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Rules for the Reckless #0.5
Your Wicked Heart
Meredith Duran returns with another witty, humorous and smart romance in this Rules for the Reckless novella. Fans of Julia Quinn, Jane Feather and Eloisa James will delight in Meredith's trademark headstrong heroine, cunning hero and tale of deep emotional intensity!
Amanda Thomas is stranded a thousand miles from home. Jilted by a viscount and abandoned without a penny, she'll do whatever it takes to secure a berth on an England-bound ship. But when the anchor lifts, she's not the only impostor on board—for the stranger in her bed claims to be the real viscount. Can she trust this devastatingly attractive scoundrel? Or is his offer of friendship only a pretext for seduction...and revenge?
Amanda Thomas is stranded a thousand miles from home. Jilted by a viscount and abandoned without a penny, she'll do whatever it takes to secure a berth on an England-bound ship. But when the anchor lifts, she's not the only impostor on board—for the stranger in her bed claims to be the real viscount. Can she trust this devastatingly attractive scoundrel? Or is his offer of friendship only a pretext for seduction...and revenge?
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 10, 2012
173 people are currently reading
1533 people want to read
About the author
Meredith Duran
18 books1,840 followersMEREDITH DURAN blames Anne Boleyn for sparking her lifelong obsession with British history. She is the author of twelve novels, all published by Pocket Books. Her debut, The Duke of Shadows, has been translated into thirteen languages and was ranked among the top 100 romances of all time by NPR and All About Romance. Her other books include RITA award winner Fool Me Twice and her February 2017 release, A Lady's Code of Misconduct, which was called one of the best romances of the year by BookList and Amazon, and received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus, the latter of which opined: “This book weaves its spell so thoroughly that the most fortunate reader will be the one who has time to read the entire thing in one sitting.” Her next release, THE SINS OF LORD LOCKWOOD, hits the shelves on February 27, 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews
October 2, 2021
2,5 Stars
A nice and engaging late Victorian romantic romp, prequel to the “Rules for the Reckless” series.
Both the story and the character’s development felt rushed, quite inevitable with the short-story format, but Meredith Duran’s writing is smooth and polished as usual and still manages to make for two endearing leads.
December 28, 2012
**4.5 stars**
Check out this review and others at badassbookreviews.com
Your Wicked Heart is a romance in the rightful meaning of the word because the characters fall in love for who they are, instead of what they look like. Isn’t it deplorable how most romance these days focuses on the physical without building character? How many times have I read romances that leave the falling in love to trite phrases like “I’ve never met a woman like her before” with no basis as to how she’s different? Lots of writers are taking that particular shortcut these days but not Meredith Duran.
Our main character’s woes can be summed up in two sentences: “Why had he forgotten to look for the beauty in the world” “What was the purpose of a life in which one strove only to get by, to get through, to continue on?” Both are in the path to unhappiness and their meeting causes them to look deep within themselves and reevaluate their priorities.
Amanda is a wonderful heroine because she is indeed different. She’s sweet, enthusiastic, caring and the kind of person who still sees the world with wonder. A bit naive but she's so nice you cannot help yourself to like her. So it’s not a surprise that Spencer, who’s lonely and starting to get disillusioned, was attracted to her even though at first he thought she couldn’t be real. Amanda reminded me of my husband, who has never lost his enthusiasm so I can completely understand why Spencer fell for her. As he rightly put it: “He did not want to be alone…not when he might have a companion like her, who saw the world with such wonder that her view became contagious, filling his own with colors to which he’d been blind before.” As I can attest, seeing the world through eyes like that is simply wonderful.
At some point, Spencer asks Amanda what she would bring to a marriage and she responds: “My respect, I suppose. And my affection. My honesty and constancy. My unwavering support. I am a good woman, sir. A man would be lucky to take me to wife.” This is a beautiful woman but she knows her biggest value is what’s within and Spencer is enthralled.
This is a wonderful novella and one I completely recommend to new and old readers of Historical Romance.
Check out this review and others at badassbookreviews.com
Your Wicked Heart is a romance in the rightful meaning of the word because the characters fall in love for who they are, instead of what they look like. Isn’t it deplorable how most romance these days focuses on the physical without building character? How many times have I read romances that leave the falling in love to trite phrases like “I’ve never met a woman like her before” with no basis as to how she’s different? Lots of writers are taking that particular shortcut these days but not Meredith Duran.
Our main character’s woes can be summed up in two sentences: “Why had he forgotten to look for the beauty in the world” “What was the purpose of a life in which one strove only to get by, to get through, to continue on?” Both are in the path to unhappiness and their meeting causes them to look deep within themselves and reevaluate their priorities.
