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kyeruhh'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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Infertility
nina_readsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Miscarriage, and Child death
shannonigans322's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This is the second time that the final installment of a Sarah MacLean trilogy has fallen flat for me. Second Chance is not the trope for me when the man is an utter arse until 2/3 through the book. I loved the Talbot sister banter, as always.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Miscarriage, and Infidelity
mcmizzie's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ugh I do love a repentant man in love, even if his infidelity & cruelty was really terrible. This was such an emotional book but I loved the love, and loved seeing more of Sophie from Rogue Not Taken.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity and Infertility
karenmsecrest's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
2.5
Sarah MacLean is my favorite romance author, but the story of Sera and Malcolm is a little sadder and darker than the rest of her work. Of course the HEA is there, but check the content warnings before reading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Child death, and Grief
asha_m's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
carbs666's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.5
A marriage redemption plot with truly complex and powerful characters you want to root for. McLean is a master at writing stories about women who stand in their power and men who love them for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
anyareadsalot's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity
bookedinsideout's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
05/03/2022 (audio): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I think I enjoyed it more this time... the grovel, the sisters, the audiobook performance, the preview to Caleb and Sesily. (And I stopped before the epilogue.) Plus it's the book that inspired my latest tattoo (the sparrow and the dove).
07/26/2021: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really went back and forth on this! I think one of the best things about this book is that a group of adult siblings got to go spend a month together, leaving their husbands and devoting time to each other. Though a month might be a bit much, I loved that they got this time together and that it meant we got more of the Talbot sisters.
After The Rogue Not Taken I wasn’t sure how the Duke of Haven was going to become any kind of hero, so I think his vulnerability and openness were crucial for making this work, and I’m still not sure that he shared enough of that with Sera, especially compared to what we got to see. I was also pretty put off by what Sera did to fracture Mal’s trust (if it was really for them, couldn’t she just talk to him about it and keep him in the loop?) and apparently she was incredibly apologetic, but it was kind of the opposite of Malcolm - I didn’t feel like I really got to see that. She was fighting for her freedom, but she took the choice away from him.
I loved the underwater ballroom and the dove and the sparrow and the conversations about keeping the past with them and fighting for the future. I’m not usually a fan of second-chance romances, but I thought that was really beautiful. And then I was really, really disappointed with that miracle baby/babies/kid epilogue, because I believed this couple was going to be one of the few child-free couples in historical romance (maybe even unmarried!), but apparently you really do need children to be happy.
And on a lighter note, I can’t believe with the previews of Sesily and Caleb that “we” had to wait 4 years for their story - and I say “we” recognizing how lucky I am that I *only* have to wait a month. I recognized the Bareknuckle Bastards, but I realized only towards the end of this book that Felicity, one of the “suitresses,” is Felicity from Wicked and the Wallflower, the first Sarah MacLean book that I read. I’ll have to circle back, but for now I can’t wait for more of Sesily.
I think I enjoyed it more this time... the grovel, the sisters, the audiobook performance, the preview to Caleb and Sesily. (And I stopped before the epilogue.) Plus it's the book that inspired my latest tattoo (the sparrow and the dove).
07/26/2021: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really went back and forth on this! I think one of the best things about this book is that a group of adult siblings got to go spend a month together, leaving their husbands and devoting time to each other. Though a month might be a bit much, I loved that they got this time together and that it meant we got more of the Talbot sisters.
After The Rogue Not Taken I wasn’t sure how the Duke of Haven was going to become any kind of hero, so I think his vulnerability and openness were crucial for making this work, and I’m still not sure that he shared enough of that with Sera, especially compared to what we got to see. I was also pretty put off by what Sera did to fracture Mal’s trust (if it was really for them, couldn’t she just talk to him about it and keep him in the loop?) and apparently she was incredibly apologetic, but it was kind of the opposite of Malcolm - I didn’t feel like I really got to see that. She was fighting for her freedom, but she took the choice away from him.
I loved the underwater ballroom and the dove and the sparrow and the conversations about keeping the past with them and fighting for the future. I’m not usually a fan of second-chance romances, but I thought that was really beautiful. And then I was really, really disappointed with that miracle baby/babies/kid epilogue, because I believed this couple was going to be one of the few child-free couples in historical romance (maybe even unmarried!), but apparently you really do need children to be happy.
And on a lighter note, I can’t believe with the previews of Sesily and Caleb that “we” had to wait 4 years for their story - and I say “we” recognizing how lucky I am that I *only* have to wait a month. I recognized the Bareknuckle Bastards, but I realized only towards the end of this book that Felicity, one of the “suitresses,” is Felicity from Wicked and the Wallflower, the first Sarah MacLean book that I read. I’ll have to circle back, but for now I can’t wait for more of Sesily.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Infertility and Infidelity
Minor: Pregnancy
CW: Miscarriage, infertility (ending with a baby/kid epilogue)