A Wicked Gentleman

Cavendish Square #1

by Jane Feather

Bestselling author Jane Feather brings to life the glamour, sophistication, and intrigue of Regency-era London in this captivating novel of unexpected passions and dangerous secrets.

Pooling their meager resources, Lady Cornelia Dagenham, her sister-in-law Aurelia, and their friend Liv Lacey arrive in London's Cavendish Square to spend a month at the home Liv has just inherited. But why anyone would show a fervent interest in purchasing the rundown property -- particularly the arrogant Viscount Bonham, who clearly could afford the finest of homes -- is a puzzle to Cornelia. His charms are undeniable, though -- and Cornelia finds her resistance to this mysterious stranger falling away...as a sparking passion clouds her view.

But their affair may place her and her friends in danger as Harry Bonham sweeps her into the sparkling whirl of high society. Leading a double life as a code breaker for the Crown, Harry is a man of many secrets. Is it Cornelia whom he truly desires, or something hidden in the house on Cavendish Square?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Fiction, Fiction, British Literature

474 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 20, 2007

About the author

Jane Feather (born Jane Robotham) is a popular British–American writer of historical romance novels. In 1984 she wrote five contemporary romances under the pseudonym Claudia Bishop. She is a New York Times-bestselling, award–winning writer, and has more than ten million romance novels in print.

Reviews

[Amarilli 73 · Rating 4 out of 5]

La viscontessa era troppo composta e sicura di sé e aveva avuto l'idea di unire un po' di vendetta all'affare di stato di cui doveva occuparsi.
Voleva rompere quella compostezza, obbligarla a riconoscere la propria sensualità.
Forse aveva avuto successo, ma si era intrappolato nella sua stessa tela di ragno.

Ecco un bel romanzone di circa 350 pagine in cui l'autrice è riuscita a confezionare una storia curata come ambientazione e personaggi, riuscendo a renderla sia divertente sia molto romantica.
Direi che si presenta perfetta per introdurre una nuova serie e incuriosire sino a leggerla tutta.

Le protagoniste sono tre e non tradizionali: bando alle solite noiose debuttanti, qui troviamo ben due vedove trentenni e una loro amica, non proprio giovanissima ma ancora nubile.
Tutte si trovano confinate in campagna, "protette" e quindi tenute al guinzaglio dalla (anche qui) solita schiera di parenti maschi, che le vorrebbero mantenere nel ruolo ormai cristallizzato di donne devote e dedite a crescere i figli o a badare ai familiari quando invecchieranno.
E la ragione di tanto potere è sempre lo stesso, anche se sono passati due secoli - consentitemi - non è cambiato quasi niente: i soldi.
Finché non hai indipendenza economica, finché devi sempre chiedere a un uomo di concerti un soldo dal suo borsellino, anche solo per respirare, non potrai mai essere libera, sceglierti una vita, avere una minima possibilità per realizzare qualche sogno (anche se ciò non implica essere per questo egoiste o voler abbandonare bambini o responsabilità).

Così quando, a fronte dell'arrivo di un'aspettata fortuna da parte di una lontana parente misteriosa, Liv ottiene la proprietà di una casa in un esclusivo quartiere di Londra, tutte partono con bambini e bambinaia per conquistare la città. Ovviamente, le nostre tre cenerentole scopriranno una dimora stravagante ma quasi in rovina, con tre anziani domestici barricati dentro, dove tutto è polveroso e persino la carrozza assomiglia a una grossa tazza da tè.
Urge una specie di fata turchina, che però si palesa sotto forma di un arrogante visconte, a sua volta in missione, e che potrebbe avere il suo tornaconto ad aiutare le tre.

Un romanzo convincente, dove i vari personaggi minori (dai domestici ai bambini alle prozie impossibili) hanno il loro ruolo, e dove la coppia principale (Harry e Cornelia) sono anticonvenzionali come il resto: entrambi vedovi, entrambi visconti, con una reputazione pubblica da preservare ma ancora tanta voglia di innamorarsi una seconda volta.
Adesso mancano le due amiche da sistemare, per cui leggerò senza dubbio gli altri libri della trilogia.

[Susan (the other Susan) · Rating 2 out of 5]

He's not very wicked, and there are no surprises.

