author watch: Emma Wildes

I first came across a review of Lessons from a Scarlet Lady at The Romance Reader - a story by Emma Wildes, a new-to-me author. The reviewer gave the read a maximum 5 hearts rating as "a definite keeper." Here is a short description of the story from the author's site:

The Duke of Rolthven's new wife, Brianna, is the perfect aristocratic bride. So what would society say if they saw her with a copy of Lady Rothburg's Advice--a courtesan's lessons for the boudoir? When his innocent wife suddenly becomes a vixen in the bedroom, the proper Duke is truly astounded by her seductive powers. Following a courtesan's advice might lead to trouble-but will it lead to Brianna's ultimate desire: winning her husband's love?

Searching for more on this author and her books, I visited All About Romance and also found a review of Ms. Wilde's earlier story An Indecent Proposition.

It’s the talk of the town. In a less than sober moment, London’s two most notorious rakes—the Earl of Manderville and the Duke of Rothay—placed a very public wager on which of them is the superior lover. Now it’s too late to retract the foolish bet, but what woman of beauty, intelligence, and discernment, would consent to bed both men—and declare which is more skilled in satisfying her deepest desires?

Lady Carolyn Wynn is the last woman anyone would expect to step forward. She’s a respectable young widow with an icy reputation, which has kept her firmly off the marriage market. She may not desire another husband, but her brief marriage has left her with some scandalous questions about the act of love.

If the men will keep her identity a secret, she’ll decide who has the most finesse between the sheets. But to everyone’s surprise, what begins as an indelicate proposition turns into a most astonishing lesson in everlasting love....


Persuaded by the favourable reviews for Wildes's stories, I got hold of both titles and enjoyed the reads immensely! I found the writing very easy to immerse into, with well-drawn characters I warmed up to quickly. Each story also involved secondary romances. The heroines were spirited young ladies and refreshingly honest about their emotions and desires. The heroes were charmingly amusing in their reluctance to admit and act on their feelings of true love. I loved the romance and passion in both relationship-centred stories, although Carolyn and her hero, as the main couple of An Indecent Proposition, were particular favorites. Their path to a HEA was a bit rockier as each had a traumatic past experience to overcome in order to find their haven and solace in each other.


Emma Wildes has a significant backlist in e-publishing, and her next print title with Signet Eclipse is Seducing the Highlander, a single author anthology set for a May 4 release date.