WINNING MISS WAKEFIELD is Book two in Vivienne Lorret's Wallflower Wedding series. WINNING MISS WAKEFIELD has some of the same things that I loved about the previous book. There is a wonderful sensuality in the scenes with the hero and heroine. You can feel the way they are drawn to each other and the chemistry between them is off the charts. I love the scene in which Merribeth and Bane meet each other for the first time. That meeting, full of so much sizzle and teasing, leaves each other shaken. It sets the tone for all their future encounters.

Neither Bane nor Merribeth have particularly good reputations. Bane has earned most of his money from gambling. Merribeth is considered ruined because a man she believed to have a five year "understanding" with threw her over for a vicar's daughter. Of course in that time and place, the woman is usually thought to be the one to blame in a situation like that. Bane and Merribeth are connected by Lady Eve Sterling and her wicked machinations - little do they know that they are just pawns in her schemes.

One of the things I love about WINNING MISS WAKEFIELD is the way Merribeth is able to discombobulate Bane and completely throw him off his game. He is supposed to be so cool and focused on his plot for revenge against his dead grandfather but she is able to unlock other emotions in him. Likewise, he is able to draw out her inner temptress. I think they are able to bring out the best in each other. I liked that Merribeth is able to understand Bane's quest for vengeance and gets him to look at it from another angle.

WINNING MISS WAKEFIELD is full of complex characters, Shakespearian plots, and a very sensual romance. The friendships between Merribeth and her circle of girlfriends is also something that makes this story shine. I look forward to the next book in this series to get Delaney's story.

Book Summary

She's got nothing left to lose …

With her fiancé suddenly engaged to another and her reputation in tatters, Merribeth Wakefield needs a bold plan to reclaim her life. She must be brave. Confident. She must … kiss a rake? The suggestion is ludicrous! Yet when Merribeth finds herself alone with the dark and brooding Lord Knightswold, suddenly the plan doesn't seem so farfetched. So she does something she never thought she'd do—she kisses him.

But he has everything to gain …

The Marquess of Knightswold—Bane to most—has no use for the affections of women. Well, none lasting longer than a single night. A plot for revenge weighs heavy on his mind, leaving no room for romance. But then a shy, witty miss borrows a kiss from him in a darkened room, and everything he thought he knew about innocent debutantes vanishes along with her.

When a twist of fate brings Merribeth within Bane's grasp, he'll have to resist her charms—or risk losing everything—for the sake of his heart.