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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I am a staunch Eloisa James fan, but this was very much not her best. Although I enjoyed parts it was stereotypical in a lot of ways that I found distasteful. The last 50+% of the novel I was thrilled at how much better it was, but then it just went on and on and on and got worse than the silly start. I think I would have forgiven the formulas had it been a novella but as a full novel I felt cheated. Nevertheless I will continue to look forward to her novels, this one just didn't work.
I will add a quote when the books is published.
I suspect that many historians roll their eyes when it comes to historical romance novels. The odds of there being so many matches made in heaven, so many large wealthy families and all the other trappings of these stories are slim indeed.
Of course, that is not why I read romance. I don’t really care if the historical facts are accurate. When I encounter an inaccuracy that I can recognize, if the story is fun and the writing good, I keep on reading.
I say all that because I have no idea if it was possible for an American to become a duchess in the early 1800’s in England. But it didn’t matter while I was reading James’ latest novel. It only mattered that the protagonists were interested in each other, that their courtship was amusing and that eventually they got their happily ever after. Eloisa James can invent whatever she wants because I know the story will be fun to read even if it is not historically correct.
As always thank you to Edelweiss and Avon Books for allowing me early access to this ebook.
I suspect that many historians roll their eyes when it comes to historical romance novels. The odds of there being so many matches made in heaven, so many large wealthy families and all the other trappings of these stories are slim indeed.
Of course, that is not why I read romance. I don’t really care if the historical facts are accurate. When I encounter an inaccuracy that I can recognize, if the story is fun and the writing good, I keep on reading.
I say all that because I have no idea if it was possible for an American to become a duchess in the early 1800’s in England. But it didn’t matter while I was reading James’ latest novel. It only mattered that the protagonists were interested in each other, that their courtship was amusing and that eventually they got their happily ever after. Eloisa James can invent whatever she wants because I know the story will be fun to read even if it is not historically correct.
As always thank you to Edelweiss and Avon Books for allowing me early access to this ebook.
Eloisa James is always a joy - escapist, happy, witty fun. Trent needed a good slap, but that's often the way. Enjoyable, light and entertaining.
Aside from a couple of moments, I really enjoyed this one. I'm curious about the final page and what could happen and I rather liked the teaser for A Gentleman Never Tells.
I'd re-read this one in January before I went into my ARC of How To Be A Wallflower and it was so much fun the second time around!
It was not just the extremely likable hero and heroine of this story that created the rating. It is the way it extends beyond the courtship angle, and enters a marriage between two people who are extremely attracted to one another yet do not know each other very well. This is one of my favorite Eloisa James stories to date.
4/5
I really enjoyed this story and the relationship between Merry and Trent. I liked that Merry was American, which brought something different to the story.
I really enjoyed this story and the relationship between Merry and Trent. I liked that Merry was American, which brought something different to the story.
I have mixed feelings about this novel. On one hand, I love that the big challenge that the couple faces is learning how to recognize that they are loving one another and how to articulate it. And I love that that made up the last third of the book.
I was a little uncomfortable with the focus on the founding fathers of American and her constant reference to a Mohawk warrior she met as a little girl. Seemed to reinforce a specific interpretation of American history while making her encounter with an indigenous person exotic. But since the book is set in 1803, I don’t think encountering indigenous people would have been all that uncommon.
The other element that made me uncomfortable was characterizing the female protagonist as fickle because she hops from suiter to suiter. There isn’t any discussion with the female protagonist about what sort of spouse she is looking for, why she was attracted to each of those men, or even how her position of heiress makes her a prime target for fortune hunters. It felt like an exaggeration of a female stereotype rather than helping the protagonist grow in discernment and learn to evaluate her choices more closely- or even learn to give people a trial period before saying yes. She definitely didn’t become self-reliant the way James’s female characters usually do, so I was a bit disappointed.
I was a little uncomfortable with the focus on the founding fathers of American and her constant reference to a Mohawk warrior she met as a little girl. Seemed to reinforce a specific interpretation of American history while making her encounter with an indigenous person exotic. But since the book is set in 1803, I don’t think encountering indigenous people would have been all that uncommon.
The other element that made me uncomfortable was characterizing the female protagonist as fickle because she hops from suiter to suiter. There isn’t any discussion with the female protagonist about what sort of spouse she is looking for, why she was attracted to each of those men, or even how her position of heiress makes her a prime target for fortune hunters. It felt like an exaggeration of a female stereotype rather than helping the protagonist grow in discernment and learn to evaluate her choices more closely- or even learn to give people a trial period before saying yes. She definitely didn’t become self-reliant the way James’s female characters usually do, so I was a bit disappointed.
Very good book. Merry is an American heiress who has come to London to find a husband. She was engaged twice back home in Boston, but ended both of those engagements. She has just become engaged to Lord Cedric, who seems to be the perfect choice. He's romantic and attentive and she is determined to make it all the way to the altar this time.
Trent has avoided marriage so far, but knows he will have to marry soon. He's looking for a woman who will fit perfectly into his life, looking only for respect and friendship, and avoiding messy emotions. He doesn't expect to run into an American woman who immediately attracts and fascinates him.
