Wicked With the Scoundrel

DNF at 39%. Colin Smith has been off travelling the world having adventures, just the way he like it. But he has been forced to return to London to raise more money. He has been asked by the Marquess of Chatwell to humour his eccentric daughter Lady Claire Harrison's search for buried roman treasure by 'finding' some jewellery that he has recently buried, in return the Marquess will fund Colin's next treasure hunt. Lady Claire Harrison is somewhat socially awkward, she has a perfect memory and if left unchecked will tell someone the details of each and every time she has been to a venue (or any other occurrence). She is clearly intended to be portrayed as extremely intelligent if misunderstood and lacking in social skills (think Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory). I tried with this book but I just couldn't get into the writing, it felt artificial as if the author was talking in a fake English aristocratic accent as she wrote the book. I thought both Colin and Claire were unlikable characters and the insta-lurve that Claire experienced didn't ring true - why would she fall in love with such a boorish man? I picked the book up again to give it one last chance and nope, just couldn't carry on. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Colin Smith, the bastard son of a viscount, has returned to England after ten years of treasure hunting Lady Claire, daughter of a marquis, is everything Colin loathes about the ton, but she is determined to win him over. The pair meet in Bath & for Claire it’s love at first sight. Claire persuades Colin to help her search for the Cleopatra Emerald. If she can convince Colin Smith to take her with him as he travels the world, then she’ll have the life she’s always dreamed of. I enjoyed this third book in the series but not as much as the first two. I always find instant love hard to believe but it was handled well & Claire didn’t deviate from her feelings. I also felt Colin went from being lukewarm to Claire to being desperately in love with her. He needs the money from selling the finds to give his mother & himself some security. I liked both of them & their road to a HEA was very entertaining. The story flowed well & held my interest all the way through. Claire’s total memory recall was a different slant & I felt this could have been given greater scope. Overall an enjoyable read that with a little bit extra could have been so much better My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

The stories of those who went to Egypt to hunt hunting for treasure before it was stopped are fascinating. Colin Smith is just that adventurer! After being gone for ten years he returns to London to sell some treasures he has found and is looking for a patron to back his further expeditions. Despising the people and rules of the ton, he is eager to obtain what he needs and return. When he finds a Marquess who is willing to fund him, he also finds his daughter Clair who is determined to go on a treasure hunt with him to find a priceless jewel. Of course she is totally smitten with him upon first glance but she is everything that Colin has stayed away from. Will he take her and what will they find? Will he change his mind and find love with Clair? Elizabeth Bright has written an adventure with captivating characters that will keep you entertained until the end! I am anxious to go back and read the first two books in this series, but his can be read as a standalone.