2021 2.5 starsOk, so the first time I read this book (11 years ago) I didn't like it.But I'm trying to read as many of Quinn's Bridgerton books I can get my hands on, and quite honestly, have enjoyed all of the other stories so far. I thought maybe I just read it wrong back in the day.No.I still didn't care for this one. I'm bumping it up to 2.5 stars because I thoroughly enjoyed Rosalyn Landor's narration of the audiobook and it is well-written, but I disliked everything about the plot.First, I...

5 stars – Historical/Regency RomanceI’ll be honest, this is the book that attracted me to Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons to begin with and the story that I was most looking forward to reading in the series. I mean, with a title like “When He Was Wicked”? Well, I knew I simply couldn’t pass it up. Although I really liked this, surprisingly, it’s not my favorite of the series. That honor is still tied between the breathtaking, fairy tale romance An Offer From a Gentleman and the sweet, whimsical Romanc...

This book recounts the age-old tale of falling in love with your best friend's girl...but what happens when you get your chance at her hand, albeit at the loss of your best friend through his untimely death?This is a beautiful Regency romance on grief, loss, and moving on. I've read and mostly loved all the books featuring the Bridgerton family, and this is the book I return to time after time because I think it is the best in the series. It is written in your typical inestimable Julia Quinn sty...

I don't know why I'm still reading this series.

Book 6 and it is Francesca's turn. But she is already married you say? Yes indeed she is but life has a funny way of turning things upside down when you least expect it. This was not my favourite book of the series so far. Basically I felt it was too long because the focus couple came together too soon and the rest of the book seemed very forced. There were some very long and very steamy sex scenes too which added little to the actual story. Colin and Violet were the best characters in my opinio...

4.5 STARS In every life there is a turning point. A moment so tremendous, so sharp and clear that one feels as if one's been hit in the chest, all the breath knocked out, and one knows, absolutely knows without the merest hint of a shadow of a doubt that one's life will never be the same. I was all over the place in my mind trying to rate this one. I did really enjoy it, despite my updates suggesting otherwise. The hero Michael Stirling was a fabulous character. He totally made up for

*4.5 stars*Finally, finally I get to join the Bridgerton love-train! After reading most of the books in the series and giving many low ratings, at last I found one that I adore. When He Was Wicked was the unrequited love, high sexual tension, friends-to-lovers book that I needed.I have most of this series in paperback, and I have to say, though I'm a total Kindle reader devotee, I love having these romance-y romances in print. They feel more authentic that way, for some reason. Maybe it was my m...

5 stars This thing between them, this bond—it wasn’t just passion, and it wasn’t wicked. It was love, and it was divine. I am always here for a slow burn/friends to lovers/forbidden love story and When He Was Wicked combined all three for me. Michael is the best hero in this series and you can’t change my mind. Gah. I adored him. Francesca had moments where I was like come on girl… but I could relate to her in so many ways and I understood her reasoning. But Michael… that man loved he...

My Review:This, the 6th installment of the Bridgerton series, is so different from the rest of the stories that it took me by surprise – a pleasant surprise. Having read and found the previous books lighter, funnier reads, I hadn’t expected to find this one much different. If there was ever any question as to Ms. Quinn’s ability to write a more intense, deeper story, When He Was Wicked has answered it with a resounding yes! When He Was Wicked is the story of Michael Stirling, Rake Extraordinaire...

Francesca has been hovering in the background throughout the previous books. Did we ever even meet her ... she married and moved to Scotland but tragic circumstances rendered her "free" and Michael, who has loved her forever, is in a position to declare his love ... Michael, who "took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing." But guilt and society expectations are things that stand in the way of true happiness ...Michael,...

*Fanning myself*Goodness. This book should get two stars from me, but here's an interesting fact; Michael Stirling rates an entire star on his own. I found myself frustrated with Francesca's behavior. It's not that I couldn't understand it, just that it dragged on for far too long. I've noticed that a propensity to draw out a story is one of the weaknesses in Quinn's writing. This isn't the only book of hers I've read that had me heaving a sigh, rolling my eyes, and uttering - But if you can

*2.5 starsThis book is my least favorite of the series. Francesca is the worst Bridgerton for sure. She was really annoying in this book. I really hated how she was fooling Michael, because she couldn't made up her mind! She was constantly running away (literally!) from her feelings.

Preparations necessary when reading When He Was Wicked:Materials needed:bucket of ice -to douse the heathandkerchief -to wipe off the sweatblood pressure cuff and heart rate monitor -to monitor if your BP and pulse are still in safe levelsguardian angel -to prevent infection of wickednessoptional:handcuffs -to prevent being wickedsedative -to reduce excitementPreferential reading temperature:20° or lower -things can get hotPrecautions:(1) Breathe slowly. (Especially when approaching Chapter 17)(...

I wish I could love these books the way I did in the past years but something in me has changed over the years and the exciting aspect of it is gone. Now I see them for what it is. Manhandling of women and the constant screaming and venting out of anger is not quite my cup of tea so excuse me for not liking this as much. Yet there is a tiny part of me that still holds a small liking for the genre thus there are parts that really got my heart to beat a little faster. But unfortunately that part w...

hmmmm.... I'm very torn on the rating.This is my first JQ novel and not sure if it was the novel I picked or JQ that is not my style.Don't get me wrong I'm not saying she's a bad writer. She has legions of fans. I'm just not quite sure she's for me. Perhaps I should try one of her more humorous novels before giving up.The setup here was quite realistic in many ways and I was drawn into the first half. The loss of the heroine's first husband and hero's best friend/cousin was dealt with well. The

3.5 stars I really loved the first part of the book and I absolutely adored the hero, Michael. I did like Francensca in the beginning as well; it was the last pages that changed my opinion of hers. Phrases like "I don't know what I want", "I don't want to think about it", "I don't want to decide on that now" were her train of thought for much longer than I was willing to accept and forgive. Like an ostrich, she hid her head in the ground and willfully refused to see or think about the truth. I c...