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The Accidental Abduction
A headlong flight across London to stop an elopement leads to a hasty wedding between strangers....A sizzling new regency historical romance for fans of Sarah MacLean and Elizabeth Hoyt.
Harold Rayburn is about to be taken for the ride of his life…
After having his proposal rejected by a beautiful but flighty woman, Harry vows he is done with unpredictable and impetuous women for good. Until beautiful and fierce Leannah Wakefield barrels into his life, inadvertently kidnapping him while on a wild carriage ride and leaving him all too eager to get back in the saddle…
Leannah would sacrifice everything to protect her family. So upon hearing of her sister’s intended elopement, she races across London to stop the ill-advised ceremony before it can happen. However, when her mad journey picks her up an unlikely stowaway, one who ignites her desire beyond all reason, she’s the one who ends up hastily wedding a handsome and secretive stranger.
But as Leannah and Harry immediately encounter opposition, jealousy, and suspicion of their hurried nuptials, they begin to doubt that their unquenchable passion can truly lead to a happy marriage—especially when both the bride and groom have devastating secrets to hide…
Harold Rayburn is about to be taken for the ride of his life…
After having his proposal rejected by a beautiful but flighty woman, Harry vows he is done with unpredictable and impetuous women for good. Until beautiful and fierce Leannah Wakefield barrels into his life, inadvertently kidnapping him while on a wild carriage ride and leaving him all too eager to get back in the saddle…
Leannah would sacrifice everything to protect her family. So upon hearing of her sister’s intended elopement, she races across London to stop the ill-advised ceremony before it can happen. However, when her mad journey picks her up an unlikely stowaway, one who ignites her desire beyond all reason, she’s the one who ends up hastily wedding a handsome and secretive stranger.
But as Leannah and Harry immediately encounter opposition, jealousy, and suspicion of their hurried nuptials, they begin to doubt that their unquenchable passion can truly lead to a happy marriage—especially when both the bride and groom have devastating secrets to hide…
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 2, 2014
About the author
Darcie Wilde
18 books706 followersDarcie Wilde is a pseudonym for Sarah Zettel, author of mysteries, science fiction, romance and Young Adult fiction, including the New York Times Notable Book Fool’s War and the bestselling Rosalind Thorne mysteries A Useful Woman. She also writes under the names Delia James, Sarah Zettel, Jennifer Hawkins C. L. Anderson and Marissa Day.
Darcie writes her classically styled (not to mention stylish) mysteries as well as adventurous romances from a university town in a certain northern-midwestern state that has been known to bear some passing resemblance to a mitten. When not writing, she’s reading, cooking, hiking, swimming, climbing things, embroidering other things, raising her rapidly growing son and trying to convince her cat — Buffy the Vermin Slayer — not to do any further damage to the furniture.
Darcie writes her classically styled (not to mention stylish) mysteries as well as adventurous romances from a university town in a certain northern-midwestern state that has been known to bear some passing resemblance to a mitten. When not writing, she’s reading, cooking, hiking, swimming, climbing things, embroidering other things, raising her rapidly growing son and trying to convince her cat — Buffy the Vermin Slayer — not to do any further damage to the furniture.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 22, 2017
Harold "Harry" Rayburn is "accidentally abducted" by Leannah Wakefield who's on her way north to stop her sister's foolish elopement (with a dude aptly named DICKenson). They end up in the territory of BURNING LOINS where midnight groping leads to a hastily constructed emotional attachment. Through the power of PLOT, they also end up married! ENTER THE INABILITY TO COMMUNICATE BECAUSE OF ~SECRETS IN ORDER TO PAD THIS PLOT AND ALSO A LIFE IS IN PERIL BULLSHIT CLIMAX!!!
1. Why would you use 'Harold' as your hero's first name when you could have used 'Henry'? I mean, if you need his nickname to be Harry, you have OPTIONS. Choose responsibly.
2. I picked up this book because a whirlwind romance/marriage sounded like a good little story to keep me entertained in these last bleak days of 2017. But what I got was unescapable lust and a marriage built on an inability to communicate in a way that doesn't involve orgasms. Which—IDK—was kind of boring? If they just TALKED instead of immediately reaching for the genitals, I might believe in their relationship? BUT NO, ALWAYS SEX. ONLY SEX.
I ask for simple things: cold water on a hot day; sweet kitty purrs; an evenly balanced romance containing equal parts wall-knocking sex and rational adult communication; socks that don't pool around my ankles... y'know, easy things.
3. Leannah got on my last nerve with her special ~~spunk.
4. I might go and read the first by this author because I am a glutton for punishment but at least I'll know what I'm getting into (SEX) before I get into it, if you know what I mean?? I don't mind erotica-leaning novels at all; I just want to be prepared before I settle in for what I think will be a MOC experience because this? Was not that.
5. Also another bullet to really point out how shitty that "she nearly DIES" ending was because it was. Really shitty.
1. Why would you use 'Harold' as your hero's first name when you could have used 'Henry'? I mean, if you need his nickname to be Harry, you have OPTIONS. Choose responsibly.
2. I picked up this book because a whirlwind romance/marriage sounded like a good little story to keep me entertained in these last bleak days of 2017. But what I got was unescapable lust and a marriage built on an inability to communicate in a way that doesn't involve orgasms. Which—IDK—was kind of boring? If they just TALKED instead of immediately reaching for the genitals, I might believe in their relationship? BUT NO, ALWAYS SEX. ONLY SEX.
I ask for simple things: cold water on a hot day; sweet kitty purrs; an evenly balanced romance containing equal parts wall-knocking sex and rational adult communication; socks that don't pool around my ankles... y'know, easy things.
3. Leannah got on my last nerve with her special ~~spunk.
4. I might go and read the first by this author because I am a glutton for punishment but at least I'll know what I'm getting into (SEX) before I get into it, if you know what I mean?? I don't mind erotica-leaning novels at all; I just want to be prepared before I settle in for what I think will be a MOC experience because this? Was not that.
5. Also another bullet to really point out how shitty that "she nearly DIES" ending was because it was. Really shitty.
September 7, 2016
I've given this a C+ at AAR, so 3.5 stars. It should have been a lot higher, but I had to knock the grade down due to the WTF? ending.
This is Darcie Wilde’s second book, and having seen some favourable reviews for her début, Lord of the Rakes, I was keen to give her a try. I found her writing style to be engaging and was especially pleased to discover that she has put a different spin on the well-used trope of two people who barely know each other getting married. There are plenty of marriage-of-convenience and compromised-into-marriage stories which feature a couple with little prior knowledge of each other tying the knot and then falling in love, but in The Accidental Abduction, the two central characters – Harry Rayburn and Leannah Wakefield – meet in less than auspicious circumstances, feel an incredibly strong attraction towards each other and marry on impulse, believing they can sort everything else out later.
Also unusual for an historical is the fact that neither protagonist is titled. Harry is very wealthy, but his money comes from trade, and while Leannah was brought up a “lady”, her family is poor as church mice.
