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The Garden #3
In the Garden of Disgrace
Third book in the Garden 17-year-old Lady Jillian Fitzgerald sneaks out to spy on a duel, believing she is merely guilty of an indiscretion. But when the duel takes a deadly turn and Jillian becomes an unwilling passenger in the fleeing carriage of the infamous "Lord Wicked," she knows what began as a lark has become a disaster. One night of bad judgment and her life is changed forever.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 23, 2012
Gave up about a third of the way through because the heroine annoyed the hell out of me, and all I could foresee was more endless chapters of "I Hate You Except When We Kiss."
I had high hopes from the blurb - a unique and intriguing premise - and the story started out great. Unfortunately, the initial drama was over much too soon, and suddenly we're thrown forward eight years and the characters have changed completely.
If I'm reading a "reformed rake" story, I want to SEE "Lord Wicked" change over time and EARN his redemption. Telling the reader "it's eight years later and he's really really sorry" just doesn't cut it. We miss out completely on the restless, conflicted wickedness and get him tirelessly patient, self-sacrificial and boring.
Likewise, I would have been much more likely to have compassion and respect for the heroine if I could have SEEN the consequences of the initial drama. Instead, we leave Jillian as a 17-year-old caught up in the aftermath of a scandalous duel and never really understand what turned her into a rude, self-centered bitch. She refuses to acknowledge her own behavior in the fiasco and blames everyone else around her.
I know the author was trying for an "independent and feisty" heroine, but Jillian veered off that narrow path straight into "obnoxious and unlikeable."
A reformed rake needs someone worth reforming for, and Jillian - at least in the first part of the book - definitely isn't it. And Lord Wicked was already reformed by the time he got to her, so what's the point?
I had high hopes from the blurb - a unique and intriguing premise - and the story started out great. Unfortunately, the initial drama was over much too soon, and suddenly we're thrown forward eight years and the characters have changed completely.
If I'm reading a "reformed rake" story, I want to SEE "Lord Wicked" change over time and EARN his redemption. Telling the reader "it's eight years later and he's really really sorry" just doesn't cut it. We miss out completely on the restless, conflicted wickedness and get him tirelessly patient, self-sacrificial and boring.
Likewise, I would have been much more likely to have compassion and respect for the heroine if I could have SEEN the consequences of the initial drama. Instead, we leave Jillian as a 17-year-old caught up in the aftermath of a scandalous duel and never really understand what turned her into a rude, self-centered bitch. She refuses to acknowledge her own behavior in the fiasco and blames everyone else around her.
I know the author was trying for an "independent and feisty" heroine, but Jillian veered off that narrow path straight into "obnoxious and unlikeable."
A reformed rake needs someone worth reforming for, and Jillian - at least in the first part of the book - definitely isn't it. And Lord Wicked was already reformed by the time he got to her, so what's the point?
June 2, 2011
Fun story of the consequences of misspent youth and second chances. Overall entertaining the countryside and Bath setting is pleasant and doesn't have the same restrictions as the season which gives the characters leeway. The was one plot point where the heroine, Jilly, is frankly TSTL. Nonetheless, I did enjoy the it and the ending atoned somewhat for the transgression.
June 7, 2011
This book showed up in my daily newsletter from ereaderiq.com as a freebie and the blurb about the story looked really interesting, so I got it. Hey, nothing wrong with a freebie. But I really loved this book.
I love historical pieces, especially regency. This one definitely appealed to my better nature. Even though I read it out of sequence--this is the third book in the series--it was definitely a standalone story. I loved the characters of Adrian (Lord Wicked) and Jilly and their romance was delightfully refreshing. I would like to have had a bit more interaction, or lack thereof, with the locals of the village--just have some more action going on. Her insistence on remaining independent started to get a little monotonous but that was quickly rescued before it could actually BECOME monotonous. I liked the ending because it made sense and was foreshadowed through out.
Excellent book, fantastic author, and I will be reading the rest of her series and another book she's just released.
I love historical pieces, especially regency. This one definitely appealed to my better nature. Even though I read it out of sequence--this is the third book in the series--it was definitely a standalone story. I loved the characters of Adrian (Lord Wicked) and Jilly and their romance was delightfully refreshing. I would like to have had a bit more interaction, or lack thereof, with the locals of the village--just have some more action going on. Her insistence on remaining independent started to get a little monotonous but that was quickly rescued before it could actually BECOME monotonous. I liked the ending because it made sense and was foreshadowed through out.
Excellent book, fantastic author, and I will be reading the rest of her series and another book she's just released.