[herdys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another read I found in my grandpa's library and while it wasn't that great, I'll give the author another try since her ladies were great and I love when they work together and love and help each other.

[Eliza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, here's the thing. I normally quite like Jane Feather's work - she's not my favourite by a long shot, but her heroines are usually engaging and her heroes always walk the fine line between alpha male and douchebag without crossing it, which I approve of. This novel was no different. Except, of course, for the fact that I never really got interested in the heroine, who was at times that kiss of death for any good romance heroine, Too Stupid To Live. My other main problem with the book was that the plot device that perpetuated the entire meeting was - brace yourselves - a thimble. Pretty damn lame. And when the hero finally comes out with it that he knows about what the villain wants, etc. etc., the heroine gets mad at him for it! Like he could have come to her the first day and said, "Terribly sorry, ma'am, but might you have found my mysteriously engraved thimble anywhere during your perusal of this newly inherited mansion?" The spy stuff got really old, really fast. Which is sad, because normally it doesn't for me, but I'm thinking in the future Jane Feather should stick to non-spy romantic intrigues. Not a bad romance altogether, but just not my favourite of the author's, and mostly not at all my cup of tea.

[Gwen (The Gwendolyn Reading Method) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still a really well-written historical romance book. Jane's characters are engaging and the writing sucks you in. It doesn't get upgraded to 5 stars and in fact gets downgraded to three stars because there're some glaring red flag problems jumping out at me on this second read. 1) Guy you just met breaks into your house and you let him convince you to have sex with him? 2) He ends up kidnapping you to convince you to love him 3) there seems to be NO impetus for WHY she changes her mind. Nothing changes. Except that he kidnaps her. It didn't make sense.

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read many books by Jane Feather and have either loved or liked all of them. This book begins the Cavendish Square trilogy. It's a funny love story with spies thrown in. I think the 3 female characters are well written and I'm looking forward to the next books in this series.

I highly recommend Jane Feather and her books.

[Jenni · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sad to say, this was a snoozer...

This was my first Jane Feather book and I was reminded of something very important... check reviews before just picking up a book!

I liked that this was the first in a new series, but more importantly, I really liked what I read on the back of the book! The story sounded fun and exciting and ...well, it wasn't. To be honest, there is nothing that even stood out to me as memorable. Not a scene, not a character ...although the thimble made me think of my grandmother because she had a collection. But that's it! And the secondary characters seemed to be everywhere, cluttering up any hint of a storyline. And just where was the "wicked" gentleman? It couldn't have been the hero because he was positively lackluster and boring. And for being a codebreaker for the crown, he wasn't all that intelligent either. This book was just a disappointment. The story was really, really slow and never picked up any speed at all since it was predictable the whole way through.

Its unfortunate because I think Feather's writing has the potential to tell great stories. After reading reviews for some of her other books, I may try her again sometime, but with so many books and so little time, you won't see me running to buy her titles any time soon.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Cornelia Dagenham, a widow, takes up residence in London with her sister-in-law and a friend who’s inherited a house there. They mean to fix up the place and then join the Season. With the house in a ramshackle condition, it puzzles them as to why Viscount Harry Bonham makes an offer to buy the place. Harry has an ulterior motive. He works for the British government and needs to retrieve an encoded object a spy has hidden there. But the ladies present a formidable obstacle, especially Nell. His attraction to Lady Cornelia proves as much a danger as exposure of his secret identity. This sensual story will keep your interest as the stakes rise and the ending becomes a gripping page-turner.

[Lynne Tull · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am still stuck in the Regency Period of England. This is a good story that about covers everything Regency. However, we weren't graced with an appearance of the Prince Regent. This group didn't run with the Royals. The only thing that I didn't like about this story was that it was based on a secret. The secret could have been kept secret and our hero wouldn't have had to go to such extremes to get what he needed. Of course, then there probably wouldn't have been much of a story. This was the quickest 'happily ever after' ending. I thought they were going to have to end it in the next book of the trilogy. Recommend.

