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The de Montforte Brothers #4
The Wicked One
The bluest of blood; the boldest of hearts; the de Montforte brothers will take your breath away.
Meet Lucien de Montforte ...
The head of his noble family, the dark and dangerous Duke of Blackheath spends his time manipulating other lives without giving a thought to finding a wife of his own. Yet Lucien must admit he finds exquisite Eva de la Mouriére most intriguing. What adventurous, red-blooded male would not be intrigued by a flame-haired beauty who appears in his chambers demanding that he make love to her? Certainly this hot-tempered minx would make a delightful bedmate —- though surely not a bride.
Eva knows Lucien is the cause of all her current misfortunes, yet he refuses to be humiliated. But the worst betrayer is her own heart. No match for Lucien's seductive mastery, Eva craves the blackguard as she's never craved another. She must resist this rogue, but how long can she deny her own passion—or Lucien's blossoming genuine love—in the face of his scheming family's successful attempts to force a wedding?
Meet Lucien de Montforte ...
The head of his noble family, the dark and dangerous Duke of Blackheath spends his time manipulating other lives without giving a thought to finding a wife of his own. Yet Lucien must admit he finds exquisite Eva de la Mouriére most intriguing. What adventurous, red-blooded male would not be intrigued by a flame-haired beauty who appears in his chambers demanding that he make love to her? Certainly this hot-tempered minx would make a delightful bedmate —- though surely not a bride.
Eva knows Lucien is the cause of all her current misfortunes, yet he refuses to be humiliated. But the worst betrayer is her own heart. No match for Lucien's seductive mastery, Eva craves the blackguard as she's never craved another. She must resist this rogue, but how long can she deny her own passion—or Lucien's blossoming genuine love—in the face of his scheming family's successful attempts to force a wedding?
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 25, 2012
1950 people are currently reading
1327 people want to read
About the author
Danelle Harmon
41 books471 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Danelle Harmon has written seventeen critically acclaimed and award-winning books, with many being published all over the world. A Massachusetts native, she has lived in Great Britain, though these days she and her English husband make their home in New England with their daughter Emma and numerous animals including five dogs, an Egyptian Arabian horse, and a flock of pet chickens. Danelle enjoys reading, spending time with family, friends and her animals, dog showing, plane-spotting, and sailing her reproduction 19th century skiff, Kestrel II. She welcomes email from her readers and can be reached at Danelle@danelleharmon.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
February 18, 2023
Wow this by far was so far my favorite of this series. Let’s just start off by saying the sexual heat 🔥🔥between Lucien and Eve (well quite literally was like taking a match to dry grass) Their raw sexual need for each other was evident (and as the reader I dare not look away) Pair this with a extremely great plot and superb character development put this book (to the top pick in the series thus far)
Lucien is supremely masculine,most defiantly arrogant, utterly loyal (his devotion to his family) He’s the “devil” with the heart of gold. I quite honestly loved him from the beginning (and loved him even more at the end)
Eve she is a powerful lioness, drips confidence(sexual), she powerful yet extremely vulnerable. Her strength along with her vulnerability made her such an engaging character and her quest to overcome (her fears) much sweeter. Quite honestly she by far was one of my favorite heroines.
If you read it alone for the sexual heat you’ll enjoy it. Pair that with the amazing story you won’t be disappointed.
Lucien is supremely masculine,most defiantly arrogant, utterly loyal (his devotion to his family) He’s the “devil” with the heart of gold. I quite honestly loved him from the beginning (and loved him even more at the end)
Eve she is a powerful lioness, drips confidence(sexual), she powerful yet extremely vulnerable. Her strength along with her vulnerability made her such an engaging character and her quest to overcome (her fears) much sweeter. Quite honestly she by far was one of my favorite heroines.
If you read it alone for the sexual heat you’ll enjoy it. Pair that with the amazing story you won’t be disappointed.
August 17, 2016
I was really looking forward to this book. I even found myself somewhat rushing through the previous 2 books just so I could start on this one. I already liked the hero (a lot,) much of the background for the story and pretty much all of the characters had already been introduced and developed in the the other 3 books, and the premises of the story was very intriguing to me. And you know, the beguining of the book did not disappoint. The h showed herself to be just as cunning, capable, haughty and every bit as interesting as the H. I loved their encounters and the almost duel like way that they dealt with their attraction towards each other with both of them using it for their own advantage. The chemistry was certainly there.
So what went wrong?
At the end of the day however it's still a pretty good book. Lucien is just the kind of hero I adore. Dangerous, intelligent and in control. He learned from his mistakes changed and grew into a better person, yet still retained all the characteristics that made him the alpha hero I love. Eva was self-confident, independent, very adept and for the most part unflappable and intelligent. She was the perfect match for Lucien and their interactions were filled with sexual tension and tussles for control. The story was filled with action, the sex scenes were pretty hot and the ending was suitably satisfactory.
So what went wrong?
At the end of the day however it's still a pretty good book. Lucien is just the kind of hero I adore. Dangerous, intelligent and in control. He learned from his mistakes changed and grew into a better person, yet still retained all the characteristics that made him the alpha hero I love. Eva was self-confident, independent, very adept and for the most part unflappable and intelligent. She was the perfect match for Lucien and their interactions were filled with sexual tension and tussles for control. The story was filled with action, the sex scenes were pretty hot and the ending was suitably satisfactory.
June 6, 2012
The moment your name appear in The Wild One, I knows that you gonna steal my heart away. You got a mind full of wicked designs and I love you for being a good brother and hero in de Montforte series.
New cover for my favourite hero, Lucien
I have just finished reading Te Wicked One and it's pretty awesome. I felt the ending seemed rushed, I wish it lasted longer. I think Nerissa kind of deserves her own book, I wanted to know how their lives continued
New cover for my favourite hero, Lucien
I have just finished reading Te Wicked One and it's pretty awesome. I felt the ending seemed rushed, I wish it lasted longer. I think Nerissa kind of deserves her own book, I wanted to know how their lives continued
December 19, 2009
An old historical favourite. Definitely the cream of the crop out of the quartet. I love the hero and the heroine—there is just so much heat between these two, in the banter, in their fiesty personalities, and the love scenes OMG. The ending was flamboyant and over-the-top, but it worked for me anyway. I wouldn't mind owning this eventually.
