A Wicked Way to Win an Earl (Sutherland Scandals) Mass Market Paperback – November 3, 2015

'A Wicked Way to Win an Earl' by Anna Bradley is book one in the "Sutherland Scandals" series.This is the story of Delia and Alec Sutherland.I would easily give this more stars if I could... it was that good! This is the Historical Romance with the bad acting lead man who has the family to take care of and protect....and a rake. The heroine too has a family she is trying to take care of but is a loving person who tries to keep her self from falling for the hero. This took me on an emotional roller coaster ride that just showed me how much I had become attached to their story.Delia and her sister a visiting friends that they had met in the country where they live. Delia nor any of her sister come to town because of their mother who made a scandal when she defied her parents and ran off to marry someone else that they felt was beneath her. Delia mother and father are now past. Delia and her sister think they will be safe from talk since the scandal their mother cause was so long ago and they won't be in London. But they are going to the house of the man they mother turned away from in favor of their father. That gentlemen his also died and now it it is just the adult children and the mother left.Alec is the oldest son and knows of what happen with his father and Delia mother. Alec father was a very stern if not mean person and now Alec finds himself the head of the family. When he hears that his brother has taken an interest in Delia, Alex sets out to change that. Alec doesn't want his brother getting hurt by her. So Alec thinks to keep her busy by distracting her and keep his brother away from Delia. But things doesn't always work out the way you think they will.Please follow more reviews at the below sites:[...][...][...][...][...][...]

I wasn’t certain I was going to enjoy A Wicked Way to Win and Earl. I disliked the leads for the first third of the book but then there is a lovely transformation of both characters and by the end of this novel I found myself rooting for this couple.When Alec, a dissolute Earl, and straitlaced Delia first meet it is not in the best of circumstances. Alec is trysting with a woman and Delia is dirty and tired having walked quite a way to find help for her and her sister’s broken carriage. Delia and Alec snip at each other immediately. Unfortunately, Delia will be spending weeks at the Earl’s home for a house party and cannot seem to help her sharp tongue. She almost forgets Alec is her host and can be rude and judgmental. Alec cares too much about ton gossip and he loves teasing Delia.Alec is very worried that his younger brother is interested in Delia and wants to discourage any kind of match. He squarely puts himself in the way of the two being alone and instead finds himself drawn to Delia.At first Delia and Alec play a game of seduction which involves some naughty conversations but not a lot of real feelings other than anger. When they finally exhibit honesty, wow does the tone and the pacing of this novel change. Alec becomes so much more approachable and appealing. Here is a man trying to protect his family but also one who longs to be heroic to his siblings. He takes responsibility for his faults and actions.Delia stops being so prickly and becomes pretty insightful, especially about her own nature. A woman who has suppressed her romantic nature, she explores this side of her personality. What’s more, she stops categorizing everyone.This couple has chemistry but it shows itself at first in some tiring banter. When they later share their real feelings, their passion is richer and their words and inner thoughts more vibrant. I look forward to future stories about this family.

This is Anna Bradley's first book and I liked it very much. Can't wait for the rest of the Sutherlands to find their HEAs. First, I liked the fact that I did not notice any typos, grammar or editing errors that sometimes occur with new authors. This makes me happy as is does not interrupt my reading. The only thing I didn't like, and a new author has no control over this, is that the gorgeous man on the cover doesn't quite match the hero's description. Publishers - please note the characters' descriptions before you decide on the cover.The story itself was very good. Ancient history: the heroine's mother dumped the hero's father and eloped with a commoner. They had 5 daughters and were very happy. Lord Carlisle, not a particularly nice man, married someone else and had 2 sons and 2 daughters.Delia and Lily Somerset met Charlotte, Eleanor and Robyn Sutherland (the younger son) and became friends. They were invited to the Sutherland's house party where they met the eldest son, the current Lord Carlisle. I hate to write plot spoilers, especially with a very good complex story. I'll just say that I recommend this book and will be buying the next one.

The blurb is not exactly correct. Alec is not on a mission to ruin Delia, he just wants to distract her away from his younger brother, Robyn. There's a history, you see.Delia's mother had jilted Alec's father many years ago to run off and marry a commoner. That was an embarrassment to the earl but Delia's parents were happy until their untimely deaths. The Earl of Sutherland, an austere, unfeeling man, subsequently married another.Now, Delia and Lily are attending a house party at the Sutherland estate. Delia, still saddened by her parents' deaths and feeling that she and Lily don't fit in among aristocrats, is particularly concerned about their reception by the countess. The Countess of Sutherland is a lovely lady and is very kind to both sisters. Alec is another matter. He appears cold to many people and is obsessed with protecting his family...particularly "saving" Robyn from Delia.Well, you know how it goes...best laid plans...I look forward to reading more by this author.Enoy your reading! :)

Lovely read if you like historical romance. Delia is a strong female character and holds her ground opposite the rakish Alec. Although highly predictable the story is entertaining and develops at a good pace. Recommended.

4.5/5. Fantastic debut novel with the heady combination of humour, heart and heat. It made me laugh out loud more than once, sigh in response to the heartfelt emotions experienced by the protagonists and just a bit flustered at times from the heat emanating between the two leads . Utterly wonderful and I await the follow up novel with great anticipation.

Definitely one of my favourite books recently. The dialogue was clever and engaging. The characters were well developed and interesting. More than just an average Historical Romance. A thoroughly good read.

I'm amazed at the good reviews for this book. It seems to me very naive, as if the characters are modern American teenagers. And the strange lack of thought for the differences between that time and our own - if a car breaks down you can just go off and leave it by the side of the road, but a carriage? What happened to the horses? How were they brought under control after a crash if the coachman had injured his ankle? Were they just left there still in the traces whilst the passengers went off in a haycart (which itself did not appear to have a horse)? And what was the earl doing miles from anywhere seducing a low class woman who disappears into the woods never to be seen again? Innumerable other instances of the ignorance of the writer mounted up but what stopped me reading was that a character envisaged a chess game where the king swooped across the board to take the queen!

Good read.