Wilde in Love: The Wildes of Lindow Castle

I love Alaric, I like Willa, her best friend Lavinia, his best friend Part, and his brother, North, heir to the Wilde Dukedom. Truly Good story, love the quirky Duke's family! Great Characters, even the pets are unusual! This the wittiest story told by Eloise James! I deducted one star, for the use of the term Giggle, she use it correctly, while describing these girls without a brain, falling for a man falsely portrayed in a play. However, to describe the intelligent, mischievous Willa, it isn't flattering to her. I do love this very unique family, I can't wait for the next book!
I highly recommend! Thanks! Enjoy!
carolintallahassee ?

I’m hoping the next book in the series will capture some of the magic (humor, evolution, etc.) of her earlier work. These characters have no real personality, the writer has to keep reminding readers of who she wants them to be rather than building the characters so we see it show through as we get to know them.

What a wonderful start to a new series!

Lord Alaric Wilde aka Lord Wilde, author, adventurer and son of the Duke of Lindow is back in England after years of traveling. He was expecting a hot bath, a cup of tea and a quiet reunion with his family to mourn the death of his eldest brother but what he got was a mob of ladies clamoring to meet the infamous Lord Wilde. Unbeknownst to Alaric, someone has adapted and embellished his books into a play titled "Wilde in Love"" and the women of England can't wait to meet him and console him after the tragic death of his beloved. His fame or infamy comes as a shock to Alaric and he has to disguise himself to escape.

Miss Wilhelmina Ffynche aka Willa and her friend Lavinia are attending a house party at Lindow Castle, in honor of the betrothal of their friend Diana and the duke's heir and Alaric's older brother Lord Roland Northbridge Wilde (aka North). Lavinia is overjoyed that Lord Wilde will be there, she has read all his books and has purchased several prints of his adventures, Willa is not as enthused, she has not read any of his books and has spent the last three years listening to Lavinia gush over the man. So it comes as a bit of shock to her when she first meets him and finds herself reluctantly attracted to him.

Alaric is fascinated by Willa, not only is she lovely and intelligent - but she has absolutely no interest in fawning over him like the rest of the women attending the party.

Willa has no interest whatsoever in Alaric, she is a very private person and the thought of having a husband who is adored and pursued by countless women is abhorrent to her. She is sure that his books are made up and the man himself is unreliable. She tries to avoid him as much as she can without being rude, but the more she tries to avoid him, the more determined he becomes.

Willa grudgingly accepts Alaric's presence and even begins to like the real Lord Alaric, but she still has no desire to form any attachment to a man that is most likely going to leave again and is stalked by hordes of women. So when a crazed woman appears at the party and announces that she is Alaric's deceased beloved, Willa pretends to be his betrothed to discourage the woman.

Alaric see this as an opportunity to woo Willa, he has decided that she is the woman for him and he will win her!

This book is delightful, it a well written, engaging and witty read. The introduction of secondary characters (who will presumably have books of their own) was done perfectly, they enhanced the story of Willa and Alaric instead of distracting the reader, there are mischievous siblings, a pet skunk, a crazy stalker, a hero who doesn't mince words with other women, a bog and finally a wonderfully done HEA - with an epilogue!!

I loved this book, I am happy to recommend it and I am looking forward to Roland's book (Ms. James set his book up with a bit of a cliffhanger in this story).

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by Edelweiss and the publisher*

I am a huge fan of Eloisa James stories... this one, not so much. The juvenile actions of the h and her friend weren’t funny to me at all. I didn’t see what the H saw in the h, other than she eventually was very supportive of the H and recognized her friend’s behavior was so childish. The whole story just barely limped along, in my opinion.
I would not recommend this book.

I liked the characters and the story but didn't LOVE them like I usually do with an Eloisa James book...it almost didn't feel as if she wrote it(It all came to easy). It is a good book as long as you don't expect her normal writing.

I forced myself to finish this book. There was about 2 chapters I really liked - the rest of the book :(
I really liked both H's personalities. The storyline was boring & way to much detail talking. If that makes sense.

I am a huge fan of Eloisa James stories... this one, not so much. The juvenile actions of the h and her friend weren’t funny to me at all. I didn’t see what the H saw in the h, other than she eventually was very supportive of the H and recognized her friend’s behavior was so childish. The whole story just barely limped along, in my opinion.
I would not recommend this book.

I liked the characters and the story but didn't LOVE them like I usually do with an Eloisa James book...it almost didn't feel as if she wrote it(It all came to easy). It is a good book as long as you don't expect her normal writing.

I forced myself to finish this book. There was about 2 chapters I really liked - the rest of the book :(
I really liked both H's personalities. The storyline was boring & way to much detail talking. If that makes sense.

I know a lot of people gush over Eloisa James' books but in my opinion, the last couple have been a total yawn. Pages and pages of the kind of light brainless gossip that I supposed filled the days of aristocratic ladies in those days (YAWN) hung loosely on a predictable, unimaginative little plot where the hero ends up having to rescue the heroine from a crazed evil-doer, not once but twice. The skunk was actually the most interesting character in the book! I love a good romance novel as much as the next reader and love watching two people work through their difficulties and grow, mature and find happiness in the end. But a good book keeps you turning the pages to see all this happen in a satisfying way. This one kept me turning the pages to get to the end so I could leave it behind!

Eloisa James seems to have lost her mojo a few books back. This one gets two stars because there are no grammar mistakes. My advice is to read her back list, if you haven't already, and look for other authors.

I'm a fan of romance novels but I don't often get laugh out loud moments from them as I did in this book. Thank you so much Eloisa James. Alaric and Willa were well matched and I loved Sweetpea. I look forward to the rest of the series.

It eventually becomes a "Wilde" ride however. I adore Eloisa James' work, but will admit that this was a slow start for me. I'm glad I persevered and I cannot wait to read North's story and I would hope Lavinia's as well.

I adored this book. The heroine was perfect and the hero wasn't a douchebag alpha male douche.

Eloisa James is my favorite romance writer and this book is just the perfect little Eloisa James concoction. I can't wait for the next in the series.

My only complaint is it was released the day before NaNoWriMo started and I didn't get the paperback until late in the afternoon and had a hard time not just curling up with the book and reading. AND I bought the paperback because I knew my friend would love it, but I'm not sure I'm willing to part with this book to give it to her.

Where is the witty dialogue? The painstaking detail of Georgian-era clothing? The obscure historical details about some arcane Georgian custom or tradition? These make Eloisa's books compelling--heaven knows there are only so many ways to write the HEA story.

While reading the first few chapters, I kept wondering if I was reading a sequel to a book yet to be published. The heroine was dropped unceremoniously into the plot, with basically no back story. The hero--one dimensional. The villain--sloppily written.

The book is disappointing and not of her usual caliber. Let's hope the next one is better.

Eloisa James is a wonderful writer of very romantic prose. The cover of this book alone shines with the sensuality that is always presents in her stories. She is also very witty. I can easily predict that The Wildes of Lindow Castle series will be wildly popular.

I thoroughly loved this book. Alaric and Willa are delightful. The characters are fun and the set up for future books is alluring. There is a good feel for the times but it does move slowly. All in all a really good read.

Not Her Best

Pardon the allusion, but like Willa's pet, this one is a bit of a stinker. I love all the rest of Eloisa James's books, and she is one of my favorite romance writers. When she is good, I literally cannot put her new book down.

With this novel, I found myself putting it down. Finally, forcing myself to keep reading like you force yourself to finish that splurge dessert you only eat twice a year, even when this time the cheesecake is gummy.