March 8, 2010
The One Series. I scarfed these down like candy. Harmon's de Montforte brothers are each delicious, and every book is better than the last. Unfortunately, most are out of print, but if you see them in the used bookstore, definitely grab a copy. Also, the last book, The Wicked One, is still available and stands alone very well.
July 27, 2014
I don't think I can take anymore. This series started off ok even though Garreth was an idiot in general, Juliette saved it for me. It started going donwhill for me in book 2 when Charles was a pansy instead of a dealing with his problems like a man (Amy saved that one). He whined and carried on just because he was no longer 'perfect'. I sunk even lower in book 3 when Andrew turned out to be The Childish One vs. The Defiant one (No Save from anyne). I loved Lucien from books 1-3 so I was hoping his story would redeem my disappointment; alas I am not to be indulged.
The first problem I have with this book is with EVA. If she were a side character I could swat her off like an irritating pest and finish without a thought. Instead we have to deal w/ her scheming, deceitful, non-remoreseful, hateful personality the entire book, no thank you! The author could have given him a heroin who was witty/smart but with a good heart but no we have tough as nails Eva. Then his sorry excuse for a family contantly wanting to see his downfall w/o a care for consequences, not ever considering that although he schemed, he had his reasons... LOVE for his family. They in turn meddle for revenge and to be spiteful. Then theres my dear, dear Lucien who was a shell of himself in this book.
I was hoping this author was a keeper but I am not sure i'll ever read anything else of hers. I dislike leaving a book in a series unread (especially the ending) but based off my feelings after listening to 3hrs and skimming over the reviews of what is to come I am going to bow out for now. Maybe I'll finish one day but it won't be today. If I could issue 0 stars I would, not only for the horrible heroin and ungrateful family but for ruining Lucien's character and what should have been his HEA.
The first problem I have with this book is with EVA. If she were a side character I could swat her off like an irritating pest and finish without a thought. Instead we have to deal w/ her scheming, deceitful, non-remoreseful, hateful personality the entire book, no thank you! The author could have given him a heroin who was witty/smart but with a good heart but no we have tough as nails Eva. Then his sorry excuse for a family contantly wanting to see his downfall w/o a care for consequences, not ever considering that although he schemed, he had his reasons... LOVE for his family. They in turn meddle for revenge and to be spiteful. Then theres my dear, dear Lucien who was a shell of himself in this book.
I was hoping this author was a keeper but I am not sure i'll ever read anything else of hers. I dislike leaving a book in a series unread (especially the ending) but based off my feelings after listening to 3hrs and skimming over the reviews of what is to come I am going to bow out for now. Maybe I'll finish one day but it won't be today. If I could issue 0 stars I would, not only for the horrible heroin and ungrateful family but for ruining Lucien's character and what should have been his HEA.
October 19, 2020
This is tied with book one for my favorite. Eva and Lucien were perfect for each other. I love Lucien. I know some people thought he was too manipulative but I thought he was fabulous. He’s smart and cunning. Eva was great and the sexual tension was off the charts. I sort of want to be Eva, all sexy and deadly at the same time. I only wish it wasn’t quite so heartbreaking for him to get his comeuppance. Also on a side note poor fucking Perry. I really liked him in the first book and I thought he deserved better.
January 8, 2023
"The Wicked One" is the story of Eva and Lucien.
How could he explain such a complicated thing to her, when he barely understood it himself? He thought of his own childhood. A childhood childhood which had been sacrificed for the dukedom and the responsibilities that went with it, to this sibling and her brothers so that they could be young and carefree—a childhood that had ended the moment he’d found his father lying dead on the tower stairs, his neck broken. Lucien had thought he was invincible, that the world would obey his every command. But he had been unable to keep his father from falling down those stairs. And he had been unable to save his mother when she’d followed him to the grave so soon afterward.
I'll be honest, I did skip forward to this book because I was too excited to read about him and my new year resolution is to read what makes me happy. This was a pleasant surprise.
Here we have a controlling alpha hero repeatedly getting bested by a kickass strong heroine. They meet, they fight, they have a passionate interlude. There is a cat and mouse chase, but things change when family interferes and they are coerced into matrimony. He has issues giving up the reigns, she loves her freedom.
She sat listening, never interrupting, never commenting, never mocking, never scoffing. He told her everything—something he had not been able to do with his siblings, for he was the big brother, the leader of the family, and he had a place to uphold in the family hierarchy. But he had no place to uphold with Eva. He had nothing to hide, nothing to prove, no reason to hold anything back, because she was his equal, and he knew it.
I love that they were perfect ying and yang to each other. The hero was oldest, burdened by responsibilities and the heroine was the only one who understood him and vice versa. There was loads of passionate sex, angst and a bit of heartbreak towards the end. My only complaint is the amount of time taken by secondary plot and other siblings in the book, that took the focus away from the main couple. I mean, I love to read about the family but somewhere it was too much.
“I do not need your trust in order to give you my own. That is not how life works, Eva. It is only when one has the courage to give, that he—or she—will be in a position to receive.
Overall, an exciting read.
Safe for me
3.5/5
How could he explain such a complicated thing to her, when he barely understood it himself? He thought of his own childhood. A childhood childhood which had been sacrificed for the dukedom and the responsibilities that went with it, to this sibling and her brothers so that they could be young and carefree—a childhood that had ended the moment he’d found his father lying dead on the tower stairs, his neck broken. Lucien had thought he was invincible, that the world would obey his every command. But he had been unable to keep his father from falling down those stairs. And he had been unable to save his mother when she’d followed him to the grave so soon afterward.
I'll be honest, I did skip forward to this book because I was too excited to read about him and my new year resolution is to read what makes me happy. This was a pleasant surprise.
Here we have a controlling alpha hero repeatedly getting bested by a kickass strong heroine. They meet, they fight, they have a passionate interlude. There is a cat and mouse chase, but things change when family interferes and they are coerced into matrimony. He has issues giving up the reigns, she loves her freedom.
