As always, I appreciate the opportunity to read and review your titles. I have chosen to DNF this title...actually, I did a while ago but wanted to wait (although I didn't intend to wait this long) to post this so it didn't impact review decision for other reviewers.

I look forward to the next title from your authors/company.

Thanks,
Laura

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I just wasn’t over the moon about it. The characters just didn’t pull me in. It was an okay story just wasn’t in love.

Lady Claire is a woman with average looks and an impeccable photographic memory. She's instantly fascinated by Colin Smith, the bastard son of a viscount that had returned to England to sell artifacts from Egypt. Her father hires Colin to help her track down a false treasure safely, putting them together despite their difference in class.

Claire is a fun heroine, and not because she isn't the elevated beauty that most Regency romance novels have. Her unusual quirk is her memory, which leads her to make lists of every instance she has ever encountered something, and her family doesn't despair of her socially because of that. Her maid and friends will jab her to remind her to stop, but no one ever treats her badly for it. It's obvious she has a loving family, and because of that, she is generous toward others that aren't as financially well off. While Colin at first thinks she's mocking him, she doesn't see the cruelty that others can couch as kindness. For her, she wants to help and provide others with comfort and goods that they need which she doesn't.

Colin has a very obvious chip on his shoulder at first and becomes very close to Claire. There isn't any serious danger in this novel, so there isn't any life or death action or mystery to really bind them together. The two are fascinated with the same things, and enjoy the lure of the chase after treasure, and discovering new places. It's adorable how they dance around each others' feelings, doing what they think will make the other safe and happy. And what's better, they talk to each other. There's no miscommunication to draw out the tension between them, and that ability to discuss their emotions and concerns brings everything together to its inevitable happy conclusion.

#WickedWithTheScoundrel - sounds wickedly delightful! Except that Colin wasn’t very much of a scoundrel. He is the bastard son of a viscount and a maid and he did seek his fortune in Egypt. (<I>Again sounds pretty darn good!</I>) He’s only returning to England to sell his finds. So we know he’s of a good character but terrible at making money 🤦‍♀️

Then we meet Lady Claire (what ever she wants she’s given) she’s desperate for more then the season and sees Colin as this romantic character who will show her adventure. To be honest she’s a little annoying! She’s never had to earn anything.

It felt a little flat. There was a number of directions the other could have gone in. A number of twist and turned to tempt you to turn the page quick. To have the reader hold her breathe desperate to see how the story would unfold.

<b>**Thanks to the author and netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.** </b>

I liked this story, the characters had a good balance of positive and negative traits, and I liked that they liked each other for those "negative" traits, not in spite of those traits. The plot went really well in the first half of the book, then it slowed a bit in the second half. There were some funny parts to this book, which I always appreciate. This is third in the series but reads as a stand alone without confusion. Overall, a good book. * I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.

I was not able to finish this book. While the premise of a young woman in Regency England wanting an archeological adventure seemed very interesting, it did not pan out. Claire was not relatable or realistic at all. She knew her actions were perceived as strange, odd, and "bad ton" by most of her acquaintances, and yet she still seemed shocked and flabbergasted when people reacted negatively to the things she did or said. It is one thing to know you are "different" and act accordingly, but not care. It is another thing to know you are "different" and yet continually be amazed by other people's reactions to you. She should have either not realized her actions were not in keeping with accepted societal norms, or not cared. I just didn't get it.

Here we have a quirky heroine who remembers everything and feels free to recite all details whenever someone inquires. Our hero is an adventurer who is only moderately interesting. They go on a quest; she for adventure and he for a treasure. Actually they both would like the treasure but only Claire is determined that it is to be found. Colin believes it to be a wild goose chase. He goes along with the adventure at the bidding of Claire's father who has promised funding for Colin's next Egyptian quest.

I enjoyed this book for the unique characters. It was well written with interesting side characters.

I loved this book! It was such fun. Lady Claire Harrison, daughter of the Marquess of Chatwell sees Colin Smith and it is love at first sight, for her at least.. He has spent 10 years away from her type of simpering miss. But, Claire was no simpering Miss, which would soon be found out. This story was an delightful adventure to read. They were such wonderful characters. I could not put it down and will be reading more of Elizabeth Brights books. I highly recommend this book.

