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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
The second book in the Rules for the Reckless series and a reread for me, although it has been a while since I read it last. When I last read it I was enormously impressed by this book, and this time around my feeling was no different.
I got swept away in the tug and pull of Olivia and Marwick’s relationship. I love a good adversarial beginning to a romance, particularly when it’s witty and clever, and this book did an exceptional job of capturing the zing between its combatants.
What was great about this story was the way it balanced not only the developing relationship between the two characters, but also their emotional journeys and a great story to go along with it all. I had remembered one of the twists towards the end, but the second had escaped my memory and was a nice surprise.
I absolutely loved this book on the second reading, it maintained everything that I had loved about it the first time, and that’s the sign of a truly great book and a book that will stick high in my top favourite romances of all time.
I got swept away in the tug and pull of Olivia and Marwick’s relationship. I love a good adversarial beginning to a romance, particularly when it’s witty and clever, and this book did an exceptional job of capturing the zing between its combatants.
What was great about this story was the way it balanced not only the developing relationship between the two characters, but also their emotional journeys and a great story to go along with it all. I had remembered one of the twists towards the end, but the second had escaped my memory and was a nice surprise.
I absolutely loved this book on the second reading, it maintained everything that I had loved about it the first time, and that’s the sign of a truly great book and a book that will stick high in my top favourite romances of all time.
This would have been five stars but the first bit was quite frenetic and I wondered if there was prior book that had a crazy ending. After that it picked up and I really connected with the main characters.
i mostly enjoyed this though i wish romance writers would stop writing class differences and then solving it with 'love conquers all'. it does not and even in the fantastical world of a romance novel, i dont believe you!
3 out of 5 stars
Like with all Duran's books, this is exceptionally well-written - in fact, I've only just recently discovered this author, but I consider her work some of the best I've read in the genre. As such, it feels wrong giving this book the sort of review I would give a much more poorly written novel. I usually reserve 3 stars (or less) for books with glaring errors, or flimsy plots, or completely irredeemable characters. This book had none - well, almost none - of these things. However, it did have a hero who was a real asshole.
I was really looking forward to the story of Alastair de Grey and Olivia Holladay (Mathers/Johnson). It had all the makings of a good story - brooding, emotionally scarred hero and the heroine who, while significantly below him in station, is plucky and resourceful enough to not fear him and to pull him out of his shell... But every time I wanted to start loving this book, I feel like I hit a brick wall. A brick wall called Alastair de Grey.
He was just. So. MEAN! And I honestly couldn't deal. And I'm not talking about the early on vase-throwing, wall-punching shenanigans. I don't mind a hero with some rage issues (within reason). It was just that, AFTER he and Olivia got to know each other, AFTER the physical relationship developed, AFTER, AFTER, AFTER... he was STILL an asshole. I understand that there was some major betrayal (in his eyes), after he had already been majorly betrayed in the worst way. So, it would make sense that he would lash out, and erect his walls again, and do what he could to preserve whatever was left of his dignity and sense of self.
And yet, despite being able to logically draw those conclusions, I still didn't like the way he treated Olivia. At one point (mild spoilers) she had been knocked around a bit, and even threw up, and his main concern was that she not miss the chamber pot. Yes, his inner monologue had the reader in tune with somewhat greater depth of feeling (he checked her pupils to make sure she wasn't concussed - swoon?) but still. I kept waiting for him to be kinder, to be protective of her, to show more caring and compassion for HER plight, which wasn't all roses either. But it never really got there. Maybe at the very end, but still, man. He put her through too much crap at that point, in my mind.
I love a hero who bleeds for his heroine, both literally and emotionally. Who feels pain at the sight (or even threat) of her pain. Who would die to protect her. This is why I read romance. Alastair, to me, while certainly a very flawed man, whose actions could be considered understandable based on his circumstances, wasn't a romance hero. That's why I couldn't rate this more than 3 stars as a romance novel. However, as previously stated, Duran weaves magic on the pages with her writing and plot/character development - her works are truly phenomenal. I just wish that sometimes her heroes weren't just hymen-plundering alphas with limited empathy and tenderness towards their heroines.
Like with all Duran's books, this is exceptionally well-written - in fact, I've only just recently discovered this author, but I consider her work some of the best I've read in the genre. As such, it feels wrong giving this book the sort of review I would give a much more poorly written novel. I usually reserve 3 stars (or less) for books with glaring errors, or flimsy plots, or completely irredeemable characters. This book had none - well, almost none - of these things. However, it did have a hero who was a real asshole.
I was really looking forward to the story of Alastair de Grey and Olivia Holladay (Mathers/Johnson). It had all the makings of a good story - brooding, emotionally scarred hero and the heroine who, while significantly below him in station, is plucky and resourceful enough to not fear him and to pull him out of his shell... But every time I wanted to start loving this book, I feel like I hit a brick wall. A brick wall called Alastair de Grey.
