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alexandreads's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mdmiller1993's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.5
balletbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
Picked this up because I liked Diana's new book and Fated Mates keeps reccing it.
I really loved the set-up - a hedonistic Duke living a life of pleasure (complete with a sex room in his house) to thumb his nose at his outwardly-straightlaced father inherits the custody of two little girls who are his cousins. Who turn his life upside down and also have a governess Isabel who is really not down with Sunny's lifestyle.
But I thought the book was a little choppy and unnecessarily complicated (like when Izzy and the children return from a trip to Devon to find Sunny having what looks like and orgy in his house, even though he's not really into it any more, but it's after he and Izzy got busy after a ball so she's very hurt). The kids are great though and there's a really good twist at the end.
I really loved the set-up - a hedonistic Duke living a life of pleasure (complete with a sex room in his house) to thumb his nose at his outwardly-straightlaced father inherits the custody of two little girls who are his cousins. Who turn his life upside down and also have a governess Isabel who is really not down with Sunny's lifestyle.
But I thought the book was a little choppy and unnecessarily complicated (like when Izzy and the children return from a trip to Devon to find Sunny having what looks like and orgy in his house, even though he's not really into it any more, but it's after he and Izzy got busy after a ball so she's very hurt). The kids are great though and there's a really good twist at the end.
bleuetlau's review
3.5
Really made me think of the Governess game by Tessa Dare but it didn’t blew me away
readingwithhippos's review
5.0
Sarah MacLean was right, this book is great. I loved seeing enemies to lovers in a historical context. The antagonism was always light and fun—the duke constantly referring to the heroine as “the dowd” or “the shrew” really tickled me (she certainly had her own equally unflattering descriptors for him). I also loved how the twists and turns constantly surprised me—I couldn’t predict which way the story would go. This is my favorite Diana Quincy book I’ve read so far.
thebigq's review
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
3.75
Fun take on the unrepentant rake trope, especially his playroom for sexy times that clearly intrigues his young wards. Ending twists were a bit heavy handed but it all works out in the end. Some funny scenes balance out the occasionally awkward or strange phrases. Pacing was a bit uneven too.
First book I've read by Quincy and want to find the rest of the series based on the small cameos of those characters.
First book I've read by Quincy and want to find the rest of the series based on the small cameos of those characters.
katkayleyy's review
3.0
I really liked this book. The little girls were soo freaking adorable. They were my favorite parts of the book. I think the Adam and Isabel were a good match but not a fan of the way they describe her at first. It was giving me “ she is not ugly but she is not pretty either” vibes. The reveal about Isabel being their mother was a surprise. I definitely did not see that coming
ksherman712's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
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
4.0
Enjoyable, but it got a little close there with the girls nearly walking in on Sinful Sunny’s soirées. As a romance read, I enjoyed the relationship between our two leads.
librovert's review
2.0
Sinful Sunny is the name the ton has given to Adam Fairfax, the Duke of Sunderford. He is known for his for his decadent lifestyle - one which involves multiple women per evening, a lavish playroom where parties involving various states of undress are hosted and a near-daily requirement for hangover cures. When seven-year-old twins Patience and Prudence, along with Governess Isabel Finch, are deposited on his doorstep as his wards, he is not amused. His friends, once also great rakes and parties, have settled down with women (this is the 4th book in the series after all) but Sunny wants none of it and his home is no place for children. Especially not when said children find their way into the Duke's playroom and he finds them tumbling in front of his mirrors and swinging on his swing (yes, it's that kind of swing!).
Isabel Finch is determined to be the proper governess. With no family of her own, Patience and Prudence have become her family and she will not fail them - not even if it means gritting her teeth and living with the disgraceful Duke. Isabel has secrets of her own and one wrong move could cost her more than just her job.
The tropes in The Duke Who Ravished Me are on point. I love a reformed rake story, especially when said reformation is prompted by innocent children. I also love a governess who isn't afraid to stand up for the well being of her charges, even if it means going against the will of the Duke who employs her. However, there were some things that really bothered me.
First, the pacing of the relationship was all sorts of wonky. They spent a good portion of the first half of the book hating each other, then they share a rather heated kiss. Then they back off and stay away from each other, there's a little bit of a slow buildup after that - until the end where everything feels rushed and needs to be resolved RIGHT NOW.
Second, Sunny has one characteristic that I am finding I hate in romantic leads. He is consistently reminding himself that he shouldn't like Isabel because she's plain. I am 100% fine with the inner struggle of "I'm a Duke, she's a governess" or even "I'm not ready to give up my rakish lifestyle" - but something about heroes that are constantly vacillating between "she's so plain/boring/uninteresting" and obviously falling for the woman rub me the wrong way.
Sunny and Isabel had some really beautiful moments and the twist at the end was definitely unexpected and well done, but the overall execution left much to be desired.
Isabel Finch is determined to be the proper governess. With no family of her own, Patience and Prudence have become her family and she will not fail them - not even if it means gritting her teeth and living with the disgraceful Duke. Isabel has secrets of her own and one wrong move could cost her more than just her job.
The tropes in The Duke Who Ravished Me are on point. I love a reformed rake story, especially when said reformation is prompted by innocent children. I also love a governess who isn't afraid to stand up for the well being of her charges, even if it means going against the will of the Duke who employs her. However, there were some things that really bothered me.
First, the pacing of the relationship was all sorts of wonky. They spent a good portion of the first half of the book hating each other, then they share a rather heated kiss. Then they back off and stay away from each other, there's a little bit of a slow buildup after that - until the end where everything feels rushed and needs to be resolved RIGHT NOW.
Second, Sunny has one characteristic that I am finding I hate in romantic leads. He is consistently reminding himself that he shouldn't like Isabel because she's plain. I am 100% fine with the inner struggle of "I'm a Duke, she's a governess" or even "I'm not ready to give up my rakish lifestyle" - but something about heroes that are constantly vacillating between "she's so plain/boring/uninteresting" and obviously falling for the woman rub me the wrong way.
Sunny and Isabel had some really beautiful moments and the twist at the end was definitely unexpected and well done, but the overall execution left much to be desired.