Born to be Wilde (Wildes of Lindow Castle Book 3)

Eloisa James never disappoints. Parth’s Story is well-written with plenty of humor, interesting characters and a crisp pace which keeps me turning pages. My only complaint is that I have to wait for her next book to be published.

Parth Sterling and Lavinia Gray have been at odds since the day they met, but when Lavinia learns that her mother is not only addicted to laudanum but has spent their entire fortune AND stole money and jewels from her ward, she is desperate for a rich husband and decides Parth is just the man for the job.

Parth has lived with the Wilde family since he was five years old, his parents lived in India and sent him to England as a ward to the duke. His family died and the Wildes have made him one of their own. Through hard work, Parth has built a fortune and is now one of the richest men in England. He is beyond shocked when Lavinia asks him to marry her, an offer he quickly refuses. Before he can get answers, she apologizes and leaves. Later that day he reveals that he is going to marry and is going to London to woo his bride - a widowed contessa named Elisa. Lavinia feels ill at the news, but it turns out she really is ill, Parth scoops her up and takes her to her room. Over the next few days, he helps care for her and tells her he will help her find a husband.

Lavinia slowly recovers from her illness and learns that Aunt Knowe has sent her mother to a manor to overcome her addiction. Lavinia worries about her mother's theft and the debts, but decides to take charge of Diana's trousseau. Diana, Lady Knowe and Lavinia travel to London and Lavinia is delighted to discover that vendors are willing to pay her a commission for having the future duchess' business. She loves fashion and is in her glory designing and managing Diana's and several members of the Wilde families wardrobes. She is still embarrassed about her proposal to Parth and tries to avoid him. But when she runs into him at a vendors shop with his soon to be betrothed in tow, she is forced to act nonchalant. She is also surprised to learn how much she likes Elisa. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, she slips out for a breath of air and is confronted by Parth - he is upset that she is out in the rain so soon after her illness. He is insulting to her, but not on purpose, he is just incredibly blunt and tactless. Their argument ends when he kisses her.

When another argument leads to another kiss, Parth has changed his mind, he wants Lavinia, not Elisa. Lavinia tries to avoid Parth, especially after Lady Knowe and Diana return to the country and leaving her to tie up things with Diana's trousseau. Lavinia refuses his offer of escort back to the castle. She thinks of him constantly, but like everyone else, thinks he is going to marry Elisa.

She returns to Lindow and throws herself into her work, Parth inserts himself into her life, making sure she rests and eats. They form a friendship and begin to learn more about each other. When things between them turn heated, she agrees to marry him. He is elated, but must return to London. He says he will return with Elisa before the wedding. She misses him and knows she should have told him the truth about her mother, but is consumed with the work that needs to be done for Diana's wedding gown.

When Parth returns, eager to see her, he overhears the end of a conversation between Lavinia and Diana. He is hurt by what he hears and seeks out North instead. When she finally sees him, he is distant and cold. They have a fight and she tells him that she has changed her mind and will not marry him.

She flees the castle and goes to see her mother. Parth follows, he knows he messed up and is frantic to repair the damage. But Lavinia is firm, he doesn't respect her and thinks she is shallow, she cannot marry a man like that. He learns the truth about her mother and bows to Lavina's request and leaves, but this is not over.

He returns with reinforcements and presses his case. She is still set on refusing him, but when her mother disappears, Parth is the person she turns to for help. When thinks take a violent turn, Parth finally gets his chance to prove his feelings to Lavinia, but is it too late?

This was a great story, I will be honest, I was a bit unsure that I would like it once I learned he planned to marry Elisa and thought this might devolve into a angsty love triangle, but instead I was delightfully surprised with how Ms. James handled the situation and even ended up hoping that she finds a match for Elisa! The book has a lot of witty banter, many amusing scenes, a bit of heartache, steamy love scenes and a sigh worthy ending.

This is the third book in the series, but I think it could be read as a standalone with no problem, however, I have read all three books and feel that my reading experience with this book was enriched by reading the books in order.

