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whiskeyinthejar's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
****Kindle version is up for free right now on Amazon!!!****
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review
Amelia is the ultimate type A personality, she has been managing the household ever since at a young age her father died and her younger brother inherited the dukedom. She can anticipate any situation, is aware of any potential issues, and is the Shakespeare of to-do lists. At the horrendously "old" age of thirty, Amelia realizes that her brother is depending on her too much and putting off getting married so finding a husband gets added to her schedule. She decides that the Annual Sheffield Christmas Eve Ball will be the best place to find a husband that meets all her criteria, however, when an act of nature burns down the building where the ball is held, it is canceled for the year. This will not do, so Amelia shows up at Benedict Sheffield's home, introduces herself, and proceeds to make him feel like he is making all the decisions when in fact Amelia is simply guiding him to what she has already decided. Benedict does his best to not get caught up in the tornado that is Amelia but he soon finds his own rigid schedule of 8am-8pm work and 8pm-8am pleasure getting disrupted but not all the disrupting is happening all on Benedict's side as Amelia finds out that getting her feathers ruffled can be quite enjoyable.
Even though Amelia and Benedict are both rigid characters in a sense, they are both relatable and human enough to be enjoyable to read about. This is a novella, so the relationship aspect is accelerated so we can get our happily ever after. It works for the most part in this story with just a little side eye to how quickly our leads are in "luv". Amelia is the more flushed out character as the story follows from her lead most of the time while Benedict is hurt more by the shortness of the story. The reader gets the basic idea why Benedict keeps a strict schedule and then gets somewhat of a feel for why he falls for Amelia, her strength and managing ways are a jolt to his system. They work and play well off of each other with a couple saucy interactions.
The strength of this novella isn't so much Amelia and Benedict as it is the way it introduces what will become the Dukes of War series. Future leads are introduced with surrounding back stories and arcs vaguely alluded to and hinted at. Erica Ridley is a new to me author and I am excited to read a full length novel by her as her writing was solid and engaging but didn't quite get to stretch its legs in this short story. I am definitely adding "The Earl's Defiant Wallflower" book one in the series to my tbr pile as I can't wait to read more about these damaged heroes and their heroines.
****Kindle version is up for free right now on Amazon!!!****
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review
Amelia is the ultimate type A personality, she has been managing the household ever since at a young age her father died and her younger brother inherited the dukedom. She can anticipate any situation, is aware of any potential issues, and is the Shakespeare of to-do lists. At the horrendously "old" age of thirty, Amelia realizes that her brother is depending on her too much and putting off getting married so finding a husband gets added to her schedule. She decides that the Annual Sheffield Christmas Eve Ball will be the best place to find a husband that meets all her criteria, however, when an act of nature burns down the building where the ball is held, it is canceled for the year. This will not do, so Amelia shows up at Benedict Sheffield's home, introduces herself, and proceeds to make him feel like he is making all the decisions when in fact Amelia is simply guiding him to what she has already decided. Benedict does his best to not get caught up in the tornado that is Amelia but he soon finds his own rigid schedule of 8am-8pm work and 8pm-8am pleasure getting disrupted but not all the disrupting is happening all on Benedict's side as Amelia finds out that getting her feathers ruffled can be quite enjoyable.
Even though Amelia and Benedict are both rigid characters in a sense, they are both relatable and human enough to be enjoyable to read about. This is a novella, so the relationship aspect is accelerated so we can get our happily ever after. It works for the most part in this story with just a little side eye to how quickly our leads are in "luv". Amelia is the more flushed out character as the story follows from her lead most of the time while Benedict is hurt more by the shortness of the story. The reader gets the basic idea why Benedict keeps a strict schedule and then gets somewhat of a feel for why he falls for Amelia, her strength and managing ways are a jolt to his system. They work and play well off of each other with a couple saucy interactions.
The strength of this novella isn't so much Amelia and Benedict as it is the way it introduces what will become the Dukes of War series. Future leads are introduced with surrounding back stories and arcs vaguely alluded to and hinted at. Erica Ridley is a new to me author and I am excited to read a full length novel by her as her writing was solid and engaging but didn't quite get to stretch its legs in this short story. I am definitely adding "The Earl's Defiant Wallflower" book one in the series to my tbr pile as I can't wait to read more about these damaged heroes and their heroines.
jennyreadsromance's review against another edition
3.0
Cute
This was a really cute novella. I liked the banter between Amelia & Benedict as they tried to outwit each other.
This was a really cute novella. I liked the banter between Amelia & Benedict as they tried to outwit each other.
bodebeabay's review against another edition
Dnf'd
No adult sex scenes means I will NOT read it!
Didn't know there was no adult steam before I started it, but one of my GR friends in the group that had it as a BR let me know before I got to far.
Thank you Midniteillusion!
So I got about 15% and dnf'd.
Hope everyone else enjoys it. But it is Not my ☕ Cup of Tea!
No adult sex scenes means I will NOT read it!
Didn't know there was no adult steam before I started it, but one of my GR friends in the group that had it as a BR let me know before I got to far.
Thank you Midniteillusion!
So I got about 15% and dnf'd.
Hope everyone else enjoys it. But it is Not my ☕ Cup of Tea!
lisavdwilt's review against another edition
5.0
This book and it's romance eek. I loved the fact that it was just a clean old fashioned romance of two people put into a certain circumstance that they had to work together and in the end fell in love. It was short and sweet and everything neat that I felt I so desired.
I didn't know I needed to read this book but I needed it and now which it wasn't 2020 and I could plan my own ball with such fancy a status.
jdeternal's review against another edition
4.0
A quick little holiday read about two people set I. Their ways learning to change.
morvvenna's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
booktothepointe's review against another edition
4.0
Cute Christmastide novella - strong female lead
verityw's review against another edition
3.0
*****Copy from Net Galley in return for an honest review****
This was my first Christmas reading of the year - and I enjoyed it. Despite the Christmas theme, it's not too overtly mistletoey (if you know what I mean) so I was quite happy reading it at the tail end of October.
I liked the story, I liked the characters and I liked the book whilst I was reading it. I'm not sure I'd go out and look for the series that it's a prequel to, but if I happened across one of them in future I would pick it up and read it. There were a few odd language choices in there - but not too many and mostly they didn't affect the flow of the writing.
A nice start to my Christmas books!
This was my first Christmas reading of the year - and I enjoyed it. Despite the Christmas theme, it's not too overtly mistletoey (if you know what I mean) so I was quite happy reading it at the tail end of October.
I liked the story, I liked the characters and I liked the book whilst I was reading it. I'm not sure I'd go out and look for the series that it's a prequel to, but if I happened across one of them in future I would pick it up and read it. There were a few odd language choices in there - but not too many and mostly they didn't affect the flow of the writing.
A nice start to my Christmas books!