The end is in the sight y'all and us snarky sisters could not be happier!
Join us as we complete The Wildes of Lindow Castle series by Eloisa James. In the sixth and final book (at least so far) we watch Joan and Thaddeus stumble their way to a happily eve after. This book reminds me of a bottle episode trope that is often found in TV series. All the of the drama is contained in a short span of time within pretty much one location - the Wilde family estate. For most of the book the cast of characters is limited to just a few of the Wildes (Viola and Joan and their parents), Aunt Knowe, Viola's husband, Joan's BFF Otis, Thaddeus and Thaddeus' mom. There are some random people that show up for no other reason than to cause trouble (Lady Bumtrinket and Duke of Eversly we are looking at you). Let the shenanigans begin!
Joan is convinced that her great passion and calling in life is to tread the boards acting out Shakespeare's finest scenes. She has convinced her father to let her perform the leading role of Hamlet (one of her favorites) in a one time only production at their home with their favorite traveling actor troupe. Being an actress has been Joan's dream for forever. . . or at least the last six years since she was introduced to acting for apparently the first time (remember when her family put on the Wilde in Love play at their house?). She has also decided to mirror her performance of Hamlet after the most pompous, opinionated aristocrat she knows . . .Thaddeus. Suffice it to say he is less than flattered to be her muse but reluctantly helps her in her scheme to test her acting skills among a less loving audience than her family - the people of the local town.
As Joan and Thaddeus spend more time together (he is teaching her to fence, she is teaching him how much fun picnics are) they start to become friends and then eventually lovers . . .you know, because apparently people were very promiscuous in the 1780s (imagine Beth throwing her book across the room here). But their love story is sweet and believable and it is nice to see an opposites attract love story that makes sense. Both of these characters bring out the best in each other and give the other strength to seek out what they really want out of life. And surprisingly when Joan is giving the chance to perform she realizes she actually isn't very good and she would rather just be a mom and wife for the rest of her life.
Like always there was some very highly dramatized nonsense about renouncing a dukedom but Eloisa James made up for her original faux pas when Aunt Knowe admits that renouncing a title might not actually be possible.
Although this story started out as Amy's least favorite type of love story (enemies to lovers) it was actually surprising because it becomes more a story about how we can make assumptions about others without really getting to know them. And if we take the time to get to know them we might just find our soul mate. Good advice for anyone when searching for love.
