"You kidnapped me. You cannot simply decide to keep me."
I literally paused my work, set down my stylus, and said that line out loud to my cats. Frida looked unimpressed. Diego knocked a pencil off my desk. But honestly? That moment—maybe three hours in—is when I knew I was fully gone for this book.
Look, here's the thing about Wicked Designs: it's a kidnapping romance. I know, I KNOW. Abuela would have clutched her rosary so hard it would've left marks. But then she would've stayed up until 2 AM to finish it, and we both know that.
The Duke With the Wounded Eyes
Godric St. Laurent is exactly the kind of hero I shouldn't love but absolutely do. He's arrogant, he's commanding, he literally abducts Emily because of her uncle's debts—and yet. AND YET. Lauren Smith peels back his layers so gradually that by the time you understand why he's built these walls, you're already emotionally invested. The man hides genuine pain behind those "flashing green eyes" and rakish behavior, and when those cracks start showing? My heart. MY HEART.
Emily, though—she's the real surprise here. She's not just a damsel waiting to be rescued. She's sharp-tongued and stubborn and wants nothing more than a boring husband who'll leave her alone with her books. (Honestly, relatable.) The banter between her and Godric crackles. Like, genuinely witty exchanges that made me snort-laugh while designing a logo for a local brewery. My clients probably think I'm unhinged.
Heather Wilds Is Doing the Lord's Work
Okay, so I hadn't listened to Heather Wilds before this, and now I need her entire catalog. Her voice is warm without being saccharine, and she does this thing with the male voices—Godric especially—where they're believably masculine without sounding like she's doing a comedy bit. That's harder than it sounds. Trust me, I've listened to narrators who make every hero sound like they're gargling gravel.
The accents are chef's kiss. She uses them to distinguish social classes, which adds this whole layer to the Regency setting that you don't always get in audiobooks. The servants sound different from the aristocrats, and it's subtle enough that it feels natural rather than theatrical. The pacing is steady—not rushed, not dragging—which is perfect for an 11-hour listen while I'm working.
I will say: I couldn't find a ton of background on Heather Wilds online, but based on this performance alone? She gets the assignment. Emotional scenes land with genuine weight, and the tension—both romantic and dangerous—comes through in her delivery.
A Rainy Sunday Book (With a Content Warning)
I need to be real for a second. This book has some intense power dynamics. The whole premise is a kidnapping, and while it's clearly fantasy and there's consent as the relationship develops, it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. If you're sensitive to those themes, maybe sample first or skip entirely. No judgment. Fifty Shades Darker plays with similar power dynamics, though with a very different setting and heat level.
But if you're like me—if you grew up on telenovelas where the drama was HIGH and the emotions were HIGHER—the vibes are immaculate. This is the kind of historical romance that doesn't apologize for being what it is. It's got danger lurking in Godric's past, it's got a group of rakish friends who I assume get their own books (hello, series), and it's got a slow burn that actually pays off.
I ugly-cried exactly once. Not going to tell you when because spoilers, but just know: keep tissues nearby.
Who's This For (And Who Should Run)?
If you love dark-ish Regency romance with morally complicated heroes and heroines who bite back, you'll devour this. Skip it if kidnapping premises make you uncomfortable—even fantasy ones—or if you need your heroes squeaky clean from page one.
Miss You, Abuela
Honestly? Yes, I'd listen again. Maybe not immediately—I need to emotionally recover—but this is going in my comfort re-listen rotation. It's perfect for long design sessions when I need something engaging but not so complex that I lose track of what I'm doing.
The chemistry is chef's kiss. The narrator makes it sing. And somewhere, I like to think Abuela would've gasped at all the right moments and then demanded I tell her what happens next.
Miss you, Abuela. You would have loved this one.
