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Wicked Worthingtons #2
And Then Comes Marriage
TWICE THE TEMPTATION
After years of being a quiet, dutiful wife, the recently widowed Mrs. Miranda Talbot is finally free to do as she pleases. As an attractive woman of independent means, Miranda is suddenly turning heads all around town. When she meets the dashing Mr. Castor Worthington, she is swept away by his passion. Is he too good to be true?
DOUBLE THE DESIRE
Little does Miranda know that there is more to Castor than meets the eye. In fact, he’s a twin. Castor’s brother, also a confirmed bachelor, takes his romantic pursuits—and rivals—very seriously. When Castor discovers Miranda is being courted by his own twin, his competitive nature takes over. Who will be the one to win Miranda’s hand and heart? The race to say I do is about to begin…
After years of being a quiet, dutiful wife, the recently widowed Mrs. Miranda Talbot is finally free to do as she pleases. As an attractive woman of independent means, Miranda is suddenly turning heads all around town. When she meets the dashing Mr. Castor Worthington, she is swept away by his passion. Is he too good to be true?
DOUBLE THE DESIRE
Little does Miranda know that there is more to Castor than meets the eye. In fact, he’s a twin. Castor’s brother, also a confirmed bachelor, takes his romantic pursuits—and rivals—very seriously. When Castor discovers Miranda is being courted by his own twin, his competitive nature takes over. Who will be the one to win Miranda’s hand and heart? The race to say I do is about to begin…
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 30, 2013
46 people are currently reading
665 people want to read
About the author
Celeste Bradley
42 books1,813 followersVisit me at www.CelesteBradley.com or facebook.com/CelesteBradleyAuthor :)
Go to CelesteBradley.com/newsletter for my Voice of Society newsletter.
Hi, my name is Celeste Bradley and I write "brain chocolate." That is, I write fun and sexy escapism is for hardworking women everywhere. We deserve a little man-candy, too!
Reviewers like to say I write about misfit heroines getting the man of their dreams. Maybe that's true, but don't we all feel like misfits sometimes? Even if the rest of the world thinks we have all our balls in the air, aren't we juggling like mad on the inside, desperately trying not to drop one?
I love this manic, scattered life I lead. I love to write, craft, garden, bake and mother, even if I don't always do it all perfectly. I love living in the Southwest, with its big sky and vast desert views. I love venturing out of my quiet life to meet readers and other writers, and then I love to come back to my haven, full of ideas and renewed passion and creativity.
Maybe one of those times I'll meet you!
Hugs,
and thanks for reading!
Go to CelesteBradley.com/newsletter for my Voice of Society newsletter.
Hi, my name is Celeste Bradley and I write "brain chocolate." That is, I write fun and sexy escapism is for hardworking women everywhere. We deserve a little man-candy, too!
Reviewers like to say I write about misfit heroines getting the man of their dreams. Maybe that's true, but don't we all feel like misfits sometimes? Even if the rest of the world thinks we have all our balls in the air, aren't we juggling like mad on the inside, desperately trying not to drop one?
I love this manic, scattered life I lead. I love to write, craft, garden, bake and mother, even if I don't always do it all perfectly. I love living in the Southwest, with its big sky and vast desert views. I love venturing out of my quiet life to meet readers and other writers, and then I love to come back to my haven, full of ideas and renewed passion and creativity.
Maybe one of those times I'll meet you!
Hugs,
and thanks for reading!
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September 9, 2013
Oh the pain...er pane!
Arrrggh. There be spoilers ahead.
I was innocently strolling along one day, minding my own business when a friend asked me, "Have you read the latest Celeste Bradley yet?" Knowing my tricky friend as I do, I knew this was not some idle question. I was immediately suspicious. "No, I replied, but I have it in my queue to read." Cryptically she murmured, "I'll be interested in what your opinion is." Uhmmmm. What could she mean? What was in this book that she was waiting to see how I would react? So, I cautiously opened And Then Comes Marriage.
Twins. I hatesssss twins! Could that be what it? Was this what I was supposed to see? Nah, my friend didn't remember that I hatessss twinsssss. Anyway, we have two juvenile acting men, Castor and Pollux Worthington, who happen to be twins. Oh, that wacky Worthington family. There are eight of them by the way, ten if you count the parents, but parents don't usually get their own story. There's Calliope, Lysander, Atalanta, Orion, Elektra, Daedalus and their parents Iris and Archie. As you can tell Iris and Archie are big fans of mythology. Iris also runs around quoting Shakespeare. I hatessss Shakespeare. Anyway, the Worthingtons are a ramshackle lot. Archie and Iris are oblivious parents who are lucky they lived in Regency England and weren't under the watchful eye of some parental authority, because these siblings were on their own.
Next we have our heroine, Miranda, the repressed widow, who when we are first introduced to her is following Pollux Worthington’s tight bum. Little does she realize it's not Pollux's bum she's stalking, but Castor's. She also has no idea that Pollux, who has befriended her, is a twin or from such a raucous family. She just knows that Pollux is starting to make her twitch in places that never twitched before. So, she's sort of shadowing him, or the man she thinks is Pollux. Unbeknownst to her, she has stumbled across the twins and one of their inventions. A steam engine of sorts. It seems that our frivolous tight-butted twins are fledgling inventors. Well, as anyone with any knowledge of history knows, steam engines were not the most reliable of things...they had a tendency to blow up, which is what this one does. Because Miranda is drooling over Castor's tightly encased rear-end, she isn't aware she's in danger until it's too late. But do not fear fair readers, she is saved by Castor, whom she thinks is Pollux. Because she thinks Castor is Pollux, she invites him back to her home and they kiss and she is ecstatic. Castor on the other hand thinks he has found a loosey goosey and is rubbing his hands together in glee. The book at this time was pretty entertaining, because Pollux and Castor both end up courting Miranda. Neither Pollux nor Castor is aware that the other twin is courting Miranda and Miranda isn't aware that there are two of them. She calls them Mr. Worthington, so I didn't have my usual twin masquerade problem with this story. In fact I thought this part of the story was pretty clever. Eventually the twins discover they are both interested in the same woman. After some 'should we shouldn't we' moments, they fess up to Miranda. They also inform her that she must decide which one of them she wants. This isn't as simple as it seems, because on top of the twins competing to win the fair maiden, there are other threads going on in this plot-line. The brothers have a wager with each other, Castor has a secret wager with the Prince of Wales, and Atalanta, our twelve-year-old precocious child, is on a mission to protect her brothers. At this point, the story had the feel of a screwball comedy. The irresponsible brothers were taking turns courting Miranda, fighting over her like two dogs with a bone. Siblings running here and there, butlers sneaking in and out. While I knew Miranda would eventually choose Castor, for a while I wondered if just maybe she might choose Pollux. The twins were featured almost equally in the beginning of the book, so there was a slight question as to which direction Ms. Bradley was taking with our hero. (I use the term hero loosely.)
