Title: When She Was Wicked (Honeycote #1)

Author: Anne Barton

Genre: Historical Romance

Period: Regency

Rating: 4.25/5 Stars

Publish Date: January 29, 2013

Publisher: Forever  an imprint of Hachette Book Group

Some rules simply beg to be broken…

A dressmaker in London’s busiest shop, Miss Anabelle Honeycote overhears the ton‘s steamiest secrets—and (occasionally) uses them to her advantage. It isn’t something she’s proud of, but the reluctant blackmailer needs the money to care for her gravely ill mother. To make up for her misdeeds, Anabelle keeps to a firm set of rules:

• Never request payment from someone who cannot afford it.
• Never reveal the secrets of a paying client.
• Never enter into any form of social interaction with a client.

Her list keeps her (somewhat) honest—until she encounters Owen Sherbourne, the Duke of Huntford. Not only does Owen nip Anabelle’s extortion plans in the bud, the devilishly handsome Duke soon has the sexy seamstress dreaming of more than silks and satins. With Owen, Anabelle enjoys pleasures she never imagined . . . until a scandal from the past resurfaces. Now her rules could mean his family’s ruin. Owen’s searing kisses carry the promise of passion, but how will he react when Anabelle’s most devastating secret is finally revealed?

Karen’s Review

When She Was Wicked by Anne Barton, is a delightful and heart clenching historical romance by an author that is sure to forge a brilliant career in her genre.  The book is fresh, crisp, insightful and full of heart.   It is a book that had my blood thrumming with every page. I wasn’t just reading a book; I was immersed in the plotting and machinations of the characters.    I could almost feel the brush of the hero’s lips on the mouth of the heroine.  My heart ratchet up, when the heroine’s secrets were about to be revealed.  The book hit all the right notes for a wonderful romantic read.  Anne Barton is a bright spot in the publishing industry, as her book is well written and all the characters are so very well fleshed out.

The book centers on seamstress Annabelle (Belle) Honeycote and Owen Sherbourne the Duke of Huntford.  Annabelle is in desperate straits, her mother is deathly sick and her meager wage as a seamstress of ten shillings doesn’t cover the doctor, apothecary, food or rent.  Her younger sister (Daphne) looks after her mother as she works her twelve-hour days making frocks for the ton (the rich and titled class in regency England).  Annabelle, likes blending into the background, she doesn’t really want to be noticed, which is to her advantage, as she has a little money-making scheme.  She had decided to extort money out of the rich and titled.  How you may ask?  By using what she over hears as blackmail fodder.  Yes, this girl will do anything to make sure her mother doesn’t die.   Doctors in the nineteenth century aren’t going to treat anyone without enough coin to pay.

Enter the Duke of Huntford, her intended target.  She has heard some news about one of his sisters.  She extorts him to keep her mouth shut, but the dashing Duke finds her out.  Opps.   The Duke has a punishment for the wayward seamstress, design his sisters beautiful dresses in order that it may help them to be accepted into the ton.  The Duke’s family history is rife with scandal, and the sisters are seen as odd ducks.  With the bargain struck the seamstress and the Duke are now thrust into each other’s live.   Yes there will be thrusting. Wink Wink.

Purchase Links Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author 

Anne Barton began swiping romance novels off her mom’s bookshelf as a teenager, so when she had the chance to spend a semester in London—home to her favorite heroes—she packed her bags and promptly fell in love with the city, its history, and its pubs. She dreamed of writing romance, but somehow ended up a software analyst instead.

Fortunately, a few years and a few careers later, Anne found her way back to writing the stories she loves and in 2011 won the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart for Regency Historical Romance. She lives in Maryland with her husband (who, sadly, is not a peer of the realm—but a great guy nonetheless) and her three children, who try valiantly not to roll their eyes whenever she quotes Jane Austen. Her weaknesses include reality TV, cute-but-impractical shoes, and caffeinated beverages of all kinds.

Anne is represented by Helen Breitwieser of Cornerstone Literary Agency

The Reviewer purchased this book.