Amanda is a wonderful heroine because she is indeed different. She’s sweet, enthusiastic, caring and the kind of person who still sees the world with wonder. A bit naive but she's so nice you cannot help yourself to like her. So it’s not a surprise that Spencer, who’s lonely and starting to get disillusioned, was attracted to her even though at first he thought she couldn’t be real. Amanda reminded me of my husband, who has never lost his enthusiasm so I can completely understand why Spencer fell for her. As he rightly put it: “He did not want to be alone…not when he might have a companion like her, who saw the world with such wonder that her view became contagious, filling his own with colors to which he’d been blind before.” As I can attest, seeing the world through eyes like that is simply wonderful.
At some point, Spencer asks Amanda what she would bring to a marriage and she responds: “My respect, I suppose. And my affection. My honesty and constancy. My unwavering support. I am a good woman, sir. A man would be lucky to take me to wife.” This is a beautiful woman but she knows her biggest value is what’s within and Spencer is enthralled.
This is a wonderful novella and one I completely recommend to new and old readers of Historical Romance.
January 1, 2013
4.5 stars
I’m already a fan of Meredith Duran’s writing, even though I haven’t yet read all her available novels. I kinda save them up for when I need a really good and reliable read.
This is her first novella (I think) and it didn’t disappoint. In about 80 pages or so, she creates and fleshes out her two protagonists and charts the development of their relationship from their initial hostility through precarious friendship and mistrust to attraction, desire and eventually, love.
For a novella, there’s a lot going on, and while I appreciate that perhaps it doesn’t feel as ‘thorough’ as Duran’s full-length novels, I can accept that because she made me care about Ripton and Amanda and want to know what happened next.
Amanda is a ‘nobody’, a secretary who has had to make her own way in the world for much of her life, but who yearns to do more with her life. She is intelligent and intuitive, and despite her precarious situation in life, nonetheless has a sunny and positive outlook which causes Ripton to realise that his view on life has become rather jaded due to his heavy responsibilities. Ripton was orphaned at an early age and brought up by his despotic uncle and his aunt; assuming his viscountcy at nineteen, he also assumed the responsibility for what we are told is a large family of self-indulgent and rather hard-to-manage cousins (whose stories will presumably be told in the series to which this is the prequel). As a result, he comes across as rather stern and forbidding; accustomed to getting his own way by whatever means necessary, he is ready to believe the worst of Amanda in order to brush her quickly aside so he can resume his search for his cousin.
The description of Amanda as rather a china-doll of a heroine -wide blue eyes, blond ringlets – you know the sort of thing, might normally have put me off (I tend to prefer the less perfect types), but that didn’t happen here. She is so unaffected and caring that it was easy to like her, despite her occasional bouts of naïveté.
And Ripton is just gorgeous. Handsome, of course, but so bound up with the management of his estates and family that he has become rather irascible and has forgotten to look for the beauty in life. He’s charming in that way that indicates he’s not really aware of just how charming he is, but despite his looks and wealth, he’s lonely and it takes spending time with someone as enthusiastic and vivacious as Amanda for him to realise it.
I loved this story. The characters drew me in, the writing is excellent and the emotion just jumps off the page.
I’m eagerly looking forward to the rest of the series.
I’m already a fan of Meredith Duran’s writing, even though I haven’t yet read all her available novels. I kinda save them up for when I need a really good and reliable read.
This is her first novella (I think) and it didn’t disappoint. In about 80 pages or so, she creates and fleshes out her two protagonists and charts the development of their relationship from their initial hostility through precarious friendship and mistrust to attraction, desire and eventually, love.
For a novella, there’s a lot going on, and while I appreciate that perhaps it doesn’t feel as ‘thorough’ as Duran’s full-length novels, I can accept that because she made me care about Ripton and Amanda and want to know what happened next.
Amanda is a ‘nobody’, a secretary who has had to make her own way in the world for much of her life, but who yearns to do more with her life. She is intelligent and intuitive, and despite her precarious situation in life, nonetheless has a sunny and positive outlook which causes Ripton to realise that his view on life has become rather jaded due to his heavy responsibilities. Ripton was orphaned at an early age and brought up by his despotic uncle and his aunt; assuming his viscountcy at nineteen, he also assumed the responsibility for what we are told is a large family of self-indulgent and rather hard-to-manage cousins (whose stories will presumably be told in the series to which this is the prequel). As a result, he comes across as rather stern and forbidding; accustomed to getting his own way by whatever means necessary, he is ready to believe the worst of Amanda in order to brush her quickly aside so he can resume his search for his cousin.
The description of Amanda as rather a china-doll of a heroine -wide blue eyes, blond ringlets – you know the sort of thing, might normally have put me off (I tend to prefer the less perfect types), but that didn’t happen here. She is so unaffected and caring that it was easy to like her, despite her occasional bouts of naïveté.