She sat listening, never interrupting, never commenting, never mocking, never scoffing. He told her everything—something he had not been able to do with his siblings, for he was the big brother, the leader of the family, and he had a place to uphold in the family hierarchy. But he had no place to uphold with Eva. He had nothing to hide, nothing to prove, no reason to hold anything back, because she was his equal, and he knew it.
I love that they were perfect ying and yang to each other. The hero was oldest, burdened by responsibilities and the heroine was the only one who understood him and vice versa. There was loads of passionate sex, angst and a bit of heartbreak towards the end. My only complaint is the amount of time taken by secondary plot and other siblings in the book, that took the focus away from the main couple. I mean, I love to read about the family but somewhere it was too much.
“I do not need your trust in order to give you my own. That is not how life works, Eva. It is only when one has the courage to give, that he—or she—will be in a position to receive.
Overall, an exciting read.
Safe for me
3.5/5
March 3, 2022
DNF 28% and skimmed the rest. While I enjoy the author’s writing style and I LOVED the premise of the novel, I could neither sympathize with nor condone the abhorrent behavior of the heroine. She had an irrational and vehement hatred of men. She was such a misandrist that her behavior and smugness throughout the novel was revolting and not at all in accordance with realistic societal conventions of the time. She was like a one-dimensional stereotype, yet somehow we are to believe that Ben Franklin bothered to associate and plot with her? I despised her. This book had so much potential and I’m disappointed.
November 7, 2012
When I started The Wicked One, I was prepared for it to be my favorite. I loved Lucien in the previous books for all his bossy machinations. I was able to take him seriously (which I often have difficulty doing with the heroes of this period and their powdered hair and big shoe buckles and bright satin breeches) and he just appealed to my love of the rational and the loyal and a good sense of humor.
I even liked Eva, and I thought we saw the best character growth in her out of all the females in this series. I especially liked that she was kind of a badadass and that she had a temper that she knew enough to regret but still couldn't quite control.
But...something about this book was off for me. I think what did it was how much of this book is about his physical attraction to Eva and how early the sex started. I know I'm the weirdest romance fan out there, but I often find myself wanting to skim any intimate scenes because...well, I don't know why. They just aren't my favorite. And so much of this book felt like it was about sex.
This is where my issue with how short these books are comes into play. Most of Lucien's story felt tied up in the bedroom, but this book also tells Nerissa and Perry's story in the background, and that plot could have been tied back into Lucien much better than it was.
The ending of this book was exciting and a lot of fun. And, really, if we'd had about 100 more pages this book could have been four stars. I'd have had time to ENJOY Lucien and find out more about his brain rather then being told so much, which is what it felt like to me.
This book is probably more of a 2.5 stars, but I rounded up because of how much I loved Lucien in the first three books.
I even liked Eva, and I thought we saw the best character growth in her out of all the females in this series. I especially liked that she was kind of a badadass and that she had a temper that she knew enough to regret but still couldn't quite control.
But...something about this book was off for me. I think what did it was how much of this book is about his physical attraction to Eva and how early the sex started. I know I'm the weirdest romance fan out there, but I often find myself wanting to skim any intimate scenes because...well, I don't know why. They just aren't my favorite. And so much of this book felt like it was about sex.
This is where my issue with how short these books are comes into play. Most of Lucien's story felt tied up in the bedroom, but this book also tells Nerissa and Perry's story in the background, and that plot could have been tied back into Lucien much better than it was.
The ending of this book was exciting and a lot of fun. And, really, if we'd had about 100 more pages this book could have been four stars. I'd have had time to ENJOY Lucien and find out more about his brain rather then being told so much, which is what it felt like to me.
This book is probably more of a 2.5 stars, but I rounded up because of how much I loved Lucien in the first three books.
May 6, 2013
I was quite curious about this one because of the hints from the previous book: The Defiant One. The hinted angst was quite appealing too.
Who doesn't feel a bit forgiving to a desperate, well-meaning Oldest brother who had time against him? He may be manipulative and high-handed, but his background, recurring dreams, and the results of his machinations thus far really helped the reader symphatize or forgive him.
That being said, there were 2 things about the book that lead to my lower rating.
1. His siblings never understood his obsessive desire to get them married and happy asap. I would have wanted them to know why.
2. While Eva's background certainly makes her mistrust understandable, and her reckless and rebellious actions that stormy night also understandable given said mistrust and her human foibles, I have trouble getting over said reckless behavior.
Even if the end result is to provide something so tragic and big that both characters MUST take note and learn from their ways, I find her behavior appalling. I might have been more lenient if she did not do 2 reckless acts after another. The first one was bad enough. To not recognize how damaging her 1st act was and commit the 2nd act (motivated by her own arrogance and superiority complex) while knowing she's pregnant just made me dislike her very much. If the motive for 2nd act was at least well-meaning, maybe I would not have loathed her since.
Who doesn't feel a bit forgiving to a desperate, well-meaning Oldest brother who had time against him? He may be manipulative and high-handed, but his background, recurring dreams, and the results of his machinations thus far really helped the reader symphatize or forgive him.
That being said, there were 2 things about the book that lead to my lower rating.
1. His siblings never understood his obsessive desire to get them married and happy asap. I would have wanted them to know why.
2. While Eva's background certainly makes her mistrust understandable, and her reckless and rebellious actions that stormy night also understandable given said mistrust and her human foibles, I have trouble getting over said reckless behavior.
Even if the end result is to provide something so tragic and big that both characters MUST take note and learn from their ways, I find her behavior appalling. I might have been more lenient if she did not do 2 reckless acts after another. The first one was bad enough. To not recognize how damaging her 1st act was and commit the 2nd act (motivated by her own arrogance and superiority complex) while knowing she's pregnant just made me dislike her very much. If the motive for 2nd act was at least well-meaning, maybe I would not have loathed her since.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2015
I had SUCH high hopes. On the surface, Lucien and Eva were exactly the kinds of hero and heroine I adore. And the first 20% or so of the book was great, with her confronting him in the tower, and him stealing the potion back, etc. But it rapidly descended into a whole lot of wangst and internalizing and started to feel like a New Age self-help retreat by about 50% in.
