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sarahlreadseverything's review
1.0
The concept and plotting for Her Sudden Groom was great, I'll give you that. The hero being forced into marriage, a mysterious connection between the hero and the heroine. . . it's all there.
Unfortunately, the novel falls down in almost every other respect. The characterisation is sadly inconsistent, the writing overblown, confusing and lengthy. The supporting characters are to many and to complicated. I understand that the book is meant to be part of a bigger series BUT it's the first title in a smaller series AND should be readable as a standalone. It's impossible to get to grips with the MANY MANY secondary characters (most of which are not mentioned more than once or twice) and their various relationships to each other. If you're going to have intertwining narratives and characters it needs to be thought out incredibly well and here it just hasn't been.
Once again, a self-published title that has good bones but could benefit from a serious and ruthless professional edit. I won't be picking up the second in the series, because I don't think I could wade through the mess that is the writing and secondary characters again. Which is a shame, because the concept for the second in the series sounds just as good as the first did.
Unfortunately, the novel falls down in almost every other respect. The characterisation is sadly inconsistent, the writing overblown, confusing and lengthy. The supporting characters are to many and to complicated. I understand that the book is meant to be part of a bigger series BUT it's the first title in a smaller series AND should be readable as a standalone. It's impossible to get to grips with the MANY MANY secondary characters (most of which are not mentioned more than once or twice) and their various relationships to each other. If you're going to have intertwining narratives and characters it needs to be thought out incredibly well and here it just hasn't been.
Once again, a self-published title that has good bones but could benefit from a serious and ruthless professional edit. I won't be picking up the second in the series, because I don't think I could wade through the mess that is the writing and secondary characters again. Which is a shame, because the concept for the second in the series sounds just as good as the first did.
ilaurin's review
4.0
Cute story with a bit on a nerdy hero and a very resilient heroine. I enjoyed it but the characters were really not true to the period, for example the father's hero making dirty jokes in front of his son's new girlfriend.
lifeand100books's review
3.0
I'd previously been introduced to Alex Banks when I read Gordon's Scandalous Sister's trilogy. Alex was this goofy guy in a tunnel of science. Even though he's focused on science 99.9% of the time he makes a perfect partner for Caroline, who is equally into science. Caroline's cousin Marcus sees how perfect the two would be and pushes them into each other’s company. Watching Alex attempt a courtship as a science experiment was surprisingly funny. I really enjoyed Alex and Caroline's well developed characteristics. They were both amusing deep-thinkers which made for refreshing romance novel leads.
The more I read Gordon's books, the better I think they get. When I finished reading Her Sudden Groom I couldn't wait to start [b:Her Reluctant Groom|12873423|Her Reluctant Groom|Rose Gordon|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1319219501s/12873423.jpg|17465234] which focuses on Marcus. Gordon's good at subtly introducing the reader to characters that will become the focus of her future books.
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
The more I read Gordon's books, the better I think they get. When I finished reading Her Sudden Groom I couldn't wait to start [b:Her Reluctant Groom|12873423|Her Reluctant Groom|Rose Gordon|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1319219501s/12873423.jpg|17465234] which focuses on Marcus. Gordon's good at subtly introducing the reader to characters that will become the focus of her future books.
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
jen286's review
3.0
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
3.5 stars
After reading all of these amazing Courtney Milan books I thought I would give some more old timey romances a try. I do this every so often, but I am usually disappointed which is why I don't read more of them. I am particular about them, and most of the time new books written in that style/time period don't work for me. Her Sudden Groom reminded me of one of Milan's so I thought I would give it a try. Super scientific Alex must marry someone before the month is up or he will be forced to marry this horrid lady, Lady Olivia. Lady Olivia doesn't want anything to do with Alex either really, but she does want the title and to do whatever she wishes. She is just a dreadful kind of person, and Caroline's cousin.
Caroline is drawn to Alex as she herself is interested in the same scientific things he is. They get along well enough and Olivia's brother, who is in charge of the household now, helps push the two of them together. Caroline doesn't know about the addendum to the contract that stated that Alex and Olivia will marry unless he marries another before he turns thirty. The first half of the book, Alex trying to woo Caroline and get her to agree to marry him before his birthday, was not my favorite. It was too...I am not sure. Too over the top for me in this context.
The second half of the book is Alex and Caroline learning to live together. Or course all of the secrets must come out and it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I expected more drama, maybe from Olivia or something, but it was just them both trying to get the other to fall in love with them. They were both in love, but neither of them realized that the either was in love with them so it was fun. It was nice to see the two of them come together and really be there for each other.
