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Wicked Intentions

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doing something bad can feel so good...

Since the mysterious death of his brother Thomas Hyde, Viscount Varcourt has been as cold and distant with his family as he is with the world around him...

In aristocratic society, Esmeralda is well-known as a psychic. Moving amongst the elite, she keeps her true intentions hidden from all.

Esmeralda’s keen interest in his family evokes Thomas’ suspicion and scorn. But their first confrontation swiftly turns from a struggle for control to an erotic battle that neither can afford to lose.

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 2008

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About the author

Lydia Joyce

10 books32 followers
Lydia Joyce holds degrees in English and Spanish language from Purdue University, where she started in engineering before realizing there was a difference between being good at something and liking it. She lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband and son.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for daemyra, the realm's delight.
1,358 reviews37 followers
April 23, 2019
Just do yourself a favour and read this. If you are far from squeamish, and like a neo-BD plot set in a dark Victorian atmosphere, get your hands on a copy. 'Nuff said. I ordered the physical copy, but Signet needs to release Lydia Joyce's digital backlist on Kindle! The people have spoken.

The first few chapters are a glorious mess of Esmeralda throwing things at Theodore's head and Theodore chasing her until they come to a truce. Esmeralda, the so-called gypsy clairvoyant and speaker to the dead, is tasked to find out what Theodore's mother knows about the day Theodore's eldest brother and heir to the Viscount Varcourt title and estate died, or else risk being exposed by Theodore who knows enough about Esmeralda to know that she's not who she says she is.

How the plot unfurls is enjoyable - discovering Esmeralda's story for justice and the true killer of Theodore's brother. The steam was used up in the first chapters, and the middle and ending could have done with some more of the frenetic energy between the two leads. Again, those first few chapters. Spellbinding. I am still amazed.
Profile Image for Julie (jjmachshev).
1,069 reviews293 followers
December 27, 2008
"Wicked Intentions" is one of those books that kept me a bit confused and I spent most of the book trying to decide if I liked it or not! But I did keep reading so that must say something. Lydia Joyce's novels have a definite gothic feel to them. They are dark and brooding. I've read her earlier books and did enjoy them, yet this one has a very different 'vibe' for me. The hero and heroine (and I use those terms loosely here) were antagonists for most of the story. The sex...was sex, not lovemaking, up to the very end of the book. And the sex began on page 35 with a scene that was (to me anyway) uncomfortably close to unwilling on the heroine's part. But, as I said, I did keep reading and finish the book. This is just one that didn't click or sit well with me.

Esmeralda is a mysterious, veiled creature who uses the current fad for spiritualism to gain power in the ton. But power for what purpose and over whom? When she entangles Thomas' mother in her web, he confronts her and finds that even though he doesn't trust her, he does desire her. As Thomas and Esmeralda's schemes advance, so does their attraction for each other. But will one of them have to give up their plans for the other to succeed?

Gothic, noir, and brooding. With an ending that manages to wrap everything up in a nice, tidy package.
Profile Image for Caroline.
Author 3 books51 followers
July 28, 2020
It won't be everyone's cuppa, but oh my, it was mine! It's the bodice ripper with an imperfect hero, a not so perfect heroine, murder, mystery, forced seduction and true love.

What's better?
Profile Image for _inbetween_.
279 reviews62 followers
Read
March 12, 2009
Even after her previous novel, I had still defended Joyce, because she was one of the 2,5 living romance novelists who were actually good writers, with intelligence and feeling. But as I might have guessed from a comment on her blog, the new 3-book-deal not only means tie-ins and characters being re-used, her "rough sex" is now focussed on the female, and she writes that sickening rapist fantasy shite that seems to still make up much of the genre.

For me, that is more shocking than for most readers, not because of the anal rape - I'd have loved some arse fucking, esp. written by Joyce - but because of the sickening way it has to be repeatedly stated that it was the woman's wish, she had initiated it, the fear mixed with the lust made it all the more arousing - yes, compared to all other novels, it's not rough at all, not even non-con, but I don't read those other novels, I loathe them, so I spent all night composing mails to Joyce, trying to tell her, to ask her if she would continue - because I keep buying her maligned books and if she goes where the suddenly awful covers lead, to where all the other trilogy writers descend, then someone must stop me!

See, it's not just that the sex was so early on and that she consented to it to avoid worse and that she had to enjoy the thrill of it and all that crap about best orgasms also making him want her more than any other. It was that he penetrated her ass without ANY stretching. There was lube, and there was "push against me", good old Joyce, but the worst came after she passed out: he continued fucking her, but in her vagina! As if fucking a fainted woman - and fainting from lack of oxygen due to corsett is nasty and like all suffocating sex moments a nightmare for me - weren't bad enough, he pulls out of her ass, pulls on a sheath and fucks her vagina which is much looser than her ass which would already be looser in her faint - why the fuck would any man do that?! So yes, that is what most upset me, even more than the repeated times where he grabs her and there was tying up and fucking and then having her exposed to Edington but mostly he grabs her and grabs her.

Until he nearly ruins everything she worked for and even lost her virginity for, the plot was still good, tight and unusual as usual and revealed bit by bit like a proper novel should be; like Maggie's story (she appears in here of course) it is well researched, with tangible details. Both their fates being tied up and nearly destroyed by primogeniture would be a nice mirroring, if his small concessions to her and guilt about his behaviour weren't based solely on her looks. It is not "deliciously dark" or "filled with illuminating love" though, as "superbly written" and "intelligent" it is. Em says repeatedly he won't find answers or will find his idea of paradise there, but when that is followed by him doing it, all the refreshingly blunt and bitter talk from the heroines is worthless. To me at least.



ETA: I did it! I felt a bit better, but, even though it is polite and all, she never replied:

Hello Lydia/webmistress, I bought and read all of Lydia's novels and finally received and read Wicked Intentions yesterday. I've composed long letters all night and finally resolved to just ask you about one issue: Why would Thomas pull out of the nice tight anus of the fainted Em, put on a sheath and climax in her less tight - esp. now that she's unconscious - vagina? I'd be really happy to get an answer to that! Thank you, :)
Profile Image for Giaghazal.
38 reviews1 follower
April 9, 2014
This was a realistic and gothic kind of novel. It was a relief after so many flowery and moon-eyed kind of romances. H and h did't fall in love at the first sight, they grew to love each other and i really loved it about this novel. And off course the story was good and writing style is different.
Profile Image for Katie(babs).
1,879 reviews529 followers
May 21, 2009
Thomas Hyde, Viscount Varcourt, is still haunted by the death of his brother Harry after all these years. The ton blamed Thomas for the death, even though he had nothing to do with it. He was only a young boy then, and his older brother Harry was ‘special’; he had an incredible mind but could not function in society. He was shunned and kept in the nursery. The one day he was let out during a house party, he was found dead in a stream. Because Thomas left Harry by that stream to fend for himself, he feels incredible guilt. His mother, Lady Hamilton, barely makes it day to day because of the loss. She goes through life bereft, looking for a reason to live. She may have finally found the one person who can help her. Her name is Esmeralda, and she is the toast of the ton for she can speak with the dead and can help Lady Hamilton find peace.

Thomas knows Esmeralda is a con and he will find out why she has targeted his mother. He would love nothing more then to place his hands around her veiled covered face and squeeze the life out of her; but because he also lusts after her, he would also like to lie in between her thighs. She is an enigma and an enemy, a puzzle he will solve, even if he must plunder and force himself upon her to make her tell him all her secrets.

Esmeralda is indeed playing a game and a ruse in order to ruin her half-brother who denied her existence and what was rightfully hers. She will make him pay and then disappear forever. But her plans are ruined as Varcourt stalks her, wanting answers from her lying lips. She will use her body as payment for his silence. Varcourt will take Esmeralda’s body, willing or not, plus her promise to find out what happened to his brother the day he died. Esmeralda has no choice but to do what Varcourt wants because the man she wants revenge against may also be the one Varcourt is looking for.

