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fishgirl182's review
2.0
On paper, Hidden Paradise sounds like a book that I would love. Lou, a recent widow, decides to go on a Jane Austen retreat. It’s an all inclusive vacation complete with period costumes but with the convenience of modern plumbing. The trip promises to have sumptuous balls, men in tight breeches, and the promise of a romantic interlude. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, a good premise does not always make a good book and I found myself wondering where this one went wrong.
The book is told from multiple points of views. Normally I am not a big fan of multi POVs but I can understand them if they add something to the story. However it did not add anything in this case. There were at least 4 or 5 POVs in this book which was too many for a book this length. It actually detracted from the main characters (Lou and Mac), often having us go off on tangents with other characters that were interesting but unnecessary.
I also found it hard to believe that all of the people coming to the resort were so open to having sexual relations with perfect strangers. It was like a giant Austen orgy. Maybe I am naive but I found it weird that everyone was so willing to go at it with everyone and anyone, usually with people they had just met. Outdoors, in a sauna, threesomes, multiple partners in one day...the list goes on. The love scenes are plenty erotic and quite imaginative but I just couldn’t get into them. This probably had to do with my next issue below.
While the characters were interesting, I didn’t feel a huge attachment to any of them. I liked Lou and Mac together but their behavior was confusing. Both profess to having feelings for the other one minute but then both jump into bed with other people the next. Lou has a fling with Rob, the 19 year old head footman. I really liked Rob but was a little uncomfortable with the age difference between the two. I don’t think she took advantage of him (he’s quite willing) but I would have felt a little better with it had he been a couple of years older. There were many secondary characters as well but again, I didn’t have any strong feelings towards any of them.
I wish I could give Hidden Paradise a higher rating, but there was just something missing. I found myself indifferent to the characters and their fates, and trying to read as fast as I could to finish it. I was happy when Lou and Mac finally got their HEA, but I didn’t get that sigh worthy satisfied feeling I usually get after reading a really good romance. If you’re a die hard Jane Austen fans might want to give this a go for novelty’s sake. Everyone else should probably skip it.
*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
frootjoos's review
5.0
Loved this one! Haters of [b:Fifty Shades of Grey|10818853|Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1)|E.L. James|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1300842729s/10818853.jpg|15732562] and the less-straitlaced fans of Jane Austen will enjoy this novel. Enjoyable characters, an actual plot, a theme or two, and sex any which way you want it. I read it on Netgalley but definitely buying when it comes out (August 28, 2012). Full review on http://rnslnitelite.blogspot.com soon.
yohina1989's review
3.0
Louisa Connelly is still grieving over her husband’s death, but finally decides to go to Paradise Hall, a resort where people dress up in Georgian clothes and enjoy Georgian past times. From the beginning, it’s easy to see that Louisa really misses her husband Julian and can barely force herself to leave her home. She’s probably the best developed characters out of the entire cast with her loss and her need to move beyond the loss. I really didn’t feel that much for her one way or another though, which leads me to the biggest problem I had with the book.
There’re a lot of characters in the book, not just Louisa and Mac, and it’s certainly not a romance focused on Louisa and Mac. While there is romance going on, we see into the lives of a lot of other people – Chris and Peter (owners of Paradise Hall), and Rob (a teenager who’s hired to be a liveried servant), among other guests. I feel like with this many characters, the author barely brushed the surface of their emotions and depth. She didn’t really explore any characters deeply other than sticking them with some problem and having them solve it. I didn’t connect with any characters. I was told what they felt, but I just couldn’t get into their heads and understand them and the reasons for their actions.
There’s a lot of sex scenes in the book. Part of Paradise Hall’s appeal is the uninhibited nature of its guests. However, none of the sex scenes really contributed to the story other than just being there. I enjoyed a lot of the witty banter between the characters, but since they always talked in such a lighthearted way about sex, I didn’t see any deeper emotions behind the actions. I definitely didn’t understand why Mac’s suddenly in love with Louisa.
I actually finished the book pretty quickly so I guess I enjoyed it, but it’s not something I’d think twice about after reading. I’d say give it a try if you have some time, but there’re better romance books out there.
*A copy was provided by publisher for review.
See more of my review at Reading by Kindle Fire
There’re a lot of characters in the book, not just Louisa and Mac, and it’s certainly not a romance focused on Louisa and Mac. While there is romance going on, we see into the lives of a lot of other people – Chris and Peter (owners of Paradise Hall), and Rob (a teenager who’s hired to be a liveried servant), among other guests. I feel like with this many characters, the author barely brushed the surface of their emotions and depth. She didn’t really explore any characters deeply other than sticking them with some problem and having them solve it. I didn’t connect with any characters. I was told what they felt, but I just couldn’t get into their heads and understand them and the reasons for their actions.
There’s a lot of sex scenes in the book. Part of Paradise Hall’s appeal is the uninhibited nature of its guests. However, none of the sex scenes really contributed to the story other than just being there. I enjoyed a lot of the witty banter between the characters, but since they always talked in such a lighthearted way about sex, I didn’t see any deeper emotions behind the actions. I definitely didn’t understand why Mac’s suddenly in love with Louisa.
I actually finished the book pretty quickly so I guess I enjoyed it, but it’s not something I’d think twice about after reading. I’d say give it a try if you have some time, but there’re better romance books out there.
*A copy was provided by publisher for review.
See more of my review at Reading by Kindle Fire
beckymmoe's review
3.0
Oh. My. Goodness. Where to start?
First, the plot. It was decent but not spectacular, and had many aspects of some unbelievability. The idea of starting an Austen-based vacationland isn't a new one (at least in literature; I'd imagine there are real-life ones out there, if I'd care to torture myself and look into yet another vacation I can't afford), though I hadn't seen one before that was so clearly based on its guests really being able to--ahem--enjoy themselves while there. For the most part Lou's mindset as a young, recently widowed heroine was pretty well done, thoughit did bother me that in the end Lou's healing was helped out a great deal by a discovery she made about her late husband. I really wish there were more books which dealt with surviving widowed spouses who move on from first marriages that were good, solid, loving ones. It's a personal bias, I know, and of course writing the other kind has got to be a lot easier for a writer. It makes the whole moving on with one's life bit so much easier and less messy. But I digress...
Second, the extracurricular activities. There really is just about every kind you can imagine in this book, described in great detail, and literally from the very first page. If that's what you're looking for, you're in luck. If it's going to bother you, then you should probably keep on looking.
Finally, the Austen angle. It was definitely a side aspect of this novel, apart from its setting. There is one tiny little part that deals with a possible "real" Austen link, though I was fairly ambivalent about that plot thread. It definitely worked well as a convenient tie-in to Lou's life, but beyond that it didn't do a whole lot for this reader.
Overall, it was a quick read that I did enjoy though I'm not sure I'd read it again--though I probably will look into other books by the author since I did enjoy her writing style. Really, the cover says a lot about this one. If it makes you cringe, you probably shouldn't read it.
First, the plot. It was decent but not spectacular, and had many aspects of some unbelievability. The idea of starting an Austen-based vacationland isn't a new one (at least in literature; I'd imagine there are real-life ones out there, if I'd care to torture myself and look into yet another vacation I can't afford), though I hadn't seen one before that was so clearly based on its guests really being able to--ahem--enjoy themselves while there. For the most part Lou's mindset as a young, recently widowed heroine was pretty well done, though
Second, the extracurricular activities. There really is just about every kind you can imagine in this book, described in great detail, and literally from the very first page. If that's what you're looking for, you're in luck. If it's going to bother you, then you should probably keep on looking.
Finally, the Austen angle. It was definitely a side aspect of this novel, apart from its setting. There is one tiny little part that deals with a possible "real" Austen link, though I was fairly ambivalent about that plot thread. It definitely worked well as a convenient tie-in to Lou's life, but beyond that it didn't do a whole lot for this reader.
Overall, it was a quick read that I did enjoy though I'm not sure I'd read it again--though I probably will look into other books by the author since I did enjoy her writing style. Really, the cover says a lot about this one. If it makes you cringe, you probably shouldn't read it.
darlenemarshall's review
3.0
A fun mash-up of erotica, contemporary romance and a classic Regency house party with much goings-on upstairs, downstairs, behind the hedges, in the servants' stairs, just about anywhere that won't frighten the horses.
Lou is a recently widowed college instructor and Jane Austen expert. When friends in England invite her to spend a break at their renovated Georgian mansion, she takes them up on the offer. Chris and Peter have turned the property into a completely restored resort where guests will dress, eat, dance and entertain themselves in Regency style.
There's a lot of good detail in here for Regency romance fans, and a budding love affair between Lou and the American journalist quickly nicknamed "Mr. Darcy". There's also one of the best three-ways ever, so sweetly and humorously handled that you wish you were there.
Hidden Paradise is a fun read and should appeal to Regency fans who don't mind a little hot sex in the mix.
Lou is a recently widowed college instructor and Jane Austen expert. When friends in England invite her to spend a break at their renovated Georgian mansion, she takes them up on the offer. Chris and Peter have turned the property into a completely restored resort where guests will dress, eat, dance and entertain themselves in Regency style.
There's a lot of good detail in here for Regency romance fans, and a budding love affair between Lou and the American journalist quickly nicknamed "Mr. Darcy". There's also one of the best three-ways ever, so sweetly and humorously handled that you wish you were there.
Hidden Paradise is a fun read and should appeal to Regency fans who don't mind a little hot sex in the mix.
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