I was really looking forward to this one, given the frisson and friction between the two in previous books. Not only was the novel disappointing, it seems that James is chasing after TV and losing her style in the process.
My complaints are two: one is that Parth is written as a man of Anglo-Indian descent. I find that a great turn for the genre as a whole, making it less white. But while James talks about his parents and adoption, she shies away from talking about what that would have been like in greater society, about what he may have suffered and experienced. I understand her comment in the afterward of avoiding negative depictions, but I also don't know why she glossed over his Indian background and how that would have made him who he is. Being able to avoid noticing or commenting on race is white privilege, and James uses it here to the detriment of character, story and history. I had hoped for more like the movie "Belle" where the family clearly loves their African descended daughter, but greater society has mixed feelings. I noticed that there was less of Parth's viewpoint overall, compared to other novels, as James avoided not only his race but him altogether.
My second complaint is that there are elements that make it clear that James is hoping the Wildes will become like Julia Quinn's Bridgertons: optioned for TV by Shondaland or some other producer, and is structuring them to increase that likelihood. The copycatting: big loving family, odd naming traditions, successive stories of each getting married off, media scrutiny--combined with changes in James' style: less passion, no animal characters, less historical factoids, less humor--lead me to this conclusion. James stories are usually a delight of unusual elements juggled together to make a story that often makes me snicker and smile. There is none of that here and the novel feels that it is less about our characters and more about the family as a whole: if Ophelia beamed at anyone one more time, I was done.
In short: if you are a fan of James' previous work, there is little of that here and there may be little for the future if she is changing her style to suit TV or other media. I hope not, because I like her unusual blend of elements, but only time will tell.

Generally, I’m down for a good enemies to lovers story, mostly because they’ve usually got a fair amount of fire and angst. It was the reason I was looking forward to this book. Eloisa James did a good job laying the groundwork for this constantly sniping duo over the course of the series’ first two books. The story itself was slightly less exciting.

I feel like I already knew Lavina from her association with the first two heroines. She is lovely, though maybe a bit flighty, and there isn’t a man around who doesn’t want to make her his bride. Well, nobody except for Parth. For some reason, the adopted brother of the Wilde clan treated her with mild disdain and she reciprocated with unflattering nicknames every time she spoke of him. But now, as this story begins, she is ready to propose to him.

I thought that was a bit jarring. Yes, her friend suggested it and Lavina was in a world of financial trouble, but by all accounts, Lavina thought very little of Parth up to this point. It bothered me that she would propose to him right off the bat. Goodness knows, she’d had plenty of other offers before then. Though he says no, as the story progresses, we are led to believe Lavina has acted the way she has toward Parth because she was interested in him all along… and his behavior toward her was motivated by a similar attraction. But I felt that was way, way too convenient and I would have liked to see them going from actually not liking each other to falling in love.

Anyway, not only was Lavina’s mom stealing to pay for their lifestyle, it turns out she’s a drug addict and has to go into a sanitarium. (I didn’t see that one coming.) Lavina’s got to pull herself up by the bootstraps and either make a good match or find a way to earn the money to pay folks back on her own. Her wonderful fashion sense ends up being her financial ticket, but Parth decides to help her find a wealthy husband to boot. He, meanwhile, decides to court an entirely different woman and woo her for marriage.

I had issues. Like I said, I didn’t believe in the idea that these two were always attracted to each other. I didn’t like how Parth backslid on Lavina so late in the game. The black moment felt contrived and the characters should have been beyond that by the point in the book where it happened. And there was this whole thread about Lavina losing weight that was protracted and frequently referenced, only to go absolutely nowhere. I thought that, for sure, as often as it came up it had to mean something. But no.

That’s not to say that it was bad. I was just… underwhelmed. I liked Lavina and her character arc as she really grew to see the value in herself. And I think Parth had a lot of potential. I just don’t think he worked hard enough to win his heroine until the very end… and at times lacked the courage of his conviction when it came to giving his heart and his trust to the relationship.

Not my favorite in this series.