September 8, 2012
Another 5 star review for Cynthia Wicklund and her In the Garden series.
Like its predecessors, In the Garden of Disgrace was no disappointment. Again, I fell in love with the characters and the plot. I actually laughed, a lot, in this book. I thought the bantering between Jilly and Adrian was clever, witty, and downright hysterical.
I don't have much more to reveal than that I simply loved it! As before, I highly recommend this series. It's a perfect balance between romance, seduction, and adventure. You will not be displeased.
Thank you Cynthia Wicklund and happy reading to the rest of you!
Like its predecessors, In the Garden of Disgrace was no disappointment. Again, I fell in love with the characters and the plot. I actually laughed, a lot, in this book. I thought the bantering between Jilly and Adrian was clever, witty, and downright hysterical.
I don't have much more to reveal than that I simply loved it! As before, I highly recommend this series. It's a perfect balance between romance, seduction, and adventure. You will not be displeased.
Thank you Cynthia Wicklund and happy reading to the rest of you!
May 3, 2011
Book 3 of The Garden Series is wonderful! I finished it over the weekend, and am still thinking about it. In Regency times, a woman's reputation was very fragile. Often, through no fault of their own, they found themselves pariahs due to some perceived indiscretion.
In the Garden of Disgrace is about a woman who lost her reputation and over the ensuing years found a strength she probably wouldn't have discovered without the event that smeared her name over the ton. Now fiercely independent, she's confronted with Lord Wicked, the man who unwittingly ruined her, and who is now determined to do the right thing.
Jilly though isn't excited about the prospect of relinquishing control over her life. The ensuing battle of wills and seduction is delightful. Ms. Wicklund never makes a false step in developing the relationship between the two adversaries.
In the Garden of Disgrace is about a woman who lost her reputation and over the ensuing years found a strength she probably wouldn't have discovered without the event that smeared her name over the ton. Now fiercely independent, she's confronted with Lord Wicked, the man who unwittingly ruined her, and who is now determined to do the right thing.
Jilly though isn't excited about the prospect of relinquishing control over her life. The ensuing battle of wills and seduction is delightful. Ms. Wicklund never makes a false step in developing the relationship between the two adversaries.
November 15, 2011
I've got to hand it to this author, she takes one fantasy and is able to write three very different books with the same plot. Surprise, surprise - the male lead character has black hair and a tanned and toned body. Just like the male leads from the first two books in the series. And the female lead doesn't want anything to do with him, even though she desperately does. The best part of this book was that it incorporated characters from the previous book, which made me feel like it was worth having read it. Despite being the same story, it was told in a very different way, which is why it got more than one star.
September 17, 2011
This third book in the Garden series was an enjoyable read.
Jillian was a fun and likable heroine, even if I did think she took a little too long to make up her mind.
Adrian was a rake of the misunderstood variety; his reputation exceeded his actual deeds by quite a bit.
As in book 2, I really enjoyed the ending. It ended with a similar situation as the beginning of the book, but with a very different outcome.
Jillian was a fun and likable heroine, even if I did think she took a little too long to make up her mind.
Adrian was a rake of the misunderstood variety; his reputation exceeded his actual deeds by quite a bit.
As in book 2, I really enjoyed the ending. It ended with a similar situation as the beginning of the book, but with a very different outcome.
January 20, 2013
So far out of the series, I enjoyed this book the best. The building of the relationship between Adrian and Jillian is done fairly well. Jillian gets a little tiring with her back and forth feelings, but considering her past it can be overlooked.
November 27, 2016
Boring. Didn't really find it very interesting. I've read the first of the series and (although the story is a bit unusual, it was an interesting read) it was nice but nothing much commendable about this one!
September 1, 2011
A foolish book, previsible. A really disgrace. Didn't like it.
March 17, 2012
In the Garden of Disgrace was a great story. I loved the characters!
September 12, 2013
Loved the book, hated the audiobook narration.
September 13, 2016
AMAZING
This story was so exciting. THANKS for the laughter and the tears and the unexpected. It really was a GREAT book can't wait for # 4
This story was so exciting. THANKS for the laughter and the tears and the unexpected. It really was a GREAT book can't wait for # 4
historical
January 4, 2019When 17-year-old Lady Jillian Fitzgerald sneaks out to spy on a duel, she believes she is merely guilty of an indiscretion. But when the duel takes a deadly turn and Jillian becomes an unwilling passenger in the fleeing carriage of the infamous "Lord Wicked," she knows what began as a lark has become a disaster. One night of bad judgment and her life is changed forever.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews