The Duke's Wicked Wife

"Sometimes an epiphany came like a crack of lightning, sharp and brilliant, and sometimes it came like a bit of hothouse strawberry lodged in one's throat. Unfortunately for Sebastian Sinclair, Duke of Wessix, Earl of Badington, and Knight of the Garter, it was the latter." From the first line I knew this was going to be fun and delightful and without hesitation I was correct in that I was laughing out loud on the first page!! The epiphany was that he needed to marry and begat a heir or all his holdings might go a bloody American relative! Plus he might die at any moment! He sent a not to Miss Eliza Benton to help him in his quest. Eliza had to smile as she received the almost indecipherable note from Wessix. He was going to visit tomorrow. She tossed it in the drawer with all the others he had sent, not sure why she saved them. In six months she would inherit funds from her mother and a cottage and truly be independent. They had met three years ago at a ball and he had been taken with her beauty and wit and she had been indifferent to his. It was the start of an enduring friendship. When he announced to her he was going to marry, he wanted her to draw up a list for him. Can I just say I adored this story? The relationship between these two and the banter had me laughing and smiling as Elizabeth Bright managed to wrap her characters around my heart! I could not wait to see what happened between these two to make them realize they were meant for each other and oh yes, they were!! Perfect! I read this through NetGallery and the fabulous publisher

Full review appeared at Reader's Edyn on 04/18/20 Eliza Benton has always had a bit of an odd relationship with Sebastion. They have known each other for years and even aided in the relationships of their close friends, helping them to realize their love for one another. But what is good for others does not translate as good for either of them. Sebastian plans to remain single for as long as he can hold out. Eliza determined never to marry, period. But after a sudden epiphany, Sebastian enlists Eliza to help him choose a bride. She must lessen the odds, so to speak and lead him on a path towards a few young ladies she finds acceptable to the station befitting a Duchess. Suddenly she finds herself at a country party that Sebastian is hosting with the goal of choosing a bride. He seeks her out and coaxes he guidance at every turn. But something shifts unexpectedly and they are caught in a compromising situation. Blast the man for ruining her carefully constructed plans for her life. Somehow she must maintain the secretive aspects of her life … but the more time they spend together, the more life with Sebastian doesn’t seem so bad. And before too long, rather than negotiate the terms of her surrender as Sebastian’s Duchess, Eliza is making a play to save her marriage, taking a chance that he could return her affections. Sebastian Sinclair – Duke of Wessex – never intended to marry Eliza. Admittedly, she is always necessary within his life in one way or another, yet he continues to deny what is right in front of him. He isn’t capable of love, after all. It is a weakness and he refuses to feel anything. To be fair, Eliza has played much the same game in the form of denial. But a couple of weeks at his country home and a life-altering conversation with a friend suddenly forces Sebastian to realize that his separation from Eliza is an inevitability once he's married … a reality that is one hundred percent unacceptable. As luck would have it, he ends up married to Eliza instead of the young lady he was supposed to offer for. Given her marriage demands prior to the wedding, he knows for certain that Eliza is guarding a secret - or ten - of her own. But when those secrets come to light, Sebastian believes he has thwarted every plan Eliza ever had for her future. Lug that he is, he doesn’t give her a chance to weigh in on the subject, never realizing that plans have a way of changing. In my review of the second book in the series, Lady Gone Wicked, I created a couple of hashtags in support of #BentonWessex #ElizaSebastian – I am giddy with joy as my prediction way back from the first book in the series, Twice As Wicked, has finally borne fruit! And dang if it wasn’t glorious! To recap, here is a quote from my review back in 2017. “The secondary cast was wonderful and a truly brilliant addition. I can’t wait to read about Ms. Benton and Wessex as I am sure their turn will be coming soon.” Did I call it? Yes. I did! It’s been a long 3 years since first we met Eliza and Sebastian. But finally! An HEA for this enchanting couple! Some of you may ask if I am biased. I suppose on some level I may be. However, I do not believe the case is any different for other reviewers who share a love for a particular author or series as I do with this one. I have been with this series since book 1 was an ARC. I had little choice but to adore these characters and become completely invested in their HEAs as the series progressed. And do you know what? I do not regret a minute of it. In fact, I so enjoyed Sebastion, that I began the review of the second book in the series by speaking entirely of him! So what did I love? Every part of it! Sebastian (or Wessex) and Eliza have been dancing around one another since the very first time they met. He was caught by her beauty. She wanted nothing to do with a Duke. Both were caught off guard. A bet occurred and Sebastian delivered. And from there, their delightful game of wit and schemes began. The two became almost an invisible life force for one another...

The Duke of Wessex nearly chokes on a strawberry, then where would the dukedom be? It would be finished, no little Duke to be to carry on the title, therefore he decides the moment the strawberry is dislodged from his throat, I must write a note to my beautiful best friend, Eliza Benton and get her to find me a wife, there, now all will be well, he will chose one of the ladies Eliza has put on her list, marry, have an heir and all will be well! Eliza finds this task easy enough until it is put in motion, then of course, the plan falls short in the face of reality. Both of them suffer from commitment issues, which must be addressed. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the book, knowing full well how it would end, but I did enjoy it! I highly recommend! Thank you. carolintallahassee