Review: A Little Bit Wicked
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 02 17, 2013
A LITTLE BIT WICKED (Forbidden Love #1) by Robyn DeHartABOUT THE BOOK:  Released December 2012Book One in the Forbidden Love SeriesMarcus Kincaid has returned to England after a ten-year absence. His older brother died during that time, making Marcus the Earl of Ashford. Not only that, his younger sister is embroiled in a potential scandal that could ruin her chance at marriage. His aunt has already called in reinforcements--The Paragon.Vivian March is known simply as The Paragon. She moves through every circle within Society, smoothing out scandals and stopping gossip in its tracks. Everyone in London knows that if she aligns herself with you, Society will forgive you your sins. What they don't know is that she uses their secrets to cover her own jaded past.But with every kiss and every touch that Marcus thrusts upon her, Vivian comes to believe life is infinitely more fun when you can be just a little bit wicked...REVIEW:  A LITTLE BIT WICKED is the first book in Robyn DeHart's historical romance Forbidden Love series.The premise focuses on Vivian March-a woman known for her purity and virtue and all things anyone would want or need to know about being a woman.  She is the ton's matchmaker, problem solver and go to woman when the ladies of the ton have been compromised - in other words-no longer virgins.  But Vivian has a secret.  She had fallen in love ten years earlier and given her `virtue' to a man who disappeared on the night she was to be engaged.  Her past has caught up with her and her reputation as the ton's Paragon is in jeopardyAfter years of travelling abroad, Marcus Kincaid returns home to discover his sister's reputation is at stake and the woman he met years before, is helping the family to right a wrong.  And Marcus has one thing on his mind-to make Vivian March remember their stolen kiss on a moonlit night years before.Vivian and Marcus had a definite attraction to one another but Vivian's reluctance to admit her feelings as well as ensuring her `Paragon' title remained intact left me a little anxious.  I thought she believed herself in higher standing than many of the women of the ton.  The more she tried matchmaking for Marcus, the more she refused to see the bigger picture-that Marcus only wanted one woman and it was Vivian March. His passion and romantic notions far outweighed Vivian's practiced preaching.I had a few issues with this novel.  At several spots the storyline dragged:  I found myself skipping ahead at several points.  As well the `mystery or secondary' storyline was not revealed until half way through the novel and did not play out to its full potential.Vivian's character is several years older than Marcus but the heroine had a tendency to reinforce the fact that she was the ton's Paragon and she considered herself a spinster at the ripe old age of thirty-three on numerous occasions.  I felt like the author was trying to remind the reader of the age difference.  At times Vivian felt cold, uncaring and robotic in her dealings with the ton's people.  I had a difficult time warming up to her.Speaking of age difference:  There was an inconsistency in the ages of our leading couple-the difference in their ages changed on a number of occasions so that was a bit troubling at times.  I actually went back to make sure I hadn't missed anything.Overall, A LITTLE BIT WICKED is an interesting storyline written in the historical romance genre, but I felt it could have been much stronger if the `blackmail' storyline and been played differently.See all of my reviews at: thereadingcafe(dot)com