Wicked Little Secrets

Wicked Little Secrets #1

by Susanna Ives

It's Not Easy Being Good...

Vivacious Vivienne Taylor has finally won her family's approval by getting engaged to the wealthy and upright John Vandergrift. But when threatened by a vicious blackmail scheme, it is to her childhood friend that Vivienne turns; the deliciously wicked Viscount Dashiell.

When Being Wicked is so Much More Exciting...

Lord Dashiell promised himself long ago that his friendship with Vivienne would be the one relationship with a woman that he wouldn't ruin. He agrees to help her just to keep the little hothead safe, but soon finds that Vivienne has grown up to be very, very dangerous to all of Dash's best intentions.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Friends To Lovers, Fiction, Regency

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 3, 2013

Reviews

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* · Rating 4 out of 5]

First read 2014..I'm trying to dig out and "re-read" "firsts" in a trilogy so I can finish up the next two.
In order to do that I have to "re-fresh" my memory Lol!
Review still stands as is..enjoyed a tad more this time, but 4 stars still.
On to book two!

Setting: Victorian England
Steam Factor: Boarder line "Hot"

Vivienne Taylor has a real penchant for getting into trouble, which has made her the bane of her staid family.
So by becoming engaged to a solid wealthy man she therefore has now earned their praise.
Then Vivienne realizes her aunt is being blackmailed, and there is only one person that she will trust and can help her save her aunt.
Enter Viscount Dashiell.
Now Dashiell is just the opposite of Vivienne's fiance.
He is a world traveler, an antiquities expert as well as a known womanizer.
But their friendship is too important to Dashiell to destroy the desire he feels for Vivienne.
And as Vivienne keeps drawing him into her plans it gets even harder to control his feelings.
Keeping her safe then places them both in danger of becoming pawns in a revenge plot never mind the dangers of falling in love!
More than just a romance here!
With a heart felt dialogue, the story really had an intriguing plot, quirky characters, and lots of witty escapades.
A combination of an art theft, a blackmail scheme, a scintillating naughty diary, as well as lots of adventure to turn an "ordinary" romance into a innovative entertaining read!

[Wollstonecrafthomegirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Susanna Ives remains a bit of a wildcard. I don't think there's anyone quite like her in this Land of Romance. Much like Rakes and Radishes, this was a little bit barmy and until the last third or so, I was quite enjoying myself. There's a farcical element to the way Ives writes (it's by design, obviously). There's a moment early on in this book where the hero is fantasizing about a painting of a half naked woman which looks like the heroine and it speaks to him and says 'Come and get me big boy.' It's peculiar but it does work within the context of this book and at times these moments were very funny. You later find out the painting is of the heroine's mother which rather puts the hero's lusting after it into a strange place. The pacing is frenetic, almost frantic at times. I feel as if this book could give you whiplash if you're not careful, so quickly does the plot race by only to change directions. Again, this isn't necessarily a criticism, it makes the book unique, but it takes some getting used to. The two stars are lost because of what I thought was the inconsistent characterisation of the heroine who was strong and weak in a way I found difficult to reconcile and despite her avowed decision to stay with her cheating fiancé because he can save her father financially (a decision which, in of itself didn't feel right for her as an individual) still ends up in various compromising situations with the hero. Then there's the hero who is a notorious rake, except he's not. Not really. I am rather fed up of romance novels trying to sell me this line. Then there's the plot which really goes off on a frolic of its own in the last third and, much like with Rakes and Radishes, takes on some serious themes and issues, but also brings the farcical element back (the hero dressing up like a prostitute, for example). It goes on for too long and I was quite bored. On top of all of that I found the writing style and the story to be inconsistent. I wish Ives would just sit down and write a ballroom, front room, country house farce with a romance at its centre. I don't think the convoluted plots aren't doing her any favours. That said, this wasn't a bad book all in all and I'll be picking up the next in the series.

[Farrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rating: 4.5/5

Fun, romantic, and absolutely lovely! Wicked Little Secrets was a brilliant historical romance. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was just wonderful.

Vivienne was a great heroine. She was very lively and feisty and really fun to read about. She was a bit of a wild child, always scolded for one reason or another. So, when she makes a match that finally has her family proud of her, she hangs on to that familial approval as much as she can. Too bad her feelings for Hadrian won't make it that easy. I thought she was lovely and likable. I had only one problem with her. She was so impulsive. She didn't consider the danger that she was walking into when she just barged into a situation. It made me want to shake some sense into her a few times. But, despite that annoyance, I still really liked her. She was a ton of fun.

Hadrian was also wonderful. Despite his very scandalous reputation (which is very well earned) he was a sweetheart. There was never any doubt how much he cared about Vivienne, from when they were friends, to when they realized there was more between them. But, like Vivienne, I wanted to shake some sense into him quite a few times. In his case, it was because he was so hesitant about his relationship with Vivienne. He just couldn't admit his feelings to her. It made me frustrated with him. However, even with my irritation about that, I still adored him. He was sweet, charming, and totally amazing. He was a perfectly flawed hero.

The romance was lovely. It was definitely sweet, with how completely infatuated Vivienne and Hadrian are with each other. Even with their reticence, it was always obvious. And, they were such a perfect match. Both lively and fun and ready to scandalize everyone. Not to mention the chemistry between these two. There were sparks flying between them constantly. It was HOT. I thought they were a perfect couple.

I really like the secondary romance between Hadrian's grandfather and Vivienne's aunt. For one things, Hadrian's grandfather was hilarious. We first meet him while he's airing out his *clears throat* business (yes, I do mean exactly that implication) in front of a ladies' Bible study group. And, it only gets more hilariously scandalous from there. Meanwhile, Vivienne's aunt is the complete opposite. Rigidly moral and easily scandalized. But, their romance was still perfect. It was so much fun to read how these total opposites ended up together.

