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Erica Ridley
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Too Wicked to Kiss: Gothic Historical Romance (Gothic Love Stories Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Erica Ridley (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 2,588 ratings
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A thrilling gothic romance spiced with danger and forbidden love from a New York Times bestselling author:
"Sensual and witty... A delicious treat!" - Eloisa James

HIS TOUCH HOLDS HER CAPTIVE
From the ravens circling its spires to the gargoyles adorning its roof, Blackberry Manor looms ominously over its rambling grounds. And behind its doors, amid the flickering shadows and secret passageways, danger lies in wait…

TO HIS EVERY DARK DESIRE
Evangeline Pemberton has been invited to a party at the sprawling estate of reclusive Gavin Lioncroft, who is rumored to have killed in cold blood. Initially, his towering presence and brusque manner instill fear… until his seductive attentions and unexpected vulnerability conquer her resistance. But when a guest is murdered, Evangeline is torn. Could the man to whom she is so powerfully drawn, also be a ruthless killer?

Gothic Love Stories
  1. Too Wicked to Kiss
  2. Too Sinful to Deny
  3. Too Tempting to Resist
  4. Too Wanton to Wed
  5. Too Brazen to Bite
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  1. Book 1 of 5
    Gothic Love Stories
  2. Print length
    386 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    August 2, 2019
  6. File size
    3716 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07RD9CRF2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ WebMotion; 2nd edition (August 2, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 2, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3716 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 386 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 2,588 ratings

About the author

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Erica Ridley

Erica Ridley

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Erica Ridley is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of witty, feel-good historical romance novels, including the upcoming THE DUKE HEIST, featuring the Wild Wynchesters. Why seduce a duke the normal way, when you can accidentally kidnap one in an elaborately planned heist?

In the 12 Dukes of Christmas series, enjoy witty, heartwarming Regency romps nestled in a picturesque snow-covered village. After all, nothing heats up a winter night quite like finding oneself in the arms of a duke!

Two popular series, the Dukes of War and Rogues to Riches, feature roguish peers and dashing war heroes who find love amongst the splendor and madness of Regency England.

When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found riding camels in Africa, zip-lining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.

She can also be found on:

FACEBOOK - https://facebook.com/EricaRidley

TWITTER - https://twitter.com/EricaRidley

INSTAGRAM - https://instagram.com/EricaRidley

GOODREADS - https://goodreads.com/EricaRidley

DISCOUNTS - https://Ridley.vip

More info: https://www.EricaRidley.com

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
2,588 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Deb D
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2020
Verified Purchase
Too Wicked To Kiss is an amazing historical romance by Erica Ridley. Ms. Ridley has knocked one out of the park with this fabulous, well-written book. The cast of characters in this book is phenomenal and my favorite part of the story. Evangeline escaped her step-father and begged her mother's old friend to take her in. Now she finds herself at a house party where she's expected to help her friend trap Gavin Lioncroft in marriage. Gavin wants to mend the fences with his sister but he killed their parents and she doesn't let him forget. Evangeline and Gavin's story is packed with drama, humor, spice, action, suspense and a touch of supernatural. I loved this book from cover to cover and look forward to my next book by Erica Ridley. Too Wicked To Kiss is book 1 of the Gothic Love Stories Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
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Mary Miller
4.0 out of 5 stars Magically mysterious
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2024
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This was a truly different romance that was full of strange happings. Murder lies and romance kept you reading to the end. A great read.
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PeggyC51
5.0 out of 5 stars What a Party!
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2019
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It is a dark and stormy night when Evangeline Pemberton arrives at Blackberry Manor to attend a house party. When she arrives at dinner, she meets a very odd assortment of guests. Each of these guests comes with secrets and his (or her) own agenda. Everything is bumping along fairly well until one of the guests, Lord Heatherbrook, is found murdered in his bed. Thing is, he was a jerk, and nobody at the party, including the servants liked him, so everyone is a suspect. What we have is the Regency version of a dinnertime murder mystery party. How will they catch the murderer, and why won’t anyone call the magistrate? That’s where Evangeline’s secret comes in. Just as it seems the murder mystery is about to wrap up, Evangeline is kidnapped. Two villains, a murderer and a kidnapper, need a comeuppance (most likely, they will get it).

