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lanidacey's review against another edition
2.0
Let's not get things confused: I'm Team Milan all the way. This one, though. It just didn't do it for me. She's definitely trying something new with the tone of this series and I can't say I enjoyed it. It's so ... precious. At times, this novel felt like a cheesy rom-com. There's a cat named Squid. The hero makes purposefully bad jokes about killing chickens. The heroine curses with water fowl ("duck it all to hell").
But worst of all, because we spent so much time learning about all of these quirks, the romance ended up feeling more like the B-plot. The main couple didn't even share a kiss until the story was more than 70 percent through! This ended up throwing off the pacing of the rest of the book as they jump into bed, solve family mysteries and declare their love for each other. I usually finish Milan books in a couple days; this one took me two weeks and I blame that pacing issue. I just didn't care about the couple because I had no reason to.
I put off finishing [b:The Turner Series|23014337|The Turner Series|Courtney Milan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1411351431s/23014337.jpg|42580499] to start this one (I got this one from the library). I'm definitely completing that one before I move on with the rest of the Worth Saga. Because, yes, for all my complaints, I'm still interested in reading the rest of the series. This storyline is supposed to span continents and time (you see those cover mock-ups? There are potentially black and Chinese heroines. Here for that), and I'm kind of interested in seeing what happens next.
But worst of all, because we spent so much time learning about all of these quirks, the romance ended up feeling more like the B-plot. The main couple didn't even share a kiss until the story was more than 70 percent through! This ended up throwing off the pacing of the rest of the book as they jump into bed, solve family mysteries and declare their love for each other. I usually finish Milan books in a couple days; this one took me two weeks and I blame that pacing issue. I just didn't care about the couple because I had no reason to.
I put off finishing [b:The Turner Series|23014337|The Turner Series|Courtney Milan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1411351431s/23014337.jpg|42580499] to start this one (I got this one from the library). I'm definitely completing that one before I move on with the rest of the Worth Saga. Because, yes, for all my complaints, I'm still interested in reading the rest of the series. This storyline is supposed to span continents and time (you see those cover mock-ups? There are potentially black and Chinese heroines. Here for that), and I'm kind of interested in seeing what happens next.
pn_hinton's review against another edition
4.0
I will admit that this wasn’t my favorite by Milan that I have read so far. Even though this is the first book in the series, I read it second, having received the sequel through an ARC offer. So, I think that may have tinged my view of Judith as a person before starting it and one of the reasons that it took so long to get through as well as getting distracted by other books. Overall it was an enjoyable read but I didn’t find that the romance was well developed with Christian and Judith. Now a lot of that could be due to them having an established backstory that took place before the events of the story did. But I feel that some of the long dormant romance would still would have needed to be rekindled more. Judith seemed very forgiving for someone whose life was completely turned upside down based on Christian’s findings and while that could just be a testament to her character, I still feel there would have been more than the gentle rebuff she gave him at the beginning. It seemed to progress very quickly with the last 75% of the story.
As a heroine Judith was mostly enjoyable. Her seemingly quick forgiveness of Christian none withstanding, she seemed to be more human than most, starting with her frustrating with Theresa and then the moment where she snapped. Most everyone has had this moment with their child or younger sibling where they were unnecessarily cruel for no other reason than they had enough. However, she did apologize for her harsh words while making Theresa accountable for her mistake rather than letting her slide. Overall, she did well with the crappy hand that life dealt with her and managed to stay classy about it.
As a hero Christian was also enjoyable. I appreciated he honest he was with himself and then finally others about the opium addiction. It’s reassuring to see this type of addiction acknowledged in a romance when in others it seems brushed off and just to be part of the times. While others may feel he was too black and white when it came to the behavior of Judith’s father and brother, I felt that aligned with his character since I read him as someone who, were he born in this modern day and age, would have been placed on the Spectrum. So, it fit in with his character overall at least in my opinion. And he did have guilt over the part he played in the downfall of the Worth family but his moral compass didn’t let him take any other direction for it.
I don’t want to give spoilers on this but there was one specific thing that enraged me in this book. So, I do want to see how this progresses due to some of the seeds that were planted for later stories but I also admit that a lot of backstory and explanation will need to be relayed for me to be forgiving. Not that it can’t happen, since MacLean did it with The Day of the Duchess. But there will need to be a lot of work done to make the character that this happened with endearing to me. All in all, another enjoyable read from this author. It’s by no means my favorite or her best but it was still good.
