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indolentfop's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
Mostly smut (which I don’t mind) without much depth, which is unfortunate because there was a lot of potential with the characters and the premise of the story.
emma_caputi's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
fringebookreviews's review
4.0
This was a really solid and sexy novella! I love a good sex bargain, and their dynamic was really fun. The age gap was also so perfect, which is not something I usually say. I would’ve easily read a full-length version of it—the declarations of love came after like two days—but I was convinced they were perfectly matched, which is all I really need at the heart of a novella.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️.5/5
I revived an eARC from the author. All opinions are honest and my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️.5/5
I revived an eARC from the author. All opinions are honest and my own.
books_ergo_sum's review
emotional
fast-paced
3.0
This was great! It just had some themes that aren’t my fav.
I love a one-day timeline novella, and don’t mind the insta-love of it all. I liked that our characters were older. Loved our heroine in academia (especially in a late-1870s setting). And who doesn’t love a good bargain?
That said, I wish I could have pictured our heroine easier—he was gobsmacked by her beauty but she insisted she was plain and I didn’t know what to think. There was some minor fetishized virginity plus a Good Girl I didn’t need. And there was some commentary on ‘loose women’ and what counted as moral versus immoral behaviour that I wished had more resolution.
But the writing itself was evocative and I’d definitely read from this author again.
I love a one-day timeline novella, and don’t mind the insta-love of it all. I liked that our characters were older. Loved our heroine in academia (especially in a late-1870s setting). And who doesn’t love a good bargain?
That said, I wish I could have pictured our heroine easier—he was gobsmacked by her beauty but she insisted she was plain and I didn’t know what to think. There was some minor fetishized virginity plus a Good Girl I didn’t need. And there was some commentary on ‘loose women’ and what counted as moral versus immoral behaviour that I wished had more resolution.
But the writing itself was evocative and I’d definitely read from this author again.
aoifesbookreviews's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
It’s nice to read about older MCs in HR for a change.
wandering_seal's review
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
4.0
I was impressed Eve Pendle made her charcters cover so much ground in such a short period of time! Only a few days pass in the novella, but it still felt believable that our two MCs would get to their HEA. And there even manages to be a wee bit of class analysis which I love to see.
I really enjoyed that although there is an age gap, it's between two older (in romance novel terms) people - Lily is 32 and Beckett 49. It made it feel more realistic that the two would find things in common, something which Pendle emphasised through giving them plenty of opportunity to naturally develop feelings for each other - there are numerous scenes of them being in each other's company where the focus is not explicitly on their romance. The spicier scenes were everything I wanted them to be (the scene by the fire?!)
I received this as an advance reader copy, my review is very much my own. A great little Victorian festive read!
I really enjoyed that although there is an age gap, it's between two older (in romance novel terms) people - Lily is 32 and Beckett 49. It made it feel more realistic that the two would find things in common, something which Pendle emphasised through giving them plenty of opportunity to naturally develop feelings for each other - there are numerous scenes of them being in each other's company where the focus is not explicitly on their romance. The spicier scenes were everything I wanted them to be (the scene by the fire?!)
I received this as an advance reader copy, my review is very much my own. A great little Victorian festive read!
kathleenmcg's review
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.75
This was such a lovely story that I read it twice, starting over once I finished reading it the first time. It was nice to see characters above ages 30, and 40. It was a lovely age gap romance, one with proximity due to a snowstorm trope, over Christmas no less. The newly elevated duke was putting the family finances back together trope, allowed for the heroine to show up on his doorstep. This was a fast, but ultimately satisfying read.
annerollins's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is a steamy, fast-paced winter romance set in the Victorian period. When Dr. Lily Reagan confronts the Duke of Metford, the two experience an immediate attraction. A fortuitious snow storm confines them both to the duke's manor, giving them time to move from lust to love.
This premise does require some suspension of belief. Lily's willingness to do ANYTHING to restore funding to her women's college made sense to me, but the speed with which the characters move from wanting to bang to wanting to spend their lives together seemed less plausible. If you dislike instalove, you may want to skip this book, as the timeline takes place only a few short days.
Both characters are likeable people. The duke spent most of his life in the military, and thus is not quite the pampered aristocrat that one might expect. Lily has dedicated her life to astronomy and had very little to do with men. In some ways, she's sheltered. Fortunately, Beckett is a gentleman. He'd like to go to bed with her, yes, but he doesn't want to ruin her life or her reputation. Their partnership together seems entirely believable, despite all the differences between them.
Tropes include forced proximity, insta-lust, and age gap (Beckett is 49; Lily is 32).
I received a digital ARC from the author. This is my honest review.
This premise does require some suspension of belief. Lily's willingness to do ANYTHING to restore funding to her women's college made sense to me, but the speed with which the characters move from wanting to bang to wanting to spend their lives together seemed less plausible. If you dislike instalove, you may want to skip this book, as the timeline takes place only a few short days.
Both characters are likeable people. The duke spent most of his life in the military, and thus is not quite the pampered aristocrat that one might expect. Lily has dedicated her life to astronomy and had very little to do with men. In some ways, she's sheltered. Fortunately, Beckett is a gentleman. He'd like to go to bed with her, yes, but he doesn't want to ruin her life or her reputation. Their partnership together seems entirely believable, despite all the differences between them.
Tropes include forced proximity, insta-lust, and age gap (Beckett is 49; Lily is 32).
I received a digital ARC from the author. This is my honest review.
timap's review
4.0
Dr Lily Reagan, the female lead, risks travelling in unfavourable weather to plead with Beckett Winchester, the Duke of Metford, to restore his father’s financial commitment to her college at the university so they can keep running. Whilst they’re both intrigued with each other, Beckett doesn’t intend to put money outside his thought out priorities but a snowstorm traps Lily at his home and their conversations make him reconsider many of his views…
This short story is dual POV, well written, and a sweet and steamy Christmas historical romance. I enjoyed Lily’s determination and perseverance. I enjoyed Beckett’s grudging reconsideration of several of his opinions. I enjoyed their speedy relationship development and their steamy intimate moments. I also enjoyed their resolution and appreciate that the author has written an additional epilogue for them!
I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.
This short story is dual POV, well written, and a sweet and steamy Christmas historical romance. I enjoyed Lily’s determination and perseverance. I enjoyed Beckett’s grudging reconsideration of several of his opinions. I enjoyed their speedy relationship development and their steamy intimate moments. I also enjoyed their resolution and appreciate that the author has written an additional epilogue for them!
I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.
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