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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
I LOVED this book! I laughed out loud, I cried several times, I lived the tender masculinity, all of the literary and artistic references, just... All of it. Chef's kiss. Would read soon and again. I wasn't sure I'd be into this one since we barely meet Leonie in the other books. I was so invested in the meeting of the other couple too! That was delightful. Chase is REALLY good at describing emotions. Her stories (I've only read three so far) stand out from other romance for me because of the organic plots, mutually powerful pairings, no tortured or asshole heroes, and so. Much. Emotion. Almost closed door, too, but this one is racier (but not racy) than the others. I'm definitely going to check out more of her backlist.
2.5 Stars...all on my and my cranky pants. Not sure why I didn't click with this book when I had adore the first two in series.
Okay my biggest hangup about this series is that "Noirot" and "DeLucey" are CONSTANTLY used an adjectives to describe the sister's behaviors, and yet we are given NO examples as to what those surnames really mean. And it's a super repetitive tactic from the author
Sadly my least favourite in the series so far. I think there may have been too much going on in the background that distracted from the main couple. Although I liked them, I would have preferred to read a romance centred around Swanton and Gladys’ romance.
Still impeccably written, as I’d expect from this author.
Still impeccably written, as I’d expect from this author.
Leonie Noirot is the youngest of the three Noirot sisters, and the only one still unmarried and able to spend all her energies on running Maison Noirot, the sisters' successful dressmaking shop in St. James. The eldest sister, Marcelline (from [b:Silk Is for Seduction|9466068|Silk Is for Seduction (The Dressmakers, #1)|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1297794157s/9466068.jpg|14351097]is currently pregnant and rather indisposed and the middle sister Sophy (from [b:Scandal Wears Satin|12925825|Scandal Wears Satin (The Dressmakers, #2)|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328956213s/12925825.jpg|18081356]) is off on an extended wedding trip in Scotland until the scandal surrounding her nuptials dies down. Each sister has their own strengths, in Leonie's case, it's finance. She's a mathematical prodigy, but because she's also the most practical and level-headed of the three sisters, she knows how important it is that the shop keeps bringing in new customers and stays popular among the fashionable ladies.
While out advertising one of the shop's many elegant outfits, Leonie is struck mute by the Botticelli painting of Mars and Venus and then by its owner, the insanely handsome Simon Blair, Marquess of Lisburne. He, is in return very taken with Leonie, and decides that his stay in London might not be as boring as he had previously feared. Lisburne is in London to make sure his cousin, the sensitive Lord Swanton, who currently can't go anywhere without being mobbed by adoring young ladies, doesn't get into trouble. Swanton published a volume of poetry that became unexpectedly best-selling, and he wants to use his new-found celebrity to do some good, speaking at various charity benefits to great acclaim. Lisburne is worried that someone will take advantage of his cousin, so guards him carefully.
Leonie decides that to really show off the skills of the dressmakers at Maison Noirot is to transform Lisburne's cousin, the rude, insecure and extremely gawky Lady Gladys Fairfax, into an elegant and sought after swan. Lisburne would rather Leonie focus on him than on dresses, spread sheets and his cousin Gladys, so Leonie proposes a wager. If she can make Lady Gladys so popular the woman receives a marriage proposal in a mere two weeks, Lisburne has to give her his Botticelli painting. If Leonie fails, which Lisburne is convinced she must, Leonie has to become Lisburne's mistress, and give him two full weeks of her undivided attention.
It's been two years since [b:Scandal Wears Satin|12925825|Scandal Wears Satin (The Dressmakers, #2)|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328956213s/12925825.jpg|18081356] came out, and as I found that book one of the most disappointing [a:Loretta Chase|76405|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1403268754p2/76405.jpg] had ever written, I was very much hoping that the postponed publication date for this book meant that it would be of a higher quality. While it's not going to join my all time favourite romances, or even the top five of Chase's works, it is a much better book than her last two and a return to form for one of the masters of the romance genre.
