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sd227's review against another edition
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The parts of the romance novel that I usually find most exciting (how they meet, and the story’s ending) are each only a few pages. The remaining 95% of this book feels like the same argument between the main couple over and over again, including what seems like identical copy/pastes of the same conversations. I never really understood why they wanted to be together, except they found the other attractive. That being said, there is a side storyline about Cecilia’s family that kept me reading, to see how THAT part would end.
amypfore's review
It was too confusing, jumping between times and characters. I couldn’t connect the dots in a way that made it understandable, certainly not engaging.
karlynrose's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
70bea_reads's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
blandrea_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks NetGalley!
I haven't gotten super into the Regency Romance things. I read Jane Austen, but not since I was a teenager, and haven't done any Bridgerton. This was my first Vanessa Riley book, and I leaped into the 3rd book in the series. But the portrayal of a POC as the main character looked interesting, and I love a spy story!
Felton is a British spy who bumps into Cecelia while fleeing a job that has gone wrong in Demerera (Which I looked up to find is the former name of Guyana). Being the daughter of a wealthy man, her money is embraced by Felton's family, but her ethnicity, not so much. Felton continues with his work as a spy, while not really having anything in the way of a decent cover story as to why he is gone all the time (seriously, this should be SPY 101, Felton!). This leads the family to think that Cecelia was a marriage for her money and that she means nothing to him, and that they are free to treat her with the same distain that Felton appears to shows her. Felton has no idea what's happening at home and so is absolutely shocked when she physically leaves and is frantic when he can't find her. For a spy, he is pretty oblivious to things happening in his own home! There is a long road back to finding each other and seeing if they can or should still make their marriage work.
Things I loved:
- The pining! Felton's physical reactions to Cecelia's art were exactly what I want to see in a Regency Romance.
- Cecelia's passion for cheese, and food in general. This was an important part of how they connected.
- The guard cow. I won't say too much and spoil the surprise, but it was a quirky touch that made me smile
- Exploring Cecelia possibly not wanting to have children, and that being ok.
For me the pacing felt to go a bit weird towards the end of the book. In the earlier parts of the book, Cecelia's actions, or each time she runs away clearly moves the plot forward or reveals something about her or the characters around her. And then it just turns into "oops, there she goes again", and for me, at least, it seemed to get a bit old, and I really started to lose patience with both of them. But maybe that was the author's point?
I wanted a regency romance with a bit of difference, and the strong POC taking on the ton (and winning) was something that I has happy to see. This book really grabbed my imagination and had me reading late into the night, but left me with a satisfying conclusion!
Am I sleep deprived now? Yes.
Do I regret it? Absolutely not!
I haven't gotten super into the Regency Romance things. I read Jane Austen, but not since I was a teenager, and haven't done any Bridgerton. This was my first Vanessa Riley book, and I leaped into the 3rd book in the series. But the portrayal of a POC as the main character looked interesting, and I love a spy story!
Felton is a British spy who bumps into Cecelia while fleeing a job that has gone wrong in Demerera (Which I looked up to find is the former name of Guyana). Being the daughter of a wealthy man, her money is embraced by Felton's family, but her ethnicity, not so much. Felton continues with his work as a spy, while not really having anything in the way of a decent cover story as to why he is gone all the time (seriously, this should be SPY 101, Felton!). This leads the family to think that Cecelia was a marriage for her money and that she means nothing to him, and that they are free to treat her with the same distain that Felton appears to shows her. Felton has no idea what's happening at home and so is absolutely shocked when she physically leaves and is frantic when he can't find her. For a spy, he is pretty oblivious to things happening in his own home! There is a long road back to finding each other and seeing if they can or should still make their marriage work.
Things I loved:
- The pining! Felton's physical reactions to Cecelia's art were exactly what I want to see in a Regency Romance.
- Cecelia's passion for cheese, and food in general. This was an important part of how they connected.
- The guard cow. I won't say too much and spoil the surprise, but it was a quirky touch that made me smile
- Exploring Cecelia possibly not wanting to have children, and that being ok.
For me the pacing felt to go a bit weird towards the end of the book. In the earlier parts of the book, Cecelia's actions, or each time she runs away clearly moves the plot forward or reveals something about her or the characters around her. And then it just turns into "oops, there she goes again", and for me, at least, it seemed to get a bit old, and I really started to lose patience with both of them. But maybe that was the author's point?
I wanted a regency romance with a bit of difference, and the strong POC taking on the ton (and winning) was something that I has happy to see. This book really grabbed my imagination and had me reading late into the night, but left me with a satisfying conclusion!
Am I sleep deprived now? Yes.
Do I regret it? Absolutely not!
leniece94's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I’ve read the first 2 books and really liked them, and I can see the growth of the plots and character interactions in this one! I liked Charity and really enjoyed her early interactions with her husband- her personality was so fiery and leapt off of the page. My one qualm with this book is that the conflict seemed to drag, I feel like probably 80 pages of the middle could have been taken out. It felt like Charity’s refusal to admit certain things to ease Felton’s mind was unnecessary to me, she could still be right and admit the truth.
cooliuscaesar451's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
hijinx_abound's review against another edition
2.0
*Received a copy for review.*
This book was a difficult read for me. I had a really hard time getting to know the characters because all of the things going on in the world.
The book was not so much about a couple who married hastily and then struggled to connect as it was about a man who was very entangled in his job and I woman desperate to save her family from terrible circumstances.
All of the characters were very one dimensional and thus it just did not work for me.
This book was a difficult read for me. I had a really hard time getting to know the characters because all of the things going on in the world.
The book was not so much about a couple who married hastily and then struggled to connect as it was about a man who was very entangled in his job and I woman desperate to save her family from terrible circumstances.
All of the characters were very one dimensional and thus it just did not work for me.
ellejay1008's review
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
izmc's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The whole book felt like a letdown… except for the ending. The ending was perfect. I wish there was more relationship and character building. I am going to consume everything from this author.