Another amazing historical romance. I was intrigued by the title and hooked by the blurb and was not disappointed

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Katrina Kendrick for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Touch Wicked coming out April 11, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I was intrigued by the description. I love Victorian romances. I think the romance was a little fast. There’s definitely a lot of spice, which was to be expected but I didn’t think it’d be for most of the plot. I would’ve enjoyed a little more storyline. I thought the masquerade part of the book would be more elaborate. I think the first 2/3 of the book didn’t have much action besides the bedroom kind of action. I found the last 1/3 of the book more fun.

This book had everything I look for to get my out of my reading slump.

I'm not a huge fan of historical romance fiction however the story is easy to read with quick pacing and steamy scenes. I had to get over the idea that someone wouldn't be recognised after removing their masquerade mask but it was so enjoyable! Emma and Jones have my HEART. Their chemistry and spark was through the roof and I couldn’t get enough of their story. Alexandra was an amazing character who I adored as well!

This book is full of passion, danger and forbidden romance and I loved every minute of it!

Oh god I thought it was a sweet historical romance, with perhaps some tension and chemistry, and with a very interesting conspiracy plot.

It was far from it.

Historical? Debatable. There's so many historical errors even I, basic reader who haven't done research, noticed. The way of speech, the way to think, the way it was written, was not historical. The most noticable was the word "spoil" in a sentence about spoiling the story of a book. Hello, this is very 20th century here.

Romance? Meh. It was lust. They talk about loving each other while they know basically nothing of each other but they feel love. No, they feel lust. They want to be with them for their body and the sex. Not because they love each other. That's not love, that's not romance.

Tension/Chemistry? Ah yes, that was the main point : smut. So many sex scenes I've read over because one is ok but I think there were 5 or 6 ?? That's too much. That was the main point of the book.

Interesting conspiracy plot? Nope. Oh the idea was interesting. But Emma prefered to f#ck her dear lord than looking out for a possible dead sister. Only the last 15~20% was really about that and it was extremely rushed and you don't even know what happens and why and suddenly the sister is "found", there's deaths, and everything's fine, the end.

Honestly... Go for it for the smut. That's all you'll get from that book.
I would have prefered following Alexandra whom seemed to be a more interesting characters, with a real plot. SHE was the feminist character in the book. Not Emma. Not the MC.

I thank NetGalley and the publisher Aria & Aries for providing me with an early copy of the book “A Touch Wicked.”
“A Touch Wicked” is a historical romance set in London, revolving around James, the Earl of Kent, and Emma Dumont, a resource-poor woman who infiltrates the earl’s house to save her criminal sister. The premise is intriguing, with deadly secrets, lethal attraction, and a brutal conspiracy. However, the execution fell short.
Author Katrina Kendrick attempts to create a world of mystery and intrigue, but the plot becomes predictable, and the characters remain shallow. James, the Earl of Kent, is portrayed as London’s most eligible bachelor, yet his character lacks depth. Emma Dumont, on the other hand, is depicted as a desperate heroine, but her actions often feel forced and inauthentic.
Furthermore, the relationship between James and Emma lacks chemistry. While their attraction is mentioned, it is not well-developed or convincing. The attempt to create a forbidden romance between them gets lost amidst parallel plots and predictable twists.
In conclusion, “A Touch Wicked” had the potential to be an engaging love and mystery story, but unfortunately, it didn’t fulfill that promise. Perhaps other readers may appreciate what Kendrick attempted, but for me, the book was not an enjoyable read.

I had a good time reading this. James was such a lovesick sap and it was funny to see. He has no idea that Emma and his lady were the same person yet he was equally in love with them both. All he wanted to do was marry her and she was so against it. I understood all of her reservations but I'm glad it all worked out.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I would like to thank netgalley and Aria & Aries for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable.

While in Paris, Emma Dumont learns the depth of the trouble her younger sister Isabel was in, when she try to find her and was attacked by a thug and barely escaped with her life Isabel’s apartment. Isabel was long gone and her rooms tossed, but Emma knew her sister’s hiding spot and thankfully before the ruffian showed up, she found a clue, an invitation bearing the words The Masquerade, London. Leaving Emma with no choice but to follow her. Once in London, she blackmails her father, the Duke of Southampton for a reference letter and takes a job as a lady’s maid to the sister of the Earl of Kent. Hoping to find her sister and help her out of whatever mess she has gotten herself into. But what she finds is a wonderful friend in Lady Alexandra Grey and when she finally makes her way to the Masquerade, a forbidden lover in her brother James, the Earl of Kent. But none of this stops her from her ultimate goal of finding Isabel. All too soon, her lies are found out and instead of contempt, she find love, but even Emma knows, she can bring more danger to the people she has come to love and there is no way the illegitimate daughter of a duke and sister to a wanted woman can have a happily ever after. Right?