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Setting: Regency England
I couldn't even finish this novel because it was so boring and disgusting. The plot started out promising: a group of three young ladies from the country (two widows and a spinster) and their children arrive in London to check out one of the lady's new inheritance - a ramshackle house in the middle of London's finest property district. The ladies are really just hoping for a fun vacation in the city, and aren't really interested in mixing into society. However shortly upon arriving they find themselves the unwitting host to a series of visits from the mysterious and handsome Lord Bonham, who has taken a suspicious interest in purchasing their home. Because Jane Feather couldn't stand the possibility of there being AN ACTUAL MYSTERY in this novel, we the audience already know quite well why Lord Bonham keeps calling upon the three "country bumpkins" - he is a spy for the English, and a secret THIMBLE has been hidden in the ladies' house which contains - get this - secret coded engravings of interest to Napoleon and those "Russkies". Um, sure, Ms. Feather. Lord Bonham's genius plan to enter the ladies' home? Through their knickers, that's how! He quickly singles out the most condescending of the three ladies - one of the widows - and after fighting the veiled sexual tension (so veiled, in fact, you might mistake it for being absent) we the audience are treated to the most wildly improbable and disgusting sex I've EVER read in a romance novel (and that's saying something). The novel progresses as the naive and vice-ridden younger brother-in-law of our heroine becomes bait for French spies also trying to reach the almighty thimble, and we're supposed to care (I'm assuming) whether or not the little twirp lives or dies. We don't. Not really.
Unfortunately I had to put the book down because it was making me nauseated, and since we all knew how it was going to end anyhow it just wasn't worth the read. Next time, Ms. Feather, that you're tempted to write a Regency era spy novel, perhaps make it an actual mystery instead of a lengthy description of the painfully obvious. And next time you write a sex scene for a mass audience, Ms. Feather, consider that the majority of us would prefer it be sexy and not liable to make us see our breakfast again.
But lucky for us it's the first in a trilogy! Maybe it gets better! I might peruse the next one in the series, because I think I like the other two ladies more than the heroine of this novel. In particular I'd like to hear the spinster's tale, as long as it doesn't involved S&M.

[Tori · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book took very long to read. It had no gripper plot. It was a shame to because it started out so good and could have been excellent if the plot did not fizzle out mid -book. The characters also need a lot of polish, you don't quite get the indepth feeling you get from Dodd's or Robert's books. I would not suggest this as a good read.

[Rainelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit hard for me to get into in the beginning, but as I continued reading, it picked up speed. Bonham, was my favorite character. My second favorite character is the butler Morecombe. The dogs I believe are Chihuahuas. There could have be more details and drama with the mystery, but maybe the author will provide more excitement in the next book.

[Paxnirvana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. Not good.

The Hero was too stupid to be a spymaster and too lame in his wooing to be interesting as a romance hero. Heroine? Was there one? *blinks* She was eminently forgettable.

Not to mention... TOO MANY SUPPORTING CHARACTERS. Very cluttered and unfocused book.

[vorbore · Rating 2 out of 5]

As I said, I would like if there would have been more Regency in this book. Also, the characters were a bit shallow, not very engaging, and although we were constantly warned about the sparks and the tension, I am sorry, but I could not feel any of it. Gotta find a real Regency novel...

[May Mostly Romance · Rating 2 out of 5]

เพื่อนคนหนึ่งของแม็กซ์เคยพูดกะแม็กซ์ไว้ว่า การอ่านงานของเจน เฟธเธอร์เหมือนกับการเล่นหวย เพราะคุณไม่รู้หรอกว่าจะออกมาเป็นยังไง และยังมีโอกาสสูงอีกต่างหากที่จะถูกกิน แต่ถ้าวันใดดวงดีคุณก็จะถูกรางวัลใหญ่ทีเดียว

แม็กซ์อ่านงานของเจนมาเยอะค่ะ อาจไม่ครบทุกเล่ม และเห็นด้วยกับคำพูดของเพื่อนอย่างมาก เพราะเมื่อดี เธอดีใจหาย อย่างงานเรื่อง Velvet, Vice, Virtue งี้ แค่คิดก็อยากจะกลับไปอ่านอีกสักรอบแล้ว แต่เมื่อมันแย่ มันโคตรจะเป็นฝันร้าย อย่างเรื่อง Heart's Folly ที่อ่านแล้วช็อคจนตัวชา ไม่เชื่อว่าคนแต่งจะแต่งหนังสือยั่งงี้ได้ หรือเรื่อง Kissed by Shadow ที่มีพระเอกที่ชั่วบัดซบมากที่สุดเล่มหนึ่ง คนที่แม้แต่พวกนิยมคนเลว (ในนิยาย) อย่างแม็กซ์ยังทำใจไม่ได้

