Kindle Price: $7.99
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

A Little Bit Wicked (Last Man Standing Book 1) Kindle Edition


Who will be the last unmarried man standing?

No man in his right mind would want to get married, but every duke, earl, and viscount knows that a fellow must do his duty in the end. So four of London's most desirable gentlemen make a wager—the prize going to the one who remains unwed the longest.

Gideon Pearsall, Viscount Warton, thinks he has a fair shot at winning. After all, he's managed to enjoy the favors of many a lady while resisting the parson's noose. Even when he's stopped dead in his tracks by the most scandalous woman in all of London—Judith, Lady Chester—he vows to have her bedded but never wedded.

Beautiful, and more than a little bit naughty, Judith has always kept herself within the bounds of respectability, even while playing by her own rules. And the experience has taught her to avoid marriage. She has no desire to resist Warton's hot kisses, and his tempting touch is impossible to ignore.

But soon both Judith and Gideon can't help but wonder . . . is it possible to be a little bit wicked and still follow your heart?

Next 3 for you in this series See full series
Total Price: $22.57

More like A Little Bit Wicked (Last Man Standing Book 1)
Loading...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bestselling author Alexander returns to Victorian England for her latest, the promising kickoff to a four-book series. In 1854 London, four titled gentlemen make a bet: the last man to avoid the inevitable trap of marriage wins an expensive bottle of brandy-as well as his precious freedom, for as long as necessity will allow. The first to face his trial is Gideon Pearsall, Viscount Warton, who lost his heart years ago to a conniving woman who briefly married him to make another lover jealous. Gideon firmly believes he will never love again, and the new "adventure" he's begun with Lady Judith Chester is merely that-a chance for excitement, a quenching of desire. Lady Chester, for her part, feels the same. A widow whose former husband abused her in secret, Lady Chester simply wants to enjoy her freedom with a man who's merely bad, rather than controlling and cruel. But the wounds of the past have a way of catching up with the carefree lovers, conspiring to expose their real, raw feelings for each other. The rich characters in this first installment of Alexander's "Last Man Standing" series (wickedly similar to Stephanie Laurens's Bastion Club novels) make this a satisfying start, though one hopes for a little more action and passion in future installments.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Back Cover

Who will be the last unmarried man standing?

No man in his right mind would want to get married, but every duke, earl, and viscount knows that a fellow must do his duty in the end. So four of London's most desirable gentlemen make a wager—the prize going to the one who remains unwed the longest.

Gideon Pearsall, Viscount Warton, thinks he has a fair shot at winning. After all, he's managed to enjoy the favors of many a lady while resisting the parson's noose. Even when he's stopped dead in his tracks by the most scandalous woman in all of London—Judith, Lady Chester—he vows to have her bedded but never wedded.

Beautiful, and more than a little bit naughty, Judith has always kept herself within the bounds of respectability, even while playing by her own rules. And the experience has taught her to avoid marriage. She has no desire to resist Warton's hot kisses, and his tempting touch is impossible to ignore.

But soon both Judith and Gideon can't help but wonder . . . is it possible to be a little bit wicked and still follow your heart?

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000N2HCTW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins e-books (October 13, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 13, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2695 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 382 pages
  • Customer Reviews:

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Victoria Alexander
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander was an award winning television reporter until she discovered fiction was much more fun than real life. She turned to writing full time and is still shocked it worked out.

Since the publication of her first book in 1995, she has written thirty-one full length novels and six novellas. Find a complete list on her website http://www.victoriaalexander.com and chat with her on facebook https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaAlexandersPlace

The Perfect Wife--originally published in 1996 and reissued in March 2008--hit #1 on the New York Times list. Sixteen of her books are bestsellers hitting the New York Times, USA Today and/or Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. With books translated into more than a dozen different languages she has readers around the world and has twice been nominated for Romance's Writers of America prestigious RITA award. In 2009 she was given a Career Achievement Award from RT Bookclub and was named Historical Storyteller of the year in 2003. In 2008 she was the keynote speaker for the Romance Writers of American annual conference in San Francisco. Victoria credits much of her writing success to her experiences as a reporter.

Her years as a broadcast journalist were spent in two radically different areas of the country: Nebraska and West Virginia. In West Virginia, she covered both natural and manmade disasters. She was on the scene when a power plant construction accident in a small town left 52 men dead. She once spent the night on a mountain waiting to learn of the fate of coal miners trapped in a mine collapse. Victoria was producing a newscast when her husband (who worked at the same television station) and several other journalists were held hostage by a disturbed Vietnam veteran. In Nebraska, she reported on the farm crisis and watched people lose land that had been in their families for generations. She covered the story that was the basis of the movie BOYS DON'T CRY and once acted as the link between police and a gunman who had barricaded himself in his home. Her investigative work exposed the trucking of New York City garbage to a small town dump in rural Nebraska.

During her journalism career, Victoria covered every president from Ford to Clinton. She knows firsthand what it feels like to be surrounded by rising floodwaters and inside a burning building. She's interviewed movie stars including Kevin Costner, ridden an elephant and flown in a governor's helicopter. She's covered a national political convention and Pope John Paul II's historic visit to Denver as well as small town festivals celebrating everything from walnuts to Glen Miller. Her work was honored by numerous organizations including the Associated Press who called a feature about a firefighter's school "story telling genius". It was the encouragement she needed to turn from news to fiction. She's never looked back.