He was just. So. MEAN! And I honestly couldn't deal. And I'm not talking about the early on vase-throwing, wall-punching shenanigans. I don't mind a hero with some rage issues (within reason). It was just that, AFTER he and Olivia got to know each other, AFTER the physical relationship developed, AFTER, AFTER, AFTER... he was STILL an asshole. I understand that there was some major betrayal (in his eyes), after he had already been majorly betrayed in the worst way. So, it would make sense that he would lash out, and erect his walls again, and do what he could to preserve whatever was left of his dignity and sense of self.
And yet, despite being able to logically draw those conclusions, I still didn't like the way he treated Olivia. At one point (mild spoilers) she had been knocked around a bit, and even threw up, and his main concern was that she not miss the chamber pot. Yes, his inner monologue had the reader in tune with somewhat greater depth of feeling (he checked her pupils to make sure she wasn't concussed - swoon?) but still. I kept waiting for him to be kinder, to be protective of her, to show more caring and compassion for HER plight, which wasn't all roses either. But it never really got there. Maybe at the very end, but still, man. He put her through too much crap at that point, in my mind.
I love a hero who bleeds for his heroine, both literally and emotionally. Who feels pain at the sight (or even threat) of her pain. Who would die to protect her. This is why I read romance. Alastair, to me, while certainly a very flawed man, whose actions could be considered understandable based on his circumstances, wasn't a romance hero. That's why I couldn't rate this more than 3 stars as a romance novel. However, as previously stated, Duran weaves magic on the pages with her writing and plot/character development - her works are truly phenomenal. I just wish that sometimes her heroes weren't just hymen-plundering alphas with limited empathy and tenderness towards their heroines.
What if I told you about a delicious historical romance in which a statuesque redhead masquerades as a servant in a duke’s household?
I have. I have told you about that book, because I never stop talking about Sins of a Wicked Duke by Sophie Jordan. However, Meredith Duran’s Fool Me Twice follows the same premise with original flair.
Instead of a bored playboy duke, we get a broken, traumatized one, and instead of a footman, our heroine plays housekeeper, here. She painstakingly draws the duke out of his trauma and helps him cope with reality, unable to keep from falling for him as she does.
Unfortunately, the secrets she keeps from him will threaten their tenuous relationship far more than her low station.
Though there were some slow passages, I thoroughly enjoyed this angsty, story with its well-formed characters and their genuine love. My first book by this author, and it won’t be my last. I may or may not have already bought the previous book in the series so I can catch up on what I missed. 4.5 stars.
I have. I have told you about that book, because I never stop talking about Sins of a Wicked Duke by Sophie Jordan. However, Meredith Duran’s Fool Me Twice follows the same premise with original flair.
Instead of a bored playboy duke, we get a broken, traumatized one, and instead of a footman, our heroine plays housekeeper, here. She painstakingly draws the duke out of his trauma and helps him cope with reality, unable to keep from falling for him as she does.
Unfortunately, the secrets she keeps from him will threaten their tenuous relationship far more than her low station.
Though there were some slow passages, I thoroughly enjoyed this angsty, story with its well-formed characters and their genuine love. My first book by this author, and it won’t be my last. I may or may not have already bought the previous book in the series so I can catch up on what I missed. 4.5 stars.
Excellent book. Meredith Duran is one of the best historical romance authors writing today.
I loved this story. It was a bit risky. We met the hero, Alistair, in Duran's last book. He'd withdrawn into his home after his wife overdosed on opium, and had ruthlessly ended the funding to his brother's hospital. He was basically insane at the beginning of this book. He was dangerous. I think he was suicidal, even if there was a point when he laughed and said he'd never considered killing himself. He'd completely lost it mentally and, had this been real life and not a story, I'm sure he would have been one of those crazy people who went out on a killing spree. He'd take out the people who wronged him, and probably quite a few others who were innocent.
So, how the hell do you redeem a guy like that? How do you create a romance with him as the hero?
I sure as hell couldn't do it. But then, I'm not Meredith Duran. She can write anything and make it feel real and believable.
Duran gave Alistair a heroine with a spine. I love heroines with spine. So many historical romances have meek women as leads, women who sit around and wait for life to force them into action, instead of taking control of their lives. Olivia takes control. She's brave and able to stand up to Alistair, force him out of his cave and back to life and sanity. They are a good match.
The story was great with enough of a non-romance plot to keep me interested. But the thing I love most about Meredith Duran's books is the writing.
Now, I don't usually choose my authors/books based on a writing style or excellent prose. Typically, those books bore me. I like for the words to disappear on the page. If I notice the words, then it's because I'm usually pulled out of the story. Not so with Duran's books. I read certain phrases and I have to shake my head because they are so perfect, so descriptive, so NOT lazy writing.
