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patambro's review against another edition
3.0
agradable, por momentos un poco lenta pero sin lugar a dudas una buena novela.
no2camels's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tchien's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ambergold's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. First half is fairly gripping, but the male lead never quite leaps into focus, and there is so. much. sex. It pretty much drowns out the romance/any kind of other interaction. Fun but far from Sherry Thomas' best.
chels_ebooks's review against another edition
5.0
The top review of Black Silk on Goodreads is by Sherry Thomas, and that brings me so much joy because Thomas is the only historical romance novelist from the past decade that reminds me of Judith Ivory.
Both Delicious and Black Silk have auxiliary plots that center around grief and regret, and they both have characters that make ostensibly villainous moves, but the books don't let you condemn those characters. In short: people are complicated.
This is a Cinderella retelling, but it's also a counter-Cinderella narrative. Verity and Stuart had a one-time affair a decade ago, but now she's back in his life as his new chef, unbeknownst to him. The flashbacks in this are so artfully done and satisfying that I almost didn't notice that the main couple didn't meet in present day until halfway through.
Do not read this book while hungry. Or do. I don't know, but it will make you hungry. Verity's uses her skill as a chef to reclaim her power and to bring aristocrats low, but most importantly, to bring Stuart to his knees. It's so passionate and evocative that it borders on obscene.
I absolutely loved it.
Both Delicious and Black Silk have auxiliary plots that center around grief and regret, and they both have characters that make ostensibly villainous moves, but the books don't let you condemn those characters. In short: people are complicated.
This is a Cinderella retelling, but it's also a counter-Cinderella narrative. Verity and Stuart had a one-time affair a decade ago, but now she's back in his life as his new chef, unbeknownst to him. The flashbacks in this are so artfully done and satisfying that I almost didn't notice that the main couple didn't meet in present day until halfway through.
Do not read this book while hungry. Or do. I don't know, but it will make you hungry. Verity's uses her skill as a chef to reclaim her power and to bring aristocrats low, but most importantly, to bring Stuart to his knees. It's so passionate and evocative that it borders on obscene.
I absolutely loved it.
theblisstour's review against another edition
4.0
This is my least favorite [a:Sherry Thomas|266470|Sherry Thomas|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1273340380p2/266470.jpg] novel. That said, it is utterly brilliant.
Her use of language is gorgeous. Analogy, metaphor, simile - She is their mistress. The imagery, emotion, wisdom she can evoke with her words never ceases to amaze and delight me:
To others, she was one of the greatest cooks of her generation, her food said to be so divine that old men dined with the gusto of adolescent boys, and so seductive that lovers forsook each other as long as a single crumb remained on the table.
This sentence makes me hungry.
She would be thin and frail, with the heartbreaking strength of those too long accustomed to hard work.
"Heartbreaking strength!" *tears*
Mr. Marsden watched her, his lips curved into that hated smile that made her feel as if she had under her skirts a drunken lover who was liable tat any moment to burst into a loudly slurred rendition of "God Save the Queen."
What an amazing way to described uncontrolled desire.
He ate as little as he could, but a small serving of lightning was still lightning, and even the most modest of flames still burned.
Do I really have to say anything here?
And he was hot all over, hard and hungry and impatient for his downfall.
She takes an ordinary romance novel sentence like "And he was hot all over, hard and hungry" and elevates and infuses it with story and meaning by adding "and impatient for his downfall." That's just fucking genius. It makes me want to weep.
Ah. So good. I could go on...
Her use of language is gorgeous. Analogy, metaphor, simile - She is their mistress. The imagery, emotion, wisdom she can evoke with her words never ceases to amaze and delight me:
To others, she was one of the greatest cooks of her generation, her food said to be so divine that old men dined with the gusto of adolescent boys, and so seductive that lovers forsook each other as long as a single crumb remained on the table.
This sentence makes me hungry.
She would be thin and frail, with the heartbreaking strength of those too long accustomed to hard work.
"Heartbreaking strength!" *tears*
Mr. Marsden watched her, his lips curved into that hated smile that made her feel as if she had under her skirts a drunken lover who was liable tat any moment to burst into a loudly slurred rendition of "God Save the Queen."
What an amazing way to described uncontrolled desire.
He ate as little as he could, but a small serving of lightning was still lightning, and even the most modest of flames still burned.
Do I really have to say anything here?
And he was hot all over, hard and hungry and impatient for his downfall.
She takes an ordinary romance novel sentence like "And he was hot all over, hard and hungry" and elevates and infuses it with story and meaning by adding "and impatient for his downfall." That's just fucking genius. It makes me want to weep.
