3.25 stars A sweet novella featuring a hero who has loved the heroine for years, but never made a move because of the class difference between them (sh3.25 stars A sweet novella featuring a hero who has loved the heroine for years, but never made a move because of the class difference between them (she's an earl's widow and he's a steward, or something like that) and because she's the widow of his best friend. Turns out she started to suspect he had feelings for her a few months ago and that opened her eyes to her own feelings for him. It all comes to a head over the Christmas holiday, when they confront their feelings for one another. It's a short novella; there's not even a conflict, just their going back and forth on how much to confess about their feelings for one another.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book
Merged review:
3.25 stars A sweet novella featuring a hero who has loved the heroine for years, but never made a move because of the class difference between them (she's an earl's widow and he's a steward, or something like that) and because she's the widow of his best friend. Turns out she started to suspect he had feelings for her a few months ago and that opened her eyes to her own feelings for him. It all comes to a head over the Christmas holiday, when they confront their feelings for one another. It's a short novella; there's not even a conflict, just their going back and forth on how much to confess about their feelings for one another.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book...more
I liked the remorseful hero trope—he wronged the heroine and years later, is trying to make it up to her. Also used the impersonation and the letter-wI liked the remorseful hero trope—he wronged the heroine and years later, is trying to make it up to her. Also used the impersonation and the letter-writing trope, because that's how he first reaches out to her (pretending to be his twin brother).
It was like a mix of Courtney Milan's Unlocked (SO GOOD!!) and Lisa Kleypas's Love in the Afternoon (SOOO GOOD!!!!!) and ... some really hardcore erotica story with way too much gratuitous sex. Lol.
Just know what you're getting into if you decide to pick this up.
Merged review:
I liked the remorseful hero trope—he wronged the heroine and years later, is trying to make it up to her. Also used the impersonation and the letter-writing trope, because that's how he first reaches out to her (pretending to be his twin brother).
It was like a mix of Courtney Milan's Unlocked (SO GOOD!!) and Lisa Kleypas's Love in the Afternoon (SOOO GOOD!!!!!) and ... some really hardcore erotica story with way too much gratuitous sex. Lol.
Just know what you're getting into if you decide to pick this up....more
DNF'd at 21%. This is my first book by this author and I got into it quite quickly. I liked the premise and was interested to see where it would go. UDNF'd at 21%. This is my first book by this author and I got into it quite quickly. I liked the premise and was interested to see where it would go. Unfortunately, there were a few things that annoyed me and maybe my patience has grown thinner than normal, but after the cat barn attack, I had to fold.
The heroine has this cat that is ... I'm not even sure. Super huge? And apparently extremely bad tempered? He attacks people all the time and she leaves him in the barn of the hero's castle when she goes there and the cat attacks a bunch of the guards and scratches them up; they're bleeding all over the place. I know, this is super small and why on earth did it set me off? I honestly don't know. I think half was annoyance with the silliness/ridiculousness of it, and the other half was annoyance with her for being so irresponsible by leaving the cat there and/or not at least warning people.
Think I already bought the second book in this series, so I will try that and keep my fingers crossed that I enjoy it more.
Merged review:
DNF'd at 21%. This is my first book by this author and I got into it quite quickly. I liked the premise and was interested to see where it would go. Unfortunately, there were a few things that annoyed me and maybe my patience has grown thinner than normal, but after the cat barn attack, I had to fold.
The heroine has this cat that is ... I'm not even sure. Super huge? And apparently extremely bad tempered? He attacks people all the time and she leaves him in the barn of the hero's castle when she goes there and the cat attacks a bunch of the guards and scratches them up; they're bleeding all over the place. I know, this is super small and why on earth did it set me off? I honestly don't know. I think half was annoyance with the silliness/ridiculousness of it, and the other half was annoyance with her for being so irresponsible by leaving the cat there and/or not at least warning people.
Think I already bought the second book in this series, so I will try that and keep my fingers crossed that I enjoy it more....more
[2.5 stars] Bottom Line. Didn't do it for me; they were obsessed with the physical, the heroine became increasingly annoying, they are constantly obse[2.5 stars] Bottom Line. Didn't do it for me; they were obsessed with the physical, the heroine became increasingly annoying, they are constantly obsessed with thinking about how the other person is, and the last 10% feels very rushed. This is my first book by Amy Andrews and I would definitely be open to trying her again. One of the problems I had was some of the cliché aspects of the main characters, so don't know if that's a pattern with her, but I hope not.
Basics. Book is a sports romance set in Australia. Lincoln is a 23-year-old rugby player; Em is a 23-year-old high school science teacher. I classified it as novella-ish at 170 pages; is longer than your traditional novella, but there's not a huge amount of room for development.
Summary. Lincoln and Em have been attracted to each other from the first, but he's a total playboy and she's sworn those off—as well as all boys, actually—for the past several months. As delicious as Linc is, she's determined to stop her pattern of falling for guy after guy, building up their relationship and a future with them in her mind, and then having it all fall flat when the guy doesn't end up being what she's built him up to be.
Lincoln appreciates beautiful women and Em is definitely one of them; he's also someone who can never walk away from a challenge, so when his teammates bet him that he can't get Em in bed, given her current vow of celibacy, he takes them up on it immediately. As he sets out to woo her though, he finds himself connecting with Em in a way he didn't really expect, and realizing that he truly likes her, beyond just wanting to get her into bed.
Though Em has been resistant to Linc's efforts, as he jumps through hoops and shows her a side that's not just the playboy jock, she starts to rethink her vow of celibacy and whether there may actually be something there between them. Having gone through this pattern many times before though, she's determined to not put pressure on their relationship and just see where things go. Will that be enough for her, though, and will Lincoln be able to move past the challenge that got this started and into a real relationship with her?
Thoughts. As my rating indicates, I had several problems with this book. I'll start by saying though that the chemistry was definitely good and that bathroom scene at Em's house ... wowzers!! Very, very hot. I also have to give the author credit for writing Em's reaction to finding out about the bet very reasonable; Linc had easily proven that wasn't something he cared about anymore and she was able to see that. Now onto the not-so-great stuff ...
First of all, both main characters are 23, which seems younger and younger the older I get lol (I'm now the big 3-0). Now, by itself, that's not an issue, though it's definitely rare for me in the contemporaries that I normally read; I read a lot of HR books, and there a 23-year-old heroine is much more common, but times are different, and that's kind of the thing—I'm reading a romance wanting to read about them meeting and falling in love with The One and their forever relationship, and so to read about two 23-year-olds who have only known of each other for a few months and been dating for a few more to decide on the forever part rubbed me the wrong way. People marry their college sweethearts—people marry their high school sweethearts! But to DECIDE that you're going there at such a young age after knowing and dating each other for such a short period of time ... too unrealistic and frankly stupid.
Both main characters also had very, very clichéd backgrounds—both their parents had troubled marriages, so they have a warped, twisted view of relationships; they both have abandonment issues because of one of their parents' actions; they've both dealt with all these things by having sex with a lot of different people; etc. It all felt very cookie cutter, their reactions felt overplayed, and there was no real evolution or "new take" on these classic character histories that we see over and over again.
Finally, by the end of the book Em had really gotten on my nerves. I don't want to give anything away, but the final confrontation/issue that keeps the plot going before the HEA was really immature, self-centered, and selfish. She doesn't at all put herself in Lincoln's shoes, just wants things her way without even considering his own feelings on the matter, and thank god for her friend Harper who at least tried to speak some sense to her and said exactly what I was thinking (though still didn't really do any good). This could have been a great opportunity for character growth and for an unexpected twist, but Andrews wasted the opportunity and the way she decided to have it play out made everything feel that much more forced and cookie-cutter. (Here are the details if you want to know: (view spoiler)[Em has always had in her mind that she wants to settle down and get married, and her life has been a repeated search for the man who will give this to her. Couple months into dating, she and Lincoln are lying in bed, they declare their love for one another, woohoo, talk about spending their lives together, talk about babies, and then BOOM! He makes clear he still doesn't want to get married (that's right, because she already knows his view on this, so none of it should be a curveball to her in the first place) and poof poof, she's done with him. What, he won't change his mind? Well then nevermind, she's not wasting the rest of her life, nice knowing you, goodbye. Yeah, she has reasons this is important to her, but he has reasons he's averse to it (same reasons that are driving her to be so obsessed with it), so why does it default to what she wants? Where's her attempt to understand his view? And though in the way, way end she realizes her ridiculousness, at this point Lincoln has decided of course they should get married, they love each other, and proposes. Wtf? Really stupid. (hide spoiler)])
Recommendations. Below are some of my favorite sports romances (not in any particular order) that I would recommend instead: * Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips * See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson * I Wish You Were Mine by Lauren Layne (ex-athlete) * Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips * Body Check by Deirdre Martin * Dangerous Race by Dee J. Adams
*This review is of an ARC provided by Net Galley and the publisher
Merged review:
[2.5 stars] Bottom Line. Didn't do it for me; they were obsessed with the physical, the heroine became increasingly annoying, they are constantly obsessed with thinking about how the other person is, and the last 10% feels very rushed. This is my first book by Amy Andrews and I would definitely be open to trying her again. One of the problems I had was some of the cliché aspects of the main characters, so don't know if that's a pattern with her, but I hope not.
Basics. Book is a sports romance set in Australia. Lincoln is a 23-year-old rugby player; Em is a 23-year-old high school science teacher. I classified it as novella-ish at 170 pages; is longer than your traditional novella, but there's not a huge amount of room for development.
Summary. Lincoln and Em have been attracted to each other from the first, but he's a total playboy and she's sworn those off—as well as all boys, actually—for the past several months. As delicious as Linc is, she's determined to stop her pattern of falling for guy after guy, building up their relationship and a future with them in her mind, and then having it all fall flat when the guy doesn't end up being what she's built him up to be.
