Wilde in Love by Eloisa James
Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Wildes of Lindow Castle, #1

Release Date: October 31, 2017

What a wonderful start to a new series!

Lord Alaric Wilde aka Lord Wilde, author, adventurer and son of the Duke of Lindow is back in England after years of traveling. He was expecting a hot bath, a cup of tea and a quiet reunion with his family to mourn the death of his eldest brother but what he got was a mob of ladies clamoring to meet the infamous Lord Wilde. Unbeknownst to Alaric, someone has adapted and embellished his books into a play titled “Wilde in Love”” and the women of England can’t wait to meet him and console him after the tragic death of his beloved. His fame or infamy comes as a shock to Alaric and he has to disguise himself to escape.

Miss Wilhelmina Ffynche aka Willa and her friend Lavinia are attending a house party at Lindow Castle, in honor of the betrothal of their friend Diana and the duke’s heir and Alaric’s older brother Lord Roland Northbridge Wilde (aka North). Lavinia is overjoyed that Lord Wilde will be there, she has read all his books and has purchased several prints of his adventures, Willa is not as enthused, she has not read any of his books and has spent the last three years listening to Lavinia gush over the man. So it comes as a bit of shock to her when she first meets him and finds herself reluctantly attracted to him.

Alaric is fascinated by Willa, not only is she lovely and intelligent – but she has absolutely no interest in fawning over him like the rest of the women attending the party.

Willa has no interest whatsoever in Alaric, she is a very private person and the thought of having a husband who is adored and pursued by countless women is abhorrent to her. She is sure that his books are made up and the man himself is unreliable. She tries to avoid him as much as she can without being rude, but the more she tries to avoid him, the more determined he becomes.

Willa grudgingly accepts Alaric’s presence and even begins to like the real Lord Alaric, but she still has no desire to form any attachment to a man that is most likely going to leave again and is stalked by hordes of women. So when a crazed woman appears at the party and announces that she is Alaric’s deceased beloved, Willa pretends to be his betrothed to discourage the woman.

Alaric see this as an opportunity to woo Willa, he has decided that she is the woman for him and he will win her!

This book is delightful, it a well written, engaging and witty read. The introduction of secondary characters (who will presumably have books of their own) was done perfectly, they enhanced the story of Willa and Alaric instead of distracting the reader, there are mischievous siblings, a pet skunk, a crazy stalker, a hero who doesn’t mince words with other women, a bog and finally a wonderfully done HEA – with an epilogue!!

I loved this book, I am happy to recommend it and I am looking forward to Roland’s book (Ms. James set his book up with a bit of a cliffhanger in this story).

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by Edelweiss and the publisher*