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daisy87's review against another edition
2.0
I'm always looking for that next historical romance that will make me swoon and feel all the things, but I'm sad to say that How To Seduce a Scot wasn't it.
It's not that I didn't enjoy it, cause I did. I mean, I liked Catherine, she's a lovely girl who feels a lot of responsibility for her family. She's lost her father and because her mother doesn't always make all the sensible choices, it's fallen on her to pick up the pieces. And she does, for as far as her influence reaches. I actually liked that she put what was best for her family before what her heart may want most, because that's just how it was back then and without a man in the family to provide some sort of income, marriage is really the only option.
I also really liked her little sister and Alex's sister, she was spunky! Catherine's mom was a bit of a puzzling mix of silly and very much a mother who cares for her children. She made some weird choices, but I did like about her that she truly wants her daughter to be happy. But I did feel that there was an adult lacking to take control of the situation other than Catherine. I get that her mom might have been very sheltered and not really know how to handle money, but seriously, stop spending money you don't have!
So far, so good, I liked the setting and most of the character. But then we get to the romance part and I'm a bit iffy about that part of the novel. I mean, I'm not someone who really likes it when people have never spoken and then the man goes on to think of her as 'his angel'. I mean, seriously?? HOW?? There was just a bit too much insta-love from his side of things and it just did not work for me.
The thing is that if this had been the only problem, I probably could have gotten over it. But he really does not treat her all that well, I mean, he's kissing her and in the same breath telling her they can never marry. He's taking a lot of risks with her reputation and he has a sister of his own, so how can he not see that this is not ok? I mean, I know that this happens a lot in historical romances and that's not really the issue, it was just the way he does it didn't feel ok to me. I'm not sure I can express exactly what bothered me about it, but in the end I found myself rooting for the other guy. And that's not a thing I want.
Like I said, I was rooting for the other guy, because there was one, who was respectable and a gentleman and was in my opinion a much better choice for Catherine. Towards the end it was a bit awkward and we are shown why he is not the right choice after all. And seriously, I was kinda annoyed with Catherine for making the choices she did towards the end. But I did feel that Catherine and Alex truly loved each other and in the end I can say that it's the right thing that they're together, but I could have done without all the misguided behaviour.
I sound really negative and I did have some serious issues with how the romance was handled, but I also did enjoy reading this, but I wasn't really rooting for the couple to get together and that's what I want when reading a romance.
My rating: 2 stars
It's not that I didn't enjoy it, cause I did. I mean, I liked Catherine, she's a lovely girl who feels a lot of responsibility for her family. She's lost her father and because her mother doesn't always make all the sensible choices, it's fallen on her to pick up the pieces. And she does, for as far as her influence reaches. I actually liked that she put what was best for her family before what her heart may want most, because that's just how it was back then and without a man in the family to provide some sort of income, marriage is really the only option.
I also really liked her little sister and Alex's sister, she was spunky! Catherine's mom was a bit of a puzzling mix of silly and very much a mother who cares for her children. She made some weird choices, but I did like about her that she truly wants her daughter to be happy. But I did feel that there was an adult lacking to take control of the situation other than Catherine. I get that her mom might have been very sheltered and not really know how to handle money, but seriously, stop spending money you don't have!
So far, so good, I liked the setting and most of the character. But then we get to the romance part and I'm a bit iffy about that part of the novel. I mean, I'm not someone who really likes it when people have never spoken and then the man goes on to think of her as 'his angel'. I mean, seriously?? HOW?? There was just a bit too much insta-love from his side of things and it just did not work for me.
The thing is that if this had been the only problem, I probably could have gotten over it. But he really does not treat her all that well, I mean, he's kissing her and in the same breath telling her they can never marry. He's taking a lot of risks with her reputation and he has a sister of his own, so how can he not see that this is not ok? I mean, I know that this happens a lot in historical romances and that's not really the issue, it was just the way he does it didn't feel ok to me. I'm not sure I can express exactly what bothered me about it, but in the end I found myself rooting for the other guy. And that's not a thing I want.
Like I said, I was rooting for the other guy, because there was one, who was respectable and a gentleman and was in my opinion a much better choice for Catherine. Towards the end it was a bit awkward and we are shown why he is not the right choice after all. And seriously, I was kinda annoyed with Catherine for making the choices she did towards the end. But I did feel that Catherine and Alex truly loved each other and in the end I can say that it's the right thing that they're together, but I could have done without all the misguided behaviour.
I sound really negative and I did have some serious issues with how the romance was handled, but I also did enjoy reading this, but I wasn't really rooting for the couple to get together and that's what I want when reading a romance.
My rating: 2 stars
bit_doe's review against another edition
3.0
While the story had a great plot, I found it a bit difficult to follow at times. There were several plot points that just seemed unnecessary and haphazardly tossed into the story without much planning. Overall not a bad if you can get past the scatteredness of the plot, but this may be too difficult for some to overlook.
fortheloveoffictionalworlds's review
2.0
I received an eARC of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The chemistry (read: antagonism) between a English and Scottish is legendary and by that i mean, Historically proven, so when you read a blurb that hints at a Highlander not interested in English customs but would fall for a English Lady, it should have been sparkling with embers and the chemistry should have set even my electronic reader on fire!
But did that happen? Nope. This book fell flat on almost counts, except Alexander - that man was the epitome of a Scottish Highlander and pretty much was on point as a character. But his Lady? nope. Catherine was perfectly lovely but that's all she was! The epitome of an English Lady, she had no hidden depths except a fierce loyalty to her family and that somehow made her character 2-dimensional.
The writing also lacked the spark, the dialogues were lacking in wittiness and humor and somehow that made it all the more impossible to actually connect with the characters in the story!
For more book recommendations and reviews, check out For The Love of Fictional Worlds
The chemistry (read: antagonism) between a English and Scottish is legendary and by that i mean, Historically proven, so when you read a blurb that hints at a Highlander not interested in English customs but would fall for a English Lady, it should have been sparkling with embers and the chemistry should have set even my electronic reader on fire!
But did that happen? Nope. This book fell flat on almost counts, except Alexander - that man was the epitome of a Scottish Highlander and pretty much was on point as a character. But his Lady? nope. Catherine was perfectly lovely but that's all she was! The epitome of an English Lady, she had no hidden depths except a fierce loyalty to her family and that somehow made her character 2-dimensional.
The writing also lacked the spark, the dialogues were lacking in wittiness and humor and somehow that made it all the more impossible to actually connect with the characters in the story!
For more book recommendations and reviews, check out For The Love of Fictional Worlds
revg's review
2.0
I think it's important, with this kind of story, to not make the Other Man more appealing than main love interest. There was also a real lack of story in this book. I like her writing but this one was pretty dull.
bandherbooks's review
3.0
Virginal lady meets wild Highlander, both really like each other but face the seemingly insurmountable ire of society which seems driven to keep them apart. I don't enjoy romances where the leading lady is seen as an "angel," but at least a few secondary characters kept this pleasing enough to finish. Nice touch with the leather gloves *wink*.
Thank you to Netgalley for the free ARC.
Thank you to Netgalley for the free ARC.
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