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pyiab's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
bookloverchelle's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a little behind with the Elizabeth Boyle books so this is only the second I've read behind Lord Langley is Back in Town. Since I'm reading these in the wrong order I am a little confused with some of the background and secondary characters but I've found that in the end this didn't matter to me. I loved Tally. She was the right kind of sassy and independent. She knew what she wanted and she went out and got it. What she wanted was Lord Larken and he was a great hero. I've always enjoyed a novel with a spy, especially one who is tortured by his past. He was extremely well written. I loved his devotion to his job but I also loved how he was able to open his heart to Tally. I need to now go out and read what came first in this series. Great characters and can't wait for what comes next!
topy_loving_books's review against another edition
3.0
2.5/3⭐
The spy element of the story was good. The deep connection between the two sisters and the cousin was awesome. They are not your typical women of the Ton...
But the romance part not so good. Their first night was yak. And the redemption part too easy. But this make me curious about Philippa' story after that. And about the Duchess' story before this book.
The spy element of the story was good. The deep connection between the two sisters and the cousin was awesome. They are not your typical women of the Ton...
But the romance part not so good. Their first night was yak. And the redemption part too easy. But this make me curious about Philippa' story after that. And about the Duchess' story before this book.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book a lot, I even giggled from time to time. And it was sure hard to keep a straight face while reading if there were others having lunch at the same time. I do love a good historical romance, there is just something sweet, and sometimes oh so wicked about them. Not to mention that I love the time and the manners.
I liked Thalia, she was strong, and she knew what she wanted, a wicked rake, pirate or perhaps a spy. So when the man she spies in the shadows actually is a vicar she is truly disappointed. But still there is something strange about him and she is very curious. How can one man seem to be one thing one moment and something else the next? And after she puts on the little black dress she found, well no one can resist that.
Lord Larken, is all man with a troubled past and a ruined reputation. He comes to the Hollingdrake estate posing as a country vicar, a bumbling fool. But after he has meet Tally he is lost, and he needs to focus on his true quest. To kill the pirate they are believing to be hiding somewhere in the house. Larken is a wicked hero that then is really sweet and torn between what to do. I like them both, cos they fit each other so well.
There is one thing that I didn't like though, the rest was great but I honestly did not care for the sex scene. It felt wrong and weird, it did nothing for me, and I read fast past it since it killed the mood for me.
But except for that this was a great book. Romance, spies and assassins, what was there not to like. I really want to read about Tally's sister Felicity now and see how she met her man because she seemed a bit caught up in her matchmaking and a bit hard at time. Would like to have seen her melt away. Still I liked her a lot too, just as I did their friend Pippin, and yes I want to read her story too, pirates ;) Ok I just want to read all her books in the end, lol. They all sound great.
I liked Thalia, she was strong, and she knew what she wanted, a wicked rake, pirate or perhaps a spy. So when the man she spies in the shadows actually is a vicar she is truly disappointed. But still there is something strange about him and she is very curious. How can one man seem to be one thing one moment and something else the next? And after she puts on the little black dress she found, well no one can resist that.
Lord Larken, is all man with a troubled past and a ruined reputation. He comes to the Hollingdrake estate posing as a country vicar, a bumbling fool. But after he has meet Tally he is lost, and he needs to focus on his true quest. To kill the pirate they are believing to be hiding somewhere in the house. Larken is a wicked hero that then is really sweet and torn between what to do. I like them both, cos they fit each other so well.
There is one thing that I didn't like though, the rest was great but I honestly did not care for the sex scene. It felt wrong and weird, it did nothing for me, and I read fast past it since it killed the mood for me.
But except for that this was a great book. Romance, spies and assassins, what was there not to like. I really want to read about Tally's sister Felicity now and see how she met her man because she seemed a bit caught up in her matchmaking and a bit hard at time. Would like to have seen her melt away. Still I liked her a lot too, just as I did their friend Pippin, and yes I want to read her story too, pirates ;) Ok I just want to read all her books in the end, lol. They all sound great.
winterreader40's review against another edition
3.0
Thalia is strong, and she knows what she wants. So when the man she spies in the shadows is actually a vicar she is disappointed, but still there is something about him. How can one man seem like 2 different men? And after she puts on the little black dress she found when her trunk is lost and someone else's is brought to her, she finds the man she thought she saw at first.