Leonie is so focused on her work and making sure her family business is running smoothly. She has clearly never taken the time to relax and enjoy herself, being the pragmatic, sensible and most level-headed of her sisters. So when Lisburne comes along and pretty literally sweeps her off her feet, insisting on distracting her, taking her to the circus, for drives in the park and forcing her to forget about finances and have a little fun on occasion. The Noirots come from a long line of charmers, schemers and scoundrels and are usually far too easily swayed by their emotions. Leonie has up until now never been in love, or met anyone who could even vaguely inspire her to be, but the stunning and dangerously charming Lisburne, who she keeps comparing to a Roman or Greek god, completely discombobulates her.
Lisburne knows that he's ridiculously attractive, so it's a change of pace for him when Leonie acknowledges this, but still goes about her daily life almost forcefully ignoring him. Up until recently, when every woman in the room started swooning around his cousin, Lisburne's clearly never really had to work to woo a woman, and Leonie provides an interesting challenge. He's obviously not looking for any long term commitment, but the more time he spends with Leonie, the more fascinated he is with her.
If you've read any of [a:Loretta Chase|76405|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1403268754p2/76405.jpg]'s books from before her Dressmaker-series, I'm happy to recommend this as another book of hers that will entertain you and while away a few hours. I was engrossed enough that I stayed up until the early hours of the morning to finish it (thank God for summer vacation!). The secondary romance in the book, involving Lady Gladys is also very enjoyable, if not exactly surprising or ground-breaking. As far as I can tell, the next Loretta Chase book will be about the Noirots' sister-in-law, Lady Clara, and because this was so much fun, I'm now very much looking forward to it.
While out advertising one of the shop's many elegant outfits, Leonie is struck mute by the Botticelli painting of Mars and Venus and then by its owner, the insanely handsome Simon Blair, Marquess of Lisburne. He, is in return very taken with Leonie, and decides that his stay in London might not be as boring as he had previously feared. Lisburne is in London to make sure his cousin, the sensitive Lord Swanton, who currently can't go anywhere without being mobbed by adoring young ladies, doesn't get into trouble. Swanton published a volume of poetry that became unexpectedly best-selling, and he wants to use his new-found celebrity to do some good, speaking at various charity benefits to great acclaim. Lisburne is worried that someone will take advantage of his cousin, so guards him carefully.
Leonie decides that to really show off the skills of the dressmakers at Maison Noirot is to transform Lisburne's cousin, the rude, insecure and extremely gawky Lady Gladys Fairfax, into an elegant and sought after swan. Lisburne would rather Leonie focus on him than on dresses, spread sheets and his cousin Gladys, so Leonie proposes a wager. If she can make Lady Gladys so popular the woman receives a marriage proposal in a mere two weeks, Lisburne has to give her his Botticelli painting. If Leonie fails, which Lisburne is convinced she must, Leonie has to become Lisburne's mistress, and give him two full weeks of her undivided attention.
It's been two years since [b:Scandal Wears Satin|12925825|Scandal Wears Satin (The Dressmakers, #2)|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328956213s/12925825.jpg|18081356] came out, and as I found that book one of the most disappointing [a:Loretta Chase|76405|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1403268754p2/76405.jpg] had ever written, I was very much hoping that the postponed publication date for this book meant that it would be of a higher quality. While it's not going to join my all time favourite romances, or even the top five of Chase's works, it is a much better book than her last two and a return to form for one of the masters of the romance genre.
Leonie is so focused on her work and making sure her family business is running smoothly. She has clearly never taken the time to relax and enjoy herself, being the pragmatic, sensible and most level-headed of her sisters. So when Lisburne comes along and pretty literally sweeps her off her feet, insisting on distracting her, taking her to the circus, for drives in the park and forcing her to forget about finances and have a little fun on occasion. The Noirots come from a long line of charmers, schemers and scoundrels and are usually far too easily swayed by their emotions. Leonie has up until now never been in love, or met anyone who could even vaguely inspire her to be, but the stunning and dangerously charming Lisburne, who she keeps comparing to a Roman or Greek god, completely discombobulates her.
Lisburne knows that he's ridiculously attractive, so it's a change of pace for him when Leonie acknowledges this, but still goes about her daily life almost forcefully ignoring him. Up until recently, when every woman in the room started swooning around his cousin, Lisburne's clearly never really had to work to woo a woman, and Leonie provides an interesting challenge. He's obviously not looking for any long term commitment, but the more time he spends with Leonie, the more fascinated he is with her.