Rating: B-/C+

This is such a fun story with an independent, creative heroine and a slightly grumpy, smoldering hero! Even though there are quite serious issues dealt with, such as addiction, theft, and bankruptcy, Lavinia and Parth have such witty interactions, that I was laughing through most of the book. That isn't to say there weren't some teary moments too, as the couple dealt with misunderstandings between them and their own self-doubts. I really liked the fact that the romance built slowly, since they were both so unsure if they should trust their feelings for each other.

I loved that Lavinia was a strong heroine who found a way to solve her own problems, even though everybody else thought all she had to do was marry a rich man. Parth was great as he tried to fight his feelings, be overprotective, and find Lavinia a husband all at the same time.

The rest of the Wildes were such fun in this story too! Lady Knowe practically steals the show, as we get to see a lot more of her character. Diana plays a big part, and Betsy is just waiting in the wings for her story.

I received an ARC of the book from the author.

Lavinia finds herself in a terrible situation: her mother has been stealing for years to support a laudanum addiction. When Lavinia finds this out, nearly everything in her world turns upside down. Instead of a lighthearted heiress with men from several countries at her feet, she is now in debt and worried that her mother will go to prison. Her pride takes a real beating, and she battles hard to regain her self-worth.
In the meantime, Parth is trying to take the next logical step in life. It's time to get married, and he is going to do that as logically as he does everything else. The problem is that he can't stop worrying about Lavinia's health and wanting to kiss her. Then it turns out that she is not as vacuous as he had originally supposed. He has to give up his plans if he truly wants her.
The best part of this book is watching Lavinia find her bearings and learn her true worth. She finds a way to solve her problems while helping other people. The second best part was seeing that Parth does have romance in his soul. He said some really beautiful things to Lavinia as the book went along.
I was really glad that North and Diana were in here, too. They had some sigh-worthy moments, and they talked some sense into Lavinia and Parth at key moments. Lady Knowe is wonderful as well. Also, we get the set-up for the next book in the series, and it sounds absolutely terrific!
In summary, this is exactly the type of historical romance I love. The characters are realistic and engaging, I learned a few things as I read, and I closed the book with a sigh and a smile. I highly recommend it!

Eloisa James has created another wonderful addition to The Wildes of Lindow Castle. Parth and Lavinia are two strong willed characters. They mix like oil and water yet the attraction is like metal to magnets.
Parth has been a ward of the Duke since he was a child. He has grown up as another son and yet, he isn't a peer but a businessman. Parth's wealth comes not from inheritance but trade. He owns a lace factory and a bank.
Lavinia is related to two women who are loved by the two older Wilde sons. She was an heiress who had every man wanting to marry her but now she has discovered that her mother is addicted yo laudanum and has spent the families money and even stolen jewels to pay for her addiction.
The book is filled with laughs and tears on the way to the heartwarming Happily Ever After.
I received an advanced copy of this book.

This book is the third in the Wilde family series. Parth Sterling was sent to the Wildes at the age of five by his parents who were living in India and planned to follow him soon, but ended up getting sick and died along with his young brother. He became a ward of the Wildes, but really he became a member of the family. He had no title so he worked hard in business to make something of himself and became a huge success owning many businesses including a lace factory and creating his own bank. Lucinda Grey is the daughter of a Lord who died some years ago and is being watched over by her mother. She grew up with Willa from the first book and her cousin is Diana from the second book. She was an heiress and has had countless marriage proposals both in England and in Paris until recently when her mother confessed that they were broke and more importantly she has stolen from Willa's accounts when she stayed with them and then she stole Diana's emerald necklace and tiara that Diana was blamed for stealing by her mother and sold them to finance the Paris trip.

Diana tells Lavina to go to Parth and propose marriage. Parth is rich and more importantly a real problem solver who can fix her problem with her mother. He also might not mind that she has no dowry. But it all goes wrong and he turns her down. Then Lavina gets sick with influenza and Parth becomes rather concerned and sits by her bedside for a night and promises to find her a husband since he has figured out that she has no dowry.