Maybe it was the silly skunk? Usually I like the whimsical bits in her novels, even when I don't think they are very funny. I just never engaged with any of the main characters. Her main characters are usually wonderfully developed and memorable.

I will immediately read the next book Eloisa James publishes--all great writers have a few books that are less than stellar. It may just be my personal taste. I'll be reading other reviews with interest.

I have always enjoyed reading Eloisa James' novels and this one is no different. From the beginning in how self-deprecating Alaric is to how endearing a character can be whose eyesight is just about as bad as mine. To them finding out they are in love to finding each other. It was difficult for me to put this book down and let life intrude again. Great read as always !!!

Great character development, loved reading and learning about land around the castle. I could practically see and see you the Rosegarden, the stone structure of the castle and the peat bogs.
Also love the American skunk.

Gosh, i usually enjoy EJ, but this couple was predictable & somewhat boring. I didn't feel like there was enough adventure & tension betwn the two. And i hate to say it, i didn't bother reading til the end b/c by ch 20, it was just getting too reminiscent of other books about the rich & handsome guy who falls in love w/ the unpretentious, witty gal.

I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads

3 Stars

I need to be honest, and I don't know whether it was my mood or not, but I struggled throughout the entire novel. Eloisa James was an author I found when I first began reading historical romances, and I adored those novels, spurring me into a love of the genre. However, Wilde in Love was close to being did-not-finish by me many times over, and it was only because I am a fan of the author that I forced myself to finish.

At the start, I talked myself out of giving up multiple times. Why, you may ask. Silly. That is the only word that came to mind for the first 20% of the novel. Silly. Every bit of dialogue had to be a zinger, whether it was witty banter, dry humor, or over-the-top vapid silliness. I couldn't take the characters or the story seriously enough to fall into it and enjoy myself.

I was intrigued by Alaric, but equally annoyed at the attention paid to him. It felt unrealistic. Now, I realize this may have been written to be 'humorous'. But there is humor, and then there is this feeling of forcing unbelievably on the reader and calling it humor. If Alaric's horde of fans were any indication on society, it's unimaginable that the downfall of civilization didn't happen in the Georgian period. I realize this is to mirror today's society with young girls fangirling hot celebrity actors. But, bear in mind, these were GROWN women, not children collecting lockets and portraits of the object of their affections as young girls did with posters when I was a child, or girls do today with saving pics to their phones.

I know I sound overly critical, and I realize every book isn't written for me. I'm writing this portion of the review for those who are more of a serious nature, who would have a similar reaction as I did. We enjoy humor as much as the next person, but it has to make sense. Those who know they get a chuckle from this sort of thing, on the flip side, they obviously know this is promoting it toward purchasing it.

If Alaric had unwanted fans, he had just as many family members. As the second son of a duke, with the oldest gone, Alaric fled responsibility and grief. His father, the duke, is on his third wife and his third set of children, leaving Alaric with the luxury of doing his own thing, no matter his birth order. Alaric wrote a series of books featuring his adventures all over the world, only to arrive back home to realize a play had been made in his false image, with a horde of admirers meeting him at the docks.

Willa is not an Alaric fan- she doesn't read fiction, seeing Alaric's books as an exaggeration on events rather than nonfiction. Willa is an academic, not prescribing to the silly notions of romance and falling all over a man because everyone else is. Yet, every time she looks at Alaric, the reader is subjected to a rundown of his attributes. I felt this contradicted Willa's personality traits, anticipated it every time she caught sight of him in the beginning portion of the story, but felt it fed into the love-hate tension Willa was tossing out at Alaric at every turn. Willa didn't like what Alaric stood for, but she enjoyed the pretty trappings.

Willa and Alaric's personalities and lives simultaneously balance yet contradict one another. Willa doesn't want to be a member of his fan club, wishing for a private life. Alaric begrudgingly enjoys the attention, yet only has eyes for Willa because she doesn't want him due to his celebrity status. My issues aside, the romance between them does unfold organically, creating a believable balance of a public persona versus a private life.

With such a large cast of characters, often at times, it felt as if the setup for subsequent books overshadowed the narrators and their evolving story.

This was a rough start to a new series for me personally, but I'm curious to see where it goes next. Perhaps it was just my mood, the 'humor' rubbing me the wrong way most of the time, and I patiently wait to find out during the next installment.

I remember really enjoying Eloisa James's first books. I don't know who has changed - her or me - but this was relatively poor. I say relatively because James still writes well. No complaints there. However, the story is not up to scratch.

For those that don't want any spoilers, my overall opinion is that this is a dull book with underdeveloped characters and many inconsistencies. Library fodder only. And only if you cannot find something good to read.

For those that don't mind the spoilers (though, really, there is not that much to spoil) read on ....

I am going to start with my complaints about the shallowness of the characters. Every character in the book seems underdeveloped and two-dimensional. I'll give some examples. Firstly, the heroine. We are told that the heroine is a very private person who is repelled by the concept of living in the public gaze but there is nothing to show why this is the case. It just is. And it just is to create a very weak conflict between the heroine and hero. He's popular and she is repulsed by the concept. Cue conflict. Then, she is billed as an intensely private person (see previous gripe) who has a secret, outrageous, bawdy sense of humour. Maybe I missed something but, as far as I could tell, we got one early example of this character trait and it never appeared again. Then, although she's presented as someone who has (unrealistically, given her very young age) thought hard about what she wants from life, she changes her mind about her supposedly deep convictions very quickly. Give her some beautiful eyes and a wet shirt and everything important to her is out the window.

Secondly, the hero has absented himself from his family and friends for years because he's upset about the death of his older brother but he returns home and we get almost zero on his re-integration. He has some very short conversations with one brother and that's about it. At some point he miraculously internalises and processes his brother's death but this is just presented as a tidy-up. No character development. This pattern is repeated often. He decides that he wants to marry the heroine in a ridiculously short space of time with very little to justify his infatuation. Then, because she resists his advances, he thinks his best bet is to become her friend first so he asks "can we be friends?" and she says "yeah, sure". Okay, I'm clearly paraphrasing, but my friends become friends because of our interactions. If some man I hardly knew, who had previously indicated an unwelcome sexual interest in me, just said "can we be friends?" I would be, to say the least, uncomfortable. I certainly wouldn't think this was a good idea. If said "friend" then immediately kissed me I'd be out of there. But no, apparently, just ask someone you hardly know to be your friend and then essentially sexually assault them and you'll be BFFs.

Thirdly, there are at least two further books being trailed here - the relationship between the hero and heroine's friends and the relationship between the hero's brother and his fiance - but both just seem silly. Apparently, the hero's brother is so infatuated at first glance with a girl that he immediately proposes marriage and then, without trying to find out anything about her, changes his whole personality to try and woo her. Seriously? Is he a moron? And the friends' relationship involves two supposedly intelligent people insulting each other for no other reason than to set up the tension for their, presumably upcoming, story.

