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melodyplusplus's review against another edition
1.0
Ok. *deep breath*
This book. This book made my imagination contemplate suicide. This book made my brain cry. This book made me not want to have sex for a year.
First warning: This book follows every one of the crappiest old school romance clichés to date. I'm serious. EVERY ONE OF THEM.
• Grey eyed alpha male hero who enjoys slapping the heroine around – CHECK
• Plucky, melodramatic and irritatingly incompetent heroine – CHECK
• Aggressive, coerced seduction (read: RAPE) – CHECK
• Caricature-like supporting characters with no other point than making the hero and heroine seem like semi-functional humans – CHECK
• Truly horrible, poorly researched Scottish phonology – CHECK
• Every historical phallacy possible – CHECK
• Awkward and anatomically confusing descriptions of seduction and intercourse – CHECK
• Perpetuation of the moronic myth that the hymen is some thick internal barrier midway into the vagina, just waiting for the mighty wang of a rapey Englishman to make it pop like a rubber trampoline – CHECK
Second warning: On top of all that, it seems that the book wasn't looked over by an editor at all. If all of the things I checked off above doesn't faze you, maybe the spelling mistakes, odd sentence structures and weird, sudden switches in storytelling might be enough to completely ward you off this misogynist, poorly executed excuse for an actual romance novel.
The fact that this book was written more than a decade after 1989 is more shocking to me than the fact that McNaught thought that crushed velvet, the word "normal", and casual divorce were common to the 16th century.
But I won't tear down the book entirely. When the dialogue wasn't ruined by the distraction of sporadic faux Scottish, there was a certain infectiousness in the witty repartée between the Royce and Jennifer. Too bad the only ray of light was regularly overshadowed by terribly executed plot devices and entirely unlovable characters.
Looking at the other reviews of this book and its rating on Goodreads, it seems a lot of unpicky romance readers have come over this book. But I will guarantee that it will make any reasonable, moderately selective romance reader scream in absolute horror, even while reading aboard public transport.
If you will excuse me, I'm going to go rub disinfectant on my brain now.
This book. This book made my imagination contemplate suicide. This book made my brain cry. This book made me not want to have sex for a year.
First warning: This book follows every one of the crappiest old school romance clichés to date. I'm serious. EVERY ONE OF THEM.
• Grey eyed alpha male hero who enjoys slapping the heroine around – CHECK
• Plucky, melodramatic and irritatingly incompetent heroine – CHECK
• Aggressive, coerced seduction (read: RAPE) – CHECK
• Caricature-like supporting characters with no other point than making the hero and heroine seem like semi-functional humans – CHECK
• Truly horrible, poorly researched Scottish phonology – CHECK
• Every historical phallacy possible – CHECK
• Awkward and anatomically confusing descriptions of seduction and intercourse – CHECK
• Perpetuation of the moronic myth that the hymen is some thick internal barrier midway into the vagina, just waiting for the mighty wang of a rapey Englishman to make it pop like a rubber trampoline – CHECK
Second warning: On top of all that, it seems that the book wasn't looked over by an editor at all. If all of the things I checked off above doesn't faze you, maybe the spelling mistakes, odd sentence structures and weird, sudden switches in storytelling might be enough to completely ward you off this misogynist, poorly executed excuse for an actual romance novel.
The fact that this book was written more than a decade after 1989 is more shocking to me than the fact that McNaught thought that crushed velvet, the word "normal", and casual divorce were common to the 16th century.
But I won't tear down the book entirely. When the dialogue wasn't ruined by the distraction of sporadic faux Scottish, there was a certain infectiousness in the witty repartée between the Royce and Jennifer. Too bad the only ray of light was regularly overshadowed by terribly executed plot devices and entirely unlovable characters.
Looking at the other reviews of this book and its rating on Goodreads, it seems a lot of unpicky romance readers have come over this book. But I will guarantee that it will make any reasonable, moderately selective romance reader scream in absolute horror, even while reading aboard public transport.