Victoria is a former president of the Omaha Press Club and in 2009 was named an OPC Face on the Barroom Floor. A caricature portrait of her joined previous faces including presidents, sports figures and politicians in a tradition that began in 1971.

Victoria claims her love of romance and journalism is to due to the influence of her favorite comic book character: Lois Lane, a terrific reporter and a great heroine who pursued Superman with an unwavering determination. And why not? He was extremely well drawn.

Victoria grew up traveling the world as an Air Force brat. Today, she lives in Omaha, Nebraska with her husband and her dogs. Victoria had two bearded collies, Sam and Louie (named from characters in one of her books). Sam (on the left), the best dog in the world for 13 ½ years, passed away in September 2010. Louie took on the position of loyal companion and did a fine job even though he doesn't understand that kitchen counter surfing is not allowed! Now he's been joined by Reggie, king of the lilacs.

They all live happily ever after in a house under constant renovation and the accompanying parade of men in tool belts. And never ending chaos. Victoria laughs a great deal--she has to.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
146 global ratings

Customers say

Customers say the author charms them with unforgettable characters. They describe the book as audacious, provocative, and deliciously wicked. They also appreciate the splendid illustrations and find the stories a pleasure to read.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

6 customers mention "Characters"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters unforgettable, unique, and dynamic. They also mention the book has humor and romance.

"...This, along with the marvelous way she composes her characters, and her sparkling wit--always makes her stories such a pleasure to read." Read more

"...She never fails to entertain and charm her readers with unforgettable characters." Read more

"...along with their supporting 'cast' do have their moments and they're all very likable,but the ending is a bit too predictable and to be honest a..." Read more

"...I'm on my 3rd book now! There is humor and romance. Perfect combo!" Read more

3 customers mention "Complexity"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book complex, with a deliciously wicked romantic tale. They also describe the characters as delightful, charming, and heartwarming. Readers also mention the book is splendidly illustrated and sophisticated. They say the book has a sweet love story and good sex.

"...I absolutely loved this heartwarming and compelling tale of two endearing characters who must let go of the past--to learn to trust, and love again...." Read more

"...Overall, an enjoyable romance for those who love lots of clever dialog and a story that delves deeply into the hearts of the hero and heroine...." Read more

"Historical romance with a sweet love story and good sex...." Read more

3 customers mention "Readability"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and a pleasure to read.

"...and her sparkling wit--always makes her stories such a pleasure to read." Read more

"I thought this book was very good, but I love all of her books." Read more

"Victoria Alexander’s heroines are marvelous.She never fails to entertain and charm her readers with unforgettable characters." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2007
In her latest novel, A LITTLE BIT WICKED, supremely talented writer and storyteller Victoria Alexander captivates her readers with an audacious, provocative and deliciously wicked romantic tale of two refreshing and magnetic personalities--lovers--who discover DESIRE and LUST can be just the "stepping stones" they need as they begin their journey on that rocky road to the grandest adventure of all...TRUE LOVE.

Ten years after the passing of the husband she impetuously married in her youth--the mature and radiantly lovely widow, Lady Judith Chester, is a delightfully charming, self-reliant, intelligent and completely independent woman of means. And while Judith enjoys a gentleman's company, and has occasionally (making no apologies for it) indulged herself in the pleasures associated with the taking of a discreet lover, or two--all are brief affaires; and always on her terms. She won't be subservient to any man and therefore, has no intention of ever remarrying, but... What is it about this man? Why does just the thought of being with Gideon--of seeing his handsome face and wickedly seductive smile--cause the oddest sensation of geese fluttering in her stomach? And... why does the thought of a future with him seem so intriguing?

Suave, sophisticated and wealthy, Gideon Pearsall, Viscount Warton is well-known for his wry sarcastic wit and proud, arrogant demeanor--enticing attributes that combined with his virile, dark good looks make him a tempting catch for any marriage minded lady. Still a bachelor at 32, Gideon concedes he must eventually marry, but only to fulfill the obligations of his title to sire an heir. All he thinks he'll need is a proper and virtuous young woman of good family, who is hopefully--tame and submissive. Being burned by love once before has left Gideon rather cynical; and he's certain he'll never again make the mistake of offering a woman his heart, but... What is it about this woman? Gideon hardly knew her at all, but surprisingly--from the moment he'd looked deep into Judith's eyes--it seemed as though he'd known her forever; or that he would.

I absolutely loved this heartwarming and compelling tale of two endearing characters who must let go of the past--to learn to trust, and love again. I loved that Ms. Alexander wasn't afraid to make Judith a confident "real" woman with needs and desires--allowing her to be passionate; to want sex with Gideon and to enjoy it. Yet, she also slowly revealed, Judith's innermost insecurities--anguish over her husband's death, fear of losing her freedom, of being dominated again, and of growing old alone. I also thought Gideon was splendidly illustrated--he's my kind of hero. At first he was only interested in a little affaire with the lovely Judith; so he was willing to abide by her rules, but when his heart becomes involved--I loved his confusion and uncertainty. And the jealousy and possessiveness he struggles with while trying to accept there were other men in Judith's life. Until he realizes the past can't be changed; and she's the only woman he wants to share the future with.