และแล้วบางอย่างก็เกิดขึ้นกะเจน เพราะงานในระยะสามสี่ปีหลังมานี้มันราบเรียบเสียจนแม็กซ์ถวิลหาดร.เจนและมิส ไฮด์คนเก่ากลับมา ร้องเพลงว่า "เธออยู่ไหน" ด้วยน้ำเสียงเอ้ยเจื้อ เพราะแม้จะเสี่ยงกะความเลวร้าย แต่ก็ยังมีโอกาสที่จะเจอเพชรได้ เจ้าความราบเรียบนี่มันไม่มีโอกาสลุ้นเลยล่ะ

แล้วข่าวการย้ายสำนักพิมพ์ของเจนก็มาถึง แม็กซ์คิดว่านั่นอาจจะเป็นประกายไฟเล็ก ๆ ที่มีสิทธิปลุกเธอให้ตื่นจากการนอนหลับ

และ "สุภาพบุรุษเจ้าเล่ห์คนหนึ่ง" หรือ A Wicked Gentleman ก็ทำได้แค่ขยับตัว มันไม่ถึงกับราบเรียบเหมือนเรื่องก่อนหน้านี้ของเธอ แต่ก็ไม่ถึงกับน่าตื่นเต้น อย่างน้อยก็เป็นความหวังเพราะมีสัญญาณ แม้จะเล็กน้อยมากว่า เธออาจจะกลับมาแล้ว

ข้อเสียของหนังสือเล่มนี้คือมันยาวเกินความจำเป็น จนอ่านไปง่วงนอนมาก หลายฉากโผล่มาอย่างไม่มีจุดหมาย แม็กซ์โทษว่าเป็นความผิดของเอดิเตอร์ค่ะที่ไม่กล้าตัดหนังสือให้สั้นลง ถ้าเรื่องนี้สั้นกว่านี้ ก็คงน่าสนใจมากขึ้น เรื่องราวของสายลับที่ทำทุกวิถีทางเพื่อให้เข้าไปในบ้านของนางเอกให้ได้ เพราะมีความลับบางอย่างอยู่ที่นั่น เรื่องคงน่าตื่นเต้นมากขึ้น

สัญญาณเล็ก ๆ ที่แม็กซ์คิดว่าเจนอาจจะกลับมาน่าสนใจได้อีกครั้งหนึ่งก็คงเป็นความสัมพันธ์ ระหว่างพระเอกกะนางเอกที่เราคิดว่าเขียนได้ดี และน่าสนใจ แต่นั่นก็ยังไม่มากพอจะทำให้แม็กซ์รู้สึกตื่นเต้นอยากอ่านไปกลับหนังสือเล่ม ถัดไปในชุด

คิดถึงเจนคนที่เขียนเรื่อง Virtue ค่ะ ไม่รู้ว่าตอนนี้เธออยู่ไหนแล้วนี่

[Katherine 黄爱芬 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harry aka Viscount Bonham butuh rumah warisan Livia krn berhubungan dgn tugasnya sbg ahli kode. Sayangnya si pemilik rumah, Livia tidak bersedia krn kearoganan Harry pada teman karibnya yg serumah, Lady Cornelia Dagenham.

Cornelia aka Nell ini seorang janda beranak yg punya masalah sehubungan dgn ayah mertuanya dlm memperebutkan hak asuh si pewaris. Nell tidak boleh menikah jika tidak ingin anaknya, Stevie diambil. Jadi saat Harry hanya menawarkan hubungan skandal, dgn diam-diam mendatangi Nell dgn memanjat jendela, Nell hanya bersedia seperti itu.

Ternyata Harry juga punya masa lalu tidak menyenangkan. Duda tanpa anak ini dituduh membunuh mendiang istrinya, padahal rumornya adalah kecelakaan. Harry juga tidak berniat mencelakakan Nell jika hubungan mereka diresmikan, itulah yg menyebabkan Harry bertingkah misterius dan menyebalkan terhadap Nell.

