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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
I love Messina’s writing, and this is one of my favourite regency romances of hers. I’ve read it a few times now, and I enjoy it as much on every re-read. I find her writing style really light, funny and easy to read. She has a lovely turn of phrase and some of the book is quite funny.
The story is quite simple. There are no real shocks or twists or turns, but it’s a nice, easy to follow storyline. It’s familiarity I think is its biggest plus - you know more or less where the story is going, but how it gets you there is quite fun. The characters get up to a few scrapes and watching the romance unfold is quite sweet.
The main character, Catherine, is one of my favourites of Messina’s. She’s strong and intelligent and determined, but is also quite vulnerable. I felt sorry for her at points and how her family treated her, so it was nice to see her come out of her shell and her family realise her worth.
Deverill is a nice, charming hero. He made me think a bit of Kesgrave from Messina’s Beatrice Hyde-Clare series, but with a bit less pedanticness and a bit more cheek. I think it was clear how he was developing feelings for Catherine earlier than she realised, and it was nice to see him unravel as he began to doubt whether the feelings were returned.
Their relationship is very sweet and respectful; there’s nothing too steamy here, but the scenes there are well-written and they have good chemistry. One point I thought was interesting is that on this reread I did notice shades of the Beatrice Hyde-Clare books in this one - this isn't a criticism, but the personality of Catherine and her story of gaining confidence etc. is quite similar to Bea; Deverill is quite similar to Kesgrave in a lot of ways; Catherine's family made me think of the Hyde-Clares (except there was a little sister, the father was a selfish gambler, and the mother was a softer character than Aunt Vera), plus the side story of Lady Courtland made me think of Lady Abercrombie. It was just interesting to me.
There’s not much I don’t like about this book. If I had any complaint it’s that I would prefer a bit more depth to the relationship; it happens very quickly and as it is what I would call a ‘clean’ romance (not that I like the term personally!) there’s not a lot of heat here. Personal preference, I would have liked a bit more, but again - it’s not that kind of book, and I love it anyway.
I would recommend it if you like sweet regency romances with a bit of drama and a sense of humour.
Content Warnings:, mild violence.
Separate warning for very mild OW drama
The story is quite simple. There are no real shocks or twists or turns, but it’s a nice, easy to follow storyline. It’s familiarity I think is its biggest plus - you know more or less where the story is going, but how it gets you there is quite fun. The characters get up to a few scrapes and watching the romance unfold is quite sweet.
The main character, Catherine, is one of my favourites of Messina’s. She’s strong and intelligent and determined, but is also quite vulnerable. I felt sorry for her at points and how her family treated her, so it was nice to see her come out of her shell and her family realise her worth.
Deverill is a nice, charming hero. He made me think a bit of Kesgrave from Messina’s Beatrice Hyde-Clare series, but with a bit less pedanticness and a bit more cheek. I think it was clear how he was developing feelings for Catherine earlier than she realised, and it was nice to see him unravel as he began to doubt whether the feelings were returned.
Their relationship is very sweet and respectful; there’s nothing too steamy here, but the scenes there are well-written and they have good chemistry. One point I thought was interesting is that on this reread I did notice shades of the Beatrice Hyde-Clare books in this one - this isn't a criticism, but the personality of Catherine and her story of gaining confidence etc. is quite similar to Bea; Deverill is quite similar to Kesgrave in a lot of ways; Catherine's family made me think of the Hyde-Clares (except there was a little sister, the father was a selfish gambler, and the mother was a softer character than Aunt Vera), plus the side story of Lady Courtland made me think of Lady Abercrombie. It was just interesting to me.
There’s not much I don’t like about this book. If I had any complaint it’s that I would prefer a bit more depth to the relationship; it happens very quickly and as it is what I would call a ‘clean’ romance (not that I like the term personally!) there’s not a lot of heat here. Personal preference, I would have liked a bit more, but again - it’s not that kind of book, and I love it anyway.
I would recommend it if you like sweet regency romances with a bit of drama and a sense of humour.