Then the book took a dark turn and I thought I had been transported back to the days of Sweet Savage Love. Miranda is getting closer to making a choice. Castor, who has been stalking her, misunderstands what he sees. He bursts into her bedchamber and in a fit of jealous rage has his way with her. But, that's ok 'cause she explodes into glorious, rapturous, liberating, splendor - not once but a number of times, against the bedpost (ouch) and against the window pane. Yes folks, I said a window pane, a glass window pane. Now, I don't know about you but at my house glass window panes have been known to break. Apparently Regency England glass was made of sterner stuff. Stuff that doesn't break when someone is thrown against it and then pounded again and again on their journey to Multiple Climaxville. This rather long scene completely stopped me. I'm not sure what the intent of the scene was. I suspect we were supposed to see Castor let loose his wild animal essence and free Miranda from her dull, depressing world. However, all I could see were glass shards flying all over the place and cutting off things that are needed to fill out a dress. Or, maybe we were going to see just how much Miranda trusted Castor not to hurt her. Call me crazy, but being bounced against a glass window would trigger all kinds of fear issues with me. But as distressing as this scene was, it was nothing compared to what was coming down the road.
Evidently Castor, who I was enjoying until the window incident, has a dark side. Of course, you know how he got that dark side don't you? You can blame the old, perverted 40 year old woman who seduced him when he was 15. Because of her he can never luv anyone...he must make Miranda see that he's scary and not to be trusted. Hey, I knew he was scary when he threw her against the glass window pane...but not poor repressed Miranda, evidently. No, she trusts him and she must must must show him she trust him. Besides that her furry woman valley has been engorged and throbbing since her 15 million gazillion explosions - so he must be trustworthy. Arrgh. What we eventually get to read is another scene in which a possessive, raging, domineering Castor subjects Miranda to some pretty rough sex. This scene bothered me a lot. I'm not sure why Ms. Bradley chose to put it in the book. It wasn't romantic, and it didn't fit well with a "Regency Romance" or even any kind of a regular romance. It came awfully close to erotica and not the tame kind of erotica. There is a lot of dominating, twisting of hard nubs, and spanking. Most of that subjugating is done while Miranda is saying "no." I don't have a problem with strong erotica or with an author choosing to write her hero as a sado-masochist, as long as the tone in the rest of the book sets the stage for that. I also have a problem with the word "no" being ignored. The Castor at the beginning of the book and the Castor in the last half of the book didn't match - what I thought was a fun, lighthearted romance with a quirky, whacky family turned into a modern day bodice-ripper.
Then there were other elements added to the story for the purpose of...oh, I don't know, maybe stretching the story out a little longer. First of all we have Miranda's horrible sister-in-law, Constance. For some reason Constance thought when her brother bit the dust he would leave everything to her instead of to his wife. Not sure why she thought that...anyway, Constance is not a happy camper. She is lurking about hoping to catch Miranda in some nefarious position, because there is some silly clause in the will about Miranda losing her property if there is a scandal. There is also another man who is courting Miranda, Mr. Seymour, but he's boring, forgettable and in the pay of Constance - bwah-ha-ha. In a calculated attempt to attract a different audience, we also have a gay dressmaker and his assistant. They love each other, but are afraid to express themselves. Twelve-year-old Atalanta knows that these two men have feelings for each other. What a kid! My eyebrows raised on that one. I did not have a problem with the gay men, but a twelve-year-old in that time period knowing that adults have feelings for each other regardless of whether they are the same sex or not was a real suspension of disbelief. I, of course, am forgetting that Atlanta may have psychic powers...that would maybe account for her all-knowing, all-wise persona. A real stretch.
Bring on the misunderstandings. Both Castor and Miranda had old-fashioned romance novel misunderstandings and they both threw ridiculous silly fits. But Castor had the most outrageous fit moment. After some long, convoluted events he arrives at the conclusion that everyone was colluding against him...especially Miranda and his brother Pollux. What does he do? Why, he does what any romance hero from a 1970 romance would do. He goes to a brothel. That will show them. This is where the evil Constance and her minion Mr. Seymour step in; they send a forged note to Miranda telling her that Castor has been hurt and she needs to come quickly. What address is she sent to? Why the brothel of course. What do her eyes reveal to her when she crashes into the house? Well, of course Castor has a floozy on his lap. Later, for the reader's benefit I'm sure, we find out that Castor was actually in the process of pushing the piece of fluff off of his lap. Oh, the humanity! Miranda is hurt, Castor is shamed, Pollux is sorry...the whole family is depressed.
There is a HEA, but even after pages and pages of grovel from all of the Worthingtons and even with Miranda admitting that some of the misunderstandings were her fault, the last part of this book left me wondering 'what just happened?' What started out as a book with some fun possibilities ended up being a dark story with some really unlikeable people in it. Castor and Pollux, especially, had some major growing up to do and poor old Miranda needed to stand up for herself. This was doubly disappointing because I was unable to finish the first book in the series, When She Said I Do (Calliope's story). I hope the next novel is better, because so far I'm not liking the Worthington series.
Arrrggh. There be spoilers ahead.
I was innocently strolling along one day, minding my own business when a friend asked me, "Have you read the latest Celeste Bradley yet?" Knowing my tricky friend as I do, I knew this was not some idle question. I was immediately suspicious. "No, I replied, but I have it in my queue to read." Cryptically she murmured, "I'll be interested in what your opinion is." Uhmmmm. What could she mean? What was in this book that she was waiting to see how I would react? So, I cautiously opened And Then Comes Marriage.
Twins. I hatesssss twins! Could that be what it? Was this what I was supposed to see? Nah, my friend didn't remember that I hatessss twinsssss. Anyway, we have two juvenile acting men, Castor and Pollux Worthington, who happen to be twins. Oh, that wacky Worthington family. There are eight of them by the way, ten if you count the parents, but parents don't usually get their own story. There's Calliope, Lysander, Atalanta, Orion, Elektra, Daedalus and their parents Iris and Archie. As you can tell Iris and Archie are big fans of mythology. Iris also runs around quoting Shakespeare. I hatessss Shakespeare. Anyway, the Worthingtons are a ramshackle lot. Archie and Iris are oblivious parents who are lucky they lived in Regency England and weren't under the watchful eye of some parental authority, because these siblings were on their own.