This is an interesting and exciting gothic mystery and romance. The characters are great in their roles. In addition to Evangeline and the mother and daughter with whom she arrived, there are two couples who don’t appear to be enjoying wedded bliss, an older rather pious gentleman who sleeps through most of the activity, and Gavin Lioncroft, the gloomy host with a painful past. Oh, and Edmund, he’s just a creep. The story is filled with mystery (of course), tension, lies, secrets, confessions, some romance, and even a very happy birthday party for one of Gavin’s nieces (who were an absolute delight). The story has a wounded hero and heroine. If and when Gavin and Evangeline learn to trust each other, they can help each other heal. The epilogue is wonderful. It shows a new light and hope for a family that had been in shambles. A good mystery and a touching romance, I recommend it.
31 people found this helpful
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Coffeeandbooks
3.0 out of 5 stars Not sure about this one
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2020
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The plot idea was solid. However, the author couldn't seem to decide how level hear d and smart to make Evangeline. In one chapter she'd be using logic and thinking and the next thing you know she's gone off track and not thought about something she knows to help solve things. And Gavin went from horrific to handsome really fast, considering alk we were finding out.
2 people found this helpful
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B. tafuni
5.0 out of 5 stars Too Wicked to Kiss
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2024
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So many things happened so fast that I could hardly put the book down. I never could guess what would happen next. I look forward to reading more books by Erica Ridley.
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BookLover612
4.0 out of 5 stars Not just about the romance
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2022
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One of the fun things about this book is that the heroine wears glasses. How often do you see that in a Gothic romance? Also, in the first book in this series, she's kind of a snark. I didn't think I would like her (though she was redeemed by the end). In this book, she's great. She's a smarty pants, but has a good self-deprecating sense of humor and a strong sense of morals. Even as she comes up with silly plans to escape her "imprisonment" in the far reaches of Cornwall, she recognizes that Oops, that's not gonna work after all.

Susan, the heroine, and Ethan, the hero, both have their faults, which only make them more likable. But they also both have some fine qualities that save them in the end.

Adding to this novel is the mystical element: Susan can see ghosts that no one else can see. They can be helpful, but also a little annoying. And apparently she can only see certain ghosts. This story line is a little uneven, which is what has me giving a 4-star review instead of a 5-star.

There were some really bad bad guys, a woman chained in the basement who needed to be rescued, and pirates seeking a particular treasure -- all the stuff that makes up a good adventure. Add to that a lot of sexual tension (though no gratuitous sex) and you've got a fun read. Enjoy the trip!
3 people found this helpful
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Élodie Nicoli
5.0 out of 5 stars Finding redemption
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2019
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I do loved this story which mixes a historical setting with a bit of paranormal and a mystery to solve but at time I struggled to like the heroine.
The hero is dark, brooding with fit of temper, but to me, he never gave proof to be the ruthless murdered he is accused to be. Sure he is easily angered when he sees abuse but it does not make him a monster.
And for ten years he payed a deep price for his recklessness and late teen mistakes. He was seventeen when the events which sealed his fate occurred, not yet an adult.
Sure, Evangeline’s upbringing was violent and filed with abuses and made her weary of men, but she is quick to judge and pass her veto on those she thinks guilty. While Gavin tried at each turn to win her trust, even when her omission or some miscommunication showed her in a bad light, he always forgave her.
And m each time he expressed his faith in her by confessing his own errors and secrets, she censured him and played hot and cold with his feelings, never able accept him for the man he is, flaws and gifts.
Why I found her often inconstant and shallow, lacking of trust for the one man she says she is in love. Hopefully she apologized every time she doubted him.
And after all, it is what makes us human, our faults and goods. It is not always pleasant to see our own defects in others, why Mrs Ridley did a great job with her different characters as the wide range of personalities was a perfect representation of the good and bad in the human being.
4.5 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the author and I had previously preordered the full series. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Rainz ❤️rainnbooks❤️
5.0 out of 5 stars Yummy!
Reviewed in India on March 26, 2022
Verified Purchase
Ha…Erica Ridley for starters and gothic romance the subject…what a delicious dessert…

