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xvicesx's review
The deal breaker for me was the fact that we kept switching from one character's head to another without any kind of warning, from this paragraph to the next.
There was also the insta-lust and completely unlikely first meeting, which is disappointing because the whole point of regency reads for me is witty repartee and characters that grow to like each other with time.
But eh. Not for me.
There was also the insta-lust and completely unlikely first meeting, which is disappointing because the whole point of regency reads for me is witty repartee and characters that grow to like each other with time.
But eh. Not for me.
anastasiaadamov's review
3.0
Some of the plot ponts were strange. Elements of the story were the usual for historical romance genre. Romance and erotic elements were all present. In the end I liked the story.
jessicalouise25's review
3.0
How did I feel about this book?
Well...it was free which is always good.
I like Sophie, she was quite strong for a lady of that time which I appreciated and definitely had convictions and goals which she was going to stick to - very admirable.
Holt was...at times aggressive in way which I wasn't sure about but generally a good guy I think and overall I did like him as a character.
Their relationship was very...lusty. I liked that but their love was hard to believe because it was all so quick and lusty. This didn't bother me much and actually is a theme in short historical fiction books. I read a review by someone who said they could've read a full length book on Sophie and Holt and I agree, it might have been better.
It would also have enhanced the impact of the family dynamic within the story. The drama/mystery aspect was interesting but could've been developed more for sure.It was definitely a nice addition to the story though.
Overall a nice short story with a great romance but on the whole not very memorable or unique.
Well...it was free which is always good.
I like Sophie, she was quite strong for a lady of that time which I appreciated and definitely had convictions and goals which she was going to stick to - very admirable.
Holt was...at times aggressive in way which I wasn't sure about but generally a good guy I think and overall I did like him as a character.
Their relationship was very...lusty. I liked that but their love was hard to believe because it was all so quick and lusty. This didn't bother me much and actually is a theme in short historical fiction books. I read a review by someone who said they could've read a full length book on Sophie and Holt and I agree, it might have been better.
It would also have enhanced the impact of the family dynamic within the story. The drama/mystery aspect was interesting but could've been developed more for sure.It was definitely a nice addition to the story though.
Overall a nice short story with a great romance but on the whole not very memorable or unique.
chelsea_not_chels's review
2.0
More reviews available at my blog, Beauty and the Bookworm.
This was a terribly frustrating historical romance. I did not like it. Here's why.
It's about Holt, a long-vanished heir to an earldom that has returned after his father's death. However, he's not yet sure that he wants to take his position as earl. What he does want to do is mend the rift between his family and the Seacrests; currently they're in the midst of a feud that might very well destroy Holt's family's business. On his first day out and about, though, he runs into Sophie and they immediately have a tryst--though no sex. And so Holt gets sucked into her charm...
I feel like Campisi didn't know where she wanted the plot of this to go. It starts out like the feud is going to be a central point of the plot when Holt's brother alleges the Seacrest family has paid people to burn several of Holt's family's ships. Holt immediately inserts himself into the Seacrest family as a business partner, and helps them mend the business. The feud is never really mentioned again. Instead, a different feud emerges--one that alleges that Holt's mother and Sophie's father had an affair, and that is what has caused the argument. And then there's some lady creeping around in the shadows--but not until two-thirds of the way through the book--who wants Holt for herself for some really weird reasons. And then there's a bunch of other convoluted stuff going on that seems like it wants to be Jane Eyre-gothic but instead it just comes across as muddled and confused.
Sophie was sweet, Holt made me want to punch him. He claims that Sophie can't be a virgin, because no virgin reacts to amorous situations like she does. He says mean, hateful things and then just abandons her after coercing her into marrying him. And then, just a few pages later, he's all possessive and he loves her and blah-blah-blah. He's a psycho. Which, given his mother, makes sense. Geeze.
The pacing here was also very strange. It goes from zero to sixty and back to zero--nothing happens, and then there's suddenly a tryst with no build up at all, and then they're back to almost ignoring each other until the next tryst, which again comes out of nowhere. And once everything seems like it's resolved, it feels like Campisi felt like the book just wasn't long enough, so she tacked another plot onto the end which hadn't really been present throughout the rest of the book. And then there's Francie! Why was she even included? She had no impact on the plot at all; the process and outcome were exactly the same as they would have been if she hadn't been featured at all. And why did every appearance of hers have to feature her having sex with her husband? I get it, it's a historical romance and those are known for their steamy scenes, but it seems that the focus of those should have remained on the main couple (and those scenes were pretty good!), not some superfluous extras that were just tacked on to the side.
This book was a hot mess. I liked Jason and would like to know his story, but I don't think I'm quite intrigued enough to brave Campisi's plot constructions again.
1.5 to 2 stars out of 5.
This was a terribly frustrating historical romance. I did not like it. Here's why.
It's about Holt, a long-vanished heir to an earldom that has returned after his father's death. However, he's not yet sure that he wants to take his position as earl. What he does want to do is mend the rift between his family and the Seacrests; currently they're in the midst of a feud that might very well destroy Holt's family's business. On his first day out and about, though, he runs into Sophie and they immediately have a tryst--though no sex. And so Holt gets sucked into her charm...