Moving on, the whole book is full of inconsistencies and implausibilities. The "villain" is the daughter of a missionary who hates plays yet she has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of Shakespeare. How? (And, as another reviewer noted, the heroine, who dislikes fiction of any type, is then the only person who notices that the "villain" is plagiarising Shakespeare). The hero's (supposedly) dead brother is portrayed as a priggish bore who lives only to fulfill his familial duties and yet he (supposedly) dies because he is drunk and takes a bet to ride his horse through the dangerous bog which surrounds his family home. Not exactly the actions of someone who takes his family duties seriously. Then the hero's other brother takes up these terribly onerous family duties and is so bogged down by them (yes, pun intended) that he can no longer do the things he enjoys like play at being an architect. He can, however, play billiards. A lot. And host house parties. And go to balls. In fact, he never actually appears to do any of the work that has apparently blighted his life. The heroine is adamant she needs a private life above all else and yet within days of meeting the hero she says "nah, no worries, you're pretty hot so I'm prepared to live in the spotlight for the rest of my life to get my hands on your hotness". Similarly, the hero has spent most of his adult life travelling the world and writing about his experiences but he is prepared to stop travelling and writing for the rest of his life because he fancies a woman he's just met. And, although we are told she's interesting and funny (as well, of course, as being stunningly beautiful) there is little evidence of this in the writing. I found her mainly boring with flashes of being stupid and irritating. Further, this heroine, despite the fact that she has tried to be a perfect ward for about 9 years, and therefore refused to ask for the cat she has always desperately wanted because her foster mother does not like animals, suddenly adopts a skunk and an unattractive stray cat. If you didn't want to rock the boat by asking for a domesticated cat you would not suddenly sink it by taking on a skunk (let's ignore the implausibility of this ever happening) and a mangy stray Tom. Finally, this (supposedly) intelligent heroine follows the (ridiculous) "villain" into a dangerous situation for absolutely no reason except to set her up for rescue by the hero. The only thing more improbable was my being able to grind my teeth and yawn at the same time. Oh yes, one more thing: the heroine, who has the will power to suppress her natural personality for months on end so as to appear like the perfect debutante, because fitting in and being accepted is so very important to her, thinks that having sex with a man she has just met is a sensible thing to do.

I could go into further detail but I won't. I don't want to be an author-basher. I usually like James's book. She's good value but this particular book is not. It is just not what I've come to expect from her. If I want a dull story and poorly drawn characters there are many books I can read. I expect better from James. If you want some quality historical romance, read her earlier works. Read some Sherry Thomas or Courtney Millan. If you must read this, don't pay for it. Get it from the library.

Before I opine about this novel, I want to admit that I've been a great fan of Eloisa James since her novel "Potent Pleasures." She has always produced intelligent, character driven and well-written romance—with intriguing plot lines. So what happened here? This particular novel was thin on plot, which didn't begin to make its appearance until about a quarter of the way into the book. That might have been okay if the characters hadn't been as cardboard thin as the plot: spirited proper heroine, brawny-brainy hero, heroine's feisty sidekick, hero's pals who were pretty much chips off the old hero block. All that could have been fine if there was more to "Wilde in Love."

This book felt like a contractual obligation to the publisher rather than a story the writer couldn't wait to tell. Perhaps the straight out of central casting characters would have sufficed if, once the plot was introduced, the H&H's conflicts hadn't resolved so early on. Once it happened, the novel turned to treacle. A pet peeve: characters whose personalities are presented one way, and without much in the way of transformative action, behave in opposition to how they have been presented. Happened all over the place in "Wilde." The heroine, a prim and proper miss with good reasons to fear passion, almost immediately falls into bed with the hero. And, I'm sorry, but skunks as pets are not a good plan. If you have ever had a pet sprayed by a skunk, you know it is not a cute animal.

Spoiler alert paragraph—after the plot finally showed up, I could not suspend my disbelief to enjoy the story. It made no sense that when the obviously insane child of missionaries shows up having already wronged the hero, his father, a peer of the realm, would give her the run of the estate until he could arrange for her to be taken away. Really? He didn't have a retainer and spare cart to get rid of her? Any nobleman worth his salt would have hustled her straight off to bedlam. However, since the rest of the plot hung on this woman's malevolent antics she was left at liberty, logic or reality be damned.

My faith in Ms. James is such that I did not throw the book across the room in disgust at any point, but kept reading in hope that the story would improve. Sadly, it did not. I grant it two stars rather than one because I believe, like any other artist, an author can't be expected to turn out masterpiece after masterpiece—unless they are Mary Balogh or Loretta Chase. Let's hope the next Eloisa James novel is back in form.

Wilde in Love by Eloisa James is the First book in the New Series called "The Wildes of Lindow Castle". This is the story of Lord Alaric Wilde and Miss Willa Ffynche. Alaric has been away for a long time leaving one adventure after another while writing down his adventures. Alaric adventures along with the books is wrote about them have made him very famous for his time. So much so that women flock to him at every turn. But Alaric doesn't want this type of fame nor the attention but that doesn't seem to stop anyone. Alaric didn't know of himself being famous until he returned home. Alaric thought the only real thing he would have to deal with is the thoughts of his older brother past death. Alaric family has 8 brother and sister along with as step sibling or two. So they are a big family.
Willa loves her books and the quietness of life although her friend Lavina is a big fan of Alaric, Willa has not been. But now her and Lavina are head to a house party at the Wilde estate not knowing that Alaric is in residence. Willa is quick to set judgement on Alaric but he slowly starts to show her another side of himself than what she thinks. Alaric finds Willa beautiful, smart and not all impressed with his fame as the other ladies are. I did enjoy Willa and Alaric story and look forward to more in this series!

Sometimes one becomes bewitched by a writer and goes blithely along, reading everything she or he writes, thinking, "oh, I love so-and-so's books." I fall into that trap and have done so with many authors, including Eloisa James. But this time I caught myself. I started Wilde in Love after finishing a book (series) I loved (DL Orton's), and all I could think as I struggled to get through this was "how incredibly boring!!" I'd be interested to see a word search to see how many times the word "shrug" was used; it seemed the whole point of the first half of the novel was to endlessly remind us of the etiquette rules for young ladies of the late 18th century. There were a few preposterous occurrences, including the bedroom and skunk scenes, but I endured. And in the end, I was glad I did. The pace of the last third of the book picked up considerably (although all the plot twists at the end were completely visible early on - why have a bog if someone important's not going to end up there?) AND, more importantly Ms. James succeeded in laying the grounds for another protracted series with numerous interesting characters. I KNOW this to be true because I nonetheless read Too Wilde to Wed almost immediately, and it was much, much better. So consider me still strapped, but consciously so. I'm now looking forward to Wilde Denial, coming out soon.

First, I'm surprised by the high reviews! This books dragged from the third chapter to the boring end, if I ever get there!
Second, Alaric has lived his life as he saw fit; never thinking of anyone but himself. He can't believe all the nonsense with his books and travels.
Third, Willa/Evie is intelligent, strong-willed, powerful, and rich. She melts and desires Alaric???? What?
Fourth, there are so many different characters introduced that it is VERY difficult to separate all the people. How many times has the DUKE been married (3)?
Fifth, I'm on page 227 and it's not getting any easier to read!! I will finish this book, I will finish this book, I will finish this boring book, etc!
Sixth, I almost forgot the missionary's daughter! She has a definite problem. Oh dear!

Set in June of 1778 at Lindow Castle in Cheshire, England the house is celebrating the engagement of the eldest son of the Duke, North, to Diana Belfast and the return of the second oldest son, Alaric who has been gone for five years exploring the world and writing about his observations, using his last name of Wilde in the titles, such as Wilde Latitudes. In his absence, he has become something of a celebrity and an obsession to many of the young ladies, mainly due to a play put on about one of his adventures that was wildly inaccurate. His family thinks it's hilarious to a degree. Some of his teen siblings have had to put up with mishaps from others, though.

Someone who doesn't think it's hilarious, besides Alaric, is the proper Miss Wilomena "Willa" Everett Ffynche. She believes in keeping a private life and has no intention of being one of many. She also hasn't read any of his books. She prefers non-fiction books such as Pliny, not the fiction she is sure his books to be. She is prepared to meet Lord Wilde but quite unprepared to meet Alaric the man behind the facade. He is also intrigued to meet a woman who is not fawning at his feet.