Ah. So good. I could go on...
ka_it_lyn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
I thought the ending was a bit rushed and the cuts between the present and ten years ago a bit jarring. That being said, once I started this book I couldn’t put it down, and only did so because it got to be 3 in the morning. Gorgeous prose, but wish the love scenes were detailed a bit more (couldn’t tell if clothes were on or off, felt rushed, not particularly sensual).
lausol's review against another edition
1.0
I'll be honest, I was far more interested in Lizzie and Will's relationship and Verity and Michael's mother/son relationship than hers and Stuart's (which was crazy stupid and made me laugh everytime she compared it to Darcy/Elizabeth).
sarah1984's review against another edition
2.0
I found the characters to be completely without passion for each other, something which I believe to be an important part of a romance novel. I was drawn in by the blurb on the back which mentioned that the heroine was a cook for a big English household. The cooking featured a bit, but the book didn't set the right tone for the food, it didn't make the hero fall in love with the heroine, most of the time it seemed to be so good it made the diners uncomfortable, not exactly romantic. Not recommended for anyone looking for actual romance in their romance books.
rjordan19's review against another edition
3.0
Verity Durant is a cook of legendary prowess. She's also known for her scandalous love life. Upon the death of her employer, Stuart Somerset comes to oversee Fairleigh Park.
I think you should give this book a try if you like
Cinderella-ish stories
Experienced heroines
Saga-like stories – this one spans 10 years!
Stories that jump between time (think Day of the Duchess by Sarah Maclean) to tell the history of the characters and what's going on in the present.
I loved the descriptions of food in this book. LOVED IT. I love to cook and eat, and find myself always interested in the food from the time period. The details, oh my mouth was watering. I wanted to sit at a table where Verity cooked.
But this book....was not my favorite. For a number of reasons. Personal things I prefer that usually make my enjoyment less were in play here. Personally, I don't like time jumps and this book goes back and forth between 10 years to give the couple's history. I don't like deceit and I felt it in this book. I prefer my heroines to be virgins, and especially disliked how close her former and current lovers were. There were other perspectives than the main characters. There was a side love story, although I do think in this case it actually wrapped in well together. I think that's all I can say without spoilers.
I will say the ending was wonderful. I'm not sure how that happened, as usually the book does NOT get better for me once I've reached this point, but I really did enjoy the ending. I encourage you to try it, I know I am quite picky. It has by no means put me off Sherry Thomas. I loved the first one I tried, The Luckiest Lady in London, so much I think I will read all of her work.
I give 2.5 rounded to 3
Serious spoilers ahead!!!!!
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I HATED that it took them some absurd amount of time to even talk to each other in 'present time'. Yes you get flashbacks but really 200 pages before they even talk? That super annoyed me. I hated her deceit. The fact that Verity knew exactly who he was when he she went to him after her fall out with his brother (HIS BROTHER! UGH!) and didn't say boo, then continued to hide herself and not say boo...the fact that it was 300 pages before he even knew she was the same person as 10 years ago...I didn't like the time jumping. I couldn't get into the present time, I couldn't get into the past. I kept waiting for something to happen in the present and the past wasn't pulling my emotions. I didn't like Verity. She was a survivor but I felt like she also used people and I just felt awful for Stuart. I felt like Stuart deserved better than what he got. I hated that Stuart was engaged and he cheated on her (not technically with intercourse but if you've read the book, come on, none of us would be okay with that happening). At least it was addressed and it was all 'okay' in the end. I didn't like the perspective switches to his betrothed, but that's just a personal thing for me. I prefer one couple in a story.
I think you should give this book a try if you like
Cinderella-ish stories
Experienced heroines
Saga-like stories – this one spans 10 years!
Stories that jump between time (think Day of the Duchess by Sarah Maclean) to tell the history of the characters and what's going on in the present.
I loved the descriptions of food in this book. LOVED IT. I love to cook and eat, and find myself always interested in the food from the time period. The details, oh my mouth was watering. I wanted to sit at a table where Verity cooked.
But this book....was not my favorite. For a number of reasons. Personal things I prefer that usually make my enjoyment less were in play here. Personally, I don't like time jumps and this book goes back and forth between 10 years to give the couple's history. I don't like deceit and I felt it in this book. I prefer my heroines to be virgins, and especially disliked how close her former and current lovers were. There were other perspectives than the main characters. There was a side love story, although I do think in this case it actually wrapped in well together. I think that's all I can say without spoilers.
I will say the ending was wonderful. I'm not sure how that happened, as usually the book does NOT get better for me once I've reached this point, but I really did enjoy the ending. I encourage you to try it, I know I am quite picky. It has by no means put me off Sherry Thomas. I loved the first one I tried, The Luckiest Lady in London, so much I think I will read all of her work.
I give 2.5 rounded to 3
Serious spoilers ahead!!!!!
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.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Spoiler
I HATED that it took them some absurd amount of time to even talk to each other in 'present time'. Yes you get flashbacks but really 200 pages before they even talk? That super annoyed me. I hated her deceit. The fact that Verity knew exactly who he was when he she went to him after her fall out with his brother (HIS BROTHER! UGH!) and didn't say boo, then continued to hide herself and not say boo...the fact that it was 300 pages before he even knew she was the same person as 10 years ago...I didn't like the time jumping. I couldn't get into the present time, I couldn't get into the past. I kept waiting for something to happen in the present and the past wasn't pulling my emotions. I didn't like Verity. She was a survivor but I felt like she also used people and I just felt awful for Stuart. I felt like Stuart deserved better than what he got. I hated that Stuart was engaged and he cheated on her (not technically with intercourse but if you've read the book, come on, none of us would be okay with that happening). At least it was addressed and it was all 'okay' in the end. I didn't like the perspective switches to his betrothed, but that's just a personal thing for me. I prefer one couple in a story.