady. Which is most unfortunate since someone seems to be on the hunt to destroying all that Connor holds dear ¿ and an ill-timed melting of his heart does not bode well for survival for both him and Alexa.

Too Wicked To Wed seemed very promising in the beginning. Alexa had so much potential ¿ country-bred, outspoken, determined, and altogether curious about things no genteel lady should ever think about ¿ and I wanted to like her. I do like her, but I just didn¿t love her to bits and pieces. I typically gauge a romance by how well I can feel the steam rising from the pages, especially during the out-of-bed moments. I look forward to the chase, the denials, the fights, the heartbreaks, the declaration of love. Alexa and Connor may have had those moments, but I found myself not invested in their relationship. Even when they nearly died at the end! Others may find that magical spark hidden within these pages, but for me, Too Wicked To Wed did not give me a decent cup of tea.

Engaging characters sparkle in this fast paced romance.

The product of an unconventional country upbringing, twenty-two year old Lady Alexa Hendrie, more comfortable with agriculture, mathematics and card playing than London society, doesn't give a thought to the risk in which she places her reputation by bearding the notorious Irish Wolfhound in his brothel and gambling den in her desperate search for her brother. Four months later, Alexa is doing plenty of second guessing as she returns to London for a season, finding herself a fish out of water amidst the silly young debutantes, bored by the bland gentlemen of the ton and unable to get a life-altering kiss with a wicked Wolfhound out of her mind.

Connor Linsley, Earl of Killingworth, secret owner of The Wolf's Lair and known throughout London as the Irish Wolfhound knew Alexa Hendrie would be trouble the minute she opened her mouth. The kiss he demanded in exchange for information about her brother was meant to send the much-too-clever miss running back to her family's country estate. It was never meant to linger in Connor's mind for months after the fact. Now she's back in London, just as Connor's world seems to be falling apart. Someone is playing a deadly game, with Connor and The Wolf's Lair in their sights. He doesn't have time for Alexa, with her clever mind and saucy mouth yet circumstances keep bringing them together with sparks flying each time they meet.

Connor is determined to steer clear of this woman he can't stop thinking about but fate has other ideas. Now they're both involved in the danger threatening The Wolf's Lair with their very lives hanging in the balance but, if they can manage to outwit his unknown enemy, Connor and Alexa just may end up with everything their hearts desire but never thought they could have.

I like Cara Elliott's writing more with each book she publishes. Her characters in Too Wicked to Wed are engaging and the story moves along quickly, holding my attention from beginning to end - and keeping me reading late into the night. Secondary characters, in particular Connor's two friends (future heroes of the next two books), are not just window dressing but vital elements of the story and have me eagerly anticipating their own stories. Alexa is an intelligent, independent, but vulnerable, heroine who I liked immensely and who more than holds her own with the man who steals her heart and Connor... What can I say about Connor? He's a man who is much more than his reputation would have you believe and I thoroughly enjoyed traveling his journey to unexpected love with him.

~PJ Ausdenmore

Fantastic Read

The hero and heroine's compelling primal attraction to each other, their strong personalities, their unique verbal communication, and their sizzling, breath-taking love encounters propel the story along with urgency.

The strictures of Polite Society are like a cage for independent, intelligent Alexa Hendrie. Reared by a father who allowed her to study mathematics and agriculture, Alexa had put her knowledge to use to salvage the neglected family estate in Yorkshire after her father's death. Consequently, when her brother Sebastian returned from the Peninsula Wars, he had a prosperous estate to bring a wife to, leaving Alexa feeling as if she was homeless. Even though she was welcome to stay, she felt that the newlyweds did not need her around.

Off to London she goes to stay with Aunt Adelaide to try a Season in Town thinking she'd check out the marriage market for one Season before settling into spinsterhood. The insipid parties, teas, soirees, and endless dances with foppish men bored the country-bred Alexa. The simpering, giggly, porcelain-skinned "young ladies' seeking husbands made her feel like a total misfit.

Then Alexa's cousin Henry offers to take her on a risqué night into the less-than-proper part of London. She dresses in disguise and has fun but stirs up a hornet's nest when she wins at cards and ends up with a vowel for half ownership of a brothel "The Wolf's Lair" owned by the Irish Wolfhound, Connor Linsley, Earl of Kettlingsworth-a hard-bitten ex-soldier who had chosen to work for money rather than marry for money and consequently disgraced himself with the Ton.

Connor Linsley lives up (or down) to his nickname with his tendency to snarl, be ill-tempered and dangerous if crossed or challenged. Few have knowledge of his philanthropic deeds and no one dares to delve into his past-a past that strongly influences his present attitudes. However, during the Peninsula Wars, he forged relationships with comrades that cemented loyalties that will last a lifetime.

The cynical Cameron Daggett with a wicked sense of humor, known as Bloodhound and rich Gryffin Owain Dwight, marquess of Hadhan, known as Deerhound, are dependable and steadfast friends. They too have intriguing lives, but rally to Connor's defense at first sign of danger.

The secondary character that is behind all the efforts to bring the prosperous Irish Wolfhound down is a mystery. Connor's friends and associates, both reputable and disreputable, work to ferret out information while Connor and Alexa are secluded at his dilapidated estate after escaping a trap where he was shot. Their time on the coast is captivating reading.

What seemed an ugly business partnership metamorphoses into an incredibly beautiful love partnership, but not without a struggle through a tough cocoon of hurts, misgivings, and self-doubts that impedes the development at times.