Then toward the end there was this huge action plot that I maybe should have slowed down a bit for, but by then I just wanted to finish the damned book, because I was so irritated by how this sexy duke had turned out to be a whiny little emo boy and so tired of listening to Eva talk about how she hates all men, but OMG the duke was showing her that she was wrong. So all this swashbuckling happens and there's a dramatic rescue. And then everyone sings Kumbaya around the campfire. The End.
Then toward the end there was this huge action plot that I maybe should have slowed down a bit for, but by then I just wanted to finish the damned book, because I was so irritated by how this sexy duke had turned out to be a whiny little emo boy and so tired of listening to Eva talk about how she hates all men, but OMG the duke was showing her that she was wrong. So all this swashbuckling happens and there's a dramatic rescue. And then everyone sings Kumbaya around the campfire. The End.
June 26, 2013
Lucine de Montforte, my my my what a HOTTIE! I know it's silly to have a crush on a character from a book but it never stopped me with Fifty Shades and it certainly wont stop me now! Lucien is my favourite brother by far. He loves his brothers and makes it his aim to see them happy and settled, even if they think him wicked. Until he gets a taste of his own medicine when the sexy, sultry Eva challenges him. Eva is just the right match for Lucien, the only one to put him in his place and in return romance happens! I enjoyed this book, its characters, its story and its conclusion. Perfect end to a perfect series :)
April 1, 2013
Having read the first book in this series, I skipped to the final title because I was too impatient to read the intervening two titles and I really wanted to enjoy this book. Couldn't. SPOILERS: the heroine was a screechy, whiney. temper-driven shrew. The hero suddenly lost all the elements that made him interesting in the first book and turned into a wuss who messed up everything. And really - she's pulling out swords and threatening violence and mayhem all through the book? And this is supposedly set in the 19th century? Did work. I won't be reading anything else by this author.
August 15, 2012
What an explosive finish for an outstanding series. This had it all, drama, suspense and most of all, romance. I thoroughly enjoyed The Wicked One. The passion between Lucien and Eva ignited the pages. The ending was so powerfully written that I felt as if I was right in the middle of all the action. I highly recommend this book and the entire series.
November 7, 2012
I had really been looking forward to Lucien's story but was so very disappointed. Actually, I was more than disappointed--I actually considered not finishing this. I disliked how Lucien was so exceedingly vilified by his family, while in contrast, the heroine's many flaws and faults were conveniently overlooked.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2011
3.5. Entertaining. Hot. A little "roll your eyes" dramatic at times. This was the last book in the series. I still have to read the first three. I probably will. Sabrina Jeffries recommended this series.
November 11, 2022
I couldn't put this down! Very fast-paced, and easy to read despite me not reading the previous 3 books I quickly picked up the story.
At times I felt Eva's cynicism and misandry against the opposite gender a bit exhausting and frustrating but as the story unfolds Lucien manages to crack open her inner emotional walls and her past trauma that was responsible for shaping her cynical worldview that's eventually challenged by Lucien.
The same goes for Lucien as he has skeletons in his closet that come out due to Eva's influence and her actions that caused a chain of events as Lucien realizes his past actions have consequences to bite everyone in the ass!
So you have two characters: Lucien and Eva, who are just as damaged as the other, and by their individual and shared experiences, they heal each other.
Other characters (Lucien's siblings and their spouses) have their own self-healing and character growth in this story not to mention sibling rivalry and an elder brother being way overprotective of his other siblings' annoyance and irritation.
Yep, you figured it - I really liked Lucien and his character growth in this.
The sex scenes were respectfully well done, not to mention, hot as hell!!
At times I felt Eva's cynicism and misandry against the opposite gender a bit exhausting and frustrating but as the story unfolds Lucien manages to crack open her inner emotional walls and her past trauma that was responsible for shaping her cynical worldview that's eventually challenged by Lucien.
The same goes for Lucien as he has skeletons in his closet that come out due to Eva's influence and her actions that caused a chain of events as Lucien realizes his past actions have consequences to bite everyone in the ass!
So you have two characters: Lucien and Eva, who are just as damaged as the other, and by their individual and shared experiences, they heal each other.
Other characters (Lucien's siblings and their spouses) have their own self-healing and character growth in this story not to mention sibling rivalry and an elder brother being way overprotective of his other siblings' annoyance and irritation.
Yep, you figured it - I really liked Lucien and his character growth in this.
The sex scenes were respectfully well done, not to mention, hot as hell!!
January 23, 2021
DNF'd after 70%.
If you're planning on reading The Wicked One you've probably read the other ones in this series and if you're like me, you've anticipated this book about Lucien, the oldest of the de Monteforte brothers, Duke of Blackheath. If anything, the previous books in this series have suffered from male protagonists ('H's) that were all a bit whiny. Garreth because he was so useless, Charles because he wasn't perfect and Andrew because he thought he was going mad. After all that angst I had high hopes for the manipulative and cunning Lucien, "one of the deadliest man in England".
And the author had to ruin him and his story.
First, of course, Lucien also has an irrational fear that he doesn't talk about. In the book, that is used to explain some autocratic behaviour of his.
But why? Lucien's backstory already sufficiently explained why he became the man he is (or at least, the man you'd thought he were after reading the previous books): He lost both his parents traumatically in a short period of time, he had to shoulder the duties and responsibilities of a duke at a very young age as a result, and he felt responsible for and very protective of his younger siblings. His manipulations, as reprehensible as they were especially in the third book (Andrew's), were done out of love and a misguided sense of duty to ensure their happiness.
In this book, he's suddenly lost all his cunning ability and just falls victim to a revenge plot by his siblings to get him married to Eva, who despises him, and he just accepts it without a fight - not because he's fallen in love with her but because it is convenient and he needs an heir anyway. He fully plans to give her her own estate and doesn't want to live with her as long as she agrees to have sex with him whenever he wants.
But as soon as they are married he bends over backwards to accomodate her, trusts her with his most secret fears and his biggest wish is to make the marriage work. Since this is basically the plot of a significant number of romance novels I'd let it slide regardless but the big difference is that he still hasn't fallen in love with her or anything. His feelings as far as the reader knows are unchanged from the "as long as I can bed you on occasion I don't care"-attitude from a few pages earlier. Her biggest attraction to him seems to be that she might kill him in his sleep.
