Review: From Disgrace Grows Strength
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 30, 2011
One foolhardy act by young Lady Jillian Fitzgerald changed her life forever. She lost everything -- her fiance, her good name, her acceptance in polite society -- all because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It would be easy to blame the events of that day on Adrian St. John, Earl of Wickham, but "Lord Wicked" as he was popularly called was no more at fault than she.Unfortunately, Lord Wicked left England and didn't know what had happened whereas Jilly was forced to face the wagging tongues and the scorn of the ton for eight long years until he returned.In eight years, Jilly grew up and, instead of hiding her face in shame, she rebelled against all the restrictions women faced. She refused to be cowed and held her head high. Now a woman of independent means, she has a mind of her own and a will to match. A mind of her own? A strong will? How unthinkable for a woman in Regency England!Without spoiling the story, I must tell you that Adrian and the now-grown Jilly are more than a match for each other. Jilly questions all the constraints against women, and Adrian finds himself drawn by her strength and stubborn will as much as he is drawn by her beauty.Jilly is a heroine you'll love. She is determined that if Adrian is to like her, then, by God, he'll like her for herself, as she is, without pretending that she is like all the other women. Adrian, the delicious Lord Wicked, is a hero you'll adore because he's determined to do the right thing, and, in so doing, finds himself ensnared.From tippling Aunt Prudence to big brother Simon, who was the hero in Big 2 of The Garden Series, In the Garden of Seduction, the characters will delight you, and you'll be hoping that Ms. Wicklund has another book planned for this enchanting Regency series.