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"A Dark and Riveting tale of Romance and Jack the Ripper."
"Unlike anything I've read before - A Gothic Horror Romance that I couldn't put down."

LONDON, 1889
CHOSEN BY THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN LONDON

Life has only ever been a struggle for Constance, and one that put her in the path
of one of London's most terrifying monsters, Jack the Ripper.
Yet, when a handsome aristocrat chooses her to join him in his lavish estate,
the promise of luxury - and Alisdair's expert touch - are too much to resist.

HE SEEKS A POWER GREATER THAN WEALTH AND TITLE

Thrust into the secret world of The Hellfire Club, Constance finds herself at the center of Alisdair's search for power. Yet, as Alisdair's strength grows, so does the danger.
Alisdair has enemies, and whispers are spreading through the city - is the Ripper's reign of terror truly ended, or is the monster that haunts Constant closer than ever before?


HEAT LEVEL - A VERY steamy Gothic Mystery set in Victorian London

240 pages, Paperback

First published May 13, 2015

125 people are currently reading
558 people want to read

About the author

Michaela Wright

20 books64 followers
Michaela Wright is the author of the Gothic Romance Mystery series, The NAMESAKEN GOTHICS. Michaela spent years as a historical interpreter, and her regular stints in the countryside of Scotland helped to inspire her steamy love stories. Given her love of the haunting side of history, her writing has been known to keep readers up at night in more ways than one.

Michaela writes from Chelmsford, Massachusetts, where she lives with her family.

You can reach Michaela at

MichaelaWrightAuthor@gmail.co

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5 stars
52 (41%)
4 stars
27 (21%)
3 stars
24 (19%)
2 stars
18 (14%)
1 star
4 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Sarah Mac.
1,227 reviews
December 21, 2021
2.5, rounded up.

I like that the author obv didn’t want to create yet another cookie-cutter HR, but this didn’t mesh for yours truly. The paranormal element was just too weird & random compared to the Ripper/Whitechapel bits. This is one book which would’ve benefited from the cheesy ‘fake occult amuses bored aristocrats’ trope, wherein the ritual is nothing but a vehicle for getting drunk and/or naughty sex; I’ve got nothing against legit supernatural in gothics, but in this case the goddess stuff felt out of step with an otherwise grounded—if vague—backdrop. I also had trouble connecting with Constance—she felt very stilted & closed-off, just kinda floating around in the ether of Whitechapel—while Alisdair (whose backstory made little sense) was bland & not nearly Alpha enough for me to buy leading a sexy occult ritual, whether real or fake. And WTF was that climax?? Stuff started happening & I couldn’t make logical sense of anything—instead it drop-kicked the occult plot into a pile of deus-ex-machina while floating away from the reality-based storyline.

It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great, either—hence the tepid 3 stars. I really wanted to like it better, but for whatever reason I just couldn’t get invested in the outcome or the characters.
Profile Image for daemyra, the realm's delight.
1,322 reviews37 followers
March 25, 2025
2025 review: Just reread this after reading Hysteria. It holds up and I think I like it better the second time! I really appreciate the brothel heroine, one of the best portrayals. Also so hot. Not constant steam but balanced with a plot. That scene where she asks for Alisdair to be the one in the ritual 😝

She is pragmatic but vulnerable, and she has a lot of charm and confidence. Hero is also a dream. I remember the magic stuff seemed silly when I first read it but the second time, I suspended that disbelief without any qualms.

Also not sure why my earlier review said this was not a Gothic. It is one, although more focused on occult than scary ghosts like in Hysteria.

2020 review:

Highly recommended read about a prostitute and Occult leader set during the Victorian era. Erotic and romantic, this novella is a triumph that is hard to put down. Many romance novellas feel like shallow sketches that didn't quite make the cut for a full-length novel. They don't feel quite like complete stories in and of themselves. Willing makes the reader fall in love with Constance and Alisdair, as individuals and as a couple. Constance speaks her mind and doesn't get punished for it. Alisdair is surprisingly charming and sweet as a hero. I use the word surprisingly because he's in a mask for most of the story, orchestrating a sex ritual and drinking bodily fluids from said sex ritual. Anyways, I just love a story that surprises me and most of all has fun.