Next we have our heroine, Miranda, the repressed widow, who when we are first introduced to her is following Pollux Worthington’s tight bum. Little does she realize it's not Pollux's bum she's stalking, but Castor's. She also has no idea that Pollux, who has befriended her, is a twin or from such a raucous family. She just knows that Pollux is starting to make her twitch in places that never twitched before. So, she's sort of shadowing him, or the man she thinks is Pollux. Unbeknownst to her, she has stumbled across the twins and one of their inventions. A steam engine of sorts. It seems that our frivolous tight-butted twins are fledgling inventors. Well, as anyone with any knowledge of history knows, steam engines were not the most reliable of things...they had a tendency to blow up, which is what this one does. Because Miranda is drooling over Castor's tightly encased rear-end, she isn't aware she's in danger until it's too late. But do not fear fair readers, she is saved by Castor, whom she thinks is Pollux. Because she thinks Castor is Pollux, she invites him back to her home and they kiss and she is ecstatic. Castor on the other hand thinks he has found a loosey goosey and is rubbing his hands together in glee. The book at this time was pretty entertaining, because Pollux and Castor both end up courting Miranda. Neither Pollux nor Castor is aware that the other twin is courting Miranda and Miranda isn't aware that there are two of them. She calls them Mr. Worthington, so I didn't have my usual twin masquerade problem with this story. In fact I thought this part of the story was pretty clever. Eventually the twins discover they are both interested in the same woman. After some 'should we shouldn't we' moments, they fess up to Miranda. They also inform her that she must decide which one of them she wants. This isn't as simple as it seems, because on top of the twins competing to win the fair maiden, there are other threads going on in this plot-line. The brothers have a wager with each other, Castor has a secret wager with the Prince of Wales, and Atalanta, our twelve-year-old precocious child, is on a mission to protect her brothers. At this point, the story had the feel of a screwball comedy. The irresponsible brothers were taking turns courting Miranda, fighting over her like two dogs with a bone. Siblings running here and there, butlers sneaking in and out. While I knew Miranda would eventually choose Castor, for a while I wondered if just maybe she might choose Pollux. The twins were featured almost equally in the beginning of the book, so there was a slight question as to which direction Ms. Bradley was taking with our hero. (I use the term hero loosely.)
Then the book took a dark turn and I thought I had been transported back to the days of Sweet Savage Love. Miranda is getting closer to making a choice. Castor, who has been stalking her, misunderstands what he sees. He bursts into her bedchamber and in a fit of jealous rage has his way with her. But, that's ok 'cause she explodes into glorious, rapturous, liberating, splendor - not once but a number of times, against the bedpost (ouch) and against the window pane. Yes folks, I said a window pane, a glass window pane. Now, I don't know about you but at my house glass window panes have been known to break. Apparently Regency England glass was made of sterner stuff. Stuff that doesn't break when someone is thrown against it and then pounded again and again on their journey to Multiple Climaxville. This rather long scene completely stopped me. I'm not sure what the intent of the scene was. I suspect we were supposed to see Castor let loose his wild animal essence and free Miranda from her dull, depressing world. However, all I could see were glass shards flying all over the place and cutting off things that are needed to fill out a dress. Or, maybe we were going to see just how much Miranda trusted Castor not to hurt her. Call me crazy, but being bounced against a glass window would trigger all kinds of fear issues with me. But as distressing as this scene was, it was nothing compared to what was coming down the road.
Evidently Castor, who I was enjoying until the window incident, has a dark side. Of course, you know how he got that dark side don't you? You can blame the old, perverted 40 year old woman who seduced him when he was 15. Because of her he can never luv anyone...he must make Miranda see that he's scary and not to be trusted. Hey, I knew he was scary when he threw her against the glass window pane...but not poor repressed Miranda, evidently. No, she trusts him and she must must must show him she trust him. Besides that her furry woman valley has been engorged and throbbing since her 15 million gazillion explosions - so he must be trustworthy. Arrgh. What we eventually get to read is another scene in which a possessive, raging, domineering Castor subjects Miranda to some pretty rough sex. This scene bothered me a lot. I'm not sure why Ms. Bradley chose to put it in the book. It wasn't romantic, and it didn't fit well with a "Regency Romance" or even any kind of a regular romance. It came awfully close to erotica and not the tame kind of erotica. There is a lot of dominating, twisting of hard nubs, and spanking. Most of that subjugating is done while Miranda is saying "no." I don't have a problem with strong erotica or with an author choosing to write her hero as a sado-masochist, as long as the tone in the rest of the book sets the stage for that. I also have a problem with the word "no" being ignored. The Castor at the beginning of the book and the Castor in the last half of the book didn't match - what I thought was a fun, lighthearted romance with a quirky, whacky family turned into a modern day bodice-ripper.
Then there were other elements added to the story for the purpose of...oh, I don't know, maybe stretching the story out a little longer. First of all we have Miranda's horrible sister-in-law, Constance. For some reason Constance thought when her brother bit the dust he would leave everything to her instead of to his wife. Not sure why she thought that...anyway, Constance is not a happy camper. She is lurking about hoping to catch Miranda in some nefarious position, because there is some silly clause in the will about Miranda losing her property if there is a scandal. There is also another man who is courting Miranda, Mr. Seymour, but he's boring, forgettable and in the pay of Constance - bwah-ha-ha. In a calculated attempt to attract a different audience, we also have a gay dressmaker and his assistant. They love each other, but are afraid to express themselves. Twelve-year-old Atalanta knows that these two men have feelings for each other. What a kid! My eyebrows raised on that one. I did not have a problem with the gay men, but a twelve-year-old in that time period knowing that adults have feelings for each other regardless of whether they are the same sex or not was a real suspension of disbelief. I, of course, am forgetting that Atlanta may have psychic powers...that would maybe account for her all-knowing, all-wise persona. A real stretch.
Bring on the misunderstandings. Both Castor and Miranda had old-fashioned romance novel misunderstandings and they both threw ridiculous silly fits. But Castor had the most outrageous fit moment. After some long, convoluted events he arrives at the conclusion that everyone was colluding against him...especially Miranda and his brother Pollux. What does he do? Why, he does what any romance hero from a 1970 romance would do. He goes to a brothel. That will show them. This is where the evil Constance and her minion Mr. Seymour step in; they send a forged note to Miranda telling her that Castor has been hurt and she needs to come quickly. What address is she sent to? Why the brothel of course. What do her eyes reveal to her when she crashes into the house? Well, of course Castor has a floozy on his lap. Later, for the reader's benefit I'm sure, we find out that Castor was actually in the process of pushing the piece of fluff off of his lap. Oh, the humanity! Miranda is hurt, Castor is shamed, Pollux is sorry...the whole family is depressed.
There is a HEA, but even after pages and pages of grovel from all of the Worthingtons and even with Miranda admitting that some of the misunderstandings were her fault, the last part of this book left me wondering 'what just happened?' What started out as a book with some fun possibilities ended up being a dark story with some really unlikeable people in it. Castor and Pollux, especially, had some major growing up to do and poor old Miranda needed to stand up for herself. This was doubly disappointing because I was unable to finish the first book in the series, When She Said I Do (Calliope's story). I hope the next novel is better, because so far I'm not liking the Worthington series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2022
3.5 stars. I thought this story could have been better. The twin’s and Miranda seemed immature, I did like the humour between the siblings and family loyalty.
August 6, 2013
I was expecting some sort of regency romp, however the kinky spanking bits were entirely unexpected and rather off putting...... really not my cup of tea.
September 16, 2013
Originally posted at http://smexybooks.com/2013/09/review-...
Favorite Quote: “I know what it’s like to get it all wrong. To do nothing but harm when you meant only the best.”
