Helpful Score: 4
I really wanted to like this book, but it just didn't work for me. The middle 2/3 of it nearly put me to sleep, and there wasn't a single character in it I could really identify with. It's wallpapery, neither of the heroes were fleshed out enough, and I suppose that was so that the reader could be happy with the outcome either way it went, but the end result for me was that I could have cared less. Either one would have been fine for a lackluster romance - which is all this ended up being:P I totally get the whole torn between two lovers thing, and was intrigued with the premise, but I suppose there's no romance in it for me if one of the main characters is in love with two people. I know if it had been the hero who felt like that about two women, it would have hit the wall. Part of it too is that the heroine is so ubiquitous to the plot; her character & actions felt contrived for the sole purpose of making this story all things to all people. If you could get any other sense of her at all from her actions it would be that she's either utterly weak & self-serving, or has no will of her own. Everything came across as a contrivance to get her in bed with two different men, and not even at the same time, which would have at least made it spicy, if nothing else:P And speaking of spice, the sex scenes were decidedly lacking in it... Aside from the opening bondage scene (which never actually does much for me anyway) the love scenes were a little dull.
Grade: C-
Sensuality Rating: R
Grade: C-
Sensuality Rating: R
Helpful Score: 1
When I picked this book up, I was not so sure I would like it. I couldn't put it down, it's very well written. Ms. Haymore is an author to watch out for.
Helpful Score: 1
I have to say for a debut book/author I thought it was really really good...I can't wait for the next book. It was a little slow in the middle but not enough for me to put it down. I thought for a 1st book it was good...If you are contemplating getting the book..I say get it and make up your own mind. In my opinion you can't go wrong by buying it...
Taleka C. (limitedsunshine) reviewed A Hint of Wicked (Tristan Family, Bk 1) on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I've read the reviews and praise for this book and couldn't wait to get lost in it. I mean a woman in love with two men and doesn't know who to choose is some juicy stuff. Well, for me, it didn't live up to its hype. I found Sophie's character to be lackluster and indecisive. She led these two men on and they let her. Ms. Haymore kept plugging away about how Sophie was always the level headed peacemaker who had to come to a solution.
It took her the whole book to decide and we're supposed to sigh at her declaration? I found it in bad taste for her to have sex with both men. It was really necessary to the story and it seems the author just put it in there to add "spice" to her story.
What really made me mad about this story was the "dumbing down" of Tristan. He vowed to fight for his wife but seemed okay with her inevitable action of sleeping with her husband. WHAT? Where was his backbone? He let Sophie ultimately decide so what's with the declaration of fighting?
Were we supposed to like her first husband? I couldn't stand him or even care about what he'd been through. He was a bully and the fact the Sophie and Tristan allowed this man to treat them like prisoners was ridiculous. I didn't like anything about this book and chances are I won't care about the next one.
It took her the whole book to decide and we're supposed to sigh at her declaration? I found it in bad taste for her to have sex with both men. It was really necessary to the story and it seems the author just put it in there to add "spice" to her story.
What really made me mad about this story was the "dumbing down" of Tristan. He vowed to fight for his wife but seemed okay with her inevitable action of sleeping with her husband. WHAT? Where was his backbone? He let Sophie ultimately decide so what's with the declaration of fighting?
Were we supposed to like her first husband? I couldn't stand him or even care about what he'd been through. He was a bully and the fact the Sophie and Tristan allowed this man to treat them like prisoners was ridiculous. I didn't like anything about this book and chances are I won't care about the next one.
Jessica B. (brandonsmama) -
Helpful Score: 1
I totally LOVED this book. I started reading it at 7:30 in the morning and I was done by 10:30 the same night. Pretty good for the mom of a 3 year old! There was just something about this book that made me not want to put it down. I just had to see how it would end. I highly recommend this to anybody and I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel!
Wendy H. (donkeycheese) -
Sophie, the Duchess of Calton, is devastated when she receives the news that her husband Garrett is presumed dead from the Battle of Waterloo. Pregnant, she is consoled by Garrett's cousin and heir, Tristan. She mourns for seven years until he is declared dead, then she marries Tristan. She and Tristan have a wonderful, loving marriage until the day Garrett returns.
Garrett Calton, the Duke of Calton, didn't die in the Battle of Waterloo. However, he was gravely injured and lost much of his memory. He spent many years working as a laborer for a farmer until one day he sees someone from his unit that brings much of the memories crashing back. He immediately leaves the continent to return to his wife Sophie, and to reclaim his title and his lands.
Sophie is torn between both husbands as she loves them both equally. Garrett tosses Tristan from the house and demands Sophie stay away from him lest he kill him. Tristan is determined that Garrett will not take his wife. The two come to blows on many occasions, but something is fishy in the Calton household, and Tristan is determined to get to the bottom of it before his family is hurt. Sophie must choose soon, because it's not just her heart that is at stake.