Which brings me to:
Second, the heroine. It is Eva de la Mouriére, femme fatale, beautiful, clever, capable. She would be the perfect counterpart to Lucien (as he was supposed to be) - if she didn't have this irrational hatred of men. Her internal monologue is just a constant litany about how men can't be trusted, she interprets any and all behaviour of men in the most terrible ways possible, and even when she sees the obviously happy marriages of Lucien's brothers she pities their wives because they'll be even more devastated when the brothers finally reveal their true vile natures. It is completely over the top, out of proportion to what supposedly caused her to become this way, it's almost like a misogynist's caricature of some man-hating shrew. And that is before she behaves in a way that is just plain stupid and reckless. Naturally, it is portrayed as being all Lucien's fault but I'm so over plainly childish behaviour by heroines being treated as completely justified, I just couldn't continue reading after this.
Explanation of Lucien's apparently unforgivable mistake:
This could have been a much better book with more plausible characters. If Lucien eg had been manipulated and being taken advantage of after becoming the duke as a ten year-old boy that would have explained his Marchiavellian behaviour as an adult much better than simply losing his parents and it also would have explained his need to protect a potential heir to the dukedom, no hidden fears necessary.
Eva could've had a low opinion of men because her job involved manipulating men and maybe she could've been disillusioned because of her previous marriage, no need to make her into a misandrist. They could have tried to manipulate each other, it could have been a fight of wills, of two very dominant personalities trying to get along.
Instead we get two angst ridden characters whose motivations and actions only make sense if they know that they are protagonists in a romance novel and are therefore supposed to somehow achieve a happily ever after.
If you're planning on reading The Wicked One you've probably read the other ones in this series and if you're like me, you've anticipated this book about Lucien, the oldest of the de Monteforte brothers, Duke of Blackheath. If anything, the previous books in this series have suffered from male protagonists ('H's) that were all a bit whiny. Garreth because he was so useless, Charles because he wasn't perfect and Andrew because he thought he was going mad. After all that angst I had high hopes for the manipulative and cunning Lucien, "one of the deadliest man in England".
And the author had to ruin him and his story.
First, of course, Lucien also has an irrational fear that he doesn't talk about. In the book, that is used to explain some autocratic behaviour of his.
But why? Lucien's backstory already sufficiently explained why he became the man he is (or at least, the man you'd thought he were after reading the previous books): He lost both his parents traumatically in a short period of time, he had to shoulder the duties and responsibilities of a duke at a very young age as a result, and he felt responsible for and very protective of his younger siblings. His manipulations, as reprehensible as they were especially in the third book (Andrew's), were done out of love and a misguided sense of duty to ensure their happiness.
In this book, he's suddenly lost all his cunning ability and just falls victim to a revenge plot by his siblings to get him married to Eva, who despises him, and he just accepts it without a fight - not because he's fallen in love with her but because it is convenient and he needs an heir anyway. He fully plans to give her her own estate and doesn't want to live with her as long as she agrees to have sex with him whenever he wants.
But as soon as they are married he bends over backwards to accomodate her, trusts her with his most secret fears and his biggest wish is to make the marriage work. Since this is basically the plot of a significant number of romance novels I'd let it slide regardless but the big difference is that he still hasn't fallen in love with her or anything. His feelings as far as the reader knows are unchanged from the "as long as I can bed you on occasion I don't care"-attitude from a few pages earlier. Her biggest attraction to him seems to be that she might kill him in his sleep.
Which brings me to:
Second, the heroine. It is Eva de la Mouriére, femme fatale, beautiful, clever, capable. She would be the perfect counterpart to Lucien (as he was supposed to be) - if she didn't have this irrational hatred of men. Her internal monologue is just a constant litany about how men can't be trusted, she interprets any and all behaviour of men in the most terrible ways possible, and even when she sees the obviously happy marriages of Lucien's brothers she pities their wives because they'll be even more devastated when the brothers finally reveal their true vile natures. It is completely over the top, out of proportion to what supposedly caused her to become this way, it's almost like a misogynist's caricature of some man-hating shrew. And that is before she behaves in a way that is just plain stupid and reckless. Naturally, it is portrayed as being all Lucien's fault but I'm so over plainly childish behaviour by heroines being treated as completely justified, I just couldn't continue reading after this.
Explanation of Lucien's apparently unforgivable mistake:
This could have been a much better book with more plausible characters. If Lucien eg had been manipulated and being taken advantage of after becoming the duke as a ten year-old boy that would have explained his Marchiavellian behaviour as an adult much better than simply losing his parents and it also would have explained his need to protect a potential heir to the dukedom, no hidden fears necessary.
Eva could've had a low opinion of men because her job involved manipulating men and maybe she could've been disillusioned because of her previous marriage, no need to make her into a misandrist. They could have tried to manipulate each other, it could have been a fight of wills, of two very dominant personalities trying to get along.
Instead we get two angst ridden characters whose motivations and actions only make sense if they know that they are protagonists in a romance novel and are therefore supposed to somehow achieve a happily ever after.
May 20, 2023
The best of the de Montforte series so far
I have thoroughly enjoyed all four of these books, but this one was the most entertaining. Difficult characters who become easier to root for with every chapter, action packed, vibrant and steamy. I recommend you read the series in sequence, because it will help you enjoy this fourth episode more. But it will be worth it!
I have thoroughly enjoyed all four of these books, but this one was the most entertaining. Difficult characters who become easier to root for with every chapter, action packed, vibrant and steamy. I recommend you read the series in sequence, because it will help you enjoy this fourth episode more. But it will be worth it!