While she has been sick she learns that her mother's taking of her laudanum drops has long been an addiction and has become deadly and needs to be dealt with. Lady Knowle, the Duke's sister has her mother placed in a nice home for addicts. Lavina suggests that Diana have a trousseau and the Duke agrees to pay for it. Diana insists that Lavina help her with it and Lady Knowle agrees to go with them in order to organize the family's clothing for Diana's wedding. Before leaving Lavina finds out that Parth plans on asking an Italian countess named Elisa to marry him and her heart is broken because she has been in love with him for years as they have traded barbs and argued over everything.

In London Parth and Lavina meet up at a silk sellers shop where he insults her looks by saying she is pale and skinny and sickly looking and had earlier insisted on her being seen by a doctor. They then share an intense kiss outside of the shop in the rain. Parth still introduces her to a Prince of Norway who is so captivated by her he plans on asking her to marry him when he gets back from Norway. Parth hates him, of course, and doesn't think he's good enough for Lavina. Lavina can't help but like Elisa who is charming and delightful which makes it even harder knowing that the two of them will be married.

While Lavina is going around to the shops putting together Diana's trousseau, she stops at the silk store and Mr. Felton the owner offers her a commission if she buys her silk from him. Now Lavina sees a way to make some money to pay for the emeralds and Willa's account. The other merchants also agree to offer her a commission as well and when one of the ladies of society finds out that she is putting together Diana's trousseau she wants her to put together her trousseau for a commission. Now she may earn money for a dowry.

But Parth is appalled at the idea. Parth also made the comment to North that she is as"shallow as a puddle" and he keeps harping on the fact that she bought a lot of bonnets. He seems to think that she was the reason that there is no dowry, when in fact it was her mother who went through the money. He seems to think the worst of her and not respect her or think much of what she seems to find interesting which is fashion. Or that she can or should make a living doing something with it. But their kisses tell a different story altogether--that they should be with each other. I really adore this series and I have been waiting patiently for Parth and Lavina's story and I wasn't disappointed. Lavina has learned some things over the past three books and grown and Parth has changed a bit too in that he has decided to actually get married. He still overreacts when people get sick due to his parents' death. He also doesn't want to be hurt and guards his heart savagely. Lavina is terrified of losing him so she refuses to tell him about her mother's thefts. You really do wonder if these two will get together because he injures her so badly. This book also sets up the next Wilde book which promises to be even better than the previous three. This was a fantastic novel that keeps you turning the pages as fast as you can until you finish it. I highly recommend this book.

I have been enjoying the Wildes of Lindlow Castle, so I'm a bit surprised that this release slipped past my notice. Luckily, I snagged an audio copy from the library so I could squeeze it in because I was absolutely salivating over that cover!

So our hero of this installment is Parth Sterling... not a Wilde, but a close family friend that has been sort of adopted by the boisterous Wilde family. While Parth is not really of noble blood, he is rich as Croesus and that, combined with his close relationship to the Wildes, mean that he is accepted by the bon ton. Parth owns a very popular bank, among many other endeavors, including a lace factory! I enjoyed Parth and his confused feelings about our heroine. I had fun watching him figure things out and realize that his carefully laid plans were not going to go quite as he thought.

Our heroine is Lavinia Gray, whom you probably remember from earlier books. Unfortunately for Lavinia, her mother has become an addict, thief and spendthrift. Lavinia finds herself in the very difficult situation of having no dowry, and a mother that could possibly face criminal consequences if her shortcomings became known. So Lavinia must find a rich and important husband tout suite! I liked Lavinia quite a bit as well. She was a fashionista that had a talent for helping others with couture, and I enjoyed that aspect of her character. I was a bit surprised that she wasn't more angry towards her mother, who really made a muddle of so many things.

The relationship between Parth and Lavinia built at a good pace. There were some misunderstandings between the two that got my goat sometimes, but it all worked out in the end. Watching the push and pull as Parth began to realize his feelings was entertaining. And there was undeniable chemistry between the couple.

I believe we have met our next hero in this book, a broken and broody veteran. I am looking forward to seeing what Eloisa has in store for us next.