As a heroine Judith was mostly enjoyable. Her seemingly quick forgiveness of Christian none withstanding, she seemed to be more human than most, starting with her frustrating with Theresa and then the moment where she snapped. Most everyone has had this moment with their child or younger sibling where they were unnecessarily cruel for no other reason than they had enough. However, she did apologize for her harsh words while making Theresa accountable for her mistake rather than letting her slide. Overall, she did well with the crappy hand that life dealt with her and managed to stay classy about it.
As a hero Christian was also enjoyable. I appreciated he honest he was with himself and then finally others about the opium addiction. It’s reassuring to see this type of addiction acknowledged in a romance when in others it seems brushed off and just to be part of the times. While others may feel he was too black and white when it came to the behavior of Judith’s father and brother, I felt that aligned with his character since I read him as someone who, were he born in this modern day and age, would have been placed on the Spectrum. So, it fit in with his character overall at least in my opinion. And he did have guilt over the part he played in the downfall of the Worth family but his moral compass didn’t let him take any other direction for it.
I don’t want to give spoilers on this but there was one specific thing that enraged me in this book. So, I do want to see how this progresses due to some of the seeds that were planted for later stories but I also admit that a lot of backstory and explanation will need to be relayed for me to be forgiving. Not that it can’t happen, since MacLean did it with The Day of the Duchess. But there will need to be a lot of work done to make the character that this happened with endearing to me. All in all, another enjoyable read from this author. It’s by no means my favorite or her best but it was still good.
chirson's review against another edition
4.0
I loved it. The humour, the characters, the banter, the sex. I loved all of it, it helped tide me over an abysmal day with my family (Christmas time, misery and wishing I had wine). Judith might be one of my favourite Milan protagonists, capable and strong and facing many of the same issues I know from personal experience. And the male protag, Christian - he was swoon-worthy, just what one wants from the romance protag. And I loved the kittens! Foul / fowl puns! And Judith's family. And all the other things...
That said, I had this niggling feeling that the writer's heart is not quite in it at moments :( There were some typos and the ending in particular felt terribly hurried
(Chickens and chicken comparisons were a nice touch. I was mightily amused due to following Courtney Milan's twitter and knowing about her own fowl woes.)
That said, I had this niggling feeling that the writer's heart is not quite in it at moments :( There were some typos and the ending in particular felt terribly hurried
Spoiler
- they break up and they get back together in the space of a heartbeat, and then we just jump to over a year later to signal the sequel. The friendship with Daisy didn't really add much other than space for the novella sequel. I wasn't sure if Christian's change of heart / mind was truly earned (I kind of thought the solution would be that they would relocate to the US... I see I'm a touch more pragmatist about my conscience.)(Chickens and chicken comparisons were a nice touch. I was mightily amused due to following Courtney Milan's twitter and knowing about her own fowl woes.)
wildwolverine's review against another edition
4.0
In the first novel of this new series, Courtney Milan takes readers on a journey. At first, the novel boasts some hallmark tropes that makes readers feel like they're going to be reading something light and fluffy. There's a marquess coming to swoop in and save the woman he's always loved as she's fallen on hard times. There's a big, quirky family with plenty of shenanigans, and finally the hero and heroine rekindle their love after he has "wronged" her years ago. Except, as with all Milan books, it's not as straightforward as that, and that's why this book is worth your while.
One of the things I love about Milan is that her leading couple are always so rational. There's none of this nonsense where they don't talk to each other, and so all of the drama is driven from their lack of communication skills. It's not aspirational. It's annoying and lazy. As a result, Milan is continually keeping her readers guessing as they figure out how to take their relationship to the next level. It's fresh and interesting.
Judith is shown muscling through poverty and family tragedy in an effort to help the last of her siblings have the life she never had. She's definitely the serious one in the relationship while Christian is the goofy one bouncing off of her. He's driven by guilt for having turned her father and oldest brother in for treason. Any other romance novel would not have dealt with such a serious subject, but if they did, it would be handled as a "misunderstanding". However, in this case, Milan deftly shows the different ways of viewing right and wrong while miraculously keeping all of her characters as lovable good guys.
Judith spends the majority of the book wanting to and striving to get back to the way things were, but Christian comes in and helps show her that she doesn't need to attain the status quo to be happy. The Worths can make their own happiness their own way. It's a story that actually takes into account what the Victorians would've cared about as a society, but when Milan rewards her resourceful heroine with a marriage to a marquess, it still feels genuine. It doesn't feel overly sugary or out of place. You feel relieved that finally Judith can breathe, and the readers breathe with her.
This story is definitely a romance, but it's also a story about healing and facing reality. The family dynamics are realistic, especially considering the fact that Judith's younger siblings are teenagers. Overall, it's very sweet, even if the ending is quite abrupt. Personally, I would've preferred a bigger, more dramatic declaration of love, but it's still nice as it is. If you want a story with heart and drama, I highly recommend this book.