The story opens with Harry proposing – unsuccessfully – to one of the belles of the ton, a beautiful but empty-headed young woman. On his way home from drowning his sorrows, Harry attempts to save a woman who is struggling with a pair of runaway horses, and ends up jumping into her carriage in order to help her. But it seems that she’s not struggling at all – she’s pushing her horses hell-for-leather in order to catch up with her eloping younger sister, and doesn’t stop despite having taken on an unwanted passenger.
When one of the horses throws a shoe, the woman has no alternative but to stop and admit defeat. But Harry isn’t so easily deterred. The weather is bad and if he and his “abductress” are stuck in it, so are her sister and her beau; he suggests they head for the nearest inn as they need shelter, and it’s quite possible that her quarry will have had to hole up there as well.
Leannah Wakefield is so used to having to do everything for herself and her family on her own that she is initially dismissive of Harry’s offers of help. However, she can’t continue her pursuit with a horse that needs shoeing, and reluctantly accepts that Harry is right, and they need to shelter from the storm and find somewhere to have the horse re-shod.
Leannah is a widow and has, since the death of her much older husband, been the glue holding her family together. Her father is ill, her young brother is just twelve and her younger sister, Genny, is both beautiful and headstrong, and it’s all Leannah can do to keep their heads above water. Quite naturally, this sort of existence has worn her down over the two years since her husband’s death, and meeting someone like Harry, strong, reliable and full of confidence – justifiably so, it seems – brings home to her just how much she’s missed having someone to care for her for a change. Harry’s presence also awakens her baser instincts – he’s young, well-built and good-looking, and…well, some aspects of widowhood have been more difficult for her than others.
Leannah and Harry immediately fall into the grip of an intense physical attraction the like of which neither has ever experienced before. I’m not a big fan of “insta-lust” in romance novels, but it’s so well-written that their fascination with each other just leaps off the page. There’s also something lying beneath their physical attraction – a respect and connection which neither can really explain. When Genny is discovered and her beau dispatched, Harry realises he doesn’t like the idea of never seeing Leannah again – so he proposes, arguing that getting married will solve not just one, but two problems. It will divert attention from Genny’s elopement, and will mean he and Leannah can get on with lots of officially sanctioned shagging. Which they most certainly do. A lot.
For a day or so after their hasty wedding, they cocoon themselves in the honeymoon suite at a swish London hotel, both knowing that they won’t be able to remain that way for very long, and not looking forward to the confrontations with family and friends which must inevitably follow.
The way in which Harry and Leannah’s doubts begin to creep in once they have to return to the “real world” is well written and feels very realistic, as do their respective families’ reactions to the news of their precipitate marriage. Harry’s family is concerned that he married Leannah on the rebound and that he has been duped simply so she can get her hands on his money. Her father is known to have been a highly unsuccessful speculator who charmed his way into getting people to trust him with large sums of money which he then invested most unwisely, and Harry’s father suspects that Leannah was somehow put into his way as a “honey trap”. Harry’s conviction of Hannah’s innocence isn’t shaken, even when his two best friends add the weight of their opinions – but he also can’t ignore the fact that there is obviously something that Leannah isn’t telling him.
Harry and Leannah are attractive characters who make a well-matched couple. The Accidental Abduction starts strongly and while there are perhaps a couple of plot-threads too many and a couple of unnecessary villains, I thought I was going to be awarding it a B grade – until I realised that I was about forty pages from the end, and that the big crisis hadn’t yet happened. Ms. Wilde builds the tension very skilfully, and keeps building it brick by brick and little, insidious thought by little insidious thought – but when the shit finally hits the fan, it happens so fast you could blink and miss it. It’s true that there has been an undercurrent of unhappiness running beneath the surface prior to the event which finally causes all hell to break loose, but Harry’s accusations and Leannah’s reactions are so ridiculously over the top as to be completely out of character. Even worse, the couple’s reconciliation happens “off screen” and we are simply told that they talked about this and they talked about that and worked everything out! I could quite happily have dispensed with the opening chapter in favour of having another chapter at the end showing Harry and Leannah’s reconciliation and their (now) happy marriage. I don’t really see what that first chapter adds to the story, unless it’s to give Harry a reason to go out drinking – but when do young men in historicals ever need an excuse to go out on the razz?
Honestly, I could have cried with frustration, because the ending puts a real downer on what could have been a truly excellent read. I’m still giving it a C+ – mostly because the first part of the book is very good, and because Ms Wilde has managed to inject a note of originality into a genre which isn’t known for it. But I’m bummed about the ending.
This is Darcie Wilde’s second book, and having seen some favourable reviews for her début, Lord of the Rakes, I was keen to give her a try. I found her writing style to be engaging and was especially pleased to discover that she has put a different spin on the well-used trope of two people who barely know each other getting married. There are plenty of marriage-of-convenience and compromised-into-marriage stories which feature a couple with little prior knowledge of each other tying the knot and then falling in love, but in The Accidental Abduction, the two central characters – Harry Rayburn and Leannah Wakefield – meet in less than auspicious circumstances, feel an incredibly strong attraction towards each other and marry on impulse, believing they can sort everything else out later.
Also unusual for an historical is the fact that neither protagonist is titled. Harry is very wealthy, but his money comes from trade, and while Leannah was brought up a “lady”, her family is poor as church mice.
The story opens with Harry proposing – unsuccessfully – to one of the belles of the ton, a beautiful but empty-headed young woman. On his way home from drowning his sorrows, Harry attempts to save a woman who is struggling with a pair of runaway horses, and ends up jumping into her carriage in order to help her. But it seems that she’s not struggling at all – she’s pushing her horses hell-for-leather in order to catch up with her eloping younger sister, and doesn’t stop despite having taken on an unwanted passenger.
When one of the horses throws a shoe, the woman has no alternative but to stop and admit defeat. But Harry isn’t so easily deterred. The weather is bad and if he and his “abductress” are stuck in it, so are her sister and her beau; he suggests they head for the nearest inn as they need shelter, and it’s quite possible that her quarry will have had to hole up there as well.
Leannah Wakefield is so used to having to do everything for herself and her family on her own that she is initially dismissive of Harry’s offers of help. However, she can’t continue her pursuit with a horse that needs shoeing, and reluctantly accepts that Harry is right, and they need to shelter from the storm and find somewhere to have the horse re-shod.
Leannah is a widow and has, since the death of her much older husband, been the glue holding her family together. Her father is ill, her young brother is just twelve and her younger sister, Genny, is both beautiful and headstrong, and it’s all Leannah can do to keep their heads above water. Quite naturally, this sort of existence has worn her down over the two years since her husband’s death, and meeting someone like Harry, strong, reliable and full of confidence – justifiably so, it seems – brings home to her just how much she’s missed having someone to care for her for a change. Harry’s presence also awakens her baser instincts – he’s young, well-built and good-looking, and…well, some aspects of widowhood have been more difficult for her than others.
Leannah and Harry immediately fall into the grip of an intense physical attraction the like of which neither has ever experienced before. I’m not a big fan of “insta-lust” in romance novels, but it’s so well-written that their fascination with each other just leaps off the page. There’s also something lying beneath their physical attraction – a respect and connection which neither can really explain. When Genny is discovered and her beau dispatched, Harry realises he doesn’t like the idea of never seeing Leannah again – so he proposes, arguing that getting married will solve not just one, but two problems. It will divert attention from Genny’s elopement, and will mean he and Leannah can get on with lots of officially sanctioned shagging. Which they most certainly do. A lot.
For a day or so after their hasty wedding, they cocoon themselves in the honeymoon suite at a swish London hotel, both knowing that they won’t be able to remain that way for very long, and not looking forward to the confrontations with family and friends which must inevitably follow.
The way in which Harry and Leannah’s doubts begin to creep in once they have to return to the “real world” is well written and feels very realistic, as do their respective families’ reactions to the news of their precipitate marriage. Harry’s family is concerned that he married Leannah on the rebound and that he has been duped simply so she can get her hands on his money. Her father is known to have been a highly unsuccessful speculator who charmed his way into getting people to trust him with large sums of money which he then invested most unwisely, and Harry’s father suspects that Leannah was somehow put into his way as a “honey trap”. Harry’s conviction of Hannah’s innocence isn’t shaken, even when his two best friends add the weight of their opinions – but he also can’t ignore the fact that there is obviously something that Leannah isn’t telling him.
Harry and Leannah are attractive characters who make a well-matched couple. The Accidental Abduction starts strongly and while there are perhaps a couple of plot-threads too many and a couple of unnecessary villains, I thought I was going to be awarding it a B grade – until I realised that I was about forty pages from the end, and that the big crisis hadn’t yet happened. Ms. Wilde builds the tension very skilfully, and keeps building it brick by brick and little, insidious thought by little insidious thought – but when the shit finally hits the fan, it happens so fast you could blink and miss it. It’s true that there has been an undercurrent of unhappiness running beneath the surface prior to the event which finally causes all hell to break loose, but Harry’s accusations and Leannah’s reactions are so ridiculously over the top as to be completely out of character. Even worse, the couple’s reconciliation happens “off screen” and we are simply told that they talked about this and they talked about that and worked everything out! I could quite happily have dispensed with the opening chapter in favour of having another chapter at the end showing Harry and Leannah’s reconciliation and their (now) happy marriage. I don’t really see what that first chapter adds to the story, unless it’s to give Harry a reason to go out drinking – but when do young men in historicals ever need an excuse to go out on the razz?
Honestly, I could have cried with frustration, because the ending puts a real downer on what could have been a truly excellent read. I’m still giving it a C+ – mostly because the first part of the book is very good, and because Ms Wilde has managed to inject a note of originality into a genre which isn’t known for it. But I’m bummed about the ending.
September 2, 2014
My review cross-posted from Wit and Sin: http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2014/09...
A runaway romance gives life and spirit to The Accidental Abduction . Author Darcie Wilde’s sophomore romance is a fast-paced, enjoyable read, though it has its ups and downs, for the characters and the readers.
Leannah and Harry meet by chance, marry in haste so that they can feed their attraction and tamp down on scandal, and then have to face villains, gossip, familial troubles, and the realization that they don’t truly know one another outside the bedroom. It’s easy to like Leannah and Harry – they’re both likeable, dependable people whose staid exteriors hide inner passion. What troubled me about their romance is that they truly didn’t try to get to know one another until the very end of the story, in a bit that was glossed over. Their unwillingness to simply talk and share their troubles with each other leaves them susceptible to the machinations of others. There are multiple villains who plot to ruin Harry and Leannah’s marriage, for reasons that would hold more weight had said villains been better developed. By halfway through The Accidental Abduction there are simply too many characters running about with motivations that aren’t explored as well as I would have liked. This made it harder to get into the story, even though I wanted to.
Though it’s a bit underdeveloped in some areas, The Accidental Abduction has promise. As it stands, it’s a likeable read and there are supporting characters I was intrigued by (namely Meredith and Nathaniel, friends of Leannah and Harry), enough so that I’ll definitely pick up their books, should Ms. Wilde write stories for them. I should note that while The Accidental Abduction is a standalone, characters from Ms. Wilde’s first novel, Lord of Rakes, do appear, which should please fans of that story. The Accidental Abduction was the first book by Ms. Wilde that I’ve read, and I’m looking forward to seeing what she comes up with in the future.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A runaway romance gives life and spirit to The Accidental Abduction . Author Darcie Wilde’s sophomore romance is a fast-paced, enjoyable read, though it has its ups and downs, for the characters and the readers.
Leannah and Harry meet by chance, marry in haste so that they can feed their attraction and tamp down on scandal, and then have to face villains, gossip, familial troubles, and the realization that they don’t truly know one another outside the bedroom. It’s easy to like Leannah and Harry – they’re both likeable, dependable people whose staid exteriors hide inner passion. What troubled me about their romance is that they truly didn’t try to get to know one another until the very end of the story, in a bit that was glossed over. Their unwillingness to simply talk and share their troubles with each other leaves them susceptible to the machinations of others. There are multiple villains who plot to ruin Harry and Leannah’s marriage, for reasons that would hold more weight had said villains been better developed. By halfway through The Accidental Abduction there are simply too many characters running about with motivations that aren’t explored as well as I would have liked. This made it harder to get into the story, even though I wanted to.
Though it’s a bit underdeveloped in some areas, The Accidental Abduction has promise. As it stands, it’s a likeable read and there are supporting characters I was intrigued by (namely Meredith and Nathaniel, friends of Leannah and Harry), enough so that I’ll definitely pick up their books, should Ms. Wilde write stories for them. I should note that while The Accidental Abduction is a standalone, characters from Ms. Wilde’s first novel, Lord of Rakes, do appear, which should please fans of that story. The Accidental Abduction was the first book by Ms. Wilde that I’ve read, and I’m looking forward to seeing what she comes up with in the future.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
September 23, 2014
Just a few pages in and I was already enthralled by hero, Harry Raybourn and laughing at his escapades in love and his humorous way of trying to figure out the female race. In response to his oh so careful courtship of a wisp of a girl that was all wrong for him, he is luckily shot down for being too ordinary. Ordinary is exactly what Harry was going for- especially after what happened in Calais.
Harry isn't dashing, he doesn't have blue aristocratic blood running through his veins, but he does have a zest for a spirited woman and the romp they have together. After a night of mourning the loss of his delicate beauty, AgnesFeatherhead er, that is Featherington, he steps out of his club and right into an adventure. His attempt to save a damsel that he thought was in distress only earns him an accidental abduction by a Boudicca and her chariot.
“You’ll crash us!”
“Watch me”
Did he actually hear pride in her voice?
I’m being abducted, Harry thought as he pushed himself back into a sitting position. By a madwoman. Except she wasn’t a madwoman. She was handling like she’d been born on the box. She’d been in control that whole time as they threaded the streets of London, and Westminster and taken those daring, near deadly turns. Dear God, what kind of woman was she?
