Upon a Wicked Time Book

I love it when a book gives you more than you expected from it! I picked up this one as a "light" read while I work my way slowly through "Lover Enshrined" and "The Fiery Cross" (savoring every word). Well, this book was no lightweight! Yes, the formula is an old one, but not often done as well as Ranney wrote it. We have a jaded, rich, and insufferably arrogant duke who wants a meek, obedient wife to bear him an heir. Instead, he gets the young, outspoken, and eternally curious virgin with stars in her eyes who has loved him forever. Of course, they are well-matched in bed, but nowhere else. Wonderful dialog between the two, and internal musings that develop the characters in a mature and sophisticated fashion, without being pseudo-intellectual or wordiness for show. Add some humor, adventure, and hot bedroom scenes, and you can't lose. There are some erotic settings and coarse language (as our hero strives to demonstrate his depths of depravity), so be warned if these offend you. If you enjoyed Katie MacAlister's "Noble Intentions", you'd probably lke this one, too.