Return to Wildsyde

Wicked Sons #3

by Emma V. Leech

Their mothers dared all for love...
Their sisters did the same.
Something wicked this way comes...

The oldest trick in the book…
When Lyall Anderson, Viscount Buchanan, starts a passionate affair with Miss Lilith Fulbright, he realises too late that he’s been playing with fire. Caught in a compromising position by her parents, it’s all too obvious the beautiful, amoral young woman is only hungry for wealth and a title and has no regard for him whatsoever. Humiliated and furious, Lyall does his duty as an honourable man, knowing that his future with such a woman will be one of misery.

Adding insult to injury…
When Lilith discovers her husband is not one she can manipulate, she takes her chance to run off with another man and comes to a disastrous end, drowning in a shipwreck.

In the aftermath of his wife’s death, Lyall is stunned to discover he has been named as guardian to her cousin, Luella, and Jack, who is only twelve. Knowing full well this is just another scheme from a family who are infamous for being fraudsters and conmen, Lyall refuses to trust his new wards so much as an inch.

Tarred by the same brush…
Luella does not blame her new guardian for his suspicion and anger at being manipulated into providing for them. Her opinion of her late father is little different from the viscount’s, and all she wants is her inheritance, so she can begin a new life with her brother and give him a decent future, away from the shame of their family’s scandalous ways. Lyall is determined to stick to the letter of his guardianship, however, and refuses to let the two out of his sight for fear of the tricks they may play.

When attraction overrules good sense…
Little by little, and with a deal of nagging from both his mother and his housekeeper, Lyall is forced to admit that his new wards are not exactly what he expected, and a grudging admiration pushes aside resentment and suspicion.
Whisky has a lot to answer for, however, and a moment's indiscretion could change everything.

This is the third book in Wicked Sons and while it can be read as a stand alone, it is much more enjoyable when read as part of of not only Wicked Sons series but Daring Daughters and Girls Who Dare series.
The Devil To Pay - Book 1
Wrecking Belle - Book 2
Return to Wildsyde - Book 3

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency Romance, Victorian

307 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 15, 2023

About the author

Bestselling author hiding mostly in 19th-century England, venturing out only for chocolate and tea.

Emma V. Leech is the award-winning author of multiple bestselling series across Regency romance, Regency mystery and paranormal romance. Fall in love with swoon-worthy rogues, bold heroines, witty banter and deeply romantic happily-ever-afters. Follow Emma on BookBub for new releases and exclusive deals.

EMMA’S BOOKS

Rogues And Gentlemen
Regency romance – 17-book series (ongoing)
Sexy, tumultuous and irresistibly romantic. From pirates and smugglers to earls and dukes, these unforgettable rogues will sweep you away!

Winter Rogue
A Regency Christmas romance within the Rogues & Gentlemen world
A scandal-weary earl, a runaway heiress and a crumbling country estate snowed in for Christmas. A sensual, heart-tugging holiday novella about redemption, desire and a love neither of them expects.

A Rogues and Gentlemen Christmas
A standalone Regency Christmas romance
A collection of three romantic holiday stories featuring beloved Rogues & Gentlemen characters. Expect snowstorms, sizzling tension, unexpected proposals, mistletoe moments and heart-melting happily-ever-afters – a cosy festive escape for Regency romance lovers.

The Girl Is Not For Christmas
A standalone Regency Christmas romance
Miss Olivia Penrose is the only thing standing between her family and ruin when a brooding aristocrat crashes into her carefully laid plans. Sparks fly amid family secrets, snowy scandals and irresistible festive longing in this passionate, witty and deeply romantic winter read.

Girls Who Dare
Regency romance – 12-book series
Inside every wallflower is the heart of a lioness. When these overlooked young women make a pact to change their lives, rules are broken, reputations are risked and love becomes the most daring adventure of all.

Daring Daughters
Victorian romance – 19-book series and two compilations
The next generation of the Girls Who Dare. Their mothers risked everything for love – now their daughters are ready to be even bolder. An ongoing series of fiercely romantic stories set in a rapidly changing world.