March 28, 2013
เล่มที่สี่ และเป็นเล่มสุดท้าย (ในตอนนี้ เพราะเห็นข่าวว่า คนแต่งกำลังเขียนเล่มห้าอยู่ ซึ่งจะเป็นเรื่องน้องสาวคนสุดท้อง) ซึ่งเล่มนี้เป็นหนึ่งในหนังสือในดวงใจของเราเลย
จุดเด่นของเรื่องก็คือ การจับคู่พระเอกนางเอก ซึ่งว่ากันตามจริงแล้ว ไม่เฉพาะเล่มนี้เท่านั้นนะคะที่คนแต่งประสบความสำเร็จ หนังสือทั้งสี่เล่มในชุดนี้คนแต่งทำได้ดีมากในการเลือกนางเอกให้เหมาะสมกับคาแร็คเตอร์ของพระเอก (หรือในทางกลับกันก็คือ การเลือกพระเอกให้กับนางเอก) การเลือกจับคู่ที่ถูกต้องนี่เอง เป็นพื้นฐานทำให้หนังสือประสบความสำเร็จ เพราะทำให้คนอ่านอย่างเราเชื่อในความรักที่เกิดขึ้น และไม่เฉพาะความรัก แต่เป็นความยั่งยืนในความรักนั้นด้วย
ลูเชียน เดอมอนต์ฟอร์ท ดยุคแห่งแบล็คฮีธ ซึ่งประสบความสำเร็จในการจัดการชีวิตของน้องชายทั้งสามคน ในที่สุดก็ได้พบกับคู่ปรับที่สมน้ำสมเนื้อ เอวา ญาติสาวชาวอเมริกันของเซลซี (นางเอกเล่มสาม The Defiant One) น้องสะใภ้ของลูเชียนซึ่งปะทะกับลูเชียนทางด้านสติปัญญากันมาตั้งแต่ในเล่มก่อนหน้า มาถึงเล่มนี้ (และฉากปิดท้ายเล่มก่อนหน้า) เอวาบุกมาที่ปราสาทบ้านของลูเชียน เพื่อขโมยยาปลุกสวาท เพื่อใช้เป็นเครื่องมือในการต่อรองให้ฝรั่งเศสช่วยเหลืออเมริกาในสงครามกับอังกฤษ การเจอกันที่นำทั้งคู่เข้าใกล้กันมายิ่งขึ้นไปอีก
และเมื่อการเข้าไปยุ่งเกี่ยวในชีวิตน้อง ๆ กลายเป็นเรื่องใหญ่โต เมื่อแผนการของลูเชียนพลิกกลับ ทำให้ชายคนรักของน้องสาวหายตัวไป เขาจึงเดินทางไปฝรั่งเศสเพื่อขอให้เอวาช่วยตามหา และทำให้ทั้งคู่ได้ประฝีมือกันอีกครั้ง
เอวาเป็นนางเอกที่คู่ควร และนี่คือส่วนที่ดีที่สุดในเรื่อง หนังสือหลายเล่มวางคาแร็คเตอร์ของพระเอกให้ดูยิ่งใหญ่เหนือชายคนอื่น แต่มาตกม้าตายที่นางเอก ในเล่มนี้ไม่ผิดหวังเลยค่ะ เอวาคือผู้หญิงสำหรับลูเชียน ถ้าเขาเจ้าเล่ห์ จอมวางแผน เอวาก็เป็นคนที่รับมือเขาได้ ความเหมาะสมของกันและกันในจุดนี้ ทำให้หนังสือเล่มนี้เป็นเรื่องที่น่าอ่านที่สุด
ประเด็นที่ทำให้ลูเชียนเร่งเข้าไปจัดการชีวิตน้อง ๆ ทุกคน จนก้าวข้ามความเหมาะสมดูไร้สาระไปบ้าง (เป็นเพราะความฝัน ที่ทำให้เขาปักใจว่า ตัวเองกำลังจะตาย) อาจจะเป็นส่วนที่ทำให้เรื่องจุดนี้ไร้สาระไปไม่น้อย แต่ไม่ได้เป็นปัญหาสำหรับเรานะคะ เพราะเราชอบคาแร็คเตอร์ของทั้งพระนาง
ชอบเรื่องนี้มาก ๆ ค่ะ เป็นหนังสือไม่กี่เรื่องที่เรารู้สึกว่า พระนางทัดเทียมกัน ซึ่งเมื่อพิจารณาว่า คนแต่งวางคาแร็คเตอร์ของพระเอกโดดเด่นยิ่งใหญ่ขนาดนี้มาตั้งแต่เล่มแรก การที่เธอสร้างเอวาให้ไม่น้อยหน้าลูเชียนได้ เราว่า เป็นความสำเร็จที่เยี่ยมยอดมาก
คะแนนที่ 93
จุดเด่นของเรื่องก็คือ การจับคู่พระเอกนางเอก ซึ่งว่ากันตามจริงแล้ว ไม่เฉพาะเล่มนี้เท่านั้นนะคะที่คนแต่งประสบความสำเร็จ หนังสือทั้งสี่เล่มในชุดนี้คนแต่งทำได้ดีมากในการเลือกนางเอกให้เหมาะสมกับคาแร็คเตอร์ของพระเอก (หรือในทางกลับกันก็คือ การเลือกพระเอกให้กับนางเอก) การเลือกจับคู่ที่ถูกต้องนี่เอง เป็นพื้นฐานทำให้หนังสือประสบความสำเร็จ เพราะทำให้คนอ่านอย่างเราเชื่อในความรักที่เกิดขึ้น และไม่เฉพาะความรัก แต่เป็นความยั่งยืนในความรักนั้นด้วย
ลูเชียน เดอมอนต์ฟอร์ท ดยุคแห่งแบล็คฮีธ ซึ่งประสบความสำเร็จในการจัดการชีวิตของน้องชายทั้งสามคน ในที่สุดก็ได้พบกับคู่ปรับที่สมน้ำสมเนื้อ เอวา ญาติสาวชาวอเมริกันของเซลซี (นางเอกเล่มสาม The Defiant One) น้องสะใภ้ของลูเชียนซึ่งปะทะกับลูเชียนทางด้านสติปัญญากันมาตั้งแต่ในเล่มก่อนหน้า มาถึงเล่มนี้ (และฉากปิดท้ายเล่มก่อนหน้า) เอวาบุกมาที่ปราสาทบ้านของลูเชียน เพื่อขโมยยาปลุกสวาท เพื่อใช้เป็นเครื่องมือในการต่อรองให้ฝรั่งเศสช่วยเหลืออเมริกาในสงครามกับอังกฤษ การเจอกันที่นำทั้งคู่เข้าใกล้กันมายิ่งขึ้นไปอีก
และเมื่อการเข้าไปยุ่งเกี่ยวในชีวิตน้อง ๆ กลายเป็นเรื่องใหญ่โต เมื่อแผนการของลูเชียนพลิกกลับ ทำให้ชายคนรักของน้องสาวหายตัวไป เขาจึงเดินทางไปฝรั่งเศสเพื่อขอให้เอวาช่วยตามหา และทำให้ทั้งคู่ได้ประฝีมือกันอีกครั้ง
เอวาเป็นนางเอกที่คู่ควร และนี่คือส่วนที่ดีที่สุดในเรื่อง หนังสือหลายเล่มวางคาแร็คเตอร์ของพระเอกให้ดูยิ่งใหญ่เหนือชายคนอื่น แต่มาตกม้าตายที่นางเอก ในเล่มนี้ไม่ผิดหวังเลยค่ะ เอวาคือผู้หญิงสำหรับลูเชียน ถ้าเขาเจ้าเล่ห์ จอมวางแผน เอวาก็เป็นคนที่รับมือเขาได้ ความเหมาะสมของกันและกันในจุดนี้ ทำให้หนังสือเล่มนี้เป็นเรื่องที่น่าอ่านที่สุด
ประเด็นที่ทำให้ลูเชียนเร่งเข้าไปจัดการชีวิตน้อง ๆ ทุกคน จนก้าวข้ามความเหมาะสมดูไร้สาระไปบ้าง (เป็นเพราะความฝัน ที่ทำให้เขาปักใจว่า ตัวเองกำลังจะตาย) อาจจะเป็นส่วนที่ทำให้เรื่องจุดนี้ไร้สาระไปไม่น้อย แต่ไม่ได้เป็นปัญหาสำหรับเรานะคะ เพราะเราชอบคาแร็คเตอร์ของทั้งพระนาง
ชอบเรื่องนี้มาก ๆ ค่ะ เป็นหนังสือไม่กี่เรื่องที่เรารู้สึกว่า พระนางทัดเทียมกัน ซึ่งเมื่อพิจารณาว่า คนแต่งวางคาแร็คเตอร์ของพระเอกโดดเด่นยิ่งใหญ่ขนาดนี้มาตั้งแต่เล่มแรก การที่เธอสร้างเอวาให้ไม่น้อยหน้าลูเชียนได้ เราว่า เป็นความสำเร็จที่เยี่ยมยอดมาก
คะแนนที่ 93
August 14, 2011
3.5 stars.