Lincoln appreciates beautiful women and Em is definitely one of them; he's also someone who can never walk away from a challenge, so when his teammates bet him that he can't get Em in bed, given her current vow of celibacy, he takes them up on it immediately. As he sets out to woo her though, he finds himself connecting with Em in a way he didn't really expect, and realizing that he truly likes her, beyond just wanting to get her into bed.
Though Em has been resistant to Linc's efforts, as he jumps through hoops and shows her a side that's not just the playboy jock, she starts to rethink her vow of celibacy and whether there may actually be something there between them. Having gone through this pattern many times before though, she's determined to not put pressure on their relationship and just see where things go. Will that be enough for her, though, and will Lincoln be able to move past the challenge that got this started and into a real relationship with her?
Thoughts. As my rating indicates, I had several problems with this book. I'll start by saying though that the chemistry was definitely good and that bathroom scene at Em's house ... wowzers!! Very, very hot. I also have to give the author credit for writing Em's reaction to finding out about the bet very reasonable; Linc had easily proven that wasn't something he cared about anymore and she was able to see that. Now onto the not-so-great stuff ...
First of all, both main characters are 23, which seems younger and younger the older I get lol (I'm now the big 3-0). Now, by itself, that's not an issue, though it's definitely rare for me in the contemporaries that I normally read; I read a lot of HR books, and there a 23-year-old heroine is much more common, but times are different, and that's kind of the thing—I'm reading a romance wanting to read about them meeting and falling in love with The One and their forever relationship, and so to read about two 23-year-olds who have only known of each other for a few months and been dating for a few more to decide on the forever part rubbed me the wrong way. People marry their college sweethearts—people marry their high school sweethearts! But to DECIDE that you're going there at such a young age after knowing and dating each other for such a short period of time ... too unrealistic and frankly stupid.
Both main characters also had very, very clichéd backgrounds—both their parents had troubled marriages, so they have a warped, twisted view of relationships; they both have abandonment issues because of one of their parents' actions; they've both dealt with all these things by having sex with a lot of different people; etc. It all felt very cookie cutter, their reactions felt overplayed, and there was no real evolution or "new take" on these classic character histories that we see over and over again.
Finally, by the end of the book Em had really gotten on my nerves. I don't want to give anything away, but the final confrontation/issue that keeps the plot going before the HEA was really immature, self-centered, and selfish. She doesn't at all put herself in Lincoln's shoes, just wants things her way without even considering his own feelings on the matter, and thank god for her friend Harper who at least tried to speak some sense to her and said exactly what I was thinking (though still didn't really do any good). This could have been a great opportunity for character growth and for an unexpected twist, but Andrews wasted the opportunity and the way she decided to have it play out made everything feel that much more forced and cookie-cutter. (Here are the details if you want to know: (view spoiler)[Em has always had in her mind that she wants to settle down and get married, and her life has been a repeated search for the man who will give this to her. Couple months into dating, she and Lincoln are lying in bed, they declare their love for one another, woohoo, talk about spending their lives together, talk about babies, and then BOOM! He makes clear he still doesn't want to get married (that's right, because she already knows his view on this, so none of it should be a curveball to her in the first place) and poof poof, she's done with him. What, he won't change his mind? Well then nevermind, she's not wasting the rest of her life, nice knowing you, goodbye. Yeah, she has reasons this is important to her, but he has reasons he's averse to it (same reasons that are driving her to be so obsessed with it), so why does it default to what she wants? Where's her attempt to understand his view? And though in the way, way end she realizes her ridiculousness, at this point Lincoln has decided of course they should get married, they love each other, and proposes. Wtf? Really stupid. (hide spoiler)])
Recommendations. Below are some of my favorite sports romances (not in any particular order) that I would recommend instead: * Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips * See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson * I Wish You Were Mine by Lauren Layne (ex-athlete) * Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips * Body Check by Deirdre Martin * Dangerous Race by Dee J. Adams
*This review is of an ARC provided by Net Galley and the publisher...more
3-3.5 stars This was my least favorite book of the series thus far; I haven’t read all of them yet, but I have read several and Maisey Yates has become3-3.5 stars This was my least favorite book of the series thus far; I haven’t read all of them yet, but I have read several and Maisey Yates has become a favorite CR author because of them. Several I have gotten as ARCs, but I liked them so much, that I went out and bought the paperback versions anyway. This was another ARC received through NetGalley, and I actually read it by mistake—I thought it was the one being released in June, not July.
Anyway, there were several problems I had with this book. The main ones being: — I didn’t like the heroine very much — the main characters were too much in their heads — and the dialogue in their heads went on for way too long, was repetitive, and overly flowery
It took awhile for me to get a handle on both of these characters. I hadn’t read ones where they had featured in before, so this was my first introduction to them, and it feels like that much more of a cold open given that they have known each other and been inseparable best friends for 17 years (which you will read about, over and over and over again). I started the book feeling like I already had some catching up to do on understanding them, their relationship, and the dynamic.
They were both a bit elusive at first, but Yates ended up giving us quite well-defined and three-dimensional main characters. Unfortunately, I wasn’t too much of a Sammy fan. At first, it was because I didn’t really get her, but like I said, that eventually came and with it, quite a bit of well-presented complexity. So then we were all good. And then towards the end, I started to not like her again. She devolves into so much overthinking and dramatics and I just wanted to get her a therapist’s couch already.
One thing bothered me hugely from the beginning and that was her hole drive to have a child. It felt to me like that was a plot driver more than anything, and it wasn’t a good one. As Ryder says, her reasons for wanting a child DO seem selfish. It’s honestly like she’s talking about getting a dog, in terms of her seeming understanding of the weight of the responsibility and life change that a child requires. She wants it because she wants someone who is her own and who will love her ... ummm, yeah, not a good reason to have a kid. And it did a big disservice to her character; it was part of the reason I disliked her initially, though it seemed to fit with her flighty, devil-may-care, free hippie child character and attitude. Turns out, there is much more to that impulsive and embracing-awkward-situations person, which was quite well explained and made sense ... but then, the kid thing shouldn’t have been in there.
It’s what propels the advancement of her and Ryder’s relationship though, so again, it is THE initial plot driver and as the story is constructed, was an absolute necessity. I really wish that Yates had come up with something else though.
And now OMG do these two characters think waaaaaay too much. About their 17-year-long friendship, about what they’ve meant to each other, about the tragedies in their lives, about why they are the way they are, about how they feel about the other, about what they want and don’t want, and on and on. Now, let me be clear: I’m not ragging on reflective and self-aware characters—I much prefer them! But this was so over-the-top and repetitive, with soooooo much thinking and overthinking that often seemed to not lead anywhere, or that then just brought them to another quandary they had to think themselves out of.
Not only was this annoying and boring after awhile, but it made it so that there was actually quite little dialogue. In Yates’ other books, some of the back and forth between the main characters is one of my favorite things, and that was completely missing here. She built the heat well, as she does in all of her books, and you do sense the intensity of feeling between them, but the constant living-in-their-heads was too much. And not to be ironic, because I know I already said this, but sooooo repetitive!!!!
It pains me to say it, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book. The series is great, from what I’ve read, so if you’re committed to reading every one, then by all means go ahead—it’s not like it was a chore. But will I read it again? Definitely not. Was it time wasted? ... Eh. Potentially. Especially when I realized that it wasn’t the ARC I had meant to read!!
I already mentioned this, but I do have to tip my hat to Yates on the heat front—she really excels in that area and this book is no exception: the first really hot and heavy scene between them, in Sammy’s trailer ... WOWZERS!
RECOMMENDATIONS These are the Maisey Yates books I would recommend instead: — Smooth-Talking Cowboy (Gold Valley, #1) - 4.5 stars — Cowboy to the Core (Gold Valley, #6) - 4.5 stars — Seduce Me, Cowboy (Copper Ridge: Desire, #3) - 4 stars — Unbroken Cowboy (Gold Valley, #5) - 4 stars — The Bad Boy of Redemption Ranch (Gold Valley, #9) - 3.5-3.75 stars
*This review is of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some changes and/or edits may be made to the final published version.
Merged review:
3-3.5 stars This was my least favorite book of the series thus far; I haven’t read all of them yet, but I have read several and Maisey Yates has become a favorite CR author because of them. Several I have gotten as ARCs, but I liked them so much, that I went out and bought the paperback versions anyway. This was another ARC received through NetGalley, and I actually read it by mistake—I thought it was the one being released in June, not July.
Anyway, there were several problems I had with this book. The main ones being: — I didn’t like the heroine very much — the main characters were too much in their heads — and the dialogue in their heads went on for way too long, was repetitive, and overly flowery
It took awhile for me to get a handle on both of these characters. I hadn’t read ones where they had featured in before, so this was my first introduction to them, and it feels like that much more of a cold open given that they have known each other and been inseparable best friends for 17 years (which you will read about, over and over and over again). I started the book feeling like I already had some catching up to do on understanding them, their relationship, and the dynamic.
They were both a bit elusive at first, but Yates ended up giving us quite well-defined and three-dimensional main characters. Unfortunately, I wasn’t too much of a Sammy fan. At first, it was because I didn’t really get her, but like I said, that eventually came and with it, quite a bit of well-presented complexity. So then we were all good. And then towards the end, I started to not like her again. She devolves into so much overthinking and dramatics and I just wanted to get her a therapist’s couch already.
