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A review by imme_van_gorp
When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
Oh, this was quite a big twist to what a lot of these books have been like so far. It felt truly very different somehow, and I’m pretty sure it was all because of the difference in who had the upper-hand in the relationship.
I can honestly and wholeheartedly say that Michael was a much better love interest than any of the heroes who came before him in this series. He truly worshipped Francesca and he was insanely in love with her. This man had been pining for her for years, obsessing over every little thing she did or said, yearning for the barest touch or slightest hint of attention. He seemed to think she hung the moon and the stars and never treated her in any way that would suggest he did not.
However, he did try his hardest to never let her discover his amorous feelings towards her, but not for any silly reason; Francesca used to be married to his cousin, a man he considered his brother and very best friend, so naturally Michael felt immense guilt for the way he felt towards the man’s wife. Especially since his feelings towards Francesca had started long before her first husband, his best friend, had died… It made sense why Michael would be wary of trying to “steal” Frannie after the poor man’s death, even more so since Francesca never gave him the impression she felt the same.
And the reason he never got that impression was probably because she genuinely didn’t feel the same. In a shocking twist of events; the heroine was not pining for the hero all this time too. Not only had she fully loved her first husband with all her heart when he was alive, but even after his death, she genuinely only ever saw Michael as a close friend and it took a lot of time for her to see him in a romantic light. Actually, I would go as far as to say that it took her too long. Frannie did want to remarry, and I didn’t quite understand why she refused Michael’s proposal the first time, let alone the hundreds of times he asked her afterwards, and especially after he opened up to her and told her how he has loved her for years! Like, girl, what more do you want??
Anyway, like I said, this book was clearly much different.
I can honestly and wholeheartedly say that Michael was a much better love interest than any of the heroes who came before him in this series. He truly worshipped Francesca and he was insanely in love with her. This man had been pining for her for years, obsessing over every little thing she did or said, yearning for the barest touch or slightest hint of attention. He seemed to think she hung the moon and the stars and never treated her in any way that would suggest he did not.
However, he did try his hardest to never let her discover his amorous feelings towards her, but not for any silly reason; Francesca used to be married to his cousin, a man he considered his brother and very best friend, so naturally Michael felt immense guilt for the way he felt towards the man’s wife. Especially since his feelings towards Francesca had started long before her first husband, his best friend, had died… It made sense why Michael would be wary of trying to “steal” Frannie after the poor man’s death, even more so since Francesca never gave him the impression she felt the same.
And the reason he never got that impression was probably because she genuinely didn’t feel the same. In a shocking twist of events; the heroine was not pining for the hero all this time too. Not only had she fully loved her first husband with all her heart when he was alive, but even after his death, she genuinely only ever saw Michael as a close friend and it took a lot of time for her to see him in a romantic light. Actually, I would go as far as to say that it took her too long. Frannie did want to remarry, and I didn’t quite understand why she refused Michael’s proposal the first time, let alone the hundreds of times he asked her afterwards, and especially after he opened up to her and told her how he has loved her for years! Like, girl, what more do you want??
Anyway, like I said, this book was clearly much different.