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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
moni875's review against another edition
4.0
Content warning for this book. Author addresses it at the beginning so I’ll let you read her letter to readers instead. I appreciate that letter so very much. Thank you Maya.
vivalibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Prudence is the last of her friends to be still single and no one knows exactly why. During her first season, she was sexually assaulted and as any public outcry would only bring shame to herself-she isolates herself from society and accepts her life of spinsterhood until she finds an offer of marriage from a man who has a big secret to hide too which guarantees he will never want to touch her. When their carriage is attacked by highwaymen, this stunning specimen of manhood pushes her out the door of the carriage first. She escapes and takes refuge in a country inn where Viscount Castleton also stuck-a man with a mysterious past and no desire to marry anyone. Ever.
Rodale said in an interview, that with the current climate for women across the globe being so discouraging she wanted to add her voice to the conversation of rape culture. What happened to Prudence was not uncommon and it isn't shied away from in the book. I love this book for that alone. The trauma that she endured was dealt with realistically in how it affected almost every single decision she makes every day. The patience of John (the viscount) was also touching even if her healing was quick and unrealistic. What took it down to 4 stars for me was the implausibility of being a Lady stuck at an inn with no chaperone for days without any consequences. Also, I never quite figured out what happened to the bozo fiance in the carriage. Kudos to Rodale tho for not backing down.
Rodale said in an interview, that with the current climate for women across the globe being so discouraging she wanted to add her voice to the conversation of rape culture. What happened to Prudence was not uncommon and it isn't shied away from in the book. I love this book for that alone. The trauma that she endured was dealt with realistically in how it affected almost every single decision she makes every day. The patience of John (the viscount) was also touching even if her healing was quick and unrealistic. What took it down to 4 stars for me was the implausibility of being a Lady stuck at an inn with no chaperone for days without any consequences. Also, I never quite figured out what happened to the bozo fiance in the carriage. Kudos to Rodale tho for not backing down.
aahlvers's review against another edition
4.0
This is not as smooth as some of Maya Rodale's other work but it dealt with the after effects of sexual assault in a realistic way. The hero's secret and the way it was resolved was pretty unbelievable but I overlooked it because it provided the feel-good factor I needed for this book to work for me. I genuinely wanted the two characters to end up together.
evedream's review against another edition
3.0
I can't say any new things about that it was charming bc the past three books where the same, but this books is considerably lower in quality. THERE ARE SO MANY PLOTHOLES.
For example:
At the end of book 2 right after the London exhibition, Emma asks the question "where is prudence" Because she hasn't seen her for a month. But in this books in the timeliness prudence is there at the London exhibition. Same problem with the ball. In book 2 prudence isn't there, in book 3 she is there, and impossible to kiss as well.
More smaller things like John roark meeting the real lord Castleton and having the exact same conversation twice.
For example:
At the end of book 2 right after the London exhibition, Emma asks the question "where is prudence" Because she hasn't seen her for a month. But in this books in the timeliness prudence is there at the London exhibition. Same problem with the ball. In book 2 prudence isn't there, in book 3 she is there, and impossible to kiss as well.
More smaller things like John roark meeting the real lord Castleton and having the exact same conversation twice.
cassie_in_the_void's review
5.0
It's been a while since I read this but I have been meaning to write a quick review on it since I finished it. I won the book in a giveaway and haven't read any of the other books in the series or anything else written by the author. I greatly enjoyed her writing in this though so I will be looking into her other books.
I fully expected this to be a typical romance novel and in a lot of ways it was but the content matter quickly proved to be something I hadn't encountered in a historical romance before. The writing was very well done and the characters were wonderful and quite engaging. The progression of the relationship between the main characters didn't seem to happen too quickly or seem forced.
The side characters were also well written and were interesting enough to make me want to pick up the other books so I can read their stories as well.
I fully expected this to be a typical romance novel and in a lot of ways it was but the content matter quickly proved to be something I hadn't encountered in a historical romance before. The writing was very well done and the characters were wonderful and quite engaging. The progression of the relationship between the main characters didn't seem to happen too quickly or seem forced.
The side characters were also well written and were interesting enough to make me want to pick up the other books so I can read their stories as well.
neeuqdrazil's review against another edition
5.0
This was wonderful. Not standard at all, and refreshingly written.
sahoward's review against another edition
A really thoughtful treatment of a victim of rape finding love within the trappings of a regency romance.
ilikechandeliers's review against another edition
3.0
My most pressing problem with the story is technical. She does a lot of POV shifting between Prue and John within the same scene. While not confusing, it's abrupt enough to take me out of the story. Not only that, I've noticed, even in her other stories, she has a habit of contradicting a characters previous established action, thought, or speech for the sake of moving the story along, which makes for character inconsistencies. Mostly within the heroine herself. Prue wasn't as overt as the other heroines, but it was still significant enough for me.
Now for the story itself. I liked how Prue's rape and all the emotional baggage around it was written. It did move me, and wrenched me. I did think John was a bit too modernized, but considering I'm a romantic, I'm ok with this. However, and maybe this is just my taste, I felt, that despite the subject matter and gravity in which it was spoken and dealt with, there wasn't enough angst in it. In my experience, the trauma does not magically alleviate to almost non-existence, even if you have trust, love and such an understanding partner.
And with Dudley's POV, while I appreciate the effort, it felt too textbooky. He's supposed to act that way because he seeks power. But the way it's executed, it seems as if she barely touches the surface and then shies away. It's just too superficial. Maybe no one really wants to be in the mind of a rapist and then write it, it's definitely a dark place to be in, but considering that she explicitly puts his POV, I don't know, there's something missing.
Maybe what I mean is that, overall, this book seems a bit expository. Too many things were stated, instead of established by action.
Now for the story itself. I liked how Prue's rape and all the emotional baggage around it was written. It did move me, and wrenched me. I did think John was a bit too modernized, but considering I'm a romantic, I'm ok with this. However, and maybe this is just my taste, I felt, that despite the subject matter and gravity in which it was spoken and dealt with, there wasn't enough angst in it. In my experience, the trauma does not magically alleviate to almost non-existence, even if you have trust, love and such an understanding partner.
And with Dudley's POV, while I appreciate the effort, it felt too textbooky. He's supposed to act that way because he seeks power. But the way it's executed, it seems as if she barely touches the surface and then shies away. It's just too superficial. Maybe no one really wants to be in the mind of a rapist and then write it, it's definitely a dark place to be in, but considering that she explicitly puts his POV, I don't know, there's something missing.
Maybe what I mean is that, overall, this book seems a bit expository. Too many things were stated, instead of established by action.
vlf218's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely the best book of the Wallflower series (I haven't read any of the contemporary counterparts yet) and I can honestly say that the ballroom scene was without a doubt THE most dramatic thing I've ever read. It was great.