Review by Margot Pelletier

Eloisa James’s Born to be Wilde is the third book in the Wildes of Lindow Castle series. The romance follows the enemies to lovers trope, and though this can be read as a standalone, much of the enemies part of the trope appears to have taken place in the previous books. As much as this is a historical romance, it is also a heartfelt coming of age story.

Lavinia, the heroine, is frivolous and fashionable, and her opinion of herself is in keeping with the era: her worth lies in her wealth and beauty and the ability to make a good match because of those attributes. When her mother is revealed to be a thief and a laudanum addict who has swindled away Lavinia’s dowry, the heroine’s view of herself is thrown into chaos. Lavinia shows herself to be intelligent, caring, and determined to right her mother’s wrongs. What ensues is a breath of fresh, feminist air that I am seeing more often in the genre.

The bulk of the story is focused on a woman discovering her own capabilities, talents, and worth. Lavinia’s arc of character growth over the tale has her figuring out who she is and realising she is worthy of respect and admiration. This is a story about unapologetically and unashamedly being oneself and refusing to lessen oneself for another person, even if that other person is a loved one. The hero has growth of his own to do, and both characters come to see past their previous impressions and judgements of the other.

James’s prose is smooth-flowing and eloquent, and her characters are believable and engaging. There is a bit of anachronism in the tale, but I do not read in the romance genre with a mind toward unerring historical accuracy. I read it for the warmth, humor, and heart that imbues this tale.

Highly recommended for fans of historical romance and particularly for fans of tales about women coming into their own

Romance perfection can be found within the pages of Born to be Wilde. It’s rocky, silly, snarky, romantic, fun, surprising and engaging, but at all times, entertaining. I knew the relationship between Parth and Lavinia was strained because of the previous books, but to finally get to know why? Priceless and well worth the wait.

The title of the book isn’t based on the song by Steppenwolf but is actually a pointed clue about Parth’s life. The explanation and the story telling that showed me all about it tugged at my heartstrings. When I finally ‘got it’, I was overcome with a reaction I usually reserve for a cute, cuddly puppy that needs reassurance – Awwwwww!

The sparks that fly between Lavinia and Parth, their misunderstandings and assumptions that complicate any attempt at a relationship, all worked to create a dynamically difficult and emotional trial between the two, akin to running the gauntlet. Watching them fall in love in spite of all of that made for excellent reading.

The wedding between Diana and Lord Roland Northbridge Wilde is in the background throughout this novel and culminated in the HEA that I’d been waiting for since I read Too Wilde to Wed. It was wonderful to witness because both Parth and Lavinia were involved too. It was a brilliant wrap-up to add to the fun of this current novel.

The epilogue gave me happy sniffles. If I thought the book was romantic before, the author outdid herself with Lavinia’s final presentation to Parth. It was the most compassionate, convincing, tender and affectionate proof of Lavinia’s complete and pure love for Parth and it made me tear up. This book was a really good read but that scene boosted it up to a whole other level of awesomeness.

Once again, Ms. James set the hook for her next novel. The intense scene regarding Lord Jeremy earlier in the book was a shocker. He’s the epitome of a tortured hero and that was reinforced with his interaction between himself and Becky Wilde. What happened to him that was so bad that it affected him that way? And how in the world would Becky help him? What will she have to do to get through to him? It boggles the mind and creates a craving to read the next book in the series.

So far, every single book has been a winner in this series and Born to be Wilde is no exception. It’s a story too good to miss with characters I would love to know in real life. Fans of the Wilde family are in for a treat. There’s never a dull moment even when I get to meet the most adorable Queen of the Fairies and her court. Wilde antics are the best!

