Scan barcode
ashbats99's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
anaidelawless's review
4.0
I love these, and yes it is not realistic or whatever, but I love it. This was kind of heavier at times, but the silly antics Lynn Messina does so well made it lighter, so the balance was great.
sarah_moynihan's review
3.0
This is the second book in Lynn Messina's Love Takes Root series. Whereas the first book followed Miss Emma Harlow, The Fellingham Minx follows her twin sister, Miss Lavinia Harlow. While Emma is confident and daring, Lavinia- or Vinnie- is quiet and bookish. She almost never acts in a way that goes against the grain, but once her name is put forth for membership in the British Horticultural Society by the Marquess of Huntley. And as an avid horticulturist, why shouldn't she pursue it, simply because she is a woman?
She does indeed intend to decline the offer in order to avoid further scandal, but once others start calling for her to decline she finds that she cannot.
I was impressed with Lavinia character while reading The Harlow Hoyden and although I still liked her in this book, I found her to be less likeable here. This might not be all on her character though. I found Emma to be very amsuing in and I adored Lavinia as well. They played off each other really well and I felt that Lavinia's personality really got to shine more in that book, even as a secondary character. In this book, Lavinia's personality seemed more repressed and she didn't seem like the same young woman we got to know over the course of the last book. But I did really love her awkward interactions and indignation with Huntley in the beginning of the book.
I didn't really see the connection between Lavinia and Huntley and the realization of their feelings for one another felt a bit abrupt for me. There was less adventure and mystery in this book and so that made it drag a bit for me. I found Emma and Keswick to be my favorite characters from the book because they are just so amusing and endearing.
This book is enjoyable. But if you are going into this book expecting to go along for a mystery with our characters, as in The Harlow Hoyden then this may not be the ideal book for you as there is not much. As it is the touch of drama and intrigue at the end of the book is quite unexpected and a bit out of place. Plus it is very rapidly resolved...almost like it didn't need to be in there to begin with. This is not my favorite of Lynn Messina's books, but still enjoyable.
_____
I read this book with my Kindle Unlimited membership.
She does indeed intend to decline the offer in order to avoid further scandal, but once others start calling for her to decline she finds that she cannot.
I was impressed with Lavinia character while reading The Harlow Hoyden and although I still liked her in this book, I found her to be less likeable here. This might not be all on her character though. I found Emma to be very amsuing in
I didn't really see the connection between Lavinia and Huntley and the realization of their feelings for one another felt a bit abrupt for me. There was less adventure and mystery in this book and so that made it drag a bit for me. I found Emma and Keswick to be my favorite characters from the book because they are just so amusing and endearing.
This book is enjoyable. But if you are going into this book expecting to go along for a mystery with our characters, as in The Harlow Hoyden then this may not be the ideal book for you as there is not much. As it is the touch of drama and intrigue at the end of the book is quite unexpected and a bit out of place. Plus it is very rapidly resolved...almost like it didn't need to be in there to begin with. This is not my favorite of Lynn Messina's books, but still enjoyable.
_____
I read this book with my Kindle Unlimited membership.
julianav's review
3.0
It's well written Regency romance with lively characters, a great deal of humour and romantic shenanigans and it barely makes a 3 star for me. Ms Messina writes in a very entertaining style, but it seems occasionally too out of place for a Regency England conversation. This is not the reason for my lower rating.
The author clearly loves the heroine of the first book so much, that quite a large portion of the book is dedicated to Emma and her husband. instead of Emma being a support character, Emma competes with her sister for the honours of being the heroine yet again. This is supposed to be Lavinia's book, not Emma and Lavinia's character suffers for it.
The love premise between Lavinia and the marquess is tepid at best. I don't find their romance very believable. Later, when the two start talking the attraction starts showing. The first meeting on the other hand is nothing more to showcase author's first beloved heroine.
Throughout the book, whilst the romance gets slightly warmer, since Lavinia strikes me as a well-developed character, the hero is a bland imitation of her sister's husband. There is very little substance to the Marquess and that substance grows very little by the conclusion of the book.
Conclusion, amusing, but very bland with overuse of the characters from the first book. Get it on a special or free during a Book Bub promotion or suchlike.
The author clearly loves the heroine of the first book so much, that quite a large portion of the book is dedicated to Emma and her husband. instead of Emma being a support character, Emma competes with her sister for the honours of being the heroine yet again. This is supposed to be Lavinia's book, not Emma and Lavinia's character suffers for it.
