Wicked Widow (Vanza)

This is the first novel I have read from Amanda Quick. She grapped my attention before i finished the 2 pages. Her characters are hard to hate, and I found myself laughing at the sexual tention between the Dialogue of Wicked Widow and Hunt. The scenes where very real and the tention of the mistery keep me up for hours. I finished the book in 2 days and I found it impossible to put down. This book allowed me to laugh, cry and be scared. Its the perfect mixutre of everything. I am dying to read another Amanda Quick book really soon.

Madeline Deveridge was known among the Ton as the "Wicked Widow". Everyone believed she had murdered her husband and then set fire to the house to cover the crime. Her deceased husband had been trained in the special arts of the Vanza. But he had not been a Master of Vanza as her father had been. Never-the-less, her husband's madness mixed with his training left Madeline very scarred on the inside. When someone, pretending to be her deceased husband's ghost out for revenge, began threatening her, she had to seek another Vanza for help. Unknown to others, Artemas Hunt was a Full Vanza Master and the owner of the Dream Pavilions. Artemas sold dreams and illusions. When Madeline virtually blackmailed him into helping her rescue one of her kidnapped maids, he was furious! When he found out she knew he was Vanza, owner of the Dream Pavilions, and knew much more about the Vanza Society than was healthy, he became cautious. He had no time for her. He had his own revenge to seek. They made a deal. Artemas helped her catch a ghost and Madeline turned over her father's journal that was filled with all the personal lives and businesses of all members of the Vanza Society - including his! Amanda Quick weaves the most enthralling tales of romance and suspense! I was caught in this story's sticky web from the first page! This book is one of her best yet!

I was so excited when I found out Amanda Quick was coming out with a new novel. Wicked Widow is wicked and brilliant. I love her strong heroines and her powerful heroes. Madeline is a widow who hires the services of Artemis to help her find the man who's masquerading as her husband's ghost. Artemis is at first unwilling to help her, and Madeline hates everything Vanza. But neither can deny the strong attraction they feel for each other as they work together to solve the mystery of the man disguising himself as his wife's dead husband. Amanda Quick is brilliant in her work. She takes the subject of Vanza and makes each book different. Each book gets better and better. If I could cast this book, Madeline would be played by Gwyneth Paltrow and Artemis by Billy Zane. What I like about Madeline-she is strongwilled and very smart.What I fault about her-She does tend to be a little dramatic. What I like about Artemis-He is powerful and smart. What I fault about him-He treats Madeline as a man treats a woman in those days. He thinks she should sit at home and wait. Favorite scene with Madeline-She and Short John are kidnapped and she is very strong in saving herself and especially Short John.

I'm not a fan of historicals; however, the title of Ms. Quick's latest release caught my eye several months ago so I ordered it. I am so glad I did. This is a delightful romp with wonderful characters and the sharp, witty dialogue that has been missing from her last couple of books. Madeline Deveridge is known as the Wicked Widow. They say she killed her husband. The gentlemen of society have placed wagers for the man who can spend the night with her and live to tell about it. Madeline is being haunted by her late husband. She enlists the aid of Artemis Hunt to help her find him. Artemis, like her late husband, is involved in Vanza, a philosphy featured in past novels by Ms. Quick. Artemis doesn't know how Madeline has learned so many of his secrets, but he is determined to find out. Sparks fly between them and the story takes off.This is one of the best books by Ms. Quick in a long time. If you love drama, great dialogue, the characters that capture your interest, you will want to read this book!

Madeline "The Wicked Widow" Deveridge demands that Artemis Hunt, owner of the Dreams Pavilion, help her find her abducted maid. After he successfully completes the mission, he demands she explain how she knows so much about his affairs. He learns about her deceased father's journal that provides information on the followers of Vanza who include Artemis and Madeline's deceased spouse Renwick. In exchange for the book, he agrees to help her with the apparent ghost of the dead husband she allegedly murdered.As they investigate the seemingly supernatural presence, Madeline and Artemis fall in love. However, after the machinations of her first husband, she does not trust anyone who follows the philosophy of Vanza. He still pines over the murder of his first love. With that much baggage, a permanent relationship between the Vanza disciple and the WICKED WIDOW appears remote.Overall, the WICKED WIDOW is an exciting historical romance that contains all of the elements that have made Amanda Quick a fan favorite. However, the constant use of Vanza philosophy slows down the plot but otherwise this is a very interesting historical intrigue. The lead characters are a charming duo and the support cast provides depth. Ms. Quick's latest tale is an entertaining story that generally will provide much satisfaction to sub-genre fans.Harriet Klausner