Good book. Madeline and Luke have a brief history of a one night stand a year earlier. The intensity of the encounter threatened Luke's control of his feelings, so he didn't continue the pursuit. Madeline also had trouble forgetting that night, as it broke through her grief over her husband's death. Now Madeline has a problem, and Luke is the only one she feels she can trust to help her.

When Madeline defends herself against a blackmailer, she's horrified to realize she may have killed him. With nowhere else to turn, she sends for Luke. He isn't all that happy to respond to her summons, but he also knows she would only contact him if she were desperate. Despite the circumstances, it is evident that the sparks between them are still there. Once the matter at hand is resolved, Luke knows he should go back to avoiding her, but he can't do it. Instead, he gets involved in retrieving her property, then protecting her from the consequences. In spending time together, the attraction between them flares up again. But Luke is still not interested in marriage, and she doesn't plan to marry again, so Madeline decides to take what she can get, and they begin an affair.

Though she is the one who propositioned him, Madeline quickly realizes that she risks losing her heart to Luke. From his question to her, "Can you promise that you won't die?" she senses that there is something in his past that prevents him from risking his heart. I liked the way that she did not push him, but expressed her love the only way she could. Though he has quite the reputation as a rake, Luke treats Madeline with respect and kindness. He was so torn up by what happened in Spain that he swore he would never risk his heart again. But from the moment of his first encounter with Madeline, Luke sensed that she could put an end to his ability to keep himself emotionally distant from those around him. Once he saw her again, his protectiveness was aroused as well as his attraction to her. Every time he felt himself begin to soften towards her, he reminded himself of why he couldn't go there. Unfortunately for Luke, pulling himself back became harder each time. Before long, he realized that he wanted more.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching Luke do things he would never have dreamed of before getting involved with Madeline. Publicly escorting her to various events was one thing, but when he showed up at the opera when she was with her mother and aunt, that made quite a statement. I had to laugh as his friends and family realized his feelings for Madeline long before he would admit them. It took a near-tragedy to break him free of his fears and allow him to open his heart to what they could have together.

Woven throughout the book was the question of how Lord Fitch had gotten his hands on Lord Brewer's journal. Not only did Luke and Madeline try to figure it out themselves, but Luke also asked for help from his friend, Michael. Michael was involved in working Intelligence for the Crown during the war and has continued now that the war is over. His investigation uncovers a possible link between the journal and his pursuit of an English traitor. Michael and Luke feared for Madeline's safety when they figured out who the traitor was. I was on the edge of my seat as they raced to stop the culprit before it was too late.

There was also a fun secondary romance between Luke's sister Elizabeth and their step-cousin, Miles. It was clear from the beginning that Miles had it bad for her, but Elizabeth was utterly oblivious. They had been friends all their lives, though Elizabeth was very good at picking fights with him. Miles had the patience of a saint as he waited for her and put up with her shenanigans. I had to laugh when the light finally went on, and she realized that the antagonism she felt toward him had its roots in attraction. Once she did, there was no holding her back as she put the energy she used to use to tease him into winning her man. ( )

Madeline is a widow, but she’s not your typical historical widow who hated her husband and hated the conjugal bed. Nope, Madeline loved her husband and actually enjoyed that part of her marriage. But Colin has been gone for years and someone is attempting to blackmail her into an affair with intimate knowledge of her marriage. So how did this come to pass? Colin kept a journal of his everyday life and he wrote down a few key details about what went on in the marriage bed...and as the case may be, a few times outside the marriage bed, like that one time at the opera house. And that journal was stolen. How does Luke, Viscount Altea enter into all this? One night a year ago, five years after her husband passed away, Madeline and Luke spent a passionate evening together. And even though Luke gave Madge the cold shoulder after the encounter, she knows she can still turn to him when she koshes her would-be blackmailer over the head and believes him dead. And sure enough, Luke comes to her rescue.

And the would-be blackmailer isn’t dead – but having to explain his presence in her drawing room could create a scandal for Madge so Luke takes care of that for her. And it brings him back into her sphere. You see, after that one night a year ago, Luke gave Madge the brush off for his own self-preservation. He lost someone he loved in the war and no one knows about it and he doesn’t want to open himself up to that kind of heartbreak ever again, and he knows he could easily fall in love with Madeline.

And even though Madeline was upset with Luke’s actions a year ago, she still desires him and so she goes after him – not for marriage, but for an affair. Meanwhile, there is still someone out there who wishes Madeline ill, and it somehow ties into her deceased husband’s journal…

I thoroughly enjoyed Our Wicked Mistake! I loved that Madeline wasn’t your stereotypical widow and that after years of celibacy she decided to do something for herself. And Luke, sweet Luke. I thought it was an interesting twist for a hero to avoid a woman because he knew she would make him feel too much. Usually a man will deny deny deny. But nope, Luke knew from the get-go and so he decided to stay away from temptation. But Madeline grabbed life by the horns and decided to take her fate into her own hands and went after her man. She even understood that all he would be able to offer her was an affair, something temporary. I like historical heroines who own their sexuality, that defy the conventions of the time.

What truly made Our Wicked Mistake even that much more satisfying was the secondary romance between Luke’s younger sister Elizabeth and their step-cousin Miles. You know I love nothing more than a good friends to lovers story and that’s what this one was. Elizabeth and Miles were childhood companions who grew up together and Miles knew he loved Elizabeth but he wasn’t sure about her feelings and it ate him up inside that she was in the market for a husband.

The plot surrounding Colin’s journal was interesting as well. And it was kind of in the background which was perfect for the story. The focus was on Luke and Madeline and the mystery was there, but did not overshadow the romance.

