Book Review: The Importance Of Being Wicked

Author:Victoria Alexander
Title:The Importance Of Being Wicked
Publisher: Zebra Books
Publish Date: Jan 29, 2013
Buy:Amazon

Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley

Book Blurb: 

In this dazzling new novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander welcomes you to Millworth Manor, a delightful English country estate where love is always perfectly at home. . .
For Winfield Elliott, Viscount Stillwell, finding a prospective bride always seemed easy. Perhaps too easy. With three broken engagements to his name, Win is the subject of endless gossip. Yet his current mission is quite noble: to hire a company to repair his family's fire-damaged country house. Nothing disreputable in that--until the firm's representative turns out to be a very desirable widow.

Lady Miranda Garrett expected a man of Win's reputation to be flirtatious, even charming. But the awkward truth is that she finds him thoroughly irresistible. While Miranda resides at Millworth to oversee the work, Win occupies her days, her dreams. . .and soon, her bed. For the first time, the wicked Win has fallen in love. And what began as a scandalous proposition may yet become a very different proposal. . .

Review: This book's title is a little deceiving. Winfield Elliot wasn't all that wicked in this story. In fact, he was very much a pussy cat. Sure he has a string of engagements that were broken (If you want to read more about those, check out the novella Lord Stillwell's Excellent Engagements) but he wasn't the one breaking things off.

Lady Miranda is a strong, intelligent and argumentative heroine. I think she picks fights with Win, just for the fun of it. And actually that's half the fun of the story, Win and Miranda arguing.

This may be a Victorian novel, but it felt like a Regency at times. If it weren't for the modern conveniences that Miranda was looking to add to Lord Stillwell's country home that was devastated by fire. She is proposing to add ELECTRICITY! Oh my! But wait, Lord Stillwell doesn't know she's the architect, because, well, you know..women just don't do things like design buildings!

So Miranda has a secret to keep.

There relationship develops through their mutual desire to annoy the other and they do that a lot, sometimes at the expense of their budding relationship.

It makes for fun reading, but it also makes the romance slow going.

In fact, if you are looking for a hot, steamy romance, this isn't your book.

But if you like something a little more light, sweet and funny with just a touch of spice, this is your book.

Rating: 4 flowers