A Wicked Pursuit by Isabella Bradford

Historical Romance

What Goodreads says:

"In Isabella Bradford’s enthralling new trilogy, three noble brothers—London’s most scandalous rakes—are about to do the unthinkable: settle down. Harry Fitzroy, Earl of Hargreave, is the first to meet his match and lose his heart . . . to a lady he least expected.

As the eldest son of the Duke of Breconridge, Harry Fitzroy is duty-bound to marry—and marry well. Giving up his rakish ways for the pleasures of a bride’s bed becomes a delightful prospect when Harry chooses beautiful Lady Julia Barclay, the catch of the season. But a fall from his horse puts a serious crimp in his plans. Abandoned by Julia before he can propose, the unlucky bachelor finds himself trapped in the country in the care of Julia’s younger sister.

Harry has never met a woman like Lady Augusta. Utterly without artifice, Gus is clever and capable, and seems to care not a fig for society. After a taboo kiss awakens passion that takes them both by surprise, Harry realizes he’d almost given his heart to the wrong sister. While London tongues wag, he’ll use his most seductive powers of persuasion to convince the reluctant Gus that she belongs with him—as his equal, his love, his wife."

A Wicked Pursuit uses a familiar trope, finding out that the beautiful sister is not the one you should marry.  In this case the beautiful one leaves as soon as the prospective groom is injured leaving his care in the hands of her less glamorous sister.

Lady Julia Barclay, Lady Augusta Barclay, and Harry Fitzroy, Earl of Hargreave are the three main characters.  Lady Julia is such a shallow person I had to wonder why anyone would want to marry her.  Harry Fitzroy starts out as a demanding spoiled man who I really did not like.  I had to wonder why Augusta did not just boot him out of the house even though he was wounded.

While I liked the way the story progressed Harry and Julia were both a turn off.  I did warm up to Harry near the end and I always loved Gus.  She was such a great character and so ignored by almost everyone.  She deserved a HEA and I was glad to see her get one.  After I got over my dislike of Julia and Harry I did enjoy A Wicked Pursuit.  It does have a nice journey to a HEA for Gus and Harry.

Ballantine Books published A Wicked Pursuit by Isabella Bradford in 2014.

I received an ARC of A Wicked Pursuit from Netgalley.