And Ripton is just gorgeous. Handsome, of course, but so bound up with the management of his estates and family that he has become rather irascible and has forgotten to look for the beauty in life. He’s charming in that way that indicates he’s not really aware of just how charming he is, but despite his looks and wealth, he’s lonely and it takes spending time with someone as enthusiastic and vivacious as Amanda for him to realise it.
I loved this story. The characters drew me in, the writing is excellent and the emotion just jumps off the page.
I’m eagerly looking forward to the rest of the series.
December 25, 2020
Reread on December 25, 2020: What if I say to hell with my tbr and just reread Meredith Duran for the next week? Gah I love this novella so much.
May 30, 2018
Una bonita novela corta con un vizconde entrañable y muy responsable como protagonista masculino y una secretaria aventurera encarnando a la femenina. Dos personalidades muy distintas y bien definidas a pesar de las pocas páginas que disponen para mostrarlas al lector. Buenos diálogos entre ellos, narración fluida y muy cuidada y un ritmo ágil de la acción hacen que la novela se lea rápido. Engancha, entretiene y te deja con ganas de más, por lo que voy a continuar con el siguiente de la serie. Recomendable a la que os guste la romántica histórica.
August 1, 2015
Your Wicked Heart is ridiculous. Whether that's ridiculous of an endearing sort, or in a "fuck-this-shit-this-is-stupid" way, that's for us, the readers, to decide.
Me? My sentiments leaned towards the first type. I loved it.
Yes, the characters lacked common sense. Yes, the leads acted stupidly at times. Yes, the plot was far from believable. And yes, the story was anachronistic, unrealistic, and very fluffy.
But I don't really give a damn because Amanda and Spence were so cute I'm more than willing to overlook those flaws. I liked how Amanda was so naive. Others may interpret that as stupidity, and perhaps it was. At least some parts of it. But it was also kindness, and bravery, and optimism. Her naivete was not entirely bad, though it did cause her to get into trouble a few times.
And Spence was frustrating at first, especially with his insistence that Amanda was a criminal. I think if he had common sense, he would have known that she wasn't. This was stupidity in his part, yes, but again, I found myself won over by his other traits. He was fiercely loyal, caring, respectful and extremely honourable. Once he stopped being stupid, of course.
But hey, I'd take a stupid yet honourable and loyal man over a cheating bastard anytime.
I really liked this book. It was ridiculous, but it wasn't meant to be taken seriously, I think. If you're in the mood for a funny, lighthearted story, then this is for you.
Me? My sentiments leaned towards the first type. I loved it.
Yes, the characters lacked common sense. Yes, the leads acted stupidly at times. Yes, the plot was far from believable. And yes, the story was anachronistic, unrealistic, and very fluffy.
But I don't really give a damn because Amanda and Spence were so cute I'm more than willing to overlook those flaws. I liked how Amanda was so naive. Others may interpret that as stupidity, and perhaps it was. At least some parts of it. But it was also kindness, and bravery, and optimism. Her naivete was not entirely bad, though it did cause her to get into trouble a few times.
And Spence was frustrating at first, especially with his insistence that Amanda was a criminal. I think if he had common sense, he would have known that she wasn't. This was stupidity in his part, yes, but again, I found myself won over by his other traits. He was fiercely loyal, caring, respectful and extremely honourable. Once he stopped being stupid, of course.
But hey, I'd take a stupid yet honourable and loyal man over a cheating bastard anytime.
I really liked this book. It was ridiculous, but it wasn't meant to be taken seriously, I think. If you're in the mood for a funny, lighthearted story, then this is for you.
August 18, 2019
A little funny, a bit short, but definitely had that trademark Duran romantic feel--and this one had virtually no angst. Probably forgettable, but an easy nice read.
December 28, 2022
i hadn't realized this was a novella, and it was honestly just so much fun and a perfect read to get me through the holidays. also, combined with the fact i had just watched Glass Onion, the Greek Island setting at the start was a lovely treat.
Amanda Thomas was jilted by a "viscount" and is left trying to get on any ship to take her back to England after also escaping her emotionally and physically abusive employer, Mrs. Pennypacker (i hope she gets cholera). alas Amanda soon finds out her viscount was not in fact any sort of viscount, nor hers, and is stuck with her ex-fiancee's family member in one-bed, in one ship cabin, on one boat.
Ah, the real viscount is my favorite; super handsome, full of starch and smolder, and also so sure he's going to be just fine but is also SO bamboozled by the beauty and grit of this former lady's companion he's just beside himself when she tells him to stuff it, even after his great lovemaking (when she finds out he sort of misled her about her ex). Great stuff, I EAT IT UP.