One thing bothered me hugely from the beginning and that was her hole drive to have a child. It felt to me like that was a plot driver more than anything, and it wasn’t a good one. As Ryder says, her reasons for wanting a child DO seem selfish. It’s honestly like she’s talking about getting a dog, in terms of her seeming understanding of the weight of the responsibility and life change that a child requires. She wants it because she wants someone who is her own and who will love her ... ummm, yeah, not a good reason to have a kid. And it did a big disservice to her character; it was part of the reason I disliked her initially, though it seemed to fit with her flighty, devil-may-care, free hippie child character and attitude. Turns out, there is much more to that impulsive and embracing-awkward-situations person, which was quite well explained and made sense ... but then, the kid thing shouldn’t have been in there.
It’s what propels the advancement of her and Ryder’s relationship though, so again, it is THE initial plot driver and as the story is constructed, was an absolute necessity. I really wish that Yates had come up with something else though.
And now OMG do these two characters think waaaaaay too much. About their 17-year-long friendship, about what they’ve meant to each other, about the tragedies in their lives, about why they are the way they are, about how they feel about the other, about what they want and don’t want, and on and on. Now, let me be clear: I’m not ragging on reflective and self-aware characters—I much prefer them! But this was so over-the-top and repetitive, with soooooo much thinking and overthinking that often seemed to not lead anywhere, or that then just brought them to another quandary they had to think themselves out of.
Not only was this annoying and boring after awhile, but it made it so that there was actually quite little dialogue. In Yates’ other books, some of the back and forth between the main characters is one of my favorite things, and that was completely missing here. She built the heat well, as she does in all of her books, and you do sense the intensity of feeling between them, but the constant living-in-their-heads was too much. And not to be ironic, because I know I already said this, but sooooo repetitive!!!!
It pains me to say it, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book. The series is great, from what I’ve read, so if you’re committed to reading every one, then by all means go ahead—it’s not like it was a chore. But will I read it again? Definitely not. Was it time wasted? ... Eh. Potentially. Especially when I realized that it wasn’t the ARC I had meant to read!!
I already mentioned this, but I do have to tip my hat to Yates on the heat front—she really excels in that area and this book is no exception: the first really hot and heavy scene between them, in Sammy’s trailer ... WOWZERS!
RECOMMENDATIONS These are the Maisey Yates books I would recommend instead: — Smooth-Talking Cowboy (Gold Valley, #1) - 4.5 stars — Cowboy to the Core (Gold Valley, #6) - 4.5 stars — Seduce Me, Cowboy (Copper Ridge: Desire, #3) - 4 stars — Unbroken Cowboy (Gold Valley, #5) - 4 stars — The Bad Boy of Redemption Ranch (Gold Valley, #9) - 3.5-3.75 stars
*This review is of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some changes and/or edits may be made to the final published version....more
To pass the time, she turned to the mantel and examined the figurines placed there. The one nearest was a porcelain cow. Rather
4.5 stars Loved it!!
To pass the time, she turned to the mantel and examined the figurines placed there. The one nearest was a porcelain cow. Rather ugly, she thought, as she lifted it and turned it over in her hands.
“Searching for ghosts?”
She jumped, and the cow flew out of her hand.
Mr. Cross deftly caught it in midair and set it back on the mantel where it would be safe from her. “Still skittish, I see.”
Setting. 1818, Hampshire, England.
The Sisters of Scandal Series. Read Books 1-3 of the Sisters of Scandal series in one night and liked each one more than the next (after reading this one and the last, had to go back and bring down the rating of the first one to a 3.5). Note that they don't have to be read in order, though I would recommend it, since it goes sister by sister and the three sisters appear in all three books. This novella was made up of some of my favorite romance elements and I SO wish it had been a full novel!!! :-( Haven't been interested in reading Book 4 and I'm sticking to that for now, but read Book 5, The Improper Bride, as an ARC and absolutely ADORED it (and luckily, that one is a full novel, so are able to enjoy the story for that much longer!).
1. The Affair [3.5 stars] — Elizabeth, Lady Thornhill (beautiful widowed eldest sister) and Cale Cameron (bookseller and publisher) 2. The Wager [4 stars] — Anne Middleton (outspoken middle sister) and Michael Grey, new Earl of Thornhill (ex-traveler, now seemingly stuffy) 3. The Love Match [4.5 stars] — Olivia Middleton (shy bibliophile youngest sister) and William Cross (ladies' man and secret writer/poet) 4.The Mistake — haven't read 5. The Improper Bride [5+ stars] — Cassandra Davis (widowed housekeeper) and Henry Eldridge, Marquess of Riverton (really not a nice guy)
Miss Olivia Middleton, Our Heroine. I adored Olivia. She's a complete book nerd and basically your typical quiet, shy, wallflower-type HR heroine. Now that her two older sisters are married off, she's the sole focus of her mother's marital schemings and aspirations (unfortunately for her). Her Mom is definitely annoying, but makes for some funny scenes, and I also appreciated how over the course of the novella, we see her own will strengthening against that of her mother's. Wallflower heroines don't mean they're pushovers, and though Olivia is definitely cowed by her mother at the beginning, it was nice to see her start to stand-up for herself and you really see her sticking to her guns at the end, which was a very difficult situation, especially given the times. I also loved Olivia's social awkwardness and it also results in some laughable moments, when she says something that's not completely true just to make conversation and fill in the space, and then it comes back to bite her later on.
... she hadn’t known what to say, and, sometimes when she didn’t know what to say, she said anything she could think of just so people would stop staring at her in expectation of an answer. Even if what she said was untruthful.
She didn’t like people staring at her. She would much rather fade into the background.
Mr. William Cross, Our Hero. William was a fantastic hero and SUCH a great match for Olivia. Initially, we think he's a total flirt and ladies' man—which actually, let's be honest, he kind of is. But while his smooth way with words and suave techniques work on most all other women, he quickly finds out that's not the case with Olivia, and it's so cute to see how thrown off balance by that he is; he's almost stumped on how to interact with her. We also discover that there is way more to him than meets the eye, and this facade he puts on of being a charming rake actually hides a quick and creative mind.
Mr. Cross was silent. He leaned back in his chair, one leg stretched out. “It’s so easy with everyone else,” he muttered, sounding bemused. “With you, I keep saying the wrong things.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, uncertain of how to respond.
He laughed. “Don’t apologize.”
Other Lovely Things. The exchanges and dialogue between them are lovely; sometimes very funny and had me laughing out loud, other times very sweet and tender and completely sigh-worthy. The connection and chemistry between them was very good; Maxton really wrote a winning pair here, who fit and complement each other very, very well.
“You have ink on your cheek,” he noted softly. She glanced at his dirty hands. “That’s your fault. I hope it washes off.” “It should.” He stared at her as though trying to puzzle her out. “When I was first introduced to you last Season, I thought you were the picture of the wilting wallflower. But you’re not, are you?” “I thought I was,” she said, nearly as puzzled as he was. “But not with me?” “Not with you,” she agreed. “Probably because I’m so unimpressive.” “Most likely,” she said. And after a heartbeat, they smiled at the same time.
Olivia is supposed to be rather plain and she's shy, so I'm glad that Maxton followed the logic of that and didn't have William fall in love (or in lust) with her right off the bat—it would have seemed very disingenuous. Instead, they have a couple exchanges that throw her off kilter because she finds herself enjoying them, and throw him for a loop because they're different than any of his interactions with other women, and she's different than other women as well.
“Wait.” He held up his hand, halting her. They turned to face each other, and one of the horses snorted at the abrupt movement. “Why shouldn’t I desire you?” “You’re, well…you. And I’m me. No one would expect you to look twice at me.” “That’s the most foolish thing I’ve ever heard,” he said bluntly. “You don’t give yourself nearly enough credit.” She tilted her head back to peer up at him from under the brim of her riding hat. “I know that being quiet and bookish doesn’t exactly make one sought after.” “Being sought after and being desirable aren’t the same thing. Some people don’t know what to look for,” he said. He was so vehement that her head jerked back slightly. Her eyes traced the sullen set of his jaw. “What do you see when you look at me?” she asked. He opened his mouth. Hesitated. Then his lips curved in a wry smile. “I see an intelligent, passionate woman who’s too used to hiding what she really thinks. Although, with a mother like yours, I can’t say that I blame you.” “Is that sincere? Or is it like your gray to silver?” “It’s sincere.” And she believed him. She didn’t know why, but she believed him.
Merged review:
4.5 stars Loved it!!
To pass the time, she turned to the mantel and examined the figurines placed there. The one nearest was a porcelain cow. Rather ugly, she thought, as she lifted it and turned it over in her hands.
“Searching for ghosts?”
She jumped, and the cow flew out of her hand.
Mr. Cross deftly caught it in midair and set it back on the mantel where it would be safe from her. “Still skittish, I see.”
Setting. 1818, Hampshire, England.
The Sisters of Scandal Series. Read Books 1-3 of the Sisters of Scandal series in one night and liked each one more than the next (after reading this one and the last, had to go back and bring down the rating of the first one to a 3.5). Note that they don't have to be read in order, though I would recommend it, since it goes sister by sister and the three sisters appear in all three books. This novella was made up of some of my favorite romance elements and I SO wish it had been a full novel!!! :-( Haven't been interested in reading Book 4 and I'm sticking to that for now, but read Book 5, The Improper Bride, as an ARC and absolutely ADORED it (and luckily, that one is a full novel, so are able to enjoy the story for that much longer!).
