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A review by smuttymcbookface
Her Wicked Ways by Darcy Burke
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I wasn't sure what to expect coming into this, but I was wonderfully surprised!
Lady Miranda, daughter to a duke, has been sent to the country by her family because she was found in a compromising position by a family friend. Whilst there, she's been forbidden from social calls and events, and the only activity she can actually partake in is volunteering at a local orphanage.
Enter Fox, a broke untitled landowner who sacrifices his own chances at comfort to continue to support the orphanage. Using one of his two ancestral homes for them, he's unable to keep either in a state of repair and comfort, and so resorts to thieving from the local corrupt MP to get enough money to keep the children safe.
I think what I enjoyed most about Her Wicked Ways was the character growth from Miranda. Within the first few chapters, I had considered leaving the book as I wasn't sure I wanted to read about an honest man falling for a selfish brat. Darcy Burke does an amazing job of having her develop in both maturity and personality. She learns selflessness, and becomes a wonderful character you truly root for.I did find it frustrating that her classism lasted so long though.
Then we come to Fox, a man pushed to his absolute limits trying to hold everything together. Quickly deciding that he could marry Miranda and enjoy a massive dowry (along with a beautiful wife), he sets out to win her the old-fashioned way and, failing that, by compromising her.Of course, once he actually has her in potentially compromising positions, his pride kicks in and he refuses to go through with it as he wants her to want him as well. So, you can see, we have two flawed characters.
I loved the growing tension and the writing in general. I found myself enthralled, and wanting these two to finally come together. I think the things that I didn't like about this (and what ultimately took it from being a 5/5) were:
Lady Miranda, daughter to a duke, has been sent to the country by her family because she was found in a compromising position by a family friend. Whilst there, she's been forbidden from social calls and events, and the only activity she can actually partake in is volunteering at a local orphanage.
Enter Fox, a broke untitled landowner who sacrifices his own chances at comfort to continue to support the orphanage. Using one of his two ancestral homes for them, he's unable to keep either in a state of repair and comfort, and so resorts to thieving from the local corrupt MP to get enough money to keep the children safe.
I think what I enjoyed most about Her Wicked Ways was the character growth from Miranda. Within the first few chapters, I had considered leaving the book as I wasn't sure I wanted to read about an honest man falling for a selfish brat. Darcy Burke does an amazing job of having her develop in both maturity and personality. She learns selflessness, and becomes a wonderful character you truly root for.
Then we come to Fox, a man pushed to his absolute limits trying to hold everything together. Quickly deciding that he could marry Miranda and enjoy a massive dowry (along with a beautiful wife), he sets out to win her the old-fashioned way and, failing that, by compromising her.
I loved the growing tension and the writing in general. I found myself enthralled, and wanting these two to finally come together. I think the things that I didn't like about this (and what ultimately took it from being a 5/5) were:
- Fox's unjust temper. He was routinely harsh to Miranda and unapologetic about it.
- How quickly the whole masked highwayman issue was wrapped up, and into such a neat little package.
- How long it took Miranda to stop looking down her nose at Fox as a potential husband
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Classism