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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
FMC (Madelyne): 3.75 (okay, so she’s innocent and naive and kinda annoying but I still love her and she’s hilarious when she’s ranting about Greek myths and telling everyone what to do)
MMC (Duncan): 4 (is he perfect? No. But I still love him and how he’s soft for Madelyne…he really does upend his whole life for her and she’s his most important thing 😭)
💕: 4.5 (they’re sooo good together. The chemistry is iconic and believable and they really value each other and spend a lot of time together on page)
Plot: 4 (it’s fun! Minus the weird homophobia against the brother/villain)
🌶️: 3.5
Writing: 4
MMC (Duncan): 4 (is he perfect? No. But I still love him and how he’s soft for Madelyne…he really does upend his whole life for her and she’s his most important thing 😭)
💕: 4.5 (they’re sooo good together. The chemistry is iconic and believable and they really value each other and spend a lot of time together on page)
Plot: 4 (it’s fun! Minus the weird homophobia against the brother/villain)
🌶️: 3.5
Writing: 4
adventurous
emotional
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Honor's Spleandour was the very first Julie Garwood book I ever read and the primary reason I am a fan of historical romance.
Duncan and Madelyn's story would never work for me in a contemporary setting, but historical romance is the place where I suspend all disbelief and set (most) of my feminist beliefs aside.
Duncan is used to giving orders and most certainly not used to being questioned; Madelyn defies him in every way and though he denies it, he enjoys it. Madelyn is extremely naive, partly due to her upbringing and also because the year is 1099.
Julie Garwood writes heroes that I can root for because although they can be rude, brutish, and abrasive, they always fall helplessly in love with their heroines. Most importantly her heroes are never cruel and always experience character growth.
Duncan was often annoyed with Madelyn; he couldn't understand why she wouldn't simply read his mind. However, as he grew to love Madelyn, he realized that she needed him to express his feelings through words and not just actions. She needed to feel safe and he was willing to change his behavior in order to show her his love.
Duncan and Madelyn's story would never work for me in a contemporary setting, but historical romance is the place where I suspend all disbelief and set (most) of my feminist beliefs aside.
Duncan is used to giving orders and most certainly not used to being questioned; Madelyn defies him in every way and though he denies it, he enjoys it. Madelyn is extremely naive, partly due to her upbringing and also because the year is 1099.
Julie Garwood writes heroes that I can root for because although they can be rude, brutish, and abrasive, they always fall helplessly in love with their heroines. Most importantly her heroes are never cruel and always experience character growth.
Duncan was often annoyed with Madelyn; he couldn't understand why she wouldn't simply read his mind. However, as he grew to love Madelyn, he realized that she needed him to express his feelings through words and not just actions. She needed to feel safe and he was willing to change his behavior in order to show her his love.
This one was just alright, honestly - 2.5 stars, but I'm rounding up.
My issue was primarily the FMC Madelyne, who was just too, too much for me. I think that Garwood just didn't nail the cute, sweet thing here - it was way OTT, and she honestly seemed to be a completely vapid imbecile to me. She had her good moments, but mostly she was ridiculous.
And honestly, the MMC Duncan was a bit cardboard at times. The combination of her moronic narrative and his 2-dimensional growly crap made the book really drag for me at times.
Ah well. Given how many people on my friends list loved this book, it's probably just me.
My issue was primarily the FMC Madelyne, who was just too, too much for me. I think that Garwood just didn't nail the cute, sweet thing here - it was way OTT, and she honestly seemed to be a completely vapid imbecile to me. She had her good moments, but mostly she was ridiculous.
And honestly, the MMC Duncan was a bit cardboard at times. The combination of her moronic narrative and his 2-dimensional growly crap made the book really drag for me at times.
Ah well. Given how many people on my friends list loved this book, it's probably just me.
DNF at 50%, not really liking the style of writing for this author and not warming to any of her characters.
adventurous
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Every now and then, I return to my roots and pick up a historical romance. Each and every time, I’m reminded why it’s the best romance sub-genre. Or maybe Julie Garwood is just really bloody good.
It’s both.
This book was so ridiculously funny. The banter was so witty and entertaining. The characters were exceptional—hero and heroine both. Even more wonderful were the side characters: Father Breton, Anthony, Gilard, Edmond, Gelard, Marta and Gerty… you know it’s a good one when you have a list with names that compete for places. Madelyne is my absolute favourite, though, with Duncan placing a close second since I can’t imagine him allowing her to go anywhere without attaching himself to her heels.
I was really in love with this from the first chapter… the narrative of the meeting scene is a cliche I will never tire from.
It’s both.
This book was so ridiculously funny. The banter was so witty and entertaining. The characters were exceptional—hero and heroine both. Even more wonderful were the side characters: Father Breton, Anthony, Gilard, Edmond, Gelard, Marta and Gerty… you know it’s a good one when you have a list with names that compete for places. Madelyne is my absolute favourite, though, with Duncan placing a close second since I can’t imagine him allowing her to go anywhere without attaching himself to her heels.
I was really in love with this from the first chapter… the narrative of the meeting scene is a cliche I will never tire from.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes