Just Wicked Enough

Just Wicked Enough is set during a time I find particularly interesting: the late 1800s, when the invasion of England by marriage-minded American mamas looking to charm an aristocratic lord with their daughter's dowry was in its heyday. Lorraine Heath crafts an enjoyable story about two young people who marry for money and a title, and end up finding love as well. Michael Tremayne, the Marquess of Falconridge, is desperately in need of a fortune. Down to his last funds and barely keeping up appearances, he swallows his pride and invites several wealthy American businessmen to a private auction: his title is up for bid, and he'll marry the daughter of the man who wins. New York banker James Rose tops the bidding, and for a moment Michael envisions marrying beautiful Jenny Rose, a well-known debutante. But it's his younger daughter, Kate, that Mr. Rose wants Michael to wed. However, Michael must make Kate happy, and to ensure that he does, James Rose puts Kate in charge of her own inheritance. Michael may hold a title, but Kate will hold the purse strings. To Michael, it's all a business arrangement anyway; he doesn't even bother to go visit Kate before the wedding. He'll do his best to make her as happy as he can, but love is not in the cards. Two weeks later, they are married. Kate wanted a love match; she thought she'd found it by running off with the younger son of a viscount, but Kate's social-climbing mother saw to it that their hasty marriage was annulled, and he married another woman. Kate, heartbroken, knuckles under when faced with her domineering mother's insistence that she marry high up the aristocratic ladder. In a move that made me dislike her, Kate turns her frustration on Michael. She will decide when and if they consummate the marriage, and in the meantime, she'll dole out money as she sees fit. Michael has a difficult family situation that he is dealing with: his mother has dementia and no longer recognizes him. It's very expensive to keep her in a private asylum, and it's this rather heartbreaking problem that has caused him to abandon all of his pride and auction himself off. As hard as it was for him, he tries to see Kate's side of things and knows it must have been equally difficult for her to abandon her dreams of a marriage based on love, an emotion he doesn't believe he possesses. When they move from London to Michael's country estate, and Kate sees for herself just how dire his situation is, her attitude begins to (thankfully) change. Gradually, they become friends, than find they are becoming much more than that to each other. For the first half of the book, Kate holds the power in the relationship, and at times it feels as though she simply toys with Michael in fits of petulance. She won't consider sex until he can guess her favorite color, for instance. This becomes a running game, as Michael ends each evening with a guess. Yet, as the story progresses, Kate begins to see how childish this all is, and when she

While other English aristocrats may try to woo American heiresses into marriage in order to gain their fortunes, Falconridge chooses another route. He arranges a very private auction with some of America's wealthiest fathers. At auction's end, Falconridge finds himself engaged to Kate Rose. Just Wicked Enough left me with a dreamy smile on my face. Lorraine Heath balances sumptuous sensuality with heart melting romance. Just Wicked Enough is a novel I will surely read again and again. The hero, Michael, Marquess of Falconridge, is as refreshingly unique as this beautiful love story. I can't recall a hero recently in a historical romance that was so wonderfully strong and so much in need of love. Also, if you missed reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates, go and read it.

As the other 5-star reviewers note, this is an excellent book. The premise is a unique twist on a common idea. Americans come to London to buy titles. Driven by a need for money, our hero decides to sell his title as painlessly as possible but without all that pesky courting nonsense. He auctions himself off to the highest bidding American tycoon. This unique twist immediately made me seize the book from the shelf. I am always intrigued by something different in this genre. Add to this twist that Lorraine Heath knows how to tell a story and how to make your heart wrench for the characters and you have a 5 star winner. I immediately wanted to read more by her! This was a true romance and a true romantic treasure!!

The Marquess of Falconridge is forced to sell the last thing he possesses of value, his title. While other English aristocrats may try to woo American heiresses into marriage in order to gain their fortunes, Falconridge chooses another route. He arranges a very private auction with some of America's wealthiest fathers. At auction's end, Falconridge finds himself engaged to Kate Rose. While Kate's mother may wish her daughter to marry English nobility, Kate wants a marriage based on love. Falconridge knows that love is the one thing he can never give the lovely Miss Rose. Just Wicked Enough left me with a dreamy smile on my face. Lorraine Heath balances sumptuous sensuality with heart melting romance. Just Wicked Enough is a novel I will surely read again and again. The hero, Michael, Marquess of Falconridge, is as refreshingly unique as this beautiful love story. I can't recall a hero recently in a historical romance that was so wonderfully strong and so much in need of love. I adored him and I know you will adore Lorraine Heath's Just Wicked Enough! Annmarie Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

***Desperate for riches, penniless Michael Tremayne, Marquess of Falconridge, is willing to auction away his only possession of any value-his title-to the highest bidding American father. But Kate Rose was the last daughter he had in mind to marry. The willful and headstrong Kate requires from marriage the one thing Michael is unable to give-powerful, unending love.... ***Kate refuses to give into her husband's sensual demands until he has earned her love. Michael is not one to back down from a challenge, but neither does he believe in playing by the rules. While he is unfamiliar with love, he is extremely intimate with passion. He is determined to convince Kate that one can substitute for the other. And what better way to convince her than by patiently and skillfully seducing her? ***Just Wicked Enough is an absolute delight! Lorraine Heath is a master at writing emotional stories with strong, lovable characters and this second book in her Rogues and Roses series is no exception. This gem has just the right amount of sensual tension and humor to balance out the heart warming emotion. Another keeper from the great Lorraine Heath!