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walking_cheese's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.25
sassyginger's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Overall, I liked this. There was quite a bit of spice for a historical, but it was done well. I did not like all the wishy washy, back and forth between the characters.
curvygirlsreadromance's review against another edition
5.0
I've seen this book on instagram over the last few months and couldn't wait to read it. I finished it last night and am still riding this book high.
WHAT. A. DEBUT!
Catherine and John had just the right amount of angst and tension in their love story. I appreciated that the hatred between their families didn't persist as the sole reason they couldn't be together until the end of the book. Both characters acknowledged their love for one another. Lloyd's secondary characters did a good amount of heavy lifting in terms of bringing conflict into the story. I also appreciated that Lloyd emphasized the complexity of her characters both primary and secondary. No one was all good or all bad.
I loved, loved, loved Catherine and John together. When a hero is just gone for the heroine and everyone can see it but him, I love it. I also adored John's obsession with Catherine's ink-stained fingers.
Cannot wait for the rest of this series. Lloyd did a great job of teeing up the Rank Rakes as the heroes of the remaining books. I'm very much hoping that Henrietta marries one of them.
I can't say enough good things about this book. Read it. You will love it.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for review.
WHAT. A. DEBUT!
Catherine and John had just the right amount of angst and tension in their love story. I appreciated that the hatred between their families didn't persist as the sole reason they couldn't be together until the end of the book. Both characters acknowledged their love for one another. Lloyd's secondary characters did a good amount of heavy lifting in terms of bringing conflict into the story. I also appreciated that Lloyd emphasized the complexity of her characters both primary and secondary. No one was all good or all bad.
I loved, loved, loved Catherine and John together. When a hero is just gone for the heroine and everyone can see it but him, I love it. I also adored John's obsession with Catherine's ink-stained fingers.
Cannot wait for the rest of this series. Lloyd did a great job of teeing up the Rank Rakes as the heroes of the remaining books. I'm very much hoping that Henrietta marries one of them.
I can't say enough good things about this book. Read it. You will love it.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for review.
burlesquemouse's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
alyahs99's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
deestarod's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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
lifeisbetterwithbooks_'s review against another edition
5.0
"I love you. I will always love you. Since that night in the Tremberley gardens, since I was a boy, I have loved you and only you."
4.5 stars!
As much as I enjoyed this story, I admit that I didn't like the hero very much when we first meet him. He came off as a callous and irredeemable rake, and I hated the way he handled things with Catherine when they were discovered in the gardens. However as the story goes on and we slowly learn more about the hopeless situation that both John and Catherine find themselves entangled in, I really became enraptured in their tragic yet undeniable romance.
The characters were beautifully written and complex as they fought to overcome the betrayals of their past in order to achieve a modicum of happiness for their future. Lydia successfully created such an elaborate obstacle for John and Catherine to unravel, and I loved watching as they struggled in vain to deny their feelings for each other. There were some truly steamy scenes in this novel which only helped to solidify the connection between John and Catherine as they grow closer, and I cannot wait for the other Rake's stories