The Wicked Wyckerly by Patricia Rice (The Rebellious Sons #1)
July 6, 2010
Historical Romance
Paperback, 359 Pages
Signet


Reviewed by Mandi

Abigail Merriweather has found herself very alone, and she doesn’t like it.  Her four half brothers and sisters were taken from her after her father and step-mother died. The executor deemed the children needed proper male guidance and shipped them away to a more “suitable” guardian. She is desperate to get them back, even if that means taking a husband. Her solitude is suddenly interrupted by a dashing man with a very unruly six year old in tow.

John Fitzhugh Wyckerly, or Fitz, is now the seventh Earl of Danecroft after the passing of his brother. But this title brings does not bring him happiness, rather extreme debt and the press of many creditors who want their money. Fitz is at a loss of how to begin the task of organizing the estate and paying back the debt. He knows he must marry wealthy, but his first obligation is to visit his daughter, whom he finds abandoned by her mother and being raised by poorly mannered servants. So he finds himself in a coach with a very loud, and dirty Penelope in front of Abby’s house.

Abby, having much experience with raising children helps Fitz get Penny under control. She also can’t help but find this stranger very attractive. She offers him to stay in her guest house and work the fields while she tends to Penny. Of course, Abby has no idea this is an Earl she has staying at her house. She writes hoping that her distant relative, The Marquess of Beldon might be able to persuade the executor to send the children back. Fitz, accustom to the ton circles, knows the Marquess has recently died, and his wife, Isabella is in charge. Fitz can’t help wanting to aid the lovely, head strong Abby. Abby goes to London to meet with Lady Isabella, hoping with her guidance, she will land a husband, and then retrieve her siblings. But Fitz and Abby’s paths will cross again.

What to say about The Wicked Wyckerly – first, “wicked” is used to describe Fitz countless times in this book, and guess what – I never found him to be that wicked at all. Apparently he comes from a family of wicked, careless men – but the Fitz I read about cares for his abandoned daughter (although he does wait six years to figure out she needs him) and wants to be respected by Abby. Which is all fine and dandy, except I wanted to see the more reckless side of him. I didn’t buy into the fact that he would drop everything from his old life and immediately start living with morals and responsibility.

Abby never appealed to me. First she takes in this total stranger because she is smitten with his cute daughter. She assumes he is a lower class man, not an earl – but either way, she trusts this man to stay on her grounds? Then she ends up under Isabella’s guidance and finds herself letting go to a stranger again. I understand she will do whatever it takes to get her siblings back, but when the time comes and she receives a marriage proposal from Fitz, she refuses him because of his gambling problem. But she only hears of his gambling through a third party. Before you throw away your chance at getting your siblings back, don’t make a rash decision!

The supporting characters also fell very flat for me. I never warned up to Fitz’s friends, nor did I find Isabella nor her partner in crime, Quentin fun to read about. I can’t recommend this one.


Rating: 2/5


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