The book starts where The Defiant One left off - with Eva sitting on Lucien de Montforte, Duke of Blackheath's (the wicked one) bed, pistol in hand. She retrieved the real aphrodisiac potion from Lucien's safe and securely tucked it in her valise, while displaying the fake potion on the bedside table. She orders him to test the aphrodisiac on himself; he smiles, closes the door, and starts getting undressed. Eva, who distrusts and dislikes all men due to her experiences with her serial cheating father and late husband, stops the foreplay and bests Lucien by escaping back to Paris right after she blasts the fake potion. By doing this, she allows Lucien to believe that the real aphrodisiac has been destroyed.
In the meantime, the forever manipulating, scheming Duke has made his sister Narrissa and her relationship with Perry, the Earl of Brookhampton, his latest project. He comes up with a scheme that involves sending Perry off to Spain, believing the distance will make Perry's heart grow fonder. Unfortunately, the ship Perry took a passage on was the attacked and sunk by an American privateer off the port of Calais and the unconscious Perry became a prisoner in France.
Lucien travels to Paris to find information about Perry, seeking Eva's help. Because she has French connections and is an American, she can confirm Perry's fate. He also wants to finish what they started in his bedchamber. He gets Eva to agree with helping him, but Eva has her own agenda. She wants to test the potion, but in this new cat and mouse game Lucien bests Eva.
The Wicked One is full of adventure. Eva and Lucien both are very human and carry a lot of emotional baggage, insecurities and control issues that they have to overcome. Eva is a perfect match for Lucien: she really gives back as good as she gets.
Just like the previous books in the series, there are events and social trappings that are out of character for the setting (Georgian time) and the author once again takes liberties in using occasional modern words in a historical era romance novel.
The book starts where The Defiant One left off - with Eva sitting on Lucien de Montforte, Duke of Blackheath's (the wicked one) bed, pistol in hand. She retrieved the real aphrodisiac potion from Lucien's safe and securely tucked it in her valise, while displaying the fake potion on the bedside table. She orders him to test the aphrodisiac on himself; he smiles, closes the door, and starts getting undressed. Eva, who distrusts and dislikes all men due to her experiences with her serial cheating father and late husband, stops the foreplay and bests Lucien by escaping back to Paris right after she blasts the fake potion. By doing this, she allows Lucien to believe that the real aphrodisiac has been destroyed.
In the meantime, the forever manipulating, scheming Duke has made his sister Narrissa and her relationship with Perry, the Earl of Brookhampton, his latest project. He comes up with a scheme that involves sending Perry off to Spain, believing the distance will make Perry's heart grow fonder. Unfortunately, the ship Perry took a passage on was the attacked and sunk by an American privateer off the port of Calais and the unconscious Perry became a prisoner in France.
Lucien travels to Paris to find information about Perry, seeking Eva's help. Because she has French connections and is an American, she can confirm Perry's fate. He also wants to finish what they started in his bedchamber. He gets Eva to agree with helping him, but Eva has her own agenda. She wants to test the potion, but in this new cat and mouse game Lucien bests Eva.
The Wicked One is full of adventure. Eva and Lucien both are very human and carry a lot of emotional baggage, insecurities and control issues that they have to overcome. Eva is a perfect match for Lucien: she really gives back as good as she gets.
Just like the previous books in the series, there are events and social trappings that are out of character for the setting (Georgian time) and the author once again takes liberties in using occasional modern words in a historical era romance novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2012
The final book in the series about the de Monteforte brothers.
We open with Lucien facing Eva down the barrel of a gun in his chambers. He has really met his match. Eva is intelligent, beautiful and dangerous. Could there be a more perfect woman for Lucien, Duke of Blackheath? Their entanglements are over possession Andrew's aphrodisiac and are delicious to read. Eva fascinates Lucien because she is dangerous and can get the better of him. She doesn't need him for anything and challenges him at every turn. (If it were in a modern day setting you would be picturing Bond and a very sexy, deadly, enemy agent.)