Willa's best friend, Lavina Gray, with whom she was raised since the age of nine when her parents died, has been obsessed with Lord Wilde and has his picture plastered all over her room. But when she meets him she realizes he wasn't at all what she thought he'd be but decides he might make a fine friend instead. Parth Sterling, an orphan raised on the Duke's estate with his children has made a vast fortune for himself. While he and Willa hit it off great, he and Lavina fight like cats and dogs. It's quite interesting to watch the two of them go at it. At times more interesting than the main story.

At first, Willa feels as though she is being treated like a mountain that Alaric feels the need to conquer because she is a challenge, not because he truly cares for her. Then, of course, there's the matter of all of his adoring fans clamoring around him. Willa cannot consider a man for marriage that she could not have a private life with or one that was being chased by half the women in England. On top of that, she does not believe him when he says that he is done with exploring and plans to settle down at his estate.

But there's no denying what his kisses do to her and Alaric can be quite persuasive. And when an opportunity arises that involves them pretending to be engaged he takes advantage of it to do some more convincing. This was a good book and that had some unusual elements to it. It's not often you find a man giving a woman a skunk for a gift. Also, it's not often you encounter a scene of a man masturbating. But, a lovemaking scene would not be happening for a long time because Willa was a proper young woman and it was a creative way to get in a sex scene. This was a good start to a series that I eagerly await the next book for which should be about North and Diana if the ending is any indication and cannot come soon enough.

Wilde in Love captivated me from the first page! The opposites attract romance between the famous Lord Alaric and the very private Willa Ffynche was exquisitely written-- it’s romantic, funny and charming!
Alaric Wilde has returned to England to discover that he’s a famous celebrity. He is amazed that the books he wrote about his adventures are best sellers, ladies are enamored of him and that they swoon when they read about his escapades. He’s not amused when he learns there’s a sold out play entitled Wilde in Love which features his fictitious romance with a lovesick missionary’s daughter and his escapades with a pack of cannibals!
His desire? To travel home to Lindow Castle to see his father, stepmother and assorted brothers and sisters.
Willa Ffynche and Lavinia Gray are invited to a house party at Lindow Castle in honor of the engagement of Lavinia’s cousin, Diana, to Alaric’s older brother, North. Lavinia has read all of Alaric’s books and wears a much coveted Lord Wilde gold locket while Willa has no interest in Lord Wilde or his adventures. Although Willa is very smart and well read, she is a very private person. She is not impressed with Lord Wilde believes that Alaric enjoys his celebrity status and all of its’ perks.
Her decision? To avoid the handsome, charming man that intrigues her.
Alaric and Willa’s romance appealed to me because even though the chemistry between the couple sizzled, the passion between the couple developed slowly. Alaric took time to show Willa that he was Alaric Lindow, not Lord Wilde. He understood that there was more to Willa than the ladylike image she portrayed to the public. The conversations between the couple were witty, honest and at times poignant.
Wilde in Love is a fantastic read; the characters are multi-faceted, the romance between the hero and heroine is relatable and there is just enough social commentary woven through the storyline. Loved both Alaric and Willa and enjoyed reading their romantic journey. The secondary characters of North, Parth, Diana and Lavinia are fabulous. I enjoyed the relationship between Lavinia and Parth---she annoyed him—or was it attraction? (I can’t wait for their story!) There are many characters in the novel and each of them played important roles in the story. The last few chapters of the book are suspenseful and contain several surprising plot twists. I loved that Alaric never wanted to be a hero, but was given the chance to be a hero to the woman he loved.
The epilogue is perfect for Alaric and Willa—it made me smile! I adored the teaser for the next book in the series.

This is the first book in the new "Wilde Series" by Eloisa James. I discovered Eloisa's writing years ago when I was at my local library and found a book in the fiction section titled "Potent Pleasures". I was hooked and have read all of her books. She has always had a unique style that makes her characters extraordinarily memorable. The affectations, flaws, and quirks make her heroes irresistible and her heroines admirable.

Alaric Wilde is a gentleman that doesn't realize his appeal to the opposite sex and has never felt the need to limit himself to one woman. He has traveled the world and written books about his adventures. He has no idea of the popularity of his writing nor the leagues of women who adore his image of an adventurer who they love and will do truly ridiculous things to capture his heart.

Willa Everett Ffynche is a young lady who enjoys learning. She is a voracious reader, not fiction of course. She prefers hard facts instead of hyperbole and doesn't understand why young ladies love reading sensational novels. She is a lovely lady who is honestly warm and compassionate, which has resulted in 14 marriage proposals in her first season. She has not been moved sufficiently to accept any of them. Willa has very personal reasons for not throwing caution to the winds and become impulsive and reckless and would never be attracted to someone like Lord Wilde, or so she thinks.

A beautiful love story with witty banter between two characters that look at the world in different ways with distinct values that could separate or bring them together. Willa fights the attraction because she does not want to be married to a man who is in the spotlight and Alaric is frustrated that the situation he finds himself in is out of his control. Can they find a way to be together and still have the life they deserve?

This is the first book in the new series by Eloisa and now we have to wait impatiently for the next one. I recommend this book to all who love Historical Romance.

A new Eloisa James series--woot!

I absolutely adored Alaric and Willa's story--and cannot wait for more Wilde tales! (From what happens here, it's pretty clear who will star in the next two...or at least, who'd better star in the next two!) Alaric's character is a reasonable facsimile of a Georgian pop star...a reluctant pop star, because he certainly hadn't gone on adventures and written about them with the hope of endearing himself to an entire generation of young women. An entire generation, that is, except for Willa Ffynche, the one young lady in all of England who hasn't read his books and isn't impressed by his adventures. She doesn't even like fiction (her one major flaw, IMHO), preferring to read histories.

The banter in this story is spot-on and so much fun to read, and the Wilde family will clearly be a source of entertainment for books to come. (I lost track of exactly how many smaller Wildes are scattered through the nursery at at schools around England, but it's a lot. And they all seem to have delightful senses of both humor and fun, in addition to their prodigious drawing talents.)

Bring on book two! (No, really. Bring it on ASAP--the ending of chapter twenty-three is just cruel, Ms. James. You know what you did.)

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Lord Alaric Wilde wrote about his travels around the world and his books became best sellers. Arriving back in England, he learns that a play has been written about him and women are going crazy trying to get a look at him. He relaxes in the comfort of his father’s home and meets Willa Ffynche, who is not one of his avid followers. In fact, she wonders if any of his writing was based on real adventures or just fabrications. The more she scoffs at him, the more determined he is to change her mind. Willa is a private person and wants to marry a man who is not in the spotlight as Alaric is. But the more she is around him, her feelings begin to change and maybe marriage to this handsome man would not be so bad after all.

Willa is not one of my favorite characters. She and her best friend Lavinia try to see how many marriage proposals they can get during the Season but no one really measures up to her standards. What does she want? Marriage to a private person she says but then changes her mind about Alaric and goes after him. If anyone wants privacy, it should be Alaric due to all the women making fools of themselves over someone they don't even know.

>Book Review – Wilde in Love

>I am an independent reviewer. This book is the first in the Wildes of Lindow Castle series and ends in an HEA for the couple. There is a secondary story line with a cliffhanger. Alaric spent the last decade traveling and writing about his travels. When he returns home for his brother’s engagement party, he realizes he is quite famous. His exploits seemed to take on a life all of their own. All of the young ladies have his pictures posted on their bedroom walls. There is a play that greatly exaggerates his exploits and spreads his fame far and wide. Willa is attending the engagement party with her friend who is obsessed with Alaric. Of all the women at the house party, only Willa isn’t infatuated with Alaric, causing him to become extremely attracted to her.

