Wilde Child: Wildes of Lindow Castle

Written by Eloisa James

Narrated by Susan Duerden

Eloisa James returns to the Wildes of Lindow Castle series with the next Wilde child who runs and joins a theatre troupe -- and the duke who tries to save her reputation.


He wants a prim and proper duchess, not the Wildest of the Wildes!

Already notorious for the golden hair that proves her mother’s infidelity, Lady Joan can’t seem to avoid scandals, but her latest escapade may finally ruin her: she’s determined to perform the title role of a prince—in breeches, naturally.

She has the perfect model for an aristocratic male in mind: Thaddeus Erskine Shaw, Viscount Greywick, a man who scorned the very idea of marrying her.

Not that Joan would want such a dubious honor, of course.

For years, Thaddeus has avoided the one Wilde who shakes his composure, but he’s horrified when he grasps the danger Joan’s putting herself in. Staring into her defiant eyes, he makes the grim vow that he’ll keep her safe.

He strikes a bargain: after one performance, the lady must return to her father’s castle and marry one of three gentlemen whom he deems acceptable.

Not including him, of course.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Mar 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9780063065673

Eloisa James

Eloisa James is a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author and professor of English literature, who lives with her family in New York, but can sometimes be found in Paris or Italy. She is the mother of two and, in a particularly delicious irony for a romance writer, is married to a genuine Italian knight.

Reviews for Wilde Child

[claire Kilpatrick · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved the story of this book. I have read the series thus far and I am glad to read the prequel story of Ophelia and Hugo. Eloisa James writes such entertaining romances. Thank you for this story Ms. James. Please continue to keep writing more of the Wildes of Lindow Castle.

[jorgeousjotts · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed the setup of this book, with the hero so determined to mary into a bloodline beyond reproach, and the heroine very much considered a full member of her family but also clearly not a full blood match. That issue wasn't a secret that came out, or the main issue that the heroine struggled with, or a problem with her family, it was just a fact in her life. I liked that. I wasn't quite as taken with the relationship and the acting plotline, etc. but overall it was fine.

[jennybeast · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I’m ever glad to return to the world of the Wildes, and their continued romantic adventures. This installment does not disappoint. I'm hoping that the recent Bridgerton adaptation spawns a wealth of new regency tv drama, and the Wildes are certainly in my top 3 to see on screen. An irreverent romp with a heart of gold, just like all the rest.

Advanced readers copy provided by Edelweiss

[narshkite · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Eloisa James is one of those writers I often want to enjoy more than I do. She is an excellent writer but I often find her characters dull. Not this time. Thaddeus and Joan are a delight. And in this book the story is so beautifully framed around Hamlet, both the actual play and the themes and warring interpretations. James almost always invokes the bard (not surprising for an English Lit prof who is a respected Shakespeare scholar) but IMO that sometimes bogs down the story. Not here, here Hamlet makes one understand that every possible iteration of Hamlet and Ophelia exist in us all, and that helps us understand the main characters, especially Thaddeus. A really lovely romance.

[n.w.moors-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lady Joan Wilde wants to be an actress despite the prominence of her family and her somewhat odd status within it. Joan is the daughter of the Duke's second wife and the Prussian she had an affair with. Thaddeus Shaw is the prim and proper heir to a dukedom but he's always been fascinated with Joan (and she with him).This is a wonderful addition to a fun series. The Duke and his brood of children are fascinating people, so I love to revisit them and see what's happening with the various couples. Joan and Thaddeus are a perfect match of opposites that also have a lot in common. The Wildes is a first-class historical romance series and this book is lovely.

[readinggeek451 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Everyone knows that Lady Joan Wilde is actually the daughter of her mother's Prussian lover; her blonde hair gives that away. She makes a point of not caring, giving her acting skills a workout. Thaddeus, Viscount Greywick, heir to another duke, is upright and serious, and determined to marry well. Scandalous, illegitimate Lady Joan is not what he had in mind. Besides, they hate each other. But.A bright, sexy enemies-to-lovers romance, featuring a large, boisterous loving family. Fun.