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Summary: A fun, easy-to-read tale for the Regency fan!
Review: Jayne Anne Krentz writing as Amanda Quick has moved her distinct contemporary writing style into the realm of the gothic regency with Wicked Widow. The main characters, Artemas Hunt and Madeline Deveridge, are delightful and quickly capture your heart. Lively dialogue snaps back and forth between the two as each attends to his/her personal agenda while combining efforts to unveil the ghost who is stalking the Wicked Widow, Madeline, and the Vanza Book of Secrets. All the while, they fight their growing attraction to each other. Her superb, evocative word pictures of the gothic regency era paint the perfect setting in the reader's mind. True, the references to the Vanzagarian Society are at times overwhelming, but its representation is accurate for the period. That's what you did in the early 1800's! Such fixations have been replaced by things like Internet surfing, TV, movies, etc. in the 21st century. The engaging personalities of her secondary characters add yet another level of charm to the story. Short John, the street urchin spy; Latimer, the bodyguard coachman; Aunt Bernice, herbalist extraordinaire; Henry Leggett, Artemas's solicitor and strategist. Madeline's dead husband, Renwick, whom she is rumored to have murdered. Catherine, Artemas's lover, who was murdered in a prank by rakes of the ton. Even those rakes against whom Artemas now seeks revenge. All these believable characters and their interaction draw you easily into the storyline. The captivating plot moves smoothly with its twists, turns, and subtle humor until Madeline and Artemas solve the mysteries and love brings them together.
Wicked Widow is an enchanting regency love story that will stay with you long after the final page.
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Summary: Wicked Widow
Review: Wicked Widow is sort of a sequel to I Thee Wed. It mentions characters, events, and ideas from that novel. The secret art of Vanza is an important factor of this book as well. According to the author, Vanza is an ancient secret society yet practically all her characters know of it or practice its principles. The mystery in this novel isn't Amanda Quick typical mystery. Madeline is sure she's being haunted by her husband's ghost. She seeks the assistance of Artemis. Amanda Quick seems to working on making her mysteries less predictable. I wish she'd work some more on the romance. There's practically no romantic tension, very little passion, and very little to make this romance different or memorable.
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Summary: No match to I thee wed
Review: This book was very clever in some of her plot twists, yet I 2 though it was a little over done in some parts. It a so so read, and yet again a classical Amanda Quick book and I believe that these characters are richer than some of her other ones. I think that both are deserving of each other.
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Summary: Wicked? More like Wimpy Widow
Review: First of all, I want to say that I will still buy Amanda Quick's books, and most probably, will not wait until they are in paper back; because, as an author Ms. Quick is wonderfully imaginative, humorous, sensual, and capable of surprizing twists. However, to be honest, Wicked Widow is not all that Ms. Quick is so capable of. Her herione seemed careless and prissy at times. She had been trained by her father in some of the arts of Vanza. She, unfortunately, did not use her expertise nor intellegence in situations where she could and should have. She kept harping on the unfavorable idiosyncrasies of the men of Vanza; however, her beloved father was a Master of the practice. Artemis, while more interesting than Madelaine, was not as interesting or charismatic as Quick's other heroes. Their lovemaking was luke warm and their romance was tepid. I did enjoy the ring of Charles Dickens-like adolescent thieves and information gatherers. I have faith that next time Ms. Quick will present us a book filled with all the excitement, fun, and romance she is famous for.
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Summary: Fun Read
Review: Madeline "The Wicked Widow" Deveridge demands that Artemis Hunt, owner of the Dreams Pavilion, help her find her abducted maid. After he successfully completes the mission, he demands she explain how she knows so much about his affairs. He learns about her deceased father's journal that provides information on the followers of Vanza who include Artemis and Madeline's deceased spouse Renwick. In exchange for the book, he agrees to help her with the apparent ghost of the dead husband she allegedly murdered. As they investigate the seemingly supernatural presence, Madeline and Artemis fall in love. However, after the machinations of her first husband, she does not trust anyone who follows the philosophy of Vanza. He still pines over the murder of his first love. With that much baggage, a permanent relationship between the Vanza disciple and the WICKED WIDOW appears remote. Overall, the WICKED WIDOW is an exciting historical romance that contains all of the elements that have made Amanda Quick a fan favorite. However, the constant use of Vanza philosophy slows down the plot but otherwise this is a very interesting historical intrigue. The lead characters are a charming duo and the support cast provides depth. Ms. Quick's latest tale is an entertaining story that generally will provide much satisfaction to sub-genre fans. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: a good JAK...not great
Review: This is one of the better JAK of the past half dozen Quicks. At the time I read it, I would have given it four stars. I give it five now, after reading a series of floundering Quicks and Kentzes. The others were not good examples of this talented writer who usually delights, so it makes this one shine a wee bit better by comparison. Madeline Deveridge ingores all the gossip about her, that she offed her dh and concealed the evidence. Only now, Madeline fears her "late" departed husband is stalking her and her auntie, but does not want to believe it, because she has clear evidence he should not be up and about. But something weird is happening and so she forced to turned to Artemas Hunt. Artemus runs London's "wicked" pleasure pavilions, and has a penchant for the arcane, the occult. Having a dead hubby back to torment the wife interests him, so he takes on helping her - after she blackmails him into it! Artemus is quickly intriqued by the lady as much as the mystery, but Madeline, after a disasterous first marriage is leary of men and see advantage in being a wicked widow! It's typically sharp JAK (whatever the penname) focusing on witty repartee and intriquing chracters.
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Summary: I loved it
Review: Madeline Deveridge was known among the Ton as the "Wicked Widow". Everyone believed she had murdered her husband and then set fire to the house to cover the crime. Her deceased husband had been trained in the special arts of the Vanza. But he had not been a Master of Vanza as her father had been. Never-the-less, her husband's madness mixed with his training left Madeline very scarred on the inside. When someone, pretending to be her deceased husband's ghost out for revenge, began threatening her, she had to seek another Vanza for help. Unknown to others, Artemas Hunt was a Full Vanza Master and the owner of the Dream Pavilions. Artemas sold dreams and illusions. When Madeline virtually blackmailed him into helping her rescue one of her kidnapped maids, he was furious! When he found out she knew he was Vanza, owner of the Dream Pavilions, and knew much more about the Vanza Society than was healthy, he became cautious. He had no time for her. He had his own revenge to seek. They made a deal. Artemas helped her catch a ghost and Madeline turned over her father's journal that was filled with all the personal lives and businesses of all members of the Vanza Society - including his! Amanda Quick weaves the most enthralling tales of romance and suspense! I was caught in this story's sticky web from the first page! This book is one of her best yet!
Rating: 
Summary: I agree- it's just OK reading. There is better out there.
Review: This was my first Amanda Quick- and I wasn't impressed. It was dry and slow in places. I, too, got tired of Vanza this and Vanza that. It was overdone. As for the characters- I did like Artemis Hunt, owner of the Dreams Pavilion but there was something missing with Madeline "The Wicked Widow" Deveridge. And their romance was definitely flat and missing something (not that I want more description, but I did not feel the love there). I did finish the book but I won't suggest this one to friends.
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Summary: The deception of mystery
Review: The wickid widow is a romance that is also a mystery novel. It has intrigue as well as a love story. The story starts out with the bet in the Gentleman's Gaming Rooms for 1000 pounds for anyone who lives through the night in the company of the Wickid Widown. The Wickid Widow you find is a woman who is never found guilty and for that matter is never accused by the law of the murder of her husband. But you know how rumors go. She though is convinced that her husband is still alive and stalking her. After she "convinces (ok almost black mail's) someone" into helping her to recover her kidnapped maid she then appeals to his senses about helping her solve the mytery. Especially as due to some aquaintances he is connected to her late husband. It is a fast moving audio book and a good story to follow.
Rating:
Summary: It Not Her Best
Review: I wasn't very fond of this book. The plot was very thin. I look forward to the next Amanda Quick book.
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