Overall this was an alright read. I didn't particularly care for the first half, but really enjoyed the second so it ended on a high for me.
3.5 stars
After reading all of these amazing Courtney Milan books I thought I would give some more old timey romances a try. I do this every so often, but I am usually disappointed which is why I don't read more of them. I am particular about them, and most of the time new books written in that style/time period don't work for me. Her Sudden Groom reminded me of one of Milan's so I thought I would give it a try. Super scientific Alex must marry someone before the month is up or he will be forced to marry this horrid lady, Lady Olivia. Lady Olivia doesn't want anything to do with Alex either really, but she does want the title and to do whatever she wishes. She is just a dreadful kind of person, and Caroline's cousin.
Caroline is drawn to Alex as she herself is interested in the same scientific things he is. They get along well enough and Olivia's brother, who is in charge of the household now, helps push the two of them together. Caroline doesn't know about the addendum to the contract that stated that Alex and Olivia will marry unless he marries another before he turns thirty. The first half of the book, Alex trying to woo Caroline and get her to agree to marry him before his birthday, was not my favorite. It was too...I am not sure. Too over the top for me in this context.
The second half of the book is Alex and Caroline learning to live together. Or course all of the secrets must come out and it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I expected more drama, maybe from Olivia or something, but it was just them both trying to get the other to fall in love with them. They were both in love, but neither of them realized that the either was in love with them so it was fun. It was nice to see the two of them come together and really be there for each other.
Overall this was an alright read. I didn't particularly care for the first half, but really enjoyed the second so it ended on a high for me.
sassysmutlover's review
5.0
I think Alex Banks may be my new book crush! I loved how he went from this nerdy kid to a great man. After the wedding, I was saying I don't know what else will happen, but then there was a lot more to the story and I was surprised by it all in a good way. I cried about his father, I was shocked to learn the true identity of the experiments Alex copied, and I loved when her father showed up and to me, that is when Alex fully left behind the nerdy shy kid he was and became the great man he is.
Caroline is a shy and intelligent girl that is stuck with a cousin that acts like she above everyone. She has some surprises.
Alex is a smart man that tries to use science to get the woman he wants and keep from marrying the one he doesn't want. He learns along the way.
Caroline is a shy and intelligent girl that is stuck with a cousin that acts like she above everyone. She has some surprises.
Alex is a smart man that tries to use science to get the woman he wants and keep from marrying the one he doesn't want. He learns along the way.
geo_ix's review
5.0
Okay, so o have an absolute obsession with anything to do with historical stories, but I can NEVER read classics. In high school I did literature, and even if I didn't have to read Jane Austen's Emma about 8 times in half a year, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy the story anyway, because my teeny little uncultured brain cannot seem to decipher old style English writing.
I watch historical TV like it's going out of business, and it's not, it's just getting great to be honest, although I don't get to much because my partner HATES historical stuff. I tend to just stick with movies, although I did just download all of Downton abbey to finally watch it - I was in my senior year of high school when it was airing here so I was too busy and missed the start so I just didn't watch it.
But anyway, onto why I loved this so much. It's historical, but it's not WRITTEN like a historical. Yes, everyone still speaks with mainly the type of talk back then. Four and twenty and all that jazz, and things centre around scandals and dowrys and shit, but it's written the same way any other romance book would be written. In fact, even the few amounts of sexual type scenes in this were completely normal with no mention of a rod or bud. I mean, there was a tender flesh reference, but I'm letting that slide.
It was free. It was written well. I became invested in the characters. I started it a while back but was excited for a heap of things that came out so I had to come back to it another time, but I'm glad I kept it. Truthfully I as hooked on the story from the start, and there were truly gut wrenching feelings that I felt when Alex thought she hated him. Others might not, but I truly felt my gut clench and I felt so, so sorry for the poor sod. Add to that a cheeky element that comes out to play every so often, along with geekiness and some seriously stellar supporting characters, I loved it.
At the end I was given a list of characters that clearly already had books, as you could tell reading this was a spin off series of sorts, but for once it wasn't written in a way I felt I needed to read them or that info was being thrown at me. It was added into conversations like 'remember that time ..' And made the conversations themselves seem more realistic in terms of meeting friends for the first time and they barrage you with tales of how they met their lovers and your partner.
Will I be reading the old series and new books in this series? Considering I NEED Marcus and Drake's stories, like stat, yea I'll be continuing. I also want to go back to the first series because all these characters, including Alex's parents all intrigue me with their personalities and the promise of scandals! There were other series by this author I want to look at also. Ah I love finding great writers, hopefully I've just found a new one!
