Books › Tall, dark, and wicked
Tall, dark, and wicked
390 pages
A sophisticated, slow-burn battle of wits where legal adversaries discover the intoxicating danger of intellectual and physical surrender.
What it feels like
Reading this historical romance feels like stepping into a dimly lit, mahogany-paneled study where the air crackles with unspoken tension. The narrative unfolds at a steady, deliberate pace, expertly weaving high-stakes legal jeopardy with a deeply sensual, adversarial courtship. It is a book defined by its sharp intellect; the dialogue is a fencing match between two fiercely capable minds who are as reluctant to yield in the courtroom as they are in the bedroom. The mood is sophisticated and atmospheric, steeped in the rigid expectations of aristocratic society, yet pulsing with an undercurrent of wicked temptation. It will thoroughly delight readers who crave historical romances where the heroine is unapologetically smart, the hero is dangerously perceptive, and the emotional payoff is earned through both wit and vulnerability.
- Mood
- passionate
- tense
- atmospheric
- romantic
- Tone
- sophisticated
- sensual
- intelligent
- wry
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- intellectual equals · adversaries to lovers · sexual awakening · justice and morality · defying societal norms
- The writing
- Elegant and articulate, balancing sharp, witty dialogue with rich, sensual descriptions.
- The arc
- Moves from sharp, adversarial tension to a deep, vulnerable surrender as two fiercely independent minds find their match.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave historical romances featuring fiercely intelligent heroines, morally complex heroes, and high-stakes legal drama.
Content notes
- explicit sexual content
- parental peril
- legal jeopardy
About the book
As a well-known barrister and the son of a duke, Ives confines his passionate impulses to discreet affairs with worldly mistresses. A twist of fate, however, has him looking for a new lover right when a fascinating woman shows up in his chambers, asking him to help save her father from the gallows. Unfortunately, he has already been asked to serve as the prosecutor in the case, but that only ensures close encounters with the rarity named Padua Belvoir. And every encounter increases his desire to tutor her in pleasure's wicked ways...
Having always been too tall, too willful, and too smart to appeal to men, Padua Belvoir is shocked when Ives shows interest in her. Knowing his penchant for helping the wrongly accused, she had initially thought he might be her father's best hope for salvation. Instead, he is her worst adversary-not least because every time he looks at her, she is tempted to give him anything he wants...
Description from Open Library.
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