1. The Affair [3.5 stars] — Elizabeth, Lady Thornhill (beautiful widowed eldest sister) and Cale Cameron (bookseller and publisher) 2. The Wager [4 stars] — Anne Middleton (outspoken middle sister) and Michael Grey, new Earl of Thornhill (ex-traveler, now seemingly stuffy) 3. The Love Match [4.5 stars] — Olivia Middleton (shy bibliophile youngest sister) and William Cross (ladies' man and secret writer/poet) 4.The Mistake — haven't read 5. The Improper Bride [5+ stars] — Cassandra Davis (widowed housekeeper) and Henry Eldridge, Marquess of Riverton (really not a nice guy)
Miss Olivia Middleton, Our Heroine. I adored Olivia. She's a complete book nerd and basically your typical quiet, shy, wallflower-type HR heroine. Now that her two older sisters are married off, she's the sole focus of her mother's marital schemings and aspirations (unfortunately for her). Her Mom is definitely annoying, but makes for some funny scenes, and I also appreciated how over the course of the novella, we see her own will strengthening against that of her mother's. Wallflower heroines don't mean they're pushovers, and though Olivia is definitely cowed by her mother at the beginning, it was nice to see her start to stand-up for herself and you really see her sticking to her guns at the end, which was a very difficult situation, especially given the times. I also loved Olivia's social awkwardness and it also results in some laughable moments, when she says something that's not completely true just to make conversation and fill in the space, and then it comes back to bite her later on.
... she hadn’t known what to say, and, sometimes when she didn’t know what to say, she said anything she could think of just so people would stop staring at her in expectation of an answer. Even if what she said was untruthful.
She didn’t like people staring at her. She would much rather fade into the background.
Mr. William Cross, Our Hero. William was a fantastic hero and SUCH a great match for Olivia. Initially, we think he's a total flirt and ladies' man—which actually, let's be honest, he kind of is. But while his smooth way with words and suave techniques work on most all other women, he quickly finds out that's not the case with Olivia, and it's so cute to see how thrown off balance by that he is; he's almost stumped on how to interact with her. We also discover that there is way more to him than meets the eye, and this facade he puts on of being a charming rake actually hides a quick and creative mind.
Mr. Cross was silent. He leaned back in his chair, one leg stretched out. “It’s so easy with everyone else,” he muttered, sounding bemused. “With you, I keep saying the wrong things.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, uncertain of how to respond.
He laughed. “Don’t apologize.”
Other Lovely Things. The exchanges and dialogue between them are lovely; sometimes very funny and had me laughing out loud, other times very sweet and tender and completely sigh-worthy. The connection and chemistry between them was very good; Maxton really wrote a winning pair here, who fit and complement each other very, very well.
“You have ink on your cheek,” he noted softly. She glanced at his dirty hands. “That’s your fault. I hope it washes off.” “It should.” He stared at her as though trying to puzzle her out. “When I was first introduced to you last Season, I thought you were the picture of the wilting wallflower. But you’re not, are you?” “I thought I was,” she said, nearly as puzzled as he was. “But not with me?” “Not with you,” she agreed. “Probably because I’m so unimpressive.” “Most likely,” she said. And after a heartbeat, they smiled at the same time.
Olivia is supposed to be rather plain and she's shy, so I'm glad that Maxton followed the logic of that and didn't have William fall in love (or in lust) with her right off the bat—it would have seemed very disingenuous. Instead, they have a couple exchanges that throw her off kilter because she finds herself enjoying them, and throw him for a loop because they're different than any of his interactions with other women, and she's different than other women as well.
“Wait.” He held up his hand, halting her. They turned to face each other, and one of the horses snorted at the abrupt movement. “Why shouldn’t I desire you?” “You’re, well…you. And I’m me. No one would expect you to look twice at me.” “That’s the most foolish thing I’ve ever heard,” he said bluntly. “You don’t give yourself nearly enough credit.” She tilted her head back to peer up at him from under the brim of her riding hat. “I know that being quiet and bookish doesn’t exactly make one sought after.” “Being sought after and being desirable aren’t the same thing. Some people don’t know what to look for,” he said. He was so vehement that her head jerked back slightly. Her eyes traced the sullen set of his jaw. “What do you see when you look at me?” she asked. He opened his mouth. Hesitated. Then his lips curved in a wry smile. “I see an intelligent, passionate woman who’s too used to hiding what she really thinks. Although, with a mother like yours, I can’t say that I blame you.” “Is that sincere? Or is it like your gray to silver?” “It’s sincere.” And she believed him. She didn’t know why, but she believed him.
[image] [image] [image] [image] [image] SUCH an enjoyable read!! Even writing the review now, a day later, I can't help grinning remembering Eleano[image] [image] [image] [image] [image] SUCH an enjoyable read!! Even writing the review now, a day later, I can't help grinning remembering Eleanor, James, and the terrific back-and-forth between them! They both went down in my favorite hero/heroine lists, as well as my favorite couples list; the chemistry and tension between them was superb—entertaining, sweet, funny, and just oh-so-wonderful. James' reaction when he discovers that Eleanor is normally seen by others as a timid, reserved wallflower was hysterical:
"[...] Your sister hasn't insulted me yet."
Georgina shot Eleanor a curious look. "Does she insult you often?"
"No, but when she does it's well placed." At Georgina's silence, he continued, "Don't tell me you've never been subject to her barbed remarks?"
"I can't say that I have." She raised her eyebrows. "Most in Society would call her reserved. A few may even say timid."
"Timid," he exclaimed. His head swiveled toward her, and she felt herself reddening under the incredulity of his stare. "You've not been timid with me."
"It's impossible to be timid with you," she muttered, upset at her mannerisms being the topic of conversation. Upset that he was right and she didn't quite know why it upset her. Anyway, being timid and being reserved were two different things in her mind, and she'd always felt she was more the latter. "If I was, you would flatten me with your careless exuberance and disregard."
Georgina blinked.
MacGregor grinned. "See ... I knew I wasn't imagining it."
"Clearly," Georgina said. She sounded too speculative for Eleanor's taste.
"Being able to make normally reserved women turn sharp-tongued isn't exactly a high recommendation of your social skills," Robert [Eleanor's brother] said to MacGregor, still writing his letter. "I don't know why you sound pleased."
At first glance, Eleanor and James seem like they could not be more different, and in many ways that's true, which is part of what makes their relationship all the more interesting. There's a main theme at the core of each of their stories though that is very similar—pretending to be something / someone else in order to realize their goals and accomplish what they want. James is such a colorful, energetic character (SO FUNNY!!!! Oh I love him), but tries to present a whitewashed front under certain circumstances, because he thinks that's the only way he can get what he wants (or thinks he wants). Likewise, Eleanor has a brilliant scientific mind, but in order for her work to get the attention it deserves and for her paper to be published, she submits it under a man's name, and has to keep up the charade. As Eleanor reflects:
She saw how he was trying to fold himself to fit in a neat little box, when she knew he was so much more than that box could contain. And she saw that she was doing the same thing.
And later ...
It mattered because if a man as uncontainable as James MacGregor felt like he needed to change who he was to be accepted, what hope did a socially awkward, science-minded almost spinster have?
Why Not 5 Stars? I wish the book was longer—it's not a novella, but it's novella-ish (200-something pages, not 300-400+), and so ended up feeling a bit rushed. Also, James was sometimes a bit slappable; to be clear, it was always understandable why he was so fixated on this ridiculous goal and he was always very open and honest about it with Eleanor, so at least there's no issues of misunderstandings or miscommunications ... but still. James!!! Ugh—sometimes I really wanted to knock him upside the head, tell him to wake-up and realize he wasn't a 12-year-old child anymore, needing to prove something. Still, I got it, and we of course need conflict and something to delay the HEA, so Maxton has to give us something to lead us on, right? ;-)
Summary. The book summary given is surprisingly accurate, so won't take space to add-on (I find a lot of HR book summaries extremely annoying for their inaccuracy / misrepresentation).
The Townsends Series. This is the second in a series, but the couple from Book 1 (Enchanting the Earl), which features Eleanor's oldest brother Theo, don't even appear in the story until the Epilogue, so there is definitely no need to read it first. While Eleanor and her other 2 siblings do appear in the prior book, there's not much focus on them—definitely not to the point where you would need to read it to understand Eleanor more.
Recommendations. I only discovered Lily Maxton last year, but she is terrific!!! Unfortunately, she doesn't have many full-length novels, but the one of hers I read became one of my all-time-ever favorite romances, and her novella series (and this novella-ish series) are totally worth the read: · The Improper Bride is technically #5 in the series below, but can be read alone (5+ stars—phenomenal!) · Sisters of Scandals: #1 The Affair (3.5 stars); #2 The Wager (4 stars); #3 The Love Match (4.5 stars) · The Townsends: #1 Enchanting the Earl (4 stars); #2 The Rogue's Conquest (4.5 stars)
Another Excerpt Just Because.
The pugilist in him was horrified. "You shouldn't skip meals. It's not good for your body. Cakes can't replace meats and vegetables. And what of fruit? Do you want to get scurvy?"
She lifted one delicate eyebrow. "Currants are a fruit."
"But you've buried them in flour and sugar. If I lived here, I would follow you around with a platter and feed you any number of wholesome things." He said it as a jest, but a part of him wouldn't mind taking care of her when she was too enraptured by her studies to remember to eat. The realization was startling for someone who'd never had a nurturing bone in his body.
And oddly sensual—he had a fleeting image of pressing a slice of orange to Eleanor's lips, her tongue darting out to capture tart droplets of juice that clung to his fingers.
He shook his head to clear it, realizing he was venturing into dangerous territory.
"This isn't much of a replacement for a meal, though," he remarked before finishing half his cake in one bite.
"Very well. Now eat your dry rout cakes and stop pestering me." Her lips twitched as she said it. She poured herself a steaming cup of tea and then set the teapot down again. "I can ring for something else. I know you don't like tea."
"How do you know I don't like tea?"
Her mouth twisted wryly. "Because you drink everything else in about two gulps."
It was odd, and probably ridiculous, that such an observation would cause a little pang in his chest, but cause a pang it did.
"Have you been watching me so closely, then?" He meant it to be lighthearted, but his voice emerged slightly husky.
