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xavia's review
3.0
A friend lent me this book, and while this isn't usually my genre, I did have a good time.
I was probably through an embarrassing amount of the book before I realized this was a retelling of My Fair Lady, but in my defense, I've never seen the movie.
Summer seeks to become a respectable Lady so that she can marry her rich fiancé back in New York. To accomplish this, she has hired destitute Duke Byron, know bitter American heiress hating member of the gentry. The two of them do not get along (or do depending on how you want to look at it) and hijinks ensue.
While I found the dialogue a bit rough, particularly Summer's, I did find the book charmingly cheesy. There are a lot of improbable situations with sometimes silly resolutions, but at the end of the day, I had a very good time.
My favorite part had to be at the end, and while I don't want to give too much away, when describing the scene to a different friend, she described it as "two idiots calling to each other in the night while wearing noise canceling headphones". Which I think is my new favorite trope.
Anyway, if you like somewhat cheesy somewhat spicy historical romances, this was a fun time and I think you would like it.
I was probably through an embarrassing amount of the book before I realized this was a retelling of My Fair Lady, but in my defense, I've never seen the movie.
Summer seeks to become a respectable Lady so that she can marry her rich fiancé back in New York. To accomplish this, she has hired destitute Duke Byron, know bitter American heiress hating member of the gentry. The two of them do not get along (or do depending on how you want to look at it) and hijinks ensue.
While I found the dialogue a bit rough, particularly Summer's, I did find the book charmingly cheesy. There are a lot of improbable situations with sometimes silly resolutions, but at the end of the day, I had a very good time.
My favorite part had to be at the end, and while I don't want to give too much away, when describing the scene to a different friend, she described it as "two idiots calling to each other in the night while wearing noise canceling headphones". Which I think is my new favorite trope.
Anyway, if you like somewhat cheesy somewhat spicy historical romances, this was a fun time and I think you would like it.
jazi62's review
4.0
Total and utter romance junk food! Nothing of historical accuracy but I loved it. Just like I couldn't stop eating those chocolate bars, I couldn't stop reading this. Ms Kennedy knows to grab her audience!
sans's review
4.0
The Good Things: Byron wasn't a towering example of man muscle. Yes, he was still muscular and happened to know kung fu, but he was a short man. While it wouldn't work for me personally, I loved meeting a hero that was not described as the second coming of Heracles. And he was sarky. That made me love him all the more. Also? He was poor! Yes, he held the highest title of the Peerage next to that of royalty. But he was dirt poor! Let's hear it for a hero that is a poor, short, has a tongue that could flay the skin off your back and is a non-Heracles without the slightest whiff of Croesus!
The Bad Things: I could have started at least three drinking games during this book. The word "tarnation" was waaaaaay overused. Also, Byron didn't just laugh. He always threw his head back and laughed. For someone who doesn't like being a spectacle, he sure made himself one often enough. And Summer spent so much time caressing her knife I began to wonder if she had penis envy and was using it as a substitute.
More Good Things: Our plucky heroine. I didn't want to throttle her. Well, most of the time. When she wasn't saying "tarnation" or moaning about how she had to go back to the fiance back across the pond. She could fight, use herpenis replacement knife, shoot, ride bareback, adored animals and went all out for her shot at experiencing passion. And when she finally realized what she needed to realize, I was cheering for her. Out loud. Shouldn't have done that in public, but oh well. That just proves that I liked her.
The Mediocre: The "someone is trying to kill our hero" subplot. Meh. It was necessary I suppose and proved mildly entertaining in spots but I would have liked to have seen more done with it.
The Judgment: A fun book, quick read and entertaining. As a friend of mine would say, "It was well good."
The Bad Things: I could have started at least three drinking games during this book. The word "tarnation" was waaaaaay overused. Also, Byron didn't just laugh. He always threw his head back and laughed. For someone who doesn't like being a spectacle, he sure made himself one often enough. And Summer spent so much time caressing her knife I began to wonder if she had penis envy and was using it as a substitute.
More Good Things: Our plucky heroine. I didn't want to throttle her. Well, most of the time. When she wasn't saying "tarnation" or moaning about how she had to go back to the fiance back across the pond. She could fight, use her
The Mediocre: The "someone is trying to kill our hero" subplot. Meh. It was necessary I suppose and proved mildly entertaining in spots but I would have liked to have seen more done with it.
The Judgment: A fun book, quick read and entertaining. As a friend of mine would say, "It was well good."
simplyparticular's review
1.0
Required WAY to much suspension of disbelief, and the language was too modern, too.
vreadsabook's review
2.0
Not nearly as good as The Fire Lord's Lover. Something about the American West/British cross just didn't do it for me, and too many plot elements seemed to come out of nowhere. Every time I read the word "tarnation" I wanted to laugh, as well, and it's in there way too often. Also, too many awkward graphic sex scenes and not nearly enough plot.
arwenel's review
2.0
I liked Summer; the way that she takes care of all the animals that come into her life, her attitude that is so different from the aristocratic ladies is refreshing. It really is a simple story line. It was really predictable, I could guess pretty much most of the story line without reading it. Nevertheless, it is a good light read.
greymalkin's review
4.0
I liked that the hero was short, that was different. And her character was spunky without being totally brainless. Plot was rather obvious but who really reads stuff like this for original plots? I enjoyed spending time with the characters and I also enjoyed how his side of the romance progressed.
prationality's review
3.0
This is the fourth book of Kennedy's I've read, though this is the first straight historical. Her series with Dorchester, the Relics of Merlin, are infinitely entertaining and amusing with a dash of magic. For a different spin, MY UNFAIR LADY has suspense and a murderous plot afoot for the heroine and hero to foil.
(for the full review please refer to Romance Reader at Heart)
(for the full review please refer to Romance Reader at Heart)
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