If you will excuse me, I'm going to go rub disinfectant on my brain now.
eclaires81's review
4.0
Decided to re-read this one before listening to the Fated Mates podcast talking about it. I read alllllll the McNaught books when I was probably too young and loved the podcast discussing this one! Might have to re-read some more McNaught!
jaimeblair's review
4.0
4.5 stars, really enjoyed this. The writing style was slightly disjointed, but I actually liked it. We got insight on different characters while not having to transition to a different POV. The writing was nice, the chemistry between the two characters was fun and I like how the book was kind of formatted into two parts. It was a unique historical romance novel for me and I think I might reread again sometime later.
patricia_nascimento's review against another edition
3.0
RATING: 3 stars
Definitely not in the mood for historical romance. This one hit every one of the cliché bingo points and I couldn't even love it for being romantic. :/
Definitely not in the mood for historical romance. This one hit every one of the cliché bingo points and I couldn't even love it for being romantic. :/
thegingerbeast's review
5.0
Loved this so much, I couldn't put it down! My absolute favorite Romance novel that I have ever read! I still think about this book so often and I can't wait to read it again. I loved every character and their own quirky traits and personalities, and it was very funny which is great in a romance novel.
essafaye's review
1.0
One day I'll read an book where MC isn't an emotionally stunted idiot.
Today is not that day.
Edit: Finished now!
It started out really good, I really loved the MC and the ML, the world it was set out in. There is a war between England and Scotland, and you are given a vivid depiction of it. In such sense, MC's utter defiance is admirable, and it's amusing to read how she trips up the enemy great knights, and the most dangerous knight of them all: The black wolf.
But then it all comes crashes down. Stubborn FLs are bread and butter of romance novels, and there almost always is a point where that stubbornness goes from endearing to annoying. It unfortunately happens here as well. So while every other characters gets growth, even side characters become better. MC is reduced to this stubborn brat of a character who acts like a kid whose candy got snatched, and wouldn't stop wailing. At points her feelings are valid, but the way she acts on them drives me up the wall. She'll rather commit political suicide, make a fool of everyone, rather that act gracefully. Like her family dislikes her, hates her, and she knows it. What starts out admirably as a mission to make them love her again, turns annoying because she would rather give up everything (even love of people who actually care for her) to get anything back. It doesn't come from desperation for love, it rather comes across as annoying and idiotic. But she does it anyways, and as she is the MC, she hardly suffers for it.
The ML is better (any character is better than her really) for he actually learns from his mistake, and is apologetic for his actions, though they don't make them right they make them bearable, because he repents for it. I like him enough to want him to pull out of this story because dude deserves better, rather than wanting love of a girl who would act in such a crass way.
All in all, it's an okay read when you have nothing to do, and can shut off your brain. Unfortunately it looks like a one time read to me, which is tragic because I love the tropes, only didn't love how it went about.
Today is not that day.
Edit: Finished now!
It started out really good, I really loved the MC and the ML, the world it was set out in. There is a war between England and Scotland, and you are given a vivid depiction of it. In such sense, MC's utter defiance is admirable, and it's amusing to read how she trips up the enemy great knights, and the most dangerous knight of them all: The black wolf.
But then it all comes crashes down. Stubborn FLs are bread and butter of romance novels, and there almost always is a point where that stubbornness goes from endearing to annoying. It unfortunately happens here as well. So while every other characters gets growth, even side characters become better. MC is reduced to this stubborn brat of a character who acts like a kid whose candy got snatched, and wouldn't stop wailing. At points her feelings are valid, but the way she acts on them drives me up the wall. She'll rather commit political suicide, make a fool of everyone, rather that act gracefully. Like her family dislikes her, hates her, and she knows it. What starts out admirably as a mission to make them love her again, turns annoying because she would rather give up everything (even love of people who actually care for her) to get anything back. It doesn't come from desperation for love, it rather comes across as annoying and idiotic. But she does it anyways, and as she is the MC, she hardly suffers for it.
The ML is better (any character is better than her really) for he actually learns from his mistake, and is apologetic for his actions, though they don't make them right they make them bearable, because he repents for it. I like him enough to want him to pull out of this story because dude deserves better, rather than wanting love of a girl who would act in such a crass way.
All in all, it's an okay read when you have nothing to do, and can shut off your brain. Unfortunately it looks like a one time read to me, which is tragic because I love the tropes, only didn't love how it went about.
lazyydaisy's review
4.0
For some reason I completely forgot about the Historical Romance genre and haven't picked up one in probably 5 years. This book was so good I've now decided I need more HR in my life,asap! The only negative and the reason for a four star instead of five is because the heroine, Jennifer was seriously pissing me off, especially in the last half of the book. I was ready to throw my kindle in frustration until she finally stopped acting like a idiot. Besides her moments of idiocy, I really loved her character and I especially loved Royce. I wish Arik could have gotten his own book because he was all quiet and brooding and I'd love to see him get a HEA.
Yay for HR! I'm off to read the second book!
On a side note, why aren't these books available as ebooks?!
Yay for HR! I'm off to read the second book!
On a side note, why aren't these books available as ebooks?!
effloresce's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
whimsical_princ3ss's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
slow-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
It was a great read, funny although at times a bit dense and OTT.