Your Wicked Ways

Your Wicked Ways By Eloisa James

Publisher’s Description:

Helene, the Countess Godwin, knows there is nothing more unbearably tedious than a virtuous woman.  After all, she’s been one for ten long years while her scoundrel of a husband lives with strumpets and causes scandal after scandal.  So she decides it’s time for a change – she styles her hair in the newest, daring mode, puts on a shockingly transparent gown, and goes to a ball like Cinderella, hoping to find a prince charming to sweep her off her feet…and into his bed.

But instead of a prince, she finds only her volatile, infuriatingly handsome…husband, Rees, the Earl Godwin.  They’d eloped to Gretna Green in a fiery passion, but passion can sometimes burn too hot to last.

But now, Rees makes her a brazen offer, and Helene decides to become his wife again…but not in name only.  No, this time she decides to be very, very wicked indeed.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 4

Only four character POV in this one, so very easy to follow.  There is a quick addition of a couple characters at the end for brief “what’s going on here?” pieces, but I think it adds to the story, rather than confuses it.

Sex – 3

The sex scenes between the hero and heroine (especially the first one) are awkward and brutish.  While it tells the story of why the hero is the way he is, I don’t know many romance fans who wish to see their hero in that kind of light during a love scene.  While they get better toward the end, they still won’t sweep you off your feet.

Language – 3

The hero does display some rough language.  He is known for his moody out bursts and abusive behavior to those around him, as well as a rather scandalous nature.  All told it is not a terrible, just present.

Storyline – 5

The storyline saves the whole book.  The main hero and secondary hero are the antithesis of each other – or are they?  I like that there was not a definitive black and white sense to any of the characters.  No one subscribed to the stereo-type they were given by society.  It truly is a story of “don’t judge a book by its cover”.

Historical Accuracy – 4

Once again, Ms. James excels in adding interesting historical tidbits into her work.  While she admits to freely piecing together inspirations to some characters, her inclusion of the historical basis for those inspirations at the end of the book makes the experience all the more magical.  In this instance her inspiration behind the heroine’s contribution to the music of the time.

Overall – 4

As I said above, this book is all about the story.  Using characters that have been built on in previous books and then adding two new characters that add drama and intrigue, but don’t distract from the main characters, makes this book a winner.  This is a perfect example of an author not sacrificing the story to add torrid love scenes in order to appease the populace.  Awesome!     

Rant:

It will always bug me, until my dying day, what Mayne does to Helene.  It was despicable, and completely below him.  And then to turn around and to claim he still loved her.  Ugh!

Rave:

The brilliance with which the storyline of Tom and Lena was dealt with brought tears to my eyes.  I thought it was both sweet and brave that the risk being taken by everyone involved was downplayed for the greater good.  I even liked how Mayne (pig that he was) played his part in the scenario.