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shavonbrown's review against another edition
2.0
The short stories were just to short. I wanted more, and some that were only 1 chapter long made no sense to me.
taisie22's review against another edition
4.0
Like most compilations, this is a bit of a mixed bag. Mischief and the Marquess was the best, in my opinion, with likable characters and lots of heat. The other two stories, The Duke's Treasure and The Inconvenient Countess both suffered from the format; both were have been much better expanded into a separate novel. The novella-length didn't give either story enough of a chance to develop the characters or the plots. Still, a quick read and nice overall historical romance compilation.
withadreamy_farofflook's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
MISCHIEF AND THE MARQUESS by Sylvia Day
Justin, the Marquess of Fontaine, and Lady Sophie Milton-Riley are being brought together by their matchmaking mothers. Justin needs to get married and Sophie is eligible... well, not really. She's had a child out of wedlock. But Justin doesn't seem to mind; it's just Sophie. She would prefer to prove that they are incompatible. Except that they aren't...
I couldn't connect to either of these characters and it was even harder than the usual novella issues. Two and a half stars.
THE DUKE’S TREASURE by Minerva Spencer
Beaumont Halliwell, the Fifth Duke of Wroxton, needs a wealthy wife and fast. Josephine Loman's father is dying but he wants her to improve her station in life so he marries her off to Beau, telling Beau not to let her come back. Beau obeys but as he starts to get to know his wife, he realizes that he may have been hasty in assuming that a low-born woman would not be his perfect match and that he wants her to be happy in all things.
Better than the first story, this one still has a lot going on with back stories and current stories and it feels like the ending was a bit forced. Three stars.
THE INCONVENIENT COUNTESS by Kristin Vayden
Miss Diana Katherine Lambson is out of options. After her father's death, he left only debts. Her only choice is to marry Charles Brook, Earl of Barrington, who wants her family's land. While her father had strictly forbade it, Diana wants to take that chance in order to save her mother and sisters.
My favorite, this could have been a longer novel and I would have been perfectly content because it would have filled in the cracks. Three and a half stars.
Justin, the Marquess of Fontaine, and Lady Sophie Milton-Riley are being brought together by their matchmaking mothers. Justin needs to get married and Sophie is eligible... well, not really. She's had a child out of wedlock. But Justin doesn't seem to mind; it's just Sophie. She would prefer to prove that they are incompatible. Except that they aren't...
I couldn't connect to either of these characters and it was even harder than the usual novella issues. Two and a half stars.
THE DUKE’S TREASURE by Minerva Spencer
Beaumont Halliwell, the Fifth Duke of Wroxton, needs a wealthy wife and fast. Josephine Loman's father is dying but he wants her to improve her station in life so he marries her off to Beau, telling Beau not to let her come back. Beau obeys but as he starts to get to know his wife, he realizes that he may have been hasty in assuming that a low-born woman would not be his perfect match and that he wants her to be happy in all things.
Better than the first story, this one still has a lot going on with back stories and current stories and it feels like the ending was a bit forced. Three stars.
THE INCONVENIENT COUNTESS by Kristin Vayden
Miss Diana Katherine Lambson is out of options. After her father's death, he left only debts. Her only choice is to marry Charles Brook, Earl of Barrington, who wants her family's land. While her father had strictly forbade it, Diana wants to take that chance in order to save her mother and sisters.
My favorite, this could have been a longer novel and I would have been perfectly content because it would have filled in the cracks. Three and a half stars.
addieyoder's review against another edition
4.0
I was pleasantly surprised to realize this is actually 3 short stories. All three were heartwarming and engaging and I binged this book in an afternoon. I loved Sylvia Day's Crossfire Series so this was a must read book when I saw it pop up. It was a perfect rainy afternoon book. It was a little steamier than what I have recently read, but the love stories are great!
katebyroade's review against another edition
3.0
Three novellas by three different authors.