Content Warnings:
Spoiler
BlackmailSpoiler
The heroine’s younger sister - I think she’s about 18 - is blackmailed into an engagement by a man. The man is lecherous towards her in when describing his motivations for the blackmail, and it’s just a bit creepy.Separate warning for very mild OW drama
Spoiler
The hero has had mistresses in the past which are referred to in the plot and the heroine sees one on-page, but nothing happens between the hero and OW on-page.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
This was cute and funny and I particularly enjoyed the character development of Catherine's sister Evelyn. But it won't stick in my mind as much as the Beatrice Hyde-Clare series.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
so I liked Catherine. she was smart and responsible and her family sucked making her the only responsible one despite not being the parent or male. I felt terrible that she was left cleaning up all their messes. Except for the youngest (Melissa), that girl was smart and loyal and I hope there is a book about her because I cannot imagine the ton surviving her. Arabella is someone I would like the throttle. That woman is a menace. The Earl was like every other thick-headed male not wanting to get married. But at least he had a brain. But Catherine was by far my fave character.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The mother made this book...
She was just hilarious!
Quote- "What happened to him...for a man to lose track of his nose like that-"
What a wonderful reason to not like the Elgin Marbles :)
She was just hilarious!
Quote- "What happened to him...for a man to lose track of his nose like that-"
What a wonderful reason to not like the Elgin Marbles :)
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Whoo. The beginning of this story was a little rough. But if you can soldier past the first twenty or so pages, it's a really fun story.
The book opens with Miss Catherine Fellingham finally having her eyes open to her family's dynamics - and it's not pretty. Turns out her father is gambling at a pace that puts the family's finances in order and her mother thinks that selling commissions (a treasonous effort) is the way to recoup their fortunes. Her younger, much more beautiful sister has been so cossetted by the family that she is a vapid and insensitive person and her younger brother, though supposedly an adult at nineteen, doesn't seem to have grown up much at all. It is up to too-tall, too-serious, wall-flower Catherine to save the family.
But when she meets a handsome stranger while visiting the Elgin marbles (against her mother's wishes) with her youngest sister (possibly the only other pragmatic family member), she doesn't realize that she may be meeting her fate.
However, the next time she sees the Marquess of Deverill, it's while he's talking with Lady Arabella. I'm pretty sure we met her in The Harlow Hoyden making the books loosely related. For Catherine, this discussion is mortifying. Lady Arabella is instructing Deverill to make Cathy "popular." Telling him that he is the only one with enough consequence to do so. Something to cure his boredom.
We don't see much of the Marquess' thoughts until the end of the book, which I really liked. Being with Catherine, not really knowing his motives (although, as a removed reader, we're better able to guess than our protagonist), was a nice smooth reading with only one POV. Something you don't get to see in every book.
The big misunderstandings at the end were overdone. There were way to many.
A good book. I liked the Harlow Hoyden better but I definitely can't wait for the next ":A Regency Romance."
The book opens with Miss Catherine Fellingham finally having her eyes open to her family's dynamics - and it's not pretty. Turns out her father is gambling at a pace that puts the family's finances in order and her mother thinks that selling commissions (a treasonous effort) is the way to recoup their fortunes. Her younger, much more beautiful sister has been so cossetted by the family that she is a vapid and insensitive person and her younger brother, though supposedly an adult at nineteen, doesn't seem to have grown up much at all. It is up to too-tall, too-serious, wall-flower Catherine to save the family.
But when she meets a handsome stranger while visiting the Elgin marbles (against her mother's wishes) with her youngest sister (possibly the only other pragmatic family member), she doesn't realize that she may be meeting her fate.
However, the next time she sees the Marquess of Deverill, it's while he's talking with Lady Arabella. I'm pretty sure we met her in The Harlow Hoyden making the books loosely related. For Catherine, this discussion is mortifying. Lady Arabella is instructing Deverill to make Cathy "popular." Telling him that he is the only one with enough consequence to do so. Something to cure his boredom.
We don't see much of the Marquess' thoughts until the end of the book, which I really liked. Being with Catherine, not really knowing his motives (although, as a removed reader, we're better able to guess than our protagonist), was a nice smooth reading with only one POV. Something you don't get to see in every book.
Spoiler
The big misunderstandings at the end were overdone. There were way to many.
A good book. I liked the Harlow Hoyden better but I definitely can't wait for the next ":A Regency Romance."