A HINT OF WICKED

Author: Jennifer Haymore ISBN: 9780446540292 6/2009 HISTORICAL Publisher: GRAND CENTRAL
Time Period: Regency

CAUGHT BETWEEN DUTY AND DESIRE . . . Sophie, the Duchess of Calton, has finally moved on. After seven years mourning the loss of her husband, Garrett, at Waterloo, she has married his best friend and heir, Tristan. Sophie gives herself to him body and soul. . . until the day Garrett returns from the Continent, demanding his title, his lands-and his wife. TORN BETWEEN TWO HUSBANDS . . . Now Sophie must choose between her first love and her new love, knowing that no matter what, her choice will destroy one of the men she adores. Will it be Garrett, her childhood sweetheart, whose loss nearly destroyed her once already? Or will it be Tristan, beloved friend turned lover, who supported her through the last, dark years and introduced her to a passion she had never known? As her two husbands battle for her heart, Sophie finds herself immersed in a dangerous game-where the stakes are not only love . . . but life and death. A HINT OF WICKED

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

A HINT OF WICKED is an absolute charmer! With delightful characters, witty dialogue, and a storyline that gives the reader something to think about, this story hooked me from the start. I loved this book, and will certainly be on the lookout for more by this talented author.

Poor Sophie has weathered the worst, or so she believes, when her beloved husband is lost at war. She is comforted by their childhood friend, Tristan, and survives her loss. When Tristan's wife passes away, Sophie and Tristan wed, and all seems happy... for awhile. The kicker is that Garrett returns "from the dead" and she is forced to choose between the two men. It would be an easier task if there wasn't an undercurrent of deception, and the threat of madness, making the twisted situation even stickier than it already is.

I was captured immediately by this author's voice. Also, Sophie, despite being in a situation no woman would ever choose to find herself in the middle of, is a strong character who inspires admiration as well as sympathy. She is plucky, and gutsy. Even when tied to the bedposts naked she maintains her composure. I had to applaud her for having that kind of chutzpah!

I wholeheartedly recommend A HINT OF WICKED. It is a fun Regency romp like none I've read before. I enjoyed every minute of it, and I believe others will, too.

Kay James