The plot was fast paced. I was hooked the entire way through. The mystery of who was stealing the art was thrilling. It had ties to scandalous pasts, family secrets, and a vengeful woman. I never suspected the truth of what was really going on. I really enjoyed the story and the ending was perfect.

Wicked Little Secrets was a fantastic historical romance. I loved this book! It was fun, romantic, thrilling, and just brilliant. Lovers of romance, this is a book you don't want to miss.



*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Quotes:
Vivienne clutched squirming Garth to her bosom and pressed her back against the alley wall. "If John sees us together, he'll be so upset." She could hear the quiver of panic in her whisper. "I'm supposed to be...well...perfect."
"What? You are perfect. You know who isn't perfect? That John arse. But I'm about to change that. Tell me, do you have any reservations about adopting children?"-Hadrian

"What's the matter with your boy?" Sir Milton ribbed the earl. "He can seduce every lady in London, except the one he's in love with?"
"Remember we discussed his problems with commitments," his grandfather reminded his friends. "How he gets scared."
"Oh," the sympathetic old men said in unison, as if Dashiell suffered from some heinous medical condition such that, upon hearing the word "commitment," his penis would shrink to the size of an acorn.
He slid his hands down his face. "Good God."

[SidneyKay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tented trouser alert!

It may not be a good sign when you decide to ponder for a day or two what you've just read, and then you forget the story, the plot and the characters. You know what that means? It means that one must go back and try deciphering ones notes.

When I began to read Wicked Little Secrets it wasn't too long before I knew that I wasn't going to take anything too seriously in this story...not even the plot. What I had opened up to read turned out to be a farce. There is an abundance of characters, some more developed than others, and occasionally I lost track of who was who and why they were important to the tale. Some of their reason for existing wasn't told till the very end when all the strings were tied. I'm not sure how fond I was of all the directions I was led down. However, having said that, I'm also going to check into more of Susanna Ives writing, because I found this book different from the usual angst-filled drama. The humor in the book was a tad bit exaggerated and it should be, ‘cause it’s a farce. However, while I smiled through most of the book, I didn't break out into any hysterical laughter. I do commend Ms. Ives for dipping her fingers into comedy. It takes a brave author to do comedy...it is soooo subjective; what works for me may not work for others. What others think is hilarious, I think is disgusting. Aside from the comedy, certain plots in this book worked better for me than others. There may have been one too many things going on and not enough time given in the book for these events to make sense.

Let’s see what we have. We have Vivienne, our heroine, who is living with her bible thumping aunt. Their neighbors are Vivienne's childhood friend Lord Dashiell and his wacky uncle. By the way, Dashiell is a rake. When we first met him, he is being screeched at by his theatrical mistress, while his aristocratic mistress looks on. His theatrical mistress is throwing a fit, tossing his antiques and artifacts around. It is at this time that Vivienne finds out Dashiell has returned home from one of his adventures and runs next door, charging into the chaos of the mistresses, artifacts and rake. Of course, she leaves behind the weekly "let's read the bible" group at her aunt’s house, which incidentally has just been entertained by Lord Dashiell's uncle exposing himself to them...naked.

Anyway, Vivienne is engaged to a stiff-neck two-faced rich man who expects her to be socially acceptable and not a hoyden. Which of course is what Vivienne is. Vivienne had a tendency to irritate me…one moment she’s letting people walk all over her, the next moment she’s jumping into dangerous situations. She’s naïve, but wants adventure. She wants excitement, she’s stubborn…she has all the characteristics of a TSTL heroine. Now, because this is a farce some latitude must be given her when she follows people down dark alleys and has conversations with the madam of the brothel she's wondered into...but it did get tiresome.

Then there is Dashiell, a rascal. He has a quick wit and he has some funny dialog. He is, however, a rake. How do we know he’s a rake? Because he tells us he is…over and over and over. He’s also has one of those “not good enough” attitudes. However, all that doesn’t matter because his next door neighbor is Vivienne, who also happens to be his childhood friend. Much to his chagrin his childhood friend has sprouted some spuds on her chest and his Mr. Toad is activated and he just cannot control him. Dashiell had so many erect poles he could open up his own campground. Yes, he wants her, but he can never have her...never, never, never. So, he goes on these long journeys all over the place because he must resist...he must. He's just not...good enough. Yes! A hero who isn't good enough...

Then there is the blackmail plot. Vivienne's aunt is being blackmailed by someone or at least that's what Vivienne thinks. But who? It's the guy who wears blue. But who is he? Well, what would any self-respecting adventure craving TSTL heroine do to find out? She'd follow the guy in blue. She'd follow him through the dark, dank streets of London, through places where cut-throats hang out on street corners and prostitutes sale their wares. Of course, Dashiell follows her...almost everywhere she goes. Just to make sure she doesn't get into trouble and of course through all of this, Timothy Toad is talking to him, encouraging his rakish ways. In fact this couple have a great deal of trouble keeping their hands off of each other.

Added into all this folderol is Vivienne's father, who we never meet; her horrible prig of a fiancée John; her aunt; her aunts bible study friends; Dashell's crazy uncle; his crazy cousin; the blackmailer; the prostitutes; the mistresses; art thefts; a lawyer who may be dirty; Frederick the bird; mysteries; twists and turns all over the place. As I said earlier, there was a lot going on...maybe just a tad bit too much.

Overall, parts of this story worked and parts didn't. I liked when Vivienne and Dashell were engaged in dialog. I didn’t like so much the chasing all over scenes and jumping from one disaster to another. I was lost with some of the convoluted plots, especially the art thievery. There was almost too much in the story to take in and that is where it failed for me. This is an outrageous farcical tale, and that works, even if the farce starts to head into “Jerry-Lewis-never-knows-when-to-stop” territory. Then, there were moments in the book that were wonderful and full of very vivid descriptions...I could tell that the author had to have toiled long and hard to create them. One of the first of such scenes takes place in a brothel which Vivienne had just barged into. That scene was a treat to read. Finally, even though I thought there was just too much going on...too many tangled plot-threads, Wicked Little Secrets makes me want to check out the next book coming from Ms. Ives nimble fingers.

