Title: Practically Wicked Series: Haverston Family #3
Author: Alissa Johnson
Published: October 2, 2012
Genre(s): Romance: Historical
Page Count: 328
Rating:
Summary from Goodreads:As the illegitimate daughter of a scandalous woman, Miss Anna Rees is almost as well known for having been raised in the hedonistic demimonde as she is for her quiet nature. Anna longs to leave behind her mother’s world of courtesans…until she unexpectedly meets the handsome, charming and decidedly wicked Lord Dane. If only she could convince him to join her in search of respectability...
Viscount Maximilian Dane is perfectly content being a rake. After years of obeying the dictates of proper society--with disastrous results--he stopped following the ton’s ridiculous rules, and he sees no reason to begin courting respectability anew. Except that it may be the only way for him to win the lovely and fascinating Miss Anna Rees—if only he could convince her that the grass is greener on the wicked side of the fence...
After three solid books in a row, I think we can officially be certain that Alissa Johnson is one of my favorite historical romance authors. Practically Wicked was charming, sweet, and enjoyable from start to finish. I loved how Max and Anna’s story had familiar elements but at the same time wasn’t exactly what I expected. Really, the entire book just made me exceedingly happy.
Johnson’s type of romance consists of lighthearted but real stories about mature adults. But as cute as her books are, they’re not fluffy or corny, and they don’t read like fake stories coated in sugar syrup. These books are about nice people who find love and a mostly rational, grown-up way. There is communication, there is honesty. All very important.
Practically Wicked is about Max and Anna, who met one fateful night and were instantly attracted to each other. They made plans to meet in the future, but Anna’s courtesan mother kept them apart, and both lived for four years in disappointment. But when Anna escapes from her mother, she runs back into Max, and they pick things up again.
Anna, firstly, is a great character. All of Johnson’s female protagonists are fabulous, but each in different ways. Anna grew up in a difficult place, the daughter of an infamous courtesan whose goal was only to get away from London society and be her own person. When she does make that escape, she’s through the moon with her new life, though still dealing with feelings of unlovableness. Our male lead, Max, on the other hand, is not at all the rake the reader is promised in the jacket copy. Like all Jonhson male leads, he is nice and wants only what’s best for his love interest, and is willing to do much to get that for her.
The progression of the relationship in Practically Wicked proceeds smoothly and without unnecessary or unrealistic drama. Initially, Max and Anna are awkward together because they’re both operating on the belief that four years ago they were rejected, being unaware of the mother’s part in all of it. But after that was cleared up, the couple went forward more or less smoothly. Obviously there was still tension, because without it we wouldn’t have a book, but nothing overly dramatic really happened.
I think Practically Wicked is a great story. Anna was a strong, proactive woman, and Max was the kind of man who’d try to help her achieve her goals. Alissa Johnson always writes a very satisfying Regency romance, and this book was no different.