Book two in Ms. Bradley’s Worthington series, And Then Comes Marriage, is the story of Pollux (Poll) and Castor (Cas) Worthington. Dubbed the Devilish Duo, these outrageous twins use their looks, charm, and competitive nature to play games of the heart with women. When Poll meets the lovely rich widow Miranda Talbot, he seeks to set up a liaison as everyone knows widows are fair game. Poll and Miranda burgeoning friendship blossoms until Miranda is almost injured in an explosion and is rescued by Cas. Thinking he is Poll, Miranda gives him a passionate kiss in thanks and is shocked by the instant chemistry that explodes. When Miranda discovers the truth and seeks to dissolve her association with both, they beg the chance to court her with the better man winning her hand.
As Miranda, Poll, and Cas circle around each other, with each man determined to be the victor, they draw the straight laced Miranda out of her shell. Married at a young age to a much older and socially rigid man, Miranda was always the epitome of respectability. In his death, Miranda is finally free to be who she wants rather than what was required of her. When the twins antics set in motion a series of events that only serve to alienate Miranda from society, they find themselves for the first time ashamed of their past deeds and must make amends for their devious behavior.
I adored the first book in this series, When She Said I Do. A delightfully funny and erotically charged story, lightly twisted around a Beauty and the Beast theme. While I found this book also amusing and steamy with some plum love scenes, I didn’t get the same buzz from it. There is an underlying darkness to it as we witness the emerging relationship between the three protagonists and their individual issues which causes unnecessary conflict in the book. I would almost call this a coming of age story in that while Miranda is older than the twins (she’s thirty and they are twenty one), all three of them are emotionally immature. Though it starts as a game of sorts, this becomes the first true romantic relationship for all three when their emotions enter the equation.
Miranda and Cas are well matched. Miranda watched her parents drama filled marriage crumble and disintegrate, leaving her an orphan disgraced by their scandal. Her loveless marriage reiterated what she felt growing up and she never wants to find herself under someone’s thumb again, at the mercy of their needs and desires. Cas was used by a conniving older woman who took advantage of his age and passionate nature. He likens himself to a puppet, dangling by strings and unable to control his own life. Both are content with their lives and their control over their lives but when they meet, the passion explodes between them and they find themselves wanting to lose the very control they struggle to maintain.
“Kissing Miranda felt like flying, like falling, like spinning out of control and never wishing to land.”
Sensual love scenes with bits of erotica spice up this historical romance. Cas is a naughty, naughty boy whose desires manifest themselves in some interesting ways when he is around Miranda. Some mild dominance games eschew though neither truly want that sort of relationship. This is an exploration of feelings and desires; both seeking to bring the other joy and sexual respite.
"When I am through with you, you will flaunt that lovely body like the jewel it is."
Interesting subplots and conflicts makes the story much more than a simple historical romance. Miranda has to deal with her intractable sister in law whose Puritan notions are offended by Miranda. Cas and Poll have been warned by the Regent himself to stop their scandalous ways or else. Vivacious secondary characters keep the story moving along at a steady pace though they do over shadow the protagonists at times. The Worthingtons hold a strong position in the story line and remain somewhat amusing pains in the butt. Still narcissistic, self absorbed, and nosy as ever; they continue to cause mayhem wherever they go. Attie, the youngest Worthington and budding sociopath, still entertains and I liked that Miranda gave her the attention she was seeking. Various characters from When She said I Do appear, intent on trying to help Miranda and Cas on their journey to happily ever after. But as usual, they cause more harm than good.
More emotional and angsty than book one, there is still some humor within the story though not as much. I will admit that Cas and Poll disappointed me many times in here, especially towards the end when everything comes to light. I felt they both got off rather lightly. Their behavior was quite despicable and more groveling was necessary in my mind. Miranda’s pain broke my heart.
“Oh I thought I had hurt before. I was so very wrong.”
As with most romances, our hero and heroine have a hard journey towards their happily ever after. Love is tested but always triumphs in the end when our lovers finally admit their feelings and embrace the inevitable. Overall an enjoyable story with interesting characters though I missed the spark that the first book had.
Overall Rating:C+
Favorite Quote: “I know what it’s like to get it all wrong. To do nothing but harm when you meant only the best.”
Book two in Ms. Bradley’s Worthington series, And Then Comes Marriage, is the story of Pollux (Poll) and Castor (Cas) Worthington. Dubbed the Devilish Duo, these outrageous twins use their looks, charm, and competitive nature to play games of the heart with women. When Poll meets the lovely rich widow Miranda Talbot, he seeks to set up a liaison as everyone knows widows are fair game. Poll and Miranda burgeoning friendship blossoms until Miranda is almost injured in an explosion and is rescued by Cas. Thinking he is Poll, Miranda gives him a passionate kiss in thanks and is shocked by the instant chemistry that explodes. When Miranda discovers the truth and seeks to dissolve her association with both, they beg the chance to court her with the better man winning her hand.
As Miranda, Poll, and Cas circle around each other, with each man determined to be the victor, they draw the straight laced Miranda out of her shell. Married at a young age to a much older and socially rigid man, Miranda was always the epitome of respectability. In his death, Miranda is finally free to be who she wants rather than what was required of her. When the twins antics set in motion a series of events that only serve to alienate Miranda from society, they find themselves for the first time ashamed of their past deeds and must make amends for their devious behavior.
I adored the first book in this series, When She Said I Do. A delightfully funny and erotically charged story, lightly twisted around a Beauty and the Beast theme. While I found this book also amusing and steamy with some plum love scenes, I didn’t get the same buzz from it. There is an underlying darkness to it as we witness the emerging relationship between the three protagonists and their individual issues which causes unnecessary conflict in the book. I would almost call this a coming of age story in that while Miranda is older than the twins (she’s thirty and they are twenty one), all three of them are emotionally immature. Though it starts as a game of sorts, this becomes the first true romantic relationship for all three when their emotions enter the equation.
Miranda and Cas are well matched. Miranda watched her parents drama filled marriage crumble and disintegrate, leaving her an orphan disgraced by their scandal. Her loveless marriage reiterated what she felt growing up and she never wants to find herself under someone’s thumb again, at the mercy of their needs and desires. Cas was used by a conniving older woman who took advantage of his age and passionate nature. He likens himself to a puppet, dangling by strings and unable to control his own life. Both are content with their lives and their control over their lives but when they meet, the passion explodes between them and they find themselves wanting to lose the very control they struggle to maintain.
“Kissing Miranda felt like flying, like falling, like spinning out of control and never wishing to land.”
Sensual love scenes with bits of erotica spice up this historical romance. Cas is a naughty, naughty boy whose desires manifest themselves in some interesting ways when he is around Miranda. Some mild dominance games eschew though neither truly want that sort of relationship. This is an exploration of feelings and desires; both seeking to bring the other joy and sexual respite.
"When I am through with you, you will flaunt that lovely body like the jewel it is."
