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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
elizabethhollar's review against another edition
5.0
Y’all. This book was a historical lovers DREAM. It had so many tropes packed into one story which was done in a magical way. Typically, I wouldn’t love a book where the author seemed to be putting every trope they could into their 400-page book. However! Lloyd executed her trope with grace and it didn’t feel too much at any time. I loved every second of this book, even when I felt like the story was dragging, I was still enjoying myself.
The plot of this story is pretty wild, but I loved every second of it. It has a very old-school historical romance vibe to it because of how wild it is and I think that is what drew me to the novel when I first started reading it. One of my favorite things in the novel was John’s sister, Henrietta. I found it refreshing that she was an actual part of the story and not just a side character there for comedic relief.
Overall, I really loved this book and I can’t wait for the rest of the series!
*I was provided an ARC by the publisher via Netgalley*
The plot of this story is pretty wild, but I loved every second of it. It has a very old-school historical romance vibe to it because of how wild it is and I think that is what drew me to the novel when I first started reading it. One of my favorite things in the novel was John’s sister, Henrietta. I found it refreshing that she was an actual part of the story and not just a side character there for comedic relief.
Overall, I really loved this book and I can’t wait for the rest of the series!
*I was provided an ARC by the publisher via Netgalley*
nmcchristy's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
swooningandstepbacks's review against another edition
4.0
I was so excited to see that one of my favorite historical romance bookstagramers had a book releasing soon. Lydia Lloyd is the Queen of compiling research on historical romances and the history aspect of them. So I was pleased to read that her heroine, Catherine is a bit of a history buff herself. Our book has a promising opening with John and Catherine each secretly seeking something outside of their normal lives (John pretends to be a vicar to break from his duties as a Duke, Catherine too conceals her identity). Amidst their instant attraction and beginning of a make out session, their identities are revealed and they are none other than family rivals. Why rivals? John’s married father had an affair with Catherine’s aunt and was caught in flagrante. This destroyed John’s parents’ marriage and also the reputation of Mary Forster, Catherine’s aunt who by association destroyed her family’s name. Seem a little confusing? It was at first for me too.
The story then book then jumps to 7 years in the future. Both John and Catherine have secretly been lusting over one another (which I found to be a LOOOOONG time for feelings of lust without interaction to exist) and they must pair up due to a stipulation in the late Duke’s will. For me this is where the chemistry really started to take off. If you take enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity, spiciness is bound to happen, right? There seemed to be many plot points driving this novel and I think it confused me initially, but I really enjoyed the time John and Catherine had to spend together. There is a scene where Catherine is at the modiste that is
The story then book then jumps to 7 years in the future. Both John and Catherine have secretly been lusting over one another (which I found to be a LOOOOONG time for feelings of lust without interaction to exist) and they must pair up due to a stipulation in the late Duke’s will. For me this is where the chemistry really started to take off. If you take enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity, spiciness is bound to happen, right? There seemed to be many plot points driving this novel and I think it confused me initially, but I really enjoyed the time John and Catherine had to spend together. There is a scene where Catherine is at the modiste that is
tlovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? Complicated
4.0
ericas_bookshelf's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
mdexter's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
lechepatito's review against another edition
4.0
Oh, this was good! Carriage shenanigans, reluctant attraction, forbidden relationship, good friends, a bit of a mystery - Lydia Lloyd hit all the right beats.
webbsusa's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
I think this author has a lot of potential, but I struggled with the instalust. What did these characters love about each other, aside from the sex? I’m honestly not sure. And while I am not a huge stickler for “historical accuracy”—all historical romance is fantasy, to some extent—if one is going to write historical romance, then please get major details right. For example, nobody would make their debut a month or two after their dad died—they would be in mourning for a year and would attend no social events. A top modiste would never allow what happened in that scene to happen (being vague to avoid spoilers)—it would have led to ruination for not only the young woman, but also the modiste’s business. I could go on, but the point is probably clear.
What I did like: Ariel. I want a book about him when he is all grown up! Catherine’s relationship with Ariel and Lady Wethersby is touching; I would have liked to see more of their interactions. I liked Henrietta a lot and would like to read a book where she is the heroine. I liked Catherine , although I found some of her characterization completely unbelievable; some elements of her characterization seemed to turn on a dime. But I really like the idea of having a female main character who was a historian and a writer. I would have loved to have seen her work explored in more detail.
What I did like: Ariel. I want a book about him when he is all grown up! Catherine’s relationship with Ariel and Lady Wethersby is touching; I would have liked to see more of their interactions. I liked Henrietta a lot and would like to read a book where she is the heroine. I liked Catherine , although I found some of her characterization completely unbelievable; some elements of her characterization seemed to turn on a dime. But I really like the idea of having a female main character who was a historian and a writer. I would have loved to have seen her work explored in more detail.
talkflowers2me's review against another edition
3.5
I enjoyed John immensely. Catherine annoyed me though. Like, the last part of the book when she becomes a martyr and breaks up with him and then is hoping and sad when he hasn’t come after her? Come on, girl.