"Only because you wear things like that." She nodded at his waistcoat. "It's a sort of fascinated horror, really. Like a carriage wreck one can't look away from." Then she proceeded to take a dainty bite of cake, as though she hadn't just blithely insulted him.
He smiled in spite of himself. "You, Eleanor Townsend, are an utter nightmare."
Her lips twitched again, and then spread to a full grin, and something in his chest lifted, or quieted, or fell silent. He didn't know exactly what the sensation was because he'd never felt it before. But he did know that in that moment, he was not thinking of the future, or how much the porcelain tea set in front of him cost, or how he might buy one someday whether he liked tea or not.
He was simply there, in that moment, there and nowhere else.
Merged review:
[image] [image] [image] [image] [image] SUCH an enjoyable read!! Even writing the review now, a day later, I can't help grinning remembering Eleanor, James, and the terrific back-and-forth between them! They both went down in my favorite hero/heroine lists, as well as my favorite couples list; the chemistry and tension between them was superb—entertaining, sweet, funny, and just oh-so-wonderful. James' reaction when he discovers that Eleanor is normally seen by others as a timid, reserved wallflower was hysterical:
"[...] Your sister hasn't insulted me yet."
Georgina shot Eleanor a curious look. "Does she insult you often?"
"No, but when she does it's well placed." At Georgina's silence, he continued, "Don't tell me you've never been subject to her barbed remarks?"
"I can't say that I have." She raised her eyebrows. "Most in Society would call her reserved. A few may even say timid."
"Timid," he exclaimed. His head swiveled toward her, and she felt herself reddening under the incredulity of his stare. "You've not been timid with me."
"It's impossible to be timid with you," she muttered, upset at her mannerisms being the topic of conversation. Upset that he was right and she didn't quite know why it upset her. Anyway, being timid and being reserved were two different things in her mind, and she'd always felt she was more the latter. "If I was, you would flatten me with your careless exuberance and disregard."
Georgina blinked.
MacGregor grinned. "See ... I knew I wasn't imagining it."
"Clearly," Georgina said. She sounded too speculative for Eleanor's taste.
"Being able to make normally reserved women turn sharp-tongued isn't exactly a high recommendation of your social skills," Robert [Eleanor's brother] said to MacGregor, still writing his letter. "I don't know why you sound pleased."
At first glance, Eleanor and James seem like they could not be more different, and in many ways that's true, which is part of what makes their relationship all the more interesting. There's a main theme at the core of each of their stories though that is very similar—pretending to be something / someone else in order to realize their goals and accomplish what they want. James is such a colorful, energetic character (SO FUNNY!!!! Oh I love him), but tries to present a whitewashed front under certain circumstances, because he thinks that's the only way he can get what he wants (or thinks he wants). Likewise, Eleanor has a brilliant scientific mind, but in order for her work to get the attention it deserves and for her paper to be published, she submits it under a man's name, and has to keep up the charade. As Eleanor reflects:
She saw how he was trying to fold himself to fit in a neat little box, when she knew he was so much more than that box could contain. And she saw that she was doing the same thing.
And later ...
It mattered because if a man as uncontainable as James MacGregor felt like he needed to change who he was to be accepted, what hope did a socially awkward, science-minded almost spinster have?
Why Not 5 Stars? I wish the book was longer—it's not a novella, but it's novella-ish (200-something pages, not 300-400+), and so ended up feeling a bit rushed. Also, James was sometimes a bit slappable; to be clear, it was always understandable why he was so fixated on this ridiculous goal and he was always very open and honest about it with Eleanor, so at least there's no issues of misunderstandings or miscommunications ... but still. James!!! Ugh—sometimes I really wanted to knock him upside the head, tell him to wake-up and realize he wasn't a 12-year-old child anymore, needing to prove something. Still, I got it, and we of course need conflict and something to delay the HEA, so Maxton has to give us something to lead us on, right? ;-)
Summary. The book summary given is surprisingly accurate, so won't take space to add-on (I find a lot of HR book summaries extremely annoying for their inaccuracy / misrepresentation).
The Townsends Series. This is the second in a series, but the couple from Book 1 (Enchanting the Earl), which features Eleanor's oldest brother Theo, don't even appear in the story until the Epilogue, so there is definitely no need to read it first. While Eleanor and her other 2 siblings do appear in the prior book, there's not much focus on them—definitely not to the point where you would need to read it to understand Eleanor more.
Recommendations. I only discovered Lily Maxton last year, but she is terrific!!! Unfortunately, she doesn't have many full-length novels, but the one of hers I read became one of my all-time-ever favorite romances, and her novella series (and this novella-ish series) are totally worth the read: · The Improper Bride is technically #5 in the series below, but can be read alone (5+ stars—phenomenal!) · Sisters of Scandals: #1 The Affair (3.5 stars); #2 The Wager (4 stars); #3 The Love Match (4.5 stars) · The Townsends: #1 Enchanting the Earl (4 stars); #2 The Rogue's Conquest (4.5 stars)
Another Excerpt Just Because.
The pugilist in him was horrified. "You shouldn't skip meals. It's not good for your body. Cakes can't replace meats and vegetables. And what of fruit? Do you want to get scurvy?"
She lifted one delicate eyebrow. "Currants are a fruit."
"But you've buried them in flour and sugar. If I lived here, I would follow you around with a platter and feed you any number of wholesome things." He said it as a jest, but a part of him wouldn't mind taking care of her when she was too enraptured by her studies to remember to eat. The realization was startling for someone who'd never had a nurturing bone in his body.
And oddly sensual—he had a fleeting image of pressing a slice of orange to Eleanor's lips, her tongue darting out to capture tart droplets of juice that clung to his fingers.
He shook his head to clear it, realizing he was venturing into dangerous territory.
"This isn't much of a replacement for a meal, though," he remarked before finishing half his cake in one bite.
"Very well. Now eat your dry rout cakes and stop pestering me." Her lips twitched as she said it. She poured herself a steaming cup of tea and then set the teapot down again. "I can ring for something else. I know you don't like tea."
"How do you know I don't like tea?"
Her mouth twisted wryly. "Because you drink everything else in about two gulps."
It was odd, and probably ridiculous, that such an observation would cause a little pang in his chest, but cause a pang it did.
"Have you been watching me so closely, then?" He meant it to be lighthearted, but his voice emerged slightly husky.
"Only because you wear things like that." She nodded at his waistcoat. "It's a sort of fascinated horror, really. Like a carriage wreck one can't look away from." Then she proceeded to take a dainty bite of cake, as though she hadn't just blithely insulted him.
He smiled in spite of himself. "You, Eleanor Townsend, are an utter nightmare."
Her lips twitched again, and then spread to a full grin, and something in his chest lifted, or quieted, or fell silent. He didn't know exactly what the sensation was because he'd never felt it before. But he did know that in that moment, he was not thinking of the future, or how much the porcelain tea set in front of him cost, or how he might buy one someday whether he liked tea or not.
He was simply there, in that moment, there and nowhere else.
This is my first book by Lily Maxton, but let me tell you, it will definitely not be my last! This was such a lovely read in every single way: all of This is my first book by Lily Maxton, but let me tell you, it will definitely not be my last! This was such a lovely read in every single way: all of the characters are complex and three-dimensional, the exchanges between the hero and heroine are a pure delight to read, the chemistry is unbelievable, and there are no insane murderers or random kidnappings thrown in as filler. Instead, we get a lovely, emotional, pure, delicious (!!) love story between two very interesting, intelligent, and passionate people.
Cassandra (32, yes I typed that right and you read it right) was a wonderful heroine; at first I didn't have much of a feel for her, but that got better over time. If I had one criticism it would be that she still remains somewhat elusive throughout the story; oddly enough, I felt like I understood Henry (35) and had a far better grasp of him than I did the heroine. Regardless though, I loved her gumption and that she wasn't ashamed of her background. Her fear of falling in love again and being hurt, as she was when she lost her first husband, is a very real one and it is well written.
Henry is a fantastic hero and easily made it onto my favorite heroes list. First, I love that we're told he's arrogant, snobbish, and ungrateful — and he actually IS arrogant, snobbish, and ungrateful. I know I'm a broken record, but so often we're told the hero or heroine is a certain way and we never actually see it, and especially when it's supposed to be something they transform FROM, that's vitally important! Also, given the event that kicks this all off and leaves him recovering from severe burns after almost dying, it's that much more believable that he might wake up and realize what his priorities actually should be. He's so tragic and lonely in so many ways; it was heartbreaking that even though his parents are alive (which is rare in HRs when it's a titled lord) and he has a sister, he doesn't let them know he was injured. He doesn't even have a FRIEND whom he can tell.
Oh, but Cassandra is such a balm to his soul and that's what's so terrific. She offers care and challenge and love and affection and sincerity, all these things he's always missed in his life. She doesn't defer to him because of his position, though their dynamic is realistic when they are in servant/employer mode. By this, I mean that it's clear their past interactions and those at the beginning were standard, and when she "withdraws" from him (which he gets so frustrated about, it's adorable) and puts up that serene wall again, you can see that is how it's been for the last 5 years.
And that's the thing, it was very realistic in many ways. In addition to the above, you had secondary characters who are likable, but somewhat offensive (because no one is all good or all bad), it was focused solely on their relationship and their lives (because kidnappings, murders, cases of amnesia, impersonation, etc. are actually not that common!!), they have living families that are a little f*cked up but not horrible (him) or big and loving with 8 kids (her), and finally, there's no jumping around the fact that there is a huge class difference between them. HUGE!! She's his HOUSEKEEPER. And while yes, we always love the governess or companion or whatever turned countess or duchess or whatever, so often the class difference is glazed over a bit. It's there, but not really. Here, it's addressed head-on, and in Henry as well, in the sense that he IS super snobby at the beginning and the very IDEA that he's becoming attracted to his housekeeper is something he finds absurd. At the beginning, I was actually a bit nervous about Cassandra, because we find out that she's long been interested and attracted to him, but that concern quickly disappeared, because it wasn't turned into what I feared it would be, and she takes the whole situation very seriously and also finds it somewhat preposterous — though NOT, by any means, because she thinks she's below him, but just because of how English society worked in that day and age. It was the world they lived in.