“Mischief and the Marquess” by Sylvia Day is a hot mess. She’s lazy/incompetent researcher and her sex scenes are both lurid and silly. The heroine’s breasts were described as swelling so often that I was afraid she’d pop! (That’s not how breasts work.)
“The Duke’s Treasure” by Minerva Spencer is a sexed up “A Civil Contract” but is well told.
“The Inconvenient Countess” by Kristin Vayden is a lightweight marriage of convenience story that is told well enough to be pleasant entertainment.
“Mischief and the Marquess” by Sylvia Day is a hot mess. She’s lazy/incompetent researcher and her sex scenes are both lurid and silly. The heroine’s breasts were described as swelling so often that I was afraid she’d pop! (That’s not how breasts work.)
“The Duke’s Treasure” by Minerva Spencer is a sexed up “A Civil Contract” but is well told.
“The Inconvenient Countess” by Kristin Vayden is a lightweight marriage of convenience story that is told well enough to be pleasant entertainment.
jaclynder's review against another edition
2.0
I was interested in this collection of novellas solely because of Minerva Spencer - I recently discovered and adored Scandalous (it was over-the-top in a good way). I'm also a big fan of the marriage of convenience trope, so what could go wrong?
Well...this one totally missed the mark for me. While I know that Day's novella was originally published in 2007, the other two also felt so, so dated to me. Over the years that I've been reading historical romances the genre has changed a lot to reflect how the world has changed (feminism and consent being the two big ones) and I personally felt that these novellas completely disregarded the fact that audiences have changed (or at least I have?). At any rate, I didn't feel that any of these novellas were developed enough to warrant the dated, domineering and controlling hero. Perhaps with a longer page count and better character exploration I could have gotten behind these romances, but as it stands, this collection was a disappointment to me.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Well...this one totally missed the mark for me. While I know that Day's novella was originally published in 2007, the other two also felt so, so dated to me. Over the years that I've been reading historical romances the genre has changed a lot to reflect how the world has changed (feminism and consent being the two big ones) and I personally felt that these novellas completely disregarded the fact that audiences have changed (or at least I have?). At any rate, I didn't feel that any of these novellas were developed enough to warrant the dated, domineering and controlling hero. Perhaps with a longer page count and better character exploration I could have gotten behind these romances, but as it stands, this collection was a disappointment to me.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
clairesneverland's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve got to start off with this is my first dip into historical romance. It’s been an intimidating sub-genre for me.
Mischief and the Marquess by Sylvia Day
3/5 stars
This fell short for me. I really loved the romance, but the plot fell a bit short. But then again it is a novella so things are normally rushed. This would be 4 stars, but I feel like the whole Justin winning the son over so easily was too rushed.
The Duke’s Treasure by Minerva Spencer
4/5 stars
I enjoyed this one a lot more than the first story. I didn’t care for the alphamale-ness, but I have a feeling that’s gonna be a reoccurring theme with a lot of historical romances due to the eras. So hopefully I get used to that. But I thoroughly enjoyed this story and was rooting for the couple throughout the whole novella.
The Inconvenient Countess by Kristin Vayden
5/5 stars
I really enjoyed this one. And honestly there was anything that bothered me.
Thank you Goodreads and Kensington for this copy I received in a giveaway.
Mischief and the Marquess by Sylvia Day
3/5 stars
This fell short for me. I really loved the romance, but the plot fell a bit short. But then again it is a novella so things are normally rushed. This would be 4 stars, but I feel like the whole Justin winning the son over so easily was too rushed.
The Duke’s Treasure by Minerva Spencer
4/5 stars
I enjoyed this one a lot more than the first story. I didn’t care for the alphamale-ness, but I have a feeling that’s gonna be a reoccurring theme with a lot of historical romances due to the eras. So hopefully I get used to that. But I thoroughly enjoyed this story and was rooting for the couple throughout the whole novella.
The Inconvenient Countess by Kristin Vayden
5/5 stars
I really enjoyed this one. And honestly there was anything that bothered me.
Thank you Goodreads and Kensington for this copy I received in a giveaway.