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shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Sexism, Classism, Infertility, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal cruelty
apple_atcha_reading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
TL;DR: Leela is a QUEEN and Hunt doesn't deserve her. A man should respect you AND make you orgasm, the two are not mutually exclusive.
I've seen a few others review this novel and they have such high praise for our female lead, Leela, and Hunt is "just there". I get it now. 100%.
The premise of the novel is our love interests, Lady Delilah Chambers (Leela) and the Duke of Huntington Elliot Townsend (Hunt), share a passionate, anonymous night together, promising to never meet again. But as fate would have it, their lives are about to be forever entangled.
I loved, loved, LOVED Leela. She was strong, independent, and refused to take any crap from anyone, but specifically from men who believed themselves superior than her. On paper, Leela should have been granted status and benefits from society due to her title as a lady dowager, but her "unsavory" heritage. Her father was a nobleman, who "lowered" himself to marry her mother, the daughter of a Palestinian merchant. Leela's father never recovered his status in the eyes of elite society; everyone labeled him the "Mad Marquess". When Leela came of age, she married an older nobleman who had children from his previous marriage. When her husband died, Leela ran away to be with her family and did not return, since the heir made it very clear Leela was not a part of the family or welcome in the manor.
Elliot Townsend, "Hunt", is attempting to salvage his family's reputation, run his duchy, and live as respectable and scandal free as possible. There is a rumored curse on the Townsend family, every other generation is doomed to ruin through self-indulgence and reckless behavior. Which is why he simultaneously regrets his unforgettable one night stand with a mysterious lone woman, and wants to meet her again. Until, he realizes who the mysterious woman he shared an evening with is: the stepmother of the young woman he intends to marry.
In my household this was referred to as the MILF book (affirmative). Leela is a MILF, but she is an independent woman who doesn't need Hunt, but enjoys him. However. I did not enjoy Hunt. I found him to be shallow and superficial. I found myself wanting to get back to Leela's perspective or their shared chapters. At first I was like "ok, he falls hard, insta-lust, etc" which I would have been fine with, BUT when
Graphic: Racism and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Infertility, Sexual assault, and Classism
unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Death
Minor: Pregnancy
booksandfomo's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent
hazelgirl21's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Pregnancy
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual content, Racism, Misogyny, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Infertility and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy
caitlinemccann's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Racism, Bullying, Violence, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit
kearstenkeepsreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The entire book it’s a will they won’t they plot where the characters love each other and tell each other so but they can’t be married for one reason or another. I felt that there was too much going on between the step daughter, the stepson being a creep, the book, Hunt’s brother, Leela’s “infertility”, Leela’s family and travels and everyone’s refusal to have an adult conversation.
First it’s Leela who refuses to acknowledge Hunt and his feelings and then gets mad when he won’t talk to her. It’s back and forth the entire book of will they or won’t they. And it got boring. Seriously the only one who acts like a damn adult is Tori and she’s seventeen!
And then there is the “infertility” plot, where we are told MANY times that she is barren or infertile and most likely can’t have kids and it’s a big reason why she won’t marry Hunt. Then it’s like jk, she’s not barren/infertile here’s their baby girl and now we are making more!
There were some great parts I loved Tori’s storyline and was more interested in her than Leela or Hunt. I also loved the look into life as a widow and how that differs from a debutant. I do want to read the rest of the series this one just wasn’t for me.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gaslighting and Infertility
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Classism, Sexual content, Sexism, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, and Infertility
ego21's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Sexual content