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chailady's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Add an x rating. It’s not just a little sex, it’s a lot! I don’t mind sex and some erotica in a romance book, this was over the top. It became a distraction from the overall story. I would have like a more developed plot. More background, more character development, more information about the 1889 exposition fair. This was a sexy story, that just happened to take place in the time period.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
kshertz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Oh this book was perfect! I could not put it down. I loved the independence of the main character. I love a man that loves that about her and helps her with her business. I love the smut! I love his descriptions of her and how she moves him and changes his heart. I love that it’s not wrapped up in a neat bow but they work through every misunderstanding. It’s just a super great romance, basically the ideal romance book in my eyes. And that’s saying a lot because all I do is read romance. You have to read this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism
juliana_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Racism
100_pages_hr's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, and Classism
booknerderika's review against another edition
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
I wish there would've been more build up to the relationship. It all happened too fast for my liking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
carbs666's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Okay I want to kick this off by saying I really wanted to love this book so much, but I only liked it. That said, I respect a lot of what the book is doing here and I have a lot of admiration for what Herrera accomplishes with this book, and I am definitely going to read the upcoming books in the series!
My main issue with this book is that it does a lot of telling instead of showing. The first few chapters felt a bit like a lore dump, and there are lots of moments in the book where the narrative is like "btw this happened and here's how the characters felt about it." I understand why this choice was made on a logistical level, because this book covers a lot of ground geographically and in terms of plot, but it did take me out of the narrative and leave me wanting a bit.
That said, I really enjoyed all the characters, and it was clear that even the sidekicks of this book have hidden depths that I am looking forward to exploring in the upcoming additions to the series! The setting could have been a bit richer in general, but there are some moments where locations or dress are described that are beautifully evocative. The sex was excellent and I really enjoyed the way the marriage of convenience trope is handled here - I'm a sucker for all parties being in love with each other but afraid to say it. I also appreciated that when Evan needed to come clean to Luz he did, and instead of it devolving into a black moment he and Luz were able to join forces to confront the problem without sweeping the impact of Evan's previous lies under the rug.
Absolutely worth mentioning is the expert way that Herrera forces all her characters to confront the realities of a white supremacists, patriarchal society without making them dim their shine or compromise on their values. I loved how Herrera brought to life on the page the historical reality of a diverse and innovative European culture in the late 1800s.
My main issue with this book is that it does a lot of telling instead of showing. The first few chapters felt a bit like a lore dump, and there are lots of moments in the book where the narrative is like "btw this happened and here's how the characters felt about it." I understand why this choice was made on a logistical level, because this book covers a lot of ground geographically and in terms of plot, but it did take me out of the narrative and leave me wanting a bit.
That said, I really enjoyed all the characters, and it was clear that even the sidekicks of this book have hidden depths that I am looking forward to exploring in the upcoming additions to the series! The setting could have been a bit richer in general, but there are some moments where locations or dress are described that are beautifully evocative. The sex was excellent and I really enjoyed the way the marriage of convenience trope is handled here - I'm a sucker for all parties being in love with each other but afraid to say it. I also appreciated that when Evan needed to come clean to Luz he did, and instead of it devolving into a black moment he and Luz were able to join forces to confront the problem without sweeping the impact of Evan's previous lies under the rug.
Absolutely worth mentioning is the expert way that Herrera forces all her characters to confront the realities of a white supremacists, patriarchal society without making them dim their shine or compromise on their values. I loved how Herrera brought to life on the page the historical reality of a diverse and innovative European culture in the late 1800s.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Domestic abuse
astropova's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I feel like I enjoyed everything else in this book more than the romance. Maybe I just didn't like the main dude that much. I felt like the romance aspect was less developed than the rest of the plot. It kinda felt like there was no build up, they just met and then were suddenly in a marriage-with-benefits.
I feel like the fact that they were already attracted to each other and making out and stuff kind of undercuts the marriage of convenience idea. Like "we're attracted to each other but no we're definitely not in love, what are you talking about, this is purely a business arrangement" was a bit odd.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Racism and Colonisation
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Abandonment
Abandonment - references to character's past. Fire - off-screen arson/fires set on buildingszozierose's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Racism
kbairbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this! The characters, the romance, the spice, the Latina representation, the hot Scottish man, the badass feminine power, saucy comebacks. Everything was delicious and delightful and I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
mel85's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I loved this book and can’t wait for the series to continue. These main characters had such great chemistry from the start, but in a realistic way. Anytime the characters communicate well and avoid a long dramatic 3rd act breakup is a solid win
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny and Racism