KaysBlog

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to Susanna Ives' writing through a mutual friend, and after reading her first novel hilariously titled Rakes and Radishes I knew I had to meet this person. So that is why I had the privilege of getting the galleys to this soon to be released book -- and I feel privileged because I can't say enough good things about it.

Before you dismiss my review because I happen to know Ms. Ives, I should say I am "friends" (through Facebook connections and other means) with other writers whose literary merit can hardly be affected by my reviews, like Jane Smiley, or Dorianne Laux, Dan Wakefield, Michael Martone, Jennifer Haigh, and others. I generally read and review books coming from an academic background and focus mostly on literature and on the craft of writing that applies to literary fiction. I confess I don't read romance. With the exception of a few books like Diana Gabaldon's The Outlander, I hardly know this genre, no offense to those who enjoy that type of story.

But that's why it was such a refreshing and lively surprise to read this book. I found myself laughing after only the first few pages, out-loud-laughing and also snickering as I picked up on all the subtle and not so subtle ironies of the Victorian era. The "wicked little secrets" of the title have to do with what apparently was quite common in this prudish era: gentlemen's engagement presents involve safari-themed brothels and tucked-away mistresses; women cure ailments of the "nerves" with potions openly marketed and openly sanctioned that contain powerful concoctions of liquid cocaine and alcohol. A painting exhibition is as good as a porn show if it involves a naked subject. A man can ruin his reputation for being a "rake" and having many lovers, but a woman can end up on the streets or in a brothel simply for accepting a very badly needed loan from a man, money that could save her entire family from starvation. The irony of these injustices and double standards is the base rhythm of this hilarious adventure.

In the first fifty pages of the book, you'll be introduced to old ladies' Bible clubs with naked exhibitionists. Before you reach the third chapter the heroine will have walked into a brothel, blithely unawares that were it not for her gentlemen chaperon, her relatively minor error in judgement would have cost her a life of sexual slavery. The heroine's benefactor uncle, a judge of impeccable reputation, also has a few wicked little secrets of his own, and were it not that the heroine is as sheltered as any proper Victorian girl ought to be, she might know that the object she's discovered in her uncle's study is not a "strange sort of purse" but the ancestor of our modern day condom. These sort of "discoveries" are what makes the heroine of the book so charming and irresistible, yet far from being a doe-eyed innocent, Vivienne is a bored, curious young lady who dreams of exploring Egypt on camelback and whose reading list include the Marquis De Sade.

And yes, this is a romance: so it includes an irresistible rake, and a dolt of an undeserving boyfriend, and a difficult moral dilemma that as readers we know will result in a happy ending, and yet the characters continue to surprise us, and the plot is thick with mystery and intrigue as the two main characters try to solve a crime involving art theft and blackmailing. Like Ives' previous book the pace is breathless. I'd find myself reading long past the point when my eyes blur and my brain retains nothing: it's the kind of book you jut want to devour. As for Vivienne and Dashiell, their quick reparte' and the contrast between them (she, inexperienced but curious, and he jaded and bored with London's high society) makes every line of dialog jump with liveliness and tension. I loved this book not just for its sense of humor but also because it managed to entertain me while also presenting a rather dark and unforgiving side of western history, reminding this modern reader how lucky women are to be living in this relatively gender-fair day and age. And any intelligent reader will appreciate Ives' perfect sense of dramatic timing as well as her ability to connect the hypocrisy of our modern age with a raw and unvarnished look at our romanticized past.

I honestly don't know how other romances compare, but to me, this is a novel for discerning readers -- and also for those seeking a good, fast-paced mystery and romance. There should be something in it for everyone, especially for those who enjoy a good irony and strong sense of humor.

[Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie* · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delectable treat this book was…just perfect for brightening up a dull, rainy day! It was hilariously funny and deliciously sexy with a wonderful cast of outrageously quirky characters.

Always the bane of her family, the vivacious Vivienne Taylor has finally won their approval and saved them from financial ruin by becoming engaged to the wealthy and upright John Vandergrift. She is determined to be the perfect wife even though it means supressing her true nature. This might prove more difficult than she expects when her childhood friend and neighbour, Lord Dashiell, returns from his travels. With such a wicked reputation, she should stay well away from him, but Dashiell is the only one she can turn to for help, when she fears her aunt is being blackmailed. If only he didn’t stir her heart and senses!

Adventurer and seasoned rake, Lord Dashiell has a reputation of steering well clear of any emotional involvements. So when his friend, Vivienne asks for his help, he reluctantly agrees because he feels an obligation to keep her safe. The problem is that the lonely, little girl he befriended has grown into a ravishing, spirited lady who threatens his much vaunted emotional detachment. If only she didn’t stir dangerous emotions best kept dormant!

The chemistry between Vivienne and Dashiell is absolutely delicious as they try not to act on their growing attraction for each other but inevitably they succumb…

The warm softness of his lips sent a hot, heady wave through her that silenced her thoughts. Everything was him. The hard contours of his chest and the tingle of her nipples as they rubbed against him, the taste of his tongue as it caressed the tip of hers, while his thigh pushed between her limbs, invading her, seeking that place inside her that throbbed, deep and wet.

Their attempts to thwart the blackmail scheme, and solve the mystery surrounding some missing, risqué art lead to a series of mad-cap escapades. There are some hilarious scenes and my favourite has to be when Dashiell dons a disguise to help Vivienne escape the clutches of a scheming brothel madam. I won’t spoil it for you, but look out for the halo and pair of angel wings!