However (unlike Bond), the book and the characters must progress.
Lucien's latest attempt at manipulating has backfired. Sending his sister's beau to Spain to miss her has resulted in the ship he was on being attacked and it is unknown if he is alive or dead. Worse, his sister has discovered that it was his manipulating that created this situation. His family gathers to deal with him and they do.
Lucien finds himself married to a very reluctant Eva. Their relationship, always challenging becomes more and less. The two each have to trust before they can gain ground, something neither is wanting or willing to do.
This is a wonderful book. The dynamic between the leads is beautifully written. Their relationship, given it's context, is realistic and the twists and turns it takes equally so. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
As the finale in the series, this book doesn't disappoint.
We open with Lucien facing Eva down the barrel of a gun in his chambers. He has really met his match. Eva is intelligent, beautiful and dangerous. Could there be a more perfect woman for Lucien, Duke of Blackheath? Their entanglements are over possession Andrew's aphrodisiac and are delicious to read. Eva fascinates Lucien because she is dangerous and can get the better of him. She doesn't need him for anything and challenges him at every turn. (If it were in a modern day setting you would be picturing Bond and a very sexy, deadly, enemy agent.)
However (unlike Bond), the book and the characters must progress.
Lucien's latest attempt at manipulating has backfired. Sending his sister's beau to Spain to miss her has resulted in the ship he was on being attacked and it is unknown if he is alive or dead. Worse, his sister has discovered that it was his manipulating that created this situation. His family gathers to deal with him and they do.
Lucien finds himself married to a very reluctant Eva. Their relationship, always challenging becomes more and less. The two each have to trust before they can gain ground, something neither is wanting or willing to do.
This is a wonderful book. The dynamic between the leads is beautifully written. Their relationship, given it's context, is realistic and the twists and turns it takes equally so. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
As the finale in the series, this book doesn't disappoint.
May 22, 2015
Vikki's Musings
What an outstanding end to this remarkable series! Lucien, the Duke of Blackheath has met his match in Eva de la Mouriere. She is the only woman who can bring this arrogant and manipulate duke to his knees, and she does this repeatedly from the first page to the last.
While Eva took a while for me to warm up to her character, by the end of the book, I grew to love her. She is a mix of cynical woman—betrayed by her father at a tender age, and then later betrayed by her first husband—and innocence at the same time, especially in sexual matters. Her character is complex to say the least and marvelously entertaining.
I struggled with the narrator’s voice tone for Eva, but his interpretation of her emotions is fantastic. Now his voice for the duke is perfect in this one, his tone shows the arrogance and controlling man with all his faults.
The conclusion of the De Montforte series is perfection, and I am so glad I discovered Ms. Harmon. I love the depth of emotion she is able to put in her books. I will definitely read future romances by her. If you are looking for a series that will hold your imagination from the first book to the last, then you will not want to miss out on this marvelous, well-written series. Happy reading!
What an outstanding end to this remarkable series! Lucien, the Duke of Blackheath has met his match in Eva de la Mouriere. She is the only woman who can bring this arrogant and manipulate duke to his knees, and she does this repeatedly from the first page to the last.
While Eva took a while for me to warm up to her character, by the end of the book, I grew to love her. She is a mix of cynical woman—betrayed by her father at a tender age, and then later betrayed by her first husband—and innocence at the same time, especially in sexual matters. Her character is complex to say the least and marvelously entertaining.
I struggled with the narrator’s voice tone for Eva, but his interpretation of her emotions is fantastic. Now his voice for the duke is perfect in this one, his tone shows the arrogance and controlling man with all his faults.
The conclusion of the De Montforte series is perfection, and I am so glad I discovered Ms. Harmon. I love the depth of emotion she is able to put in her books. I will definitely read future romances by her. If you are looking for a series that will hold your imagination from the first book to the last, then you will not want to miss out on this marvelous, well-written series. Happy reading!
December 29, 2012
If I could only pick two words to describe this book it would be "I cried".....or "RUN! BUY!"....or "Intense, Wonderful"....or "Favorite Couple". You get the idea. This was a re-read for me and I had forgotten some of the details over the years but as soon as I started reading, it all came gushing back full force. I remembered why it graced my Keeper Shelf. This book brought emotions out of me that came from my depths. Lucien and Eva both fight their demons before they come to find love and take you on an adventure you won't soon forget. For those of you who have read the previous book, The Defiant One,I say with a smile that Lucien gets his payback where a certain potion is concerned. :)
April 6, 2015
Well now, I must admit this has not been my favorite in this series. I was anticipating Lucian's story and I expected more. It wasn't bad but it was rather dark and lacked the romance and playfulness of the previous books. It improved in the last part of the book with some excitement. I was glad to see Andrew come through. The narrator did a decent job with the exception of Eva's voice. I didn't care for how he read her part - too breathless. I am looking forward to seeing how the last sibling's story goes.
December 10, 2012
This was a nice ending to the series. Even though the heroine drove me mad thru most of the book, I still enjoyed it. She made me drop it a star. She certainly had reasons to distrust men but it just got tiresome after awhile.
However, things happened to make her change her mind, dark, tragic things but it woke her up to Lucien's true nature. Lucien learned lessons too, the hard way. However, it of course, all turned out well in the end.
However, things happened to make her change her mind, dark, tragic things but it woke her up to Lucien's true nature. Lucien learned lessons too, the hard way. However, it of course, all turned out well in the end.
February 11, 2013
This one redeemed the series a bit. Lucien is a much more intriguing character and Eva was a good match for him. Good dynamic. The two "action" sequences towards the end of the book were nail-biters like the end of the first one. I missed that element in the other two.
November 7, 2012
*3.5 stars*
I skipoped over the third book, as Andrew didn't really appeal to me as a hero - I had read that this was a decent stand alone book as well, but that's so not true. I think you definitely need to read the prior book to understand the heroine in this book.
I skipoped over the third book, as Andrew didn't really appeal to me as a hero - I had read that this was a decent stand alone book as well, but that's so not true. I think you definitely need to read the prior book to understand the heroine in this book.
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