So basically, it was wonderful, and you should stop reading this review right now and go and start reading the book immediately! Seriously, it was one of those romance reads that had me grinning from ear to ear or laughing out loud or biting my lip I was so nervous; you get so wrapped up in the story. It was also one of those ones where you find yourself rereading passages, because you just want to bask in them a little longer. Maxton is a terrific writer, honestly, and WOW can she write chemistry. And terrific exchanges too; the banter between them was just fabulous. So basically: go read it NOW.
Enjoy! ;-)
An Excerpt. There were so many quote-worthy sections (hence it being on the "so quote worthy" GR bookshelf), that it would be impossible to choose from — except that I decided to not pick one of the many delicious / touching / romantic / emotional passages, so that you can savor them in full when you read the story (if you DO want to read some of them, check out my million status updates below). Instead, here is one of their earliest great exchanges:
"I want to learn German," she said obstinately.
"Why?"
"I suppose because it sounds ..."
"Guttural?" he suggested. "Ugly?"
She shook her head. "Powerful. Unbending. Guttural, perhaps, but beautiful in the way that harsh things are sometimes beautiful."
He tilted his head as he watched her, and his gaze was so intent, so unfathomable, that she looked away, overwhelmed by the attention. "Well," he drawled, sounding almost bored. "If German is what you want, German is what you shall have."
A thrill of unease went through her as she recalled the saying about being careful what you wished for. (Location 466)
And P.S. I love that it's German that she wants to learn! How easy would it be to use a smooth and romantic language like Italian or French? But no, Maxton went with German. Love it!!
Sisters of Scandal Series
1. The Affair [3.5 stars] — Elizabeth, Lady Thornhill (beautiful widowed eldest sister) and Cale Cameron (bookseller and publisher) 2. The Wager [4 stars] — Anne Middleton (outspoken middle sister) and Michael Grey, new Earl of Thornhill (ex-traveler, now seemingly stuffy) 3. The Love Match [4.5 stars] — Olivia Middleton (shy bibliophile youngest sister) and William Cross (ladies' man and secret writer/poet) 4.The Mistake — haven't read 5. The Improper Bride [5+ stars] — Cassandra Davis (widowed housekeeper) and Henry Eldridge, Marquess of Riverton (really not a nice guy)
*This is a review of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher
(Written January 31, 2016)
Merged review:
This is my first book by Lily Maxton, but let me tell you, it will definitely not be my last! This was such a lovely read in every single way: all of the characters are complex and three-dimensional, the exchanges between the hero and heroine are a pure delight to read, the chemistry is unbelievable, and there are no insane murderers or random kidnappings thrown in as filler. Instead, we get a lovely, emotional, pure, delicious (!!) love story between two very interesting, intelligent, and passionate people.
Cassandra (32, yes I typed that right and you read it right) was a wonderful heroine; at first I didn't have much of a feel for her, but that got better over time. If I had one criticism it would be that she still remains somewhat elusive throughout the story; oddly enough, I felt like I understood Henry (35) and had a far better grasp of him than I did the heroine. Regardless though, I loved her gumption and that she wasn't ashamed of her background. Her fear of falling in love again and being hurt, as she was when she lost her first husband, is a very real one and it is well written.
Henry is a fantastic hero and easily made it onto my favorite heroes list. First, I love that we're told he's arrogant, snobbish, and ungrateful — and he actually IS arrogant, snobbish, and ungrateful. I know I'm a broken record, but so often we're told the hero or heroine is a certain way and we never actually see it, and especially when it's supposed to be something they transform FROM, that's vitally important! Also, given the event that kicks this all off and leaves him recovering from severe burns after almost dying, it's that much more believable that he might wake up and realize what his priorities actually should be. He's so tragic and lonely in so many ways; it was heartbreaking that even though his parents are alive (which is rare in HRs when it's a titled lord) and he has a sister, he doesn't let them know he was injured. He doesn't even have a FRIEND whom he can tell.
Oh, but Cassandra is such a balm to his soul and that's what's so terrific. She offers care and challenge and love and affection and sincerity, all these things he's always missed in his life. She doesn't defer to him because of his position, though their dynamic is realistic when they are in servant/employer mode. By this, I mean that it's clear their past interactions and those at the beginning were standard, and when she "withdraws" from him (which he gets so frustrated about, it's adorable) and puts up that serene wall again, you can see that is how it's been for the last 5 years.
And that's the thing, it was very realistic in many ways. In addition to the above, you had secondary characters who are likable, but somewhat offensive (because no one is all good or all bad), it was focused solely on their relationship and their lives (because kidnappings, murders, cases of amnesia, impersonation, etc. are actually not that common!!), they have living families that are a little f*cked up but not horrible (him) or big and loving with 8 kids (her), and finally, there's no jumping around the fact that there is a huge class difference between them. HUGE!! She's his HOUSEKEEPER. And while yes, we always love the governess or companion or whatever turned countess or duchess or whatever, so often the class difference is glazed over a bit. It's there, but not really. Here, it's addressed head-on, and in Henry as well, in the sense that he IS super snobby at the beginning and the very IDEA that he's becoming attracted to his housekeeper is something he finds absurd. At the beginning, I was actually a bit nervous about Cassandra, because we find out that she's long been interested and attracted to him, but that concern quickly disappeared, because it wasn't turned into what I feared it would be, and she takes the whole situation very seriously and also finds it somewhat preposterous — though NOT, by any means, because she thinks she's below him, but just because of how English society worked in that day and age. It was the world they lived in.
So basically, it was wonderful, and you should stop reading this review right now and go and start reading the book immediately! Seriously, it was one of those romance reads that had me grinning from ear to ear or laughing out loud or biting my lip I was so nervous; you get so wrapped up in the story. It was also one of those ones where you find yourself rereading passages, because you just want to bask in them a little longer. Maxton is a terrific writer, honestly, and WOW can she write chemistry. And terrific exchanges too; the banter between them was just fabulous. So basically: go read it NOW.
Enjoy! ;-)
An Excerpt. There were so many quote-worthy sections (hence it being on the "so quote worthy" GR bookshelf), that it would be impossible to choose from — except that I decided to not pick one of the many delicious / touching / romantic / emotional passages, so that you can savor them in full when you read the story (if you DO want to read some of them, check out my million status updates below). Instead, here is one of their earliest great exchanges:
"I want to learn German," she said obstinately.
"Why?"
"I suppose because it sounds ..."
"Guttural?" he suggested. "Ugly?"
She shook her head. "Powerful. Unbending. Guttural, perhaps, but beautiful in the way that harsh things are sometimes beautiful."
He tilted his head as he watched her, and his gaze was so intent, so unfathomable, that she looked away, overwhelmed by the attention. "Well," he drawled, sounding almost bored. "If German is what you want, German is what you shall have."
A thrill of unease went through her as she recalled the saying about being careful what you wished for. (Location 466)
And P.S. I love that it's German that she wants to learn! How easy would it be to use a smooth and romantic language like Italian or French? But no, Maxton went with German. Love it!!
Sisters of Scandal Series
1. The Affair [3.5 stars] — Elizabeth, Lady Thornhill (beautiful widowed eldest sister) and Cale Cameron (bookseller and publisher) 2. The Wager [4 stars] — Anne Middleton (outspoken middle sister) and Michael Grey, new Earl of Thornhill (ex-traveler, now seemingly stuffy) 3. The Love Match [4.5 stars] — Olivia Middleton (shy bibliophile youngest sister) and William Cross (ladies' man and secret writer/poet) 4.The Mistake — haven't read 5. The Improper Bride [5+ stars] — Cassandra Davis (widowed housekeeper) and Henry Eldridge, Marquess of Riverton (really not a nice guy)
*This is a review of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher
Summary.Spring 1874, London. Sir Charles Norris (35/36-ish) has long wanted to be married and in love; unfortunately, he's had to stand by and watch Summary.Spring 1874, London. Sir Charles Norris (35/36-ish) has long wanted to be married and in love; unfortunately, he's had to stand by and watch many of his friends and peers, who previously disavowed marriage and love, end up finding it, while he is still waiting in the wings. His working theory is that he falls in love far too easily and he's always falling for the wrong woman, so he decides to ask for Lady Marjorie Summerfield's (23) help. She knows society, is in very good standing, and though beautiful, he thankfully doesn't find himself attracted to her, so no complications should arise.
Lady Marjorie has no plans to marry, and though she misses being the main focus and belle of the ball now that she's been out for several years, she is gladly willing to forego it and give up the hope of marrying, in order to remain at home and take care of her brother, George, Earl of Summerfield. He's only a little younger than her, but has certain oddities and social awkwardness that many people don't understand, including their own mother; though he's extremely intelligent and kind, she fears what would happen to him or what her mother might do were she to make her home elsewhere, and she knows that most men of the ton would not suffer him gladly. When Charles proposes that she act as his matchmaker, she welcomes the diversion as a new adventure, and something to keep her busy.
