Recommended to readers who like the arranged-marriage trope, jerky-brooding heroes and steamy scenes.
“Mrs. DeWitt,” he said. “You will leave here tomoRecommended to readers who like the arranged-marriage trope, jerky-brooding heroes and steamy scenes.
“Mrs. DeWitt,” he said. “You will leave here tomorrow.” “I am willing to do whatever you ask, Mr. DeWitt.” “Good.” “So long as you do not ask anything that I am not willing to do.”
This could have easily been a 5 star read, it had such potential and I am so sorry that some of that was wasted on silly things (like forced misunderstanding and not talking to each other).
As it is, I'm settling for 3,5 stars because this book is still waaaaay better & entertaining than most poor attempts at a regency romance.
The writing is really good and there is a sound story to go with all the steam (even though that got too much and too lengthy for me in the end and I was super bored by it all, but that's just a personal issue) and big chunks of the story were downright hilarious, when the author concentrated on the setting and the banter or the camaraderie between the heroine and hero, but it went downhill as soon as they started to develop deeper romantic feelings for each other.
The heroine, Cassandra,was so sensible and witty and likable. She strongly reminded me of Georgette Heyer's Venetia and Frederica. She would not stand for her husband's bullying (though that begs the question of why she lets her spoiled brats of sisters trample all over her) and gave him as good as she got. The scenes where they "drew swords" were easily the best and funniest parts of the book.
"I am more than happy that we lead separate lives. I only ask that you do not obstruct me or engage in behavior that will adversely affect her [C's sister] social position. Once this is done, I shall return to Sunne Park and you can go back to doing what you do best. Which, as I understand it, involves making money, offending people, and cuckolding lords.”
Unfortunately the hero, Joshua was an absolute jerk and while there were moments when I started liking him (when he was really supportive and acted like a true friend/husband for Cassandra), his obtuse insistence on misinterpreting Cassandra all the time and then Cassandra doing the same in return, just so that the story could go on for another 100 pages, made me first exasperated and then somewhat bored.
With his background, it made sense that Joshua turned out the way he did, but there was just too much of his 1-step-forward-5-steps-back dance. Basically after every time he was nice to Cassandra, which happened more and more often, he had to "balance" it with being even a bigger jerk than before and as this was repeated ALL... THE... TIME, it simply lost the dramatic edge.
In the end I finished with a sigh of relief, not so much because of the happy ending, but because there were no more stupid misunderstanding-scenes to struggle through....more
Byronic Bullshit Hero-Vampire with no communication skills other than brooding and grunting is searching for spectacular-looking, but too-st[image]
Byronic Bullshit Hero-Vampire with no communication skills other than brooding and grunting is searching for spectacular-looking, but too-stupid-to-live-MarySue to save/fall in love with/reject/bonk in no particular order. She MUST be turned on by biker-gear/leather stuff. Having no orgasms before while bonking other men is an advantage.
OK, The Innkeeper Series by Ilona Andrews spoilt me concerning vampires.
Before Innkeeper, my only literary rendezvous with them had been confined to Bram Stoker's Dracula and Terry Pratchett's DiscWorld satire-vampires.
And no, I haven't read the Twilight-series, because I have never been interested in vampires. This book just turned out to be another reason why I should keep it that way. (Unless it's Ilona Andrews, of course! I'll read anything by them, even cereal box text.)
It compelled me to laugh and to roll my eyes in turn when not boring me to tears. Thankfully, this was kindle freebie. But as I am getting dirty/threatening looks from its vampires (with cringeworthy names like Zhadist and Vishous) by being too loquacious with this review, the last thing I have to say before I get dragged away and tortured by them is:
The "historical background"(although this book may not quite merit this expression) or rather the time setting for the romance was quite interesting (The "historical background"(although this book may not quite merit this expression) or rather the time setting for the romance was quite interesting (not that we get much of it, and it is full of violence and abuse) and I liked the secondary couple, Emma and Ben, hence the 2 stars. The relationship between the main couple was highly problematic and anything, BUT romantic. I also couldn't buy into their attraction, and while Victoria was an OK heroine, Jake was awful and I wanted to kick him to death.
Trigger warnings: angsty trust-issues, several rapes, male mc hitting the pregnant female mc (view spoiler)[because he thinks she lies to him when she tells him she is pregnant with his child, so that "of course" is a "valid" reason (sarcastic face). (hide spoiler)]
The book was published 30 years ago, but it is still hard to cut it some slack for that alone....more
"Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis: Times change, and we change with them." - except when it comes to Mr R.
Melindam reading this book i[image]
"Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis: Times change, and we change with them." - except when it comes to Mr R.
Melindam reading this book in her teens: I admire Jane Eyre from the bottom of my heart: her strength, her integrity, her honesty & uprightness …. How she faces difficulties & never gives up on herself, her values & principles. ... But what on earth makes her fall for a guy like Mr R.? He is old as the hills, not handsome and a surly curmudgeon. Well, if he is what Jane needs, so be it. I am happy for her
Melindam reading this book in her twenties: I admire Jane Eyre from the bottom of my heart ..... And yet, what's this with this R-Guy? He is a first-class A-hole. And NO, please do not tell me he has so much in common with my beloved Mr D., because he hasn't! Well, I have to write a paper on this for uni, so let's go ahead with it.
Melindam reading this book in her thirties: I admire Jane Eyre from the bottom of my heart ..... Isn't R. a patronising bastard? He was played by all these sexy actors, though. Hmmm.
Melindam reading this book in her forties: I admire Jane Eyre from the bottom of my heart despite her being a bit self-righteous and having a holier-than-thou attitude, oh ... and despite her taste in men, apparently.
Rochester is a selfish, manipulative asshole & never mind the fact that he was played by all those great actors on film. Truly he is and I cannot for the life of me understand what Jane found in him to love. I mean why does this independent, spirited young woman, who would not let cruel and hard circumstances break her, who bowed to no-one, ends up loving and becoming almost totally submissive to this control-obsessed, cantankerous, pompous ass?! HUHHH!
Honestly, she could have done so much better on her own....more
Not doubting the literary merits of this book or wanting to undermine Emily Bronte's greatness in the slightest, for this is a super powerful novel & Not doubting the literary merits of this book or wanting to undermine Emily Bronte's greatness in the slightest, for this is a super powerful novel & I found it kind of horridly fascinating (like when you cover your eyes with your hands when watching a gruesome scene on TV, but you peep through your fingers, nevertheless), but after reading it at least 3 times, I decided to let this particular byronic-BS-hero train pass me by. I mean, there was a lot of honking, noise, steam and smoke, and my hair and clothes got a bit ruffled by the wind, but after watching all the commotion round the train a bit bemusedly, I chose to stay on the platform and watched as it left the station.
As for Heathcliff, UGH. Never mind all the great actors who played him, there is the only one I even remotely like: (view spoiler)[ [image] (hide spoiler)]
I already found Mr Rochester bordering on the pathological, but HC really takes the serious biscuit.
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