"Slightly Wicked" by Mary Balogh

Slightly Wicked by Mary Balogh. 2003

"Slightly Wicked" is the second book in the "Slightly Series." It follows Rannulf Bedwyn, the third son. Along the way to visit his grandmother, Rannulf comes across Judith Law, who has been stranded by a carriage accident on muddy roads. Judith is on her way to her aunt's house, where she is to take the position of a "poor relative" due to her family's faltering financial situation. Seeing this as the only chance in her life for adventure, Judith - claiming to be the actress Claire Campbell - spends two nights in a hotel with Rannulf before bolting off and returning to the reality of her life. Thinking that those two nights of passion will sustain her for the rest of her life, Judith is shocked to find that Rannulf is actually courting Judith's spoiled younger cousin - at his grandmother's request.

I enjoyed this book a great deal. I loved Judith - she is a complex, strong, yet realistic heroine, and I loved how through the course of the book she comes to see her own worth and her own beauty. A good deal of this book focuses on Judith moving from hiding and hating herself to loving and rejoicing in herself - a change she makes with the help of Rannulf's friendship and love. Rannulf is a good character as well. However, he does not have the individuality of some of Balogh's other male characters, and I found him a (relatively) weak lead. There is a surge in the plot in the last third of the book, but while a lot happens, it does not become confusing or detract from the romantic struggle of the story.

Rating

Family-Friendly Rating
Although there are only a couple of sex-scenes in this book, one of them is quite long and drawn out (lasts several days, actually ;)) and there is an attempted rape scene which caused me to add another star.