This would be a great entry to duran, as it is a bit less angsty (on the duran scale) and is so much fun. jolly good time.
Amanda Thomas was jilted by a "viscount" and is left trying to get on any ship to take her back to England after also escaping her emotionally and physically abusive employer, Mrs. Pennypacker (i hope she gets cholera). alas Amanda soon finds out her viscount was not in fact any sort of viscount, nor hers, and is stuck with her ex-fiancee's family member in one-bed, in one ship cabin, on one boat.
Ah, the real viscount is my favorite; super handsome, full of starch and smolder, and also so sure he's going to be just fine but is also SO bamboozled by the beauty and grit of this former lady's companion he's just beside himself when she tells him to stuff it, even after his great lovemaking (when she finds out he sort of misled her about her ex). Great stuff, I EAT IT UP.
This would be a great entry to duran, as it is a bit less angsty (on the duran scale) and is so much fun. jolly good time.
June 6, 2017
A nice short read. I liked Amanda. She was a tough cookie. Liked the hero too.
July 4, 2022
This one is actually very good for a novella. Ms Duran gave just enough details for the main character's backstory. Amanda and Ripton (even the rotten cousin) characters felt very fleshed out which is high praise indeed considering the minimum no of word count. I enjoyed this immensely.
October 2, 2020
Very cute. Pity it was only a novella...
December 17, 2012
Rating: A ... Heat: Warm
-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review.
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Amanda Thomas is an aspiring adventuress. She longs to see the world and its many wonders. Unfortunately, during her first trip abroad, she ends up stranded in a far off locale, with no money or job, and – to add insult to injury – finds herself jilted at the alter. After waiting for her no-good fiancé for three hours, Amanda sets out to find her erstwhile viscount—who had to be hurt or dying to abandon her.
What she finds, however, is Spencer. The real Viscount Ripton.
Spencer has spent most of his adult life caring and looking out for his extended family. He’ll do anything for them, including traveling to the continent to bring his wayward cousin, Charles, home. When he meets Amanda, claiming to be betrothed to someone pretending to be him, he realizes his cousin is tangled up in this charade somehow. And he’s positive that Amanda is a charlatan or a seductress working with the imposter.
So, naturally, as his only witness and the only lead he has on his cousin, he decides to kidnap her. From there, Spencer and Amanda find themselves traveling across the high seas together, trying to follow Charles and catch the imposter Viscount Ripton.
Your Wicked Heart made my emotions run the gamut. Amanda’s predicament, the unfortunate circumstances she consistently finds herself in, and her outlook on life despite all of that—it endeared me to her. She may have sometimes been foolish, but she was never weak. Amanda had a spine of steel and never backed down. And Spencer, that stubborn, willful man... Even though he looked like a villain and could come across ill-tempered and testy, he charmed me as only someone with no true idea of their own charms can. And together... gosh, Spencer and Amanda had my feelings all over the place. Smitten one moment, hurt the next. Laughing followed by crying. I loved following them on their journey, the good and the bad.
A titled gentleman falling for a woman not of his same class might not be new, but when you combine it with imposter fiancés and mad dashes to exotic places, trying to catch a fraud and find a lost family member.... well, it becomes something special. Miz Duran can really make you feel like you’re in those locations and on those ships. And she definitely has a way of making you care for the characters. I truly loved and adored this novella and can’t wait for the first book in this series, That Scandalous Summer.
Favorite Quote:
His lips parted hers, and he tasted her.
A soft, hot prickle moved through her, a sudden relaxing of… everything: her muscles, her wariness, her wits. His lips were persuasive, confident, as alive as his laughter. He moved into her, crowing her against the wall, his body warm and solid, his mouth intoxicating. He tasted of wine, but on his tongue it grew delicious. His tongue toyed with hers, flirting with her teeth, the sensitive lining of her lips.
Her stomach seemed to lift and then fall away. He smelled like sweat and soap and spices. He smelled edible.
-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review.
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February 21, 2015
Es una historia sencilla,aunque algo increíble. Supongo que cuando nada se tiene nada se puede perder y eso es la base que le puede dar algún tipo de credibilidad Él empieza muy mal, la verdad, pero en apenas medio mes todo cambia.
No creo que en tan pocas páginas se pueda desarrollar una historia de forma correcta. Me ha gustado. Sí, Es entretenido pero como digo es tan corto que cuando empiezas a disfrutarlo ya se acaba. Y, calro está, todo pasa muy muy rápido
Es una precuela,y aunque me encanta el hecho de que se hayan decidido a publicarlo aunque sea un relato corto, me parece muy muy muy excesivo el precio que tiene, la verdad.
Cuando lea el resto ya opinaré si realmente es importante leer la precuela o no para seguir con la serie. Por ahora y mirando por encima solo aparece la protagonista del tercer libro y en apenas dos hojas.
