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rjordan19's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖 (I lost interest throughout quite a few parts of this one and kept having to tell myself to come back to it and finish)
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine, as well as Jonas, who is the hero of the next book (A Kiss from a Rogue), and also some brief scenes of the villain while murdering people...
When mains are first on page together: Pretty soon in, 5% or so
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, a few months later
Format: listened to audiobook from library (Hoopla)
Should I read in order?
Yes. There’s a lot of overlap from prior events and this whole villain/mystery is a continuation of the plot line in book6, Confessions of a Dangerous Lord. In book 6, Colin’s story comes into play and that is established in book 3, Desperately Seeking a Scoundrel. But to enjoy book 3, you should read books 1 and 2 where the story is really started. And you should read the prequel novel because I loved it. So yes, start at the beginning.
Basic plot:
Eugenia tries to help Phineas not only find a wife, but protect his honor when he’s a suspect in a case of poisoning.
Give this a try if you want:
- Late Regency – around 1825 - I didn’t catch the year for this one, but it mentions book 6 happened 5-6 years ago and that book I have at 1819
- London/country estate setting
- size difference – hero is an inch or two above 6 feet and heroine has to crane her neck to see him well
- ruined heroine
- compromised….hero?
- milliner heroine/botanist heroine
- complimenting the garden is foreplay
- surprise virgin
- villain danger
- medium to higher steam – 4 scenes but they are all after 60% and gives it a bit of a slower burn feel
Ages:
- Heroine is around 22, hero around 33
First line:
Hoar frost, shaggy as an old man’s beard, coated the castle’s long drive.
My thoughts:
Oof I don’t know what happened with this one but this one is not a favorite for me in this series. I might just be in a mood because a few books haven’t worked for me lately.
Braden does some point of view switching from the mains that I am never a fan of but probably doesn’t bother most people. Here, we are in the villains head as well as the hero for a future book. With how much page time Jonas and Hannah were getting I was wondering if I was going to get some lame, skipped over second romance thrown in, but it’s the set up for their story in book 9.
I also think maybe I haven’t fully recovered from the whole poisoning villain of book 6 in the series, because this had so many similar feelings to me as that book and I read it fairly recently.
This one had a lot that I really love as tropes in here, so I was hoping I would have loved it more. Maybe because it’s a bit of a slower burn? It felt like their relationship didn’t really get started until well into the book and by then I was grumpy.
Something that I really dislike in romance is family rudeness and bullying – and we found that here a bit with Hannah being petulant. It really does bother me because of things I’ve experienced personally, but in this story I really loved the way the ending worked out. It gave me emotional female friendship feels I don’t get very often in romance and I loved that and I think made Hannah’s character stronger for me.
I did really like some parts of this story. As always, I appreciate Braden’s emotional turmoil she puts her mains through, I love the angst of thinking you have lost it all when it means everything to you. The steam was good. But this one isn’t one I will gravitate back to as a reread.
Endearments
the hero calls the heroine ‘briar’.
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:Any mistakes/typos are my own
“Nevertheless, we will marry.”
“But-I’m a disgrace. You don’t want me. And I don’t want a husband-”
“And you will be my wife by week’s end.” He steeled himself before returning his gaze to her. By god, she was a temptation. Defiant. Rebellious. A curved, cat-eyed provocation.
“Accept it.”
A perplexed frown crinkled her brow. “How am I to accept something so absurd?”
Between one blink and the next, he moved from his seat to hers. Another blink and he had Eugenia flattened beneath him, startled and flushed.
“Accept it,” he repeated.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- remembrance of murder in self defense, poisoning, attacks, danger
- on page poisoning, attempted murder, danger, violence, kidnapping of heroine by villain
- child abuse
- grooming of a child (by villain)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex: No
42% - kisses
58% - nuzzles and touches
62% - 🔥 kisses, breast play, v loss for heroine on the table (hero doesn’t realize she was a virgin until after)
“I’m going to lift you onto the table now.”
“I suppose that would be – oh!”
There, that was better. He drew his shirt over his head.
68% - kisses
69% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her against a trellis, her on top
“This belongs to me,” he whispered against her lips, his breath hot and fast.
75% - kiss
84% - 🔥 kiss, blow job
“Does the blackness like knowing you are the only man who has ever been inside me?”
His head dropped forward onto her shoulder. He groaned and kissed her neck.
“Yes. Bloody hell, yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you are mine. Only ever mine.”
100% - 🔥 fingering for her, missionary
“How naked should I be for your experiment, my lord?” She paused at her knees. “This naked?”
“More.”
Readability: 📖📖📖 (I lost interest throughout quite a few parts of this one and kept having to tell myself to come back to it and finish)
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine, as well as Jonas, who is the hero of the next book (A Kiss from a Rogue), and also some brief scenes of the villain while murdering people...