I wouldn't call this Gothic so much as faux Occult. The ritual and the cult felt obviously made up and I cringed at the mention of Kundalini. However, I still liked it, which just goes to show the strength of the story. The more I think about it, this is what I wanted Charlotte Featherstone's Brethren Guardian series to be - a pulp fiction throwback with some Indiana Jones/Mummy adventure vibes.
Profile Image for Meg.
137 reviews3 followers
January 16, 2022
Sadly failed to replicate the magic of ‘Hysteria’ for me. Plot was a bit all over the place and the final denouement felt rushed and tacked on. A missed opportunity to develop what was certainly an interesting premise!
Profile Image for emtee .
233 reviews123 followers
January 6, 2022
Recipe for a Delicious Historical Erotica Book

Start with a Victorian London, gothic/occult vibe
Add the following:
1 – Mysterious-Sexy-Cool H
1 – Smart-Sassy-Confident h
Add a generous portion of dark eroticism
Toss in ritual sex, intense connection, suspense and a battle of good vs evil

Blend thoroughly with an intriguing storyline and enjoy!

Alisdair returned to her side, offering his arm to her again. She glanced up at him, hoping to share her thoughts by her expression alone. The desire was forgotten when she looked up to find his face covered by a mask, the dark eyes still beautiful beneath.

***
She stared at the open bedroom door a moment. Then with the constant burning still just under her fingertips, she lifted her hand to point at the door and flicked her fingers. She let out a startled yelp as the bedroom door swung shut.

***
Amor Vincit Omnia
Profile Image for Eliza.
712 reviews56 followers
October 30, 2019
damn good book! Glad I found this author!
Profile Image for Lia.
238 reviews20 followers
January 20, 2018
Oh I am very happy reading this book! Loved it!
1,707 reviews13 followers
August 26, 2015
I received an arc for an honest review. This was a suspenseful, thriller, romance in historical London where we find Cassandra Tully making a small living for herself in the Keg and Barrel she was young when she lost her brother and her mother to sickness she was taken in by by the owner of the Tavern but when she couldn't pay her rent she was told by Lyle Grisholm that she didn't have to have money and he turned her out as a prostitute and she was pretty good at it because she liked having sex with some of her clients and she was smart one night she was called downstairs by Berty widow Grisholm saying that someone was requesting her company she went to the table to speak with the men she saw sitting at a table she found herself in the company of a Lord he ask her several questions and then propositioned her to come to his estate and she had to think about it for moment and then she told him what she wanted and he agreed but she wouldn't go without a chaperon and he agreed to that also it was four other men with him and they rode in another coach and she rode with him and Roger who happen to sleep all the way there while she and Lord Alisdair talked well he ask questions and she answered mostly and he found her to be quiet intelligent he explained what he wanted her to do when she arrived she was escorted into the ballroom where she saw several men and women in robes and masks she was not sure she wanted to go through with this but Lord Alisdair assured her it was alright she did realize that some kind of ritual was about to take place but she did as she was told. This is one of the better stories I have read it will keep you interested all the way to the end . Adult readers. Recommend.
Profile Image for Sherill.
1,296 reviews38 followers
August 23, 2015
ENTRALLING & ROMANTIC

Willing -Book One of The Namesaken series. A romantic story filled with suspense and intrigue.

The story features Constance, a beautiful, intelligent, prostitute; Alisdair, a sultry, wealthy Lord who hires Constance to participate in a secret ritual.

The story is set in Whitechapel, London during the time of the heinous murders of prostitutes by the RIPPER. It is filled with awesome, impressive and engaging characters, spectacular vivid scene descriptions, magnificent story-line, betrayal, powerful magic, gripping suspense, pent-up rage, sky-rocketing, earth-shattering romance, and an ending that soothes the soul.

WOW, Incredible fantastic fast paced well written read by a genuinely gifted author. A slumber-stealer for me, had my undivided attention till the finish and I loved every minute. The intermix of authenticity and fantasy is most impressive. The characters are convincing and are certainly praise-worthy. Constance's courage shines like a beacon and Alisdair is a valiant hero. If you enjoy romance with suspense this is an excellent choice for your library as it does not disappoint. {I received a romance arc for a thoroughly truthful review}. In the world of romance the possibilities are endless and always fascinating. Without reservations I highly recommend this book.
59 reviews
January 2, 2018
Very happy i found this one!