I watch historical TV like it's going out of business, and it's not, it's just getting great to be honest, although I don't get to much because my partner HATES historical stuff. I tend to just stick with movies, although I did just download all of Downton abbey to finally watch it - I was in my senior year of high school when it was airing here so I was too busy and missed the start so I just didn't watch it.
But anyway, onto why I loved this so much. It's historical, but it's not WRITTEN like a historical. Yes, everyone still speaks with mainly the type of talk back then. Four and twenty and all that jazz, and things centre around scandals and dowrys and shit, but it's written the same way any other romance book would be written. In fact, even the few amounts of sexual type scenes in this were completely normal with no mention of a rod or bud. I mean, there was a tender flesh reference, but I'm letting that slide.
It was free. It was written well. I became invested in the characters. I started it a while back but was excited for a heap of things that came out so I had to come back to it another time, but I'm glad I kept it. Truthfully I as hooked on the story from the start, and there were truly gut wrenching feelings that I felt when Alex thought she hated him. Others might not, but I truly felt my gut clench and I felt so, so sorry for the poor sod. Add to that a cheeky element that comes out to play every so often, along with geekiness and some seriously stellar supporting characters, I loved it.
At the end I was given a list of characters that clearly already had books, as you could tell reading this was a spin off series of sorts, but for once it wasn't written in a way I felt I needed to read them or that info was being thrown at me. It was added into conversations like 'remember that time ..' And made the conversations themselves seem more realistic in terms of meeting friends for the first time and they barrage you with tales of how they met their lovers and your partner.
Will I be reading the old series and new books in this series? Considering I NEED Marcus and Drake's stories, like stat, yea I'll be continuing. I also want to go back to the first series because all these characters, including Alex's parents all intrigue me with their personalities and the promise of scandals! There were other series by this author I want to look at also. Ah I love finding great writers, hopefully I've just found a new one!
diaryofthebookdragon's review
3.0
I downloaded Her Sudden Groom because it was free Kindle ebook and it had geeky/nerdy hero and heroine. How could I resist that combination?
Alex Banks finds out his father signed marriage contract long time ago that obligates him to marry Lady Olivia if he is single on his 30th birthday. That might not have been so bad, if lady Olivia is not the most horrid person on a planet. So Alex starts an experiment: find a wife in a month and Caroline Sinclair, lady Olivia cousin, offers to help.
Her Sudden Groom is not bad but it could have been much better and that makes me sad. Idea for a plot was nice and characterisation of main characters was not badly done. Romance developed slowly and there were a lot of sad moments to pull on your heart strings too. And Alex has a large quirky family with great dynamics.
But:
- Humor just didn't click with me. Lady Olivia was more caricature than real person. It was like Rose Gordon took a group of little kids and made them make a list of funny/horrible things your girlfriends could have. For example: her feet stink, her toenails are yellow, her boobs keep popping out of her cleavage, she's too fat, ....
- I also had problems with term 'science' & 'experiment' who was loosely used for almost any interest, even gardening.
Not a bad book when you need something relaxing and not too heavy. I doubt I will buy sequels to this series but if they are free for Kindle in the future I might read them.
Alex Banks finds out his father signed marriage contract long time ago that obligates him to marry Lady Olivia if he is single on his 30th birthday. That might not have been so bad, if lady Olivia is not the most horrid person on a planet. So Alex starts an experiment: find a wife in a month and Caroline Sinclair, lady Olivia cousin, offers to help.
Her Sudden Groom is not bad but it could have been much better and that makes me sad. Idea for a plot was nice and characterisation of main characters was not badly done. Romance developed slowly and there were a lot of sad moments to pull on your heart strings too. And Alex has a large quirky family with great dynamics.
But:
- Humor just didn't click with me. Lady Olivia was more caricature than real person. It was like Rose Gordon took a group of little kids and made them make a list of funny/horrible things your girlfriends could have. For example: her feet stink, her toenails are yellow, her boobs keep popping out of her cleavage, she's too fat, ....
- I also had problems with term 'science' & 'experiment' who was loosely used for almost any interest, even gardening.
Not a bad book when you need something relaxing and not too heavy. I doubt I will buy sequels to this series but if they are free for Kindle in the future I might read them.
caslater83's review
2.0
I was displeased with the references to sexual organs in the book and I felt that it was very distasteful. While the main plot of the book was fine and the characters supported each other well enough, I rated it two stars due to my discomfort with the sexual terms. This will tell me to think twice before picking up another Rose Gordon novel!
sweet_potato's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was fun enough.