Evangeline’s precarious situation at her home after the death of her mother forces her to flee for safety but it was a case of fuel to the already burning fire. Arriving at Blackberry Manor as an unexpected guest and facing the dangers hidden inside its walls is more than what she bargained for. Gavin as the tortured and brooding hero was a wonderful character and the rumors of his murderous tendency provide the perfect background for that eerie gothic vibe.

As death strikes Blackberry manor and suspicion rears its head, Evangeline’s psychic gift is the only thing that would probably help Gavin escape the hangman’s noose. The slow-build romance from initial attraction was fantastic to read about which is something that the author always excels at and the paranormal elements add to the effect of mystery and intrigue in this captivating novel. There was a feeling of locked-room Agatha Christie whodunnit in this novel as each member of the house party had reasons for doing away with the victim.

There is more than one complication to overcome for the HEA but it was the murder mystery rather than the romance that had me reading late into the night. Gothic Romances have crowded my reading pile currently but boy am I glad for it! This had the additional allure of physic heroine which thrilled me to the core.

Looking forward to reading all the books in the series.
One person found this helpful
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DebbieDewdrop
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book!
Reviewed in Canada on July 8, 2020
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Well, I didn't want to read gothic historical romance, I love historical romance but gothic...I didn't think it was my thing. What an eye opener! I loved this book, I read it in one day, couldn't put it down! I've read a couple of this series and have just bought another, I'm going to start it right now!
One person found this helpful
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Sandra W
5.0 out of 5 stars Deliciously dark and sensually alluring!!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 7, 2019
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Kept me ensnared until the end; I just didn't want to put it down!!
Cleverly balances sexual tension, sinister suspense and wit with great depth of character, magnetic allure and sizzling attraction. All under an ominous cloud of misconception, secrets and prejudice that generates an abundance of nervous energy that tantalisingly keeps you guessing and anticipating the turn of the page.
Really loved this fun who-done-it with a paranormal twist. Always was drawn to the darkly brooding, deep thinking heroes and Gavin's heated looks and wounded soul verge on the addictive, especially when matched with Evangeline's intelligence, 'magic' touch, passion and courage.
Ridley's foray into gothic romance is highly engaging and absorbingly entertaining on so many levels - already preordered the entire series; can't wait for book 2!
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Bernadette Aitken
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrifically Gothic
Reviewed in Australia on August 5, 2019
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I loved this book! Dark house, dark atmosphere, dark secrets and devilish characters. Gavin has been living a reclusive life after an unfortunate accident which he caused in his youth. Evangeline is running from her stepfather and is being forced to help out in a terrible plan.
A murder occurs and most of the guests blame Gavin. Evangeline can help, but it comes at a cost. Gavin and Evangeline develop a strong attraction towards each other, even though they distrust each other at the beginning. Their passion for each other is mutual and not manipulative. They also find themselves making mistakes and having to apologise, often.
The Gothic feel of this book is delicious. The dark secrets that everyone is trying to hide and their fears fit beautifully. Secret passages create tension for Evangeline due to her fear of small, dark places. Evil characters are balanced by friendly ones.
I look forward to the rest of this series. If you like the type of stories written by Mrs Radcliffe in Northanger Abbey, you’ll love this.
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Winnie Robinson
4.0 out of 5 stars Good gothic atmosphere!
Reviewed in Canada on November 18, 2022
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Ms. Ridley did a good job creating the dark gothic atmosphere in this story. I really like Evangaline and Gavin and the growth of their relationship. There were no end of unsavory characters, so lots to choose a villain from! Although, as another reviewer mentioned, there were a lot of characters and I had trouble keeping them all straight - who was whose daughter . . who was married to who. All in all, I really enjoyed the story. I thought it was a good combination of mystery, gothic vibe and romance.
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