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jody_diou's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
threeundertwopnw's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Books like this are why I love historical romance. I absolutely devoted this.
North and Bride had previously been engaged for all the wrong reasons and when they meet again everything has changed. They are both pretty stubborn but it's so fun to watch them find their way back together.
Some great tropes here;
Duke + governess
He can only sleep when he's with her
Your family rejects you but I don't
Mute child finally speaks at the perfect moment
North and Bride had previously been engaged for all the wrong reasons and when they meet again everything has changed. They are both pretty stubborn but it's so fun to watch them find their way back together.
Some great tropes here;
Duke + governess
He can only sleep when he's with her
Your family rejects you but I don't
Mute child finally speaks at the perfect moment
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Rape, War, and Grief
curls's review against another edition
3.0
“Perhaps that was the definition of maturity: recognizing that pleasing everyone was not possible.”
North falls in love at first sight of Diana. He courts her, they become engaged, and she jilts him at their engagement party. He goes to check on her and finds her in a small cottage with a baby. He assumes the baby is hers and leaves her, he goes off to fight in the war.
When he gets back from the States, he finds Diana working as a governess in his house for his youngest sister. The baby he heard, Geoffrey, is not his, but her being there has given the public that impression. He knows the baby isn’t his, but is surprised to learn Geoffrey was Diana’s sisters baby, who died in childbirth.
I found the idea of a lady working as a governess a little odd, but I couldn’t get past how ok everyone was with the fact that she was in her ex fiancé’s house. It was a bit strange. Especially since there was gossip in the tabloids (well 17th century tabloids) of how North raped her (total lies) and had her raising their baby in his house. I couldn’t suspend my disbelief to enjoy the story.
I really liked North. He really wanted to impress her before they were engaged, and he turned into a prissy peacock to get her attention. He quickly losses that after being jilted and going to war, but his friends and brothers haven’t forgotten and don’t let him forget. He suffers from PTSD from his time in the war, and I thought his struggles were well done.
I wasn’t a fan of Diana. She’s had a rough go, that’s for sure. But she was a bit dull to me.
I really liked the side characters, especially Lavinia. Also North’s Aunt is especially hilarious, I love this gem of a quote.
“I attempted a diary once, and had to fill it with lies in order to keep myself interested.”
It’s not a bad historical romance. But it wasn’t great for me either. I’d recommend borrowing before buying unless you are a die hard fan of the author.
North falls in love at first sight of Diana. He courts her, they become engaged, and she jilts him at their engagement party. He goes to check on her and finds her in a small cottage with a baby. He assumes the baby is hers and leaves her, he goes off to fight in the war.
When he gets back from the States, he finds Diana working as a governess in his house for his youngest sister. The baby he heard, Geoffrey, is not his, but her being there has given the public that impression. He knows the baby isn’t his, but is surprised to learn Geoffrey was Diana’s sisters baby, who died in childbirth.
I found the idea of a lady working as a governess a little odd, but I couldn’t get past how ok everyone was with the fact that she was in her ex fiancé’s house. It was a bit strange. Especially since there was gossip in the tabloids (well 17th century tabloids) of how North raped her (total lies) and had her raising their baby in his house. I couldn’t suspend my disbelief to enjoy the story.
I really liked North. He really wanted to impress her before they were engaged, and he turned into a prissy peacock to get her attention. He quickly losses that after being jilted and going to war, but his friends and brothers haven’t forgotten and don’t let him forget. He suffers from PTSD from his time in the war, and I thought his struggles were well done.
I wasn’t a fan of Diana. She’s had a rough go, that’s for sure. But she was a bit dull to me.
I really liked the side characters, especially Lavinia. Also North’s Aunt is especially hilarious, I love this gem of a quote.
“I attempted a diary once, and had to fill it with lies in order to keep myself interested.”
It’s not a bad historical romance. But it wasn’t great for me either. I’d recommend borrowing before buying unless you are a die hard fan of the author.
nellesnightstand1's review against another edition
5.0
So many chuckles, giggles and Aww so sweet moments in this second Wilde novel!! I received an advance copy of this from Edelweiss for an honest review and even though it doesn't publish until MAY, I could NOT resist reading North and Diana's story, right now! I knew from the end of Wilde in Love that Diana has acquired a child. Oh MY!!!
This story was SO much better than the first in the series! North may be my new favorite book boyfriend, sigh. The thing is they are just so HONEST with each other from the beginning of their second meetup years later. It's refreshing.
And yes as a reviewer noted the "excerpt" was very hot. The sexy times in this book were delicious and I felt essential to the development of their feelings and relationship. I want to read it all over again. I'll wait till May though!! :)
This story was SO much better than the first in the series! North may be my new favorite book boyfriend, sigh. The thing is they are just so HONEST with each other from the beginning of their second meetup years later. It's refreshing.
And yes as a reviewer noted the "excerpt" was very hot. The sexy times in this book were delicious and I felt essential to the development of their feelings and relationship. I want to read it all over again. I'll wait till May though!! :)
laurazdavidson's review against another edition
3.0
The first half was great... the second half not so much. North and Diana had great chemistry, and the story of how they overcame their not-so-successful engagement was sweet. But too much of their behavior was out of place for the Georgian era for this installment to be entirely successful.
ipomoea's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
In Wilde in Love, we met the Wildes, a (of course) fabulously wealthy family, wealthy enough to be eccentric without losing social status. The story of North and Diana was a footnote in Wilde in Love, a mystery when Diana disappeared overnight never to be seen again.
This is what happened to Diana. After North left for war, she returned to the castle, but not as a lady of quality, rather, she returned to the servants' door, applying for a governess position with a small child in tow. The child's parentage is unknown, but gossip says he's hers, and she won't correct it. And when North returns, he isn't prepared to see his lost fiancee eating with the servants and darning her stockings, especially after she'd been ready to be a duchess.
This wasn't one of my favorite James novels, but it was still pretty fun. I really dislike misconceptions that could be cleared up with a reasonable conversation (looking at you, all laugh-tracked sitcoms), and that brought this down a star for me.
In Wilde in Love, we met the Wildes, a (of course) fabulously wealthy family, wealthy enough to be eccentric without losing social status. The story of North and Diana was a footnote in Wilde in Love, a mystery when Diana disappeared overnight never to be seen again.
This is what happened to Diana. After North left for war, she returned to the castle, but not as a lady of quality, rather, she returned to the servants' door, applying for a governess position with a small child in tow. The child's parentage is unknown, but gossip says he's hers, and she won't correct it. And when North returns, he isn't prepared to see his lost fiancee eating with the servants and darning her stockings, especially after she'd been ready to be a duchess.
This wasn't one of my favorite James novels, but it was still pretty fun. I really dislike misconceptions that could be cleared up with a reasonable conversation (looking at you, all laugh-tracked sitcoms), and that brought this down a star for me.
balletbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
I will always get a little weepy at a good Happily Ever After. I also love a good second chance romance.
And that cover model is welcome to get crumbs in my sheets any time. Hummina hummina.
And that cover model is welcome to get crumbs in my sheets any time. Hummina hummina.