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morganreadsoccasionally's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Stars
This was a very good start to what appears to be a four-part series. It definitely screams Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester.
Ivy adjusted really quickly to her environment which seemed a bit too unrealistic but it works for the story. She is no timid mouse. I really like that we get to see little bits of her strength peaking through.
Mr. Markham, on the other hand, we still know absolutely nothing about. It's driving me crazy. I need to know more about him...and his first two wives.
Definitely going to continue reading this series.
This was a very good start to what appears to be a four-part series. It definitely screams Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester.
Ivy adjusted really quickly to her environment which seemed a bit too unrealistic but it works for the story. She is no timid mouse. I really like that we get to see little bits of her strength peaking through.
Mr. Markham, on the other hand, we still know absolutely nothing about. It's driving me crazy. I need to know more about him...and his first two wives.
Definitely going to continue reading this series.
_janina's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mishelleday's review against another edition
2.0
why did he keep calling her wildcat???!?!?!?!?!? hello?!?!?!?!?!
rachelmaybeidk's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
serialromancelibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
I went into this blind because it was recommended on a Reddit thread I’m a part of. I wish I’d known it ended on a cliffhanger. I’m finding both characters quite exasperating. I don’t understand why the h would throw herself at a man widowed a mere month—who was married to her own cousin, no less! I don’t understand why the H would settle for not knowing who murdered his late wife if it wasn’t him. I didn’t feel the romance at all between the MC’s because the H attends and hosts many hedonistic parties so it’s likely to me that he views the h as just another willing, warm body. The h has the sensibilities of a sexually-liberated modern woman—not of someone in the 1870’s, so I didn’t find the plot to be very realistic. Not sure I care enough to continue.
anabelsbrother's review against another edition
2.0
I just can't decide whether Julian's hot or plain creepy.
ikovski's review against another edition
3.0
Aslında sinyalini verdi
Kitabın gizemi adamın evlendikten sonra kısa sürede ölen iki karısı. Adam öldürmüş dedikodusu var, kız bile bile giriyor işin içine, şüphe duysa da asama sormuyor ya da kaçmıyor bu güzeldi. Takmadı yani no klişe dlcşfşv
Sonunda da evlen seni seviyorum dedi.
ayrıca ilk kitabı mı bilmiyorum da baya acemi yazmış aslında, ateşli sahneler diyaloglar ve kurgudan bahsetmiyorum, akış ve kaleminden bahsediyorum. İdare eder bi Sierra var ve elbette ki beni gıcık edecek bişi yazıyor bu kadın, bunun için bkz spoiler.
Spoiler
bdsm görünce şöyle iki alfa üç itaatkar okuyalım dedim allahım bi de historical histerik histerik ne güzel dedim ama kız bakire, adam dom OK, misafirleri geliyor, zevk arkadaşları, mm, ff, mmf dahil ama anlatmıyor foreplay harici bişi nys kızın gözlerini bağlama oyunu oynadılar kişiyi tanımadıkça kızı soydular fln. Sonra çıplak kalınca adam kızı yukarı çıkarttı elletmedi de bu da sharing aq gelemiyorum bunlara ben. Kız baya istekli bu arada submission yok.Kitabın gizemi adamın evlendikten sonra kısa sürede ölen iki karısı. Adam öldürmüş dedikodusu var, kız bile bile giriyor işin içine, şüphe duysa da asama sormuyor ya da kaçmıyor bu güzeldi. Takmadı yani no klişe dlcşfşv
Sonunda da evlen seni seviyorum dedi.
ayrıca ilk kitabı mı bilmiyorum da baya acemi yazmış aslında, ateşli sahneler diyaloglar ve kurgudan bahsetmiyorum, akış ve kaleminden bahsediyorum. İdare eder bi Sierra var ve elbette ki beni gıcık edecek bişi yazıyor bu kadın, bunun için bkz spoiler.
maddies_readinglist's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
bethany_t's review against another edition
3.0
It’s smut. I shouldn’t have expected too much out of it. But a lot of this book doesn’t make sense. Ivy, 19, has lived alone and orphaned for years of her life and pretty much run wild on her property, drinking champagne in trees and being a free spirit. She’s portrayed as really into exploring her sexuality, but she’s somehow never had any romantic experience before or self-pleasured. Despite being a free spirit who acts on her impulses. Oh… kay. Anyway, following the death of her brother and the more recent (and suspicious) death of her cousin Violet, she comes to live in the house of Violet’s widower, Julian Markham. I'm not too sure why she moves to Markham House. The story isn’t clear on that point.