A HINT OF WICKED is a historical romance that is simply delicious. Steamy love scenes, mystery and just a hint of wickedness will have you begging for more. The pages flowed seamlessly, and the characters were well-fleshed. The ending is action-packed and leaves off rather complicated, which I am sure, the next in the series will pick up from. All in all, an engaging read!
Garrett Calton, the Duke of Calton, didn't die in the Battle of Waterloo. However, he was gravely injured and lost much of his memory. He spent many years working as a laborer for a farmer until one day he sees someone from his unit that brings much of the memories crashing back. He immediately leaves the continent to return to his wife Sophie, and to reclaim his title and his lands.
Sophie is torn between both husbands as she loves them both equally. Garrett tosses Tristan from the house and demands Sophie stay away from him lest he kill him. Tristan is determined that Garrett will not take his wife. The two come to blows on many occasions, but something is fishy in the Calton household, and Tristan is determined to get to the bottom of it before his family is hurt. Sophie must choose soon, because it's not just her heart that is at stake.
A HINT OF WICKED is a historical romance that is simply delicious. Steamy love scenes, mystery and just a hint of wickedness will have you begging for more. The pages flowed seamlessly, and the characters were well-fleshed. The ending is action-packed and leaves off rather complicated, which I am sure, the next in the series will pick up from. All in all, an engaging read!
Romance readers will want to watch for Haymore's next book after reading this wonderful first effort. The problem of being in love with two husbands seemed unlikely to be resolved in a satisfactory manner, but this author managed to do it to my immense pleasure....and the sequel is set up in the finale. The characters were very well developed, the story line was easily followed and less predictable than one would imagine. The love scenes were yummy. I heartily recommend it!
Valorie T. (morbidromantic) -
Sophie, the Duchess of Calton, lost her husband Garrett at Waterloo. After seven years of mourning and searching, she finally moved on and married their mutual best friend Tristan, who lost his own wife. Though Sophie still harbors feelings for Garrett, she loves Tristan with a passion never experienced before, not even during her previous marriage to Garrett. The two of them have gotten through their grief together and are very much in love.
In the midst of carnal passion, Sophie and Tristan are surprised by the sudden homecoming of Garrett who did not die at Waterloo, but instead spent the past years with amnesia in Belgium. But now that Garrett has his memory back, he wants his wife and his name returned to him. Sophie and Tristan are now at a loss of what to do-- nullify their marriage or fight it out. Sophie's position is especially difficult since she is still very much in love with Garrett and is overjoyed that he alive and home, back to her and their daughter. But yes, she loves Tristan and does not want to separate from him either. Since Sophie can't be married to two men, she has to choose. Of course, Garrett wants to give her no choice by declaring her marriage to Tristan illegal.
Flanked by his trusted assistant William, Garrett is having trouble coming to terms with the war. He is prone to hallucinations, flash backs, and violence. His doctor is very grim about Garrett's eventual outlook, which makes it even harder for Sophie to give up on him. Very soon, Sophie and Tristan suspect that something is amiss, that Garrett isn't as sick and out of control as William and his doctor say. Now not only must Sophie decide between the two and Tristan fight for his wife, but the two of them have to uncover what plot Garrett is unknowingly in the middle of.
I am a novice when it comes to romance, but I decided to give A Hint of Wicked a try because it is historical fiction and I am constantly searching for that one romance book that will seal the deal for me and make me love the genre. Or even just appreciate it. Though new to this genre, it didn't hinder my ability to appreciate Haymore's elegant writing style or her vast variety of adjectives that were never overused. It was, of course, predictable who Sophie would turn out with. Still, I tried not to let that bother me and instead took the book for what it was worth. Rather than accept the story as a mystery unfolding, I understood it as a progression of events I would see to the end, just to know how the events play out and what the means to the end are.
Need I mention that the book is very steamy? I don't think I have to once you see the cover. Haymore certainly doesn't shy away from being descriptive, she doesn't hold back and cut out before the passion starts in full force, but her writing is such that she never descends into being crude. It is so easy to ruin a good love scene, you see, at least for me. Truthfully, sometimes Sophie annoyed me. Sometimes reading about how perfect she is got to me. But I never got bored of the love scenes.
In the midst of carnal passion, Sophie and Tristan are surprised by the sudden homecoming of Garrett who did not die at Waterloo, but instead spent the past years with amnesia in Belgium. But now that Garrett has his memory back, he wants his wife and his name returned to him. Sophie and Tristan are now at a loss of what to do-- nullify their marriage or fight it out. Sophie's position is especially difficult since she is still very much in love with Garrett and is overjoyed that he alive and home, back to her and their daughter. But yes, she loves Tristan and does not want to separate from him either. Since Sophie can't be married to two men, she has to choose. Of course, Garrett wants to give her no choice by declaring her marriage to Tristan illegal.
Flanked by his trusted assistant William, Garrett is having trouble coming to terms with the war. He is prone to hallucinations, flash backs, and violence. His doctor is very grim about Garrett's eventual outlook, which makes it even harder for Sophie to give up on him. Very soon, Sophie and Tristan suspect that something is amiss, that Garrett isn't as sick and out of control as William and his doctor say. Now not only must Sophie decide between the two and Tristan fight for his wife, but the two of them have to uncover what plot Garrett is unknowingly in the middle of.
