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the_rabble's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.75
Two egregiously down-on-their-luck 1800s-ish British protagonists occupy a dilapidated castle on together. Shenanigans ensue.
2 POVs, spicy historical romance/home reno/proto nerd culture story. 3rd person, past tense. I think both protagonists are late 20s.
This one has a bunch of unexpected turns and fun payoffs. Dare pulls from a lot of places and topics she clearly loves. It'd be very easy to be spoiled and- as someone who loves a spoiler- it actually is more fun to just ride the ride. The stakes are stable/not outsized so the urge isn't there. Dare does a good job foreshadowing and building surprise without dread.
Ransom and Izzy are excellent. Really loved both of these characters. Both POV voices are distinct and choices are character driven and relatable. We get some late reveals, but they're fun to watch bump against each other.
Sex scenes are great.
First book of three book series. You can read them in any order. Promise of the series' premise is "woman owns castle" and the stories are independent from book to book.
This one may be my favorite of the three.
2 POVs, spicy historical romance/home reno/proto nerd culture story. 3rd person, past tense. I think both protagonists are late 20s.
This one has a bunch of unexpected turns and fun payoffs. Dare pulls from a lot of places and topics she clearly loves. It'd be very easy to be spoiled and- as someone who loves a spoiler- it actually is more fun to just ride the ride. The stakes are stable/not outsized so the urge isn't there. Dare does a good job foreshadowing and building surprise without dread.
Ransom and Izzy are excellent. Really loved both of these characters. Both POV voices are distinct and choices are character driven and relatable. We get some late reveals, but they're fun to watch bump against each other.
Sex scenes are great.
First book of three book series. You can read them in any order. Promise of the series' premise is "woman owns castle" and the stories are independent from book to book.
This one may be my favorite of the three.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Ableism
Moderate: Death of parent, Bullying, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Ableism and sexism are largely in the story as relevant institutional elements of 1800s England. Child abuse, bullying, and emotional abuse (of a child/young person) are all off-page background and not something done by anyone we meet in the story. [Ableism]Ransom israfacolog's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexism, and Death of parent
cardaisy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I can always count on Tessa Dare for the perfect HR comfort read. Though this definitely confirmed that I'm PMSing right now because this made me cry a little bit more than it probably warranted. Also I wish there was a bit more substance given to the side characters! But overall very enjoyable and incredibly readable
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Ableism
Minor: Forced institutionalization
indieandajean's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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
3.75
Here we are folks, another great bodice ripper (literally in this one, in case you need that for some sort of reading challenge bingo board). I love Tessa Dare's ability to add just enough of an interesting plot to keep my attention and this book certainly has very similar vibes to much of her other work. It reminded me very much of The Duchess deal, but I found the characters here more likeable. The plot was fun, the spice level was more than adequate, and overall I found it to be a fun light read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Alcohol, Classism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Grief
thaliareads's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
Such a fun read. Forced proximity with a hint of "they should marry for convenience but are too stubborn." I liked the bit of mystery in figuring out why Izzy is now the owner of the castle that rightly should have belonged to the incredibly grumpy and now confused Duke. While the spice was nice, this was also a story about Izzy finally finding a home, building new friendships, and finally claiming what is hers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Death and Death of parent
Izzy's family has all died prior to the events of the book. There are some ableist assumptions about the Duke who has been left blind after an injury.lilyofthevalley_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Funny and charming, but at times a tinny bit predictable. I liked that the author didn’t solve Ransom’s blindness; I have seen in other books where an illness or injury is miraculously cured, which I personally find distasteful.
As a side note: I was hoping to get more of Ransom’s dog Magnus and Izzy’s ferret Snowdrip involved in the plot because I think it would have added even more hilarity to the proceedings.
As a side note: I was hoping to get more of Ransom’s dog Magnus and Izzy’s ferret Snowdrip involved in the plot because I think it would have added even more hilarity to the proceedings.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
lotte5322's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
chaptersofamylea's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
"You didn't kiss me like that was your first kiss."
"Of course not. I kissed you like it would be my last."
3 ⭐️
Its been a hot minute since I had read a historical romance and I fancied a change of pace but this didn’t live up to what I wanted it to be. Tessa Dare is usually my go to as her books are the ✨perfect✨ blend of laugh out loud and swoon. While this book was enjoyable and sweet in places, I felt the usual humour and angst was missing for me like there has been in the other books I’ve read by her.
If someone wants to gift me a castle tho I ain’t gonna say no ✌🏻
TWs: death of a parent, ableism, life altering injury
"Of course not. I kissed you like it would be my last."
3 ⭐️
Its been a hot minute since I had read a historical romance and I fancied a change of pace but this didn’t live up to what I wanted it to be. Tessa Dare is usually my go to as her books are the ✨perfect✨ blend of laugh out loud and swoon. While this book was enjoyable and sweet in places, I felt the usual humour and angst was missing for me like there has been in the other books I’ve read by her.
If someone wants to gift me a castle tho I ain’t gonna say no ✌🏻
TWs: death of a parent, ableism, life altering injury
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Ableism
Minor: Death of parent
hrtlss_grl's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Classism, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting
kkalicky94's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Death of parent