WICKED INTENTIONS is a dark and disturbing gothic set in Regency England. This is a tale that has a great deal of violence in its pages, and I am not just talking about murder. The violence is what Varcourt does to Esmeralda. Because Varcourt has such seething anger towards Esmeralda, he brutally forces her to have sex with him. Some may have different interpretations of the first sex scene between these two, but from my standpoint, Varcourt forces himself into Esmeralda’s home, throws her on the bed, and after she taunts him, he roughly has sex with her. Yes, she makes her body respond, but his actions are of the worst kind. Not only does he do this once, but then he kidnaps Esmeralda, ties her to his bed, slaps her across the face because she hurls insults at him and then he has sex with her again. Esmeralda does respond to Varcourt, but only because if she didn’t, Varcourt would be the worst type of abuser, the type of hero we are so used to reading about years ago when they didn’t have a care for the heroine, other then to plunder her to his will. Varcourt does that here in great detail.

I wasn’t sure what Lydia was trying to accomplish with the underlying violence, both in words and actions between Varcourt and Esmeralda. These two didn’t have any chemistry that I could find appealing, and Varcourt’s opinion and actions against Esmeralda made for very uncomfortable reading. At least I could understand Esmeralda’s plans of revenge, and her own story was fascinating. But the moment she is forced to help Varcourt find his brother’s killer, I found that to be just too much. It seemed to me that the plot with Varcourt’s brother was added on to give the story more of a mystery, as well as to try and explain Varcourt’s motivations. Unfortunately, I lost all interest in Varcourt’s motivations the moment he forced himself into Esmeralda’s body and life.

Lydia Joyce can write some fabulous gothic historicals. WICKED INTENTIONS does have a gothic feel but it was lacking so much form what I usually find and enjoy in her work.
Profile Image for Pamela.
1,918 reviews16 followers
July 2, 2011
REVIEW COURTESY OF FALLEN ANGEL REVIEWS:

Madame Esmeralda is widely known as a talented reader, a reader of people, that is. She has always been able to separate truth from lies and uses this to provide for herself. She disguises herself among the ton, for she has secrets that must not be revealed. Esmeralda begins to get closer to a certain elderly woman, Lady Hamilton, mother of Viscount Varcourt. Lady Hamilton is trying to contact her eldest son, Harry, who's suspicious death has left her with a heavy heart. Thomas, Lady Hamilton's living son, doesn't want a phony witch messing with his mother's feelings and emotions, since she has become very unstable. Thomas begins watching Esmeralda.

Thomas has had to live a life of guilt himself, and rumors of his brother's death have left him an open topic for discussion. The ton is convinced Thomas was the murderer. Upon first meeting Esmerelda, Thomas is intrigued. Thomas quickly realizes maybe Esmeralda can help him and his family. But can the truth actually set them free?

Wicked Intentions is a very dark story, almost like the old gothic-style romances. I have been a huge fan of gothic romances all my life, so I was thrilled when I picked up Wicked Intentions. And believe me, it did not disappoint. Lydia Joyce's characters are mysterious and very strong-willed. Esmeralda and Thomas are a one of a kind couple, and they always speak their minds... that is what I loved best about them. The plot was amazing... so much pain and deception and terrible secrets. Lydia Joyce is definitely a talented author, and I look for many more great works to come from her.
Profile Image for Julie Johnson.
143 reviews27 followers
July 30, 2011
Ohhh, one of the best romances I've read in a while!

I studied the 'gothic' genre in university, it's a genre I love, and this book has all the great gothic elements in it, updated for modern sensibilities (even though it takes place in the past).

I read romances ( & romantic suspense books) but often eye roll at some of the conventions...there was no eye rolling here . I just found it was too good for that, so enjoyable & so immersive I had no time for eye-rolling, & also it tweaked some of those conventions perfectly. I loved that the heroine had her own agenda, her own intelligence, her own sexual history. It was refreshing.