There are moments of wickedly funny dialogue as well, like this gem from Vivienne’s Aunt Gertrude…

“Promise me, dear Vivvie, that you’ll be a virtuous lady,” her aunt insisted. ‘This is the most important thing in all the world.” Her eyes narrowed. “No matter how the devil may tempt you… with… with ripe luscious apples and golden calves and silken chemises”

“Wait, silk chemises aren’t in the Bible. Biblical women wore-”

“But they are in the black soul of the devil, I tell you! Chemises, lacy drawers, and stockings are all in there. He waits for a lady to slip, he whispers to her, enticing her, tingling her…tingling her nether regions.”

Ms Ives has assembled a lively cast of secondary characters; Dashiell’s ribald grandfather and “the boys”; the lady members of the Wesley Congregational; the pompous, conceited John Vandergrift; Teakesbury, the questionable solicitor; the occupants of the seedy brothel and the man-hating cockatoo.

This was such a delightful romp, full of laugh-out-loud moments, vivid characters, spicy dialogue and, of course, romance.

REVIEW RATING: 4.5/5 STARS


My sincere thanks to Susanna Ives for kindly providing me with a copy of this delightful book in return for an honest review.

This review is also posted on my blog:

http://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com/...

[Cassie Durrance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect book to get me out of my slump! Susanna Ives is a new to me author and I absolutely adored this book. If you like witty dialogue, laughing out loud, a little mystery and a secret forbidden romance, then this is the book for you.

Vivienne's family is on the brink of ruin and it's up to her to make an advantageous marriage to solve their problems. Her father's company is deeply in debt and someone is blackmailing her aunt, but it makes no sense why someone would blackmail her aunt. Vivienne is determined to uncover the mystery surrounding the blackmail while trying to be the "perfect" woman that her fiancee wants. She enlists her secret childhood friend and neighbor, the very scandalous Lord Dashiell, for help.

Lord Dashiell is a rogue, a rake, and a faithless blackguard as his angry paramours call him. Dashiell spends his time causing scandals and then running away to hunt antiquities. He befriended the mischievous neighbor girl and their friendship grew over the years whenever he was home. The one thing Dashiell didn't expect was that his young friend would grow up to be a beautiful woman with the power to take his heart. When Vivienne comes to him for help, he can't turn her down and so begins his struggle. I do love to watch a man struggle to resist and fail so completely 😍😍

I just couldn't put this book down! The tension between Dashiell and Vivienne was so good, I laughed out loud and the mystery of the blackmail kept me on my toes. The book has several secondary characters that I just adored. Aunt Gertrude with all her tonics/potions/pills to help her nerves and Garth her pug dog was a hilarious addition. Dashiell's grandfather, the Earl of Baswiche, was a comical old rake with a tendency to flash his man bits to Aunt Gertrude during her Bible study 🤣🤣

I won't spoil anything for you in regards to the blackmail mystery, but it was so good and highly entertaining. This book is a little lower on the steam level. Several kisses and one full scene, but the tension and emotions are wonderful. I'm off to read the next book in this series!

[Mojca · Rating 1 out of 5]

***copy provided by publisher through NetGalley***

Vivienne Taylor is doing everything she can to help her destitute father, even if it means burying her true characters as deep as she can to ensnare an appropriately wealthy husband. But once she's accomplished that, Fate seems to conspire against her, since her childhood crush, and irredeemable rake, Lord Dashiell is back in town and she can't seem to help herself from gravitating toward him, no matter what the Bible teaches her, and certainly despite his every effort to keep her away. And to top it all off, someone seems to be blackmailing her aunt, and Vivienne knows there's no one else to turn to but Dashiell himself.


This certainly started off great. I laughed my heart out at the end of chapter one, and was really looking forward to the rest of the story. If chapter one was a hoot, the rest must follow suit, right?

Wrong.

This story, that started off so great, failed miserably to deliver on the promise of the first chapter. I hated both the main protagonists, him for being such an annoyingly dysfunctional, emotionally stilted, rather wimpy asshole, and her for being so obnoxiously naive that she ended up sounding like an idiot. I felt they both needed someone to lead them through life by the hand. Add to it the pretentiously pious aunt (who turned out not to be as virtuous as she wanted to appear), the jerk of a fiancé that was even more false in his piousness than the aunt, a slower than slow pacing, a plot rife with fillers (idiotic musing, idiotic conversation, idiotic decisions, idiotic actions etc.), so-called humor that made the whole story appear like a parody, and a jumbled suspense side-plot that made little-to-no sense in the end, and you have this story...A complete waste of time.

The only redeeming thing this story possessed were the hero's grandfather and the dog.

[Iza Brekilien · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by Susanna Ives and I don't know why I was expecting something more... old-fashioned ? Prejudiced, was I, and was I wrong.

This book was highly entertaining, witty, funny, kept me smiling and laughing all the time and rooting for the main characters, the other characters were entertaining as well (the aunt with her potions and pills, the grandfather who likes to wander around naked, the parrott - yes, the parrott, even the "old" madam, lots of others !).

It was delightful and I want more !

Quote :

"You and I are going to have a little talk. I want you to own up that you love little Vivvie."
"Certainly." Dashiell smiled. "If you own up that you love Gertrude."
His grandfather's head jerked back. "I... I don't."
"Well, then, I don't love Vivienne."
The two men stared at each other, waiting for the other to relent.
"This has been an elightening little talk," Dashiell concluded after a few seconds, turned and continued up the stairs to his chamber. "We should deny our feelings more often."

[Tin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 3.5-star review for me, so I'm rounding it up to 4.

* * *

Disclosure: I received this ARC copy through Netgalley. Thank you to Susanna Ives and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity. Yes, this is an honest review.

* * *

Vivienne Taylor is breathing a sigh of relief: she has secured the much-needed proposal from John Vandergrift, which will save her father from financial ruin. All she needs to do is to behave like a perfect and virtuous lady until the wedding. This proves difficult because Vivienne isn't naturally mild and meek (it's an act) and becomes even more difficult when her neighbour, childhood friend and reluctant partner-in-crime, Lord Dashiell returns home from his expedition.

