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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
I wish I could give this two and a half stars, but alas, it is not to be, so I'm going to go with ok instead of like. Lady Roberta falls in love with the worst possible person for her, so she hies herself off to London to impose herself on a distant relative so she can be introduced into society and marry him by hook or by crook. Will she manage to get her man, or will another win her heart? Well, it's a romance novel, so need I say more?
I think the story behind the mermaid that ends up marrying her father would have been much more interesting. Maybe things will get sorted out and more interesting characters will be given their due in the other books in this series. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking and the author somehow manages to kill their personalities as well.
Spoiler
What a dull novel. Lady Roberta has GOT to be one of the most boring main characters ever, which is weird since she lives with some of the most unusual side characters ever. A crazy poet father who lives openly with his mistress, her gazillion times removed cousin who loathes her husband and is crazy about chess, her other gazillion times removed cousin who has taken in his bastard son, the man she falls in love with who is a rake that may have driven a man to kill himself over chess, the husband of the cousin who is working himself to an early grave in the name of Queen and Country, and random other characters that have side stories that are started but never finished. See? Crazy interesting characters! So, Roberta? She critics her fathers' poetry and wants to wear pretty dresses and get married. Really Roberta? Oh, and about 5 minutes after getting engaged, the novelty wears off so she goes and plays strip dominoes with a man whom she is not engaged to. Seriously? Strip Dominoes? Obviously she has fallen in love with another and ends up neatly with him, because apparently if you are secretly good at chess, that makes you amazing with a rapier. Plus, her fiance didn't actually want to marry her, as he was just marrying Roberta to make someone else jealous, so he didn't have the power of true love behind his blade.I think the story behind the mermaid that ends up marrying her father would have been much more interesting. Maybe things will get sorted out and more interesting characters will be given their due in the other books in this series. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking and the author somehow manages to kill their personalities as well.
I didn't enjoy this one as much as I have the others. Other than Damon, I didn't really like any of the characters. Gemma and Roberta I didn't dislike, I just didn't care about either way. And the other two men, I just disliked. Roberta's father was annoying. Even the kid got under my skin. This one just wasn't for me.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
✨He kissed her like a BROTHER?✨
The very end was cute but seriously what the FUCK we barely got to know the actual main couple and they barely got to know each other. This book revolves around other people, other POVs, and chess. Roberta is in love with Villiers from the beginning and that made zero sense. She was like w o w I’m gonna marry him and then proceeded to rhapsodize on and on about her love. We got like one I love you from her actual love interest? I don’t even remember her declaration. We got so few POV chapters from Gryffyn.
My fav is that Eloisa didn’t make the fact that they were cousins my least favorite part
The very end was cute but seriously what the FUCK we barely got to know the actual main couple and they barely got to know each other. This book revolves around other people, other POVs, and chess. Roberta is in love with Villiers from the beginning and that made zero sense. She was like w o w I’m gonna marry him and then proceeded to rhapsodize on and on about her love. We got like one I love you from her actual love interest? I don’t even remember her declaration. We got so few POV chapters from Gryffyn.
My fav is that Eloisa didn’t make the fact that they were cousins my least favorite part
It wasn't a bad book, just a little dull. The last hundred pages were pretty good but I expect a romance to be quick paced and engaging. 2.5 stars.
This is one of my favorite of Eloisa James's books. Set in the Georgian period instead of the Regency like most of James's books, this book has a charming story, memorable characters, and a touching love story. Damon is one of my favorite of James's heroes, and Villiers is a fascinating character as well. While James does fall into her traditional trap of not concentrating enough on the main story, it's not as destructive here as usual - probably because the other characters are interesting as well. A good book!
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Libby audiobook 3.75⭐
I loved Damon. There was a lot of losing, but not much sex. I enjoyed the humorous parts of the book including the first sex scene.
There are more unlikeable characters than likeable. Roberta was an idiot. The Beaumont's marriage was so sad. I want to read their book, but have a real problem with infidelity.
I loved Damon. There was a lot of losing, but not much sex. I enjoyed the humorous parts of the book including the first sex scene.
There are more unlikeable characters than likeable. Roberta was an idiot. The Beaumont's marriage was so sad. I want to read their book, but have a real problem with infidelity.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5 stars
1. I hate chess. #sorrynotsorry
2. This reminded me of MANSFIELD PARK, and not in a good way. It wasn't quite as sordid, but it was close.
3. Too many (unresolved) plot lines.
1. I hate chess. #sorrynotsorry
2. This reminded me of MANSFIELD PARK, and not in a good way. It wasn't quite as sordid, but it was close.
3. Too many (unresolved) plot lines.