Lord Larken is a spy, he's sent to the Hollingdrake estate posing as a bumbling country vicar. He needs to focus on his assignment(assassinating a spy, his former friend, believed to be hidden in the house) but is continually distracted by Tally. Larken is torn between what to do and Tally shows him another way.
I did not like the sex scene though, he has been drugged and initially thinks he's dreaming or hallucinating.
Lord Larken is a spy, he's sent to the Hollingdrake estate posing as a bumbling country vicar. He needs to focus on his assignment(assassinating a spy, his former friend, believed to be hidden in the house) but is continually distracted by Tally. Larken is torn between what to do and Tally shows him another way.
I did not like the sex scene though, he has been drugged and initially thinks he's dreaming or hallucinating.
riskyduck's review against another edition
1.0
There were some ideas with potential floating around in this book:
Little Black Gown, Spy/Vicar, playwriting heroines, pirate jailbreaks, secret female spy order, and such. Too bad it came together in a boring inane mush. Ugh.
Honestly, I don't really care about Tally or Larken, especially when they aren't all that admirable and don't have any depth. Boyle tries to give them life but they fall flat.
Also, I'm assuming the sister Felicity and the Duke were the H/H of a previous book, but Felicity came off as a shrewish snob and the Duke as a doormat.
Dash came off as a useless alphole and Pippin was ok, but pretty foolhardy/forgettable.
All around it had weak characters, plot, writing.
Little Black Gown, Spy/Vicar, playwriting heroines, pirate jailbreaks, secret female spy order, and such. Too bad it came together in a boring inane mush. Ugh.
Honestly, I don't really care about Tally or Larken, especially when they aren't all that admirable and don't have any depth. Boyle tries to give them life but they fall flat.
Also, I'm assuming the sister Felicity and the Duke were the H/H of a previous book, but Felicity came off as a shrewish snob and the Duke as a doormat.
Dash came off as a useless alphole and Pippin was ok, but pretty foolhardy/forgettable.
All around it had weak characters, plot, writing.
alisonb's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun read.
I’m not feeling the fall madly in love within a couple of days trope. The initial meeting indicates a fated mates vibe via Thalia’s viewpoint; it seemed to aid in bypassing the development of the relationship.
What I tend to enjoy most is the growing connection between two people. The majority of this story, however, deals with Dashwell, spies, and nefarious plots. The plot was interesting enough to hold my attention, otherwise this would have left me feeling bereft.
I’m not feeling the fall madly in love within a couple of days trope. The initial meeting indicates a fated mates vibe via Thalia’s viewpoint; it seemed to aid in bypassing the development of the relationship.
What I tend to enjoy most is the growing connection between two people. The majority of this story, however, deals with Dashwell, spies, and nefarious plots. The plot was interesting enough to hold my attention, otherwise this would have left me feeling bereft.
heyhaley17's review against another edition
2.0
I've decided I don't like Boyle much. At least not this series. Dull and flat stories that had so much potential as well as great characters. I found nothing much to like.
salene27's review against another edition
4.0
Bagan pretty slowly, and the flashback/flash forwards, were confusing, but I really enjoyed it after the book got going. Loved tally and Geoff playing off each other.
witandsin's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted on Joyfully Reviewed: http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/reviews/May09/confessionsofalittleblackgown.EB.html
Upon hearing the voice of a mysterious stranger in her brother-in-law’s study, Thalia Langley thinks she just might have met her destiny…or not. How could the duke’s bumbling, poorly-dressed vicar of a cousin be the man of her dreams? From the moment she meets the awkward Milo Ryder, Tally knows there must be more to him than meets the eye. And when a mysterious little black gown lands in her lap, Tally knows just how she’s going to ferret out Mr. Ryder’s secrets.