Lord Dashiell never looks for trouble, but trouble seems to follow him everywhere. On his first day home, he receives an unexpected visit from Vivienne, informing him that his uncle, the Earl, is running naked in her aunt's front garden -- said visit happens to coincide with a very loud confrontation between a French dancer and a Mrs. Harmon, who is throwing priceless artifacts at Lord Dashiell.

It's all the same but also strangely different, for Vivienne is no longer the young girl who sits and waits for Lord Dashiell to come home from his adventures -- she's grown up (quite beautifully) and is ready to have adventures of her own. And her first adventure is to discover who the man in the blue suit is and what he wants from her aunt. And Lord Dashiell is honor-bound (and blood-bound thanks to a childhood pact) to keep her safe.

The opening chapters of this book sets the tone: Aunt Gertrude's bible group, and a naked Earl streaking across the front lawn bordered on farcical but it also made an interesting commentary on religion and how it oppresses Vivienne.

In fact, it is a major theme in the story: Vivienne bears the burden of having to please so many people. She needs to help her father and sisters. She needs to please her Aunt, whom she lives with. She needs to please her fiancé, who will save her father and her family. What is sad about Vivienne is that, not once, does she consider pleasing herself.

Could the future wife of John Vandergrift excuse herself to the privy and escape? Would that be the action of a Biblically virtuous wife?
- loc 46

Lord Dashiell is the only freedom she experiences in her life. From childhood to now, she has allowed herself to pursue the things she really loves and it is Lord Dashiell who has encouraged her. So it comes as no surprise that Vivienne is in love with him.

While our heroine is free to dream, she is not free to do -- and she struggles with her feelings for Lord Dashiell with all the lessons in propriety that she has been taught her entire life. On top of her personal troubles, she has to contend with a mysterious man who is causing her Aunt Gertrude a lot of trouble. Vivienne does not expect that her "harmless" inquest will bring her into the dark and seedy parts of St. Giles and of the world of prostitutes. Vivienne is obviously out of her element and this experience is the acid test that will reveal Vivienne's strength of character and, at the same time, reveal the truth about the people around her, exposing the hypocrisy that existed within her small group and of society, as a whole.

Wicked Little Secrets highlights the very difficult demands society has on young ladies and the very clever and creative ways these young ladies will find to bend the rules.

I was a little uncomfortable with all the lies that Vivienne was telling -- and I didn't like how she was abasing herself to John but I thought Susanna Ives was able to convey her plan all along: to contrast between Vivienne's behaviour when she was with Lord Dashiell and when she was with John. Our heroine is a well-meaning, very earnest girl who is, admittedly, a little bit unsophisticated and naive -- but her heart is in the right place and she deserves her happiness. And that happiness is with Lord Dashiell.

Lord Dashiell's character and background isn't as complicated: he knows he's a rake and knows that rakes should stay away from innocent young ladies like Vivienne, but Vivienne is irresistible: she's beautiful, intelligent and she's Vivienne -- the one person who has made his stay in London bearable and worthwhile.

"If I really loved Vivienne, I wouldn't love Vivienne. She is the one female I care about whom I haven't hurt, and I'm keeping it that way."
- loc 470

He feels something for Vivienne but is trying to deny that it is love, even when it is very obvious to everyone (including his uncle). All throughout the novel, Lord Dashiell is fairly consistent in his internal conflict -- but there is one moment (Chapter 15) when he acts so out-of-character that I wanted to hit him over the head because of his boorishness. (Then I didn't like how he justified it with a "scarred by childhood memories" explanation. Sigh~)

The mystery of the man in the blue suit was a strong point in this story, though it got a bit complicated with all the personalities involved:
1. Lawrence James, the famous painter,
2. Aunt Gertrude and Vivienne's late uncle, Jeremiah,
3. Mr. Teakesbury,
4. Mrs. Angelica Fontaine,
5. Jenkinson,
etc.

The missing James's paintings, the blackmail, how everything directly affects Vivienne -- Susanna Ives created quite a tangled web of intrigue that has spanned over 20 years and it is being unraveled by our hero and heroine. I thought the author resolved this quite nicely and it was quite satisfying to see all the pieces fall into place at the end of the book.

I would have loved to read more of Lord Dashiell's uncle, the Earl of Baswiche -- and I thought his character could have been explored more: he served as the jester but he also made very accurate observations about the situation Vivienne and Lord Dashiell found themselves in.

Wicked Little Secrets by Susanna Ives will be released on December 3, 2013.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Wicked Little Secrets by Susanna Ives
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: December 3, 2013
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

Vivienne Taylor has finally won her family's approval by getting engaged to the wealthy John Vandergrift. Vivienne is determined to uphold Vandergrift's rigid Victorian ideal of womanhood, but when she discovers a vicious blackmail scheme, she turns to her childhood hero, Hadrian, Viscount Dashiell.

Soon the two become pawns in a wicked game of art theft and revenge, forcing them to face their fears and acknowledge their most secret and precious dream—a life together.

What I Liked:

Ahhh, so many things! I just finished this one, and I'm having a hard time focusing on what I liked, specifically. I mean, I very well can't say, I LOVED EVERYTHING JUST GO READ THIS ONE PLEASE! That wouldn't be very helpful, would it?

But anyway. I needed a good historical romance read. I've definitely been reading more than I had been at the beginning of the semester, but the books I've been reading haven't been AMAZING, or life-changing, or Earth-shattering. I'm not saying this one was, either, but I really needed a book like this, at this time. I didn't realize that until I finished it.

Vivienne's family is in dire need of money - and what better way to rectify that than to marry a rich, respected man? So, Vivienne miraculously gets engaged to John. Everything is looking up. Right? Well, yes, until Dashiell waltzes back into her life, moving back into the house next door, with his grandfather. Things get weird after that. Someone is blackmailing Vivienne's aunt, something is wrong with John, and inappropriate paintings seem to have more meaning than they should...