Story just pulls you in. Colin and Claire are such likeable characters and their story was so different! Bright brings in a really cool aspect of treasure hunting combined with a strong female lead, making it a really fun read! So many great secondary a characters to, really enriching the story.

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.

I LOVED this book! Definitely my favorite out of the series so far. Claire’s quirks are her strengths, making her unique, determined, and independent. She loves Colin right away and boldly decides the course of their relationship, Colin’s fortune, and their future together. She’s forthright, kind, and realistically progressive (for the time period). Colin is an excellent counterpoint to her direct personality; he’s equally strong and kind but also has some serious baggage surrounding the consequences of his birth. His ability to love Claire grows space with his ability to accept his past and how he’ll approach the future. Their passion is intense, intimate, vulnerable, and raw. Solid 4 out of 5 stars for me!

The story and character traits given to the hero and heroine were a great concept. While I enjoyed the story, I wish Colin Smith's loathing of the upper class and Lady Claire's structured mind were carried further along as they seemed to stop once the treasure was discovered. I think the pacing of the story may have played a part in that. Good story but had more potential to be better.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book I've read byb Elizabeth Bright and I'm actually interested in the next of her books to be released.
I started off loving this book. I didn't care thag the hetoine fell in love with the hero at first sight because I fell in love with Claire instantaneously. I loved everything going on up until the discovery of the treasure.
It got a bit samey, boring and predictable in the second half of this story and I found myself slimming a lot of it. There were things that had no purpose in the story and other things that would have been more interesting had they been expanded upon.
Overall, not a bad book but it could have been better. 3 stars.

This charming story is book three in Elizabeth Bright's Wicked Secrets series. I didn't read the first two and wasn't lost at all, so you shouldn't have any problem. Claire is the daughter of a peer and lacked for nothing. She has an amazing memory and could remember every detail. Every. Boring. Detail. Therefore, she wished for excitement and adventure. Colin, too, was the child of a peer, albeit an illegitimate one. He is a treasure hunter who risks life and limb in his quest to make money. Could these two be any different?

Claire immediately fell in love with Colin. He, though, didn't seem very impressed with her. This is a romance novel, however, so you know of course that he falls in love with Claire. Here is the plot point in the story that tempered my enjoyment a bit. Colin seemed to turn into a totally different person when he fell in love. Of course he wanted to protect his beloved, but he turned into an overbearing nanny. Claire, though, wouldn't put up with that, and she ended up being the stronger of the two characters. It was still a fun story and I plan to read more from this author.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

She's looking for an adventure and his heart has her name written all over it. Colin and Claire are total opposites. She's always has a plan and he's used to playing things by ear. If they can see past their differences, they might discover the greatest treasure of all. Bright lays claim to every emotion. Wicked with the Scoundrel is an adventure not just for the characters, but for the readers as well. Claire and Colin may try your patience, but by the end of the story, they'll own your heart.

Historical Romance is becoming one of my all-time favourite genres... other than fantasy. This book kept me hooked until the very end.

Wicked with the Scoundrel is the third book in the Wicked Secrets Series. Although I have unfortunately not read the first and second book, the third is a perfect standalone story. I do intend to read the first two which probably will connect a few dots but as mentioned above I had no problem enjoying this story on it’s own. Also I look forward to book four! +1 fan.

Colin Smith reluctantly returns to England 10 years after his travels in Egypt and India. Accompanied by his business partner, Debananda Mukherjee (also known as Deb) and Deb’s sister, they hope to sell their treasures to the ton to finance their next expedition to Egypt. Colin is interested in one particular individual, Marquess of Chatwell, who is an enthusiastic collector.

The Daughter of Marquess of Chatwell, Lady Clair Harrison, attends the treasure showings with her father. She has a wonderful memory and coordinates each detail into lists when describing events in her life. However, she believes her life is quiet and rather dull, until she meets Colin whom she falls “head over ears for” and is the right amount of excitement and adventure she is looking for. Lady Clair is determined to have Colin fall in love with her, marry her and journey together to Egypt. She plots a clever plan to win over this man and improve his financial status.

Initially Colin shows no interested in Lady Clair and is even annoyed by her question about a crocodile. He soon has a change of heart when hired for a treasure hunt expedition in Bath with Lady Clair.