Great mystery, great plot, great heat between the characters.
Profile Image for Gurl.
18 reviews2 followers
August 12, 2016
Romance Noir, that is what I will call this. This is my 2nd by Lydia Joyce and there is quite bit of mystery in Wicked Intentions as well as sex/romance. It definitely has a dark side and anyone who picks up her books should be aware of this. If you have read Mistress of Mellon by Victoria Holt which is decidedly a noir-ish novel as well, but she makes the mystery and romance more or less on even footing in that novel. I must warn you that Wicked Intentions has much more of an erotic or erotica written style and you will have to be patient and wait to the very end for your HEA ; )
Profile Image for Angels.
2,114 reviews17 followers
November 24, 2010
Enjoyable mystery. Lord Varcourt has lost a brother many years ago. Thought the years there have been whispered tales that he has something to do with his brothers death but there was never any evidence to prove that he did. The young lord Thomas meet Esmeralda ( Merry for short) hired buy his mother so that she may connect with her dead son and finally put him to rest . But Thomas has other ideas . He thinks Merry is a fraud and wants to get her as far away from his mother as possible and prove that she is a fake. But his mother has true faith in her abilities and continues to be Merry Champion. Merry has her own agenda as she is not really who she says she is. She is out to right and wrong done to herself and her mother. Making her claims of being a medium somewhat clouded. But no matter the way Thomas feels about Merry believing she is a fraud he is sexually attracted to her and cannot seem to keep his hands off her no matter what and he hates himself for that alone. But, Merry is what she claims to be a good medium who has get answers about the dead and makes it her mission to find out what happen to Thomas's brother all those years ago. Was it an accident or murder ? This book was filled with a great romance and a mystery to solve and maybe and happy ever after for all parties involved. Nice easy enjoyable read. Add it to you to read pile....
Profile Image for Shelly.
294 reviews
July 23, 2009
I really hesitate to call this romance. There really didn't seem to be any romance, I am not even sure it was lust. I did not like either of the main characters. Thomas seemed to be too irredeemable and Esmeralda was... hmm... maybe not decisive enough. I am not really sure what was wrong with her. Maybe it was the author making Esmeralda straddle the fence too much as to whether she enjoyed things with Thomas or not. Nothing seemed to work here. I originally picked it up because it sounded like an interesting story, but by the end of the book, I didn't even care and ended up skimming most of the rest of the book. Honestly, I wish that there was less trying to hint at the story and more explanation of the story. I did not even see a reason for either character to want to continue to be with the other and definitely no reason for them to marry each other. This is the first book that I have read by this author, but I won't allow it to color my view on her as I have heard her other books are much better.
Profile Image for Andrea.
801 reviews11 followers
September 4, 2009
I know the genre of historical romance or even gothic romance is not quality literature. I never expect much beyond a quick fun story, a mindless read, and a happily ever after that always makes me smile. This was not that. This book included rape scenes, rough hateful sex, manipulative mind games, and unnecessary violence. Most of the time I was just disgusted by this book (and am not sure why I even bothered finishing it.) This wasn't a romance novel to me at all. The violence wasn't even a to an end or one that furthers along the plot. I don't even think this book deserved one star.
Profile Image for Christine.
1,903 reviews
November 14, 2012
Actually, 2 1/2 stars. The 1/2 star is for the writing, which is really pretty good. But just 2 stars for the story and for the characters. Thomas, Lord Varcourt and Emmeline just were never people that I cared about.

As you come to understand why they acted as they do, it's easier to feel sympathy for them, but I never found that I like them all the much. And...I just can't understand why Emm (as Esmeralda) would feel sorry for Varcourt and agree to help him after he assaults her. That's just a non-starter for me.
Profile Image for Melissa.
150 reviews61 followers
June 16, 2009
No stars yet...still making up my mind about this one. I think there was just so much deceit being practiced by both the hero and the heroine for the sake of the plot that it was difficult for me to feel that they could really fall in love through all the lies. I will read The Veil of Night and see what I think!

OK, I read Veil of Night and decided that I do like the author under other circumstances, which means for the circumstances of Wicked Intentions I'm going to rate her way down.
23 reviews
Read
January 6, 2015
I loved Lydia Joyce's other novels but this book was not for me. The male lead character uses physical force and the sex act borders on rape. As a reader, I don't find this remotely enjoyable and find the physical force aspect unenticing for m. Joyce does show the lead female character desires the male character and thus the sec act is consensual.

I decided after reading that scene that I have too many books on my to read list and don't feel like wasting my time.
Profile Image for Love love .
346 reviews
August 31, 2010
As I read this book I realised that I had read it before (before I started using goodreads). I remembered the story line but for some reason I didn't remember how hot the sex scenes were. It's not typical to find forced suduction with anal sex in todays historicals, at least not for me. Along with great sex scenes there were both likalbe characters and a good 'who done it' mystery to solve.
Profile Image for Meghan.
87 reviews8 followers
Did Not Finish
August 14, 2011
I usually like this author but I just can't get into this one. The anal rape in chapter 4 didn't help.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews