ARC Review: A Touch Wicked by Katrina Kendrick

Title: A Touch Wicked
Author: Katrina Kendrick
Series: Private Arrangements #0.5
Genre: Historical Romance/Mystery
Publisher: Aria
Publication Date: June 1, 2023 (republish)
Edition: Kindle Edition
Source: NetGalley
Purchase/Pre-Order: Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | BAM | Bookshop | Powell's | Thriftbooks

Synopsis:

The Masquerade has only two rules: Depart by morning and never reveal your identity.
    HE IS LONDON’S MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR

James, the Earl of Kent, is at the top of every debutante’s list for marriage. He’s handsome, wealthy, and on the lookout for a bride. But when he meets a mysterious beauty at London’s most illicit club, fascination becomes intrigue—and she harbours deadly secrets.

     SHE IS A PENNILESS NOBODY

In a desperate bid to save her criminal sister, Emma Dumont infiltrates the earl’s household under false pretences. When a clue leads her to a scandalous masque, she finds herself in the arms of her handsome employer—and torn between duty and lethal attraction.

As her sister's crimes threaten to expose Emma’s deception, she becomes entangled in a brutal conspiracy. And with the truth comes danger...

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I enjoyed this book. Though I admit I was more invested in the mystery of Emma's sister than I was in the romance. Not that I didn't like the romance or root for them, because I did. I just wish the mystery had more of a role in things. Emma spent all that time going to the masquerade and learned nothing. I would've liked that she at least heard whispers about the last time she was that at least.

Now, I know this is complaining that there was too much romance in the romance book, but that's not what I mean. I would've liked just a little more focus on her trying to find her sister. There were moments when it didn't seem as dire to her as the dialog implied it did. That aside, I did love the romance.

The banter.

The longing.

And the spice didn't make me cringe or make me start reading it on a diagonal. Which is something that I do sometimes, usually when an author either gets too clinical or uses too many euphemisms. Which is not the case here.

 

My one complaint, is that when the plot line of Emma's missing sister came to a head, it all unfolded very quickly. It was just a handful of pages, then the book was over. I do wonder if any of this will come up in the rest of the series.