>The decorum and rules of the time are quite fun to read about. These house parties would last for up to a month. Each day would feature some kind of activity. The single women would try to compromise the single men into marriage. Just the amount of luggage that everyone must bring seemed overwhelming. The banter that involved Willa was so quick witted and humorous. The descriptions of the differing faces Willa shows were spot on and really shows how the women of the day had to act in order to gain a husband. This book was more about the dialogue than about the suspense. The romance wasn’t super explicit, but very romantic.

>Once Alaric and Willa give in and fall for each other, the heat factor really rose. This book is appropriate for an adult audience. I am giving this story 5 stars. This is a wonderful example of a regency romance at its best.

"Wilde in Love" ( #1 Book of The Wildes of Landow Castle) by Eloisa James 2017
This story is about Alaric Wilde (author and adventurer) who returns to England to find himself to be notorious. Image a Rock Star and you will understand his fame. Pictures of him are everywhere especially since someone wrote a play about him.
Then you have Miss Flynche (Willa). Alaric becomes totally entranced by Willa who has absolutely no desire to be connected to such a public and notorious person.
With all the woman chasing after him, add in a bog which is located to one side of Landow Castle, a skunk, a crazy person to add more spice to the story. Then Eloisa James has the audacity to end the book with a cliff-hanger at the end. Happy Reading!

Woohoo! A new series by Eloisa James! I really enjoyed the Wilde family and am so looking forward to the family saga as the series continues.

We start off the series with the duke's second son, Lord Alaric Wilde. For the last five years, Alaric has been adventuring around the globe and writing about his travels. Unbeknownst to him, he has returned home to England a celebrity with female fans from hither to yon. Alaric found the whole thing ridiculous, until it interfered with him getting what (or who) he wanted... and then all the twittering females became more of an obstacle than an annoyance. I found Alaric to be great fun. His embarrassment at the female attention and teasing from his siblings was endearing. But I also loved his single-minded pursuit of our heroine, and his fabulously flirty banter.

As a self-proclaimed heroine hater, I realize that I have shortcomings when it comes to heroines. I tend to be very critical because I think they should all be me. LOL. So when I find a heroine that I actually like, and that I could see myself hanging out with, I am always pleasantly surprised. And thus was the situation with the heroine of this story, Lady Wilhemina "Willa" Ffynche. Willa was a success of the season, she won over suitors with her beauty and wit, and by wearing the persona of the perfect female. Only Willa's closest friends get to see her true self, which is much more fun than the facade she shows the ton. I was happy to have an intelligent heroine, and one whose curiosity matched my own. I loved how she put men in their place by simply asking them questions to show how ludicrous some of their ideas were.

The relationship between Alaric and Willa was a slow burn. Alaric had to work on his wooing and wear down her defenses and objections. I enjoyed the push and pull between the couple, and was glad that Willa's reluctance was not over-the-top. (I'm not a fan of those uber-reluctant heroines.) I enjoyed the friendships and family relationships just as much as the romantic relationship in this story. There are excellent secondary characters who I believe will become heroes and heroines of future books. I also loved Alaric's somewhat eccentric aunt who added some additional comedy to the story.

I recommend this story to historical romance fans who like intelligent heroines, flirty heroes and may want a different setting than England. The Lindow Castle setting and surrounding bogs, with the Georgian time period, were a nice change from the more prevalent Regency romances.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Avon.

Wilde in Love is the first book in The Wildes of Lindow Castle and it was a delightful romance that makes you appreciate that slowly developing relationship type of stories. The book starts off with our hero arriving in England after traveling overseas involving himself in a lot of adventures. Lord Alaric Wilde happens to be a successful writer. Unfortunately, his books have become so popular he has gotten so famous that it's become bothersome. Which makes it quite difficult to court a certain lady who treasures privacy above all things. Willa has never really thought much about Lord Wilde and his adventure books. Half of what's written was probably an exaggeration of his actual experience but when she meets him in person, the public persona doesn't seem to match his private one, especially when it comes to family. So how can a very public figure convince a very private person that he is definitely husband material? Why by showing her his real self and a smoldering kiss or two!

I definitely love the first book in this new series by Ms. James, simply because the characters are all so likable and definitely multifaceted. Plus the secondary characters will definitely keep you pulled into the story and of course invested in the series by the time the final page is turned. So why the four stars and not five. It has a little cliffhanger, not of the main couple's story but of the other couple's which has been introduced here as well. It can still be read as a standalone, but it definitely cannot be read out of order. It is one of those romances that will stick with you for a long time.
*Copy provided*

It’s been a long time since I last enjoyed Eloisa James book as I did this one.
Willa or Evie and Alaric are great characters. She being everything that the Tone expects of a lady, him being the handsome man who is »loved« by many due to a play which is written in his honor and has taken London by storm.

Since Willa is not interested in such a public life, she wants nothing to do with the infamous Lord Wilde. But Alaric is captivated by the beauty who hasn’t ready and of this books or went and saw the play that is making his life miserable. Alaric wants nothing more that to make Willa see that they belong together.

"He would do whatever it took to convince her that he was the only man who would ever wake her with a kiss."

And of course we can’t have a historical romance without some drama – in this case in a form of a deluded, crazy women from Alaric past who is determent to keep him for herself.
HEA is a guaranteed because true love is too strong to be overlooked or killed.

"You’re my love,” he whispered. He eased her onto her back and looked down at this beautiful bride-to-be. “You’re at my heart, Evie; you are my heart. I love you and I’m in love with you.”

***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReds Blog***

What an amazing beginning to a new series! Wilde in Love is the first book in The Wilde of Lindow Castle, and I can't wait to read the next in series Too Wilde to Wed. Wilde in Love is another beautifully written romance by Eloisa James that captivate you from first page.

Lord Alaric Wilde is the most celebrated and famous man in England after his return from years abroad. he can't believe how famous and notorious he becomes because of his books.
Every young ladies want his attention and read his book except the one girl that he seems to desire, Willa Efynche.

Willa Ffynche and her cousin Lavinia have been trying to have a great season and be in the best behavior. Willa has lost her parents in a accident when she was a kid and staying with Lavinia's parent since. She isn't interested in a notorious lord Wilde and haven't read his books.
But hearing about Lord Wilde is totally different from seeing handsome lord Alaric every day, and resisting him is getting more difficult everyday.
This is a great romance with witty dialogue and great characters. I am so looking forward to read the secondary characters North , Diana, Lavinia and Mr Sterling.
I highly recommend this fantastic book.
Thank you Eloisa James!

I loved everything about this book! The dialogue was brilliant, the storyline creative and fresh and I was captivated by every character! It took me a chapter or two to get into the swing of things with the language and writing style but once I got going it flowed beautifully. I highlighted so many wonderful words that you just don’t see used very often: treacly, furbelows, perfidious!

I loved everything about this book! The dialogue was brilliant, the storyline creative and fresh and I was captivated by every character! It took me a chapter or two to get into the swing of things with the language and writing style but once I got going it flowed beautifully. I highlighted so many wonderful words that you just don’t see used very often: treacly, furbelows, perfidious!
Willa is one of my favorite book characters to date! She is single-minded in her determination to complete her plan even while her heart begins to tell herself otherwise. She is strong and sassy for sure! Her friendships are genuine and true it felt. Alaric is perfect for her, he is intelligent, patient, persistent and everything she deserves! This was a wonderful start to a series and I eagerly await the next book! Highly recommend!

The family members were all their own person without apology. This introduction to this new family of characters was intriguing. I look forward to more of them and whom they find to wed. Alaric was up first and his battle to win Willa was just fun, witty and sexy. I found loads of laughs during my journey of learning of the Wildes and connecting with Alaric and Willa.

