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rienne's review against another edition
4.0
I reaaaally liked this, in part because I seem to have embraced this whole thing where media I consume seems to be coming for me to talk me through Feelingsgate 2018, through which I hope to organically come to the same realizations Duncan and Margaret come to in this book--the vulnerability and the joy of being able to receive love as readily as one gives it. I enjoyed that on a philosophical, emotional, and personal level, but I also really found the implausible plot to work for me--a little white lie that quickly spins out of control is something I easily see. And I liked that they were both "old." It felt... natural, even with the typical romance novel circumstances.
I also really like the constant presence of the rest of the family. Mary Balogh seems to be really good at looping that in naturally.
I also really like the constant presence of the rest of the family. Mary Balogh seems to be really good at looping that in naturally.
coffeeandink's review against another edition
2.0
All of Balogh's sentences have the same cadence and all her characters have the same (anachronistic) sense of morality, but possibly because of this she can be strangely soothing to read when I have a headache.
I don't really like any of her books except the ones I imprinted on as a teenager/college student, though.
I don't really like any of her books except the ones I imprinted on as a teenager/college student, though.
rhodered's review against another edition
2.0
It went from not that bad to incredibly boring, despite flurries of plot toward the end (all too obviously manufactured to keep our interest.) this is a book that would have been far better had it lost 150 pages. Yet, I suppose the author had a contract so she fluffed it out as well as she could.
That said, it is a triumph in two distinct ways:
1. A blow against insta-love:
In fact it read very much like an author's RANT against the idea of insta love as well as love based mainly on lust, i.e. about 75% of romances when it was written. The characters endlessly discuss and define the progress of their feelings, both agreeing vehemently that just brief friendship and strong sexual chemistry does not automatically equal love or assure it in the future.
In fact, on at least two occasions the hero wonders if he will come to hate the heroine in the future, due to her strong character.
2. The heroine's strong character:
It's talked about a bit more than its demonstrated (in fact, infuriatingly, her kid brother who she raised tries to boss her on occasion, which she bears affectionately. I would have bonked him.) But, she does get some good solid banter in and generally pulls her weight versus the hero.
I don't understand why her past experience had to leave her so naive and terrible at kissing though. Why does she have to be terribly pure?
Anyhow, there's some good stuff in here. I'd love to sit down and chat with the author about this book. On the other hand, it's not worth a re-read. The bad or boring stuff was just too dull.
That said, it is a triumph in two distinct ways:
1. A blow against insta-love:
In fact it read very much like an author's RANT against the idea of insta love as well as love based mainly on lust, i.e. about 75% of romances when it was written. The characters endlessly discuss and define the progress of their feelings, both agreeing vehemently that just brief friendship and strong sexual chemistry does not automatically equal love or assure it in the future.
In fact, on at least two occasions the hero wonders if he will come to hate the heroine in the future, due to her strong character.
2. The heroine's strong character:
It's talked about a bit more than its demonstrated (in fact, infuriatingly, her kid brother who she raised tries to boss her on occasion, which she bears affectionately. I would have bonked him.) But, she does get some good solid banter in and generally pulls her weight versus the hero.
I don't understand why her past experience had to leave her so naive and terrible at kissing though. Why does she have to be terribly pure?
Anyhow, there's some good stuff in here. I'd love to sit down and chat with the author about this book. On the other hand, it's not worth a re-read. The bad or boring stuff was just too dull.
missmarketpaperback's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this was going to be 5 stars but the last 2 chapters are so dramatic I wanted to tell Meg to Get Out. I loved the first 80% of the soft, slow romance. Both characters are very kind, despite dramatic circumstances. The end ups the drama to truly crazy levels, but I still enjoyed it.
accidentalspaceexplorer's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was a delightful read for an afternoon - I particularly appreciated that they were both upfront and honest with each other about their feelings and their reasons for marriage, and worked from there to a satisfying and loving relationship.
stellar_raven's review against another edition
4.0
A solid 4.5 stars.
I think this may be my favorite of the series thus far.
I loved reading Meg's story--I really wanted her to finally get her happy ending--and Duncan has to be one of my favorite historical romance heroes of all time.
I will say that I'd pretty much worked out what Duncan's biggest secret was, but the twist the author added managed to catch my by surprise...and horrified me at the same time.
I thought Meg's reaction to figuring out what that secret was was a bit out of character for her, and that's what kept me from giving the book the full five stars.
I think this may be my favorite of the series thus far.
I loved reading Meg's story--I really wanted her to finally get her happy ending--and Duncan has to be one of my favorite historical romance heroes of all time.
I will say that I'd pretty much worked out what Duncan's biggest secret was, but the twist the author added managed to catch my by surprise...and horrified me at the same time.
I thought Meg's reaction to figuring out what that secret was was a bit out of character for her, and that's what kept me from giving the book the full five stars.
thuja's review against another edition
3.0
This was fine. The conflict seemed to get sorted much more easily than I believed, but aside from that it was a fine book with some good character development.
dreamerf641c's review against another edition
4.0
Oddly enough, I liked the female more than the male in this romance novel. However, her reactions were often a little over the top, and didn't always seem to fit her characterization.
Still, I enjoyed this book quite a bit.
Still, I enjoyed this book quite a bit.
readercecc6's review against another edition
2.0
1.5
Bored me to tears. Repetitive. Historical inaccuracies. Heroine was a complete Mary Sue and hero was her Gary Stue and EVERYbloodyONE sang her praises. Can two fictional characters, main ones at that, be more bland? Nay.
I kept waiting for things to get better, for the writing to not drag, for the author to not repeat every freaking detail ad nauseam. Never happened. Good god, the hero was freaking boring. How that's possible with such an interesting backstory, I'll never know.
Bored me to tears. Repetitive. Historical inaccuracies. Heroine was a complete Mary Sue and hero was her Gary Stue and EVERYbloodyONE sang her praises. Can two fictional characters, main ones at that, be more bland? Nay.
I kept waiting for things to get better, for the writing to not drag, for the author to not repeat every freaking detail ad nauseam. Never happened. Good god, the hero was freaking boring. How that's possible with such an interesting backstory, I'll never know.
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