When mains are first on page together: Pretty soon in, 5% or so
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, a few months later
Format: listened to audiobook from library (Hoopla)
Should I read in order?
Yes. There’s a lot of overlap from prior events and this whole villain/mystery is a continuation of the plot line in book6, Confessions of a Dangerous Lord. In book 6, Colin’s story comes into play and that is established in book 3, Desperately Seeking a Scoundrel. But to enjoy book 3, you should read books 1 and 2 where the story is really started. And you should read the prequel novel because I loved it. So yes, start at the beginning.
Basic plot:
Eugenia tries to help Phineas not only find a wife, but protect his honor when he’s a suspect in a case of poisoning.
Give this a try if you want:
- Late Regency – around 1825 - I didn’t catch the year for this one, but it mentions book 6 happened 5-6 years ago and that book I have at 1819
- London/country estate setting
- size difference – hero is an inch or two above 6 feet and heroine has to crane her neck to see him well
- ruined heroine
- compromised….hero?
- milliner heroine/botanist heroine
- complimenting the garden is foreplay
- surprise virgin
- villain danger
- medium to higher steam – 4 scenes but they are all after 60% and gives it a bit of a slower burn feel
Ages:
- Heroine is around 22, hero around 33
First line:
Hoar frost, shaggy as an old man’s beard, coated the castle’s long drive.
My thoughts:
Oof I don’t know what happened with this one but this one is not a favorite for me in this series. I might just be in a mood because a few books haven’t worked for me lately.
Braden does some point of view switching from the mains that I am never a fan of but probably doesn’t bother most people. Here, we are in the villains head as well as the hero for a future book. With how much page time Jonas and Hannah were getting I was wondering if I was going to get some lame, skipped over second romance thrown in, but it’s the set up for their story in book 9.
I also think maybe I haven’t fully recovered from the whole poisoning villain of book 6 in the series, because this had so many similar feelings to me as that book and I read it fairly recently.
This one had a lot that I really love as tropes in here, so I was hoping I would have loved it more. Maybe because it’s a bit of a slower burn? It felt like their relationship didn’t really get started until well into the book and by then I was grumpy.
Something that I really dislike in romance is family rudeness and bullying – and we found that here a bit with Hannah being petulant. It really does bother me because of things I’ve experienced personally, but in this story I really loved the way the ending worked out. It gave me emotional female friendship feels I don’t get very often in romance and I loved that and I think made Hannah’s character stronger for me.
I did really like some parts of this story. As always, I appreciate Braden’s emotional turmoil she puts her mains through, I love the angst of thinking you have lost it all when it means everything to you. The steam was good. But this one isn’t one I will gravitate back to as a reread.
Endearments
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:Any mistakes/typos are my own
“Nevertheless, we will marry.”
“But-I’m a disgrace. You don’t want me. And I don’t want a husband-”
“And you will be my wife by week’s end.” He steeled himself before returning his gaze to her. By god, she was a temptation. Defiant. Rebellious. A curved, cat-eyed provocation.
“Accept it.”
A perplexed frown crinkled her brow. “How am I to accept something so absurd?”
Between one blink and the next, he moved from his seat to hers. Another blink and he had Eugenia flattened beneath him, startled and flushed.
“Accept it,” he repeated.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- remembrance of murder in self defense, poisoning, attacks, danger
- on page poisoning, attempted murder, danger, violence, kidnapping of heroine by villain
- child abuse
- grooming of a child (by villain)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:
42% - kisses
58% - nuzzles and touches
62% - 🔥 kisses, breast play, v loss for heroine on the table (hero doesn’t realize she was a virgin until after)
“I’m going to lift you onto the table now.”
“I suppose that would be – oh!”
There, that was better. He drew his shirt over his head.
68% - kisses
69% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her against a trellis, her on top
“This belongs to me,” he whispered against her lips, his breath hot and fast.
75% - kiss
84% - 🔥 kiss, blow job
“Does the blackness like knowing you are the only man who has ever been inside me?”
His head dropped forward onto her shoulder. He groaned and kissed her neck.
“Yes. Bloody hell, yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you are mine. Only ever mine.”
100% - 🔥 fingering for her, missionary
“How naked should I be for your experiment, my lord?” She paused at her knees. “This naked?”
“More.”
themeadowlibrary's review
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
digitlchic's review
5.0
Of all the heroines I’ve read (and that’s thousands), I think Eugenia may be the one I resonate with the most. The “Great Burden of Eugenia” so hits home! And honestly she sounds ND though it never says so. Love her ❤️ (on my 3rd read I upped the rating from a 4 to 5 star)
lisabbyi's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pyiab's review
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
3.5
turnerjoylynch's review
4.0
I was pleased to finally read Phineas Brand’s story, although I occasionally had to push through intrusive thoughts while the name Phineas (because all I could hear is “
jsm's review
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
3.5
mizerly's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
blounsbury's review
dark
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0