The love premise between Lavinia and the marquess is tepid at best. I don't find their romance very believable. Later, when the two start talking the attraction starts showing. The first meeting on the other hand is nothing more to showcase author's first beloved heroine.
Throughout the book, whilst the romance gets slightly warmer, since Lavinia strikes me as a well-developed character, the hero is a bland imitation of her sister's husband. There is very little substance to the Marquess and that substance grows very little by the conclusion of the book.
Conclusion, amusing, but very bland with overuse of the characters from the first book. Get it on a special or free during a Book Bub promotion or suchlike.
stormsreading's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
alexlcriddle's review
4.0
4.5 stars
I enjoyed this novel more than the first one. Vinnie was a delightful protagonist, and I'm so glad she was given her own fully developed story. The story itself was interesting and original. When people are in love, they sometimes tend to exhibit uncharacteristic behaviors, and this novel captured that very well. I liked the addition of Emma and Trent and seeing their relationship after marriage (I liked them better here than in the first novel). The varying characters' points of view added complexity to the story, and the writing was well executed. As a warning, there was an inappropriate scene that, quite frankly, was unexpected given the characters (but again, I guess love drives us wild, clouding our judgment and propriety). I would have given the novel 5 stars if not for the steamy scene at the end.
I enjoyed this novel more than the first one. Vinnie was a delightful protagonist, and I'm so glad she was given her own fully developed story. The story itself was interesting and original. When people are in love, they sometimes tend to exhibit uncharacteristic behaviors, and this novel captured that very well. I liked the addition of Emma and Trent and seeing their relationship after marriage (I liked them better here than in the first novel). The varying characters' points of view added complexity to the story, and the writing was well executed. As a warning, there was an inappropriate scene that, quite frankly, was unexpected given the characters (but again, I guess love drives us wild, clouding our judgment and propriety). I would have given the novel 5 stars if not for the steamy scene at the end.
ssejig's review
3.0
Le sigh. This was a good book (after the first quarter) but still not as good as my first Messina, The Harlow Hoyden.
In this book, our heroine is the twin of the first book in the series. Lavinia, Vinnie, Harlow has always been considered the "good" twin, though a pallid copy of her sister. She is a gifted horticulturalist but it still comes as a surprise when her name is put in for the British Horticultural Society.
The Marquess of Huntley (BFF of The Hoyden's husband) isn't sure why he put Vinnie's name in for the society. Women are not forbidden to join, but they aren't really encouraged either. Though the first meeting between Huntley and Vinnie isn't particularly auspicious (she soaks him with a hose), as the two are thrown together more and more often, they begin to find the ways in which they are compatible.
The first part of the story was both scattered and drag-gy. We got the same event from both character's point of view. Which, when done well (Mary Balogh), can be a wonderful way to get a glimpse of deeper character. In this case, I just wondered why we were getting almost a complete re-hash of the events. There was nothing added. Luckily, it straightened out and I started enjoying the story more. While the ending also had me a bit underwhelmed, I overall enjoyed this book.
In this book, our heroine is the twin of the first book in the series. Lavinia, Vinnie, Harlow has always been considered the "good" twin, though a pallid copy of her sister. She is a gifted horticulturalist but it still comes as a surprise when her name is put in for the British Horticultural Society.
The Marquess of Huntley (BFF of The Hoyden's husband) isn't sure why he put Vinnie's name in for the society. Women are not forbidden to join, but they aren't really encouraged either. Though the first meeting between Huntley and Vinnie isn't particularly auspicious (she soaks him with a hose), as the two are thrown together more and more often, they begin to find the ways in which they are compatible.
The first part of the story was both scattered and drag-gy. We got the same event from both character's point of view. Which, when done well (Mary Balogh), can be a wonderful way to get a glimpse of deeper character. In this case, I just wondered why we were getting almost a complete re-hash of the events. There was nothing added. Luckily, it straightened out and I started enjoying the story more. While the ending also had me a bit underwhelmed
Spoiler
Oh, we took care of the blackmailer off-stagejanlhill's review
4.0
An unexpected delight
I wouldn’t have thought that a story of intrigue and blackmail to be allowed to join a horticultural society would be this much fun, but the humour really makes this a romp.
I wouldn’t have thought that a story of intrigue and blackmail to be allowed to join a horticultural society would be this much fun, but the humour really makes this a romp.