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smolsaknussemm's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
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
shinysue's review
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? It's complicated
5.0
This was the best one of the three. The two characters are super cute, and their concerns are all valid. None of that contrived "we can marry we're too far apart in society" stuff. I also like the depiction of depression near the end of the book where they're trying to build the relationship but it's hollow. That's really well done.
cthuwu's review
2.0
dnf @ 47%
i was thinking about it earlier, and it always seems like i have more to say when i don't like a book than when i do. i think it all goes back to that fact that i know better what i don't like vs what i do. or, at the very least i know how to phrase my dislikes better.
this book was recommended by a dear friend who also happens to write romance novels. she said look, yknow, chelsea it's got everything: priests, romance, the hero is that guy who you're also using as a face character for a priest... you should read it. i, never one to pass up a book recommendation, ran off to kindle and was delighted to find that it was only $2.99 (which appealed to my parsimonious scottish/french canadian soul) and i snapped it up.
i'm gunna say that the first 20% or so of this book was pretty decent buildup. they set up lady sarah and jeremy pretty well and i was digging their romance and not much else. the premise? some crusty old man (jeremy's father) finds out that someone is writing steamy romance novels under the somewhat shitty pen name "the lady of dubious quality" and wants his youngest son (jeremy, also a vicar but like COE because we can't have someone breaking their vows of celibacy no matter how horny the author is for priests) to go and track this horrible woman down for writing something that will corrupt the public.
honestly? what the fuck? i think that's where i first went "huh?" honestly? and "the lady of dubious quality?" just pick a name. any name. make something up. don't use something that makes you sound like a third rate porn star with an aristocracy fetish. anyways, this is where it started to derail for me. there was lots of delicate flirting, which is super nice, but not enough to keep me engaged.
and then some tittering fops invite sarah and jeremy to an exhibition of erotic far eastern art and sarah is all like "oh if we don't stay they'll win!!one1!" ma'am, please. there are other ways to prove your point than dragging that anglican priest you have a lady boner for through a naughty picture gallery in hopes that your fake friends will somehow respect you for it. that scene was, uh, ill-conceived.
AND THEN we get to the masked club thing. i am perfectly willing to accept the existence of club where you put on a mask and sleep with strangers for fun. what i'm not willing to accept is an author building up this event to an almost mythical degree and getting both hero and heroine there and then having......
after that i just kinda... lost interest. i stopped reading when and thought to herself that so she ran off, presumably to who doesn't know what's going on but gets a boner every time he thinks about her.
i know a little about how this book ends and, honestly, nah fam. i wasn't going to slog through the last half of the book for a poor emotional payoff. so, onto the next.
i was thinking about it earlier, and it always seems like i have more to say when i don't like a book than when i do. i think it all goes back to that fact that i know better what i don't like vs what i do. or, at the very least i know how to phrase my dislikes better.
this book was recommended by a dear friend who also happens to write romance novels. she said look, yknow, chelsea it's got everything: priests, romance, the hero is that guy who you're also using as a face character for a priest... you should read it. i, never one to pass up a book recommendation, ran off to kindle and was delighted to find that it was only $2.99 (which appealed to my parsimonious scottish/french canadian soul) and i snapped it up.
i'm gunna say that the first 20% or so of this book was pretty decent buildup. they set up lady sarah and jeremy pretty well and i was digging their romance and not much else. the premise? some crusty old man (jeremy's father) finds out that someone is writing steamy romance novels under the somewhat shitty pen name "the lady of dubious quality" and wants his youngest son (jeremy, also a vicar but like COE because we can't have someone breaking their vows of celibacy no matter how horny the author is for priests) to go and track this horrible woman down for writing something that will corrupt the public.
honestly? what the fuck? i think that's where i first went "huh?" honestly? and "the lady of dubious quality?" just pick a name. any name. make something up. don't use something that makes you sound like a third rate porn star with an aristocracy fetish. anyways, this is where it started to derail for me. there was lots of delicate flirting, which is super nice, but not enough to keep me engaged.
and then some tittering fops invite sarah and jeremy to an exhibition of erotic far eastern art and sarah is all like "oh if we don't stay they'll win!!one1!" ma'am, please. there are other ways to prove your point than dragging that anglican priest you have a lady boner for through a naughty picture gallery in hopes that your fake friends will somehow respect you for it. that scene was, uh, ill-conceived.
AND THEN we get to the masked club thing. i am perfectly willing to accept the existence of club where you put on a mask and sleep with strangers for fun. what i'm not willing to accept is an author building up this event to an almost mythical degree and getting both hero and heroine there and then having......
Spoiler
fuck all happen. i didn't expect them to participate in a mad orgy, but i was still disappointed.after that i just kinda... lost interest. i stopped reading when
Spoiler
sarah found out something was looking for herSpoiler
a married woman could get away with moreSpoiler
propose to a certain poor beleaguered priesti know a little about how this book ends and, honestly, nah fam. i wasn't going to slog through the last half of the book for a poor emotional payoff. so, onto the next.
northship's review
3.0
overall, i enjoyed this book. the characters were very likeable, the "class difference" was handled well and the happy ending was believable considering the hero is a vicar and the heroine is the daughter of a duke (although she is also a writer). the writing was a little "eh" as well as a little anachronistic in parts and some of the situations a bit of a stretch, but i was willing to put that aside, because it was an enjoyable read with sympathetic main characters. i did have a bit of an issue with the pacing--it took a LONG time to ramp up to the climax, jeremy's angst seemed a little misplaced and long considering both parties had gone into the relationship under false pretenses (as i was glad to see sarah point out, as well), but again, overall, it was just a nice book.
katyaemily's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
daphnewatson's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
miss_davis's review
3.5
This had potential, and Lady Sarah is a character I want to love more than I did, but there was a fair bit of it that felt incredibly cringy.
I think maybe vicar/pastor/priest romance just isn't for me.
I think maybe vicar/pastor/priest romance just isn't for me.
isabelisalright's review against another edition
Will review after Harper Collins strike ends
alexis_gonzales's review
3.0
2.5/5 rounded up
I had a hard time getting into this one. Honestly, reading the blurb, I was hoping for more humor.
Sarah and Jeremy were amazing together and they had an instant connection. I loved that there wasn't too much miscommunication. The plot was just lackluster.
I had a hard time getting into this one. Honestly, reading the blurb, I was hoping for more humor.
Sarah and Jeremy were amazing together and they had an instant connection. I loved that there wasn't too much miscommunication. The plot was just lackluster.