Too Wilde to Wed by Eloisa James
Tracy’s rating: 3.5/4 of 5 stars

Series: The Wildes of Lindow Castle, #2

Release Date: May 28, 2018

At the end of Wilde in Love, Diana runs away from her betrothal party and jilts Lord Roland “North” Wilde. Months later he finds her in a cottage with a baby. Assuming she was with another man, he leaves to fight the war in America. Two years later, he is back and his reputation is ruined, Diana is a Lindow Castle working as a governess to his youngest sister and presumably his bastard son. North wants answers!

Diana never wanted to be a duchess, but if she refused to play along with her mother’s scheme, her sister and nephew would be hurt. She agrees to marry North, but she was desperately unhappy, North didn’t know the real Diana, only the perfect lady she presented to win him. Her sister died right before her betrothal party and a heartbroken Diana is forced to go, but when she learns that her mother has sent her nephew to an orphanage, she flees without a word. Months later she is living with Godfrey (her nephew) when North finds her, she says she is sorry, but he leaves before she can explain. Later his Aunt Knowe finds her and brings her to the castle. Diana was nearly destitute and let everyone believe that Godfrey was North’s son. Gossip spreads and North is painted as a villain.

Upon his return, he realizes that he is still in love with Diana and that he never really knew her. Diana tries to apologize and tells North the whole story, he is shocked and ashamed that he didn’t know or give her a chance to explain. They form a friendship and North is determined to make things up to her. He offers marriage, which she refuses, repeatedly. They spend time together and North falls further in love, she calms him, he is suffering from his time at war, he feels guilty about the men lost and can’t sleep or eat. But when he is with Diana, she seems to know exactly what he needs and with her, he finds peace.

North knows he should give up his quest for her, but he just can’t stay away. He is at a loss, everyone agrees that she is not cut out to be a duchess, but he wants her still. For her part, Diana care for North, but knows she would be miserable as a duchess and has to refuse him, but she too is drawn to him.

The return of her cousin from France, finally sets things in motion to restore both hers and North’s reputations, so when North proposes and is rejected once again, he makes another offer – one Diana also refuses. But that offer is a catalyst and forces her to make a decision about hers and Godfrey’s future, one that does not include North.

But a well timed rescue, words of wisdom from the mouth of babes and a shocking pronouncement may finally bring these two the HEA they deserve.

I liked this book, but I didn’t love it nearly as much as I did the first book. I got tired of Diana’s nonsense and thought North was just too good to be true. In true Eloisa James fashion, the story moves right along, is well written, steamy & has plenty of witty banter, ridiculous scenarios, likable secondary characters and a HEA, this book also has a very sweet epilogue and sets up the next book very nicely. This is the second book in the series and I personally think they should be read in order, but I think you could probably read this as a standalone title with no real problem.