How can u not fall in love with these characters?! Wonderfully written. I am so very happy I stumbled upon this gem! I could not put it down! This intriguing story sucks you in, sinks its clawing pages into you, and absolutely refuses to let you go! There was no escape except for The End! So realistic it will have you wondering how it ended up fantasy?!! Now I'm addicted to a wonderful new author (new for me) Now, onto the next exciting story from this author! Thank you Michaela Wright so much for sharing!
Profile Image for Diana Aden.
318 reviews2 followers
June 25, 2018
A worthy 4 & 1/2 stars! Well done.

I am not as fluent as others in telling why I like a book, but this one definitely grabbed me. It is set during the time of Jack the Ripper. The main character is a prostitute who is intelligent and has a strong character. The H could be described as having occult leanings or toward mysticism. So many layers to this story. There are strong sexual scenes but they do pertain to the total story and are woven into it so well. This was worth reading and reviewing. Will look forward to reading more by Ms. Wright.
336 reviews
June 7, 2019
Good

Not my usual type of story but as it was a free kindle book I must admit I quite enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Nola Arganbright.
1,592 reviews32 followers
May 1, 2018
Dark but very good

Based on the time period of Jack the Ripper this book gives us a alternative story. Gripping suspense and unforgettable characters.
Profile Image for Susan.
197 reviews5 followers
August 16, 2015
Willing (book one of The Namesaken Series) sounded sort of interesting by the author's description since it was about Jack the Ripper but I had my reservations about how much I would like it since the main character was a prostitute and to use the author's word, it was also "steamy". Not that I am a prude but I just don't enjoy books centering on aimless sex (smut books) and by the description it sounded like this could be one of those with Jack the Ripper thrown in so when one prostitute was killed, it gave a reason to change from one explicit scene to another. On the other hand, I have read books about prostitutes that were good so I took a chance on this one and I am so glad I did.

Constance is a prostitute and a well developed main character. She's intelligent and not a prostitute by choice but more so out of necessity due to her personal circumstances and the economy. When she is summoned by the wealthy, handsome, Lord Alisdair, she is treated like a queen and prepared for the ritual that takes place during the full moon. Constance always knew there was something special about her and it is after she is summoned by Lord Alisdair that this becomes obvious.

Lord Alisdair is also a main character and developed. He has some strange beliefs, rituals, and he believes Constance is the only one that can help achieve his goal of receiving the gifts of the Golden Rite. He is a bit of a mysterious character early on which lends to all kinds of assumptions of his true intentions. He almost seemed like the opposite of Constance: she is realistic, cautious, and down-to-earth, whereas Alisdair is confident, mysterious, and proper.

This fast paced story reminds me a little of the movie "Pretty Women" but add supernatural powers, a coven, rituals, deceit, murder, betrayal, romance and more. Another fascinating aspect to the story is it explains who Jack the Ripper was and why the prostitutes were killed which I never saw coming! I know this is fictional but the time, place, characters, and events make this story seem so real and had me turning page after page. As far as the 'steamy' parts in the book, they were explicit at times but done in a very tasteful ways. I also love the cover of the book, it is nice to see visually the style of gown and putting a face to a name even if Lord Alisdair is seen only in shadow (of course he is, it is that mystery about him). It was very well written and I only noticed one typo. I definitely recommend this book to adults.

*I received an ARC for my unbiased review.
115 reviews10 followers
August 21, 2015
Rating Michaela Wright's newest book, Willing (The Namesaken #1) was easy! The writing was strong; the characters were interesting; the story very original. BOOM! 4.5 Stars. Easy as that! Telling you why is proving tough for me. Not because I didn't love this book because I did. It's because there are so many facets and layers to this story that trying to put my thoughts into words is more difficult that I imagined.

Set in London during the time of Jack the Ripper's reign of terror in London, Willing is the tale of a prostitute, Constance, who is hired by Lord Alisdair to become his willing altar. Honest to Pete, I had no clue what that meant when it was first mentioned, but I sure learned quickly enough...WOW!!!! Alisdair's request leads Constance into the occult world and to finding her place in it. This new world also pushes Constance's sexual boundaries and what even a prostitute finds acceptable. Again, Wow.

