It is 1778. Lord Alaric Wilde, the third son of the Duke of Lindow, has spent the past five years travelling around the world and writing books about it. It never occurs to him that those books could make him famous - or rather, infamous - until he arrives home to a rapturous welcome from a mob of infatuated women. In his absence there have been prints circulated about his exploits, merchandise with his image sold, even a sell-out London play. Mortified, he heads back to the family home (Lindow Castle), only to find a house party in progress - and all the female guests really keen to make his acquaintance...except one.
Wilhelmina (Willa) Ffynche is the success of the London Season, mainly due to her ability to keep to the rules and behave in the way that is expected of a society lady. Attending the house party at Lindow Castle, she finds it amusing that so many women are prepared to make fools of themselves over Lord Alaric...until she realises he's not quite the idiot portrayed in that notorious play.
Wilde in Love is a sweet, subtle historical romance, in which the main characters meet, become friends and slowly fall in love, despite their initial feelings that their personalities are polar opposite. And that's about it, which makes the story sound really dull - and it isn't! It's lovely and warm, and so nice to read a book where the characters actually like each other and come across as real people, along with all the associated quirks and flaws.
I particularly loved Sweetpea, the 'American sable' (which reminded me of Manuel's 'Siberian hamster' in Fawlty Towers), and Hannibal the battle-scarred cat! There are also Shakespearean references, and an entertaining villain who prevents the course of true love from running too smoothly. The last chapter of the book is, in effect, the first chapter of the next book.
Recommended to readers who like their historical romance to have a slight fairy tale tone (although there are some sex scenes). I really enjoyed it - and I loved the (Piatkus) cover, featuring a very modern-looking heroine.
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I particularly loved Sweetpea, the 'American sable' (which reminded me of Manuel's 'Siberian hamster' in Fawlty Towers), and Hannibal the battle-scarred cat! There are also Shakespearean references, and an entertaining villain who prevents the course of true love from running too smoothly. The last chapter of the book is, in effect, the first chapter of the next book.
Recommended to readers who like their historical romance to have a slight fairy tale tone (although there are some sex scenes). I really enjoyed it - and I loved the (Piatkus) cover, featuring a very modern-looking heroine.
Related Posts:
Review: Seven Minutes in Heaven by Eloisa James
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