Here are some of my favorites from Fool Me Twice:
Page 152 "Like that moment when the off-key string finally came into tune and joined with the chord, and the air vibrated with purity" (Can totally FEEL that moment.)
Page 188 "Her hair was the color of copper, sacred metal; men would have made amulets from it in ancient times." (Okay. This one sounds way cheesy in isolation, but I swear it worked while in the midst of reading the book!)
Page 192 "The taunt in her voice speared him like a hook to his chest." (GREAT dialogue cue.)
Page 202 "She could believe it. The Duke of Marwick: like a planet, he exerted his own field of gravity." (I LOVE characters with this affect on the people around them. Sexy.)
Page 210 "Confusion fell over her like a hot net." (Ooh, nice, easy, DIFFERENT description.)
Page 210 "As she understood him, butterflies seemed to flutter - not in her stomach, but all along her skin" (Cliché Twist!)
Page 262 "And he settled back, lacing his hands over his belly, looking for all the world like a very skeptical critic prepared for a second-rate show." (Geez. Why can't I describe people like this!!!)
I'll stop with those and just say again, damn, Meredith Duran is a great writer. #authorenvy
I loved this story. It was a bit risky. We met the hero, Alistair, in Duran's last book. He'd withdrawn into his home after his wife overdosed on opium, and had ruthlessly ended the funding to his brother's hospital. He was basically insane at the beginning of this book. He was dangerous. I think he was suicidal, even if there was a point when he laughed and said he'd never considered killing himself. He'd completely lost it mentally and, had this been real life and not a story, I'm sure he would have been one of those crazy people who went out on a killing spree. He'd take out the people who wronged him, and probably quite a few others who were innocent.
So, how the hell do you redeem a guy like that? How do you create a romance with him as the hero?
I sure as hell couldn't do it. But then, I'm not Meredith Duran. She can write anything and make it feel real and believable.
Duran gave Alistair a heroine with a spine. I love heroines with spine. So many historical romances have meek women as leads, women who sit around and wait for life to force them into action, instead of taking control of their lives. Olivia takes control. She's brave and able to stand up to Alistair, force him out of his cave and back to life and sanity. They are a good match.
The story was great with enough of a non-romance plot to keep me interested. But the thing I love most about Meredith Duran's books is the writing.
Now, I don't usually choose my authors/books based on a writing style or excellent prose. Typically, those books bore me. I like for the words to disappear on the page. If I notice the words, then it's because I'm usually pulled out of the story. Not so with Duran's books. I read certain phrases and I have to shake my head because they are so perfect, so descriptive, so NOT lazy writing.
Here are some of my favorites from Fool Me Twice:
Page 152 "Like that moment when the off-key string finally came into tune and joined with the chord, and the air vibrated with purity" (Can totally FEEL that moment.)
Page 188 "Her hair was the color of copper, sacred metal; men would have made amulets from it in ancient times." (Okay. This one sounds way cheesy in isolation, but I swear it worked while in the midst of reading the book!)
Page 192 "The taunt in her voice speared him like a hook to his chest." (GREAT dialogue cue.)
Page 202 "She could believe it. The Duke of Marwick: like a planet, he exerted his own field of gravity." (I LOVE characters with this affect on the people around them. Sexy.)
Page 210 "Confusion fell over her like a hot net." (Ooh, nice, easy, DIFFERENT description.)
Page 210 "As she understood him, butterflies seemed to flutter - not in her stomach, but all along her skin" (Cliché Twist!)
Page 262 "And he settled back, lacing his hands over his belly, looking for all the world like a very skeptical critic prepared for a second-rate show." (Geez. Why can't I describe people like this!!!)
I'll stop with those and just say again, damn, Meredith Duran is a great writer. #authorenvy
Olivia Holladay has been on the run for seven years after being strangled nearly to death. She comes to the Duke of Marwick with the intention of being a maid for him then stealing his blackmail material on her attacker. She thought it would be a lot more difficult but she finds his home in disarray and the staff in desperate need of a housekeeper. She quickly commits to assisting him out of the dark mood which his wife's betrayal had cast over the entire household and accidentally grows a little more attached than anticipated.
I feel like these books that deal with a significant difference in station like this one all follow the same progression of events. A romance that grows too fast and then dealing with the will-they-wont-they of the societal consequences. This one was good, it hit all the marks and I enjoyed it enough to read it pretty fast. It could have had a little more drama with the actual conflict at the end, a little more angst. The duke was also very much pushing the boundaries of what I tolerate in the books at the beginning though he got a lot better as the book went on. He should have issued an apology though because they were pretty much disregarding every other form of convention at that point.
Yeah so it was good, if you want a cute Victorian era romance. The characters (other than Alastair's blips at the beginning) were well-written to their positions. I didn't have huge problems but I don't think I would strongly recommend it because it was a little forgettable.
This review and all my others can be found at: https://aworldshapedbybooks.blogspot.com/