Willa was not your typical society miss. She was smart, outspoken, opinionated, and spirited with her friends. To the world at large she was sweet, demure, and quite. I could see and understand both sides of Willa.

Alaric returns home after been gone for a long time and was not prepared for the way everyone was now viewing him and his exploits. This for him was too much to say the least. The one woman that captures his attentions wants nothing to do with him.

The house party that neither knew the other was at was a chance for the both, Willa and Alaric, to get to know more about each other. Mishaps, banter, and long days make things very interesting for the Castle during this house party.

I very much loved meeting the Wildes and visiting Lindow Castle.

This Review is for the Narrator for the Audio Version. I am SOOO Happy that I borrowed this from the library. I LOVE LOVE Eloisa James but this was the first time I listened to one of her books in the audio format. And I listen to lots and lots of audio books... but they are usually Fantasy Fiction. I never thought I'd see the day that I couldn't finish an Eloisa James book. I forced myself to listen to this audio until I reached mid way through the book... it was that painful. It's not the writing of Eloisa James... but the voice of the Narrator. I gave this Narrator 2 stars because I have listened to even worse audio books. If you are deciding between audio and ebook... pick the ebook. Or at least listen to a sample of this one before you click to buy.

I absolutely love Eloisa James. Her writing, her characters and storylines always captivate me. This book was no different. It took me on a dreamy journey back in time and I am absolutely honest when I say that I had the time of my life with her witty and complex characters.

A refreshing historical romance that will thrill fans of the genre. Lord Alaric Wilde has found his way back home but that is not the only thing he finds. Willa Ffynche is not your typical heroine. Smart and a worthy banter opponent, she will challenge our hero and capture his heart.

I fell in love with the characters, the humor and of course, the romance. Light and entertaining as it is, I found myself devouring the book. I am sure fans of the author and the genre will be immensely pleased. I recommend it.

4.5 “Wilde” Stars!

4.5 stars

This was a lot of fun!

I loved Willa and Alaric. They’re both smart and sassy and don’t really want to follow the rules of society. Together they push buttons and have delicious banter and the chemistry is out of control. There are several secondary characters that I hope get their own stories.

Plot wise, it did take a bit to get started and I did almost give up. I’m so happy I didn’t because this could easily be a favorite. Super fluffy, a small bit of conflict, but it’s not between Willa and Alaric, and an epilogue than was perfect. There is a short chapter at the end that has me hoping North’s story is next.

Overall, it was a fun read and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next story.

**Huge thanks to Avon Books for providing the arc free of charge**

Slog thru it if you can. A long, boring trip toward the author's new series. So many characters you will need a wall chart (be sure to include the animals). And at the end? Who cares? And how many votes for the supposedly deceased brother to rise from the dead?

4+ delightful stars. Wilde in Love is a sexy and funny Shakespearean comedy. The characters, both human and animal, are well described and distinctive. The situations are on the right side of farcical.

Alaric and Willa are evenly matched in looks and intellect. Their interactions are sweet and steamy. I always like it when the hero realizes his feelings first and gives his all in wooing his beloved. Their attraction was natural and inevitable.

The secondary characters, especially the pairs who will have future books--North and Diana, Parth and Lavinia--are fascinating and I'm looking forward to their complete stories.

As expected of an Eloisa James novel, Wilde in Love entertains and satisfies. That's why she is an auto-buy for me.

Eloisa James is one of those talented authors who is able to weave a gripping love story that leaves you swooning while at the same time injecting a hefty dose of humour into her books. Wilde In Love is a brilliant blend of humour, wit and, of course, swoonworthy romance. I loved Sweatpea though for me the jury is still out on whether a skunk would make a perfect pet. I also loved the tongue-in-cheek poke at Prudence and the appalling play. Not so keen on the idea of wearing a cork rump—mine is large enough without help—but Eloisa James has clearly shown the advantage of such a fashion item in some circumstances. If you love a good laugh with your historical romance then this book should suit very nicely indeed.

LOVED this book! (Stayed up way too late reading it!) Alaric and Willa were both fun, smart, thoughtful, interesting characters, but I loved all of the Wildes, as well as friends like Lavinia and Parth. The only uninteresting character, frankly, was Diana Belchase ... but that made it even more of a treat when we found out that she had quite a secret at the end. (Loved! Can't wait to see what happens with her and with North.) My only unanswered plot point: how Prudence got past the footman. (Picky reader alert! Must know! lol.) I've read all, or nearly all, of Eloisa's books, and I think that Wilde in Love comes in second only to Three Weeks with Lady X. Can't wait to read more about the Wildes!

Wilde in Love is book 1 in The Wildes of Lindow Castle series. I had to grab this book when I saw it was the start to a new series and I'm so glad I did! I fell in love with the characters so quickly and wound up adoring this book. If you're a fan of Historical Romance books that are swoon worthy, grab this book asap.

Lord Alaric Wilde, son of the Duke of Lindow has finally returned home from his adventures. He's written several novels detailing his travels and the different cultures he's encountered and it has left him with a large fan group much to his surprise. That could also be because someone has written a play of purely fiction about Lord Wilde that has all the ladies attention.

Miss Willa Ffynche is the picture perfect lady during her first season, but has a lovely rebellious streak in private with her friends. She wants nothing to do with Lord Alaric, but can't help being attracted by his alluring eyes. Of course, Alaric is intrigued by Willa, at first because she's the only woman in the room that wants nothing to do with him, but then because of her amazing personality and beauty. He's not going to let her get away and she doesn't want a gentleman that has all the spotlights on him. I couldn't wait to see how this would play out and to see if Alaric would be able to settle down in one place after traveling for so long.

Swoon worthy, Wilde in Love is a must read. I was instantly hooked by the plot and characters and couldn't get enough of the story. The characters are so engaging I'm having a hard time picking if Willa or Alaric was my favorite. The plot moved nicely without dragging and the romance aspect was sizzling. If you're a fan of Historical Romance you need to read this book, you can thank me later.

Wilde in Love is the first in a new series that is filled with comedy, drama, love and a unique pet that will melt your heart. The characters are engaging, the dialogue is witty and the story flows easily. Lord Alaric Wilde is the reluctant hero who is totally put off by all of his adoring fans and Miss Willa Ffynche is the antithesis to all of the woman at the party. She is looking for a quiet, settled life without drama and fanfare. Alaric is instantly smitten with Willa but must somehow overcome his notoriety in order to win her heart. Their story is a great beginning to this new series and I can't wait to read further stories.

Run Read Alert!!!! I couldn’t put this book down. I love how this book flips the script and makes it so that drama and the potential for scandal follows the hero rather than like most H.R. books where it tends to find the heroine. I love watching the hero convince the heroine that even though due to his fame he is not the husband she would choose for herself that he is in fact the husband she can not live with out. I love how this couple is faced with and overcomes life and death situations rather than the trivial scandals that we find in many H.R. stories. This book was such a fun read and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

I give this book a 5.5

Readers who expect the unexpected, won't be disappointed. Wilde In Love wears it's heart on it's sleeve. The dashingly roguish adventurer enamored of the spirited spinster is an odd pairing. However, Willa is one surprise after another. She speaks her mind, she knows her heart and she has a tendency to be judgmental. What's that saying? Be careful of the quiet ones, because they're anything but. That characterizes Willa. Honestly, both Willa and Alaric take some getting used to. They can annoy as easily as they can charm, but the hints of humor that break through the stuffy moments are just what the doctor ordered.

I am a big Eloisa James fan. I love Duke of Villiers and Eleanor in a Duke of her own. This isn't my favorite Eloisa James book but it's still a good one. :)

What I love about this book: I love the Wilde family. Love how close they are and how funny they are. The whole book is funny and witty. I really do enjoy it.