Interesting subplots and conflicts makes the story much more than a simple historical romance. Miranda has to deal with her intractable sister in law whose Puritan notions are offended by Miranda. Cas and Poll have been warned by the Regent himself to stop their scandalous ways or else. Vivacious secondary characters keep the story moving along at a steady pace though they do over shadow the protagonists at times. The Worthingtons hold a strong position in the story line and remain somewhat amusing pains in the butt. Still narcissistic, self absorbed, and nosy as ever; they continue to cause mayhem wherever they go. Attie, the youngest Worthington and budding sociopath, still entertains and I liked that Miranda gave her the attention she was seeking. Various characters from When She said I Do appear, intent on trying to help Miranda and Cas on their journey to happily ever after. But as usual, they cause more harm than good.
More emotional and angsty than book one, there is still some humor within the story though not as much. I will admit that Cas and Poll disappointed me many times in here, especially towards the end when everything comes to light. I felt they both got off rather lightly. Their behavior was quite despicable and more groveling was necessary in my mind. Miranda’s pain broke my heart.
“Oh I thought I had hurt before. I was so very wrong.”
As with most romances, our hero and heroine have a hard journey towards their happily ever after. Love is tested but always triumphs in the end when our lovers finally admit their feelings and embrace the inevitable. Overall an enjoyable story with interesting characters though I missed the spark that the first book had.
Overall Rating:C+
January 16, 2016
Before he could stop himself, he reached for her, his hands closing over her shoulders as he pulled her close to press against his body. A startled sound escaped her lips before he covered them with his. He fell, hard and spiraling, into the wet, sweet wonder of her mouth. Miranda's mouth had powers the like of which he'd never known. Kissing Miranda felt like flying, like falling, like spinning out of control and never wishing to land.
Miranda Talbot, has recently become a widow, and she is finally starting to make a new life for herself. Miranda is the child of a father who was a criminal and sent to prison. Ever since she was a little girl, she has had to protect herself, and has no idea how to open herself up to affection and love. When she meets Mr. Worthington, there is a inner part of her that aches to be held and touched and kissed. When it becomes revealed that she has been seeing two Worthington men who look exactly alike, she feels used. It then becomes clear that both of them want to court her and win her hand. So she decides to go along with it, feeling as if she has nothing left to lose. When saving a woman from a experiment gone wrong that ends in a explosion, he is mystified, and only wants to know her more. At first he would like for her to be in his bed, but when he enters a competition with his twin brother, he decides he wants more than one night, he wants a life with Miranda. But will he be able to win Miranda's heart?
And Then Comes Marriage is the second in the Worthington series, that Celeste Bradley has created for us. I have known this author for quite some time. When I first started reading romances I was able to read Charmer, and I enjoyed it. So when this series came out, I knew I would love it. The first book was charming and fun and witty and so when I saw And Then Comes Marriage on the library shelf, I picked it up without looking at the blurb. I mean who can resist that cover anyway? So this story is a bit unique as far as Twins theme goes. There is a twist to it, and the way Bradley works it into the story line, is very fun yet has a serious tone to it. Usually I have some issues with the twin theme, but this one definitely surprised me, and quite delightfully too. It starts out a bit slower but once you get into a few chapters, it will picks up pace, and I read it in one evening, so I had a bit of fun with this book. One aspect I really liked was seeing more of the Worthington family, they are such a unique set of individuals, not your typical regency family. They can be wild and rambunctious, and tends to get quite involved in their siblings affairs. Yet there is a closeness and intimacy in this family that is addicting.
The main characters were very well done in this story. I grew to like them quite a bit. Castor, is quite a rake, and a scoundrel, but a inventor. He is intelligent, but craves the more carnal side of things. Castor is very dominant at times, and playful and silly at others. He is a enigma, has different sides to him, and I loved the complexity to his character. Miranda has never known real love or affection or respect. Since she was about seven years old, her father was sent to prison, and she was sent to live with a relative, that wasn't the most welcoming to her. Now she is a widow, having never even been kissed or known the taste of passion. I found I quite enjoyed Miranda as the heroine, and I understood her plight, and how she tries to give each brother a chance to woo her, and she definitely stands up for herself when its needed. I think she could have been a bit better developed but for the most part I felt a kinship to her.
Overall I grew to love the latest installment of the Worthington Family. A beautiful mix of sensuality, entertaining scenes, and a sweet love story that you can indulge in!! FULLY SATISFYING!!
Miranda Talbot, has recently become a widow, and she is finally starting to make a new life for herself. Miranda is the child of a father who was a criminal and sent to prison. Ever since she was a little girl, she has had to protect herself, and has no idea how to open herself up to affection and love. When she meets Mr. Worthington, there is a inner part of her that aches to be held and touched and kissed. When it becomes revealed that she has been seeing two Worthington men who look exactly alike, she feels used. It then becomes clear that both of them want to court her and win her hand. So she decides to go along with it, feeling as if she has nothing left to lose. When saving a woman from a experiment gone wrong that ends in a explosion, he is mystified, and only wants to know her more. At first he would like for her to be in his bed, but when he enters a competition with his twin brother, he decides he wants more than one night, he wants a life with Miranda. But will he be able to win Miranda's heart?
And Then Comes Marriage is the second in the Worthington series, that Celeste Bradley has created for us. I have known this author for quite some time. When I first started reading romances I was able to read Charmer, and I enjoyed it. So when this series came out, I knew I would love it. The first book was charming and fun and witty and so when I saw And Then Comes Marriage on the library shelf, I picked it up without looking at the blurb. I mean who can resist that cover anyway? So this story is a bit unique as far as Twins theme goes. There is a twist to it, and the way Bradley works it into the story line, is very fun yet has a serious tone to it. Usually I have some issues with the twin theme, but this one definitely surprised me, and quite delightfully too. It starts out a bit slower but once you get into a few chapters, it will picks up pace, and I read it in one evening, so I had a bit of fun with this book. One aspect I really liked was seeing more of the Worthington family, they are such a unique set of individuals, not your typical regency family. They can be wild and rambunctious, and tends to get quite involved in their siblings affairs. Yet there is a closeness and intimacy in this family that is addicting.
The main characters were very well done in this story. I grew to like them quite a bit. Castor, is quite a rake, and a scoundrel, but a inventor. He is intelligent, but craves the more carnal side of things. Castor is very dominant at times, and playful and silly at others. He is a enigma, has different sides to him, and I loved the complexity to his character. Miranda has never known real love or affection or respect. Since she was about seven years old, her father was sent to prison, and she was sent to live with a relative, that wasn't the most welcoming to her. Now she is a widow, having never even been kissed or known the taste of passion. I found I quite enjoyed Miranda as the heroine, and I understood her plight, and how she tries to give each brother a chance to woo her, and she definitely stands up for herself when its needed. I think she could have been a bit better developed but for the most part I felt a kinship to her.
Overall I grew to love the latest installment of the Worthington Family. A beautiful mix of sensuality, entertaining scenes, and a sweet love story that you can indulge in!! FULLY SATISFYING!!
August 12, 2013
I don't know why but I got a third of the way through this book and couldn't finish it. I think it's because of the fact Cas and Poll. As someone else said there was to much about the Worthington clan.
