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fairywine's review
1.0
This should have been called Much Ado About Johnson. The hero's constant boner was just as prominent a character as the hero and heroine, and at least had a clearly defined motivation.
I'm not going to lie, this one was pretty painful to get through. 3/4ths of the book is the hero's unending boner saga. There's no interest in the heroine's qualities beyond what sexually exites him and the possibility of getting laid. (It doesn't help that the hero's pov is a constant litany of "Zounds! A woman who doesn't rip off her clothes and fall onto my dick the instant she sees me! How can this be?!) Totally unlikable and the "romance" completely unconvincing.
The heroine was a little more interesting, at least in theory. She's a widow from a bad marriage, just ended another long affair, and discovers her husband left an illegitimate daughter behind she decides to raise. All of this wouldn't have been enough to salvage the novel if done well, but the reading experience would have been somewhat more bearable. Alas, this was not the case. Heroine was bland and three dimensional as cardboard. I literally can't recall a thing about her. Add in a Snidely Whiplash-ian villain and a snooze of a plot and you have a novel that's dead on arrival.
This is the kind of romance novel that makes people judge the genre so harshly. Needless to say I won't be seeking out any of the author's other books. Avoid, avoid, avoid.
I'm not going to lie, this one was pretty painful to get through. 3/4ths of the book is the hero's unending boner saga. There's no interest in the heroine's qualities beyond what sexually exites him and the possibility of getting laid. (It doesn't help that the hero's pov is a constant litany of "Zounds! A woman who doesn't rip off her clothes and fall onto my dick the instant she sees me! How can this be?!) Totally unlikable and the "romance" completely unconvincing.
The heroine was a little more interesting, at least in theory. She's a widow from a bad marriage, just ended another long affair, and discovers her husband left an illegitimate daughter behind she decides to raise. All of this wouldn't have been enough to salvage the novel if done well, but the reading experience would have been somewhat more bearable. Alas, this was not the case. Heroine was bland and three dimensional as cardboard. I literally can't recall a thing about her. Add in a Snidely Whiplash-ian villain and a snooze of a plot and you have a novel that's dead on arrival.
This is the kind of romance novel that makes people judge the genre so harshly. Needless to say I won't be seeking out any of the author's other books. Avoid, avoid, avoid.
nturner2810's review
4.0
Inspired by Shakespeares' Much Ado About Nothing, the dashing Captain James Montgomery and the widowed and respectable Angelique Beauchamp, Countess of Devereaux, indulge in a torrid, brief affair. Unfortunately for Ange, Captain Jack decides one night is not enough and begins his pursuit in earnest.
Fun, funny and sweet, this regency is perfect to take you out of your now and into a different place and time. Easy read, made me laugh and aww!
Fun, funny and sweet, this regency is perfect to take you out of your now and into a different place and time. Easy read, made me laugh and aww!
planetarypan's review
3.0
This series was okay, but I'm not sure I would spend the time on it had I a chance to do it all again. The plots were thin, the characterizations a little weak (through three books I still couldn't figure out Anthony's personality and motives and we get none of Caroline's flash in two and three), and the romances rather forced. I thought Titania and Angelique were the most interesting women, but Angelique's story felt rushed and incomplete. I was left a little unsatisfied.
alexiachantel's review
Loved the cover and had to pick it up. A nice romance, an easy read. Lovers of HR will enjoy it.
turophile's review
3.0
This story was a mixed bag for me. As one might suspect from the title, there are references to Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” sprinkled throughout the book. Sadly my knowledge of that Shakespearean work is negligible so I can’t judge whether there are parallels between this book and that play.
I really liked the two characters, Angelique and Captain John. Strong, independent people who didn’t think they’d be falling in love. The chemistry between them is palpable. Their relationship progresses smoothly from pure lust to an appreciation of each other’s personas.
What didn’t work for me were the numerous side stories that converged together, largely because I never quite understood aspects of the backdrop. Angelique is considered a “fallen” widow and has a bad reputation among the ton. Her recently widowed friend Arabella is in love with an Earl yet the husband of her dead brother wants her so badly he’s willing to destroy Angelique and maybe take down Angelique’s newly found stepdaughter. And there’s more, and although most of it ties back together at the end I’d have preferred fewer, but more developed story threads.
doorasbookshelf's review
4.0
3.5 stars.
I was pretty close to DMFing this book when I was around 40% in. Nothing interesting didn’t really happen... But the tide turns around 50 - 60% in and it got pretty interesting. It was a bit of a let down considering I read the two first books fairly quick.
The book can be read as a stand-alone, but start with the first.
I was pretty close to DMFing this book when I was around 40% in. Nothing interesting didn’t really happen... But the tide turns around 50 - 60% in and it got pretty interesting. It was a bit of a let down considering I read the two first books fairly quick.
The book can be read as a stand-alone, but start with the first.
kiwicoral's review
3.0
I really liked the characters of a give-no-fucks widow and and stubborn, red headed (yas!), super hot Scottish sea captain. But I wish I could have read their story by a different author. The story just did not come together to do them justice.
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