Cara Elloitt's characters radiate an aliveness charged with strong emotions and energy. Their flaws and foibles are very evident, but they are overshadowed by the determined, "can-do" attitude that creates actions that sweep the reader into a plot full of scary, dangerous scenes, Polite Society party scenes, and scenes full of desperation and determination, plus love scenes that range from near violent to sweet ecstasy.

Read the Full Review at the Long and Short of It Romance Reviews

Too Hot to Miss!

Cara Elliott ended her Circle of Sin series in February 2011 with TO TEMPT A RAKE. Thank goodness we don't have to wait a full year to enjoy a new Cara Elliott novel as she returns with the boys, er, Lords of Midnight. And Ms. Elliott doesn't just ease us into a new series, she takes us full throttle in the opening scene of TOO WICKED TO WED. Upon meeting each other for the first time, in a brothel no less, Lady Alexa and Lord Linsley sizzle like an Angus cut on an open grill. Indeed, Linsley may be a rake to the nth degree, but he resists ruining the very tempting Alexa. Their instant attraction is not a fleeting moment. Lady Destiny ensures their paths cross several times, at critical junction, so they can find the passion that lies within.

Elliott delivers another tasty story of romance, friendship, and intrigue during the Regency period. TOO WICKED TO WED offers the glamour, gaiety, and chivalry that draw Regency fans to the time period. Elliott also gives us a heroine that we can sink our teeth into like that Angus steak - confident, adventurous, and determined. The hero - Lord Linsley - may be called the Wolfhound for his wicked ways. Yet he demonstrates the attributes of the Irish wolfhounds that were coveted by the English aristocracy: gracefully built, movements easy, head carried high; and effective in protecting what is his. Is he too wicked to wed? Not for the country miss who steals his heart!

TOO WICKED TO WED is a satisfying read for Regency fans. It is also an addictive romp in the world of The Lords of Midnight. I look forward to read what is to come from the Lords of Midnight series.

Romance, adventure, action and lots of kissing...

***original review posted at Romancing Rakes*** Holy carp! Lady Alexa Hendrie is my favorite heroine of the week. She's got fire running through her veins, isn't afraid to tell it like it is and can hold her own against the scariest (to most, except his nearest and dearest) rake in all of London, Connor Linsley, the Earl of Killingworth. Connor Linsley, typical man that he is, tends to push others away when they get close. He's guarded and protected his heart (sorry Casey from The Bachelor for stealing your catchphrase) for so long, he doesn't know how to let his barriers down until a hellion and a proper lady at that, storms into his gaming hell to find her brother. Their first kiss sparks something inside both of them. Of course, Connor was trying to teach her a lesson but he might have gotten schooled a little. Alexa doesn't understand her reaction to Connor's kiss and tries to push thoughts of him away. Connor gets robbed, not only at the gaming tables but all the money in the safe. He is short of funds so his friend Gryff loans him the money. In turn, Connor writes an note making Gryff half owner of The Wolf's Lair. And thus the adventure begins... Alexa goes out, dressed like a man, with her cousin, back to Connor's gaming hell. She's got a knack for cards and wins quite a bit of blunt. Gryff is playing at her table and totally soused. He wants to win back what he's lost and the only thing he's got left is the note. Alexa, with Lady Luck on her side, wins the hand. She's not part owner of The Wolf's Lair. Between Connor getting shot, Alexa insisting on taking him to Linsley Close to recover, pretending like they're newlyweds and trying to discover who wants to kill Connor, the sparks fly. Their chemistry is explosive, their passion sizzles off the pages and their banter is off the charts hilarious. Alexa isn't afraid to stand up to Connor who is absolutely taken aback by her fiery spirit. With the help of Gryff and Cam, Connor tracks down the person trying to kill him. Alexa tries not to fall in love with her faux husband yet in the end yields to her feelings. It takes Alexa being kidnapped for Connor to realize she's the one (pfft. Typical man!). To borrow a phrase from Connor, Ye God! What an excitingly fast paced start to a series. The Lords of Midnight (Connor, Gryff and Cam) are deliciously wicked, charming and play off each other like the Three Stooges (only a jillion times more good looking). From the moment Alexa storms into the gaming hell Connor owns, to Linsley Close in the country, back to the rumor filled ballrooms of London, there's a spark waiting to be ignited at every turn, at every touch, at every look and at every word exchanged between the two. Action, adventure, a shot in the dark, a passionate love story, betrayal and kissing (lots of kissing). I am looking forward to what Ms. Elliott has next in store for us aka Gryff's story. ***review copy provided by Jihan Antoine at Hatchett Books***

an entertaining heated tale

Though women of quality are forbidden to enter the Wolf's Lair, Lady Alexa Hendrie brazenly walks into the gaming brothel. She seeks information as to the whereabouts of her brother. Secret owner of the lair, the Earl of Killing Connor "Wolf" Linsley takes a kiss from the female invader. She stuns him when she kisses him back. Both are excited and appalled by their mutual reaction.

Four months later they meet at a gala and each realizes they remain attracted to one another. Alexa wins half-ownership of the Wolf's lair. When she arrives there, she finds her partner shot. She takes him to his country estate where he finds his body and his heart healing thanks to his nurse while she sees the real man behind the faced of a rake. However, he has made enemies over the years and now they have his Achilles' heel to bring him down.

The first Lords of Midnight Regency romance is an entertaining heated tale starring two wonderful protagonists. Brave Lady Alexa makes the story line work as she appears to be rusticating spinster, but her secret sojourns to London prove otherwise. Impoverished Wolf clandestinely works for a living but has concerns that his new partner will overwhelm his sense of survival. Sub-genre fans will enjoy the tale of the lady who tames the big bad Wolf.

Harriet Klausner

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