In the world of historical romance, author Victoria Alexander is "bright and shining star" with a delightfully unique and dynamic voice. In LITTLE BIT WICKED, she again dazzles her readers with her seemingly effortless flair for writing fluent-razor-sharp-clever-dialogue--with shrewd sophistication; and all the titillating little nuances that make her character's conversations realistic, intelligent and mature. This, along with the marvelous way she composes her characters, and her sparkling wit--always makes her stories such a pleasure to read.
6 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2007
I thought this book was very good, but I love all of her books.
3 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2013
Well, this book and its reviews certainly prove that everyone has different tastes! I find it amazing that readers found this book boring- I thought it was great fun. What I liked about it was the hero and heroine. Good thing, eh? Gideon, Viscount Warton, is the type of man who sits back and watches, silent for the most part unless making witty and somewhat deprecating comments about what is going on around him. He is cynical, with a dry sense of humor, and since I enjoy that type of humor, this hero attracted me at his first appearance in  A Visit From Sir Nicholas . He is a bit mysterious, having a tragic marriage in his past. He is arrogant, but not annoyingly so, and very confident...that is until Lady Chester tangles with him. They both think they are indulging in a simple affair, no strings attached, but it turns out to be a great deal more.

Judith, Lady Chester, is different from the typical heroines in that she has been married before and is a wealthy widow. She is known to have lovers, and lives her life the way she wishes. She, too, is cool and confident, and makes a rule to never allow herself to love any man she favors. But, there is more to Lady Chester than appears. She carefully cultivates not only her reputation, but exotic orchids (loved the fountain scene!), and she can carry on a conversation with men on any subject. Like Gideon, she also has something of a mystery in her past. Both Gideon and Judith must come to know themselves better and deal with issues from their first marriages, and the author showed this very well. There's no sudden lightening strike of revelation, but gradual changes in each.

I enjoy clever dialog, and this book is FILLED with it. Judith can hold her own against any man, and she doesn't let anything get by her. I enjoyed the way she turned the tables on the cool, arrogant Gideon, who, thankfully, is not above laughing at himself. For those who want more action and less talk, you might be disappointed. This book is about how the H/h learn about themselves and grow in order to accept love. The story is told from both points of view and we see into their hearts and minds- another thing I prefer in a romance.

Other characters appear, including Gideon's aunt, who is delightful, as well as some troublemakers. This is the first in the Last Man Standing series by Ms Alexander, and it has the other men involved in the tontine as well, all hoping to earn the four shillings by being the last man to marry. They expect the cynical Gideon to easily outlast them, so when he is the first to fall in love, what chance do they have of fending off cupid's arrow? Their conversations at the club are funny, and I look forward to reading their stories. I just hope Gideon and Judith are featured in them.

Overall, an enjoyable romance for those who love lots of clever dialog and a story that delves deeply into the hearts of the hero and heroine.

A few notes: There's sex, but is not what I consider very graphic, particularly as compared to some authors' work, or a lot of it. Sometimes, less is more. The Kindle version has quite a number of typos, most noticeably the word "pleasure" is nearly always "plea sure."
4 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2018
Victoria Alexander’s heroines are marvelous.

She never fails to entertain and charm her readers with unforgettable characters.

Top reviews from other countries

Joanna (Jo Reads Romance)
4.0 out of 5 stars Light-hearted and Entertaining
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 4, 2007
Gideon Pearsall, Viscount Warton is determined to win the wager with his friends to be the last man to remain unmarried of the four - but in the meantime he plans to enjoy a brief liaison with the scandalous widow, Judith, Lady Chester.

Judith has enjoyed life by her own rules and sees no problem with enjoying a no strings, no commitment, no emotions interlude with Gideon. But with marriage and love the furthest things from either of their minds it comes as quite a shock when they both realise that sometimes you cannot predict what fate has in store.

This book is the first in a new series from Victoria Alexander about four gentleman who are trying to avoid marriage by whatever means possible. Most of the characters first appeared in Let It Be Love but the book stands alone so you needn't have read that to understand this one.

The story is fun and light - it has the typical wit and humour that you would expect from a Victoria Alexander novel. I did feel that it seemed to take a while for the story to pick up speed but once it did get going it was very enjoyable. The story focuses mainly on the relationship between the two main characters and the way that they struggle with their feelings and their pasts in order to be with each other. Both Gideon and Judith are interesting, believable characters that do seem rather perfect for each other and their conflict and worries do seem genuine. With both the characters being experienced the pair jumped into their sexual relationship quite quickly although truthfully the love story was a little too sweet to be truly wicked!

As I am a fan of Victoria Alexander I found that I did enjoy what was essentially a fun, uncomplicated story. While maybe not her best novel it was light-hearted and entertaining and definitely worth a read if you're a fan or for something to take your mind off things for a while.
22 people found this helpful
Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?