They quickly become friends, even though the circumstances that brought them together are a bit odd and unconventional, and an attraction begins to grow between them. Marjorie's mother is determined to have her daughter married off soon, and no one but a titled peer will do—the fact that Charles is the son of a viscount counts for nothing, as far as she's concerned. Charles wants dearly to get married and have children, but the woman he is falling in love with is off limits; meanwhile, Marjorie has to contend with her mother, who is all set to have her marry a man old enough to be her father. So, what will our hero and heroine do? Read the book to find out! ;-)
Thoughts. This is the first book I've read by Jane Goodger, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. I have by no means been turned off of her—she's able to create interesting and three-dimensional characters; for some reason though, I was unable to feel a connection to some of these characters, most specifically the hero. It is odd, because I cannot really put my finger on why exactly or what was wrong, which isn't very helpful, I know. And it was particularly annoying, because Charles was likable and an interesting and unusual romance hero, so I really wanted to be able to enjoy him and his romance with Marjorie. I liked his honesty, exchanges with Marjorie, respect for her and George, and his strong desire to marry and be in love was SUCH a refreshing change. I can't remember the last time I read a romance with a hero like that!
I also really liked our heroine, Marjorie, though there were some points where she acted SO out-of-character, and I don't know whether it's because the editor said "by x% there has to be some type of sex act" or what, but that's kind of what it seemed like. Normally I'm not a huge fan of the beautiful, society darling heroines, but Marjorie was supremely likable; she was intelligent, caring, and fun. I really appreciated the love and care she had for her brother, George, who was a great addition to the story. Her brother is on the autism spectrum, and I thought it was a wonderful inclusion by Goodger; authors normally will tackle the same "issues" or events over and over again, but this isn't one we see often.
The flashbacks to Marjorie's mother's story was interesting; at first, I didn't want to be pulled out of what was going on currently, but I found myself becoming very interested and invested in what was going to happen to Dorothea, even though she's such a flaming bitch in the present-day (most of it). She was bad to the extreme and I wish she hadn't been like that most of the book; she's actually quite interesting and complex given the flashbacks and how we see her later, but for most of the story, she's quite annoying and the reasoning behind her actions doesn't really make sense.
Lords and Ladies Series. This is book 4 in a series, but I was able to read and enjoy the book without having read the others, so don't think it's essential. Book 1 — When a Duke Says I Do Book 2 — The Mad Lord's Daughter Book 3 ��� When a Lord Needs a Lady Book 4 — The Spinster Bride
Bottom Line. It was worth a read, but I say that because I didn't have to pay for it; I would suggest borrowing it from a friend or getting it from the library.
Excerpt.
“For God’s sake, get that ridiculous grin off your face,” Graham said in mock anger. “If you didn’t have a beard, I’d think you were a woman.”
Charles poured a large splash into his glass. “Why, because I want to marry?”
“No, because you want to fall in love.”
*This is an honest review of an ARC provided by NetGalley
Merged review:
Summary.Spring 1874, London. Sir Charles Norris (35/36-ish) has long wanted to be married and in love; unfortunately, he's had to stand by and watch many of his friends and peers, who previously disavowed marriage and love, end up finding it, while he is still waiting in the wings. His working theory is that he falls in love far too easily and he's always falling for the wrong woman, so he decides to ask for Lady Marjorie Summerfield's (23) help. She knows society, is in very good standing, and though beautiful, he thankfully doesn't find himself attracted to her, so no complications should arise.
Lady Marjorie has no plans to marry, and though she misses being the main focus and belle of the ball now that she's been out for several years, she is gladly willing to forego it and give up the hope of marrying, in order to remain at home and take care of her brother, George, Earl of Summerfield. He's only a little younger than her, but has certain oddities and social awkwardness that many people don't understand, including their own mother; though he's extremely intelligent and kind, she fears what would happen to him or what her mother might do were she to make her home elsewhere, and she knows that most men of the ton would not suffer him gladly. When Charles proposes that she act as his matchmaker, she welcomes the diversion as a new adventure, and something to keep her busy.
They quickly become friends, even though the circumstances that brought them together are a bit odd and unconventional, and an attraction begins to grow between them. Marjorie's mother is determined to have her daughter married off soon, and no one but a titled peer will do—the fact that Charles is the son of a viscount counts for nothing, as far as she's concerned. Charles wants dearly to get married and have children, but the woman he is falling in love with is off limits; meanwhile, Marjorie has to contend with her mother, who is all set to have her marry a man old enough to be her father. So, what will our hero and heroine do? Read the book to find out! ;-)
Thoughts. This is the first book I've read by Jane Goodger, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. I have by no means been turned off of her—she's able to create interesting and three-dimensional characters; for some reason though, I was unable to feel a connection to some of these characters, most specifically the hero. It is odd, because I cannot really put my finger on why exactly or what was wrong, which isn't very helpful, I know. And it was particularly annoying, because Charles was likable and an interesting and unusual romance hero, so I really wanted to be able to enjoy him and his romance with Marjorie. I liked his honesty, exchanges with Marjorie, respect for her and George, and his strong desire to marry and be in love was SUCH a refreshing change. I can't remember the last time I read a romance with a hero like that!
I also really liked our heroine, Marjorie, though there were some points where she acted SO out-of-character, and I don't know whether it's because the editor said "by x% there has to be some type of sex act" or what, but that's kind of what it seemed like. Normally I'm not a huge fan of the beautiful, society darling heroines, but Marjorie was supremely likable; she was intelligent, caring, and fun. I really appreciated the love and care she had for her brother, George, who was a great addition to the story. Her brother is on the autism spectrum, and I thought it was a wonderful inclusion by Goodger; authors normally will tackle the same "issues" or events over and over again, but this isn't one we see often.
The flashbacks to Marjorie's mother's story was interesting; at first, I didn't want to be pulled out of what was going on currently, but I found myself becoming very interested and invested in what was going to happen to Dorothea, even though she's such a flaming bitch in the present-day (most of it). She was bad to the extreme and I wish she hadn't been like that most of the book; she's actually quite interesting and complex given the flashbacks and how we see her later, but for most of the story, she's quite annoying and the reasoning behind her actions doesn't really make sense.
Lords and Ladies Series. This is book 4 in a series, but I was able to read and enjoy the book without having read the others, so don't think it's essential. Book 1 — When a Duke Says I Do Book 2 — The Mad Lord's Daughter Book 3 — When a Lord Needs a Lady Book 4 — The Spinster Bride
Bottom Line. It was worth a read, but I say that because I didn't have to pay for it; I would suggest borrowing it from a friend or getting it from the library.
Excerpt.
“For God’s sake, get that ridiculous grin off your face,” Graham said in mock anger. “If you didn’t have a beard, I’d think you were a woman.”
Charles poured a large splash into his glass. “Why, because I want to marry?”
“No, because you want to fall in love.”
*This is an honest review of an ARC provided by NetGalley...more
3.5 stars Vivienne Lorret is a recently discovered author for me, and for the most part, I've loved her books. This one fell a little bit short, and I 3.5 stars Vivienne Lorret is a recently discovered author for me, and for the most part, I've loved her books. This one fell a little bit short, and I think it was the kind of simplicity and lack of depth of everything. Given the setup, it's a perfect situation for the hero and heroine to get to know each other very well, but I think this story suffered from the fact that Lorret's books are often a bit shorter than your standard romance novel.
I really liked Liam and I liked Adeline. I also liked them together. But I don't know ... there was just a little something forced about the story sometimes. Liam is knocked unconscious and beatup and found at the Pimm's front door; he stays there for a week or so and that puts Adeline's reputation at huge risk and makes the Pimms somewhat outcasts as a result. This kind of didn't make complete sense to me, and maybe that's more realistic and all the other books that have had this setup then aren't, but it was such a crucial point of the story and rang a little false for me. And then the attempts to recover her reputation by making Liam accepted, and that going back and forth—it was all a little muddled.
Worth the read, but know that #1, The Debutante Is Mine is WAY better (I loved it!!!).
Merged review:
3.5 stars Vivienne Lorret is a recently discovered author for me, and for the most part, I've loved her books. This one fell a little bit short, and I think it was the kind of simplicity and lack of depth of everything. Given the setup, it's a perfect situation for the hero and heroine to get to know each other very well, but I think this story suffered from the fact that Lorret's books are often a bit shorter than your standard romance novel.
I really liked Liam and I liked Adeline. I also liked them together. But I don't know ... there was just a little something forced about the story sometimes. Liam is knocked unconscious and beatup and found at the Pimm's front door; he stays there for a week or so and that puts Adeline's reputation at huge risk and makes the Pimms somewhat outcasts as a result. This kind of didn't make complete sense to me, and maybe that's more realistic and all the other books that have had this setup then aren't, but it was such a crucial point of the story and rang a little false for me. And then the attempts to recover her reputation by making Liam accepted, and that going back and forth—it was all a little muddled.
The intensity with which he watched her fairly had her breath catching.
Within the last week I read/rererad the full Texas Trilogy series, so it wa
The intensity with which he watched her fairly had her breath catching.
Within the last week I read/rererad the full Texas Trilogy series, so it was a perfect lead-up to then read this novella, where you get to see all the same characters again, 20+ years later.
While we always know that most romance series books are better not read as standalones, I think I can pretty definitively say that before reading Texas Legacy, you should at least read Texas Glory. Texas Glory is the second book in the trilogy, and Dallas and Cordelia's story (Faith's parents and Rawley's adoptive parents; in case you're wondering, that never feels weird). Rawley's childhood was horrific and Texas Glory is the book where we meet him and find out all about it.
This was a very sweet novella about two people who have both suffered at the hands of others, loved and longed for one another for years, and finally have their chance at being together, perfect for anyone who adores the star-crossed lovers trope.
She'd known the moment he entered the ballroom. Like her father, he had a resounding presence about him. Even with his quiet ways, when he strode into a room, people knew. It was as though the very air they breathed came alive, the atmosphere charged. He rolled in like a welcome rainstorm.