April 16, 2022
This was a fun book. Not as thrilling as the first one for me.
This one tells the story of a widow and the twin Worthington brothers Castor and Pollux.
Both meet Miranda at different times and not knowing about each other's interest in the widow... until they do... and decide to wager on whom she will chose.
I loved the dominant/submissive plot on this book, was probably the most exciting part of the book, as the plot, for me, was somewhat lacking... there is a je ne sais quo missing from this book.
Maybe not knowing what happened to her scheming former sister-in-law and her accomplice.
It did make me want to read the story of the unchosen brother, as I think I like his selflessness a lot.
This one tells the story of a widow and the twin Worthington brothers Castor and Pollux.
Both meet Miranda at different times and not knowing about each other's interest in the widow... until they do... and decide to wager on whom she will chose.
I loved the dominant/submissive plot on this book, was probably the most exciting part of the book, as the plot, for me, was somewhat lacking... there is a je ne sais quo missing from this book.
Maybe not knowing what happened to her scheming former sister-in-law and her accomplice.
It did make me want to read the story of the unchosen brother, as I think I like his selflessness a lot.
October 6, 2013
Originally posted on Romance Around the Corner (http://romance-around-the-corner.blog...
I first read Celeste Bradley when she co-authored a book with one of my favorite contemporary authors, Susan Donovan. The book, recently republished under the name Unbound, follows a story of a courtesan and her diary of sexual exploration. It was a fabulous read, but more importantly it introduced me to Bradley. I'm not usually a huge historical fan, but Bradley has a way to keep me laughing, sometimes crying, but almost always finding time to finish any book that I can get my hands on. This book was no exception to that. In fact, I can't wait to read the other books in this series, including the previous book, When She Said I Do.
We initially meet Mrs. Miranda Talbot, a naive widow, as she is trying to locate a man that she's previously met and very attracted to. She knows his last name, Worthington, but not much else. Her curiosity has gotten the best of her, but when she finally locates him a huge explosion occurs, and she is saved by the mysterious object of her affection. Only it turns out that man is different from the man she thought she was looking for. He is actually a twin. She doesn't realize this fact until the twins actually confront each other about their mutual interest in Miranda.
There are a lot of ways you can go with a good twin romance, which was one of the reasons that I adored this book. Bradley decides to take the route of a traditional romance, so no ménage funny business going on here. The Worthington family's size will lend itself easily to future books in this series, plus some great background knowledge of the various personalities. I can imagine we are going to see great things from the littlest Worthington, Atalanta, who seems to have a penchant for trouble. Can't wait!
This book felt like a very fresh story. The character development, especially with Miranda, seemed very genuine. One of the reasons that I often have trouble enjoying reading historicals is that the resolution often feels too contrived for me--the man saves the day, etc. I did not feel that way at all with this book and the resolution worked for me. The side stories never detracted from the main story and truly gave a great foundation to future books within the series. Bradley's sense of humor really shined through Attie's antics, as well. I feel like we should have "I heart Button" buttons made up or something.
If you haven't given Bradley a shot, I definitely recommend her. The writing is solid, the stories are interesting, and the characters are genuine. Her stories sometimes start mid-stream, but they are always very easy to get up-to-speed on. They tend to be a little funnier than dramatic, so if you need a chuckle, Bradley is your gal.
I first read Celeste Bradley when she co-authored a book with one of my favorite contemporary authors, Susan Donovan. The book, recently republished under the name Unbound, follows a story of a courtesan and her diary of sexual exploration. It was a fabulous read, but more importantly it introduced me to Bradley. I'm not usually a huge historical fan, but Bradley has a way to keep me laughing, sometimes crying, but almost always finding time to finish any book that I can get my hands on. This book was no exception to that. In fact, I can't wait to read the other books in this series, including the previous book, When She Said I Do.
We initially meet Mrs. Miranda Talbot, a naive widow, as she is trying to locate a man that she's previously met and very attracted to. She knows his last name, Worthington, but not much else. Her curiosity has gotten the best of her, but when she finally locates him a huge explosion occurs, and she is saved by the mysterious object of her affection. Only it turns out that man is different from the man she thought she was looking for. He is actually a twin. She doesn't realize this fact until the twins actually confront each other about their mutual interest in Miranda.
There are a lot of ways you can go with a good twin romance, which was one of the reasons that I adored this book. Bradley decides to take the route of a traditional romance, so no ménage funny business going on here. The Worthington family's size will lend itself easily to future books in this series, plus some great background knowledge of the various personalities. I can imagine we are going to see great things from the littlest Worthington, Atalanta, who seems to have a penchant for trouble. Can't wait!
This book felt like a very fresh story. The character development, especially with Miranda, seemed very genuine. One of the reasons that I often have trouble enjoying reading historicals is that the resolution often feels too contrived for me--the man saves the day, etc. I did not feel that way at all with this book and the resolution worked for me. The side stories never detracted from the main story and truly gave a great foundation to future books within the series. Bradley's sense of humor really shined through Attie's antics, as well. I feel like we should have "I heart Button" buttons made up or something.
If you haven't given Bradley a shot, I definitely recommend her. The writing is solid, the stories are interesting, and the characters are genuine. Her stories sometimes start mid-stream, but they are always very easy to get up-to-speed on. They tend to be a little funnier than dramatic, so if you need a chuckle, Bradley is your gal.
June 27, 2013
Although I loved "When She Said I Do," the first book in the Worthington series, I wasn't sure if I was going to like the sequel. But I took a chance, and I'm glad I did.
When we met the Worthingtons in the first book, I thought they were way over-the-top crazy. They were way past eccentric, and I just couldn't see how I would care enough about them to read more. And..as other reviewers have noted, there's waaay too much about them in this story. As the saying goes.."less is more."
In this story, they're as bizarre as ever. However I really liked Miranda Talbot, who's worked all her life to stay demure and unremarkable. She falls hard for Castor Worthington, who reveals the sensual woman inside.
It's not quite as steamy as the first book, but there's plenty of heat happening between Miranda and Cas! Miranda really gets her groove on!
The book touches on the importance of family, but is primarily about Miranda, Castor, and his twin Pollux, leaving their naivete behind and becoming adults.
So...3 stars. I did like it, but it just didn't get to 4 stars,.
When we met the Worthingtons in the first book, I thought they were way over-the-top crazy. They were way past eccentric, and I just couldn't see how I would care enough about them to read more. And..as other reviewers have noted, there's waaay too much about them in this story. As the saying goes.."less is more."
In this story, they're as bizarre as ever. However I really liked Miranda Talbot, who's worked all her life to stay demure and unremarkable. She falls hard for Castor Worthington, who reveals the sensual woman inside.
It's not quite as steamy as the first book, but there's plenty of heat happening between Miranda and Cas! Miranda really gets her groove on!
The book touches on the importance of family, but is primarily about Miranda, Castor, and his twin Pollux, leaving their naivete behind and becoming adults.
So...3 stars. I did like it, but it just didn't get to 4 stars,.