I feel like Campisi didn't know where she wanted the plot of this to go. It starts out like the feud is going to be a central point of the plot when Holt's brother alleges the Seacrest family has paid people to burn several of Holt's family's ships. Holt immediately inserts himself into the Seacrest family as a business partner, and helps them mend the business. The feud is never really mentioned again. Instead, a different feud emerges--one that alleges that Holt's mother and Sophie's father had an affair, and that is what has caused the argument. And then there's some lady creeping around in the shadows--but not until two-thirds of the way through the book--who wants Holt for herself for some really weird reasons. And then there's a bunch of other convoluted stuff going on that seems like it wants to be Jane Eyre-gothic but instead it just comes across as muddled and confused.
Sophie was sweet, Holt made me want to punch him. He claims that Sophie can't be a virgin, because no virgin reacts to amorous situations like she does. He says mean, hateful things and then just abandons her after coercing her into marrying him. And then, just a few pages later, he's all possessive and he loves her and blah-blah-blah. He's a psycho. Which, given his mother, makes sense. Geeze.
The pacing here was also very strange. It goes from zero to sixty and back to zero--nothing happens, and then there's suddenly a tryst with no build up at all, and then they're back to almost ignoring each other until the next tryst, which again comes out of nowhere. And once everything seems like it's resolved, it feels like Campisi felt like the book just wasn't long enough, so she tacked another plot onto the end which hadn't really been present throughout the rest of the book. And then there's Francie! Why was she even included? She had no impact on the plot at all; the process and outcome were exactly the same as they would have been if she hadn't been featured at all. And why did every appearance of hers have to feature her having sex with her husband? I get it, it's a historical romance and those are known for their steamy scenes, but it seems that the focus of those should have remained on the main couple (and those scenes were pretty good!), not some superfluous extras that were just tacked on to the side.
This book was a hot mess. I liked Jason and would like to know his story, but I don't think I'm quite intrigued enough to brave Campisi's plot constructions again.
1.5 to 2 stars out of 5.
crazychriss93's review
1.0
Langford against Seacrest
Both families have been basically at war since an affair ten years ago.
I would have been glad had they remained enemies. Cause this book is just… disappointing. And disgusting.
You want to read a novel with a cruel male character? Read this one.
You want to read a novel with a male character who is bitter, doesn't now what's good in his life and basically lashes out every opportunity he gets? Read this one.
I love historical romances because of all the propriety in there. Unfortunately, the author of this novel doesn’t think so.
I can’t believe the way the first meeting of Holt and Sophie enfolds… It’s so dumb and silly and just
Holt is a cruel bastard. I can’t believe he seduces Sophie and then totally blames her. What the hell? And of course he continues to bed certain ladies even though he says he can’t even enjoy it because of Sophie. hah. What’s that supposed to tell us?
Also great that he thinks she basically beds everyone.
So yeah now that we know he’s not loyal to fault, he’s cruel, well, he’s also a coward. Totally leaves Sophie after she finds out that he betrayed her, that he lied to her. And of course he doesn’t come back after a week – why would he, right? No, it takes him MONTHS!!
And then he doesn’t even come back to fight for her because apparently he doesn’t love her enough. Oh, yeah, sorry he doesn’t love her at all – cause he didn’t fight for her, he didn’t apologize and then he tells her he needs an heir. I mean, dude!!!
I don’t like to call women wanton because in most of the historical romances, the heroines aren’t wanton. Well, Sophie is. I can’t believe she would let herself go like that…
How can you even finish reading such bullshit??
Both families have been basically at war since an affair ten years ago.
I would have been glad had they remained enemies. Cause this book is just… disappointing. And disgusting.
You want to read a novel with a cruel male character? Read this one.
You want to read a novel with a male character who is bitter, doesn't now what's good in his life and basically lashes out every opportunity he gets? Read this one.
I love historical romances because of all the propriety in there. Unfortunately, the author of this novel doesn’t think so.
I can’t believe the way the first meeting of Holt and Sophie enfolds… It’s so dumb and silly and just
Holt is a cruel bastard. I can’t believe he seduces Sophie and then totally blames her. What the hell? And of course he continues to bed certain ladies even though he says he can’t even enjoy it because of Sophie. hah. What’s that supposed to tell us?
Also great that he thinks she basically beds everyone.
So yeah now that we know he’s not loyal to fault, he’s cruel, well, he’s also a coward. Totally leaves Sophie after she finds out that he betrayed her, that he lied to her. And of course he doesn’t come back after a week – why would he, right? No, it takes him MONTHS!!
And then he doesn’t even come back to fight for her because apparently he doesn’t love her enough. Oh, yeah, sorry he doesn’t love her at all – cause he didn’t fight for her, he didn’t apologize and then he tells her he needs an heir. I mean, dude!!!
I don’t like to call women wanton because in most of the historical romances, the heroines aren’t wanton. Well, Sophie is. I can’t believe she would let herself go like that…
How can you even finish reading such bullshit??
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