One of things I loved about this book was its complexity. It's not just a love story - in the first part of the book, it's barely that! This book doesn't just go into the depth of the attraction between Dashiell and Vivienne, throw a few situations at them, and then they're married. No. There is an actual plot that has nothing to do with the romance of the novel.

I'm talking about the blackmail, of course. The blackmail mystery is what really brings Vivienne and Dashiell together, despite them being in love with each other previously. Both of them know their duties - Vivienne's is to John, and Dashiell's is to stay away from the engaged Vivienne. But with the blackmail plot, the romance is intertwined. Brilliant!

So, this novel wasn't just romantic - it was very intelligent and complicated! And not in terms of romance. The romance is so sweet and subtle. I mean, we *know* about the chemistry between Dashiell and Vivienne, but that isn't what consumes the pages.

I know, you die-hard historical romance fans are probably thinking, so it's not much of a romance novel? Don't think that! It totally is! But it's not solely about the romance. The romance is a subplot, and is significant, but it's not EVERYTHING. The two plots connect at the end, and it's a nice ending.

I love love love Dashiell. Like, he is an awesome historical romance hero. He's not overbearing or uber masculine or whatever, but at the same time, you KNOW he's an alpha male. I do love alpha males, but only when they're not extremely controlling or aggressive, etc.

Vivienne is very fiery, and very intelligent. I like that she isn't the typical 19th-century female, who only cares about her appearance and whatnot. She has more depth to her. Occasionally, she does act that way, which makes sense, but annoys me a tiny bit. Ish.

Anyway. The romance is amazing, the plot is so cool, and the ending is superb. I really liked this novel! I almost wasn't going to read it, but I saw the word "blackmail" in the summary and I was like, heyyy, something different! Glad I took the chance.

What I Did Not Like:

As much as I like Vivienne, she is sooooo stupid sometimes. Like, she walks into a brothel on more than one occasion, and comes out feeling like a fool. Well, OBVIOUSLY you'll walk out feeling stupid! What were you trying to accomplish in the first place?! Like, she doesn't always think things through. It bothers me. I mean, way to live up to the stereotype that the fairer sex doesn't have as high brain capability/functioning as men. Sometimes, Vivienne is incredibly intelligent. Other times, she is SO DUMB.

End rant.

Would I Recommend It:

Totally! This is easily one of my favorite historical romance novels. I mean, I have a lot of historical romance novels that I really liked, but I have quite a few that were meh or worse. This is definitely one of ones I would recommend over quite a few others!

Rating:

4 stars. What a fun book! Exciting, complex, yet hilarious and enjoyable!

[Diane Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every now and then, after reading hundreds of historical romances, you run across a book that is truly, refreshingly different. Wicked Little Secrets is a delight of a little story, unlike any I can recall. If it were a movie it would definitely be a romantic comedy, complete with touches of slapstick. The hero and heroine were both a little silly and very flawed, but unquestionably fun. Romance readers will enjoy this Victorian romp.

Just about the time that Vivienne Taylor finally secures an engagement to wealthy John Vandergriff, who should arrive back in town but her childhood friend (and secret heart-throb), Lord Dashiell. Years before Dashiell had felt sorry for his precocious next-door neighbor and declared her his little sister. He has spent the meantime sowing his oats in archeological pursuits and wild living. Upon seeing Vivienne when he returns Dashiell realizes that his feelings for her are no longer sisterly. Vivienne realizes that she is still attracted to Dashiell, but she must marry John because her family is close to financial ruin. Our hero and heroine become embroiled in a mystery involving her aunt, his grandfather, a couple of whorehouse madams, and more. Twists and turns abound as Vivienne and Dashiell try (not very successfully) to fight their growing attraction and avoid entanglements that neither is free to enjoy. Vivienne’s impulsiveness and naiveté and Dashiell’s attempts to be a better man make for a lot of humorous adventures.

I liked many, many things about Wicked Little Secrets. It was quirky, charming and laugh-out-loud funny in places. Susanna Ives has such great comic vision that I suspect she should be comedy screenwriter. I think that most readers “see” the story in their mind’s eye when they read, playing like a movie. The book’s hilarious scenes were so accurately described that the reader could picture every movement. I cannot recall another book where a writer used visual imagery in quite the same way. The fun was not limited to action scenes; Ives injected plenty of humorous dialogue as well. Vivienne and Dashiell were both endearingly flawed characters. Far from being “large and in charge,” they were both emotional and a little goofy, making poor but well-intentioned decisions. There was a rather complicated mystery that unfolded during the story and it kept the reader’s attention. A secondary budding romance between his grandfather and her aunt was pretty close to adorable. Ives successfully managed to poke fun at religion without being irreverent. My only significant criticism of the book was that the writing was a bit choppy. It didn’t flow as nicely as I would have liked. At times the movement of the story seemed a bit erratic, but Wicked Little Secrets made up for that with fun. You don’t want to miss this book – it was a hoot.

[Lillie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

The book started out terribly. There was literally a conversation among LADIES about boobies. Yes. They said "boobies", i kid you not. Then an old naked man appears shouting about the duties of a wife. I'll just let that sink in for a second...



The author spent too much time trying to make the situations funny and fast paced, so much so that i couldn't keep up for a second. Half the time I had to keep going back to make sure what happened happened.



i felt no connection to the characters or the situation, mainly cause i never got the chance to. You hardly ever get a glimpse of their emotions aside from a paragraph or two and then BAM ahhaha something silly happens like the hero stubs his two TWICE trying to save a 3,000 yr old Persian Tablet. Oh that silly Lord Dashiell.



And then it immediately moves on to the next scene. It just felt like the story didn't take itself, or its characters, seriously.

To make matters worse, the writing wasn't all that impressive. The conversations were all over the place and seemed to have very little direction. One minute they're talking about artifacts the next embroidery and the next weather. There was almost no direction in the dialogue and it felt too MODERN. Remember what i said before about the ladies saying "boobies"? Yeh, there's more of that "I don't think they'd say that.." going on.