My all-time favourite character was Lady Clair with her matter of fact, analytically personality.

This is a well written, quirky story with very likeable characters.

Publication Date: 11 February 2019
** I received a copy of Wicked With the Scoundrel by Elizabeth Bright via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#WickedWithTheScoundrel #NetGalley

Wicked with the Scoundrel
by Elizabeth Bright
One fast paced adventure that leads to the only treasure worth it’s weight in gold. Lady Claire is unconventional daughter of the Marquise of Chatwell. Looking for adventure to break with her very staid life. She’s instantly hit by Cupid’s arrow and vows to make the object of her heart -Colin Smith- to fall hopelessly in love with her......he just doesn’t know it yet.
Colin Smith isn’t happy to be back on English soil he only wants to sell his treasure and be on his way again. But first he needs the Marquise of Chatwell to fund his new venture. Only one catch he needs to take Claire on a treasure hunt, easy peasy until Claire pulls a fast one on him and snatches his heart.
A heartwarming tale that keeps the reader entertained. Funny and witty dialogue, plenty of chemistry make this a pleasure to read.
I recieved a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest unbiased opinion.

3.5 stars - This one was okay, but didn’t blow me away. I wish the chemistry between the main characters was stronger. Also, the hero didn’t seem like a scoundrel at all. He’s illegitimate, but that’s not his fault. He doesn’t seem to be a rogue or philanderer. He is a treasure hunter, so maybe that’s the reason for the title.

The heroine is a blue stocking with a photographic, and maybe audiographic memory. Whenever she’s asked a question, she rambles on recalling countless details about which no one cares. She also seems to miss the social cues that would otherwise clue her into her ramblings. It all makes her a bit of an odd duck, although she is kind and well intentioned.

The writing itselfis decent, else I’d only give this one 3 stars. Unfortunately, the story and characters just don’t quite do it for me.

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

New to me author and what a pleasant surprise, interesting, unusual and lighthearted - an unusual and very welcome combination.

Aristocrat Lady Claire Harrison is the daughter of a Marquess and granddaughter to a Duke, She has a eidetic memory and remembers everything that has ever happened to her in exact detail, she is bored of her safe, well bred, comfortable yet sheltered life, she longs for adventure.

Colin is the illegitimate son of a viscount and a ladies maid, Unrecognised by his father, who has assaulted his mother,, Colin has a certain level of disdain for the aristocracy. He has returned to England with his Indian business partner Debananda (Deb), and his sister Riya. Colin is keen to sell as many artefacts as possible to support himself and his mother. He has Claire’s father in mind, and follows him to Bath.

Claire is instantly fascinated by Colin’s recounting of his adventures and the fact that he let a woman, accompany him, and she falls head over heels for him. She decides she wants to marry him, and in her logical and ordered way decides she needs to ensure he is a suitable parti, so that her parents will approve the match.. She decides that the best way to make this happen, is for him to become rich, and she hatches a plan to search for ancient treasure together in Bath.

What I loved about this book was the way that Ms Bright wrote her characters, They were not impossibly perfect, I.e. unbelievably good looking, rich, intelligent, selfless, kind paragons, they were normal, likeable people with their own foibles. Colin had a big chip on his shoulder about being illegitimate, and Claire’s photographic memory and logical souls mean that she is socially awkward and fond of listing things to people in conversation. These quirks really endeared the characters to me, and it was incredibly refreshing to read about two characters who fell for each other quickly and didn’t spend too much time denying their feelings for each other. The inevitable angst and misunderstandings were elegantly resolved, and the romance was very satisfying. I also was pleasantly surprised by handling of the Indian characters in this, who avoided quite a few, if not all, of the normal cliches used for POC usually found in Regency romances.

I will definitely check out Elizabeth Bright’s backlist.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Also posted on Goodreads.

Claire has an autobiographical memory which makes having conversations with people uncomfortable sometimes. Colin is a treasure hunter recently returned from Egypt. Claire takes one look at Colin and decides they are meant for each other, she just needs to convince him and help him gain some wealth. Claire is a member of the Ton and Colin is not. So, they go on a treasure hunt to find Cleopatra's Emerald. This was a cute romance with a Heroine that has some awkward traits and a Hero that loves her for them.