No creo que en tan pocas páginas se pueda desarrollar una historia de forma correcta. Me ha gustado. Sí, Es entretenido pero como digo es tan corto que cuando empiezas a disfrutarlo ya se acaba. Y, calro está, todo pasa muy muy rápido
Es una precuela,y aunque me encanta el hecho de que se hayan decidido a publicarlo aunque sea un relato corto, me parece muy muy muy excesivo el precio que tiene, la verdad.
Cuando lea el resto ya opinaré si realmente es importante leer la precuela o no para seguir con la serie. Por ahora y mirando por encima solo aparece la protagonista del tercer libro y en apenas dos hojas.
May 5, 2019
I'm not a fan of novellas, they rarely do the characters or story justice, but I wanted to sample MD's writing as I have a load of her books on my to read list, and this one was free at Amazon.
And I have to say, kinda dugg it!
Started off a little far-fetched (and probably remained a little far fetched), but it was funny, charming, romantic and most surprisingly fleshed out. In mere 100 pages, the characters had layers, and the relationship / feelings seemed believable.
It's short, a bit rushed at the end, but I am definitely reading more of this author.
And I have to say, kinda dugg it!
Started off a little far-fetched (and probably remained a little far fetched), but it was funny, charming, romantic and most surprisingly fleshed out. In mere 100 pages, the characters had layers, and the relationship / feelings seemed believable.
It's short, a bit rushed at the end, but I am definitely reading more of this author.
August 17, 2016
Great novella which has more in depth character development than some full stories I read. The emotional tension is palpable aided by beautiful writing.
August 21, 2016
2.5
I've never read this author before. I heard about her debut The Duke of Shadows a lot but never got to it.
Your Wicked Heart was an excellent way to check whether I would read more or not. I think I will. The story is good with just a bit of drama. They have an ugly first meeting. They get to know each other during their trip.
I only wish I saw the viscount dealing with Amanda's former employer. That would have been great.
I've never read this author before. I heard about her debut The Duke of Shadows a lot but never got to it.
Your Wicked Heart was an excellent way to check whether I would read more or not. I think I will. The story is good with just a bit of drama. They have an ugly first meeting. They get to know each other during their trip.
I only wish I saw the viscount dealing with Amanda's former employer. That would have been great.
September 25, 2025
“I suppose you’ve been to Arles, but if you haven’t . . .”
He shook his head. “No. What have you discovered?”
He had been to Arles a dozen times, but he lied simply for the pleasure of hearing her educate him. And also for the simple pleasure of her smile.
A decent novella with a few logical flaws, which may be due to the brevity of the story. However, the heroes are likeable, especially the viscount.
3.5
He shook his head. “No. What have you discovered?”
He had been to Arles a dozen times, but he lied simply for the pleasure of hearing her educate him. And also for the simple pleasure of her smile.
A decent novella with a few logical flaws, which may be due to the brevity of the story. However, the heroes are likeable, especially the viscount.
3.5
March 3, 2022
I love Duran's writing, don't always love her plots.
February 5, 2020
Short but packed with a potency required for a quality romance novel. I love everything by Ms. Durant but what I most love aside from very good writing is the honest and some times hard hitting dialogue (no love pats here) that her characters engage in. She fully exposes their foibles and frailties which of course prevails into happy and satisfying endings. Her list of novels is most impressive, not a bad read amongst them.
November 23, 2022
Sweet novella to start a series. The h left at the alter when the H finds her, so he believes she's a trickster. He treats her with scorn until he discovers certain things about her. She's innocent but also smart enough to know she can do little to prove it. The H is exhausted by his family, and I liked that she made sure to not add to his burden. Good short story.
April 30, 2017
Certainly he could not do it, though as he stared at her, he felt the truth of it: I am lonely, too.
Amanda Thomas is stranded a thousand miles from home. Jilted by a viscount and abandoned without a penny, she'll do whatever it takes to secure a berth on an England-bound ship. But when the anchor lifts, she's not the only impostor on board—for the stranger in her bed claims to be the real viscount. Can she trust this devastatingly attractive scoundrel? Or is his offer of friendship only a pretext for seduction...and revenge?
Ripton is amazing. I am not the swoon-y type, but I'd totally swoon for him. He was so honourable, and loyal to his family, and so willing to clean up everyone elses mess, and he wanted to look after Amanda, which was so sweet. And yet he had that mean streak that I just can't help but love in my heroes.
Amanda was great. Just courageous enough to keep the story ticking along nicely, but not ballsy or in-your-face. And she was such a perv, she had me laughing out loud.
The poetry of Ms Duran's writing. She painted such a beautiful story, and it gave me butterflies! I only discovered Meredith Duran this week, but I'm soaking up her writing like a soaking-things-up thing.