Long story short; i DNF. What started as a good premise: a heroine interested in archaeology and a womanizing hero but from what i read, it ended up being turned into a big joke. The author spent too much time and effort trying to make things funny and entertaining to the point that it's almost desperate and sad in its attempt. There's more than one scene in the first chapter that's ridiculous, over the top, and silly. I didn't even have time to CREATE a connection with the characters because I'm thrown into this tornado of activity and "hey look at this he stubbed his toe ahahhah" joke fest.

I probably won't read the next book even though i was looking forward to it. Too much in this one just left me really disappointed.

[Özlem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yazar pek bilinenlerden olmadığı ve kitabın Goodreads puanı görece düşük olduğu için beklenti içine girmeden okumuştum ama çok şahaneydi demesem de beklediğimden güzel bir hikaye çıktı karşıma.

Bir kere dram kısımları hakkını vermişti. Sürekli bir terslik veya skandal üstüne skandal okuyunca üstüne bunlar da merak ettiren ve heyecanlandıran olaylar olunca siz de oturduğunuz yerden heyecanlanıyorsunuz. Şu da var ki o kadar drama rağmen havayı hafifletecek komiklikler de yaşanıyor. Genel olarak saçma olsalar da beni hiç rahatsız etmedi hatta kitabı daha da güzelleştirdiğini düşünüyorum.

Başlarına gelen saçma komikliklerin baş sorunlusu olan Dashiell tam bir ayaklı bela :D Harbisinden çapkın, genel anlamda serseri şekilde gezen, gözünün önündeki hazineyi fark edemeyen bir salak olsa da Vivienne'sinin sorunlarını çözerken olabildiğince olgunlaştığını görüyoruz. Vivienne de aşık olmasına rağmen kendini bu tek taraflı sevdaya kaptırmamış, salağının yaptıklarından keyif alan ama oldukça zeki bıcır bir hanımdı. Neredeyse unutuyordum, Dashiell'in bir amcası var ki o tam evlere şenlik. Dashiell'in kime çektiği belli ama amca bizimkinden daha manyak bir tip :D

Sonuç olarak dramı ve eğlencesi güzel harmanlanmış sevilesi karakterlerle dolu bir kitaptı.

[Alexia Chantel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book won through Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.

The bad boy, the sweet innocent, and a mystery that sucks them both in. What a great plot for Wicked Little Secrets!

Instead of the usual rake and innocent characters, Vivienne and Dashiell have a spark and wicked personalities all their own. Lord Dashiell loves his relics, the time he spent trying to piece back together his bust of Athena is proof of that. Then comes the next thing he loves, but doesn’t admit to...his beautiful neighbor. Vivienne has been in love with her bad boy neighbor, Dashiell, since she was young. Now that she is engaged, every interaction with Dashiell sends her heart racing so much more than her intended does. What is a girl to do?

Seduce the rogue. Before Vivienne has the gumption to do that, she must track down the mysterious messenger that appears to be the source of her aunt’s distress. The adventure lover that he is, and that he can’t let innocent Vivienne traipse about by herself, Dashiell accompanies her and ends up as entwined in the blackmail and sordid history as she is. Dashiell’s grandfather pops in from time to time, him and his cronies offer comic relief and do their best to help the two love birds out.

What makes it all the sweeter is the romance between Dash and Vivienne. A wonderful historical romance.


Alternate review posted at Reading Between the Wines:
http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook...

[Jasmyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one really didn't do it for me. It went too far with an overly independent woman, crazy aunt, roguish hero, and jerky "right choice" man. Everything needed to be reigned in a bit because all three characters were over the top, and together it was just way too much.

Vivienne wants to be an explorer - awesome. I love an adventurous heroine. But she so snubs the way things should be that she would have been ruined and her prim and proper fiance would have jilted her long ago - I'm not sure he would have proposed to begin with. From wandering London along, to being caught coming out of a well-known rake's house unaccompanied - it just would never have been accepted.

Even the scenery was working against the story for me. The secret panels and the things that are found inside them were just way too over the top. I was engaged just enough to want to see how this could possibly end well. There's a good twist at one point that was a great aspect, but overall I was disappointed, especially after having enjoyed the second book in the series so much.

[Tina Whittle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smart, sexy fun -- if you love characters with wit, charm, and a certain predilection for trouble, then hie thee to the bookstore and grab this novel. Dashiell is a rake of the highest order, but he's got a heart of gold in that fantastic chest of his, and while it beats with a hunter's zeal for all things archaeological, his truest and most unrequited passion is for Vivienne. Clever, desperate and most sweetly conniving, Vivienne tries to crush her own passions in order to be a Victorian good girl -- the only way she can see out of her particular predicament being to land a solid husband -- but her spirit proves uncrushable, especially her own feelings for her rakehell neighbor Dashiell. A ripping good plot -- blackmail! murder! brothels! -- and two irresistible leads make this one well deserving of its place on the Best of 2013 lists (as in this one: http://bnreview.barnesandnoble.com/t5...

[Nakeesha]

Lovely writing, interesting characters, stakes high from the outset, you can see each character's "essence" and how they would be perfect for each other but they're both looking in the wrong direction. I didn't wind up finishing the work because it displayed two pet peeves of mine. The author began head hopping after the first act. She did it well. I always knew whose head I was in, but I've been trained to switch gears at the sight of a line or chapter break. It actually gives me a headache when an author does it any other way. My other peeve is when a romance (a really good and well paced romance) suddenly turns into a mystery. I'm not a mystery fan and clues give me a headache.

Even with dual headaches, I still highly recommend this book! The characters took up a place in my heart in just two chapters. The writing really was lovely. I might go back to it when I'm lounging on a beach and slug through the clues to get to the HEA.

ARC provided by Netgally

[Carissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this was a good read and I enjoyed the interactions between the two main characters. But there were parts of the story that were just overkill to the point where the story simply became ridiculous.