Overall, I thought Our Wicked Mistake was a great read and highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t read Emma Wildes before. For fans of her writing, this one is right up there with her other novels. I’m giving Our Wicked Mistake a 4.5 out of 5. I can’t wait to read the 3rd book, His Sinful Secret! ( )

this one seemed to meander all over the place. first you were with madeline and luke. then elizabeth and miles. and neither seemed cohesive. the parts didn't mesh into a solid whole for me, but was more like one of those decorative afghans where the holes are held together by little links.
it wasn't bad by any means, it just didn't mesh for me. ( )

Depois da leitura do livro anterior acerca de Alex St. James estava ansiosa por ler o segundo da trilogia “Notorious Bacherlors” que conta a história de Luke Daudet.
Este é um livro carregado de sensualidade e desejos proibidos entre o Visconde Altea e a viúva Lady Brewer, Madeline May É também através desta trilogia que temos um vislumbre da guerra e do quanto ela marcou alguns dos mais ilustres nobres do reino de Inglaterra., que se viram ao serviço da coroa britânica, a lutar com os seus aliados contra o Napoleão Bonaparte. Este foi um período bastante tenso, com vários traidores pertencentes à alta sociedade britânica. Neste livro Luke, que aparentemente se mostra um playboy, esconde um terrível segredo que veio marcar a sua vida. Um acontecimento ocorrido durante a guerra e que o marcou profundamente. Madeline, ou como é apelidada carinhosamente por Luke, Madge é uma viúva muito respeitada, que terminou à pouco tempo o seu período de luta e que se mantem afastada dos homens que tentam aproximar-se de si, pois acredita que mais nenhum consegue igualar-se ao seu falecido marido. Apesar de tão diferentes, estas duas personagens têm já uma história em comum e quando se voltam a encontrar acabam por se envolver de uma forma mais profunda e que os irá colocar numa posição complicada perante a sociedade, pois nenhum deles pretende selar um compromisso sério.
Para além destas duas personagens principais, temos também uma história de amor secundária entre Elisabeth, irmã mais nova de Luke e Miles. O relacionamento entre os dois é bastante divertido e acaba por trazer uma brisa de ar fresco para este romance que parecia ser apenas acerca do envolvimento do casal principal. Elizabeth e Miles cresceram juntos e, apesar dos sentimentos que nutrem um pelo outro, não conseguem distingui-los e perceber que estão apaixonados um pelo outro, por isso acabam muitas vezes a discutir um com o outro, forçando o leitor a dar umas boas gargalhadas devido às situações que causam.
Gostei bastante deste livro, apesar de ter preferido o anterior. Emma Wildes consegue sempre prender os leitores de uma forma inata, fazendo com que apenas largue-mos o livro quando terminado, nada nunca é deixado ao acaso. Neste livro é também iniciada a história do terceiro volume, já nós é apresentado o casamento eminente de Michael. Acredito que será mais um livro fantástico e por isso fico ansiosa pela oportunidade de o ler.

http://viv-omundoencantadodoslivros.blogspot.pt/2012/11/planetaopiniao-um-erro-i... ( )

Depois da leitura do livro anterior acerca de Alex St. James estava ansiosa por ler o segundo da trilogia “Notorious Bacherlors” que conta a história de Luke Daudet.
Este é um livro carregado de sensualidade e desejos proibidos entre o Visconde Altea e a viúva Lady Brewer, Madeline May É também através desta trilogia que temos um vislumbre da guerra e do quanto ela marcou alguns dos mais ilustres nobres do reino de Inglaterra., que se viram ao serviço da coroa britânica, a lutar com os seus aliados contra o Napoleão Bonaparte. Este foi um período bastante tenso, com vários traidores pertencentes à alta sociedade britânica. Neste livro Luke, que aparentemente se mostra um playboy, esconde um terrível segredo que veio marcar a sua vida. Um acontecimento ocorrido durante a guerra e que o marcou profundamente. Madeline, ou como é apelidada carinhosamente por Luke, Madge é uma viúva muito respeitada, que terminou à pouco tempo o seu período de luta e que se mantem afastada dos homens que tentam aproximar-se de si, pois acredita que mais nenhum consegue igualar-se ao seu falecido marido. Apesar de tão diferentes, estas duas personagens têm já uma história em comum e quando se voltam a encontrar acabam por se envolver de uma forma mais profunda e que os irá colocar numa posição complicada perante a sociedade, pois nenhum deles pretende selar um compromisso sério.
Para além destas duas personagens principais, temos também uma história de amor secundária entre Elisabeth, irmã mais nova de Luke e Miles. O relacionamento entre os dois é bastante divertido e acaba por trazer uma brisa de ar fresco para este romance que parecia ser apenas acerca do envolvimento do casal principal. Elizabeth e Miles cresceram juntos e, apesar dos sentimentos que nutrem um pelo outro, não conseguem distingui-los e perceber que estão apaixonados um pelo outro, por isso acabam muitas vezes a discutir um com o outro, forçando o leitor a dar umas boas gargalhadas devido às situações que causam.
Gostei bastante deste livro, apesar de ter preferido o anterior. Emma Wildes consegue sempre prender os leitores de uma forma inata, fazendo com que apenas largue-mos o livro quando terminado, nada nunca é deixado ao acaso. Neste livro é também iniciada a história do terceiro volume, já nós é apresentado o casamento eminente de Michael. Acredito que será mais um livro fantástico e por isso fico ansiosa pela oportunidade de o ler.

http://viv-omundoencantadodoslivros.blogspot.pt/2012/11/planetaopiniao-um-erro-i... ( )