Our Wicked Mistake (Notorious Bachelors #2) by Emma Wildes
Historical Romance
October 5, 2010
Paperback, 336 Pages
Signet

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: “You just feel….enormous.”

Lady Brewer is in trouble. She is being blackmailed and believes she has killed the blackmailer. She immediately sends for Viscount Altea. After all, someone of his reputation knows all about sordid affairs.

Luke Daudet, Viscount Altea, shared one incredible night of passion in the arms of Madeline May, the widowed Lady Brewer. However, secrets from his past make him incapable of accepting the deep feelings Madeline inspires in him so he denies himself and ends their affair. But Luke has never forgotten Lady Brewer. And when she summons for him for help he knows that this time he may not be able to walk away.

In Emma Wildes second installment of her Notorious Bachelors series, we are given Luke Daudet, Viscount Altea’s story. Luke is a member of the trio who friendships were solidified during the war. A devastating act broke Luke’s heart during the war and from that day forward he vowed never to allow anyone to become close to him, to have that power over him, again. Luke drifts through life staying emotionally detached until one night with the lovely Lady Brewer. One night with her shows Luke that she and she alone has the power to tear down the wall he has built around his heart. But Luke cannot handle the consuming power of their passion and leaves her bed and her life.

When Madeline Mays, Lady Brewer, summons Luke to her home to help her deal with a potentially life altering situation, he realizes that he is still caught within her spell. Luke immediately used his considerable influence and resources to extract her from this situation and sets out to find who is threatening her. But Madeline wants more then help from Luke so she propositions him-offering a no strings affair. No longer able to resist her charms, Luke accepts and soon they embark on a seductive and sensual affair that leaves them poised on the edge.

While I enjoyed this book, I didn’t get the rush I received from her first one-My Lord Scandal. This one is more serious and unfortunately has faint echoes of similar historical romances. A tortured hero and a well bred heroine who is prim in public and a seductress in bed. Madeline and Luke are both strong characters who blend well together. Witty commentary and rich descriptions provide a well written storyline with a smooth steady pace. Ms. Wildes has a genuine gift for writing incredibly wicked and sensual bedroom scenes and there is plenty here for you to enjoy. But at times the story feels scripted. Both Madeline and Luke are extremely serious; conscious of their social standings and obligations. Neither are very dramatic in their temperament so their chemistry is lukewarm at times. All naughty play was done in the bedroom. Not even one single dalliance in a carriage.

I found the beginning of the plot a little weak. Madeline’s being blackmailed over a journal which contains intimate details of her and her husband’s love life. While I can understand her embarrassment-I found her fear of what the blackmailer wanted to be bit dramatic. Luke’s tragedy is sad but it is told in an off hand manner that leaves you feeling ambivalent about it. He doesn’t express a lot of emotional towards it so neither do you. As we progress through the story, the suspense increases and convolutes into an interesting mystery with a dramatic conclusion.

What saved the story for me was the secondary romance that develops within the main story. The romance of Elizabeth and Miles. Elizabeth is Luke’s sister and Miles is his cousin by marriage. Miles and Elizabeth grew up together and have remained the best friends. Miles begins to developed deeper feelings for Elizabeth and it’s very amusing watching them dance and spar their way around each other till they come full circle.

While I did find this one lacking in comparison to her last one, it still an enjoyable historical filled with steamy love scenes, suspenseful plot, and a delightful characters that has me wanting to read the 3rd installment- His Sinful Secret with releases November, 2010

Rating: 3/5

Recent Reviews:
All About Romance – B+
Goodreads

This series includes:
My Lord Scandal
Our Wicked Mistake
His Sinful Secret – November 2, 2010

Emma Wildes’ website.