[Ai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read. Fast paced with an interesting plot that has twists that constantly surprise the reader. Vivienne is spirited, sweet, bold, inquisitive, and easy to like. Dashiell is a rake with big heart when it comes to Vivienne. I'm beginning to realize that I prefer stories where the Hero makes a rather gallant attempt at not boning the Heroine upon first sight. There's something so interesting about a forbidden romance where the tension grows and grows with each page despite knowing you can't or shouldn't have the other person. And try as you might, there's only so much resistance you can put up before you both fall into temptation. I'm so tired of stories with bored dukes with so much money it's coming out of their ears and the only excitement they can find is to pursue the Heroine who's got some flaw (widow, poor, social outcast, etc.). Dashiell travels the world collecting artifacts and he's NOT the richest man in London. Sure, he's a rake and has a reputation of leaving a woman in tears right before he leaves on his next expedition, but he's also respected, educated, and knowledgeable enough to lead lectures in historical artifacts. The book hints at a complex and dark past, but I wish it had delved deeper.

The story is more mystery than romance, so if you want a steamy romance novel, this isn't it. I can count the number of sex scenes on one hand. On one finger to be exact. Nevertheless, the story was engaging and I couldn't stop reading as Vivienne and Dashiell uncovered more clues about who was blackmailing her family and why. One thing I didn't expect was for the book to be so amusing.

[Ariel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, let's talk about this book for a minute. It's gonna get spoilery, so hold onto your butts.

When I started this book, I was SUPER EXCITED. Friends to lovers, a sassy heroine, a hero who is likeable, awesome.
Except about half way through it took a turn for the WTF.
1) I liked Vivienne as a heroine at the beginning quite a bit. She seemed spirited and sassy and capable of being awesome. Except every time she went up against her husband to be, she turned into a mushy trembling platypus. All the fire out of her - poof.
2) 3/4 of the way through the book, the plot takes an OUTRAGEOUS turn when the MC decides the only way to get out of her situation is to SELL HERSELF TO A BROTHEL. Why. Whyyyy. This is not a good idea.
3) I get squicked out at the friends to lovers trope of "Oh, she was like my little sister, and now that she's grown I want to bang her." Eww. Please don't. No one wants that.
4) The hero suffers from a great lack of "can't keep it in his pants." Not just that he's a rake - aren't all heros?- but because his lust overtakes him so much around our heroine that he weirdly kisses her for no reason at all (not romantically even!) and has "i want her thoughts" to a level that borders on kinda creepy.

I guess I am just disappointed in this one because the writing is good, there is humor in it, and the characters started out being a hoot.
It just petered into weird and lost me. 2 stars.

[Victoria · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should have known when this book started at a bible reading that it wouldn't be the book for me. Vivienne the main character is a dichotomy of both needy good girl and desperate bad girl. She goes from forced tears to get what she wants, to calculating vixen. In all honestly she sounds mildly unhinged. Top it all off with a "bad boy" who isn't really a bad boy at all unless you count him being able to throw a punch, sleep with married women who are looking for a bit of distraction, and goes on adventures around the world.

I also hated that the author used the trope of oh let me try to sleep with him so he has to marry me. Ugh.

And finally the overarching story/mystery/plot was so convoluted and drawn out I just didn't care.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fanciful and funny! I loved this book. I have not yet read very much of this author but intend to read a lot more.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and you will find yourself crossing your fingers that they will take the leap.
I did not find myself scimming like I often do in many romance novels.
I haven't stayed up until three in the morning to finish a book in a long time.
Refreshing and a must read!

[Joan Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful!

Words can't describe how absolutely delightful this story was. The mystery of why Vivienne's Aunt was being blackmailed was interesting and I truly loved Lord Dashiell and how Vivienne and him just were so perfect together. Vivienne was a wonderful heroine, so feisty, kind and intelligent and so much more deserving of a man better than her fiance John. I would highly recommend this book!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a comedy. Vivienne's aunt and Dashiell's grandfather were constantly making sexual innuendo comments throughout the book. It got very tedious. Vivienne has the weight of finding a way to support her entire family. A family who has spoken poorly of her her entire life. All of the minor characters were written like a comedic movie. The story was a slap stick affair from front to back. Very silly.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is positively a satire on romance novels. There is wacky, zany, ridiculous characters. Whacky, zany, ridiculous plot points. Silly coincidences.

Pious people are actually scumbags and whores.

The FMC is too stupid to live and she's so ditzy that I'm shocked she can walk in a straight line.

The MMC is a scared, dense, rake.

The other characters are equally silly and ridiculous.

It was a fun romp!

[Leonora · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried hard to like this one but it just felt lacking. Everybody in it is really dumb, it's a bit of a truly bawdy Barbara Metzger (to the point where yes, there is a dog!) but missing a lot of what makes it work in her books. The timeline is weird, the ML's described world travelling seems to be at speeds not really possible at the time the book takes place, people can't stop doing really boneheaded things in an irritating way. I generally dig idiots in love but it didn't work.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I felt about this book. Everything was right, good, present and accounted for but I just couldn't connect to it. Liked the characters, the plot moved along very well, made logical sense without being predictable, but I just couldn't get vested in it. I believe this to be my fault and not the author's. I would recommend it for anyone else.

[Scoyphenson · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars, really. The disconnect between histrionic Methodist dogma and frank descriptions of body parts during sex was hard to reconcile. I find myself hoping the dogma was offered satirically, because it was an interesting and original story. I will give this author another try to see how her writing unfolds.

[Adelaide · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pandemic Romance Book Club-- Perhaps the worst romance novel I've read to date. Really overdone humor. Metaphors explained explicitly multiple times, in case you missed them. Very creepy we-met-when-she-was-a-child problem. Unnecessarily racist opium den as a total sidenote. Prince Albert entering to save the day was truly the highlight.