At this, absurdly, Harry laughed…But it occurred to him that he had been wishing he could get out of town. Now he was doing exactly that and at top speed. Admittedly, he hadn’t considered abduction as a means of gaining distance from Agnes, but here he was and it didn’t seem there was anything he could do about it. pp. 22-23, Harry, The Accidental Abduction
Leannah Wakefield is doing all she can for her family. Her father's weakness and need to speculate away all their money and anyone else's has left them near destitute and pariahs in society. Leannah is now a year widowed after a five year marriage and she has tried to cobble the family finances together long enough for her sister to make a good match and her brother to come of age, but they won't last a few more weeks let alone years before Jeremy comes of age. There is nothing for, but that she accept the hand of a man that gives her the shivers. On that thought, she discovers that Genevieve didn't give up on the attachment to Mr. Dickenson, but has run off. Leannah races out to rescue her sister and will put her carriage horses through the paces to do it. Somehow, along the way, she has acquired an unwelcome passenger. Is he a drunk or just crazy?
Harry soon learns that Leannah is out to stop her sister from a disastrous runaway marriage. Leannah's spirited driving, determination and beauty work powerfully on him. He can see that his aid during her time of need and something about him has attracted her to him too. Not long after a successful if unorthodox completion of the adventure, it is Harry and Leannah that say their vows in a roadside inn.
The passionate moments of coming together are the easy part now they must face their families, Leannah's Morehouse family reputation and Society. Oh, and some behind the scenes scheming. If they cannot rely on and trust in each other and what they have together, all the things against them will break them apart before they have the chance to express any growing, honest feelings for each other.
As one can see by the description, this one was off to the races from the beginning in some ways. They came together quickly and passionately, but then the rest of the book was spent delving into their pasts, their characters and their romance's development. Harry and Leannah take the starring roles of course and this is there story, but there is a huge cast of characters flitting through this one and tantalizing mysterious references to a dark moment for Harry and a seedy past for Leannah's family. Slowly this is all teased out. There are also side jaunts for the villains to make their moves.
I only had one niggle and it is probably a personal preference more than anything. I was not half pleased with all the page time devoted to both of them fantasizing. In general, I don't mind reading about a character fantasizing about what they will do or say with the other character, but I get bored when it carries on- and on. For the most part, this stuff ended about the time they got married so it’s not a huge portion of the book, but it dragged down the pace near the beginning in my opinion.
This book is also loosely connected to another book, Lord of the Rakes, by the author though I found no evidence that they are considered a series. Because of the connection, I would suggest that they be treated like a series anyway. Lord of the Rakes features a romance between two friends of Harry's and his sister Fiona. Also, Harry, Fi and there family group with acquaintances were introduced in the other book.
A word about the romance and the characters- it’s very spicy and these passionate people are honest in their need and unapologetic about the raw need. Things began fast, but in this case the author was able to carry the 'love (or lust) at first sight' plotting and it worked because of what came afterward. They aren't sweet or refined. Leannah and Harry are mannered people, but neither come from highborn backgrounds. Refreshingly, Harry's family is wealthy from trade and he still works. Leannah's family is untitled country gentry though her father's speculative habits have lost them even that. They have a tough uphill battle to prove they belong together and prove that Leannah isn't her father. I enjoyed the together against the world feel they had though it was sad to see when doubt reared its ugly head. It was realistic for it to do so and added that needed challenge to keep things from going stale.
In the end, I was pleased with the result of this story. I enjoy the author's writing. She uses humor, lusty bedroom scenes, gritty intrigue and colorful characters to tell a good story. If Ms. Wilde is listening, I would love Nathaniel Penrose and Meredith Langley to get a story too. I would recommend this to those that enjoy moderate spice and intrigue in their Historical Romances.
My thanks to Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this one in exchange for an honest review.
Harry isn't dashing, he doesn't have blue aristocratic blood running through his veins, but he does have a zest for a spirited woman and the romp they have together. After a night of mourning the loss of his delicate beauty, Agnes
“You’ll crash us!”
“Watch me”
Did he actually hear pride in her voice?
I’m being abducted, Harry thought as he pushed himself back into a sitting position. By a madwoman. Except she wasn’t a madwoman. She was handling like she’d been born on the box. She’d been in control that whole time as they threaded the streets of London, and Westminster and taken those daring, near deadly turns. Dear God, what kind of woman was she?
At this, absurdly, Harry laughed…But it occurred to him that he had been wishing he could get out of town. Now he was doing exactly that and at top speed. Admittedly, he hadn’t considered abduction as a means of gaining distance from Agnes, but here he was and it didn’t seem there was anything he could do about it. pp. 22-23, Harry, The Accidental Abduction
Leannah Wakefield is doing all she can for her family. Her father's weakness and need to speculate away all their money and anyone else's has left them near destitute and pariahs in society. Leannah is now a year widowed after a five year marriage and she has tried to cobble the family finances together long enough for her sister to make a good match and her brother to come of age, but they won't last a few more weeks let alone years before Jeremy comes of age. There is nothing for, but that she accept the hand of a man that gives her the shivers. On that thought, she discovers that Genevieve didn't give up on the attachment to Mr. Dickenson, but has run off. Leannah races out to rescue her sister and will put her carriage horses through the paces to do it. Somehow, along the way, she has acquired an unwelcome passenger. Is he a drunk or just crazy?
Harry soon learns that Leannah is out to stop her sister from a disastrous runaway marriage. Leannah's spirited driving, determination and beauty work powerfully on him. He can see that his aid during her time of need and something about him has attracted her to him too. Not long after a successful if unorthodox completion of the adventure, it is Harry and Leannah that say their vows in a roadside inn.
The passionate moments of coming together are the easy part now they must face their families, Leannah's Morehouse family reputation and Society. Oh, and some behind the scenes scheming. If they cannot rely on and trust in each other and what they have together, all the things against them will break them apart before they have the chance to express any growing, honest feelings for each other.
As one can see by the description, this one was off to the races from the beginning in some ways. They came together quickly and passionately, but then the rest of the book was spent delving into their pasts, their characters and their romance's development. Harry and Leannah take the starring roles of course and this is there story, but there is a huge cast of characters flitting through this one and tantalizing mysterious references to a dark moment for Harry and a seedy past for Leannah's family. Slowly this is all teased out. There are also side jaunts for the villains to make their moves.
I only had one niggle and it is probably a personal preference more than anything. I was not half pleased with all the page time devoted to both of them fantasizing. In general, I don't mind reading about a character fantasizing about what they will do or say with the other character, but I get bored when it carries on- and on. For the most part, this stuff ended about the time they got married so it’s not a huge portion of the book, but it dragged down the pace near the beginning in my opinion.
This book is also loosely connected to another book, Lord of the Rakes, by the author though I found no evidence that they are considered a series. Because of the connection, I would suggest that they be treated like a series anyway. Lord of the Rakes features a romance between two friends of Harry's and his sister Fiona. Also, Harry, Fi and there family group with acquaintances were introduced in the other book.
A word about the romance and the characters- it’s very spicy and these passionate people are honest in their need and unapologetic about the raw need. Things began fast, but in this case the author was able to carry the 'love (or lust) at first sight' plotting and it worked because of what came afterward. They aren't sweet or refined. Leannah and Harry are mannered people, but neither come from highborn backgrounds. Refreshingly, Harry's family is wealthy from trade and he still works. Leannah's family is untitled country gentry though her father's speculative habits have lost them even that. They have a tough uphill battle to prove they belong together and prove that Leannah isn't her father. I enjoyed the together against the world feel they had though it was sad to see when doubt reared its ugly head. It was realistic for it to do so and added that needed challenge to keep things from going stale.
In the end, I was pleased with the result of this story. I enjoy the author's writing. She uses humor, lusty bedroom scenes, gritty intrigue and colorful characters to tell a good story. If Ms. Wilde is listening, I would love Nathaniel Penrose and Meredith Langley to get a story too. I would recommend this to those that enjoy moderate spice and intrigue in their Historical Romances.
My thanks to Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this one in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2014
http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi
Leannah Wakefield is struggling to make ends meet and keeping meals on the table and a roof over her family’s heads. Taking care of her sick father and younger brother and sister. She is forced with the fact that she will have to marry the undesirable Mr. Valloy in order to take care of her family.
But when she gets word that her sister, Genevieve, has run off to elope she races after her at breakneck speed to stop the wedding! But along the way she picks up a stowaway, Harry Rayburn, and her life is never the same again.
I’ll be honest with you. I really struggled with this book, especially in the beginning! It had a very slow start that seemed to drag until eternity and overall was just plain boring. The book did pick up later on, but it was never as good as I had hoped it would have been.
Harry and Leannah were likable enough characters, although I think the cover models on this book are completely wrong, they look too young… especially the guy, who is also clean-shaven, something Harry never was! I like how Harry is willing to go up against anyone, even his friends and family, to defend his newfound bride. And, of course you can’t help, but like Leannah and how she’d do anything for her family.
I felt the most exciting part about this book, the ending, was cut a bit short. In just a few pages everything was tied up in a nice neat bow, and it seemed a bit sudden and rushed.
I really don’t know what to think about this book, and I’m not sure if I’d want to read any more from this author. I’m sure there are others out there that will love this book, but it just wasn’t for me.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi
Leannah Wakefield is struggling to make ends meet and keeping meals on the table and a roof over her family’s heads. Taking care of her sick father and younger brother and sister. She is forced with the fact that she will have to marry the undesirable Mr. Valloy in order to take care of her family.
But when she gets word that her sister, Genevieve, has run off to elope she races after her at breakneck speed to stop the wedding! But along the way she picks up a stowaway, Harry Rayburn, and her life is never the same again.
I’ll be honest with you. I really struggled with this book, especially in the beginning! It had a very slow start that seemed to drag until eternity and overall was just plain boring. The book did pick up later on, but it was never as good as I had hoped it would have been.
Harry and Leannah were likable enough characters, although I think the cover models on this book are completely wrong, they look too young… especially the guy, who is also clean-shaven, something Harry never was! I like how Harry is willing to go up against anyone, even his friends and family, to defend his newfound bride. And, of course you can’t help, but like Leannah and how she’d do anything for her family.
I felt the most exciting part about this book, the ending, was cut a bit short. In just a few pages everything was tied up in a nice neat bow, and it seemed a bit sudden and rushed.
I really don’t know what to think about this book, and I’m not sure if I’d want to read any more from this author. I’m sure there are others out there that will love this book, but it just wasn’t for me.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
September 4, 2014
Rosalie‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
5 STARS
Review copy provided for a honest review
A widow, Leannah Wakefield, travels crazily in the night on her team of horses to find her underage, younger sister Ginny who has been thought to have headed foolhardily, off to Gretna Green to elope in a marriage that need not occur. Intent to save her sister, on a crazy ride through the streets of London to catch Ginny, Leannah inadvertently performs an Accidental Abduction of a merchant, trying to be a hero, Harry Rayburn, who is oh so delectable…and images pop into Leannah’s head that no lady, ESPECIALLY a widow, should NOT be thinking about!
Both Leannah and Harry have secrets that haunt their past. Watching them battle their “inner demons” while sorting through their love, along with wonderful, on the edge of your seat plot twists (from the beginning of the book to the very end), makes Darcie Wilde’s The Accidental Abduction a book that will definitely be on my reread shelf!!
5 STARS
Review copy provided for a honest review
A widow, Leannah Wakefield, travels crazily in the night on her team of horses to find her underage, younger sister Ginny who has been thought to have headed foolhardily, off to Gretna Green to elope in a marriage that need not occur. Intent to save her sister, on a crazy ride through the streets of London to catch Ginny, Leannah inadvertently performs an Accidental Abduction of a merchant, trying to be a hero, Harry Rayburn, who is oh so delectable…and images pop into Leannah’s head that no lady, ESPECIALLY a widow, should NOT be thinking about!
Both Leannah and Harry have secrets that haunt their past. Watching them battle their “inner demons” while sorting through their love, along with wonderful, on the edge of your seat plot twists (from the beginning of the book to the very end), makes Darcie Wilde’s The Accidental Abduction a book that will definitely be on my reread shelf!!
July 4, 2020
There's such promise here, but the pacing undermined it at every turn and the ending is so abrupt that I couldn't believe I'd reached it. I'm not a fan of insta!love as a rule, but with Harry and Leannah, I could almost believe it. They meet under harrowing circumstances and in addition to mutual attraction, they feel a connection that elicits doubt, fear, and hope in more or less equal measure. Still, the elopement / inn section is a full third of the book when it could easily have been a fraction of that and done all the same work. Both characters have a lot to reckon with once they return to society and to be honest, I was far more interested in the toll of shame, doubt, and other people's expectations than their extremely active sex life, so I struggled not to skim. I don't take issue with sex and in one case in particular, I think the author used it effectively to advance the emotional arc.
Given that the characters manage to have a frank, intimate conversation all of three days into their marriage, however, I expected that they'd learn to "fight together" as they faced fresh conflicts. The obstacles become clear through evocative prose--doubts that build little by little on one another, long-standing beliefs (about themselves, their families), social friction. When Leannah points out they can't conduct their married life in a suite of rooms, it had all the necessary emotional heft, but should've happened earlier in the book. As it is, we never see the characters It's the culmination of a bizarre subplot with two jilted lovers and it more or less marks the end of the novel, as we're treated to an epilogue that briefly outlines the resolution(s) of each conflict without providing the audience with real satisfaction.
It was disappointing because I grew to love Harry and Leannah. They choose one another because they've each learned to distrust traditional courtship rituals for different reasons, and they find more in each other than they can expect to find elsewhere. Beyond that, both characters have a strong sense of duty that pulls them in different directions and they're flawed in ways that make sense. It was impossible for me not to root for them, and I empathized with their choices. I just wanted more from the book and I am curious enough about what more Darcie Wilde has done since that I'll check out her other work!
Given that the characters manage to have a frank, intimate conversation all of three days into their marriage, however, I expected that they'd learn to "fight together" as they faced fresh conflicts. The obstacles become clear through evocative prose--doubts that build little by little on one another, long-standing beliefs (about themselves, their families), social friction. When Leannah points out they can't conduct their married life in a suite of rooms, it had all the necessary emotional heft, but should've happened earlier in the book. As it is, we never see the characters It's the culmination of a bizarre subplot with two jilted lovers and it more or less marks the end of the novel, as we're treated to an epilogue that briefly outlines the resolution(s) of each conflict without providing the audience with real satisfaction.
