Review: A Little Bit Wicked by Robyn DeHart

My Review:

When Marcus returns from his career as an adventure tour guide to take his deceased brother’s place as Earl of Ashford and the head of their family, he’s bombarded with a potential scandal that could ruin his younger sister’s life.

Vivian March, also known as The Paragon, is available to assist, and Marcus remembers her from a night a decade ago when they shared a passionate kiss.

As a way to detract from Marcus’ sister’s scandal, and to keep Marcus at arm’s length, Vivian decides Marcus must marry. Marcus agrees to look for a wife but really intends to seduce Vivian. He is drawn to her from the start, and their brief but memorable interlude ten years prior sets the stage for an enchanting and spicy romance.

Vivian and Marcus are an unlikely pair in many ways. She is seven years older than him and in her thirties, and she deems herself a spinster. Marcus is not fond of polite society and doesn’t care what people think of him, whereas Vivian built a life around what society thinks of her. Marcus is daring, and Vivian is practical.

However, the pair is also quite similar. They are both smart, sincere, and family-oriented. They both fear falling in love and believe they are not made for marriage. They both have insecurities and wounds from the past. It is clear that they admire and are attracted to each other, but internal and external conflicts, including someone from Vivian’s past, prevent them from facing their ever-growing feelings.

Vivian is a smart and independent woman who has made a name for herself in society. Marcus is newly returned to society and has eyes only for Vivian. He admires her honesty and the fact that she has a mind of her own. He sees her as his equal, and I love that, especially considering the time period. Their fun and witty banter, as well as their flirtations, are wonderful, and I love how Marcus never gives up on Vivian. Ultimately, Vivian and Marcus complement each other well. Plus, their romantic scenes are totally swoon-worthy!

I also enjoyed the other characters in the novel, though they weren’t as deeply developed as Vivian and Marcus. As this is the first book in a series, the characters are sure to be developed more in future books. I am especially curious about Marcus’ younger sister. Her story sounds intriguing!

A fun and romantic story with scandals, secrets, and blackmail, A Little Bit Wicked is a fabulous start to the Forbidden Love series. Thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• The romance, of course! 😉 Vivian and Marcus have swoon-worthy scenes, for sure!

• The intrigue. Scandals and secrets and blackmail, oh my!

Favorite Lines:

At least in the wild, animals acted in the interests of survival. People did not adhere to such courtesies.

Don’t ignore life when it stands at your door and beckons…

People act out in certain ways to create a perception in others’ minds of how we want to be seen.

Recommendations:

This is a great story for readers who enjoy slow-burning historical romances.