It's so short! I clearly ignored the word novella in the synopsis, but still. Why are all the best books always over so soon?
October 24, 2016
4.5 stars Very good for a novella I think. Perhaps the ending was a bit abrupt but that is what happens with this format. Still, likeable characters and a good way to spend a couple of hours.
March 25, 2019
A short but Good read.
August 30, 2015
Review posted on Got Fiction?
4.5
Wow, there's a lot packed into this novella!
I've been really caught up in the Rules for the Reckless series, so I bought this novella the other day. It starts off in a very intriguing fashion.
Miss Amanda Thomas is waiting for the Viscount Ripton at the church where they're to be married. But he never shows. Worried something has happened to him, she rushes to the hotel where he's staying (I believe they're in Turkey-she's a secretary for an older woman who is writing her memoirs). When she confronts the concierge, she notices another man arguing with him. In fact there's a group of men who completely stop and stare as she mentions the viscount's name.
Apparently her fiance is not the Viscount Ripton.
The man with the dark piercing stare, who won't stop glaring at her, is the actual Viscount Ripton.
Spence is supposed to be hunting down one of his flighty relatives. A cousin named Charles, when he finds out someone is using his identification and pretending to be the Viscount, so as to use the Ripton money. Chasing both the thief and his cousin prove exhausting, until the little blonde angel in front of him mentions she's looking for him.
But once she describes his cousin as the impostor viscount, Spence realizes she must have pulled a con to get the money. his poor silly cousin would never do something this crazy. So Spence takes the little con artist with him to the docks to look for his cousin. They find out he set sail for England that afternoon, so he books passage for both himself, and his thief. A thief who happens to have his cousin's ring.
Amanda is no thief, but how to convince Spence? Obviously he is mistaken, and her fiance is not a liar. But if he isn't a liar, why did he leave her at the altar?
During the course of their voyage, Spence begins to actually like Amanda, and finds out she was only marrying his cousin out of convenience and fondness. Not love.
But even as he's falling in love with Amanda, he realizes he's treated her abominably. But Amanda is falling in love with Spence, too, and after an amazing night, his cousin shows up at the door...and blows open the fact that Spence knew they were tracking his cousin, not just some random impersonator.
Amanda is heartbroken. And knows that she's been an utter fool. The next couple days on the ship are awful studies of silence and sadness. And yet the ending is sweet, and wonderful and satisfying.
I highly recommend this series, and while you can absolutely read as stand-alones, each book has been soo good, you will want to read each one!
I can't believe none of you have ever told me about this author before! Who else should I be reading that I haven't yet?
4.5
Wow, there's a lot packed into this novella!
I've been really caught up in the Rules for the Reckless series, so I bought this novella the other day. It starts off in a very intriguing fashion.
Miss Amanda Thomas is waiting for the Viscount Ripton at the church where they're to be married. But he never shows. Worried something has happened to him, she rushes to the hotel where he's staying (I believe they're in Turkey-she's a secretary for an older woman who is writing her memoirs). When she confronts the concierge, she notices another man arguing with him. In fact there's a group of men who completely stop and stare as she mentions the viscount's name.
Apparently her fiance is not the Viscount Ripton.
The man with the dark piercing stare, who won't stop glaring at her, is the actual Viscount Ripton.
Spence is supposed to be hunting down one of his flighty relatives. A cousin named Charles, when he finds out someone is using his identification and pretending to be the Viscount, so as to use the Ripton money. Chasing both the thief and his cousin prove exhausting, until the little blonde angel in front of him mentions she's looking for him.
But once she describes his cousin as the impostor viscount, Spence realizes she must have pulled a con to get the money. his poor silly cousin would never do something this crazy. So Spence takes the little con artist with him to the docks to look for his cousin. They find out he set sail for England that afternoon, so he books passage for both himself, and his thief. A thief who happens to have his cousin's ring.
Amanda is no thief, but how to convince Spence? Obviously he is mistaken, and her fiance is not a liar. But if he isn't a liar, why did he leave her at the altar?
During the course of their voyage, Spence begins to actually like Amanda, and finds out she was only marrying his cousin out of convenience and fondness. Not love.
But even as he's falling in love with Amanda, he realizes he's treated her abominably. But Amanda is falling in love with Spence, too, and after an amazing night, his cousin shows up at the door...and blows open the fact that Spence knew they were tracking his cousin, not just some random impersonator.
Amanda is heartbroken. And knows that she's been an utter fool. The next couple days on the ship are awful studies of silence and sadness. And yet the ending is sweet, and wonderful and satisfying.
I highly recommend this series, and while you can absolutely read as stand-alones, each book has been soo good, you will want to read each one!