I love Historical Romance. I love Mature Adult. I even like some forms of Paranormal. Until I read this book, I had no idea that all 3 could blend so seamlessly into a story full of mystery, suspense and heat. And it does get hot. There are several scenes of voyeurism, so if that's a hard stop for you, be warned. Honestly, it isn't written from the perspective of the watchers. It's written from the perspective of the watch-ee, if that makes a difference. The paranormal aspect is less paranormal and more occult. Truly, there are so many layers to the story and how they fit together that you never get wrapped up in what the book is or isn't. The story grabs you and pulls you in, like any great book should! Give this book a try. I'm glad I did. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!


Profile Image for Stacey.
968 reviews13 followers
August 18, 2015
Ali is a Lordship in London .
Connie part of a bar keep with many trades .
what happens when fate deals you a hand you never thought would happen .
also what happens if there is a key to bringing into the world a power unlike anything you could ever imagine .
also what happens if one of the people you thought you could trust was the last one you should ever trust .
and also what if your employer was one of the people who wanted to hurt you .
and what if people paid to kill you just cause they did not want you to have power due to the unknown . the hysteria of it all .
find this and much more when you buy this and boy i want to read more on this series just to see how the next chapter or generation may be .


this is part of the Romance Arcade in exchange for an honest review and boy i could not put it down and await patiently for book 2 to come out .


IE this is my stand point i don't believe in the way the book was written to be truth but a fantasy .
Profile Image for Linda Levine.
4,644 reviews25 followers
September 2, 2015
I admire authors who surprise you and take you in a direction you don't expect. This story started off pretty simply about a woman pushed into prostitution and trying to survive and became a story with a mythical theme at its center. Constance has learned to take her safety seriously especially since Jack the Ripper started his attacks. She feels a sense of safety at her brothel and with her regular customers. When she is chosen for a special assignment away from the brothel, that sense of security is threatened. It is not what she expected and Lord Alisdair challenges her beliefs about herself and the world of magic and witchcraft. The story is very dark at times and disquieting is the best word. I was not sure what to think and what was going to happen. When I thought I had it figured out, it went in a very different direction that led to satisfying ending. I very much enjoyed this unique journey. I received a copy in return for a honest review.
Profile Image for Ramona Plant.
752 reviews23 followers
October 11, 2016
Willing by Michaela Wright is a well written book taking place in the times of Jack the Ripper. I like the connections the author made and how she made a paranormal spin on the identity of the Ripper. This book has some steamy parts and romance thrown in. The plot is well developed and follows a good pace. The book diddn't feel dragged out nor did I ever feel rushed. Michaela has a couple of very nicely developed twists in this book that come to a nice conclusion.

Constance is not your typical heroine, not by any stretch of the imagination. She is however a lovable character who you can't help but cheer for. Alisdair makes for a great character, one you wish would actually excist. The fiend in this book is very well hidden.

I truly enjoyed this book and can recommend it to fellow lovers of the paranormal who don't mind some steamy romance.

