My Wicked Fantasy

By Karen Ranney

Book Overview

An explosive encounter leads to . . . After Mary Kate Bennett becomes a young widow, she's left to fend for herself without a penny. When she is in a terrible carriage accident, Mary Kate awakens in the bed of the mysterious Archer St. John--and to a life more luxurious than she could have ever imagined. But more unsettling is the desire this wickedly handsome stranger sets off in her. The most intoxicating passion . . . The whispers about Archer follow him wherever he goes. Did the reclusive nobleman murder his unhappy countess? When Mary Kate enters his life so unexpectedly, the bold earl is convinced that she has all the answers he's been searching for. So why can't he think of anything else besides her decadently red hair, her luminescent skin, and the feelings she evokes whenever she is near? Their love can be a fantasy-- or it can be strong enough to seal their destinies forever. KAREN RANNEY wanted to be a writer from the time she was five years old and filled her Big Chief tablet with stories. People in stories did amazing things and she was too shy to do anything amazing. Years spent in Japan, Paris, and Italy, however, not only fueled her imagination but proved that she wasn't that shy after all. Yet she prefers to keep her current adventures between the covers of her books. Karen lives in San Antonio, Texas, and loves to hear from her readers at karen@karenranney.com. www.avonromance.com www.facebook.com/avonromance

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380795817
• ISBN13: 9780380795819
• Release Date: November 2013
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Spellbound!

An amazingly well written novel with mystery, suspense, romance, sex and comic relief. Very intense story and the author eloquently leads us into the lives of the characters as if we are sitting in the same room with them. She describes the surroundings /environment/geography in such detail that it is a moving picture. I read a lot of romance novels and this one is by far and away the best I've ever read. Not just your typical and predictable story line. My only complaint is with the title -- I think that "Wicked Fantasy" has extremely sexual innuendo. The sex was NOT at all predominant -- actually quite restrained. Please don't miss this book!

This earl holds the heroine prisoner at his country estate

My Wicked Fantasy is the fourth Ranney book I have read. The first novel was only average and made me shy away from future Ranney purchases. Fortunately when I begin reading a new author, I usually buy at least two of her books to truly test the author's writing capability and style, AND to discover if her style fits my taste in romance reading. I am so glad I purchased that second book. I loved it and the last three Ranney books I have read have all been five star reviews. My Wicked Fantasy is just that - somewhat wicked and certainly a fantasy of the heroine's prior to her meeting the hero.To truly enjoy this book, you have to suspend reality and just go with believing that the dead can speak to the living. Supernatural novels are usually not my style (although I have loved Dara Joy's books) but this book is only slightly supernatural and well worth ignoring that aspect if it bothers you. This is a historical English novel that involves a penniless widow, Mary Kate Bennett, and a hermit earl, Archer St. John. Mary Kate is searching for remnants of her long lost family and Archer is searching for his wife who disappeared a year ago. These two meet by accident, literally, when the earl's speeding carriage collides with the public coach carrying Mary Kate on the road to London. Mary Kate is badly injured but the earl is not hurt and he stays at a local inn supervising and paying for Mary Kate's medicinal care. During Mary Kate's recovery, she begins to have visions that she knows concerns the Earl of Sanderhurst. Eventually the earl begins to believe that Mary Kate is some sort of con artist in partnership with his missing wife. After all, no one has heard from his wife this past year and their marriage was not a great one. Mary Kate is the first to have any knowledge of her although she tells him it is all through visions. She even has a concern for his safety because of her disturbing dreams. Archer is tired of everyone believing he must have killed his wife and decides to keep Mary Kate until she will tell him the truth behind her sham. He takes her to his country estate and imprisons her in one of the bedchambers determined to find out where his wife is.Mary Kate is, of course, a beautiful woman from the working class who has had much misfortune is her life. She has been married to an old man who has recently died leaving her without any money. She only wants to find her family who she was separated from at the age of ten. She doesn't mind hard work - in fact, she wants it. But once she has recovered from the carriage accident, she has few funds left and doesn't object too strenuously at being held captive in a beautiful home with good food. Although she appears meek at first - it is only an illusion. Mary Kate can and does speak her mind clearly and is not shy. She is rather taken with the vengeful earl although she is even more conscious of their class difference than he. Actually she is a little too hardheaded to be

HAUNTING

"...but she would walk into the fire gladly, for the sheer joy of being able to remember the flames." Page after page, it's not just Karen Ranney's writing style that haunts the reader, but also haunting character information comes together like puzzle pieces. Pain, romance, sensuality, tenderness, love that transcends time and place...and a mother-in-law who tickles your fantasies. Long after the last word is read, the characters tug at the reader's memory. Haunting...

awesome story. Great plot.

This is the first book I have read by karen Ranney. I was quite surprised. The only drawback to the book I felt was Author Ranney did get a little too wordy trying to lure you into the sights and sounds. I found myself reading the first line of each paragraph and moving on. Although, it didn't take long to find myself wondering what happened to Alice and subsequently, found myself totally absorbed into the story. The plot was very believable. I work in a field where I hear about and see these types of crimes every day. Good suspense story. I look foward to reading her other books. I hope they are as satisfying.

Imaginative and engaging. This one is a keeper.

This book was such a pleasant suprise. The plot is original; the characters engaging. It is a book that I could not wait to finish and never wanted to see end. I have read hundreds of Romance novels and this one belongs near the top of the list. I look forward to reading more from Karen Ranney.