Geoffrey, Baron Larken has been sent by the Crown to find and eliminate an escaped American pirate. A pirate that the beautiful Ms. Langley may have had a hand in freeing. Larken can’t afford to make mistakes, and he definitely can’t allow himself to be distracted by Tally. Yet what man can resist the woman who tempts him when she dons a deliciously scandalous dress?
Passion, danger, intrigue, romance, and the perfect little black dress – Confessions of a Little Black Gown has it all. The fourth installment of Elizabeth Boyle’s Bachelor Chronicles is a wonderfully entertaining read I could not put down.
Tally is a heroine you have to adore. She’s bright, inquisitive, caring, has a few unusual skills for a lady (such as her talent for picking locks), and has a slight knack for trouble. Ms. Boyle made me feel like I was following Tally along on her adventures, and I couldn’t be more delighted. As for Lord Larken, he’s the perfect spy hero: honorable, tormented, and genuinely good-hearted. With two such likeable protagonists, it was impossible for me not to root for their romance. Tally and Larken were perfectly matched with one another. Indeed, I couldn’t put Confessions of a Little Black Gown down because I was so enjoying their almost cat-and-mouse game with one another as each tried to uncover the other’s secrets.
Though I’m not new to Ms. Boyle’s work, I am new to this particular series and can say that this book only mostly stands on its own. All the information I needed for Tally and Larken’s romance is provided in this book, but it was clear I was definitely missing information from previous books. Though that fact didn’t prevent me from enjoying this story, I did end up emailing a few friends who had read the previous books and asking them some questions.
All in all, I greatly enjoyed Confessions of a Little Black Gown. What’s more, I’m incredibly grateful Tally’s cousin Pippin’s story, Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress, comes out soon because Confessions of a Little Black Gown ends with one heck of a cliffhanger for Pippin. Engaging and delightful!
Upon hearing the voice of a mysterious stranger in her brother-in-law’s study, Thalia Langley thinks she just might have met her destiny…or not. How could the duke’s bumbling, poorly-dressed vicar of a cousin be the man of her dreams? From the moment she meets the awkward Milo Ryder, Tally knows there must be more to him than meets the eye. And when a mysterious little black gown lands in her lap, Tally knows just how she’s going to ferret out Mr. Ryder’s secrets.
Geoffrey, Baron Larken has been sent by the Crown to find and eliminate an escaped American pirate. A pirate that the beautiful Ms. Langley may have had a hand in freeing. Larken can’t afford to make mistakes, and he definitely can’t allow himself to be distracted by Tally. Yet what man can resist the woman who tempts him when she dons a deliciously scandalous dress?
Passion, danger, intrigue, romance, and the perfect little black dress – Confessions of a Little Black Gown has it all. The fourth installment of Elizabeth Boyle’s Bachelor Chronicles is a wonderfully entertaining read I could not put down.
Tally is a heroine you have to adore. She’s bright, inquisitive, caring, has a few unusual skills for a lady (such as her talent for picking locks), and has a slight knack for trouble. Ms. Boyle made me feel like I was following Tally along on her adventures, and I couldn’t be more delighted. As for Lord Larken, he’s the perfect spy hero: honorable, tormented, and genuinely good-hearted. With two such likeable protagonists, it was impossible for me not to root for their romance. Tally and Larken were perfectly matched with one another. Indeed, I couldn’t put Confessions of a Little Black Gown down because I was so enjoying their almost cat-and-mouse game with one another as each tried to uncover the other’s secrets.
Though I’m not new to Ms. Boyle’s work, I am new to this particular series and can say that this book only mostly stands on its own. All the information I needed for Tally and Larken’s romance is provided in this book, but it was clear I was definitely missing information from previous books. Though that fact didn’t prevent me from enjoying this story, I did end up emailing a few friends who had read the previous books and asking them some questions.
All in all, I greatly enjoyed Confessions of a Little Black Gown. What’s more, I’m incredibly grateful Tally’s cousin Pippin’s story, Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress, comes out soon because Confessions of a Little Black Gown ends with one heck of a cliffhanger for Pippin. Engaging and delightful!