It was disappointing because I grew to love Harry and Leannah. They choose one another because they've each learned to distrust traditional courtship rituals for different reasons, and they find more in each other than they can expect to find elsewhere. Beyond that, both characters have a strong sense of duty that pulls them in different directions and they're flawed in ways that make sense. It was impossible for me not to root for them, and I empathized with their choices. I just wanted more from the book and I am curious enough about what more Darcie Wilde has done since that I'll check out her other work!
June 12, 2019
It was eh. I got bored about halfway through. The couple had potential, but I felt like the author was telling me what to feel (or what the characters felt) rather than showing it. Also, I'm all for marriages of convenience, fake relationships, etc., but the motivation for this rushed marriage made me struggle to suspend disbelief.
November 1, 2024
I enjoy Darcie's writing. This is one of her early books where she got a bit carried away on the passion and forgot to stick with a plot. Once I found the plot and skimmed some of the passion I enjoyed the story.
June 2, 2017
Sexy times are plentiful, but don't overwhelm the actual story, which I thought was rather engaging.
April 22, 2021
DNF, promising start but then it was just too bad after that
February 14, 2023
This is a steamy historical romance. I would have rated it four stars, except the ending was anti-climatic.
December 9, 2023
chapters 1-19 were a strong 5/5. no notes. chapters 20-38 I could barely tolerate.
January 8, 2024
Set in London, twenty-eight year old Harold (Harry) Rayburn still had an engagement ring inside his pocket, when he is accidentally abducted by twenty-five year old widow Leannah Wadefield.
February 29, 2024
I was expecting a very gentle romance like Rosalind Thorne but no, this was a full of sex scenes. More obsession with bodies and passion than the story.
March 18, 2017
The aftermath of the hasty marriage is more realistic than some romances, but wow do things go downhill fast, with assumptions, accusations, and... stuff in the last few pages. Weird pacing indeed.
September 11, 2014
Darcie Wilde's sophomore romance, The Accidental Abduction takes readers on a wild ride. There were some ups and downs in the pacing, and a few errors in the customs and proprieties of the day, but this was still an enjoyable read. It is about two characters that marry quickly and then find out that perhaps they don't know that much about each other. What results is a story about family, love and duty. Readers will find the love story a little disjointed but very enjoyable!
Darcie Wilde's latest book, The Accidental Abduction is of course a historical romance. Being a history major, once upon a time, I tend to be a stickler when it comes to the book reflecting the research into the times and the customs of the day. Wilde did good in some areas, but suffered in others. When a couple wanted to get married in a hurry, whether it was because of pregnancy or they just didn't want to wait for their banns to be posted, they would often escape across the border into Scotland to be married. Wilde did a good job of describing the situation with Leannah's sister, Ginny and her need for going to Gretna Green. I liked the references to the practices of the day and thought Wilde was on track with that. However, she did use some language in this book that was not common in the day and there were other minor references to things I felt were out of place. Like I said, I'm a stickler and this sort of thing may not bother many readers.
Leannah and Harry meet very unexpectedly when Leannah picks up a drunk Harry while she is trying to save her sister from marrying the wrong man. It was obvious that these two characters were attracted from the first moment, however their romance becomes quite a whirlwind. The beginning of the book starts out a bit slow and is hard to warm up to, but after the main characters meet, they beat a frantic pace to the altar. I found that bit disconcerting, though I realize that hasty marriages happen even today. It made the pacing seem a bit disjointed. It just didn't read smoothly.
One of the things I did like about the story was the fact that everyone seemed so determined to under mind this marriage, yet they were unsuccessful. This is a story about two characters who have to learn about each other after the fact. It was a good concept and had a lot of potential. I liked that Wilde uses everything from family discord to villains to try to drive them apart and yet they survive. The couple was actually quite likable. I thought Leannah was self-sacrificing and Harry was devoted and willing to stand by her. Though the story does have it's problems it was still a good read and I think readers may be willing to overlook some of the issues because the characters are compelling.
Beyond the Book:
Marriage practices back in the day were very interesting and it's remarkable how many marriages took place in Gretna Green, Scotland. Take some time to do your own research into the topic and you'll be surprised at some of the other unique marriage rituals you might find.
Bottom Line:
I liked this book, despite the fact that it was a bit out of kilter. The pacing was off and there were a few discrepancies, but I loved the main couple and their story isn't unlike one that might happen today. Finding out your new husband can snore the roof off the house is the least of this couples worries. Wilde hasn't hit her stride yet, but she's headed in the right direction!
Darcie Wilde's latest book, The Accidental Abduction is of course a historical romance. Being a history major, once upon a time, I tend to be a stickler when it comes to the book reflecting the research into the times and the customs of the day. Wilde did good in some areas, but suffered in others. When a couple wanted to get married in a hurry, whether it was because of pregnancy or they just didn't want to wait for their banns to be posted, they would often escape across the border into Scotland to be married. Wilde did a good job of describing the situation with Leannah's sister, Ginny and her need for going to Gretna Green. I liked the references to the practices of the day and thought Wilde was on track with that. However, she did use some language in this book that was not common in the day and there were other minor references to things I felt were out of place. Like I said, I'm a stickler and this sort of thing may not bother many readers.
Leannah and Harry meet very unexpectedly when Leannah picks up a drunk Harry while she is trying to save her sister from marrying the wrong man. It was obvious that these two characters were attracted from the first moment, however their romance becomes quite a whirlwind. The beginning of the book starts out a bit slow and is hard to warm up to, but after the main characters meet, they beat a frantic pace to the altar. I found that bit disconcerting, though I realize that hasty marriages happen even today. It made the pacing seem a bit disjointed. It just didn't read smoothly.
One of the things I did like about the story was the fact that everyone seemed so determined to under mind this marriage, yet they were unsuccessful. This is a story about two characters who have to learn about each other after the fact. It was a good concept and had a lot of potential. I liked that Wilde uses everything from family discord to villains to try to drive them apart and yet they survive. The couple was actually quite likable. I thought Leannah was self-sacrificing and Harry was devoted and willing to stand by her. Though the story does have it's problems it was still a good read and I think readers may be willing to overlook some of the issues because the characters are compelling.
Beyond the Book:
Marriage practices back in the day were very interesting and it's remarkable how many marriages took place in Gretna Green, Scotland. Take some time to do your own research into the topic and you'll be surprised at some of the other unique marriage rituals you might find.
Bottom Line:
I liked this book, despite the fact that it was a bit out of kilter. The pacing was off and there were a few discrepancies, but I loved the main couple and their story isn't unlike one that might happen today. Finding out your new husband can snore the roof off the house is the least of this couples worries. Wilde hasn't hit her stride yet, but she's headed in the right direction!
September 11, 2014
Leannah is comforting her sickly father when she discovers that her sister has runaway to elope. She heads off after her and unwilling picks someone up along the way. Harry Rayburn was walking along when he almost gets trampled by horses and decides that the driver is out of control. He jumps into action, only to find that the woman driver isn’t in trouble at all. The two end up at an inn and end up being the couple that elopes. When they try to build a life together they have doubts about one another.