I am a novice when it comes to romance, but I decided to give A Hint of Wicked a try because it is historical fiction and I am constantly searching for that one romance book that will seal the deal for me and make me love the genre. Or even just appreciate it. Though new to this genre, it didn't hinder my ability to appreciate Haymore's elegant writing style or her vast variety of adjectives that were never overused. It was, of course, predictable who Sophie would turn out with. Still, I tried not to let that bother me and instead took the book for what it was worth. Rather than accept the story as a mystery unfolding, I understood it as a progression of events I would see to the end, just to know how the events play out and what the means to the end are.
Need I mention that the book is very steamy? I don't think I have to once you see the cover. Haymore certainly doesn't shy away from being descriptive, she doesn't hold back and cut out before the passion starts in full force, but her writing is such that she never descends into being crude. It is so easy to ruin a good love scene, you see, at least for me. Truthfully, sometimes Sophie annoyed me. Sometimes reading about how perfect she is got to me. But I never got bored of the love scenes.
I started reading A Hint of Wicked late one night thinking I would just read a few pages before I went to sleep, but quickly found myself completely absorbed in the love triangle between childhood friends and unable to put it down.
Garrett, the Duke of Calton, fell in love and had been happily married to Sophie for four years when he is called to duty to fight in the battle of Waterloo where he is wounded and presumed dead. Seven grief stricken years pass, and during that time best friends Sophie and Tristan, the new Duke of Calton, find solace in each others arms, fall in love and marry.
After eight years of being missing Garrett returns wanting to resume his old life, only to find he has been proclaimed dead, his heir has become the new Duke of Calton, and his wife is now married to the man he once considered as close as a brother. How does he begin to get his life and his wife back? Does Tristan resolve himself to losing everything that he holds dear...Sophie? And how does Sophie choose between Garrett whom she loved passionately in her youth, and Tristan whom she loves deeply as a grown woman?
A Hint of Wicked is the first historical romance this year I have reviewed that I can honestly say that I loved. I had been eager to read this one form the moment I first read about it, and was actually a little bit wary that I might have built it up too much in my head, and as a result setting myself up for disappointment. Don't despair if you have read an abundance of mediocre historical romances lately like I have. Never fear Wicked is here to end the doldrums!
This is the first novel that I have read by Jennifer Haymore so I did not know what to expect. Now I know. I should expect a compelling story with intrigue, lots of emotion, very steamy loves scenes for a traditional historical romance, and I should plan to devour it in one sitting...everything else can wait. I honestly could not put the book down. I had to find out who Sophie would choose, and surprisingly I was not able to guess until the very end of the book. It was that well written. I will eagerly be anticipating the next book in the series, A Touch of Scandal, her sequel to A Hint of Wicked, which was wickedly good.
I have 5 copies of A Hint of Wicked from Forever Publishing to give away on my blog Seductive Musings. The giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only. No PO Boxes are allowed. Giveaway ends July 10, 2009 please visit my blog for details and information on how to enter.
Garrett, the Duke of Calton, fell in love and had been happily married to Sophie for four years when he is called to duty to fight in the battle of Waterloo where he is wounded and presumed dead. Seven grief stricken years pass, and during that time best friends Sophie and Tristan, the new Duke of Calton, find solace in each others arms, fall in love and marry.
After eight years of being missing Garrett returns wanting to resume his old life, only to find he has been proclaimed dead, his heir has become the new Duke of Calton, and his wife is now married to the man he once considered as close as a brother. How does he begin to get his life and his wife back? Does Tristan resolve himself to losing everything that he holds dear...Sophie? And how does Sophie choose between Garrett whom she loved passionately in her youth, and Tristan whom she loves deeply as a grown woman?
A Hint of Wicked is the first historical romance this year I have reviewed that I can honestly say that I loved. I had been eager to read this one form the moment I first read about it, and was actually a little bit wary that I might have built it up too much in my head, and as a result setting myself up for disappointment. Don't despair if you have read an abundance of mediocre historical romances lately like I have. Never fear Wicked is here to end the doldrums!
This is the first novel that I have read by Jennifer Haymore so I did not know what to expect. Now I know. I should expect a compelling story with intrigue, lots of emotion, very steamy loves scenes for a traditional historical romance, and I should plan to devour it in one sitting...everything else can wait. I honestly could not put the book down. I had to find out who Sophie would choose, and surprisingly I was not able to guess until the very end of the book. It was that well written. I will eagerly be anticipating the next book in the series, A Touch of Scandal, her sequel to A Hint of Wicked, which was wickedly good.
I have 5 copies of A Hint of Wicked from Forever Publishing to give away on my blog Seductive Musings. The giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only. No PO Boxes are allowed. Giveaway ends July 10, 2009 please visit my blog for details and information on how to enter.
