When he was Wicked (Bridgertons #6) by Julia Quinn

From Goodreads

In every life there is a turning point.

A moment so tremendous, so sharp and breathtaking, that one knows one's life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, London's most infamous rake, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton.

After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing. 

Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca's surname was to remain Bridgerton for only a mere thirty-six hours longer -- the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin.

But that was then . . . Now Michael is the earl and Francesca is free, but still she thinks of him as nothing other than her dear friend and confidant. Michael dares not speak to her of his love . . . until one dangerous night, when she steps innocently into his arms, and passion proves stronger than even the most wicked of secrets . . .

My thoughts

This is the sixth book in the Bridgerton series.  This book is centred around one of the females in the Bridgerton family.  When Michael first meets Francesca Bridgerton, it's shortly before she's due to get married to his cousin of all people.  Life never works out for some people.  Michael is quite taken with her and sadly she's committed elsewhere.  Life's never easy for any of us and fate often has other plans for us, that was the case for these two.  

That was all in the past and now she is free.  He is a dear friend and someone that she can rely on as an ear to share her thoughts and problems with.  His feelings for her have never changed and she is still oblivious to them or is she?

I grabbed a copy of this from my local Library.  I am not sure what it was, but it just didn't seem to grab me as much as some of the others in the series, yet there are readers that raved about this and have enjoyed it more than the stories that featured the male Bridgerton family member.  Maybe it was because the story featured on the female of the Bridgerton family more than the male, I am not sure.  It hasn't put me off reading more in the series and I look forward to seeing where the series takes me next.