Scan barcode
smithrachaelynn's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
medium-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
5.0
Re-read. The following is my original review: 5⭐️ Utterly romantic. Devon and Kathleen both have big personalities and tons of stubbornness. I loved them together and the way they challenged each other. There were so many amazing characters. I can’t wait to read Helen & Rhys’s story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy
ember_eyes_are_for_tigers's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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? No
3.0
From the previous novels it’s obvious the growth that the author has gone through, both for the writing style and the development of the characters.
The most prominent aspect is the characters, they really shiny in the novel. Both in the depth and their relationships between each other, which doesn’t stop at the two main characters but envelops every single character.
And, best thing of all, it’s funny!
The most prominent aspect is the characters, they really shiny in the novel. Both in the depth and their relationships between each other, which doesn’t stop at the two main characters but envelops every single character.
And, best thing of all, it’s funny!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Grief
sydapel's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I really want to say more than that this is fine, but unfortunately that's what I've got. Again, it feels like there's a lot of potential to Devon and Kathleen's dynamic (a la A Lady Awakened) but the pacing is so awkward and the ending so abrupt I just couldn't root for them. Hoping to revisit their relationship more in the next installment as Kleypas often does.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
beccaand's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
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
2.75
finals thoughts:
- absolutely adored the familial interactions between West, Kathleen and the Ladies Ravenel
- wasn't completely sold on the romance between Devon and Kathleen until after the maybe 60% mark and it was kind of dubious even then
- not sure how I feel on the set up of Helen and Rhys's book being the failed engagement, but am intrigued enough to read it
- absolutely adored the familial interactions between West, Kathleen and the Ladies Ravenel
- wasn't completely sold on the romance between Devon and Kathleen until after the maybe 60% mark and it was kind of dubious even then
- not sure how I feel on the set up of Helen and Rhys's book being the failed engagement, but am intrigued enough to read it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Car accident, Death, and Sexual assault
Minor: Pregnancy
gemin1reader's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
4.0
Really enjoyed this read - felt like it slightly lost its way at the end setting up the next book in the series and I missed the focus being on our main couple. Good smut, very loveable side characters, just the right amount of crazy antics to keep it an entertaining read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
carbs666's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-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
I loved this book!! Holy moly!!
Kleypas clearly knows and loves the Ravenels deeply. I loved the tension between Kathleen and Devon, the way they pushed and pulled each other around the page. Watching Kathleen come to know and accept the full range of her emotions while Devon becomes a true hero, a man who can bear up under the weight of his responsibilities and act with honour is the stuff romance is made of. The way the whole family grows together into a tightly knit unit that faces problems together and loves each other for all their quirks is a real delight.
There is an aching tenderness suffused throughout this book. The gentleness that Devon shows Kathleen everytime they kiss or touch is so *chefs kiss.* Kleypas also writes a truly wonderful profession of love scene- when Devon says "not one minute of my life will have been wasted because I spent it loving you" - the way he is willing to love her from afar, even if she doesn't want him - how could you not melt?
Kleypas clearly knows and loves the Ravenels deeply. I loved the tension between Kathleen and Devon, the way they pushed and pulled each other around the page. Watching Kathleen come to know and accept the full range of her emotions while Devon becomes a true hero, a man who can bear up under the weight of his responsibilities and act with honour is the stuff romance is made of. The way the whole family grows together into a tightly knit unit that faces problems together and loves each other for all their quirks is a real delight.
There is an aching tenderness suffused throughout this book. The gentleness that Devon shows Kathleen everytime they kiss or touch is so *chefs kiss.* Kleypas also writes a truly wonderful profession of love scene- when Devon says "not one minute of my life will have been wasted because I spent it loving you" - the way he is willing to love her from afar, even if she doesn't want him - how could you not melt?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Car accident
frantically's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-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
2.75
has this author ever heard of this thing called 'consistent characterisation'
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexism, Death, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcoholism and Injury/Injury detail
_alyssar_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Classism
Minor: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
_book_nook_'s review
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
4.0
The perfect book for a wonderful escape. The characters are beautifully written and unique. I have to say after a while I was more interested in Helen’s story than the main plotline.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
madsmcw_reads's review against another edition
emotional
slow-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? N/A
3.5
The first books in Kleypas's Ravanels series, Cold-Hearted Rake is a solid historical romance. I listened on audio and really enjoyed Mary Jane Wells as the narrator. I liked the romance that was developing between Kathleen and Devon but sometimes there was just too much focus on the side characters and it almost made you forget the couple that was supposed to be the center of the story. Like the epiloge had absolutely nothing to do with them but was only there to set up the next book in the series. I LOVED Devon's grand gesture at the end of the story *swoon*. Overall pretty good and I downloaded the second one immediately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content