Scan barcode
joanav's review
4.0
I've received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, it was a good book.
I did not enjoy the first story (maybe 2, 2.5*) and that was a bit of a problem because it took me sometime to get really involved with the book. The next two stories were quite good (4*) and I got through them very easily and enjoyed them much more than the first story. The 4th story was a bit different and I liked but thought at the same time that is rapped up to quickly - I know it's a novella, but maybe instead of in the beginning doing more description, a bit more of the story could have been developed? I really liked how strong Jemma was, she really made an impression on me (3.5,4*). I really liked the concept of How to Land an Earl in Ten Days or Less - I love the film "how to lose a guy in 10 days"! - so it was fun to see Ava's take on it. I really enjoyed it, it was fun and at the same sweet and romantic. The last story was one of my favourites as well , although I would have changed just one thing: instead of having Oliver chase Helena, I would have just made them share the carriage ride to Scotland and made them fall in love during the trip, and maybe it would have been more believable for me that Oliver had fallen in love in Helena, instead of just one day waking up and thinking "wow the girl I ignored for years is actually a clever, intelligent, beautiful woman". Apart from that, I really liked the story, Helena was one of my favourite heroines and Oliver (much like Daring!) was very dashing and alluring.
In the end, I liked this anthology, but I think I'm finally understanding that novellas aren't my favourite kind of book - I like more fully developed stories. Still, it was a good book and I would recommend it to any historical romance fan.
Overall, it was a good book.
I did not enjoy the first story (maybe 2, 2.5*) and that was a bit of a problem because it took me sometime to get really involved with the book. The next two stories were quite good (4*) and I got through them very easily and enjoyed them much more than the first story. The 4th story was a bit different and I liked but thought at the same time that is rapped up to quickly - I know it's a novella, but maybe instead of in the beginning doing more description, a bit more of the story could have been developed? I really liked how strong Jemma was, she really made an impression on me (3.5,4*). I really liked the concept of How to Land an Earl in Ten Days or Less - I love the film "how to lose a guy in 10 days"! - so it was fun to see Ava's take on it. I really enjoyed it, it was fun and at the same sweet and romantic. The last story was one of my favourites as well , although I would have changed just one thing: instead of having Oliver chase Helena, I would have just made them share the carriage ride to Scotland and made them fall in love during the trip, and maybe it would have been more believable for me that Oliver had fallen in love in Helena, instead of just one day waking up and thinking "wow the girl I ignored for years is actually a clever, intelligent, beautiful woman". Apart from that, I really liked the story, Helena was one of my favourite heroines and Oliver (much like Daring!) was very dashing and alluring.
In the end, I liked this anthology, but I think I'm finally understanding that novellas aren't my favourite kind of book - I like more fully developed stories. Still, it was a good book and I would recommend it to any historical romance fan.
dianed's review
4.0
This collection of stories focuses on a gossip column written by the elusive Lady X. She knows everything that is going on and doesn’t hesitate to write about it. This book contains stories by 6 of my favorite authors. Each story focuses on how the gossip column can separate or bring people together.
Amanda Mariel’s One Moonlit Tryst starts as a bet between two men and ends with them both falling in love. A fun and delightful bit of fluff.
Deb Marlowe ties her Love Me, Lord Tender into her Half Moon series with an heiress who helps the underprivileged children of London while trying to see if the man she loves will lover her even without a large dowry. While he needs an heiress to save his foundering estate he must decide whether to choose love over money. As usual, Deb Marlowe’s characters choose love over money.
In The Lady Loves a Scandal Christina McKnight tells the story of a woman who’s love leaves town the night before he signs the betrothal documents. Now, one year later, he has returned – will she spurn him or is their love as strong as ever. It all depends on why he disappeared in the first place, but can he tell her his secret?
Erica Monroe writes a delicious murder investigation in The Scandalous Widow. Gabriel missed his chance years earlier when his friend an Earl married a woman that Gabriel was in love with. Now with the Earl dead, Gabriel (a detective) helps the countess to prove that her brother-in-law, the new Earl, is the murderer.
Ava Stone’s How to Land an Earl in Ten Days starts with a bet that Lord Darling can get a woman to fall for him in ten days or less. What can you expect from someone who is called DARLING. Ava Stone provides a fun story with some politics and danger thrown in. Little does Lord Darling realize that instead of a bet, he won true love.
To finish off the collection, Dawn Brower gives new meaning to the phrase that “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”. In A Lady Hoyden’s Secret we finally find out who is behind Lady X’s column and why she began writing in the first place. Helena was already planning to write a gossip column to giver herself some cash and independence but when Lord Dashville is forced to dance with her she uses him as inspiration for her column. Years later, he has grown up and matured (with some thanks to Lady X’s writing) and he finds himself in love with Helena. Will he want to marry her if he knows her secret?
Amanda Mariel’s One Moonlit Tryst starts as a bet between two men and ends with them both falling in love. A fun and delightful bit of fluff.
Deb Marlowe ties her Love Me, Lord Tender into her Half Moon series with an heiress who helps the underprivileged children of London while trying to see if the man she loves will lover her even without a large dowry. While he needs an heiress to save his foundering estate he must decide whether to choose love over money. As usual, Deb Marlowe’s characters choose love over money.
In The Lady Loves a Scandal Christina McKnight tells the story of a woman who’s love leaves town the night before he signs the betrothal documents. Now, one year later, he has returned – will she spurn him or is their love as strong as ever. It all depends on why he disappeared in the first place, but can he tell her his secret?
Erica Monroe writes a delicious murder investigation in The Scandalous Widow. Gabriel missed his chance years earlier when his friend an Earl married a woman that Gabriel was in love with. Now with the Earl dead, Gabriel (a detective) helps the countess to prove that her brother-in-law, the new Earl, is the murderer.
Ava Stone’s How to Land an Earl in Ten Days starts with a bet that Lord Darling can get a woman to fall for him in ten days or less. What can you expect from someone who is called DARLING. Ava Stone provides a fun story with some politics and danger thrown in. Little does Lord Darling realize that instead of a bet, he won true love.
To finish off the collection, Dawn Brower gives new meaning to the phrase that “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”. In A Lady Hoyden’s Secret we finally find out who is behind Lady X’s column and why she began writing in the first place. Helena was already planning to write a gossip column to giver herself some cash and independence but when Lord Dashville is forced to dance with her she uses him as inspiration for her column. Years later, he has grown up and matured (with some thanks to Lady X’s writing) and he finds himself in love with Helena. Will he want to marry her if he knows her secret?
More...