If you've read any of [a:Loretta Chase|76405|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1403268754p2/76405.jpg]'s books from before her Dressmaker-series, I'm happy to recommend this as another book of hers that will entertain you and while away a few hours. I was engrossed enough that I stayed up until the early hours of the morning to finish it (thank God for summer vacation!). The secondary romance in the book, involving Lady Gladys is also very enjoyable, if not exactly surprising or ground-breaking. As far as I can tell, the next Loretta Chase book will be about the Noirots' sister-in-law, Lady Clara, and because this was so much fun, I'm now very much looking forward to it.
Reading this series out of order is not ideal because I was confused every time anything remotely related to Sophy came up, but oh, I enjoyed this!
Reading this in order was much better. I love the sisters and wish, though, that we saw more of them—and Clara, too.
Reading this in order was much better. I love the sisters and wish, though, that we saw more of them—and Clara, too.
Loretta Chase's newest follows the youngest of the three Noirot sisters in her Dressmakers' series. Ms. Chase has previously stated that VIXEN IN VELVET was delayed due to a lack of creative juices, so to speak. Knowing this, I find that I didn't love this book as much as I wanted to after finishing SCANDAL WEARS SATIN. All the things that made me love the previous Dressmakers books are still present: the fabulous dresses, the spunky heroine, the lush descriptions. I just found that this book never rose to the level of making my insides melt.
Leonie and Lisburne enter into a wager concerning the marriageability of one of Leonie's clients. While I don't really like bet-based plot devices, my issue with their bet is not the bet itself, but the terms of the bet. Leonie wants a painting Lisburne owns, while Lisburne wants 2 weeks away with her. Proposing an illicit sexcapades getaway doesn't strike me as hero material, and even after Lisburne realizes he's in love with Leonie, he continues to make reference to the terms of the bet. I just found that plot line distasteful and not in keeping with hero behavior. Similarly I thought Chase relied heavily on the Dreadful DeLucey "brand" as code for character traits that could have been better fleshed out.
Had I not known that VIXEN IN VELVET was delayed because of problems, I wonder if I would have liked it better. Complaints aside, I did think Leonie and Lisburne were well matched, and I enjoyed the secondary characters as much as the cameos of previous pairings. I think this may be the end of the Dressmakers series just based on the epilogue provided, but I hope not because there's many more characters I'd like to see get their happy ending, and I just plain old like the world that Chase has built here.
Leonie and Lisburne enter into a wager concerning the marriageability of one of Leonie's clients. While I don't really like bet-based plot devices, my issue with their bet is not the bet itself, but the terms of the bet. Leonie wants a painting Lisburne owns, while Lisburne wants 2 weeks away with her. Proposing an illicit sexcapades getaway doesn't strike me as hero material, and even after Lisburne realizes he's in love with Leonie, he continues to make reference to the terms of the bet. I just found that plot line distasteful and not in keeping with hero behavior. Similarly I thought Chase relied heavily on the Dreadful DeLucey "brand" as code for character traits that could have been better fleshed out.
Had I not known that VIXEN IN VELVET was delayed because of problems, I wonder if I would have liked it better. Complaints aside, I did think Leonie and Lisburne were well matched, and I enjoyed the secondary characters as much as the cameos of previous pairings. I think this may be the end of the Dressmakers series just based on the epilogue provided, but I hope not because there's many more characters I'd like to see get their happy ending, and I just plain old like the world that Chase has built here.
3.5 stars
Literate, witty, & gorgeous dresses. Missing a little something for me though - perhaps the stakes didn't feel quite high enough. I had some problems also with the sisters' pre-occupation with Maison Noirot and the final rather high-handed way in which the business was disposed of.
But a slightly less successful Loretta Chase is still an enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to reading the last in the series.
Literate, witty, & gorgeous dresses. Missing a little something for me though - perhaps the stakes didn't feel quite high enough. I had some problems also with the sisters' pre-occupation with Maison Noirot and the final rather high-handed way in which the business was disposed of.
But a slightly less successful Loretta Chase is still an enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to reading the last in the series.
It's got its cute moments, but Leonie and, uh, the dude are completely flat. Loretta Chase writes really well, but she has a tendency toward one kind of heroine and hero. They are a good kind, but they are just the one kind nonetheless. Quite interchangeable. I recommend not reading them one right after another. Space them out and it won't be so noticeable.