Merged review:
The intensity with which he watched her fairly had her breath catching.
Within the last week I read/rererad the full Texas Trilogy series, so it was a perfect lead-up to then read this novella, where you get to see all the same characters again, 20+ years later.
While we always know that most romance series books are better not read as standalones, I think I can pretty definitively say that before reading Texas Legacy, you should at least read Texas Glory. Texas Glory is the second book in the trilogy, and Dallas and Cordelia's story (Faith's parents and Rawley's adoptive parents; in case you're wondering, that never feels weird). Rawley's childhood was horrific and Texas Glory is the book where we meet him and find out all about it.
This was a very sweet novella about two people who have both suffered at the hands of others, loved and longed for one another for years, and finally have their chance at being together, perfect for anyone who adores the star-crossed lovers trope.
She'd known the moment he entered the ballroom. Like her father, he had a resounding presence about him. Even with his quiet ways, when he strode into a room, people knew. It was as though the very air they breathed came alive, the atmosphere charged. He rolled in like a welcome rainstorm.
4 stars What a delightful novella! I loved this for several reasons. First and foremost, Ellery: what a wonderful change to have a hero who is nice, re4 stars What a delightful novella! I loved this for several reasons. First and foremost, Ellery: what a wonderful change to have a hero who is nice, respectful, decent, looking for marriage and affection—I mean, come on, how often does THAT happen in our romance books? It was also nice because we see Ellery in all the previous books, and he is basically constantly losing the woman he's courting to another man (the hero of that book). He's never loved any of them, so if you're not one to like that, don't worry; it's more that he admired and respected them and thought that love might grow, or wanted to see if it would.
Ellery is just so delicious on so many levels. I love his interactions with Gemma; I love how he's normally pretty staid, reserved, and careful, but feels a big attraction to her and acts on it; I love his courting of her; I love what a stand-up guy he is when he finds out about her father and doesn't let that intimidate him and insists that she stay at the house party; I love that he knows he wants her and wants to see if she feels the same way; I love that he believes in her and trusts her and wants to fight for her. So, yeah, Ellery was great in my book—as you can tell!
Now onto Gemma, who was also a delight. I skipped Book 3, When a Marquess Loves a Woman—not for any specific reason; it's supposed to be really good and I own it, but I'm not always a big fan of second-chance romances, because of the invariable Big Misunderstandings that caused the necessity of a second chance—but I read Book 2, This Earl is on Fire right before this one, and Gemma first appears there (though off-page). We're introduced to her father there though, and witness his crimes, which is the whole setup for this book and causes her to be an outcast from society. Granted, I was surprised that despite being cousins of a Duke and an Earl, society still treats her that way; I would have thought those titles would have intimidated most people to a certain degree to at least treat her with some decency.
Anyway, Gemma has really had a rough life and is in a tough situation. Her mother died when she was young and she was dragged hither and yon by her father, witnessing and partaking in his schemes, being locked away sometimes, etc. One thing I do wish is that we learned more about her international experiences, because according to Book 2, she speaks several languages and one would think she undoubtedly has a lot of interesting tales and experiences from around the world, even despite her father being an ass and leading her into several unsavory situations. I loved her strength though and her honesty; she wants to tell Ellery from the start about her father (he doesn't make the association), but her aunt, the Dowager Duchess, insists she wait. I was worried about how long that would drag on, and although it did a bit, I still thought it was an appropriate amount of time and didn't feel too deceptive of her.
I love how she and "Sam" (Ellery) have this close connection from the beginning, and understandably she doubts the possibility of a HEA for her, because of all that has happened, and she is wary of bringing shame to anyone who associates with her. Ellery won't hear of it though, and being the upstanding guy he is, knows that the sins of the father shouldn't be visited upon their children. As the summary reveals, Gemma is framed for theft, and I appreciated both her and Ellery's reactions and how they dealt with it. Thankfully, Lorret writes the story so that it avoids what could have been repeated instances of Big Misunderstandings. (Yes, there are some hiccups, don't get me wrong, but some things are always so pat, with the hero immediately casting out the heroine, then being filled with remorse when he discovers the truth, then him groveling to the heroine and her accepting him back; Lorret gives us a new spin).
Overall, a lovely read! Enjoy!!!
Merged review:
4 stars What a delightful novella! I loved this for several reasons. First and foremost, Ellery: what a wonderful change to have a hero who is nice, respectful, decent, looking for marriage and affection—I mean, come on, how often does THAT happen in our romance books? It was also nice because we see Ellery in all the previous books, and he is basically constantly losing the woman he's courting to another man (the hero of that book). He's never loved any of them, so if you're not one to like that, don't worry; it's more that he admired and respected them and thought that love might grow, or wanted to see if it would.
Ellery is just so delicious on so many levels. I love his interactions with Gemma; I love how he's normally pretty staid, reserved, and careful, but feels a big attraction to her and acts on it; I love his courting of her; I love what a stand-up guy he is when he finds out about her father and doesn't let that intimidate him and insists that she stay at the house party; I love that he knows he wants her and wants to see if she feels the same way; I love that he believes in her and trusts her and wants to fight for her. So, yeah, Ellery was great in my book—as you can tell!
Now onto Gemma, who was also a delight. I skipped Book 3, When a Marquess Loves a Woman—not for any specific reason; it's supposed to be really good and I own it, but I'm not always a big fan of second-chance romances, because of the invariable Big Misunderstandings that caused the necessity of a second chance—but I read Book 2, This Earl is on Fire right before this one, and Gemma first appears there (though off-page). We're introduced to her father there though, and witness his crimes, which is the whole setup for this book and causes her to be an outcast from society. Granted, I was surprised that despite being cousins of a Duke and an Earl, society still treats her that way; I would have thought those titles would have intimidated most people to a certain degree to at least treat her with some decency.
Anyway, Gemma has really had a rough life and is in a tough situation. Her mother died when she was young and she was dragged hither and yon by her father, witnessing and partaking in his schemes, being locked away sometimes, etc. One thing I do wish is that we learned more about her international experiences, because according to Book 2, she speaks several languages and one would think she undoubtedly has a lot of interesting tales and experiences from around the world, even despite her father being an ass and leading her into several unsavory situations. I loved her strength though and her honesty; she wants to tell Ellery from the start about her father (he doesn't make the association), but her aunt, the Dowager Duchess, insists she wait. I was worried about how long that would drag on, and although it did a bit, I still thought it was an appropriate amount of time and didn't feel too deceptive of her.
I love how she and "Sam" (Ellery) have this close connection from the beginning, and understandably she doubts the possibility of a HEA for her, because of all that has happened, and she is wary of bringing shame to anyone who associates with her. Ellery won't hear of it though, and being the upstanding guy he is, knows that the sins of the father shouldn't be visited upon their children. As the summary reveals, Gemma is framed for theft, and I appreciated both her and Ellery's reactions and how they dealt with it. Thankfully, Lorret writes the story so that it avoids what could have been repeated instances of Big Misunderstandings. (Yes, there are some hiccups, don't get me wrong, but some things are always so pat, with the hero immediately casting out the heroine, then being filled with remorse when he discovers the truth, then him groveling to the heroine and her accepting him back; Lorret gives us a new spin).
Light, sweet read. It's a novella, so I gave it some passes on things (Simon has been falling in love with Lydia, yet that one kiss is the first time Light, sweet read. It's a novella, so I gave it some passes on things (Simon has been falling in love with Lydia, yet that one kiss is the first time she sees any romantic interest on his part, even though she's loved him forever? He still stayed away after her father died? etc.).
I thought the premise of the heroine was interesting — in this instance, a scandal caused her to swing in the completely opposite direction, but it wasn't really a scandal because it's not known about by anyone; it didn't ruin her reputation, it's just her dad caught them and freaked out and was a complete asshole.
Also liked her brother, Cam, and their relationship dynamic. Am interested to look into his story, since I'm guessing he's one of the "Sons of Sin."
Good quick read; nothing earth shattering.
Merged review:
Light, sweet read. It's a novella, so I gave it some passes on things (Simon has been falling in love with Lydia, yet that one kiss is the first time she sees any romantic interest on his part, even though she's loved him forever? He still stayed away after her father died? etc.).
I thought the premise of the heroine was interesting — in this instance, a scandal caused her to swing in the completely opposite direction, but it wasn't really a scandal because it's not known about by anyone; it didn't ruin her reputation, it's just her dad caught them and freaked out and was a complete asshole.
Also liked her brother, Cam, and their relationship dynamic. Am interested to look into his story, since I'm guessing he's one of the "Sons of Sin."
4 stars Astrid makes the mistake of letting the ship she's helping to navigate go into Vandar territory—raider territory where no one wants to go, espe4 stars Astrid makes the mistake of letting the ship she's helping to navigate go into Vandar territory—raider territory where no one wants to go, especially from the Zagrath empire—and Raas Kratos, the Vandar raider who comes across it, boards the freighter and decides to exchange the crew's life for her own, when she offers it. But contrary to the offer of her life, he wants something far more from her—her body and soul!
And you have no idea what will happen, I'm sure! Lol! In all seriousness, this was a very decent alien romance read, hence the 4 stars. I enjoyed Astrid and Kratos and the developing relationship between them, and that there wasn't too much avoidance or misunderstandings on either side. Some good world-building completed the book, though it's unclear to me what the longterm plan for Astrid and Kratos is, given that women, even Raisas, don't seem to stay on raider ships ...? Stone did a good job of setting up the evil Zagrath empire for us and showing us who we should clearly be allying ourselves with ... also interesting setup for the next book, because we know it's going to be Astrid's sister and Kratos's brother, which should be an interesting pairing, and a real enemies to lovers, from what we've seen independently of the two so far.
Juliana Philippa
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