I can't believe none of you have ever told me about this author before! Who else should I be reading that I haven't yet?
July 21, 2016
Amelia Thomas ends up jilted by an alleged Viscount and kidnapped by a different man alleging to be the same Viscount. On their sea voyage after the first alleged Viscount, they bond over a shared history of early onset responsibility. It's all very amnesiac-chic, seeing as he FORCIBLY DRAGGED HER OUT OF A HOTEL AND ONTO A BOAT WITH ZERO TO NO REGARD FOR HER SITUATION, REPUTATION, OR INFORMATION. GROSS!!
1. If you can excuse the kidnapping thing (which the text does and quickly), Amanda is interesting. Her worldview is naively optimistic; she is struggling to be more conventionally brave. She wants adventure and is unsure how to achieve that while weighed down by survival instinct (or what she sees as cowardice). I liked that internal conflict: her fear of herself, of seeing in herself qualities she did not like but did not necessarily know how to change, except in fits and starts. I related.
(I've read a few too many romances that have heroines who have Fully Realized themselves. They are (insert qualities here) and the changes that happen in their lives during the course of Romance are instigated by their partner, or villain, or similar. There isn't any self-reflection, any internal mobilization. And there is nothing wrong with a Fully Realized heroine! I adore them (I adore all heroines), but sometimes a girl-mess wants to read a story about a girl that doesn't have it figured out and is still trying to adapt and adjust and is, in fact, also a girl-mess.)
2. Spencer Ripton, Viscount of Kidnappings, is the cynic to her optimist. He is Bitter and has Depths. He softens towards Amanda almost immediately (primarily when he hardens, if-you-know-what-I-mean...) and is a rather boring, traditional hero. NEXT.
3. Duran is talented. Her prose is engaging and can make even the most Out There Shenanigans (KIDNAPPING??? REALLY???) sound less important than the imminent feelings. I just wish she could stick the landing. Too often her novels seem to lay all the ground work, and then the book ends. The resolution, the coming together, the happy ever after crap (you know, Trademark Romance) never sticks. It's told. It's narrated. And it takes an enjoyable ride and dumps you out at the turnstile without a backwards glance.
4. Ultimately: disappointing. AND a misleading blurb because she is KIDNAPPED not awakened by a handsome Viscount like I was expecting.
1. If you can excuse the kidnapping thing (which the text does and quickly), Amanda is interesting. Her worldview is naively optimistic; she is struggling to be more conventionally brave. She wants adventure and is unsure how to achieve that while weighed down by survival instinct (or what she sees as cowardice). I liked that internal conflict: her fear of herself, of seeing in herself qualities she did not like but did not necessarily know how to change, except in fits and starts. I related.
(I've read a few too many romances that have heroines who have Fully Realized themselves. They are (insert qualities here) and the changes that happen in their lives during the course of Romance are instigated by their partner, or villain, or similar. There isn't any self-reflection, any internal mobilization. And there is nothing wrong with a Fully Realized heroine! I adore them (I adore all heroines), but sometimes a girl-mess wants to read a story about a girl that doesn't have it figured out and is still trying to adapt and adjust and is, in fact, also a girl-mess.)
2. Spencer Ripton, Viscount of Kidnappings, is the cynic to her optimist. He is Bitter and has Depths. He softens towards Amanda almost immediately (primarily when he hardens, if-you-know-what-I-mean...) and is a rather boring, traditional hero. NEXT.
3. Duran is talented. Her prose is engaging and can make even the most Out There Shenanigans (KIDNAPPING??? REALLY???) sound less important than the imminent feelings. I just wish she could stick the landing. Too often her novels seem to lay all the ground work, and then the book ends. The resolution, the coming together, the happy ever after crap (you know, Trademark Romance) never sticks. It's told. It's narrated. And it takes an enjoyable ride and dumps you out at the turnstile without a backwards glance.
4. Ultimately: disappointing. AND a misleading blurb because she is KIDNAPPED not awakened by a handsome Viscount like I was expecting.
March 5, 2017
You can find this review in English below.
Es por historias como esta por lo que adoro las novelas cortas. Lo tiene todo: personajes bien descritos y multidimensionales, argumento interesante y poco drama. Y romance, sobre todo romance y protagonistas mostrando sus sentimientos.
No conocía esta autora. Es la primera vez que la leo y no será la última.
Gracias Lyuda por la recomendación. Me ha encantado! :)
***
It is for stories like this that I love novellas. It has it all: well-described and multidimensional characters, interesting plot and little drama/angst. And romance, especially romance and MC´s showing their feelings.
I did not know this author. This is the first time I read her work and it will not be the last.