originally posted at long and short reviews

The attraction between socialite Lavinia Gray and business man Parth Sterling has been sizzling since the first book in the Wilde series. The couple bickers constantly. Parth believes that Lavinia is a vapid socialite who collects bonnets; while she tells Parth he is rude and calls him “appalling Parth”. Even though Parth and Lavinia claim they don’t like each other-they can’t stay away from each other.
Lavinia has discovered that her mother has stolen her inheritance. Lady Gray spent the dowry and took Lavinia’s jewelry and her niece Diana’s emeralds sold them and replaced them with copies. Lavinia decides to marry a wealthy man and proposes to Parth who turns her down flat. However, he does offer to find her a husband! This well- written scene had me laughing out loud and drew me into the novel.
Lavinia eye for color, fabric and fashion earns her a paying job at Felton’s fabric shop. Lavinia has been tasked with designing the future Duchess of Lindow’s wedding gown and trousseau and the gowns for the entire Wilde family. Lavinia becomes immersed in her job designing and sewing the gowns needed for North and Diana’s wedding. She is able to repay some of her mother’s debts. Parth‘s feelings toward Lavinia change when he acknowledges Lavinia’s talent as a designer and his desire for her. I adored the scene when Parth brings Lavinia to the castle’s solar. This scene is touching, emotional and perfectly written.
Eloisa James weaves several important themes in Borne to be Wilde. She carefully balances Lavinia’s desire to earn her own dowry and payback her mother’s creditors with Parth’s overwhelming desire to solve her financial issues. Ms. James also weaves in Lady Gray’s addiction to laudanum, Lord Jeremy’s PSTD and North and Diana’s wedding into the plot. I adored all of the characters in the novel; especially the pragmatic Lady Knowe.
Eloisa James has written a fabulous romance; it’s emotional, poignant and the dialogue is fabulous. This romance captivated me because it was so much fun to see this couple fall in deeply in love! I adore Ms. James’ epilogues and this one was perfect especially the last sentence!

This is a wonderfully entertaining and romantic book. It is excellently written, well plotted and filled with wonderfully lovable and relatable characters. Now, the Wilde’s seem a little over the top, but they are such a joyful, happy family. This is the first book I have read in the series and I had absolutely no trouble at all keeping up. However, I can say that reading this one just made me want to go back and read the earlier books.

The hero and heroine from the second book are heavily featured in this book and they are a delight. I definitely want to go back and read their story.

Lady Lavinia Gray is the toast of London – a diamond of the first water. She is a rich heiress and receives proposals on a daily basis. Well – except she isn’t a rich heiress anymore. Her mother has not only lost Lavinia’s dowry, she’s stolen from friends and family to support an addiction to laudanum. Lavinia is desperate! Somehow she has to find the money to repay the friends and family her mother stole from, she also has to find someone powerful enough to keep her mother from going to jail. She has but one choice – marry a powerful and rich man.

Parth Sterling is obscenely rich, a much-loved ward of the Wilde’s and a fixer of problems. Imagine his shock when Lady Lavinia Gray appears at his door one evening and proposes marriage. Why in the world would she be there? While she smiles at and charms everyone else she meets, she derides him and calls him names. Heaven help him – he likes it – but he’ll never admit that. So, he very promptly refuses her offer and she flees his lodgings quickly.

Parth has already found the woman he intends to marry. An Italian countess who is bright, funny, beautiful, and she certainly doesn’t need his money. They will have a companionable, amicable marriage. He certainly has no desire to saddle himself with a termagant like Lavinia Gray.

Parth decides to help her find a husband and, to his dismay, is very successful at it. He introduces her to a Norwegian prince – and the prince immediately falls head-over-heels for Lavinia. Lavinia really wants Parth, she’s always wanted him, but every time she’s around him she’s tongue-tied and can’t think of anything to say that isn’t an insult. However, she may have to let him go and marry the prince instead.

It is a fun romp to watch these two dance around each other. Each wants the other, but neither is able to own up to it. Throw a wedding for North and Diana in the mix and things are busy and about as mixed up as they can get.

I can highly recommend this fun read and I’m really looking forward to going back and reading the previous books in the series.

"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."

Pager turner. Heartfelt. Determination. Understanding.

Last we left our heroine with the dilemma of her mother's actions. Now, we open the door on her making a small sacrifice to make things right. She not just working to make things right for herself but for those around her that have been affected by the action of one. She finds that she must marry and marry someone with lots of clout and money. She finds that the one man she wanted nothing to do with, or so she thought. Is the man she goes to for help. Parth in deed is a very wealthy man. He also has a family with enough money and power of there own to make things happen. Parth finds that he is very much inclined to help Ms. Lavina find herself a wealthy husband. He presents her with a prince.

