The Wicked Heir

by Elizabeth Michels

Overview

"Historical romance devotees will enjoy Michels's adoring use of some of the classic tropes of the genre—the spare heir, the wrong brother as hero, the heroine in men's clothing—but what makes the book so enjoyable is the way Michels makes the familiar fresh."—SARAH MACLEAN, The Washington Post for The Infamous Heir

The Spare Heirs Society Cordially Invites You to Meet Fallon St. James: The Mastermind

When the love of Lady Isabelle Fairlyn's life is betrothed to her twin sister, Isabelle vows to find a suitable replacement before the end of the season. He must be a talented dancer, have a keen fashion sense, and be perfectly dashing in every way.

Fallon St. James is the farthest thing from perfectly anything. As head of the secretive Spare Heirs Society, he must stick to the shadows…even as Isabelle's friendship pulls him reluctantly into the light. But when Isabelle gets involved with the one man who could destroy Spares, Fallon must decide between protecting his life's work—or risking everything to save the woman whose warm smile leaves him breathless.

Praise for Elizabeth Michels:

"Michels's latest is the complete package: a captivating romance with gripping suspense wrapped up in a novel to be savored."—Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW for The Infamous Heir

"Playing with the themes of deception and authenticity, this romance delightfully emulates a Jane Austen-ish comedy of manners."—Kirkus Reviews for The Rebel Heir

"Rich with wit and charm."—Publishers Weekly for How to Lose a Lord in 10 Days or Less

"Michels' fresh and funny debut will delight readers with its endearing characters and infectious mix of sweet yet sexy romance and realistic yet wry wit."—Booklist Online STARRED REVIEW for Must Love Dukes

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781492621409
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	07/04/2017
Series:	Spare Heirs , #3
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	448
Sales rank:	385,236
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Elizabeth Michels grew up on a Christmas tree farm in rural South Carolina. After tip-toeing her way through school with her focus on ballet steps and her nose in a book, she met a boy and followed him a thousand miles away from home to Kansas City, Missouri, before settling down in North Carolina. She attended Park University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Interior Design. Elizabeth is a lover of happily-ever-afters; she invites you to read her stories, get lost, and enjoy.

Editorial Reviews

05/08/2017
Michels’s third Spare Heirs Regency (after The Rebel Heir) is full of twists and turns. Lady Isabelle Fairlyn is a romantic who is determined to see the best in everyone; her twin sister, Victoria, is a cynic. After Isabelle makes the acquaintance of Fallon St. James over a display of poorly made cakes at a ball, she believes that they will remain friends even after she begins a romance with Kelton Brice. Unfortunately, Isabelle’s hopes are dashed when Victoria becomes betrothed to Kelton. Instead, when Isabelle is attacked by an enemy of her father, Fallon is the one who comes to her rescue. He takes her to his home, insisting that it’s the only place where she won’t be in danger. This device of ostensible imprisonment mostly allows Isabelle and Fallon to get to know each other in close quarters, and Isabelle enjoys the time she spends assisting with his household. Fallon and Isabelle gradually fall in love, but both know that their fragile connection will likely end once the danger to her life has passed. The evolution of the relationship between Isabelle and Fallon, as she gradually breaks down his defenses and he realizes the value of her love, is delightful. Agent: Michelle Grajkowski, 3 Seas Literary Agency. (July)

Publishers Weekly

"Another winner from a rising star of the genre." — RT Book Reviews

From the Publisher

2017-06-05
An idealistic young woman blunders into a deadly power struggle between unscrupulous men in Regency London.Lady Isabelle Fairlyn is good to the core. She loves art and flowers and balls and handsome gentlemen with heartfelt smiles. She thinks of herself not as a person or a woman or even a girl but as a lady. Her naiveté makes her no match for the men she tangles with, especially Fallon St. James. Fallon is the founder and leader of a secret club called the Spare Heirs Society. Meant to give younger sons purpose and a means of supporting themselves, the club manages a multitude of relationships and business concerns that exist in a grey area between moral, legal society and the darker side of London. When Reginald Grapling, a former member of the club, escapes from prison, he decides to use Isabelle to get revenge on Fallon and on Isabelle's father, who is one of Fallon's associates. Isabelle is an easy target. She is looking for love and is not being very subtle about it. Grapling steals her diary, learns what she is looking for in a mate, and pretends to have exactly those qualities. This is just one irritating aspect of an unnecessarily convoluted plot but by far the least frustrating from a reader's perspective. Michels (The Rebel Heir, 2016, etc.) has created a compelling and complex hero. We know what motivates him, we empathize with his loneliness, and we want him to put his demons to rest. But in the third book of her Spare Heirs series, Michels has created a heroine so flighty and silly that most readers won't want her dreams to come true. They'll just want her to stop talking. A tale that borrows much from Beauty and the Beast.

Kirkus Reviews