What I don't especially like about this book: I like the hero and heroine but I don't LOVE them. Something just isn't there for some reason? The older brother looks more promising though and I am looking forward to reading the next book.

Didn't care for it at all. Also, I found the book description is misleading.. he's a writer (who has written about his travels) and the book is written as though that would have much intrigue. Not so much for me. Also, both hero and heroine are kind of bratty...she thinks she's too good for him, and he finds that intriguing as so many other woman fawn over him. Just not my cup of tea, yawn.

An entertaining novel filled with witty dialogue and characters, excitement and suspenseful moments and a love for the Wildes.
It’s been a while since I read a novel by Eloísa James. I was excited to begin with this new series. I’m already eager to read the next one. I actually listened to the audio version and I enjoyed the narrator’s voice for this story. I thought this novel was very romantic. Willa is a strong and sure of herself heroine. Alaric is an adventurous, free spirited handsome Wilde, a big charmer.

This was a quick, easy, comfort read (though the intelligent and witty dialogue challenged my vocabulary at times). Featuring: a sweet and sexy alpha male hero; smart, funny, and courageous heroine; delightful and intriguing family and friends; and charming furry creatures. I loved that Willa and Alaric had a refreshingly straightforward understanding of their relationship. Not to mention they were fabulous in bed. WILDE IN LOVE is a fun, entertaining, and pleasant escape. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

*ARC received from Edelweiss

It has been a little time since I read my last EJ book but within a few pages of this book I remembered why I enjoy her books. I liked the H and h, their friends and family, and the setting. I smiled a lot while reading Wilde in Love. I did not purchase this book, I borrowed it from my local library. It helps that I work there and get first pick of books by my favorite authors. The only problem I had with this book is that it only took me an evening to read and II will have to wait until August of 2018 for the next one.

Wilde in Love was filled with great characters and witty banter. Not only do you really enjoy Alaric and Willa, but the other characters really add to the story. Whenever an author can manage to make you have some kind of feelings towards almost all the characters, that is great as it draws the reader in more. Especially when kicking off a series. Though I predicted an incident that happened later in the book, I found that I enjoyed Wilde in Love and watching Willa and Alaric's story unfurl.

I absolutely love a smart heroine, especially when she is not afraid to show it. Willa did not try to hide her intelligence from men in order to make them like her. But, what I enjoy even more is when the hero recognizes this and is not intimidated by it. Then he actually falls in love with her in large part because of her smart conversational skills. I enjoy and appreciate the clever writing of Eloisa James. Her word choices and sentences make for unforgettable reading.

Wilde in Love by Eloisa James is an excellent book. The main characters are intelligent and entertaining plus the secondary characters make you want to know more of their stories. This book is a keeper.

This was one of the best books Eloisa has written. I couldn't stop laughing the whole time! I want all the secondary characters to have books and a HEA. Everything was just amazing.

PS: A pet skunk, who heard of this? And Sweetpea is... you know, really sweet :D

Who actually wrote this book? Just let me say that I love Eloisa James’s books and have read and re-read every one over the years.So when a new series came out I was totally delighted.Until I started to read it. I literally could not finish reading it as I found it so purile in both plot and character. Maybe the next book in the series will be better? One can only fervently pray so.

I do not usually read the Georgian period, so wigs and giant skirts are new to me.... and I absolutely LOVED Alaric and Willa. I laughed out loud several times while reading (and many, many more times in my head). Spirited, humorous heroines are my favorite and this story delivered. A great start to a new series.

If you have never picked up an Eloisa James book, read this one. She writes a story that while reading it you feel you are there with the characters. This is a wonderful first story in a series about the Wilde family. You will adore Alaric and Willa's story, a woman of books meets an adventurer and it becomes quite an adventure. I can't wait for the other stories in the series to be published.

I enjoyed this book. The hero was honorable and sexy. The heroine was ok. She was judgmental and proper at the beginning but got better by the end. I could see the two main characters falling in love and I enjoyed that aspect. I look forward to reading about North and Diana. Lighthearted, humorous, sweet, witty,with a little steam. Great for a relaxing Sunday afternoon read.

I really loved reading this book. I started reading it and couldn't put it down. The storyline kept me excited, until a few chapters before the end anyway.

The only thing I extremely disliked was the pace. It was steady and fun up until the last quarter of the book. It seemed like she was having fun with writing about them falling in love and then got bored once they did so she rushed to end the book. I think this would have been better in at least a 2 book set. I felt like I missed a lot of their story because of how rushed it was at the end.

It's definitely worth reading though!

What’s a famous man to do when he’s famous for things that never happened? For things that paint him as a public personality when he’s so much the reverse? Adding in the complications from a heroine who wants absolutely no part of a man so much in the public eye that he seems shameless creates quite the conundrum. Such is the contrary, fun and complicated romance between Alaric and Lavinia.

This novel is definitely character driven because it’s a push/pull between what the heroine expects a future husband should be and a hero who wants to be what she needs but is stymied by something that he truly can’t control. It’s like Lord Wilde is a rock star of the Regency period. Woman steal the bricks from his home, they want to tour where he supposedly trod as a child – they are obsessive and frenzied romantic fans of a man who is a larger than life hero. Because of all that unwanted attention Alaric has become a man wary of a woman’s intentions, until he meets the most unusual and fascinating Lavinia. I enjoyed when they met but I really liked how he slowly realized that she wasn’t a sycophant. In fact the heroine is the complete opposite and she kept him at arm’s length. Well, she tried to but eventually she spends enough time with the hero to see the man underneath the fame. The reason why she has that time to explore and delve into the man named Alaric is what endeared me to their romance – I was charmed, entertained and thoroughly invested in seeing them come together and fall in love.

The weird twist comes from the dynamics of both heroine and hero having alternate personalities. Ms. James found a unique technique to explore a romance between two people that seemed so different but are in truth very much alike. Sure, they fight it and that’s half the fun but how everything gets resolved is cheeky and adorable.

Just in case a reader thinks it’s all seduction, light hearted problems and fluffy prose, the author does include a villain to spice things up. It didn’t take me long to figure out that this person was not only going to be a problem, I even guessed quite correctly the method of diabolical intent and delivery. Even knowing that didn’t detract from my enjoyment because it’s always the presentation that can make or break a scene and I’m glad to report that Ms. James employed a clever and impressive solution.

As for secondary characters, there is quite a few that made an impact, not only in Alaric and Lavinia’s romance but as couples themselves. Parth and Roland stand out the clearest. Roland for his bad clothing taste, and Parth for his sour grapes personality towards the heroine’s cohort in crime made both of them kind of comical yet the author did hint at serious depths so there is definitely more to learn in future books. I am certainly looking forward to the discovery. But my absolute favorite characters were Sweetpea and Hannibal. What a fascinating pair and definitely assets to the heroine and hero.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t wax poetic about Alaric and Lavinia finally succumbing to that wonderful buildup of repressed passion they both inspired in each other. Those were well written, inventive, and quite enjoyable. Just make sure to have something cool to drink for a few of the scenes – they were a lot hotter than I expected causing me to blink a few times. Whoa.