James Grey, the Earl of Kent knows duty all too well, he practically raised his younger brother and sister, even when his parents were alive. Now he cares for the estates and is planning to marry, to ensure his sister is properly launched into society and finds a man to make her happy. He is determined to do right by Alexandra, even at the cost of his own happiness. To that end, he hires Emma to be his sister’s maid, and he is overwhelmed by his instant attraction to her and fights his improper feelings. When his brother Richard suggests that he find a lover and gives him an invitation to The Masquerade, his first instinct is to decline, but decides that maybe a lover is exactly what he needs to forget about Emma and to settle him before he begins looking for a bride. He never expected to fall so hard for his masked lover or to be so devasted when she breaks things off with him. But even that doesn’t stop his attraction to Emma and when her lies are exposed, he is at first angry, but he isn’t going to let her walk out of his life without a fight. Soon it is clear that there is much more to Emma than he first thought, but that only makes him want her more, can he convince her that they have both given enough to their families and that they deserve to be happy? Or will she break his heart all over again?

This book was so much more than I was expecting! This book has lies, secrets, danger, witty banter, amazing characters, smokin’ hot love scenes, spies, action, heartache, life or death moments, more danger, more heartache and finally a HEA that didn’t seem possible. I really enjoyed the story and hope to see these characters again! I did feel like Emma played the martyr a bit too hard and seemed determined to be unhappy, but thankfully, James was just as determined to be happy! This book is part of the Private Arrangement series, but the books can be read as standalone titles without a problem. If you like a steamy Victorian romance with a bit of intrigue and a heaping dash of danger – this is the book you have been looking for!

4.5 stars

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

This is a quick, entertaining read with an excellent balance of action, spice, romance and character development. I particularly enjoyed the snappy and humorous dialog between James and Emma, and also James and his siblings - definitely want to read more about them in the rest of the series.

By day Emma poses as a maid in a handsome Earl’s house, by night Emma attends a Masquerade and ends up attracting his attention. Emma is penniless, hates nobility, and is a nobody. This makes it impossible for her to be with James, the Earl of Kent. Oh and she is on the hunt for her beloved, criminal sister and ends up tangled in a web of danger and deceit.

You can’t take this book too seriously, it’s enjoyable, dramatic, and filthy in the best ways. The historical inaccuracy and impropriety of the whole situation are honestly best ignored. It was a fun and light-hearted book. Do I want to read the rest of the series? Absolutely. I enjoyed every minute of this book - apart from Emma was slightly grating on me by the end. I would have also enjoyed more interactions between Emma and James while she was a maid. It felt a little like half the story she was Emma and the other half she was Tempest with the worlds not really colliding enough for me. For example, seeing Emma the maid interact with James after she’d been with him the night as Tempest would have fleshed it out a bit more for me.

This book is a solid 3.5 stars but honestly I’d read it again and would read the others so I’ll give it a 4 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There are a number of words that come to mind upon finishing this book and exhilarating is probably a good one to describe how I am feeling at the moment. The synopsis barely scratched the surface of what this book is about. There is romance (and a significant amount of rather steamy scenes), but there is also quite the thread of mystery woven throughout. Untangling Emma’s sister’s disappearance is quite a bit complex. The characters we meet along the way are great. I loved Callahan and would not say no to a book about more of his shenanigans, especially if Alexandra were to be a part of it. That woman is the greatest.
The undeniable chemistry between Emma and James is delicious. I love that the story was in dual POV so that I could get right into how both of them were feeling at any given moment. I was so invested in both of them. Emma is loyal and witty - and commanding in the bedroom. Her character arc does contain more depth than James’. I would have liked a bit more from him other that his pining and boxing matches with his brother. I also would have preferred if Emma just gave in more easily at the end, but thankful that James did not relent 😉
The plot kept me engaged from the beginning until the end, my interest never strayed.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Aria book for an e-arc. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

