Too Wilde to Wed: The Wildes of Lindow Castle

FINAL DECISION: Simply amazing. I loved that a book that could of been filled with drama and angst instead tempered all that with humor and lightness. North and Diana were complex and interesting characters and the humor felt sophisticated and lovely. Another great book by Eloisa James. THE STORY: North Wilde, the future duke, was jilted by his fiancee two years ago. He went to America to fight for the British in the American Revolutionary War. He has returned to find that his reputation has been savaged. His former fiancee, Diana Belgrave, is living in his family's home acting as governess to North's youngest sister. Diana has a child that everyone assumes is North's illegitimate son. Gossip is that North ravaged and deserted her, leaving Diana no choice but to be a servant in North's home. Despite his best efforts, North finds that he still loves Diana and intends on convincing her to be his. And that is something that Diana will never allow to happen. OPINION: I so desperately wanted to read this book from the moment I met North and Diana in WILDE IN LOVE. Their story seriously kicked off with the ending of that book. Anticipation can work against me when I want to read a book because I am disappointed often. Happily, I loved this book. The Wilde men are something else. Passionate and willing to sacrifice everything for love. North seemed so different in the first book, but that is part of the story in this book -- how two people get to know the "real" person under the social mask. But gosh, I fell for North. He is so willing to forgive Diana even as he hurts from her betrayal. He is protective and a good man all around. Yet, this book shows him with a bit of naivety about the machinations of women. The combination of intense practicality and romanticism makes North one of my favorite of James' heroes. Now Diana is a bit of a mess. But that makes her incredibly brave. She is willing to toss herself into things that she fails at. As someone who is careful and deliberate, Diana's joyful living of life is something that I found greatly enjoyable. She feels shame and pain for what she did to North, but she knows herself. A woman who has no desire to be a duchess. I found the story between North and Diana pulled me into a bunch of emotional directions. I laughed, I cried, the story made my heart heavy and lifted my spirits. This story could have been dark and angst filled. I've read similar situations with books like that and I loved them -- but that is not this book. This book is light and funny in parts but it is firmly grounded in emotion and relationship. While there are certainly farcical elements including overturned chamber pots, an elderly peacock, and more of the hysterical prints about the Wildes, this book never allows itself to stray from the emotional connection between North and Diana. And their story seems impossible at every turn to have a happy ending -- until it does. This book moved immediately into one of my favorite Eloisa James's book and I really want to read more about this family and their friends. WORTH MENTIONING: Who knew that peacocks were so territorial? CONNECTED BOOKS: TOO WILDE TO WED is the second book in the Wildes of Lindow Castle series. The story can be read as a standalone although I think it works much better after being introduced to the family of characters in book one. STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars. NOTE: I received an ebook ARC of this book from Edelweiss in order to prepare this review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

Over the course of the past year I have read over 150 regency romances. Amazon sells thousands of regency romances — many too poorly written to be worth reading. Thus, I find myself most often choosing what books to read based on authors. Elosia James is my absolute favorite. I truly believe that (other than the first desperate duchesses book that felt vaguely mildly incest-y) that she can do no wrong. Her book ‘When Beauty Tamed the Beast” is my go-to recommendation for regency romance novel virgins. That said, while I liked “Too Wilde to Wed” I found it slightly underwhelming. The book tells the story of North and Diana — two characters introduced in James’ previous book “Wilde in Love.” In “Wilde in Love” North, the heir to a dukedom, is engaged to Miss Diana — a seemingly docile beautiful woman. Despite awkward conversations and the obvious reality that Diana simply wasn’t into him, North fancies himself in love with Diana. To a reader, it is pretty clear that North is thinking with his dick on this one. At the end of the book, Diana jilts North and flees. In response, North runs off to the Americas to go find in the Revolutionary War. The book starts off two years later after North returns home and discovers that Diana is working as a governess at his house! She is caring for her young nephew (although he suspects for a while that the boy is her son). Immediately sparks fly as North discovers that Diana is not docile at all while Diana discovers that North is not nearly as stuffy as she thought (i.e. he doesn’t always wear heels). I’m not going to spoil the rest of the book, but I will let y’all know that it has a happy ending (but then again, what regency romance novel doesn’t?). The writing style is Elosia James at her best: full of humor, witty banter, and sizzling chemistry. For that reason alone, the book is a must read for summer. However, like I mentioned earlier, the book was remarkably underwhelming: neither North nor Diana were particularly likable, and I found their story ridiculously inconceivable (and not in the everyone is getting kidnapped and this isn’t remotely historical accurate way…I love those kind of books). As a reader, you are excepted to believe that North feel in love with Diana at first sight. He loved her as a quiet, blushing woman under her mother’s thumb who went out of her way to avoid him. And, despite going to war, never fell out of love with her. When he meets her again, he realizes she is a dramatically different person than he originally thought — full of fire, snarky comebacks, and a burning desire for independence. And yet he never seriously doubts his love towards her despite this monumental shift in her personality. This seriously bothered me. I mean, I’m all for Diana’s newfound confidence, but North’s unwavering devotion makes me think that the only reason North wants Diana at all is her looks — that he didn’t give a damn about her personality. My other issue with this book resided in the character of Diana. I tend to really enjoy books that feature spunky heroines who defy societal expectations, but Diana made decisions that were simply irresponsible and, frankly, stupid. James paints Diana as a woman devoted to her nephew, and yet the choices Diana makes are selfish and not in the child’s best interest. All that said, I would recommend one reads “Too Wilde to Wed” if they have the chance. The ending of the book is truly unique and I smiled at the lighthearted humor the entire duration of the book. However, it is definitely not James best. Rating: 3.7/5 Check out my review blog on medium titled "Sunflowers and Romance Book Blog!" for more reviews :)

