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darlinginmyway's review against another edition
4.0
Boy, oh boy. I just don't know about this one.
I love the amount of angst, but y'all...
He cheats. That's...whew. Idk that I can get over that.
I love the amount of angst, but y'all...
He cheats. That's...whew. Idk that I can get over that.
sarahreadsromance's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Steamy romance involving defiance and desire for independence and the quest to obtain independence through the societal constraints the MC was born into. Goes beyond a surface-level role reversal of having a more dominant woman to include a bit of light BDSM.
loujanae's review against another edition
4.0
The last 50% was the better 50%. There was like... five different romance novels in this one book. There was just wayy too much going on. I loved it! But holy moly there were way too many ideas in one book. I ended up enjoying it a lot due to the fact that I put this book aside for many months after getting about 50% through. Because I had such distance from it, I had the chance to really appreciate what it had to offer in its latter half. I think I'm really going to enjoy Scarlett Peckham's following books.
frogy927's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book.
It felt very much like the Lisa Kleypas I've read, which I also enjoyed and isn't a bad thing. But it wasn't what I was expecting because I was sold on it from a twitter quote saying this was "absolutely nothing but pornography." And then it had what I feel like is an average amount of sex for a modern historical romance. And now I kind of want to do some research for what actually is the average amount of sex in romance novels. Because I haven't been intentionally seeking out the high heat ones, but maybe I've by chance been reading a skewed distribution.
It felt very much like the Lisa Kleypas I've read, which I also enjoyed and isn't a bad thing. But it wasn't what I was expecting because I was sold on it from a twitter quote saying this was "absolutely nothing but pornography." And then it had what I feel like is an average amount of sex for a modern historical romance. And now I kind of want to do some research for what actually is the average amount of sex in romance novels. Because I haven't been intentionally seeking out the high heat ones, but maybe I've by chance been reading a skewed distribution.
rhodesee's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this enough to pick up the second one and I'm hopeful that it will rectify some definite issues with this first book.
thanys_thoughts's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, so I wasn't a big fan of the beginning of this book. Although I liked the chemistry of Archer and Poppy, the plot was a little bit all over the place. Instead of one main reason for the couple to not be together, there seemed to be several and the conflicts seemed to be glossed over really easily. But the last third of the book developed really well, so it make it earn an extra star. It's the writer's first romance, so I'm giving her another shot with the second book in the series.
vagrantheather's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I had zero intent to tell Goodreads I was reading this book. I picked it up on Libby looking for a smutty historic romance. It's not my usual genre but sometimes my brain is ISO serotonin and this gets 'er going. Most romance I've dabbled in has been abominably, intolerably poorly written (Hello, Bridgerton books), so I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying the writing here. It's not simply passable, but actually uses vocabulary a middle schooler would have to look up, and not in a scandalous way (well, not always in a scandalous way).
There is smut here, yes. Too little of it to some reviewers, but well balanced in my eyes. But what really captivated me was the way it toyed with my emotions. The ways they misunderstand each other and it breaks their hearts. The ways they misread cues and self-abuse. In my 30s I'm still an emotional wreck and this book landed so many blows.
> "I am not the kind of man with whom there is a future for you." Her blood ran cold. Suddenly she could see herself the way he saw her . . . Not a goddess. Just a spinster who forgot herself.
> She could still feel that child's fear, that primal urge to burrow into the darkest, smallest nooks. . . Only Bernadette had understood. . . She'd sensed innately what Poppy had really wanted when she had hidden herself away. To be found. For to be found was the only way of knowing you were wanted.
> And today he had been so polite and bloody sweet in letting her down gently that her foolishness was compounded, because he must have seen how she had hoped. It was mortifying, the amount of care he took. She would rather he had simply said 'thats not what I bought you for, cavendish,' and slapped her.
I was not expecting this book to be emotionally devastating. I need a dozen more like it.
PS this is still definitely sappy and definitely vivid in a mature audiences only kind of way.
There is smut here, yes. Too little of it to some reviewers, but well balanced in my eyes. But what really captivated me was the way it toyed with my emotions. The ways they misunderstand each other and it breaks their hearts. The ways they misread cues and self-abuse. In my 30s I'm still an emotional wreck and this book landed so many blows.
> "I am not the kind of man with whom there is a future for you." Her blood ran cold. Suddenly she could see herself the way he saw her . . . Not a goddess. Just a spinster who forgot herself.
> She could still feel that child's fear, that primal urge to burrow into the darkest, smallest nooks. . . Only Bernadette had understood. . . She'd sensed innately what Poppy had really wanted when she had hidden herself away. To be found. For to be found was the only way of knowing you were wanted.
> And today he had been so polite and bloody sweet in letting her down gently that her foolishness was compounded, because he must have seen how she had hoped. It was mortifying, the amount of care he took. She would rather he had simply said 'thats not what I bought you for, cavendish,' and slapped her.
I was not expecting this book to be emotionally devastating. I need a dozen more like it.
PS this is still definitely sappy and definitely vivid in a mature audiences only kind of way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism
mflake's review against another edition
emotional
slow-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
4.0
hm08's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a refreshing historical romance! One can easily tell that this is a historical romance meant for modern readers.
While I found the writing to be anachronistic, the plot had enough going for it and the chemistry between our main characters were off the charts. I don't think Peckham's writing is for everyone, but if you're looking for a unique historical romance, this one is where it's at!
While I found the writing to be anachronistic, the plot had enough going for it and the chemistry between our main characters were off the charts. I don't think Peckham's writing is for everyone, but if you're looking for a unique historical romance, this one is where it's at!
aedgeworth27's review against another edition
4.0
After reading The Rakess I wanted to read more from Scarlett Peckham. I loved this and think that Scarlett Peckham is an exceptional historical romance author. I loved the character progression in this and how they learned to give and take from one another in the way that was best for them individually and in their relationship. Such a fun read!