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bhnmt61's review against another edition
3.0
Emma is a disgraced vicar's daughter turned seamstress who must be paid for a wedding dress she created if she wants to eat. Ash is a duke who was horribly disfigured in battle and doesn't want to pay for a dress ordered by the woman who dumped him when she saw his scars. But he does need to marry so he can sire an heir, and Emma is right there in front of him, so he proposes. It doesn't go so well, but he persists. I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between these two wounded people and found it believable. And the relationship takes up about 80% of the book, so thumbs up on the bulk of the book.
But the rest of the story-- the unlikely circle of quirky friends, the dropped plot points (what happened to Trevor? what happened to Emma's father?) and worst of all, the trumped up emergency at the end (there were dozens of ways Emma could have helped her friend without going to a ball thrown by Ash's arch enemy) -- that remaining 20% nearly ruined it for me. But still I enjoyed reading this more than I have any romance novel in a long time. Sometimes I just want to read a romance novel, and Tessa Dare is as good as anyone writing them right now. If you can suspend the need for a plot to make sense and just go along for the ride, recommended.
But the rest of the story-- the unlikely circle of quirky friends, the dropped plot points (what happened to Trevor? what happened to Emma's father?) and worst of all, the trumped up emergency at the end (there were dozens of ways Emma could have helped her friend without going to a ball thrown by Ash's arch enemy) -- that remaining 20% nearly ruined it for me. But still I enjoyed reading this more than I have any romance novel in a long time. Sometimes I just want to read a romance novel, and Tessa Dare is as good as anyone writing them right now. If you can suspend the need for a plot to make sense and just go along for the ride, recommended.
dinareadsit's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
lady_smith's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
jukieb's review against another edition
fast-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
4.0
This was a great book to get me out of a reading slump! I really enjoyed Ash and Emma and find their relationship really endearing. I love a flawed MMC and Ash delivers. All in all, a really fun read.
lysh_reads's review against another edition
challenging
lighthearted
fast-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
3.0
dandelion27's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
3.0
catisbookish's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was simply so much fun. Just a hecking good little time. A tasty little treat. Scrumdiliyumyumpurrpurr