In a time when ladies are to be seen but not heard, Lady Alexa Hendrie breaks the mold. Not afraid to tell others what she thinks, her family is not surprised she has not been able to entice someone to marry her. When her brother's actions force the well bred lady to venture into a gambling establishment, the rules change due to a chance meeting with the dashing rake Connor Linsley, Earl of Killingworth.

The Earl lives in two worlds. In one, he is one of society, respected by the gentlemen and gossiped about by the ladies. In the other, he is owner of a house of ill repute. A gentleman must do what is necessary to rebuild the family estate. Since the off chance meeting with the outspoken Lady Alexa, he has found it difficult to think of any other lady. When circumstances out of his control leads to them working together to solve a mystery occur, will his control be strong enough to resist the siren call he hears when he lays eyes on her?

TOO WICKED TO WED is a story filled with suspense and passion. The mystery is delivered wonderfully and will have you guessing up to the big reveal. I fell in love with the band of male friends who are trying to discover who is trying to sabotage Connor and why. The wit that flows between them in hilarious and down right charming. Our leading lady is filled with fire and does not fall behind any man. Her strength and stubbornness is a driving force that leads the story down many winding roads. Some end in hilarity while others bring suspense and turmoil.

The romance element will have the reader on the edge of their seat. Both leading characters know they shouldn't pursue their hearts desire but for each reason why they shouldn't they discover a reason why they should. The mental tennis match heightens the all too present romantic chemistry to the point that it seems to jump off the page. One thing I loved was how realistic the doubt each of the characters felt when it came to the other's true feelings even though all the signs pointed to desire in the fullest.

As the first book in the Lords of Midnight series, I think Cara Elliott did a magnificent job setting up the world and characters to be seen throughout the adventure. If TO WICKED TO WED is an example of what we are too expect, this will be a series loved by many!

Book Summary

Outspoken and independent, Lady Alexa Hendrie enjoys the heady freedom of making all her own decisions, even though the challenges of overseeing her family's country estate are daunting. But when a chance encounter with London's most notorious rake awakens a secret longing for adventure, she accepts her aunt's invitation for a Season in Town . . . only to find that breaking the rules of the ton has serious consequences.

The Earl of Killingworth uses his rakehell reputation to hide the fact that poverty has forced him to work for a living. As the owner of a gambling den and brothel, Connor has no time for glittering ballrooms or innocent young ladies. But after a reckless wager leaves him with a new business partner, he is forced to take a risky gamble . . . Will the cards fall in their favor? Alexa and Connor begin to play a dangerous game of intrigue and deception as they seek to outwit a cunning adversary who wants to put them permanently out of business. But if they are not careful, it is the flames of their own fiery attraction that may destroy them.

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