James Grey, the Earl of Kent, is looking for a bride. He is rich and handsome but wants one last chance to enjoy his freedom. When his brother organises a invitation to the Masquerade, an illicit club where members carry on affairs in complete anonymity, he is unaware that his life is about to change. There he meets a woman whose name he does not know. Little does James know that the woman who has captured his attention is actually Emma Dumont, an illegitimate nobody who has been working as a maid for his sister. When Emma overheard his plans to attend the Masquerade, she decided to go under the guise of a lady, seduce him, and spend one night in his arms. However, one night turns to many, until she decides that she must escape before she reveals her secrets.
A steamy romance between two great characters. I enjoyed James for his no nonsense manner and Emma, for her strength of character in doing all that she can to find her sister. At times, I did find it hard to believe that James did not see any connection to Emma, as I would have thought that this might have spark some curiosity in him. Overall, a good read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katrina Kendrick and Bloomsbury publishing for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for a review.

This is a very fun historical romance romp! We have two morally grey MC, a delightful ensemble cast and importantly a realistic love story.

We join our FMC character who is travelling from France to London seeking family. We have a bored aristocrat who is seeking to manage his interesting family. Sparks fly, dangerous people are encountered and our two MC have to explore the intersection between duty, love and what’s best for family.

I love that it’s gradual for the love story to grow, the side characters are hilarious and add so much to the story and that no one is truly moral.

My only complaint is I have no idea what time this is meant to be set in!

DNF at 46%

I am so sad to be DNFing this book. It had a very fun premise and good moments but it just could not grab me.

My main issue was that I was really emotionally invested in the search for the FMC's sister but it just felt like it was going no where. We saw none of the search, none of her investigation, it was just basically her going "gee I sure do wish I could find her!" and no actual search. This was the one part of the story that I really cared about and to get this far in with no progress was too disappointing for me to carry on.

I hope I can come back to this book one day and see how it ends, but right now it just isn't doing it for me. I'll be keeping this review off of Goodreads because I don't think my experience may be a reflection of all readers experiences here.

If you're looking for a short, fast-paced, spicy historical romance, this is the one for you.

Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as I hoped. There wasn't much character depth or growth. The mystery and hidden identity element were a much-welcomed dynamism to the story. However, my biggest issue was that there was no love story at all. There's spice but not romance per se. To me, the falling in love part is one of the most important aspects of a romance book, and sadly, this one didn't deliver as I expected.

Still, I know a lot of people will enjoy it. James and Emma are great characters; their dynamic was quite fun to read.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fun spicy romance between an aristocrat and a poor woman, James and Emma make a good pair. It's also funny in spots, something romances often aren't. And the spice....Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

This was a fast paced, fun read, that reminded me of Bridgerton. This book had romance, scandal, and of course spice. I have to say the spice was done well, and it was spicier than I thought it was gonna be. The characters were also well written, even the side characters, which sometimes tend to be two dimensional. The author did a great job in making me care about more than just the main characters. Overall, I liked it and would recommend it to people who like Bridgeton, and want an easy historical romance to read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Well... It you want a quick book, involving historical romance, masked underground clubs... I guess you could pick this one.
Do I sound underwhelmed... A bit! Ok so... The story is fine : she's looking for her lost sister and ends up sleeping with her boss. She knows who he is and he doesn't. Alright! But... (And here I dont have much wigs experience so feel free to help correct me if I'm wrong) Can a wig really hold that much sex???
If you can get over the "oh come on, how doesn't he realise it's her" part, then you're good to go.
It was cute, diverting and fun.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for access to the e-arc against my honest review.*

This was my first time reading a historical romance and I was def not disappointed. It had the right amount of spice and also mystery element that kept me invested in the story. I am interested in continuing the story and the world that has been built surrounding the characters.

This story follows FMC Emma- who has made a living working hard and making an honest living. Her sister, Isabel however had decided other questionable ways (crime) of being able to support herself. When Emma discovers that her sister is missing and is in danger she decides to go London- undercover and work British Lord's house in order to gain access to a scandalous masquerade club (as these were the last clues that could help her track her sister). Things get complicated when she did not expect her employer, James, Earl of Kent to be there.

Novella's are always hit or miss with but this was a hit! This reminds me of Bridgerton a bit. There is scandal and spice! Grumpy X sunshine with the maid. There is a strong female presence and the men are not liking it but I am love it! This may seem very well known historical romance but i don't read much of historical romance so this fits me great! The masquerade was LIT! it is where everything starts to get hotter and hotter! Highly recommend for anyone wanting to try historical romance! thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Aria & Aries for providing me an eARC of this book!