All in all, Wilde in Love is a historical romance treat. The antics that surround the fandom of Lord Wilde, the adventurer, made me snort and snicker quite a few times. I think the final scene was done with flair, style and was greatly amusing. I believe that fans of Ms. James will be quite pleased in meeting Alaric and Lavinia. They were a fun couple and I’m glad I met them. I can’t wait to see whose story gets told next. I hope it’s as good as Wilde in Love.

originally posted at long and short reviews

>>>>> My Synopsis (Review Follows): <<<<<
Five years ago Lord Alaric Wilde set out to explore the world. Each time he encountered a new or exotic place he wrote about the experience. Unbeknownst to him, over the years, he amassed quite a following--mainly of the female persuasion. So when he finally decided to set sail for home he finds himself swarmed, followed, and propositioned by adoring woman of all ages and walks of life. Adored by all but one--Miss Willa Ffynche--the only one who seems to hold him spellbound.

Willa and her best friend, Lavinia, ruled the ton during this past Season by acting precisely as they had discerned young gentlemen wished them to. They portrayed themselves as young ladies with spirit but docility, spice yet innocence. They came out of the Season with several marriage proposals each, but as of yet had accepted none. While not quite sure what she is looking for, Willa knows exactly what she's not, and a man who has beautiful woman falling all over him is certainly not the type of husband she wishes to strap herself to. Yet there is something about Lord Alaric which she finds she can't ignore. Dare she take a chance and go against her better judgment?

>>>>> My Synopsis (Review Follows): <<<<<
This is the first book in a new series by Eloisa James and after finishing it, I'm definitely looking forward to reading all the forthcoming stories. This is a lighthearted and charming read that sort of takes a page from the crazed fans of today. It certainly made me speculate as to what kind of individual would cause such a stir during the time period this story takes place, and I wonder how the fans of that era would act. Eloisa James chose for her main character a rakishly dashing young author whose adventures have been romanticized, embellished, and fabricated by some unknown individual in the form of a play entitled, 'Wilde in Love'. Something Lord Alaric Wilde claims never to have been.

Alaric is smart, charming, and has been deliberately staying away from home so as not to have to admit his eldest brother, Horatius, is gone. Horatius died several years ago, and staying away is Alaric's coping mechanism. He's finally decided he needs to face reality and return home. The problem is, his reality has changed drastically because of his fame. Hope of having a normal life may be gone forever.

Willa is a private individual who isn't impressed by Alaric's fame or books. In fact, she's one of the few who has never read one of his novels. She loves reading, but her tastes tend to sway towards nonfiction. While Alaric insists his books are not fiction, the bits and pieces Willa's heard make her believe otherwise. So from the start she hates the fact he stirs something in her that no other man has been able to.

Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. It was a very charming, funny, sexy, and lighthearted read with a touch of drama thrown in for good measure. I liked the silliness associated with the play (it reminded me a touch of that silly book often quoted in Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series), the slow seduction of Willa by Alaric, and the antics of all of those around them. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

I enjoyed this book I started by reading the blurb then excerpts before moving forward. I think like any book it had some slow moments but I don’t stop reading books till the end. I found that once I made it to the end I enjoyed the book and the love story. I’m sure I’ll read it again in the future.

I think I have read every book Eloisa has written. If it’s written by her I know I will love it. The characters become so real I find myself wondering where they will be in 10-15-25 years. I adore sequels. Wilde In Love didn’t disappoint. Wonderful story line with appealing characters. I keep her books and reread them because good books become good friends. Can’t wait for the next in this series.

I work at Barnes and Noble, so we get to take home the prints that haven't been proof read yet so I was lucky enough to take this one before it was on the shelf yet. I spend an entire day neglecting everything reading this book. I absolutely loved it!! The characters were wonderful and even sweet pea had my heart!! I can't wait for the next book! I will for sure be spending my money on it!! I just bought th midnight pleasure series so I can't wait to dive into that one while I wait!

I borrowed this book from the library and could not finish. One, it was SLOW. I was halfway through and nothing had happened. The hero Alaric and heroine Willa met, were at a house party, and observing the couples around them; that's it. And this is not a new phenomenon in the author's recent works. Nothing seems to happen until the last quarter of the story and I no longer have the patience to read through everything else.

Two, Alaric was way more into Willa, then she into him. Often she would resist his advantages, by either stepping away or out right telling him she was not interested and he kept pushing. He often touched her without permission. Nothing so despicable as assault but she did not invite these caresses. I found it VERY off putting, and also anachronistic to a time period that was seemingly very proper about proximity to others. I almost gave this a one star but didn't because I am fond of the author's writing style and nostalgic of her earlier works, but at this point, I will only consider skimming future works by her that are borrowed from a library, and not investing much time or money because I'm disappointed in the results.

I have yet to read an Eloisa James book that I do not enjoy. This is no exception. I loved the development of the characters and the fun quirky additions (Sweatpea) and the bit of suspense/thrill added in. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know these characters and am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. The Wildes are going to be favorites, this I know! :)

This is a new series and it is set in the late 1700's, which is a nice change from all the Regency romances. I really enjoyed the characters and her set-up of this whole family. Can't wait to read the next books.

I have always enjoyed Eloisa James novels and have read all of them. I found this one so unappealing that I could not get past the second chapter. I felt no connection with any of the characters and the plot was contrived. I will not be buying any sequels. Where is Eloisa and what have you done with her?.

Alaric Wilde returns to England shocked to find he is both famous and infamous. His travel writings have led to a play that has made him the goal of nearly every female if the ton. He arrives at his childhood home for a house party. Willa Ffynche is one of the guests. She received over a dozen proposals during her first season. She has not read Alaric's books nor seen the play. She wants a private life. Their journey to happiness is worth the read. This is a keeper

I really loved this book! Willa and her best friend Lavinia were wonderfully smart and funny. Alaric and Willa had the best chemistry and were perfect for each other from the moment they met. One of my favorite parts from the book was when Alaric gave Willa the adorable baby skunk that she named Sweetpea. I can’t wait for the next book in The Wilde’s of Lindow Castle series!!

I loved that Willa was not the usual regency lady but was good at pretending to be. Good tension between the hero and heroine. Good tension between her friend and Parth. Great antagonist. Predictable actions from her but choosing the hero's weakness to do away with the heroine was a surprise and welcome. Loved the wedding present, it was wonderful!!!

At times I felt like I had to force myself to finish this book. Not much really happens. I did like the interplay between the two main characters, but the rest was not that engrossing. Didn’t find Willa to be a very nice person; she seemed very selfish to me.

I loved everything about this book and can't wait for the next one in the series but...the dialogues between Willa and Lavinia at the beginning?...Exceptionally witty...and more.A delightful read,a definite keeper...

I loved it! Willa was so funny, and I loved the running commentary in her head (and out loud). I also love the relationship between her and Lavinia. Alaric was very likeable and you had to feel sorry for him at times with all the fake hoopla surrounding his writing. I finished the book in one day. And am looking forward to the next one!

I loved Wilde in Love so much. The story of Lord Alaric Wilde and Miss Willa Ffynche was amazing. I loved Alaric and Willa but I also loved Sweetpea and what she added to the story. One thing I love about Eloisa James is that her books are very romantic but also witty at the same time. I can not wait to read the next book about Roland and Diana.

At times I felt like I had to force myself to finish this book. Not much really happens. I did like the interplay between the two main characters, but the rest was not that engrossing. Didn’t find Willa to be a very nice person; she seemed very selfish to me.

I loved everything about this book and can't wait for the next one in the series but...the dialogues between Willa and Lavinia at the beginning?...Exceptionally witty...and more.A delightful read,a definite keeper...

Wilde in Love is the first book in a new series by Eloisa James. Her books are always witty and so full of secondary characters you can't wait to read more about. I mean come on a pet skunk!

Loved the Wilde family and I can't wait to read more about them in the future.

Wilde in Love is the first book in a new series by Eloisa James. Her books are always witty and so full of secondary characters you can't wait to read more about. I mean come on a pet skunk!

Loved the Wilde family and I can't wait to read more about them in the future.