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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
If there was a 2.5 stars option, I'd probably select that for this book. To me it falls somewhere between "It's Okay" and "Liked It." It had enjoyable moments, but I couldn't help side-eyeing the way people spoke and acted. For a historical romance, nobody seemed all that historical, other than in what they wore. I wish I could overlook that, but I just can't. It throws me out of the story and makes me laugh, and not in a good way!
This is the first book I'm reading in the Castles Ever After series which intersects with the Spindle Cove series that I'm currently working my way through. It is the second in the series but it can be read as a standalone. A young debutant Clio (who been engaged to the marquess Piers Brandon for several years) is seeking to dissolve her contracted engagement after inheriting a castle which she hopes to turn into a brewery. This is extremely unusually for a woman of her status at the time and would have been quite scandalous. Her fiance has been out of the country for 8 years and she attempts to get the necessary paperwork signed off by his brother Rafe before Piers returns but his brother is intent on the wedding happening (for reasons we are not made privvy to) and attempts to change her mind. Rafe has a week of convince her though it is pretty clear he's coveted and desired her for himself for quite some time.
If you are a strict Historical Romance veteran, this book may not be for you. It reads very much like a contemporary romance with only some of the tropes and limitations of the time. However, the side characters such as Clio's sister Phoebe, Rafe's trainer and even the dog were humorous enough to give it a pass. I wish the cover featured a plus size girl as the novel describes but again that is a publisher issue not story
If you are a strict Historical Romance veteran, this book may not be for you. It reads very much like a contemporary romance with only some of the tropes and limitations of the time. However, the side characters such as Clio's sister Phoebe, Rafe's trainer and even the dog were humorous enough to give it a pass. I wish the cover featured a plus size girl as the novel describes but again that is a publisher issue not story
The premise of this series is that this old coot dies and leaves castles to various ladies. This book is about his niece.
After waiting 8 years for her fiancee, the heroine decides she doesn't want to marry him and needs her
dowry to start a brewery at her inherited castle. I wish the author had put in a bit more about brewing, but it was enough to pique my interest and send me to Wikipedia to learn more about Indian Pale Ale.
And yes there are scenes where she tries on various wedding dresses.
After waiting 8 years for her fiancee, the heroine decides she doesn't want to marry him and needs her
dowry to start a brewery at her inherited castle. I wish the author had put in a bit more about brewing, but it was enough to pique my interest and send me to Wikipedia to learn more about Indian Pale Ale.
And yes there are scenes where she tries on various wedding dresses.
4 stars
Enjoyed Clio and Rafe's characters so much. Really hoping Phoebe gets a book.
Trigger Warnings: Child abuse & neglect, fat & body shaming, forced dieting, and disordered eating
Enjoyed Clio and Rafe's characters so much. Really hoping Phoebe gets a book.
Trigger Warnings: Child abuse & neglect, fat & body shaming, forced dieting, and disordered eating
This book was so witty, fun, and romantic I never really stopped smiling. Honestly loved this story and the chemistry between the two characters. I also loved the way typical storylines were developed differently than usual and just made me so happy!
*reread 12/17/22*
What a happy book. Oh my gosh it’s just so good. I love this heroine so much. Tessa Dare writes the perfect books for me.
*reread 12/17/23*
This is just such a good book. I am in from the beginning. The tension the relationships it is all *chefs kiss*.
*reread 11/17/24*
haha I am literally obsessed with this book.
*reread 12/17/22*
What a happy book. Oh my gosh it’s just so good. I love this heroine so much. Tessa Dare writes the perfect books for me.
*reread 12/17/23*
This is just such a good book. I am in from the beginning. The tension the relationships it is all *chefs kiss*.
*reread 11/17/24*
haha I am literally obsessed with this book.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I feel like I should have loved this - but....meh. Dare is likely the finest practitioner of "light historicals" working today and I adored the emotional heft of this story (Clio's yearning for her own identity, her feelings of inadequacy, Lord - it's just fantastic stuff!) that was lurking under the cotton candy shell. The author has a way of giving you the glittery pink bow while ripping your heart out at the same time. I mean, it's really amazing.
That said, this just seemed to go on forever. I mean, on and on and on. Maybe it was the all the wedding nonsense that wore me out. Or the fact that the characters kept talking in circles. Or the fact that it takes Clio forever to tell her family she wants to call off the engagement and that she wants Rafe to do the dirty work of signing the dissolution papers but won't pull the trigger herself (actually I loved this scene in the book when Rafe throws that in her face).
Also there's very little background on the Piers/Clio "relationship," such as it is. It takes so long for the author to mention correspondence between them that I spent the first 50% of the book thinking, "What? I'm supposed to believe they never wrote letters to each other?!" This is the kind of thing I nit-pick to death though.
So yeah. It just went on way too long for me and I started to find some of the characters insufferable after a bit. It's romantic. The emotional "stuff" is amazing in parts. But it never really clicked for me - and dog knows why.
That said, this just seemed to go on forever. I mean, on and on and on. Maybe it was the all the wedding nonsense that wore me out. Or the fact that the characters kept talking in circles. Or the fact that it takes Clio forever to tell her family she wants to call off the engagement and that she wants Rafe to do the dirty work of signing the dissolution papers but won't pull the trigger herself (actually I loved this scene in the book when Rafe throws that in her face).
Also there's very little background on the Piers/Clio "relationship," such as it is. It takes so long for the author to mention correspondence between them that I spent the first 50% of the book thinking, "What? I'm supposed to believe they never wrote letters to each other?!" This is the kind of thing I nit-pick to death though.
So yeah. It just went on way too long for me and I started to find some of the characters insufferable after a bit. It's romantic. The emotional "stuff" is amazing in parts. But it never really clicked for me - and dog knows why.
hopeful
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
I give this a 3.75. I really liked it but not as much as I loved the first book in the series. The characters fell a little flatter for me but I enjoyed the story.