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bookedinsideout's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
05/03/2022 (audio): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I think I enjoyed it more this time... the grovel, the sisters, the audiobook performance, the preview to Caleb and Sesily. (And I stopped before the epilogue.) Plus it's the book that inspired my latest tattoo (the sparrow and the dove).
07/26/2021: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really went back and forth on this! I think one of the best things about this book is that a group of adult siblings got to go spend a month together, leaving their husbands and devoting time to each other. Though a month might be a bit much, I loved that they got this time together and that it meant we got more of the Talbot sisters.
After The Rogue Not Taken I wasn’t sure how the Duke of Haven was going to become any kind of hero, so I think his vulnerability and openness were crucial for making this work, and I’m still not sure that he shared enough of that with Sera, especially compared to what we got to see. I was also pretty put off by what Sera did to fracture Mal’s trust (if it was really for them, couldn’t she just talk to him about it and keep him in the loop?) and apparently she was incredibly apologetic, but it was kind of the opposite of Malcolm - I didn’t feel like I really got to see that. She was fighting for her freedom, but she took the choice away from him.
I loved the underwater ballroom and the dove and the sparrow and the conversations about keeping the past with them and fighting for the future. I’m not usually a fan of second-chance romances, but I thought that was really beautiful. And then I was really, really disappointed with that miracle baby/babies/kid epilogue, because I believed this couple was going to be one of the few child-free couples in historical romance (maybe even unmarried!), but apparently you really do need children to be happy.
And on a lighter note, I can’t believe with the previews of Sesily and Caleb that “we” had to wait 4 years for their story - and I say “we” recognizing how lucky I am that I *only* have to wait a month. I recognized the Bareknuckle Bastards, but I realized only towards the end of this book that Felicity, one of the “suitresses,” is Felicity from Wicked and the Wallflower, the first Sarah MacLean book that I read. I’ll have to circle back, but for now I can’t wait for more of Sesily.
I think I enjoyed it more this time... the grovel, the sisters, the audiobook performance, the preview to Caleb and Sesily. (And I stopped before the epilogue.) Plus it's the book that inspired my latest tattoo (the sparrow and the dove).
07/26/2021: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really went back and forth on this! I think one of the best things about this book is that a group of adult siblings got to go spend a month together, leaving their husbands and devoting time to each other. Though a month might be a bit much, I loved that they got this time together and that it meant we got more of the Talbot sisters.
After The Rogue Not Taken I wasn’t sure how the Duke of Haven was going to become any kind of hero, so I think his vulnerability and openness were crucial for making this work, and I’m still not sure that he shared enough of that with Sera, especially compared to what we got to see. I was also pretty put off by what Sera did to fracture Mal’s trust (if it was really for them, couldn’t she just talk to him about it and keep him in the loop?) and apparently she was incredibly apologetic, but it was kind of the opposite of Malcolm - I didn’t feel like I really got to see that. She was fighting for her freedom, but she took the choice away from him.
I loved the underwater ballroom and the dove and the sparrow and the conversations about keeping the past with them and fighting for the future. I’m not usually a fan of second-chance romances, but I thought that was really beautiful. And then I was really, really disappointed with that miracle baby/babies/kid epilogue, because I believed this couple was going to be one of the few child-free couples in historical romance (maybe even unmarried!), but apparently you really do need children to be happy.
And on a lighter note, I can’t believe with the previews of Sesily and Caleb that “we” had to wait 4 years for their story - and I say “we” recognizing how lucky I am that I *only* have to wait a month. I recognized the Bareknuckle Bastards, but I realized only towards the end of this book that Felicity, one of the “suitresses,” is Felicity from Wicked and the Wallflower, the first Sarah MacLean book that I read. I’ll have to circle back, but for now I can’t wait for more of Sesily.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Infertility and Infidelity
Minor: Pregnancy
CW: Miscarriage, infertility (ending with a baby/kid epilogue)mindsorceress's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Infidelity, and Miscarriage
Minor: Child death
aqtbenz's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Infertility
Moderate: Infidelity
inuy21's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Child death
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Emotional abuse
raneemfathy's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage and Infertility
Moderate: Infidelity
joinreallife's review against another edition
3.0
Honestly, still agree with Sera's original assertion that love is not enough because their relationship seems built on distrust and deception. Not a great foundation. But overall, I enjoyed the read, I love Sera's relationship with her sisters, but honestly my favourite characters were the side characters: Caleb, and Felicity, and Lilith.
CW: difficult birth, death of newborn, discussion of infertility, infidelity
CW: difficult birth, death of newborn, discussion of infertility, infidelity
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Child death
Minor: Infertility and Infidelity
lilyofthevalley_reads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book from start to finish. I hadn't read any of the other books in the "Scandal & Scoundrel" series before this one, but I am such as fan of Sarah Maclean's work that I just had to get this book ASAP. The main character's story in this book was partially covered in the other books from the series, but honestly you don't need to (although I highly recommend that you do). You would start off hating the main character's husband if you did though, just full warning you! By the end though, it really portrays the struggles of coming to terms with the infidelity in a marriage, and what is seemingly a marriage of convenience. I did not want this book to end! The sex scenes in this book were both really hot and steamy, and sweet and nurturing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Infidelity
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