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jcmbank's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sugar01's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lausol's review
3.0
What I liked: ex childhood sweethearts with a lot of mutual pining, banter and respect for each other. Fake dating trope. Characters I actually enjoyed.
What I didn’t like: I was loving the book, but I think the author put much credit to the prologue in which she showed their relationship as children and made that be the whole basis of their feelings for each other. And I feel that a lot of the feelings, except of the ones of lust for each other, we’re told instead of shown. I also couldn’t believe that after holding a grudge for so many years everything is “resolved” in two seconds, I’d rather seen more interactions between them after she found out about him being a spy and processing things instead of being like “you noble man, you”. Which is one of the things that made me not being completely sold on their HEA, because I want to see the development of those conflicted feelings and see them mature, I felt that instead of being left with a resolution for them, I was left with the beginning of them without having a clue of how they’d resolve them together. The other thing that makes me doubt their HEA is that the male mc had this fantasy of them having a domestic life with children and she made a comment about “not having a motherhood bone in her body” and it was kind of refuted with “we’ll adopt”. It left me thinking WTF, since adopting is raising children, that they’re yours as well.
I didn’t appreciate that the female mc said multiple times that she wanted to create a path for other females and so on but then behaved a little in the “not like other girls” trope.
Also, I found very meh how they found what they were looking for so easily, and I saw no point in the necklass being stolen.
I know I explained myself more in the “I didn’t like” things, because with those I can be more objective, with the ones I liked, I’m always: KJASLDKJALDKJAS CLUTCHES CHEST.
Overall, I really liked the book, I think the author had problems with the pacing and that prevented the book from being all I ever wanted in a book and more, but I did enjoy reading it, and I’ll try other books by this author.
What I didn’t like: I was loving the book, but I think the author put much credit to the prologue in which she showed their relationship as children and made that be the whole basis of their feelings for each other. And I feel that a lot of the feelings, except of the ones of lust for each other, we’re told instead of shown. I also couldn’t believe that after holding a grudge for so many years everything is “resolved” in two seconds, I’d rather seen more interactions between them after she found out about him being a spy and processing things instead of being like “you noble man, you”. Which is one of the things that made me not being completely sold on their HEA, because I want to see the development of those conflicted feelings and see them mature, I felt that instead of being left with a resolution for them, I was left with the beginning of them without having a clue of how they’d resolve them together. The other thing that makes me doubt their HEA is that the male mc had this fantasy of them having a domestic life with children and she made a comment about “not having a motherhood bone in her body” and it was kind of refuted with “we’ll adopt”. It left me thinking WTF, since adopting is raising children, that they’re yours as well.
I didn’t appreciate that the female mc said multiple times that she wanted to create a path for other females and so on but then behaved a little in the “not like other girls” trope.
Also, I found very meh how they found what they were looking for so easily, and I saw no point in the necklass being stolen.
I know I explained myself more in the “I didn’t like” things, because with those I can be more objective, with the ones I liked, I’m always: KJASLDKJALDKJAS CLUTCHES CHEST.
Overall, I really liked the book, I think the author had problems with the pacing and that prevented the book from being all I ever wanted in a book and more, but I did enjoy reading it, and I’ll try other books by this author.
dipanjali's review
3.0
entertaining af, so over the top it's borderline ludicrous even for romance, i loved how unabashedly excessive this was.
f/n: i realise my footnote is longer than my actual review but ALSO. PLEASE can we stop naming our heroines after countries. india? really? AGAIN?? wasn't that one jo goodman book w the protagonist named india enough to ward us all off this wagon forever? like no one wants to read about a protagonist named Wales or Taiwan or Czechoslovakia??? why must you continue to alienate your woc readers like this. what is the great passionate writerly impulse that propels you to name a fictitious character in keeping with colonial traditions that you can definitely totally avoid now because you are writing fiction... y u do this.
f/n: i realise my footnote is longer than my actual review but ALSO. PLEASE can we stop naming our heroines after countries. india? really? AGAIN?? wasn't that one jo goodman book w the protagonist named india enough to ward us all off this wagon forever? like no one wants to read about a protagonist named Wales or Taiwan or Czechoslovakia??? why must you continue to alienate your woc readers like this. what is the great passionate writerly impulse that propels you to name a fictitious character in keeping with colonial traditions that you can definitely totally avoid now because you are writing fiction... y u do this.
sheets625's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lollypopzoo's review
4.0
I LOVE their romance, but I wanted a little more from side characters on this one. The book was so wholly focused on them that I missed some of the friendship or family banter that usually rounds these stories out. I’m excited for her next!
kimalah's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
rjordan19's review
4.0
I personally give this 3.5 🌟. I just couldn’t love it for a number of reasons that are my own little quirks so I do encourage anyone else to try it. It’s definitely a good book, fun, adventurous, action packed.
