You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
dani8385's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chippywoman1's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book. I will say it was not what I was hoping it would be, but most books do not meet my expectations.
teenycakes's review against another edition
5.0
Hell yeah.
One of the best books with a deaf main character that I have seen in forever. The heroine is not treated as being broken. Or stupid. A lovely, sexy read.
One of the best books with a deaf main character that I have seen in forever. The heroine is not treated as being broken. Or stupid. A lovely, sexy read.
clairey_fairy82's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
evedream's review against another edition
1.0
Dnf 30%
I was SO excited for this book, which made the total drag that it was even more dissapointing.
Maybe it's just my 2022 sensibilities but I hate it when women in media lose their v card and are immediately followed by overwhelming guilt, regret, pain and suffering. I know it's in the zeitgeist of the 18th century to be "ruined" but I don't understand why in the modern literature that has to be aswell.
I knew that in true Balogh fashion this was going to drag out foreve. Hard no. I've decided to be kind to myself and not continue this shitty book.
I was SO excited for this book, which made the total drag that it was even more dissapointing.
Maybe it's just my 2022 sensibilities but I hate it when women in media lose their v card and are immediately followed by overwhelming guilt, regret, pain and suffering. I know it's in the zeitgeist of the 18th century to be "ruined" but I don't understand why in the modern literature that has to be aswell.
I knew that in true Balogh fashion this was going to drag out foreve. Hard no. I've decided to be kind to myself and not continue this shitty book.
marinmom04's review against another edition
2.0
While I like most of her other series, I cannot recommend this one. Excusing men’s horrible behavior, it just doesn’t fit Emily’s character.
bdavies17's review against another edition
4.0
Thoughts while reading:
-on the one hand, I respect Emmy for declining Ashley’s hand in marriage because she knows he doesn’t really want to marry her, on the other, this is Victorian times and that’s an epically dumb decision, especially if she’s pregnant. Guess she’s okay condemning her child to the stigma of bastard for the sake of pride
-why does no one else dance with Emmy when they see that she can?
Liked overall, especially the unrequited love and pining
Read on Overdrive
-on the one hand, I respect Emmy for declining Ashley’s hand in marriage because she knows he doesn’t really want to marry her, on the other, this is Victorian times and that’s an epically dumb decision, especially if she’s pregnant. Guess she’s okay condemning her child to the stigma of bastard for the sake of pride
-why does no one else dance with Emmy when they see that she can?
Liked overall, especially the unrequited love and pining
Read on Overdrive
sorernreads's review against another edition
4.0
This was really complex! I loved Emmy's character so much.
emmanadine's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this story as a whole better than the first one, though Luke, the hero from the first book, was still one of my favorite characters in this book, too.
Emily, or Emmy, as she's called, is a deaf-mute, which makes for a different take on the standard heroine. I enjoyed Balogh's treatment of her as a character, making her loss of hearing a challenge for her in coping with the rest of the world, but not a deficit to her as a person. I also really admired the way the hero, Ashley, recognized that she had things she could teach him and that she was a woman and not a child or just a bauble to be shown off.
Emily does a few stupid things in this book, but her actions come out of a place of strength rather than fear, which is important for her. She knows what she wants, who she loves, and how she deserves to be treated, and won't settle for anything less. Also, she loves wholeheartedly, which is a beautiful characteristic, and fearless in its own right.
Ashley as a hero was quite lovely. He is deeply flawed, carrying a load of guilt - both deserved and not - and determined to make things right. And, when it comes down to it, his fierce sense of honor and protectiveness is pretty damn sexy.
Also, I loved that when she had the facts, she went straight to Ashley about it. She hadn't told him earlier because she wasn't sure she understood the cultural context of what had happened, but once she knew all the details, she told. Yay for talking to each other like adults! My bigger problem was Ashley's repressed memories of important details. Plot-convenient repressed memories are not my favorite.
Emily, or Emmy, as she's called, is a deaf-mute, which makes for a different take on the standard heroine. I enjoyed Balogh's treatment of her as a character, making her loss of hearing a challenge for her in coping with the rest of the world, but not a deficit to her as a person. I also really admired the way the hero, Ashley, recognized that she had things she could teach him and that she was a woman and not a child or just a bauble to be shown off.
Emily does a few stupid things in this book, but her actions come out of a place of strength rather than fear, which is important for her. She knows what she wants, who she loves, and how she deserves to be treated, and won't settle for anything less. Also, she loves wholeheartedly, which is a beautiful characteristic, and fearless in its own right.
Ashley as a hero was quite lovely. He is deeply flawed, carrying a load of guilt - both deserved and not - and determined to make things right. And, when it comes down to it, his fierce sense of honor and protectiveness is pretty damn sexy.
Spoiler
That duel at the end? Dang! He actually killed him. I was not expecting that. I'm used to Regency romances where maybe someone gets wounded or there's a delopement, but nope. Dead. On the floor. Wow. Also, Luke threatening to horsewhip his brother made me love Luke even more than I already did.Also, I loved that when she had the facts, she went straight to Ashley about it. She hadn't told him earlier because she wasn't sure she understood the cultural context of what had happened, but once she knew all the details, she told. Yay for talking to each other like adults! My bigger problem was Ashley's repressed memories of important details.
Spoiler
The first time he met Henry I was all, that can't have been her lover, he doesn't look like you!!! But nope, he 'forgot' that part. Oh well. Still giving this four stars because Luke is awesome.booksnarks's review against another edition
2.0
Ah this was such a disappointment.
It started our really great. The romance had a great setup and both the heroine and hero was well written. And then the middle of the book happened, in which nothing happened. And then we had the last couple of chapters to wrap the story. It just really fizzled out.
So much potential!
It started our really great. The romance had a great setup and both the heroine and hero was well written. And then the middle of the book happened, in which nothing happened. And then we had the last couple of chapters to wrap the story. It just really fizzled out.
So much potential!