Scan barcode
fringebookreviews's review against another edition
1.0
Mary Wollstonecraft fucks harder than any man in this book
welkinvault's review
emotional
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? Yes
2.75
imbookingit's review
It's right there in the title: An Unwilling Bride.
Still, I expected that said bride would be persuaded rather than coerced into marriage. It was handled just well enough to avoid the feeling of rape, but I was distinctly uncomfortable.
And it didn't help that I found the groom completely unappealing. Sure, he had a better side he displayed to other people, but to his bride? No upside at all. And yet, here she was falling in love with him.
But none of that is what caused me to abandon the book, at least not directly.
It was the standard romance big misunderstanding leads to big fight that I could see building, and I suddenly realized I wasn't enjoying the book.
And life is too short for that.
Still, I expected that said bride would be persuaded rather than coerced into marriage. It was handled just well enough to avoid the feeling of rape, but I was distinctly uncomfortable.
And it didn't help that I found the groom completely unappealing. Sure, he had a better side he displayed to other people, but to his bride? No upside at all. And yet, here she was falling in love with him.
But none of that is what caused me to abandon the book, at least not directly.
It was the standard romance big misunderstanding leads to big fight that I could see building, and I suddenly realized I wasn't enjoying the book.
And life is too short for that.
claudiap's review
4.0
Jo Beverley is one of my favorite author in the historical romance genre. I started reading this series so sautéed, but quickly realized that the series Company of Rogues becomes delightful to read in their proper sequence.
Lucien was a character that I really liked in "An Arranged Marrige", so I was happy to read now about his love story with Beth.
In this book the author joined a number of characteristics that make to me historical novels delicious. Successful entry into the history of the time, with a description of credible experiences and interesting details. A strong female lead character, smart, determined, and in this case bookish. A charismatic,smart and passionate male character. A love story developed gradually, avoiding the insta-love so much in vogue today. A good dose of adventure and a very well structured plot.
I really enjoyed this volume.
Lucien was a character that I really liked in "An Arranged Marrige", so I was happy to read now about his love story with Beth.
In this book the author joined a number of characteristics that make to me historical novels delicious. Successful entry into the history of the time, with a description of credible experiences and interesting details. A strong female lead character, smart, determined, and in this case bookish. A charismatic,smart and passionate male character. A love story developed gradually, avoiding the insta-love so much in vogue today. A good dose of adventure and a very well structured plot.
I really enjoyed this volume.
arian624's review
2.0
Could have been a great book. Lost me when the hero backhands the heroines. There is just no coming back from that.
writerlibrarian's review
2.0
This is an unusual premise for a romance novel. The summary hides the basic of the plot so I won't give it away. I have a few issues with this story. I found a few icky things, like the father being this incredible rigid man and not at all sympathetic. No an once of compassion in his blue blood. The whole women are propriety is icky to me, especially the way Beverley brings it into the plot. But... the qualities balance out the icky factor overall. The author has a involving style, that provoked an emotional reaction while I was reading. Most of them coming from how she wrote the male lead character. There are clichés, it is a Regency romance novel but she successfully turned them around for me to enjoy the book. I finish it in one evening and have seek out other titles in her "Company of Rogues" universe. I am anxious to see if the icky things were a literary choice for the father's character or something more related to the way the author writes.
barefootamy's review
3.0
What happens when a Regency-era feminist schoolteacher finds out her father is a duke and she's to wed his heir, who happens to be the illegitimate son of the duchess? I don't feel like the not-quite-incest was appropriately dealt with by the author and an entire school devoted to Wollstonecraft seems a stretch of the imagination. Despite these shortcomings, and others, the book grew on me a bit.
lutheranjulia's review
3.0
Interesting premise. The characters were developed, but I did feel like the build-up to consummation dragged a bit more than necessary.
luaucow's review
2.0
I couldn't completely like this one, due to the way the main characters behaved after Lucien hits Beth. It's classic behavior - the man promises to never do it again and the woman comes up with an excuse for the behavior. Her fault, of course.
juhivarshney's review
definitely an unusual premise and i loved that the heroine was a self-identified radical feminist LOL
ughhh just a warning (slight spoiler) that he hits her once like 2/3 way through (he's threatened to do it maybe twice at this point) and it didn't make me STOP reading (usually that'll do it) so anyways just a heads up if you can't stand that but the author "resolves" it fairly well (as well as anyone can i guess?? i think it was supposed to be a reflection of his violent nature but imo completely unnecessary) but they ended up being a solid couple and i loved reading more about them in next books of this series~~
ughhh just a warning (slight spoiler) that he hits her once like 2/3 way through (he's threatened to do it maybe twice at this point) and it didn't make me STOP reading (usually that'll do it) so anyways just a heads up if you can't stand that but the author "resolves" it fairly well (as well as anyone can i guess?? i think it was supposed to be a reflection of his violent nature but imo completely unnecessary) but they ended up being a solid couple and i loved reading more about them in next books of this series~~