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Wicked Jake Darcy
Women called Jake Darcy mad, bad, and dangerous to know, but Mary Harland insisted rakes were a thing of the past... yet wondered if the stories could possibly be true. She felt too innocent to enchant such a wanton man, but when Jake swept her into his arms and onto the dance floor, she shivered in sensual delight as destiny joined them heart t... more »o heart! Jake was temptation in the flesh -- and she was powerless to resist the desire he aroused.
He promised she'd never escape his passionate obsession, but even Jake could not protect her from dark forces who plotted against them. When Mary disappeared without a trace, Jake mourned his only love for three long years -- but when fate reunited them, he was truly devastated. Desperate to recover what their enemy had stolen from her. Mary had to betray the man who'd opened her to love. But when she had to choose between her freedom and Jake, would she be left with only a glittering memory?
He promised she'd never escape his passionate obsession, but even Jake could not protect her from dark forces who plotted against them. When Mary disappeared without a trace, Jake mourned his only love for three long years -- but when fate reunited them, he was truly devastated. Desperate to recover what their enemy had stolen from her. Mary had to betray the man who'd opened her to love. But when she had to choose between her freedom and Jake, would she be left with only a glittering memory?
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1989
About the author
Iris Johansen
238 books7,463 followersIris Johansen is a New York Times bestselling author. She began her writing after her children left home for college. She first achieved success in the early 1980s writing category romances. In 1991, Johansen began writing suspense historical romance novels, starting with the publication of The Wind Dancer. In 1996 Johansen switched genres, turning to crime fiction, with which she has had great success.
She lives in Georgia and is married. Her son, Roy Johansen, is an Edgar Award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Her daughter, Tamara, serves as her research assistant.
IRIS JOHANSEN is The New York Times bestselling author of Night and Day, Hide Away, Shadow Play, Your Next Breath, The Perfect Witness, Live to See Tomorrow, Silencing Eve, Hunting Eve, Taking Eve, Sleep No More, What Doesn't Kill You, Bonnie, Quinn, Eve, Chasing The Night, Eight Days to Live, Blood Game, Deadlock, Dark Summer, Pandora's Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On The Run, and more. And with her son, Roy Johansen, she has coauthored Night Watch, The Naked Eye, Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle, and Silent Thunder.
http://www.irisjohansen.com
She lives in Georgia and is married. Her son, Roy Johansen, is an Edgar Award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Her daughter, Tamara, serves as her research assistant.
IRIS JOHANSEN is The New York Times bestselling author of Night and Day, Hide Away, Shadow Play, Your Next Breath, The Perfect Witness, Live to See Tomorrow, Silencing Eve, Hunting Eve, Taking Eve, Sleep No More, What Doesn't Kill You, Bonnie, Quinn, Eve, Chasing The Night, Eight Days to Live, Blood Game, Deadlock, Dark Summer, Pandora's Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On The Run, and more. And with her son, Roy Johansen, she has coauthored Night Watch, The Naked Eye, Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle, and Silent Thunder.
http://www.irisjohansen.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 8, 2022
Aww, Jake isn’t wicked he is just misunderstood. So, yes, Jake plays a little loose with the law but it is in a Robin Hood sort of way which makes him a good guy.
This romance is not my usual. I tend to shy away from my romance mixed with intrigue. Pallal(another character) is an evil man in the country of Said Ababa(African country I am assuming). He is the cause of issues between our two lovers, although he is not the “other man”. There are no om’s or ow’s in this story.
The lust/love is instant between the H, Jake(32) and the h, Mary(19)(oh wow I never read heroines who are actually called Mary). I mean the H knows he is in love by the end of chapter 1 and by the end of chapter 2 his one night with the virgin h had 2 encores.
By chapter 3, 3 years have passed between the one night they shared. The reason for the 3 years is in the spoiler.
The 3 year absence was fraught with misinformation and severe mental distress to the h. She had a lot of healing to do. Wicked Jake, was intense with his feelings for the h. He comes across more strongly than the h in the feelings department, but that has a lot to do with the damage she suffered. Jake was patient and eventually they get their mojo back, however, the h was still hesitant to declare love or even commit to the H with her heart. It isn’t until the H’s life is in danger for a 2nd time that she realizes the true extent of her feelings, although in both instances she risked her own life to be with him.
I really liked the H in this book. He was an alpha, confident, intense, patient, sweet and yet he was a little quirky. He came on strong and wouldn’t let up. He could quote poetry and had a rough beginning in his life so he had to learn about life quickly. He calls the h “luv” and can tell some great stories. For some reason, he reminded me of a modern day pirate. I am pretty sure he can carry off a devilish grin and gleam in his eye.