The Accidental Abduction is told in third person from Leannah and Harry’s POVs with a couple scenes from the villain, who plays a very minor and almost comical character. This story is about two people who don’t know one another, get married, and then figure things out. There is a high level of insecurity from both main characters that end up becoming the true villain more than any outside influence.
Harry asked a girl to marry him and she said no, and then discovers everyone believed that she wasn’t right for him to start with. He rushes to a woman’s aid and discovers that he can’t stop looking at her, that he wants and needs this woman. The next day they get married, and no I’m not kidding. It is a hard feat to make get two people to meet and the next day marry and make it believable. Not only does it work but it’s romantic, steamy, and fun. When Harry comes home with his new wife he discovers that his family believes she tricked him into it. As time and certain things happen he starts to believe it they might be right.
Leannah is just as insecure as her new spouse. She doesn’t know where his head is at, but she’s more worried about how he sees her. Does he see or understand her family’s financial secrets of ruin and shame? Will he end the marriage when he discovers it? This is where the novel went south for me. The start is good, but when they get back their problems are sluggish.
As I approached the end of the book, realizing I was almost at the last page, I became worried. Where is the end? Oh my god! This isn’t enough page time for an end. Having finished it, I still feel that way. All this time was spent building up angst and problems and the payoff didn’t really solve them for me. I wish I could say more about it, without giving it away.
The novel started out strong, but the middle became sluggish and carried out that way until the end. The romance here is steamy at first, but sizzles out as time goes by. I have too many questions left unanswered. The very end lacked clarity and left me wondering what happened. Regency novels can be hard on this reader, but it wasn’t the strict bounds of the ton that drove me to distraction. It was the story and the characters on their journey to…. Well as I’ve said before, I was left very confused.
- Elizabeth
The Accidental Abduction is told in third person from Leannah and Harry’s POVs with a couple scenes from the villain, who plays a very minor and almost comical character. This story is about two people who don’t know one another, get married, and then figure things out. There is a high level of insecurity from both main characters that end up becoming the true villain more than any outside influence.
Harry asked a girl to marry him and she said no, and then discovers everyone believed that she wasn’t right for him to start with. He rushes to a woman’s aid and discovers that he can’t stop looking at her, that he wants and needs this woman. The next day they get married, and no I’m not kidding. It is a hard feat to make get two people to meet and the next day marry and make it believable. Not only does it work but it’s romantic, steamy, and fun. When Harry comes home with his new wife he discovers that his family believes she tricked him into it. As time and certain things happen he starts to believe it they might be right.
Leannah is just as insecure as her new spouse. She doesn’t know where his head is at, but she’s more worried about how he sees her. Does he see or understand her family’s financial secrets of ruin and shame? Will he end the marriage when he discovers it? This is where the novel went south for me. The start is good, but when they get back their problems are sluggish.
As I approached the end of the book, realizing I was almost at the last page, I became worried. Where is the end? Oh my god! This isn’t enough page time for an end. Having finished it, I still feel that way. All this time was spent building up angst and problems and the payoff didn’t really solve them for me. I wish I could say more about it, without giving it away.
The novel started out strong, but the middle became sluggish and carried out that way until the end. The romance here is steamy at first, but sizzles out as time goes by. I have too many questions left unanswered. The very end lacked clarity and left me wondering what happened. Regency novels can be hard on this reader, but it wasn’t the strict bounds of the ton that drove me to distraction. It was the story and the characters on their journey to…. Well as I’ve said before, I was left very confused.
- Elizabeth
September 10, 2014
Leannah Wakefield and Harold Rayburn are the main characters in this story. The author did very little to develop these characters. Leannah was the self-sacrificing older sister that gave up her life to make sure her siblings could have a better life. Harry is the son of a merchantman and on the cusps of London society. He seemed to have a lot of anxiety and low self-esteem. I wouldn’t say that they were a match made in heaven. Neither of them was very interesting or compelling.
The storyline was incredibly weak. I think calling what happened an accidental abduction is a gross overstatement of what was portrayed in the book. There didn’t seem to be any chemistry or magic between Leannah and Harry. There were a few scenes where the temperature rose and genuine passion erupted between the two. Unfortunately as soon as it was over I went back to feeling like they were ships in the night. I just didn’t get the feeling that they clicked. The author brought in various family members and other characters that opposed their marriage. Most of this didn’t make sense because she didn’t flesh out exactly how they were going to break up the marriage or cause problems. It was hinted at but nothing ever came out of the dialogue so I kept wondering why she included it in the book. The last portion of the book made me roll my eyes. It was so trite and neat that I didn’t know whether to be glad it was over or upset because it was an insult to my intelligence.
I will say that I don’t like overly dramatic women and weak men. Both of these are found in this book. Even when Harry was trying to be strong he was listening to gossip and remembering an incident that really supposedly shaped him into the steady, boring man he was then. I didn’t like seeing modern words in a historical romance. The author even used the f-bomb and other terminology that wasn’t in keeping with the historical period of the novel. That was disconcerting because you went back and forth between historical and contemporary. I also felt like the conflict of Leannah and Harry’s dark secret was really exaggerated. I didn’t hate the book, but I definitely won’t be buying any of this author’s work.
Reviewed by Michelle for Cocktails and Books
The storyline was incredibly weak. I think calling what happened an accidental abduction is a gross overstatement of what was portrayed in the book. There didn’t seem to be any chemistry or magic between Leannah and Harry. There were a few scenes where the temperature rose and genuine passion erupted between the two. Unfortunately as soon as it was over I went back to feeling like they were ships in the night. I just didn’t get the feeling that they clicked. The author brought in various family members and other characters that opposed their marriage. Most of this didn’t make sense because she didn’t flesh out exactly how they were going to break up the marriage or cause problems. It was hinted at but nothing ever came out of the dialogue so I kept wondering why she included it in the book. The last portion of the book made me roll my eyes. It was so trite and neat that I didn’t know whether to be glad it was over or upset because it was an insult to my intelligence.
I will say that I don’t like overly dramatic women and weak men. Both of these are found in this book. Even when Harry was trying to be strong he was listening to gossip and remembering an incident that really supposedly shaped him into the steady, boring man he was then. I didn’t like seeing modern words in a historical romance. The author even used the f-bomb and other terminology that wasn’t in keeping with the historical period of the novel. That was disconcerting because you went back and forth between historical and contemporary. I also felt like the conflict of Leannah and Harry’s dark secret was really exaggerated. I didn’t hate the book, but I definitely won’t be buying any of this author’s work.
Reviewed by Michelle for Cocktails and Books
September 26, 2014
3.5 Stars
This book is an intriguing story, a surprise ride across the countryside that brings together two engaging people.
Harry Rayborn is a merchant’s son, although very wealthy he knows when dealing with London society his station in life does not always give him what he wants. He gets shot down with humility when a young woman he believes he wants to marry turns him down. He drowns his sorrows at the local club and when he exits the building he sees a runaway carriage. He jumps on to help only to find that the woman is doing it on purpose, deftly handling a team of spirited horses on a mission to stop her sister from getting married. To his delight he settles in for the adventure.