I have received this book from the author for an honest review. (LoP, Lovers of Paranormal)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Roxie's Reviews.
1,159 reviews23 followers
August 19, 2015
"Amazing Paranormal Historical Romance"
The story line is compelling. The characters are fantastic. Constance works at the Keg and Barrell tavern/brothel as a whore. One night this group of upper class gentlemen show up and request her. They pay extra for her to spend the night at their estate. It turns out to be a frighting and odd night. Then a month later on the full moon Alisdair the one who seemed to be in charge sends for her again. This time she finds a feast set out, and she is pampered before she is brought to him. .Each time she is led to a ball room with an altar in it. It seems she is being used in some kind of ritual. But soon things start going very wrong!.
This is a fantastic suspenseful Romance and you will love it.
I received this copy in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Cassie Hess-dean.
669 reviews10 followers
March 30, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Constance may have been a prostitute, but she had a way about her that people seemed to be drawn to. She could be trusted and people counted on her. When she met Alisdair, her life changed. He was a very attractive man, but there was something about him that just seemed off. The more she got to know him, she realized that she may be involved in something that she did not want to be a part of. He was always upfront with her and answered any questions that she asked him. The two were pulled closer together each time she became the living alter, but would she continue to go through with this once she finally understood what was happening? Will the two of them come out of this with the power they are seeking? Or will the 'Circle' bring something else to the table?
Arc provided for honest review.
1,098 reviews19 followers
September 19, 2016
Didn't really like this one. Never truly got interested in the story, but I had to know how Jack the Ripper fit into the storyline at the end, so I had to finish it. I didn't really enjoy the characters. I couldn't relate to either one of them. I thought Constance should'be been more than a prostitute as she seemed more savvy than that. Alisdair kinda creeped me out. I didn't like his henchmen (so to speak), coach drivers or servants either. The whole occult thing was just a wee bit off for me to get into. Usually I am excited to read paranormal, so this must've just been an exception. I enjoyed another book by Ms. Wright immensely, so this will not be my last read of hers.

ARC provided in exchange for honest review.
Profile Image for JB.
2,183 reviews8 followers
January 26, 2016
Constance is a soiled dove, a lady of the night, making her living in a brothel by servicing men. Then one day, she comes to the attention of Alisdair and he sees something in her that he can use to his benefit. At first, Connie is scared, but she comes to enjoy the ritual and spending time with Ali. Many twists and turns that creep up and startle. Lots of feels, a gothic, erotic story that keeps you ensnared until the very end. Enjoy! I received a copy of this book in the box set Fated, Fanged and Fantastic in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Leanne Bryson.
5,208 reviews22 followers
September 12, 2016
Gifted an ARC for an honest review....
Historical, paranormal, suspenseful, erotica...what a genre! This was a surprisingly good book. I thought it might have too many facets, but the author, Michaela Wright, did a great job of weaving this story together. Set during Jack the Ripper's reign of terror, it twisted and turned I think pretty accurately through that time. Alisdar and Constance were well written, interesting characters, and their story compelling. I'll now add the next 2 books in the series to my KU list to read.
Profile Image for Kay.
383 reviews1 follower
August 18, 2015
What a wonderful supenseful, historical romance. This story takes place during the time of Jack The Ripper, Constance works in a brothel in the wrong side of London. Alisdair is a Lord looking for a certain type of woman to be a vessel for him. There is intrigue, love and loss in this story. Is Alisdair The Ripper? Is Constance his next victim? You need to read this book for those answers and discover the intrigue yourself!
Profile Image for Jennifer Miller.
Author 51 books194 followers
August 6, 2015
Damn. Well this book is a total original. I can honestly say this book was a constant page turner. The complexities of the story line. There is sex, love , betrayal, paranormal, demons. I can go on and on This isn't at story about a killer it's a story about two kindred spirits wiping the hell out of the bad guys I would highly recommend this. Was given for an honest review
Profile Image for Marcie Wegner.
373 reviews4 followers
August 11, 2015
I really liked this book. It is a real page turner. I read it through in one sitting because I really wanted to know what happened. The characters are well developed and the story is quite interesting. Well worth the time to read. This is the first book I have read by Michael Wright but it won't be my last.
Profile Image for Lorraine Caruana.
288 reviews6 followers
August 27, 2015
This was the first time I read anything by Michaela Wright and I must say I was quite pleasantly surprised. Great period mystery, full of suspense and intrigue. I can honestly say I did not see the twist at the near end. This book reminded me of my Dennis Wheatley books, similar style. I look forward to reading more from this author. I was awarded a copy in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Shannon Davison.
1,386 reviews11 followers
August 20, 2015
What a read. I didn't stop until I hit the last page. This book has it all, mystery, intrigue, violence, sex, good vs evil, and of course love. I'm hooked and will happily read more from this author. I was given an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Zeinab Dh.
1,635 reviews38 followers
August 26, 2015
I got this in exchange of an honest review, this one had everything in one book, it was full of action mystery lust desire tension and everything, I recommend this to everyone well written and great characters




Profile Image for Melissa.
71 reviews1 follower
August 7, 2015
I fell in love with this book !
Just enough mystery and suspense.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

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