This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Kay Brooks
Black has been
blessed with good looks, intense charm and the ability to seduce any woman,
anywhere. Despite this, his gambling nature has meant that a trail of unpaid
debts, broken hearts and vengeance-hungry victims follow him wherever he goes.
When Tom Black disappears without a trace, foul-play is suspected but with a
past as eventful as his, there isn’t a short supply of suspects.
The novel focuses on the lives of three women whose paths have met with that of Tom Black in the past. Firstly, there is Ellie, married to a wealthy businessman who adores both her and their daughter. Ellie’s past, however, is not quite as clean-cut as the image presented to society. Her closest friend and popular author, Victoria has also been left damaged by the playboy. Then there is Loretta, the Italian diva extraordinaire, hungry for power, money and fame. She also has a score to settle with Black.
The prologue informs the reader that the storyline is building up to the disappearance of Tom Black, meaning that the reader is searching for any hint of suspicion. I suspected a total of six different characters before I reached the end, which, pleasingly turned out to be a surprise twist.
My first impression of ‘Wicked Wives’ was that it might be too raunchy a read for a Fifty-Shades-avoider like me and there are a smattering of parts that seem to be written to shock but I soon got into the spirit of the novel. It is racy, scandalous and really good fun. The title ‘Wicked Wives’ suits the novel perfectly though the women are human and relatable at the same time as being quite self-absorbed and immune to the feelings of others around them. Loretta was a surprise favourite for me. She is unbelievably excessive in everything she does, whether that may be revenge, love or shopping! One niggle for me was the constant naming of different brands. It does get tiring if fashion is not your forte, especially when even creams and serums are specifically branded.
The novel has its fair share of glamour but Weatherley gets underneath the glitzy, flashy veneer and shows the ugly scandal that lies beneath. It proves that money doesn’t always make you happy as the characters battle with the basic struggles that people from all walks of life have to overcome. At times, the characters come to a cross-roads and they have to make a decision between doing what’s right and doing what’s right for them. At the beginning, I was holding my breath in hope that they would listen to their conscience but, by the end, I was hoping that they would take the wicked path!
So good, it’s wicked!
7/10