Wicked (Anne Marsh) Books in Order

The series labeled Wicked in this data lines up with Anne Marsh's Discovery Island romances, a contemporary trio about former military men, second chances, and a California island setting that looks idyllic until weather, rivalry, or old mistakes start closing in.

The island is lovely. The people are a mess.

The books tied to this run include Before He Was Wicked, Wicked Sexy, Wicked Nights, and Wicked Secrets. Marsh uses the prequel to set up emotional history, then lets the main books explore reconnecting lovers, dangerous chemistry, and bargains that feel like bad ideas from the moment they are spoken out loud. A tropical storm, a diving contract, or a fake engagement is never just a plot gimmick here. It is the thing that forces two stubborn people to stop pretending they are over each other.

What makes this series stand out is the balance between glamour and grounded emotion. Discovery Island gives Marsh beaches, boats, storms, and a little vacation fantasy. The heroes, many of them tied to rescue-swimmer or military backgrounds, bring competence and intensity. But the books keep coming back to very ordinary human fears. What if I trust the wrong person again? What if wanting more makes me look foolish? What if the one-night stand, fake relationship, or petty rivalry is covering something much bigger?

The tone is lighter than her darker paranormal work, but the stakes still matter. Dani and Daeg in Wicked Sexy are dealing with history. Piper and Cal in Wicked Nights turn competition into foreplay and then into something riskier. Mia and Tag in Wicked Secrets are older, wiser, and still somehow making brand-new mistakes. That gives the series a nice grown-up feel. These are not people figuring out first attraction. They are figuring out what to do when attraction refuses to stay in the past.

If you want contemporary island romance with strong chemistry, ex-military competence, and enough storms, wagers, and fake-outs to keep things lively, Wicked is a good fit. It is sexy, polished, and built around the pleasure of watching supposedly sensible adults make terrible romantic plans and then somehow earn their happy ending anyway.