Wicked Sons
Victorian romance – 12-book series
Their mothers dared all for love. Their sisters did the same. Now it’s the sons’ turn… dangerous, tempting and determined not to fall – until the right woman brings them to their knees.

The Venturesome Ladies Of Little Valentine
Regency romance – my current series
A quiet seaside village, a wave of scandalous newcomers and local ladies who refuse to be swept aside. A warm, witty Regency series full of secrets, second chances and delicious enemies-to-lovers romance.

The Regency Romance Mysteries
Regency romantic suspense – 3-book series
Dashing heroes, wicked villains, murder, mystery – and heroines who refuse to sit prettily and wait to be rescued. Perfect if you like your Regency romance served with danger and intrigue.

The French Vampire Legend
Paranormal romance – 4-book series
A dark, dramatic and heart-wrenching tale of courage, sacrifice and a love that not even time, war or monsters can destroy. Gothic atmosphere, high stakes and a romance that refuses to die.

The French Fae Legend
Fantasy romance – 4-book series
An award-winning saga with close to sixteen million online reads. Moving between modern-day France and the Fae Lands, these books weave powerful magic, danger and an all-consuming love that proves stronger than any enchantment.

The Book Lover
A standalone paranormal romance novella
A book-obsessed young woman, an infuriatingly charming stranger and the unnerving sense that stories might be bleeding into real life. A short, intensely romantic tale for anyone who has ever fallen in love with books… and perhaps with something not entirely of this world.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma V Leech is back.

Whatever that secret ingredient is that the author weaves through her books that was sorely missing in the previous two books of this series, was present in spades in Return to Wildsyde.

Heartwarming, funny, sprinkled with hints of mystery and intrigue to come. I couldn’t put it down. There is so much depth to Lyall and Luella’s characters, along with the side characters too. I was invested all around.

These books, these characters, are like an old friend. I can’t express how glad I am that they’re back. Long may they continue.

[BJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disliked alliteration Louella, Lyall and the rather OTT H who was mean, ensures h pays for the sins of his first wife. The h is actually sweetly determined to leave as soon as she can. They manage to avoid their mutual attraction until they can't. I liked how the young boy was written, natural and real.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I really loved reading Lyall and Luella’s story. Very enjoyable and engaging. The sneak peeks at what is going on in the other sons lives makes me want to read the next book asap (pity it’s not released yet).

[Roxanna Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

So far in this series, this is my favorite. It has more depth to it. I am still disappointed in the cover. I believe Wicked Sons should be given the same consideration as both the female stories. As you may can tell, covers are important to me.

[Luciie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but not great

Honestly, I love Emma V Leech books and DEVOURED the previous series' , reading the newer book the moment they released. This new series, though, is missing the spicy charm I love.. which is even weirder considering the series title contains the word 'wicked'.

I still really enjoyed the story, but it would be so much better with more of her signature spice and 'tension'. Not to say there's none - but it's just not at the same level as the mother's and daughters books (and if anything, I wouldn't have complained of some of them had ramped it up - but I loved her story telling so much that she quickly became my favour historical romance author).

Please bring back more spice... I want to see these wicked sons be WICKED, please and thank you.