I think that’s what got me though, being a “spy” type novel with a mystery to solve, there was a lot going on other than the romance. There was a lot of internal dialogue from both characters about why they love and hate each other, but when it came down to falling in love, it just kind of happened. They hate each other then they are kissing. I guess I so look forward to that turning moment in an enemies to lovers trope but this was kind of a see saw of love hate.
I did enjoy both main characters. I like the hero Raven (oh thank goodness he was called Raven because Daniel is just not a name for me - sorry to the Daniels of the world!😆) I liked him more than Edgar from the previous book in the series. Maybe I got to spend more time in his head so I got to know him better, I’m not sure. He came across as a bit more alpha male too, which I like.
The heroine, Indy is a pretty unique character. She’s like able enough but maybe just cane off a bit more coarse after reading Maris character (again from the previous book in the series) I do think it’s funny how she dresses like a man for most of the book and it’s not even taken as that big if a deal.
I do love Lenora’s sex scenes. I just wish there was more and I will say the tension fell a little flat for me in this book. I think this is the first book I have read...and I quote Indy....”simultaneous....feasting” 😂😂😂😂
I’ll also say I hate the way the book ended. I felt like it was so abrupt and I didn’t like that the wedding was in the book somewhere in more detail. I didn’t like that I didn’t get to see them back in England together and only got the short epilogue that takes place close in the future.
I think that’s what got me though, being a “spy” type novel with a mystery to solve, there was a lot going on other than the romance. There was a lot of internal dialogue from both characters about why they love and hate each other, but when it came down to falling in love, it just kind of happened. They hate each other then they are kissing. I guess I so look forward to that turning moment in an enemies to lovers trope but this was kind of a see saw of love hate.
I did enjoy both main characters. I like the hero Raven (oh thank goodness he was called Raven because Daniel is just not a name for me - sorry to the Daniels of the world!😆) I liked him more than Edgar from the previous book in the series. Maybe I got to spend more time in his head so I got to know him better, I’m not sure. He came across as a bit more alpha male too, which I like.
The heroine, Indy is a pretty unique character. She’s like able enough but maybe just cane off a bit more coarse after reading Maris character (again from the previous book in the series) I do think it’s funny how she dresses like a man for most of the book and it’s not even taken as that big if a deal.
I do love Lenora’s sex scenes. I just wish there was more and I will say the tension fell a little flat for me in this book. I think this is the first book I have read...and I quote Indy....”simultaneous....feasting” 😂😂😂😂
I’ll also say I hate the way the book ended. I felt like it was so abrupt and I didn’t like that the wedding was in the book somewhere in more detail. I didn’t like that I didn’t get to see them back in England together and only got the short epilogue that takes place close in the future.
nikitanavalkar's review
5.0
When Bond fell for Indy
I finally had a chance to read this and oh my God, I love, love, love Indy and Raven. Indy is who I want to be when I grow up and Raven is a dreamboat. The Indiana Jones and Bond references are on point, and the content is subversive and perfectly feminist. This enemies-to-lovers caper is fun, funny, sexy, and oh-so adorable! All the secondary characters shine, and I already want stories for Mina and maybe even Lucy. It does feel like it ends a tad abruptly, but by then I was too smitten with the lead pair to care. They made me sigh and cheer for them.
I finally had a chance to read this and oh my God, I love, love, love Indy and Raven. Indy is who I want to be when I grow up and Raven is a dreamboat. The Indiana Jones and Bond references are on point, and the content is subversive and perfectly feminist. This enemies-to-lovers caper is fun, funny, sexy, and oh-so adorable! All the secondary characters shine, and I already want stories for Mina and maybe even Lucy. It does feel like it ends a tad abruptly, but by then I was too smitten with the lead pair to care. They made me sigh and cheer for them.