Tapi sejak penculikan Stevie, keadaan menjadi berubah drastis. Mampukah Harry mengatasi perasaannya pada Nell?

Novel author spt biasa bertele-tele dan cenderung membosankan. Chemistry-nya juga slow burner dan terkesan cuma tempelan. Tujuan awal Nell pergi ke London sudah pasti menjadi gajebo (gak jelas boooo). Pekerjaan Harry juga terlalu penuh misteri bagi saya, lagian bidal sbg alat menaruh informasi terlalu lebay bagi saya. Tapi lumayan-lah utk ukuran HR.

[Yunita Taman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pada awalnya sih novel ini terkesan datar dan banyak narasi. Mungkin setipe sama novelnya Stephannie Laurens minus cerita yang 'bertele-tele'. Pada pertengahannya, rasa penasaranku bangkit juga dan aku pun asyik mereka-reka seperti apa endingnya. Endingnya cukup manis, aku bahkan tidak memprediksinya. Tapi kembali ke masalah selera, kurasa ini bukan bacaan yang bisa disukai reader umumnya. Kalau terserah padaku sih, karena penceritaannya yang enak dibaca dan detail latar regency-nya yang cukup hidup, aku berikan 4*.

[Jeanne (love2cook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical romance novel with a little espionage included. Lady Cornelia Dagenham, her sister-in-law Aurelia and their friend Liv Lacey pool their resources, and move to London to spend a month at the home Liv has inherited. Viscount Bonham has offered to buy the property, but Liv has refused his offer. So who should be the first to arrive at their home, but Viscount Bonham. His charms are undeniable and Cornelia finds herself drawn to this mysterious stranger. Well written, with a good list of characters and a good pace to the story. A good read.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A pleasant read. Spy-themed HRs aren't my favourite, although they can be done well. The spy side of this one was OK, and did give some depth to the plot. Nell and Bonham were well-matched. It took some time, and some dramatic events, for them to accept that their relationship could have a future. Also, the friendship and loyalty between the three women protagonists was nice.

This author seems to have a sound grasp of the period and the mores of the times. Overall a decent read, and I will definitely try out the next book in the trilogy.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have read one previous Jane Feather book and loved it....loved this one just as much. Her characters are deep and delightful. Widows Cornelia and Aurelia and their cousin Livia come from the country to Livia's newly inherited house in Cavendish Square in London. What an adventure they have! This one is primarily Cornelia and Bonham's story. I am already reading Cavendish Square #2, Livia's story.

[marie fricchione · Rating 1 out of 5]

A Wicked Gentleman by Jane Feather

Feather is my number one favorite author. Having said that ... this book is awful! Don’t bother! The only good part is at the end and even that is ridiculous. The hero is flaky and the heroine is dowdy! The plot is screwy and the tediousness is overwhelming.
I’m sorely disappointed in her Wicked series however I highly recommend her “V” series-all good!

[Souha Arous · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's an overall good read, i really liked the females characters and how they were represented, the ending though felt a bit rushed and it left me a bit empty...

I'm giving it 4 stars because historical romance is my cup of tea and i enjoyed the world created here by the author thoroughly so I'm a bit biased.

[Eduarda De Carli · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story was a little too long, everything could have been solved many page before it actually did, and honestly the characters started to annoy me, especially Harry. For a while it was entertaining, then I just wanted to finish it bc I was already halfway through.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun historical romance. I really liked the chemistry between Nell and Harry. The spy subplot and stupid cousin were really annoying. I found the book to be pretty uneven and I thought the confrontation and forgiveness at the end was kind of rushed, but I still enjoyed it.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The storyline was alright, nothing over exciting or boring. I liked the end, and I just wish characters had a bit more life, personality in them. Just a little bit more about them and how they think. I would grade it 3.5 but I really liked the end, so because of Harry's actions I give it a 4.

[Sabrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was ok - I will not be continuing with the series.

Honestly, Harry and his team must have been the most bumbling detectives, if they couldn't gain access to a house to retrieve a stolen item and had to concoct this ridiculous plan instead.

[Debbie Dodd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its was quite funny, mysterious, and a bit romantic. But also a bit erotic in some of the intense scenes of the book. Loved it

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Lorna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple romance. Nothing earth shattering. I did like the ladies though.