“You were supposed to be a charity case,” he said. “Or a houseguest. Or family. I can’t remember anymore.”
“I am happy to be anything you need,” I said.
See? Let’s not fool ourselves, she’s just there to bang Markham. There’s not even a semblance of buildup to this relationship unless you count the fact that penetrative intercourse doesn’t happen right away. Also, Markham is a bit predatory with his whole “lock your door at night or else I’ll come in and ravage you” warning. I really hate romance novels where men express an inability to be gentle or stop themselves sexually around the purported love interest.
Sort of regarding those weird contradictions in the character of Ivy, Markham implies Violet, whom Ivy had regarded as “vivacious” and somewhat promiscuous, did not enjoy his “darker” sexual cravings. But innocent, virginal Ivy is immediately accepting of these (and orgies) and absolutely subservient when it comes to him. It’s a bit silly and not very believable. Also... let's take a look at some that sexy dialogue:
“How does it feel, Ivy?” he asked.
“Wonderful,” I managed.
Yeah… the “dirty talk” is not very good. I rolled my eyes through a lot of it.
Why do writers, especially female writers who would likely have firsthand knowledge on the subject, always portray a woman’s first time having sex as painful and the man always needing to ask whether they should stop? It’s really silly, even if Mr. Markham is “big.” Also, I hate the overuse of the c-word in this book in regards to female parts. That word makes me a bit uncomfortable, I’ll admit.
If you don’t mind depictions of toxic relationships and instalove smut, then this is fine enough. It’s steamy, but the characters are dull. Their dialogue is always a bit trite. The semblance of a mystery regarding Violet’s death allowed for the thinnest of plots behind the smut, and it was sort of interesting.
Verdict
It’s certainly not well-written, but fun nonetheless. I’ll probably read the second installment if it's ever free to buy for Kindle.
So, who would enjoy this book?
Those who like short romance novels a la “Fifty Shades of Grey.” It’s a nice, quick guilty pleasure read if you’re in the mood for that.
“You were supposed to be a charity case,” he said. “Or a houseguest. Or family. I can’t remember anymore.”
“I am happy to be anything you need,” I said.
See? Let’s not fool ourselves, she’s just there to bang Markham. There’s not even a semblance of buildup to this relationship unless you count the fact that penetrative intercourse doesn’t happen right away. Also, Markham is a bit predatory with his whole “lock your door at night or else I’ll come in and ravage you” warning. I really hate romance novels where men express an inability to be gentle or stop themselves sexually around the purported love interest.
Sort of regarding those weird contradictions in the character of Ivy, Markham implies Violet, whom Ivy had regarded as “vivacious” and somewhat promiscuous, did not enjoy his “darker” sexual cravings. But innocent, virginal Ivy is immediately accepting of these (and orgies) and absolutely subservient when it comes to him. It’s a bit silly and not very believable. Also... let's take a look at some that sexy dialogue:
“How does it feel, Ivy?” he asked.
“Wonderful,” I managed.
Yeah… the “dirty talk” is not very good. I rolled my eyes through a lot of it.
Why do writers, especially female writers who would likely have firsthand knowledge on the subject, always portray a woman’s first time having sex as painful and the man always needing to ask whether they should stop? It’s really silly, even if Mr. Markham is “big.” Also, I hate the overuse of the c-word in this book in regards to female parts. That word makes me a bit uncomfortable, I’ll admit.
If you don’t mind depictions of toxic relationships and instalove smut, then this is fine enough. It’s steamy, but the characters are dull. Their dialogue is always a bit trite. The semblance of a mystery regarding Violet’s death allowed for the thinnest of plots behind the smut, and it was sort of interesting.
Verdict
It’s certainly not well-written, but fun nonetheless. I’ll probably read the second installment if it's ever free to buy for Kindle.
So, who would enjoy this book?
Those who like short romance novels a la “Fifty Shades of Grey.” It’s a nice, quick guilty pleasure read if you’re in the mood for that.