One of the things I love about Milan is that her leading couple are always so rational. There's none of this nonsense where they don't talk to each other, and so all of the drama is driven from their lack of communication skills. It's not aspirational. It's annoying and lazy. As a result, Milan is continually keeping her readers guessing as they figure out how to take their relationship to the next level. It's fresh and interesting.
Judith is shown muscling through poverty and family tragedy in an effort to help the last of her siblings have the life she never had. She's definitely the serious one in the relationship while Christian is the goofy one bouncing off of her. He's driven by guilt for having turned her father and oldest brother in for treason. Any other romance novel would not have dealt with such a serious subject, but if they did, it would be handled as a "misunderstanding". However, in this case, Milan deftly shows the different ways of viewing right and wrong while miraculously keeping all of her characters as lovable good guys.
Judith spends the majority of the book wanting to and striving to get back to the way things were, but Christian comes in and helps show her that she doesn't need to attain the status quo to be happy. The Worths can make their own happiness their own way. It's a story that actually takes into account what the Victorians would've cared about as a society, but when Milan rewards her resourceful heroine with a marriage to a marquess, it still feels genuine. It doesn't feel overly sugary or out of place. You feel relieved that finally Judith can breathe, and the readers breathe with her.
This story is definitely a romance, but it's also a story about healing and facing reality. The family dynamics are realistic, especially considering the fact that Judith's younger siblings are teenagers. Overall, it's very sweet, even if the ending is quite abrupt. Personally, I would've preferred a bigger, more dramatic declaration of love, but it's still nice as it is. If you want a story with heart and drama, I highly recommend this book.
takarakei's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-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
I liked the romance, but the other plot points were too varied, a bit hard to follow and a bit distracting. Charles is such a hilarious love interest tho and I enjoyed reading his pov.
🌶️3.5/5
🌶️3.5/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Sexual content, and Ableism
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Death of parent and Suicide
It’s not explicitly stated but it’s pretty clear that Charles has what would now be called OCDruthgo's review against another edition
2.0
I've loved all of the books I've read by her but this one really lagged. In all honesty, I didn't finish it, I just wanted to get it off my currently reading shelf.
roseybot's review against another edition
3.0
I was slow reading this one and couldn't decide if it was simply that I didn't like it as much as Milan's others, or if it was because there was something else about it that was bothering me. However, I think the thing that made it slow in the beginning was merely the fact that, while this did focus on the romance quite heavily, it didn't feel like a romance book. There was intrigue and mysteries to go around, which made it unexpected.
Now I just have to hunker down and wait for the next book, HORRIBLE.
Now I just have to hunker down and wait for the next book, HORRIBLE.
lassarina's review against another edition
5.0
This book is everything I've come to expect from Courtney Milan: an unflinching look at some of the messier realities of the time period frequently skimmed over by other authors, characters who have mental or physical impairments that are laid out very clearly without beating the reader over the head with it, funny bits to lighten the mood without whiplash, and such glorious tension between the two lead characters.
Judith Worth is the daughter of an earl who took his own life upon being accused of treason; her older brother was transported due to his part in the same scheme, and so she has had to care for her younger siblings and try to make a life for them that isn't what they were used to, but it is enough. However, she has encountered legal difficulties, and as such has reached out to a childhood friend, Christian Trent, the Marquess of Ashford. This is a second-chance romance, which I love, and the wealth of complicated and unhappy feelings between the two of them and the ways they protect themselves from each other is beautifully done. Christian was involved in the fall of Judith's family, and that's constantly a sword between them.
I love Courtney Milan's books and I don't know how I could have waited almost two months between buying it and reading it, and I wish I hadn't because then I could have enjoyed it sooner!
Judith Worth is the daughter of an earl who took his own life upon being accused of treason; her older brother was transported due to his part in the same scheme, and so she has had to care for her younger siblings and try to make a life for them that isn't what they were used to, but it is enough. However, she has encountered legal difficulties, and as such has reached out to a childhood friend, Christian Trent, the Marquess of Ashford. This is a second-chance romance, which I love, and the wealth of complicated and unhappy feelings between the two of them and the ways they protect themselves from each other is beautifully done. Christian was involved in the fall of Judith's family, and that's constantly a sword between them.
I love Courtney Milan's books and I don't know how I could have waited almost two months between buying it and reading it, and I wish I hadn't because then I could have enjoyed it sooner!
leslielikesthings's review against another edition
5.0
Great start to the new series, now I'm in for a sweetly agonizing wait for the rest of it over the next few years.