Second in the Once Wicked series, this story focuses on Jacqueline, the headmistress of a school that secretly takes in girls saved from brothels and helps create new lives for them. As the purpose of the school deals with sex and child exploitation, along with Jacqueline's abusive past, this story had more of a solemn tone. I have to say, the beginning of this and first half was very slow going. I would almost categorize this as fiction with some mystery instead of romance. The author calmly and steadily integrated us into Jacqueline's mission of running the school and Will's job of infiltrating the school and investigating it, but separately. Our main couple had met and deemed each other attractive but they didn't really intertwine until almost halfway through. The last 40% of the story picked up and things moved very quickly in regards to the mystery and danger from the villain. All in all, I felt the author stretched out and spent too much time on characters' inner musings while not connecting our hero and heroine sooner; a lot of the story was not what I came here for.

Full review can be read at: Reading Between the Wines book club

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There are so many authors out there that I’m trying to get to and if you’re like me, you’re always getting sidetracked because all of my favorite authors keep me busy by writing new books. Well, this author has been on my radar for a very long time and I’m so glad to have found the time to “squeeze” her in.

This is the second book in Once Wicked series (and my first read of the author and the series, but I found it could be read as a stand alone) and the title says it all. These are the stories of people that once-a-upon a time were wicked and now are trying to rectify that.

I don’t know where to start in praising this story. I loved everything about it, from the pace to dialogue; from a plot that kept me glued to the story, to the setting of Georgian era, but it’s the complex characters of our hero and heroine that touched my heart which made this story soar.

Both characters carried deep scars and wounds, visible and invisible, that at times I found myself tearing up. Following their story and watching them grow stronger in their love despite the obstacles they faced was pure bliss.

If you’re a sucker, like myself, for a scared hero and heroine, this is a no brainer. You must read it. Just be warned. This will take you on an emotional roller-coaster!

Now, off I go to read the first book in this series…..

Series Order:
Book #1 To Love a Libertine
Book #2 Once a Courtesan

Melanie for b2b ( )