Again we are present with a host of character and a very charming plot line. This one his closer to the current sign of the times than most historical romance that I have read. I actually enjoyed it very much. You get to see how family deals with one family members problems. You also see how family stick with family. We get to meet new faces, new friends, and a new future.

Eloise James always give me a good story to read. I love watching her characters come to life. I love watching the story unfold. I may not always love the outcome. I do love the stories. She finds a way to master the historical and make it feel current.

Another wonderful book in The Wildes of Lindow Castle series! I adore the Wilde family and this series. I loved this book. I am all in with this series and this third book is my favorite to date. This can be read as a standalone, but I believe it will be especially fulfilling for readers who have read the previous two books in the series.

One thing I truly enjoyed about this book was the inclusion of some serious topics, including addiction and PTSD, in a way that added to the story and the characters without being the main emphasis. Secondary characters were a bonus to this book. Since it is a series, there are glimpses of familiar characters as well as set ups for future books, yet it all felt organic and did not distract from this story or this couple.

And this couple and their story is so strong and appealing. Lavinia and Parth are wonderful. Strong and appealing as individuals, they are ferociously perfect as a couple. Each starts as likable, and neither has huge flaws or issues, yet they grow so much during this book's journey.

The Wilde family are truly exceptional and I don't know how I will ever get enough of them. Lindow Castle is a fictional place I want to visit. I think the cover and step back of this book is magnificent, and this story inside l lived up to the promise. I highly recommend this historical romance.

was really looking forward to this one - I was so intrigued by Parth in book 1 & 2, but ended up more drawn to Lavinia. I knew that she wasn't as frivolous and shallow as Parth saw her originally, but this really explored the way her love of fashion and fabrics was actually a passion, talent, and cultivated skill. After her mother's laudanum addiction left her without a dowry or, well, anything, she managed to turn her passion into a commission. I loved how dedicated she was and how hard she worked alongside the seamstresses.

I also loved that the woman Parth planned to marry turned out to be someone Lavinia genuinely liked, instead of some woman vs. woman battle. Their interactions, along with Lavinia and Diana's, were lovely, but I did miss Willa and Lavinia's friendship.

Parth and Lavinia have always had an adversarial relationship up until this book. We knew they were obsessed with each other and called each other names like children, but this book revealed that Parth's jabs cut Lavinia deeply because of her low self-esteem, which was actually really interesting to me. She would throw barbs and he would jab back, but the things he said about her were things she actually believed about herself, so they affected her a lot.

The pacing was a little off at times, slow to develop sometimes and rushed in others. My main complaint, though, is that Parth's background seems almost insignificant. Parth is half-Indian, but grew up in England and was raised by the Wilde family from age 5. The author includes a note about how there were many, many half-Indian children growing up in England at the time, so I get that she didn't want him to seem different. But, he was just like the other Wildes. There was no mention of boys at Eton treating him differently because of his heritage, no adjusting to English culture, no foods or customs he missed from home. I get that he was very young when he arrived in England and very much a part of the Wilde family, so maybe that's realistic, but it seemed like a cop-out. Like a way to say the book has a diverse cast but really just having a "golden-skinned" Englishman.

Overall, I did really enjoy it but I think book 2 was stronger. Maybe that's because North and Diana's relationship and wedding was still such a big part of this book, too.

For the past three months, I have thought about this book every single day.

I am not exaggerating.

Eloisa James is arguably my favorite author and I’ve thoroughly enjoy both of her Wilde books so far. Yet, throughout the two books, I salivated at every scene that featured Lavinia and Parth—their bickering made the series for me. Needless to say I was very, very, very excited for this book.

So last night, at nine pm (I live on the West Coast), when the book popped up on my Kindle homepage I screamed. I sounded like a sixth grade girl at the release of a Justin Bieber album. I promptly ignored the entire world (including my ten friends at my house for Bachelorette night) and started reading.

This book thoroughly met my expectations. I’ve already read it twice. It gave me all of the warm and fuzzy feelings and at least five day dreams. Watching Lavinia and Parth dance around their feelings touched my little heart.

This book was much darker than I excepted. Lavinia is dealing with her mom who, in the depths of an opioid addiction, squandered Lavinia’s dowry and stole from their friends. At the beginning of the book, Lavinia asks Parth to marry her out of desperation. Of course, she also asks due to her lingering infatuation—all of those insults she flung around for the past two books were really just a product of her inability to express her feelings. A very relatable issue to be honest.

Parth doesn’t know what to do with Lavinia after discovering her circumstances. He promises to help find her an adequate spouse but the more time he spends around Lavinia he begins to recognize her intelligence, her acute business acumen, and gains respect for her passion for fashion. She is not at the shallow vain girl that he once pegged her as.

This book is a gradual burn: lust is not conflated with love and there are very few sexy time scenes. In some ways, the book is less about Parth and Lavinia’s romance and more about Lavinia’s journey to find her confidence and self-worth. Born to be Wilde did not wallow in angst, but it is not a cheery read either. If you come into this book excepting 300 pages of silly flirtation and hurling insults (essentially Parth and Lavinia’s relationship in the previous two books), you will be disappointed. The reality of Lavinia’s situation is grim, and Eloisa James does not sugarcoat. However, the serious tone of the book fits the plot and definitely brings new depth to the characters we first met in Wilde in Love. And as someone who loves cutesy romances I actually believe the book is all the stronger for its serious tone.

I truly believe this is one of Eloisa James’ best books. While her writing is always superb, I don’t always like James’ characters. I loved Parth: his dedication to the Wildes, his confidence, and his sardonic humor. However, this is Lavinia’s book. Her quiet strength, ambition, and grab-the-bull-by-its-horns approach to life made her one of my favorite romance heroines of all time.

While this book can definitely be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend reading the previous two books in the series so you can gain a sense of Parth and Lavinia’s relationship before this book.

This book simply amazing. It has earned a spot on my all times favs shelf.

Rating: 5/5

Check out my blog “Sunflowers and Romance!” for more reviews!

I love this Wilde series. Spoiled pampered Lavina does not have any actual idea how much dresses, bonnets etc cost. She has been like a dress up doll her whole life. She does seem shallow and without depth and this is one statement that Parth makes but it is true to a certain extent. She lives by the motto that clothes do indeed make the woman. Parth is an Honorary Wilde but definitely blood could not make him any closer to the other Wilde members. There is a lot of love in this family and it shines thru in ever book. There is a real possibility that Parth is truly interested in acquiring someone else like he has amassed his fortune by acquisitions. Lavina has resigned with herself she was and has always attracted and more than a little in love with Parth but its almost too late? A page turner for sure was up all night! A must read. Cant wait for Betsy story is that next?

The Best Wilde Yet!!!
Parth and Lavinia were so much more than the enemies to lovers story I was expecting. The emotional depth, the banter, and the unstoppable force of Lavinia made this installment of the Wildes of Lindow Castle my favorite so far....although that last chapter sure has me excited for Betsy!

A whirlwind of people, places, servants, friends, costumes all spinning into mediocrity! Slogged through the first few chapters and continued on hoping for some flash and sass. None. Resorted to just finish. H and h just didn't click. Three stars is generous for time and effort to put words on the page. James needs to take a few months off and stop these multi-characters stringing us along. The teaser at the end for the billiard players did not work. Forget about waiting for that one.

Another great story from Eloísa James full of smart, funny dialogue true to the era. If you’ve read James before it’s as good as you expect. If you haven’t, stop reading reviews and buy this book now. Buy all her books. Go. A wonderful read with a guaranteed HEA is just a click away!

My favorite of the Wilde series. I’ve been rooting for Parth and Lavinia through the other books, just waiting for the explosive joining of these two delightful characters. If you haven’t read it yet, what on earth are you waiting for?