Book #2 in the series The Wildes of Lindow Castle, Too Wilde to Wed can be read without knowledge of the previous book. Miss Diana Belgrave and Lord Roland Northbridge Wilde - North (heir to a dukedom) - have a very traditional engagement until Diana jilts North and runs away. North chases Diana and finds her taking care of a baby, whom he believes is Diana's child with another man, since while engaged, Diana and North barely exchanged a kiss. Shocked, North leaves England to fight in America. After two years away from home, North comes back home to find Diana living there and working as a governess, taking care of North's young daughter and Godfrey, a boy his family believes is his son. I enjoyed reading the book, I may say it's one fo the best books I've read this year. Although I laughed a lot reading book #1 (Wilde in Love), I fell in love with Book #2: North and Diana are lovable characters, both insecure about themselves, but absolutely loyal in relation to their families. And I loved how their love for each other grow stronger as they get to know each other better. I can't wait to read the next book in this series, about Diana's cousin, Lavinia, and the Wildes' best friend, Part Sterling.

A very fresh 2nd episod in the Wide serie. Quite an unusual female character (two I should say as Lady Knowe stands on her own) and a very determined male one with adorable children in bonus! A must-read.

Another great book by Eloisa James! I dove in and didn't come up for air until finished. Just enough angst to keep it rolling. Humour and romance in equal measure. Love it.

I love Eloisa James's historical romances, and I am so pleased she has gone back to the Georgian period for this new series, as her Desperate Duchesses books are favourites of mine. Eloisa's particular strength is her ability to write lovable characters, even in small roles. They are usually part of a close family or group of friends, and you can almost believe you know these people in real life - and wish you did! The Wildes of Lindlow Castle are a particularly lovely bunch. However, there are an awful lot of them so, if you are considering reading this book, you might benefit from reading Wilde in Love first. This story is about Lord Roland (known as 'North'), who is the eldest surviving son of the Duke of Lindlow but his reluctant heir. Prior to the start of this story (another reason to read Wilde in Love first!), North fell madly in love with Miss Diana Belgrave but she promptly jilted him at their betrothal party. Now he has returned home from war in America to find her employed by his family as a governess - along with a young son, who everyone believes is his! I absolutely loved North. In fact I loved him so much there were times I felt Diana didn't deserve him. All through the book he makes compromises for her, yet she doesn't seem to make any sacrifices in return. Also, although I really, really enjoyed the book, I did find the ending a little unsatisfying. Too Wilde To Wed has some interesting things to say about how love sometimes isn't enough to make a happy marriage, and that two people have to be completely right for each other and able to move freely in each other's world. It seemed particularly timely that I read this book shortly after the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and could consider how someone from a show business background, used to dealing with both the public and the media, would fit perfectly into the royal family. In Too Wilde To Wed, as much as Diana loves North, she has no confidence in her ability to make a good duchess. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Born to be Wilde, which will be out in the UK on the 31st July - whoop!

This has to go down as one of my favourite EJ novels to date! I thought it was a fabulous romance and a great H/h. It was humorous, light-hearted and romantic and of course beautifully written. North wasn't afraid to show his feelings either. The children and the Wilde family simply enhanced the story for me. Quite often this author's books get swept away with secondary characters and the romance is lost, but this one I thought, had a great balance between the two. Of course it is pretty modern in feel and in the character's attitudes, thoughts and actions, but most Historical authors write this way these days. One thing I have to comment on is the word 'partner'. I also read this in another Historical the other day and it's being increasingly used. This is a very 21st century word for a couple -husband/wife, etc and I don't think it belongs in a true Historical. It was certainly not in use when I married. Last century - a million years ago...! (1982) LOL. I do like to feel I'm in the time period being written about (1780) and that word just throws me out of it - I know it's politically correct in today's society, but I like the fact I have a 'husband'. Anyway I enjoyed this book, read it in one day and didn't want to put it down, so it gets 5 stars from me. ❤