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_alyssar_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Classism
Minor: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
lilyofthevalley_reads's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Least favourite Kleypas that I have read so far, which I expected coming into this one, knowing that people found it to be the least enjoyable and weakest of her recent novels. It started off with the enemies to lovers trope which if you know me, you know I’m a complete sucker for. However, I just found the only basis for their relationship was their sexual chemistry. Devon is always highly aroused by Kathleen in pants; I know it’s Victorian England and women never wore pants but still, Devon keep it in your pants dude. There was no discernible intellectual or emotional connection between the hero and heroine, other than he let her cry in front of him, even though it makes him uncomfortable because of his unresolved childhood trauma.
The good parts of this book were that I got to go back and read about the beginnings of Helen and Rhys’ relationship. I had previously read “Devil in Spring” and then “Marrying Winterbourne”, so I was curious how it all started between them. In particular, the detail about Helen’s rare, delicate orchid that Rhys’ is in charge of and how good care he takes of it was completely swoon-worthy 😍
Even though I didn’t end up enjoying this book as much as the other two I read in the “Ravenel” series, I think it helps greatly to read it order to get the full context of both Devon and Kathleen as well as Helen and Rhys’ relationships in future books.
The good parts of this book were that I got to go back and read about the beginnings of Helen and Rhys’ relationship. I had previously read “Devil in Spring” and then “Marrying Winterbourne”, so I was curious how it all started between them. In particular, the detail about Helen’s rare, delicate orchid that Rhys’ is in charge of and how good care he takes of it was completely swoon-worthy 😍
Even though I didn’t end up enjoying this book as much as the other two I read in the “Ravenel” series, I think it helps greatly to read it order to get the full context of both Devon and Kathleen as well as Helen and Rhys’ relationships in future books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Alcoholism
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