April 5, 2020
I love seeing a Historical Romance with element of submission and dominance. Especially when it doesn't need a huge explanation. Although Cas does feel guilty about his wants, I like that Miranda is turned on by them and makes it clear to Cas when he is able to do those things with her and they have great communication.
Twins is a fun thought, but I like how it became a hurdle for the brothers when they both fall for the same woman. I love how much they care for each other and how Poll pulls a Solomon and is willing to step aside to assure his brother's happiness.
Also, I cannot wait for Poll book, which is finally on Bradley's website. There are still so many Worthington Siblings to go and it has the potential to be as amazing as the Bridgertons.
Twins is a fun thought, but I like how it became a hurdle for the brothers when they both fall for the same woman. I love how much they care for each other and how Poll pulls a Solomon and is willing to step aside to assure his brother's happiness.
Also, I cannot wait for Poll book, which is finally on Bradley's website. There are still so many Worthington Siblings to go and it has the potential to be as amazing as the Bridgertons.
September 25, 2015
C'était pas particulièrement mauvais (l'héroïne avait une tête sur les épaules pour une fois) ni particulièrement bon non plus. Pour quelque chose qui est censé être du pur divertissement, ça aurait pu être plus palpitant, honnêtement.
Par contre, l'auteure n'a pas été cheap sur les scènes sexy et elle ne se gêne pas pour utiliser les vrais mots... Il n'est pas question de membre ou de caverne ici, oh que non! Haha!
Par contre, l'auteure n'a pas été cheap sur les scènes sexy et elle ne se gêne pas pour utiliser les vrais mots... Il n'est pas question de membre ou de caverne ici, oh que non! Haha!
June 1, 2016
I did not like that the heroine was so weak and passive and boring and let her SIL move back in. The twins were just silly. Didn't like the ending. I cannot see how this family is so poor and scandalous yet Cas can get an appt and strike a deal with Prinny. The child Attie is allowed to run wild with her hair not combed and visit mens homes. Seems kind of unbelievable.
August 16, 2013
3 1/2 stars. the hero seemed immature and after I figured out he was 21 I can see why. And Miranda was married at 18 and was married for a dozen years making her at least 30. I don't like when the heroine is that much older than the hero. Although she seemed just as immature as Poll and Cas.
May 6, 2017
So, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one. In the previous book, I thought that the Worthington family was a bit too wacky for me, and I'm not really a fan Crazy Twin Hijinks, but I actually liked this.
Miranda Talbot is a young widow who is just starting to come out of mourning. Her entire life she has been tightly buttoned up, first living under the strict rule of her grandmother, then under the thumb of her much older husband and his spinster sister. This is the first time in her life that she's had an opportunity to live, and while she isn't going wild, she is enjoying herself and entertaining a few suitors.
One of her suitors is Pollux Worthington, and while he's her favorite, she hasn't seen him in a few days and is worried he's moved on. In seeking him out, she instead stumbles upon his twin, Castor, who saves her from one of their exploding inventions. She, understandably, mistakes him for Pollux and invites him home in order to thank him, and while Castor thinks this is odd, he chalks it up to her being a particularly bold widow.
What follows is a series of interactions between Miranda and the twins without any of them realizing what is going on. Thankfully, the twins quickly realize what's going on and reveal themselves to her, and she agrees to let both brothers court her. Miranda quickly realizes that she prefers Castor, Castor is uncomfortably interested in Miranda, and Pollux discovers that he isn't actually interested in her romantically, and as such, Miranda and Castor start a relationship and for a while, things run smoothly, but the revelation of some secrets tear them apart. Fortunately, true love prevails, and they end up together.
I never really warmed up to Miranda. Her self-containment makes her a bit dull, and until the end she seemed to almost react instead of actively pursuing her interests. The worst is when she just gives in to her sister-in-law at the end. Miranda didn't even try and fight her for what was hers, but just moved on. I would have liked some attempt of her standing up for herself.
I liked Castor more than Miranda. Despite appearing as a fun loving rake, he actually has a darkness in him that makes it difficult for him to get close to people. Miranda is the first person in a long time that he wants to get close to and that frightens him. I really enjoyed the relationship between him and Pollux. Despite being twins and apparently so close, they're actually hiding a lot from each other (or think they are), and their relationship with each is torn apart by their relationship with Miranda. The slow breakdown of their relationship and the eventual resolution was excellent, and probably my favorite part of the story. What I didn't enjoy about Castor (and Pollux as well) was that he ruined Miranda's life. I know everything ended up happily, but I still feel like Miranda ended up losing too much. I also have to question the likelihood of Castor's relationship with Prinny. I'm not sure that it would exist, and I'm pretty sure it would have been ruined by the ending of the book.
I know that some people had issues with the sex in this book, but I didn't. There were only two scenes, but they were high on the kink for a straight historical romance.
In the previous book, I didn't care for the Worthington family. I thought they were too much and expected too much from Callie. I didn't mind them as much in this book, but I think it's because they didn't have as large a presence, and they didn't publicly embarrass and almost kill anyone. I still didn't care for Attie though, and I take issue to her raising. There's a difference between being weird and straight up neglecting your child which I think Artie's treatment falls into. She's allowed to wander the streets of London alone, in poorly fitted clothing, and with uncombed hair, and she's also taken to balls despite being 12. The latter wouldn't happen, and I feel the former would result in her being kidnapped/lost, or her being thoroughly ruined before she's even out.
Another issue I had was with the timeline. I'm pretty sure Attie should be older than she is. In the first book, which takes place two years before this one, she's 12, and in this one, she's not quite 13. I'm pretty that math doesn't work out. There was also one passage where the twins mention being 12 when Callie is 16, and another when they're 9 when she's 16. This is basic stuff that both the author and the editor should be on top of. Also, considering the size of the family, I wouldn't mind a family tree to keep track of the various ages and order of the siblings. I just dislike not knowing the ages of my leads, and in both books so far, Bradley has failed to tell me the ages of her heroes which irritates me.
On the whole, I feel like this was a stronger story than the previous one because Bradley better balanced the role of the Worthington family, but I never warmed up to the heroine, and I thought the end didn't solve all of their problems.
Miranda Talbot is a young widow who is just starting to come out of mourning. Her entire life she has been tightly buttoned up, first living under the strict rule of her grandmother, then under the thumb of her much older husband and his spinster sister. This is the first time in her life that she's had an opportunity to live, and while she isn't going wild, she is enjoying herself and entertaining a few suitors.
One of her suitors is Pollux Worthington, and while he's her favorite, she hasn't seen him in a few days and is worried he's moved on. In seeking him out, she instead stumbles upon his twin, Castor, who saves her from one of their exploding inventions. She, understandably, mistakes him for Pollux and invites him home in order to thank him, and while Castor thinks this is odd, he chalks it up to her being a particularly bold widow.