[Susan Saltos · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was much better than the previous two books in the series. Almost to the level of Girls Who Dare and Daring Daughters but not quite. I enjoyed the characters. I would have liked to have seen more of Luella and Lyall spending time together as even though they were attracted to each other, most of the book was them avoiding each other. I didn’t really feel the chemistry between them though the book stated they desired each other. I didn’t feel it or really see it until the very end. It would have been nice to have seen Jack spend some more time with Lyall and have them get to know each other better as well. Though the couple of scenes between them was very sweet. I think before Lyall ran off to find Luella, and he promised Jack he wouldn’t return without her that Lyall should have asked Jack if it would be okay with him to ask Luella to marry him. At that point, Lyall knew he wanted to make her his wife and to include Jack in a decision that would also affect his life would have gone a long way in building their relationship with each other. I really enjoyed the little snippets we got to see of the other characters in this world especially Thorn, Pip and Larkin. I’m looking forward to reading their stories. It looks like they have some interesting women entering their lives. The book was much better paced (it flowed really well) than the previous books and Ms Leech seems to have gotten her groove back! It seems sex before marriage is now out of the question in Ms Leech’s books, and I can understand her and her husband’s decision on that matter, however that doesn’t mean the chemistry couldn’t have been turned up much higher with looks, touches, inner thoughts or conversations with other characters about their feelings for the other. It would have been a much better book with more happening in all respects between the two lead characters.

[Joyce West · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was better than the previous two books in the series. What I liked about it were the two principle characters, Lyall and Luella. I'm rather partial to a good looking Scot in a kilt. At first I thought the brogue would annoy me but as I read on it became more comfortable. I thought the chemistry between them was good and it was easy to understand Lyall's suspicions about Luella' motives after his wife's trickery. Luella's ability to immerse herself in culinary skills gave her the excuse to hide from Lyall both because of his animosity and her increasing attraction. It was good to meet up with old friends, particularly Ruth and Helena and their roles in promoting our heroine were invaluable. I read this book in two halves, the first 60% from midnight to 2am and the remainder on waking. When I put the lights out I'd decided Emma hadn't got her mojo back and felt despondent. By the time I'd finished I thought it was getting there but still not right.The second half included more intimacy than the first, which may account for it but overall it still lacks the passion of the earlier two series. It's clean and sweet but that's not what the reader expects from this author so it is disappointing.
The story line was a little contrived over the very unlikely guardian issue but I appreciate something was needed to get them together. Once more the activities of the other sons provided subplots often more entertaining than the main one. They're obviously hooks for the future but there were so many. I recall the slow build up of the Louis/Evie story which had us all salivating, but there is no such subtlety here.
I'm hoping the next in the series picks up the pace and regains the spice and excitement of the earlier series novels.

[Wendy Tavenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

His Second Chance at Love

I have absolutely loved each and every book in the girls, daughters and sons books.
When Lyall was caught in a compromising position with Lilith Fulbright he is honor bound to marry her. But all she wanted was his wealth and title. When Lilith realized that Lyall cannot be manipulated she entices a young cub from one of Lyalls tenants and runs off with him. Unfortunately the both drowned and Lyall is a free man or so he thought.
Luella and her 12 yr old brother Jack Fulbright are alone in the world after he father dies. He leaves a will naming Lyall Anderson as their guardian. Lyall goes berserk and wants nothing to do with it. He will honor the wishes because he doesn’t want people to think he is not honorable. When he meets them he tells them to stay out of his way and he does not want any of the manipulative family here. Luella must prove to him and his staff that she and her brother are nothing like her cousin.
A beautifully written story with a wonderful ending.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent instalment in this new series. Reading these books is like meeting up with old friends - I feel such affection for the characters having followed them and their parents through the previous two series. Return to Wildsyde tells the story of Lyall (Gordy and Ruth's eldest son) and Luella. It was in parts both touching and funny; I really cared about what happened to all the characters. The sub plot involving the Sons of Hades promises to develop over future books and looks like it's going to have a big impact on how those potential relationships develop. There were a couple of heavy hints as to what the next book is going to be about - only problem is the long wait until the next one!

[Shirin · Rating 5 out of 5]

She's Back!!!

Wow, this was a lovely story. It's so nice to have Mrs Leech back to her usual style. Great detail, gripping, and a believable love story. You could feel the curiosity between them, the pull. It was wonderful to read and feel completely engaged, although I am tired from being up half the night but that is testament in itself. Excellent hints at the next book, as well as snippets back to pip and Tilly finally meeting her grandparents. And lest we forget, we have an enemy in our mist. Intriguing! Still, maybe not quite the level of wicked one would expect. With the girls having had a few fallen women in them, I am surprised at how Christian all the "wicked" sons are! Alas, maybe Thorn will be the one to amp up heat!

[LainieLibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I very much agree with the reviews here - this was super enjoyable and makes me feel like some of Emma’s magic is back. The last few books in this series, and honestly a lot of the Daring Daughters books, have felt particularly lackluster. I found myself always looking forward hoping the next couple/book would be better - but I felt very immersed in this story and loved the development. Even with Emma moving towards less spice - this proves there can still be tension and angst in the story!

I read this in one sitting - I couldn’t put it down. The relationship development is perfect. I loved Luella and her genuine attempt to be a good person given her horrible family and how much she cared for her little brother. It was super sweet seeing Lyall interact with her brother as well. Lyall was the perfect amount of gruff, and jaded from his experience, while being a big softy underneath it all. I’m hoping the next book is just as good - it already seems super intriguing!

[Salustra Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun romp

I really love her writing style, fun, crisp, good depth of characters. You feel like you are there. My favorite part is her letters as an away to keep past friends in the action and more next story along. It gives you intriguing pieces of a puzzle and onsite into a character thoughts in a snapshot of time. L & L were great together on to the next puzzle I mean romance!

[Gayla McNicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

She's back!

Thrilled to discover Return to Wildsyde was a return to the engaging storytelling I was accustomed to reading in an EVL book! Lyall and Luella are fully developed and complex characters that draw you in and keep you reading far beyond bedtime. I hope future books continue to be as engaging and the disappointing book 2 in this series remains an anomaly.

[Sherry Vorhaben · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great one

Emma has done it again. I read a negative sounding review and I just don’t get it. How can anyone not appreciate and love the way she writes? This was a wonderful book. She captures you from the first page. There are very few books that I have trouble putting down. Every book she writes does this for me. Can’t wait for the next one.

[AmazingJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Wonderful, Entertaining & Romantic Story.

Thus story was Absolutely Wonderful.
Luella & Lyall were wonderful characters.

I am looking forward to reading Thomas & Marie's story in the next book in this series.

[Nicole LaBoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it

It was a hard story to put down once I started. I was glued to the pages. It was a page turner. Forced marriage and death, and he was named a guardian for his dead wife's cousins, and he's not happy.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lyall suffered through his first marriage to a deceitful lady and when he finds himself unexpectedly released from that marriage he doesn’t trust his wards who are foisted on him due to their father’s will. In the end he realizes ot all ladies are created equal and he finds his hea

[Agnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the story of Ruth and Gordy, and loved the story of Llyal and Luella! It must be the knees! :D Thank havens the next book is coming in a little over two months!

[Michele Hawthorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

Beautiful story full of live, laughter and of course plenty of drama! The characters come to life and I would be happy to know them personally.

[Cass_saag · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brb gonna go read all the other books in this series

[Holly Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was pretty good. I love Emma Leech. The other 2 books were soso. This one was much better

[Sokosita · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best of the series so far! Can't wait for another book!

[Renee Ferritto · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best so far in this series about the sons of the Girls Who Dare. The characters were very realistic and relatable. Lyall and Luella’s story has all the angst and frustration expected by a history of fortune hunting and scheming. Once lost, trust must be earned.

[Jessica Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

review

A sweet and wonderful regency tale that tells of love, trust, and a family that stands together regardless of their circumstances.

[Brenda Geddes]

Very nice and awesome

[Marci Marin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, love this series, Emma Leech is a genius, such a storyteller

[Yo · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖

[sd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pulls the heartstrings

Loved this story, I teared up multiple times with the push and pull between the leads. Memorable read with lovely characters.

[Dick Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

He had to be trapped by one cousin to find true love with another.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. The heroine is real and selfless and the hero is understandably adverse to a relationship yet honorable. Is it any wonder they fall in love. But the story is entertaining and you root for them to find a way to make things work.