This is my first book by this author. It appears she has written quite a lot of books and ventured out of the romance and focused more on the mystery/adventure.
This romance is not my usual. I tend to shy away from my romance mixed with intrigue. Pallal(another character) is an evil man in the country of Said Ababa(African country I am assuming). He is the cause of issues between our two lovers, although he is not the “other man”. There are no om’s or ow’s in this story.
The lust/love is instant between the H, Jake(32) and the h, Mary(19)(oh wow I never read heroines who are actually called Mary). I mean the H knows he is in love by the end of chapter 1 and by the end of chapter 2 his one night with the virgin h had 2 encores.
By chapter 3, 3 years have passed between the one night they shared. The reason for the 3 years is in the spoiler.
The 3 year absence was fraught with misinformation and severe mental distress to the h. She had a lot of healing to do. Wicked Jake, was intense with his feelings for the h. He comes across more strongly than the h in the feelings department, but that has a lot to do with the damage she suffered. Jake was patient and eventually they get their mojo back, however, the h was still hesitant to declare love or even commit to the H with her heart. It isn’t until the H’s life is in danger for a 2nd time that she realizes the true extent of her feelings, although in both instances she risked her own life to be with him.
I really liked the H in this book. He was an alpha, confident, intense, patient, sweet and yet he was a little quirky. He came on strong and wouldn’t let up. He could quote poetry and had a rough beginning in his life so he had to learn about life quickly. He calls the h “luv” and can tell some great stories. For some reason, he reminded me of a modern day pirate. I am pretty sure he can carry off a devilish grin and gleam in his eye.
This is my first book by this author. It appears she has written quite a lot of books and ventured out of the romance and focused more on the mystery/adventure.
April 22, 2022
He was too nice to be appropriately wicked!
September 16, 2017
"Wicked Jake Darcy" is the story of Jake and Mary.
When their eyes meet across a casino, two star crossed lovers fall instantly for each other in a blaze of passion so strong, its scorching. But she disappears the next morning..
Three years later, she unexpectedly shows up infront of his car- and thus begins their actual story.
This book has it all- insta love, hot sex, angst, kidnappings, murder, villians, secret mysterious reasons behind betrayals (which you can easily guess if you are a romance novella fan). The attaction between the couple is insane throughout the book.
After the heroine returns, I loved the way her character shaped and changed with her PTSD, and the hero was equally commendable for being alpha, yet not overbearing. Both have childhoods and experiences that shape them, and in a way they are perfect for each other. I also liked the scenes with Kallana and the
Commend IJ for writing strong H and h. That being said, the story went a little downhill for me with the drama in the second half. But still a good read.
Safe ??
3.5/5
When their eyes meet across a casino, two star crossed lovers fall instantly for each other in a blaze of passion so strong, its scorching. But she disappears the next morning..
Three years later, she unexpectedly shows up infront of his car- and thus begins their actual story.
This book has it all- insta love, hot sex, angst, kidnappings, murder, villians, secret mysterious reasons behind betrayals (which you can easily guess if you are a romance novella fan). The attaction between the couple is insane throughout the book.
After the heroine returns, I loved the way her character shaped and changed with her PTSD, and the hero was equally commendable for being alpha, yet not overbearing. Both have childhoods and experiences that shape them, and in a way they are perfect for each other. I also liked the scenes with Kallana and the
Commend IJ for writing strong H and h. That being said, the story went a little downhill for me with the drama in the second half. But still a good read.
Safe ??
3.5/5
September 13, 2016
This book must have been one of the earlier works by Iris because she has gotten so much better. The H's meet at a country club, have sex the same day and promise to be with each other always; unbeknownst to the h, her father had died at some point in the same afternoon and she then gets thrown in jail that same day. That was chapter 1.
Fast forward 3 years and the Hs reconnect in the most ridiculous of circumstances and it all went downhill from there. I couldn't connect with the main characters and that made the book tedious and less engaging. Zero stars from me.
Fast forward 3 years and the Hs reconnect in the most ridiculous of circumstances and it all went downhill from there. I couldn't connect with the main characters and that made the book tedious and less engaging. Zero stars from me.
January 13, 2012
Although, this was better than the other Loveswept of hers I read it still wasn't all that exciting. No other emotion but happiness that I was finally done. It was an intriguing story but it just seemed like not much happened once Mary and Jake met again until the end.