What follows is a series of interactions between Miranda and the twins without any of them realizing what is going on. Thankfully, the twins quickly realize what's going on and reveal themselves to her, and she agrees to let both brothers court her. Miranda quickly realizes that she prefers Castor, Castor is uncomfortably interested in Miranda, and Pollux discovers that he isn't actually interested in her romantically, and as such, Miranda and Castor start a relationship and for a while, things run smoothly, but the revelation of some secrets tear them apart. Fortunately, true love prevails, and they end up together.
I never really warmed up to Miranda. Her self-containment makes her a bit dull, and until the end she seemed to almost react instead of actively pursuing her interests. The worst is when she just gives in to her sister-in-law at the end. Miranda didn't even try and fight her for what was hers, but just moved on. I would have liked some attempt of her standing up for herself.
I liked Castor more than Miranda. Despite appearing as a fun loving rake, he actually has a darkness in him that makes it difficult for him to get close to people. Miranda is the first person in a long time that he wants to get close to and that frightens him. I really enjoyed the relationship between him and Pollux. Despite being twins and apparently so close, they're actually hiding a lot from each other (or think they are), and their relationship with each is torn apart by their relationship with Miranda. The slow breakdown of their relationship and the eventual resolution was excellent, and probably my favorite part of the story. What I didn't enjoy about Castor (and Pollux as well) was that he ruined Miranda's life. I know everything ended up happily, but I still feel like Miranda ended up losing too much. I also have to question the likelihood of Castor's relationship with Prinny. I'm not sure that it would exist, and I'm pretty sure it would have been ruined by the ending of the book.
I know that some people had issues with the sex in this book, but I didn't. There were only two scenes, but they were high on the kink for a straight historical romance.
In the previous book, I didn't care for the Worthington family. I thought they were too much and expected too much from Callie. I didn't mind them as much in this book, but I think it's because they didn't have as large a presence, and they didn't publicly embarrass and almost kill anyone. I still didn't care for Attie though, and I take issue to her raising. There's a difference between being weird and straight up neglecting your child which I think Artie's treatment falls into. She's allowed to wander the streets of London alone, in poorly fitted clothing, and with uncombed hair, and she's also taken to balls despite being 12. The latter wouldn't happen, and I feel the former would result in her being kidnapped/lost, or her being thoroughly ruined before she's even out.
Another issue I had was with the timeline. I'm pretty sure Attie should be older than she is. In the first book, which takes place two years before this one, she's 12, and in this one, she's not quite 13. I'm pretty that math doesn't work out. There was also one passage where the twins mention being 12 when Callie is 16, and another when they're 9 when she's 16. This is basic stuff that both the author and the editor should be on top of. Also, considering the size of the family, I wouldn't mind a family tree to keep track of the various ages and order of the siblings. I just dislike not knowing the ages of my leads, and in both books so far, Bradley has failed to tell me the ages of her heroes which irritates me.
On the whole, I feel like this was a stronger story than the previous one because Bradley better balanced the role of the Worthington family, but I never warmed up to the heroine, and I thought the end didn't solve all of their problems.
February 10, 2019
Oh, how I love the Worthington series! I've read them out of order but it doesn't matter too much. This is actually the second one but the last of those published so far for me to read, having read the first one right before this. This is Castor's story. He is one of the devilish duo with his twin Pollux. In this book they both court the same lovely widow, Miranda. Miranda has had a tragic life and finally, as a widow, is enjoying life a bit. Enter the plotting of youngest sister Attie and a vicious disinherited sister in law of Miranda's and there is plenty of action before our HEA. I believe I read in a later book that troubled war hero Lysander's story is next up for Bradley. I am not sure which Worthington will have the next story after that but I am anxious to find out as Poll, Dade, and eventually Attie herself have stories yet to be told.
September 23, 2022
There is a scene of rough sex in this book. Frankly, it didn't really fit.
Cas and Poll are identical twins who lead a devil-may-care life. They each separately meet Miranda. None of the three initially realize the twins are wooing the same person. And so the plot begins. Who will Miranda choose?
The Worthington family are misfits. The parents are useless and the eight children are all unique, not necessarily in a good way.
Some of the reviewers, who'd read the first book in the series, thought the twins are 21. Miranda is 30. If this is true then the whole story is a little creepy.
I really disliked the ending. I hate when justice does not prevail in a story and the bad "guys" get away with their scheme.
Cas and Poll are identical twins who lead a devil-may-care life. They each separately meet Miranda. None of the three initially realize the twins are wooing the same person. And so the plot begins. Who will Miranda choose?
The Worthington family are misfits. The parents are useless and the eight children are all unique, not necessarily in a good way.
Some of the reviewers, who'd read the first book in the series, thought the twins are 21. Miranda is 30. If this is true then the whole story is a little creepy.
I really disliked the ending. I hate when justice does not prevail in a story and the bad "guys" get away with their scheme.
September 12, 2019
A fun read with a lot of sizzle. Beware this one contains some dark BDSM that was a little off putting for me. I almost quit reading because I found it disturbing. (Not my cup of tea beyond a little lightweight stuff.) Our H is messed up. However, it gets better after that chapter and lightens up enough to be quite enjoyable. The h is fun character to watch as she discovers herself after living her life trying to fit into various people's molds of what she should be. She has fire and spunk and is willing to be a little daring to reach for what she wants. All in all it was good and had that lovely HEA ending with just a whiff of the next book to come in the series.
February 21, 2018
This book just didn’t work for me. I thought it started out neat, but then it got dark and I just didn’t like the hero. There was a point in the story where I actually wished we weren’t going to continue with the main romance, but instead start focusing on Button and Cabot. The end just left me feeling eh.
April 7, 2019
One hundred stars
Oh that I could give more than five stars to this and any novel really that Celeste Bradley graces us with! I have never loved characters more. Full of laughs, light and love.
Oh that I could give more than five stars to this and any novel really that Celeste Bradley graces us with! I have never loved characters more. Full of laughs, light and love.
February 22, 2022
Again, a couple of good scenes but didn't care about the plot and the twins things (Cas and Pollux) with Miranda was just weird. Not planning to continue with this author, I'm sure she works for plenty of other people, just not me.
December 10, 2017
Lots of twists and turns. Loved!!!!
January 8, 2018
Boring. The female heroines are more insteresting books than the male heroes.
January 20, 2018
The strange spanking parts and rough stuff was not my style. If I wanted to read 50 Shades of Gray I would have purchased it.
May 30, 2018
3.5 stars
September 3, 2018
Charming story. Twin rivalry and other rambunctious siblings. I enjoyed it.
December 14, 2018
This story was not my cup of tea at all.
November 30, 2019
not the star of the worthington series but it has been a long time since reading.
December 24, 2019
The spanking scene was 5 stars A+ 10/10 but the rest was like a knock off Hathaways or Bridgertons - a big kooky family but way too much of all of them in one book to keep track of.
June 25, 2022
I liked this book and it contained enough humour to keep it lively but not quite as much tongue in cheek as the last one.
January 3, 2025
Pensavo di leggere questo libro ma col tempo ho capito che mi è più facile leggere in italiano che in inglese.
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