Thank you, Lyuda for the rec. I loved it! :)
Es por historias como esta por lo que adoro las novelas cortas. Lo tiene todo: personajes bien descritos y multidimensionales, argumento interesante y poco drama. Y romance, sobre todo romance y protagonistas mostrando sus sentimientos.
No conocía esta autora. Es la primera vez que la leo y no será la última.
Gracias Lyuda por la recomendación. Me ha encantado! :)
***
It is for stories like this that I love novellas. It has it all: well-described and multidimensional characters, interesting plot and little drama/angst. And romance, especially romance and MC´s showing their feelings.
I did not know this author. This is the first time I read her work and it will not be the last.
Thank you, Lyuda for the rec. I loved it! :)
October 1, 2023
This novella took place in 1885.
Spencer & Amanda started out in an adversarial
relationship: he claimed she was a charlatan and
she called him a kidnapper. She thought of him
as a "hard-hearted devil-rogue." Over time they
began to trust each other until a 3rd party visited
and everything unraveled.
I liked this couple. The too-serious H informed the
h that he was "not a man to love lightly." If only
the reader could have had 100 more pages with this
couple?
Spencer & Amanda started out in an adversarial
relationship: he claimed she was a charlatan and
she called him a kidnapper. She thought of him
as a "hard-hearted devil-rogue." Over time they
began to trust each other until a 3rd party visited
and everything unraveled.
I liked this couple. The too-serious H informed the
h that he was "not a man to love lightly." If only
the reader could have had 100 more pages with this
couple?
December 9, 2015
"You came for me," she whispered.
His hand wound through her hair, cradling her. " I will always come for you," he said.
I really wish this was a full length novel. I really loved the voyage aspect of this, the writing and the main hero/heroine.
I'm glad there was a bit of angst and ending was sweet.
Loved it!
His hand wound through her hair, cradling her. " I will always come for you," he said.
I really wish this was a full length novel. I really loved the voyage aspect of this, the writing and the main hero/heroine.
I'm glad there was a bit of angst and ending was sweet.
Loved it!
April 23, 2022
Your Wicked Heart
4 Stars
Jilted by her viscount fiancé far from home and without a penny to her name, Amanda Thomas goes in search of her absent groom only to learn that he is an imposter. The real viscount, Spencer St. John is convinced that Amanda is a nefarious villain who coerced his naive cousin into a betrothal. The two set out to find the imposter, but end up discovering each other.
A charming love-hate romance albeit one that requires a healthy suspension of disbelief.
Amanda is an endearing amalgam of innocence and naivete combined with courage and strength of will. It is difficult to believe that an educated woman of the working class could so easily be deceived by the fake viscount's obvious lies. Nevertheless, once she learns the truth, she is quick to take action and also stands up for herself in the face of the real viscount's fury and accusations.
Spencer is also very engaging. His world-weary cynicism and bitter resentment for being the only responsible person in his family conceals profound loneliness. It is wonderful to see him open up to Amanda's boundless optimism and reveal his tremendous capacity for love.
Duran's writing is eminently readable and she manages to convey a great deal of both characterization and plot in a reasonably short novella. Overall, this is a quick and entertaining read if one can get past the rather ridiculous premise and anachronistic behaviors. I look forward to continuing with the series.
4 Stars
Jilted by her viscount fiancé far from home and without a penny to her name, Amanda Thomas goes in search of her absent groom only to learn that he is an imposter. The real viscount, Spencer St. John is convinced that Amanda is a nefarious villain who coerced his naive cousin into a betrothal. The two set out to find the imposter, but end up discovering each other.
A charming love-hate romance albeit one that requires a healthy suspension of disbelief.
Amanda is an endearing amalgam of innocence and naivete combined with courage and strength of will. It is difficult to believe that an educated woman of the working class could so easily be deceived by the fake viscount's obvious lies. Nevertheless, once she learns the truth, she is quick to take action and also stands up for herself in the face of the real viscount's fury and accusations.
Spencer is also very engaging. His world-weary cynicism and bitter resentment for being the only responsible person in his family conceals profound loneliness. It is wonderful to see him open up to Amanda's boundless optimism and reveal his tremendous capacity for love.
Duran's writing is eminently readable and she manages to convey a great deal of both characterization and plot in a reasonably short novella. Overall, this is a quick and entertaining read if one can get past the rather ridiculous premise and anachronistic behaviors. I look forward to continuing with the series.
June 30, 2024
I'm really not sure how I feel about it. I liked the writing style. Meredith Duran has an amazing way of writing a story. However, I didn't care at all for the characters. I could have cared less if they ended up overboard on the ship. Also what I thought was going to happen didn't, and that really threw me off at the end. I'm all for unexpected plot twists, but I don't feel like this one was done in a good way. Overall, not my favorite by this author, but I'm hoping the rest of the series will get better. This was a short read at least.
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