Leannah Wakefield is a widow and is determined to stop her sister from making a big mistake. Genevieve is headed toward Scotland to wed Anthony Dickenson; a man she believes would be a find husband despite what Leannah thinks. Harry is all too happy to help but knows that scandal awaits her family back in London, so Harry and Leannah wed instead.
I like the premise of this book, the start out fast as Leannah drives her wild horses through the streets of London and quickly slows down when they reach the Inn. We watch the relationship grow while they stay at the Inn, deal with her sister and make some rash decisions.
I like Leannah, she has kept her family together through several years of downfall, she was married young to a much older man to help and now she is trying to keep her sister from making the same mistake. She finds her future dismal as she realizes she must marry again to keep her family together, but her prospects are bleak.
Complete review at: Ramblings from a Chaotic Mind
Copy from publisher for an honest review
This book is an intriguing story, a surprise ride across the countryside that brings together two engaging people.
Harry Rayborn is a merchant’s son, although very wealthy he knows when dealing with London society his station in life does not always give him what he wants. He gets shot down with humility when a young woman he believes he wants to marry turns him down. He drowns his sorrows at the local club and when he exits the building he sees a runaway carriage. He jumps on to help only to find that the woman is doing it on purpose, deftly handling a team of spirited horses on a mission to stop her sister from getting married. To his delight he settles in for the adventure.
Leannah Wakefield is a widow and is determined to stop her sister from making a big mistake. Genevieve is headed toward Scotland to wed Anthony Dickenson; a man she believes would be a find husband despite what Leannah thinks. Harry is all too happy to help but knows that scandal awaits her family back in London, so Harry and Leannah wed instead.
I like the premise of this book, the start out fast as Leannah drives her wild horses through the streets of London and quickly slows down when they reach the Inn. We watch the relationship grow while they stay at the Inn, deal with her sister and make some rash decisions.
I like Leannah, she has kept her family together through several years of downfall, she was married young to a much older man to help and now she is trying to keep her sister from making the same mistake. She finds her future dismal as she realizes she must marry again to keep her family together, but her prospects are bleak.
Complete review at: Ramblings from a Chaotic Mind
Copy from publisher for an honest review
April 3, 2015
I received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley.
The Accidental Abduction was a nice story, a bit slow paced with equally slow build up but its a story that can be read over a day while you're cuddled up on the couch. Leannah and Harry aren't quite right for eachother but they're thrown into a marriage so that she can save her sick family that she cares for. I can sympathize with someone that is thrown in crazy situations because of those same issues so I could relate to the stresses of what Leannah was going through and I liked the strength and the sexiness of Harry - who in no way resembles the male model on the cover (a guy that looks like he's sixteen same as the female model) but don't let it fool you, it is for adults. The love scenes aren't overly steamy and there isn't much excitement but its a nice easy paced read when you're having a lazy day.
The Accidental Abduction was a nice story, a bit slow paced with equally slow build up but its a story that can be read over a day while you're cuddled up on the couch. Leannah and Harry aren't quite right for eachother but they're thrown into a marriage so that she can save her sick family that she cares for. I can sympathize with someone that is thrown in crazy situations because of those same issues so I could relate to the stresses of what Leannah was going through and I liked the strength and the sexiness of Harry - who in no way resembles the male model on the cover (a guy that looks like he's sixteen same as the female model) but don't let it fool you, it is for adults. The love scenes aren't overly steamy and there isn't much excitement but its a nice easy paced read when you're having a lazy day.
July 16, 2016
New to me author Darcie Wilde delivers a very sexy historical read. Harry is broken hearted when his proposal is turned down. So much so that he is quite surprised when he ends up the passenger in a runaway carriage. Except the carriage is not a runaway, it's being expertly driven by Leannah as she rushes to save her sister from an elopement. On the journey to Gretna, Harry and Leannah are forced to deal with poor weather and are surprised around every corner. And what starts as an impulse to save her sister's reputation, Leannah is all in when it comes to a chance at happiness. Even after everyone questions their judgement Harry and Leannah stick together and fight for a romance neither expected. Fun, sexy read!
July 17, 2015
I REALLY wanted to like this book, but just couldn't get into it. I wanted to read a book where some duke or earl or something wasn't the hero. I really wanted to read something about regular folks. This could have been a really good book, but -- the plot just never seemed to get together and the ending was very abrupt and strange. I'm really strange in that I have to finish something once I've started it, so I had to start another book (which I've really enjoyed)in order to finish this one. I made myself read a chapter or two of this book before I'd allow myself to head off into the other book. Sorry -- I just couldn't recommend it. Others may like it, but I did not.
June 28, 2015
This is the second book I've read by this author, and I've enjoyed them both. Really liked the characters of Harry and Leannah in this one. I did feel the ending was a bit rushed after the build up, but not so much that it ruined the book.
If you enjoy quirky period romance with interesting characters, a touch of humor, steamy bedroom scenes, and a story that may initially seem run of the mill but turns out to have a fresh take, then you will like this author's work. Her first two books were enjoyable enough that I intend to read her future work.
If you enjoy quirky period romance with interesting characters, a touch of humor, steamy bedroom scenes, and a story that may initially seem run of the mill but turns out to have a fresh take, then you will like this author's work. Her first two books were enjoyable enough that I intend to read her future work.
September 22, 2014
I really liked it. the whole wild ride to the Inn, and catching up with her sister, and Harry going along for the ride, and Leannah's attraction to him it was all so sweet. Really steamy scene in the ccourtyard of the inn. So they are all wedded and bedded by half way thru.So as I was reading it was obvious the families would have issues with a quick wedding, especially when the two didn't know each other before the trip. But as I kept reading, I could tell that each side had something more that wasn't being revealed yet. Quite a tangled web woven, until almost the very end.
September 5, 2014
Leannah Wakefield is a widow responsible for her sick father and younger sister and brother. When her sister elope to Gretna Green, Leanna travels in the night to stop her sister. On a crazy ride through the streets of London she picks up a stowaway Harry Rayburn, who is drunk after having his proposal rejected by Miss Agnes. The characters of the story are likable but I had a hard time to get into the story in the beginning.
September 15, 2014
This was a fun spunky story that is a parade of horribles. Like in true historical romance fashion, the hero and heroine do not like each other at the beginning and there is a lot of mistrust between them. But they have a physical attraction that can't be denied. Pure enjoyable escapism! I received this book as a Goodreads First Read. Thank you!
August 18, 2016
I was bamboozled by the first four chapters because it was the sample from Barnes & Noble. I thought it was interesting and I wanted to know what happened next.
*shakes fist at sky*
It's so melodramatic and overwrought and I have no bloody idea at the actual conflict or who the bad guys were. I'm sure others will love this. I'm gonna go wish to turn back time and not buy this book.
*shakes fist at sky*
It's so melodramatic and overwrought and I have no bloody idea at the actual conflict or who the bad guys were. I'm sure others will love this. I'm gonna go wish to turn back time and not buy this book.
November 11, 2014
3.5 stars, so rounding up. I did not read first book in series but might take a look at future books by this author whose writing is promising. Along with other reviewers, I find the sudden HEA ending is indicative of more and more books in this genre.
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September 1, 20142 Star
I had a hard time getting into this one ...
I had a hard time getting into this one ...
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