I loved their first meeting at the ball. Merry had gone outside for some fresh air, a short time after Cedric's proposal. Her peace is interrupted by Trent's arrival. He's angry and frustrated with his brother and is trying to get under control. Merry first mistakes him for another American, certainly not as one of the highest ranked of the aristocrats. I loved their conversation, with Merry being her usual forthright self, and Trent stunned by his immediate fascination with her. In spite of his usual antipathy toward Americans, he is determined to find out who she is and claim her for himself. He's dismayed to discover that she's his future sister-in-law.
I really enjoyed seeing that he was so smitten, even though he didn't admit that to himself. He was immediately protective of Merry. He had several confrontations with his brother, who he felt was not treating her properly. He tries hard to do the right thing and stay away, as she belongs to his brother, but he just can't do it.
I really didn't like Cedric at all. He was selfish, snobby and mean-spirited. He only proposed to her because of her fortune, and immediately started to change who she was. I hated the way that he was constantly putting her down. It all came to a head during the "pineapple incident" and I wanted to shove him in a fountain. I liked seeing Merry finally stand up to him and see the truth.
I liked seeing the relationship that grew between Trent and Merry. Trent doesn't believe in romantic love, has seen too many times when it just disappears. This feeling is reinforced by Merry's three engagements, where she swore she "loved" each of those men. He would rather base a relationship on respect and friendship. Merry has given up on love because her history has shown her that she's no good at it. I liked Trent's support of Merry after the pineapple incident and how he was determined to claim her for himself. The way he went about it could have turned out very badly, but Merry forgave him pretty quickly.
Once they got to Trent's estate, the fun really began. I liked seeing them get to know each other. Trent's appreciation of Merry's intelligence was great. I loved seeing them debate issues over their meals. They also discovered that the attraction between them was intense. They spent a lot of time exploring that. I also liked the way that Merry learned more about what made Trent the man he was. Merry was the first to realize that she had fallen in love with him, and of course, had to speak out. His reaction was not unexpected, but I hurt for her. The next parts were emotional as she suffered through all his rebuttals. I was so frustrated with him, because it was so obvious that he loved her, too, but he couldn't see it. I liked her reactions and what she she does to try to wait him out. Even more satisfying is his reaction. I loved how he finally realized the truth, and then had to deal with being on the other side of the equation. I loved his big moment at the end, with the nod to what had brought them together. The epilogue was great, with a surprise twist involving Cedric. I hope there will be a story for him.
Trent has avoided marriage so far, but knows he will have to marry soon. He's looking for a woman who will fit perfectly into his life, looking only for respect and friendship, and avoiding messy emotions. He doesn't expect to run into an American woman who immediately attracts and fascinates him.
I loved their first meeting at the ball. Merry had gone outside for some fresh air, a short time after Cedric's proposal. Her peace is interrupted by Trent's arrival. He's angry and frustrated with his brother and is trying to get under control. Merry first mistakes him for another American, certainly not as one of the highest ranked of the aristocrats. I loved their conversation, with Merry being her usual forthright self, and Trent stunned by his immediate fascination with her. In spite of his usual antipathy toward Americans, he is determined to find out who she is and claim her for himself. He's dismayed to discover that she's his future sister-in-law.
I really enjoyed seeing that he was so smitten, even though he didn't admit that to himself. He was immediately protective of Merry. He had several confrontations with his brother, who he felt was not treating her properly. He tries hard to do the right thing and stay away, as she belongs to his brother, but he just can't do it.
I really didn't like Cedric at all. He was selfish, snobby and mean-spirited. He only proposed to her because of her fortune, and immediately started to change who she was. I hated the way that he was constantly putting her down. It all came to a head during the "pineapple incident" and I wanted to shove him in a fountain. I liked seeing Merry finally stand up to him and see the truth.
I liked seeing the relationship that grew between Trent and Merry. Trent doesn't believe in romantic love, has seen too many times when it just disappears. This feeling is reinforced by Merry's three engagements, where she swore she "loved" each of those men. He would rather base a relationship on respect and friendship. Merry has given up on love because her history has shown her that she's no good at it. I liked Trent's support of Merry after the pineapple incident and how he was determined to claim her for himself. The way he went about it could have turned out very badly, but Merry forgave him pretty quickly.
Once they got to Trent's estate, the fun really began. I liked seeing them get to know each other. Trent's appreciation of Merry's intelligence was great. I loved seeing them debate issues over their meals. They also discovered that the attraction between them was intense. They spent a lot of time exploring that. I also liked the way that Merry learned more about what made Trent the man he was. Merry was the first to realize that she had fallen in love with him, and of course, had to speak out. His reaction was not unexpected, but I hurt for her. The next parts were emotional as she suffered through all his rebuttals. I was so frustrated with him, because it was so obvious that he loved her, too, but he couldn't see it. I liked her reactions and what she she does to try to wait him out. Even more satisfying is his reaction. I loved how he finally realized the truth, and then had to deal with being on the other side of the equation. I loved his big moment at the end, with the nod to what had brought them together. The epilogue was great, with a surprise twist involving Cedric. I hope there will be a story for him.