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ws_uds's review against another edition
5.0
this is quite perfect. the best historical romance novel I've read in a while.
curse_ratchet6tribe's review against another edition
4.0
Honestly I wasn't expecting to like the hero of this book given his very foppish nature, but the author wove that behavior and the reason for it so well into the story that I was charmed. This was a nicely relaxing read in the historical romance genre.
ssejig's review against another edition
4.0
I grabbed this book from the library on a whim and it was absolutely a good choice. After reading this book, I immediately found the first in the series (Thank goodness for elibraries!) and read that as well.
In the first book, Max, Lord Davenham married Abby Chance, the sister of Damaris' heart. Now Damaris gets her own HEA.
Max and Abby are heading out on their honeymoon and he's leaving his friend Frederick, Freddy, Monckton-Coombes to watch over the rest of the three sisters as well as Max's aunt, Lady Beatrice.
Freddy and Damaris are both avoiding marriage. Of course, for different reasons. That's what makes a fake engagement so perfect. Yes, it's a trope used in many, many romance stories but there's a reason it works, and Gracie delivers it perfectly.
I really liked the development of both the main and secondary characters (did Freddy remind anyone else of Lord Peter Wimsey?). It really helped to move the story along. There were new people introduced but not so many that the story got overloaded.
Why not five stars? While the themes were very familiar, I wish we could have seen more of Damaris' life before. And the ending of her story, though MAJORLY foreshadowed, was very rushed and sort of ... convenient.
In the first book, Max, Lord Davenham married Abby Chance, the sister of Damaris' heart. Now Damaris gets her own HEA.
Max and Abby are heading out on their honeymoon and he's leaving his friend Frederick, Freddy, Monckton-Coombes to watch over the rest of the three sisters as well as Max's aunt, Lady Beatrice.
Freddy and Damaris are both avoiding marriage. Of course, for different reasons
Spoiler
Damaris isn't a virgin having been forced by the captain of the ship that got her from China to England and Freddy because he doesn't feel like he deserves happiness/doesn't want to bow to the wishes of his familyI really liked the development of both the main and secondary characters (did Freddy remind anyone else of Lord Peter Wimsey?). It really helped to move the story along. There were new people introduced but not so many that the story got overloaded.
Why not five stars? While the themes were very familiar, I wish we could have seen more of Damaris' life before. And the ending of her story, though MAJORLY foreshadowed, was very rushed and sort of ... convenient.
rachelcus's review against another edition
4.0
And yet another awesome book by Anne Gracie! The Chance "sisters" are shockingly amusing with just the right amount of internal turmoil and I love Lady Beatrice (although she wasn't as big a character in this installment, she's still a favorite supporting character, hands down). I have to say I didn't quite see Damaris's story coming and I'm glad I didn't. I mean, I suspected some of it, but I was guessing for the most part for quite a while and ultimately I definitely didn't guess all of it . And Freddy was surprisingly likeable; after his "muffins" attitude in the previous book, I sort of thought he was a bit of an ass. He still kind of is for that, but fun and charming in his own way, too. He definitely grew on me.
thenia's review against another edition
4.0
The second book in the Chance sisters series, where the second of the four "Chance" sisters Damaris gets her happy ending.
She is very stubborn and fights it with all she has, believing that she doesn't deserve it because of her traumatizing past. Up to a point it is understandable but she has a few moments of stupidity that made me really annoyed with her.
Freddy initially seems superficial and I wasn't all that fond of him either at first, but that's not really the case. He is simply using lightheartedness as a facade to hide his true feelings or avoid sharing them.
Once they shed some of the superficial layers and start getting to know each other better I came to like them both and enjoy their story, with its light and fun moments alongside the darker and more serious ones.
While there aren't any official announcements about when the next books in the series are coming out, I'm pretty sure Daisy's match was introduced in this book and I'm looking forward to their story.
She is very stubborn and fights it with all she has, believing that she doesn't deserve it because of her traumatizing past. Up to a point it is understandable but she has a few moments of stupidity that made me really annoyed with her.
Freddy initially seems superficial and I wasn't all that fond of him either at first, but that's not really the case. He is simply using lightheartedness as a facade to hide his true feelings or avoid sharing them.
Once they shed some of the superficial layers and start getting to know each other better I came to like them both and enjoy their story, with its light and fun moments alongside the darker and more serious ones.
Spoiler
Damaris's defense of him to his parents being one of the best among the serious ones.While there aren't any official announcements about when the next books in the series are coming out, I'm pretty sure Daisy's match was introduced in this book and I'm looking forward to their story.
prgchrqltma's review against another edition
4.0
Characters: woman with a past, rake who is supposed to look after her
World Building: interiors, estate management
Plot: sham betrothal, revenge
Sex: medium
Read another: Yes
As always, interesting period details, lively dialogue, strong characters.
World Building: interiors, estate management
Plot: sham betrothal, revenge
Sex: medium
Read another: Yes
As always, interesting period details, lively dialogue, strong characters.
cathuluu's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
3.5