NJ
I was prepared to like this book. I really was. A plot where the heroine proposes to the hero to save his ruined reputation? Sign me up.
However, there were irritating parts of this book that I just couldn't ignore. Firstly, 90% of the main characters' problems would not have existed if they were capable of simply talking to each other. In the first half of the book, I could understand their mutual wariness but after that point it just got tiring. What they really seemed to excel at doing was talking at each other. While they both made very salient points about the implications of the heroine's actions at the beginning of the book, they never have a conversation where they compromise and begin to see the other person's point of view. Although as readers who can peer into the minds of the characters, we see them begin to understand each other, we never see them have a discussion about this. I believe that this greatly contributes to the feelings of mistrust they both still have towards nearing the end of the book. However, I must admit that the line about love being a series of actions is perhaps one of my favourite romance novel quotes. If not for that this book would probably have received 2 stars.
Still, the book was well written and I'll try another Peckham book to see if my issues with this novel are resolved in some of her other books.
This was my first Christina Lauren book and after rereading it I am reminded of why I love their writing so much. This book was so sweet and I love the focus in the end on Holland herself and her development. There were a few moments that gave me pause, for example, I really disliked that the only female musician that was spoken of was disparaged. It was especially disappointing because I know Christina Lauren identify as feminists. Anyways, small moments like that in books always irritate me but I'm trying hard nowadays not to let them ruin the whole book for me.
I really loved this book. The last chapter left me with tears in my eyes. I'm going to have to read it much more slowly in about a month or two soo I can soak up everything. Also, it really reminded me of Strange the Dreamer.
Loving this book also highlights something I've been trying so hard to avoid. I need to stop reading predominantly romance novels. Of the books I've read this year, I have enjoyed most that ones that aren't pure romance. But for so long romance is all I read and a part of me doesn't want to let that go.
I loved Mia Vincy's first book, I really did. But as with Sally Thorne and her second book, this was a disappointment. That's not to say I didn't enjoy parts of it, because I did. However, in this instance, the good nearly outweighed the bad.
Firstly, I had a major problem with the tone of the book. I've never really liked books that have a ‘madcap humour' tone, as I feel like the authors are trying too hard to be funny. In addition, I felt like the hero and heroine had only a handful of interactions together and thus, I didn't really believe in the development of their relationship. Especially because they were in the same house together for a portion of the book, I believe the romance would have been stronger if we had felt that they interacted with each other often during that period. Instead, Vincy lets us know that they spend most of their time in the house alone. I don't even think that these interactions all needed to happen on-page, but a mention of a routine where they spend time together and really get to know each other would have been great. Admittedly, the scenes where they were together were often tender and sweet, but because they did not happen as often as I preferred, they got engaged without really discussing what those years in exile must have been for the heroine. In fact, while this is briefly mentioned it is not really explored, and I feel like that was a wasted opportunity.
I hope that her next book is much better (same goes for Sally Thorne) because I know how lovely their writing can be. I hope I don't discover another fresh author only for their next book to disappoint. That would really break my heart. And... now that I've said it, it's definitely going to happen.
Would have been 4 stars. Bumped it down to 3 because despite being sworn to secrecy about the heroine's job offer, he told their boss. It worked out ok in the book because of course it did, but I can't help thinking it could have ended horribly, also he knowingly disrespected her explicit wishes. That's rarely ever justified.
There were aspects of this that I really liked. In particular, I loved Duncan and his vulnerability. However, in a rare twist for me, I didn't like the heroine. At one point she justifies her lack of open affection for Duncan by saying that as a cat owner, he is used to getting scraps, and it really irritated me. Nobody should have to settle for scraps of someone else's affection. especially not when they have made their desire to be wanted as clear as Duncan does. He's open and sweet and vulnerable, despite appearances, and I felt like the heroine never fully acknowledged that or showed reciprocal openness.
I know I'm in the minority here but I'm going to have to break up with Lisa Kleypas. I fell in love with historical romance primarily because of LK and JQ but in recent years I haven't enjoyed any of their books. Take for instance this heroine and hero, although I liked their interactions, they barely had any throughout the book and they were months apart. I didn't leave feeling like either of them truly loved the other. If anything I felt the book would have done better to devote more time to developing their relationship. It's a shame because I really wanted to love it, I just didn't.
1.5 rounded up to 2.
The book was ok but I felt like the relationship between the main characters was not developed enough. Even more importantly, I really disliked the competition between the heroine and the hero's friend with benefits. At one point the heroine is literally keeping score of how much attention the hero pays her and how much he pays his friend with benefits. In addition, there was some slut-shaming involving the friend with benefits situation that really rubbed me the wrong way.
This book was a disappointment particularly because I enjoyed the third book in this series.
3.5 rounding up to 4
I liked it. For a while, I thought we were going to sink into the familiar trope of your love saved me from PTSD, anxiety etc... that often plagues romance books. I still felt like there were slight elements of that, but it provided a more believable portrayal of dealing with PTSD in that era than I usually see. The ending was all a bit haphazard in my opinion. I was left wondering as I often am, why historical romance authors insist on shoehorning a mystery/murder subplot into their novels. These subplots rarely often work, and usually detract from the romance while leading to a weaker plot overall.
I should have known better, I rarely enjoy romance books with revenge plotlines. I hate romance novels where one character (it's usually the hero, in cases like this) uses the heroine to enact some sort of revenge plot against her male family members. In this case, he didn't necessarily use her, but he engaged in a relationship with her knowing full well, that he planned on ruining her family and their business, which she was very strongly tied to. I don't care how valid his reasons for revenge were, his actions towards the heroine were murky at best and despicable at worst. Their relationship could perhaps have started in the aftermath of the takeover and could have been an enemies-to-lovers romance where both parties were fully aware of the score. But instead, we got this entire situation, whatever it was. Will probably not be reading anything else from this author.
DNFed due to iffy kissing scene. Firstly, the hero initiates a kiss with our crying heroine to stop her from crying (because he can't stand to watch her tears) only moments after surmising that she had been physically abused. Nothing attractive or romantic about scenes like this. Why do authors keep writing them? I also find this particularly disappointing because I was looking forward to reading more about the heroine who was an abolitionist. For a story that has overtly feminist tones, that kissing scene is distressing and out of place. Hopefully, authors of romance books can start doing better.
I was kind of enjoying this until the seemingly reasonable and pleasant girlfriend was actually revealed to be a conniving witch. I know that this is a popular romance trope but I personally find it irritating. I think the book would have been stronger if they had had an amicable breakup and the heroine/hero's relationship had grown organically from that point.