Even though there was a child we didn't really see much interaction with him. I was a bit disappointed. I always love books with babies and kids and was let down by this one.
Even though there was a child we didn't really see much interaction with him. I was a bit disappointed. I always love books with babies and kids and was let down by this one.
February 3, 2026
amazing book,i keep reading it every time. It is and stays one of the best books ever.
February 13, 2015
Ein anderer Mr. Darcy
Als die 18-jährige Mary Harland den Selfmade-Man Jake Darcy kennenlernt ist sie völlig hingerissen. Gerade erst von der Schule in Amerika zurück, möchte sich Mary eigentlich wohltätigen Organisationen widmen. An Liebe hat sie nicht gedacht. Jake geht es da nicht viel anders. Er will viel Geld machen, um seine unklare Herkunft zu vergessen. Und Frauen sind ja auch nicht zu verachten. Die junge unschuldige Mary passt so gar nicht in sein Leben. Oder sollte sie die eine sein. Schon am Abend ihrer ersten Begegnung geschieht, was so manchmal geschehen muss.
Liebe auf den ersten Blick, kann das gut gehen? Mary und Jake müssen jedenfalls eine Menge teilweise gefährlicher Abenteuer bestehen ehe sie ein Antwort auf die Frage erhalten. Drei Jahre vergehen allein nach ihrem ersten Treffen bevor ihnen ein Wiedersehen vergönnt ist. Eine lange Zeit, in der Mary sich doch sehr stark verändert hat. Unterhaltsam doch manchmal etwas sprunghaft verläuft die Geschichte von Mary und Jake. Manche ihrer Gefühle, Handlungen und Beweggründe erschließen sich sofort, manche jedoch wirken etwas eigentümlich. Jake, der Filou, und Mary, die Unschuld, hin und wieder scheint es als müsse Jake sie überzeugen, dass er es ehrlich meint. Manchmal scheint es, als könne Mary ihm nicht glauben, als sei sie innerlich verhärtet. Nur manchmal gelingt es dabei den Leser zu überzeugen. Leider nimmt die Handlung einen nicht wirklich mit. Ein zartes Erblühen von Gefühlen da und dort steht doch mitunter hölzernen Aktionen gegenüber.
Gute Unterhaltung für die Mittagspause, aber leider nicht völlig überzeugend.
Als die 18-jährige Mary Harland den Selfmade-Man Jake Darcy kennenlernt ist sie völlig hingerissen. Gerade erst von der Schule in Amerika zurück, möchte sich Mary eigentlich wohltätigen Organisationen widmen. An Liebe hat sie nicht gedacht. Jake geht es da nicht viel anders. Er will viel Geld machen, um seine unklare Herkunft zu vergessen. Und Frauen sind ja auch nicht zu verachten. Die junge unschuldige Mary passt so gar nicht in sein Leben. Oder sollte sie die eine sein. Schon am Abend ihrer ersten Begegnung geschieht, was so manchmal geschehen muss.
Liebe auf den ersten Blick, kann das gut gehen? Mary und Jake müssen jedenfalls eine Menge teilweise gefährlicher Abenteuer bestehen ehe sie ein Antwort auf die Frage erhalten. Drei Jahre vergehen allein nach ihrem ersten Treffen bevor ihnen ein Wiedersehen vergönnt ist. Eine lange Zeit, in der Mary sich doch sehr stark verändert hat. Unterhaltsam doch manchmal etwas sprunghaft verläuft die Geschichte von Mary und Jake. Manche ihrer Gefühle, Handlungen und Beweggründe erschließen sich sofort, manche jedoch wirken etwas eigentümlich. Jake, der Filou, und Mary, die Unschuld, hin und wieder scheint es als müsse Jake sie überzeugen, dass er es ehrlich meint. Manchmal scheint es, als könne Mary ihm nicht glauben, als sei sie innerlich verhärtet. Nur manchmal gelingt es dabei den Leser zu überzeugen. Leider nimmt die Handlung einen nicht wirklich mit. Ein zartes Erblühen von Gefühlen da und dort steht doch mitunter hölzernen Aktionen gegenüber.
Gute Unterhaltung für die Mittagspause, aber leider nicht völlig überzeugend.
December 7, 2013
Extremely enjoyable. A mild thriller with romance attached. Certainly keeps you reading and enjoying the ride. Highly recommended.
October 13, 2014
Now this romance was more my style - romance with a bit of suspense, action and surprise. Another book by Johansen I can mark off my list.
August 23, 2016
Loveswept
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews