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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
I want to write a very full review for this... but then again I don't.
I think to enjoy this book you can't go in with too much detail, but instead just have to ride the roller-coaster of it. Given the blurb (and also the first chapter), I think experienced romance readers will quickly intuit some things. It gives a little nod to the Count of Monte Cristo. But the enjoyment is how the plot gets from point A to point .
This is a very romantic story with a strong, enjoyable heroine and a dashing, very enigmatic hero. It also has plotting rogues and scheming relatives, a parent trying to control a child from beyond the grave and another parent who goes to the grave with a lot of secrets to be uncovered. And through it all you wonder about identity -- mistaken or fraud or real? And it keeps you guessing until the end with an appropriately dramatic climactic scene.
I started this yesterday and did not put it down til I finished. It was a great read with just enough angst (not too much) and adventure (more than enough) and romance (a lot). Also I really appreciate that both the hero and heroine have their own separate high stakes plots that intersect in some ways but are still have separate but equal importance to that character.
Good book.
This is an honest review based on an ARC received by the publisher via Netgalley
I think to enjoy this book you can't go in with too much detail, but instead just have to ride the roller-coaster of it. Given the blurb (and also the first chapter), I think experienced romance readers will quickly intuit some things. It gives a little nod to the Count of Monte Cristo. But the enjoyment is how the plot gets from point A to point .
This is a very romantic story with a strong, enjoyable heroine and a dashing, very enigmatic hero. It also has plotting rogues and scheming relatives, a parent trying to control a child from beyond the grave and another parent who goes to the grave with a lot of secrets to be uncovered. And through it all you wonder about identity -- mistaken or fraud or real? And it keeps you guessing until the end with an appropriately dramatic climactic scene.
I started this yesterday and did not put it down til I finished. It was a great read with just enough angst (not too much) and adventure (more than enough) and romance (a lot). Also I really appreciate that both the hero and heroine have their own separate high stakes plots that intersect in some ways but are still have separate but equal importance to that character.
Good book.
This is an honest review based on an ARC received by the publisher via Netgalley
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked the writing but not the very predictable plot and boring characters. It might work better if the book was half as long. I lost interest at 50%.
2.5 stars.
2.5 stars.
Gentleman Jim is another A+ from Mimi Matthews. She is fast becoming one of my favorite HR romance authors.
If you'd asked me before, I wouldn't have said that friends to lovers is one of my top tropes. But Gentleman Jim may have just changed my mind. Plus, when it's childhood friends to lovers, there’s a history there that comes with such a deep level of unspoken understanding. The yearning is top notch, obviously. And this time we get a high born heroine and a commoner hero. So sprinkle in even more angst.
There were a lot of similarities to The Highwayman - childhood friends violently separated, only later to be reunited, with the MMC going under an assumed identity. I'm embarrassed to say how long it took me to realize that both this book and The Highwayman are basically the romance versions of The Count of Monte Cristo. I mean there was literally a quote in the beginning of the book from The Count of Monte Cristo.
This book really did it for me in the angst and yearning department.When she got all dressed up for the ball, only to be disappointed when he didn’t show, then to be crushed when he made an appearance but with another woman. Only for him to dance with her later on the terrace. Then to ride to her rescue in the dead of the night and get shot. And she thinking that he was lying on the side of the road bleeding out but couldn’t say anything lest she give him away. But she has to know if he’s okay so she risks her reputation and visits his hotel. Where he’s wounded, half naked, fully drunk, and has lost any semblance of self control. He finally admits that he’s her childhood friend. Thanks to the scar reveal (which I totally called). But now there’s gossip about their relationship and his enemies are coming closer to the truth of his real identity. He’s willing to give up his inheritance to be with her, and she’s willing to give him up for his bright future. So they separate and trust they find their way back to each other. Gah, it's just so good!
I think Maggie and Nicholas are one of my favorite Mimi couples -childhood loves wretched apart, waited ten years to find each other again, never giving up hope. That's, like, true love. Plus, they had amazing chemistry so you know the sex was hot.
Thank goodness I have more of Mimi's backlist to get me through until Return to Satterthwaite Court comes out!
If you'd asked me before, I wouldn't have said that friends to lovers is one of my top tropes. But Gentleman Jim may have just changed my mind. Plus, when it's childhood friends to lovers, there’s a history there that comes with such a deep level of unspoken understanding. The yearning is top notch, obviously. And this time we get a high born heroine and a commoner hero. So sprinkle in even more angst.
There were a lot of similarities to The Highwayman - childhood friends violently separated, only later to be reunited, with the MMC going under an assumed identity. I'm embarrassed to say how long it took me to realize that both this book and The Highwayman are basically the romance versions of The Count of Monte Cristo. I mean there was literally a quote in the beginning of the book from The Count of Monte Cristo.
This book really did it for me in the angst and yearning department.
I think Maggie and Nicholas are one of my favorite Mimi couples -childhood loves wretched apart, waited ten years to find each other again, never giving up hope. That's, like, true love. Plus, they had amazing chemistry so you know the sex was hot.
Thank goodness I have more of Mimi's backlist to get me through until Return to Satterthwaite Court comes out!
What a book!
Thoroughly enjoyed this! The characters, the dialogue, the wit, that steamy romance and...oh my!!... That satisfying end!
Mimi Mathews is my new favourite, go-to author!
Thoroughly enjoyed this! The characters, the dialogue, the wit, that steamy romance and...oh my!!... That satisfying end!
Mimi Mathews is my new favourite, go-to author!
Not as good as the work of art but still a good read.
This book has it all - from starcrossed lovers to dandy highwaymen. I didn't want to put it down, and when I had to I couldn't stop thinking about it.
Margaret's supposed to marry her dreadful neighbour Frederick but the man she really loves is a stable boy called Nicholas. Enraged that he isn't the subject of her attention, Fred accuses Nicholas of stealing Maggie's jewels and arranges to have him hanged. Maggie finds out where Nicholas was being held by chance and helps him escape. That was the last she saw of him.
In the ten years that have since passed, Maggie is still unmarried and waiting for Nicholas to come back. Unfortunately, her father died almost two years prior and instead of leaving the estate to Maggie, he made Fred her guardian until she's married to a man he approves of. But time is running out. Maggie only has six months to get married (to Fred, who would never approve of anyone other than himself) or risk losing her estate and funds.
Enter John St Clare. He's the grandson of a well respected Earl who's just come back to England a month ago. During a visit to her friend's estate in London, Maggie overhears Fred is due to duel St Clare in the morning and, concerned for her own finances, should Fred perish, goes to see St Clare in the dead of night to ask him to spare Fred's life.
But when she comes face to face with him she faints. Already weakened by illness she could've avoided had she not been so caring, the last thing she needs is to see a man who resembles Nicholas so much. From that moment on she's convinced he's Nicholas, and nothing he does manages to sway her.
With "Nicholas" back in her life, Maggie starts to see a brighter future, away from Fred's claws, but he isn't giving up so easily and even teams up with St Clare's distant-barely-related cousin who wants to claim the Earl title for himself to ruin them both.
This book is perfection. The only thing it needs is to be made into a movie or a series. I have no complaints whatsoever.
The language used is fitting to the times but easy to understand. The plot seems simple enough in the beginning, but it evolves into so much more. The characters are so well written, (even the villains!) you can't help but to care for them all.
Maggie is an amazing heroine, spirited even while ill. Definitely one of my favourites. Nicholas is the perfect gentleman while Fred is the complete opposite.
The romance is extremely gripping from the very first moment we see Maggie and Nicholas together (I'M STILL SO INVESTED). I was always rooting for them and I'm glad it worked out in the end.
But my favourite part was "Stand and Deliver". You'll have to read the book to know what I mean. It was so exciting and I wish Maggie left with him then and there.
Gentleman Jim is this big legendary highwayman and even though we didn't get to see him he leaves a lasting impression.
I'm so happy I was given the opportunity to read this book. Ten billion stars.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Margaret's supposed to marry her dreadful neighbour Frederick but the man she really loves is a stable boy called Nicholas. Enraged that he isn't the subject of her attention, Fred accuses Nicholas of stealing Maggie's jewels and arranges to have him hanged. Maggie finds out where Nicholas was being held by chance and helps him escape. That was the last she saw of him.
In the ten years that have since passed, Maggie is still unmarried and waiting for Nicholas to come back. Unfortunately, her father died almost two years prior and instead of leaving the estate to Maggie, he made Fred her guardian until she's married to a man he approves of. But time is running out. Maggie only has six months to get married (to Fred, who would never approve of anyone other than himself) or risk losing her estate and funds.
Enter John St Clare. He's the grandson of a well respected Earl who's just come back to England a month ago. During a visit to her friend's estate in London, Maggie overhears Fred is due to duel St Clare in the morning and, concerned for her own finances, should Fred perish, goes to see St Clare in the dead of night to ask him to spare Fred's life.
But when she comes face to face with him she faints. Already weakened by illness she could've avoided had she not been so caring, the last thing she needs is to see a man who resembles Nicholas so much. From that moment on she's convinced he's Nicholas, and nothing he does manages to sway her.
With "Nicholas" back in her life, Maggie starts to see a brighter future, away from Fred's claws, but he isn't giving up so easily and even teams up with St Clare's distant-barely-related cousin who wants to claim the Earl title for himself to ruin them both.
This book is perfection. The only thing it needs is to be made into a movie or a series. I have no complaints whatsoever.
The language used is fitting to the times but easy to understand. The plot seems simple enough in the beginning, but it evolves into so much more. The characters are so well written, (even the villains!) you can't help but to care for them all.
Maggie is an amazing heroine, spirited even while ill. Definitely one of my favourites. Nicholas is the perfect gentleman while Fred is the complete opposite.
The romance is extremely gripping from the very first moment we see Maggie and Nicholas together (I'M STILL SO INVESTED). I was always rooting for them and I'm glad it worked out in the end.
But my favourite part was "Stand and Deliver". You'll have to read the book to know what I mean. It was so exciting and I wish Maggie left with him then and there.
Gentleman Jim is this big legendary highwayman and even though we didn't get to see him he leaves a lasting impression.
I'm so happy I was given the opportunity to read this book. Ten billion stars.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Maggie and Nicholas have been in love for most of their young lives, but Maggie is the lady of the manor while Nicholas is the bastard stable-hand. Everyone assumes Maggie will marry her wealthy neighbor who wants Nicholas out of his way, so fabricates a crime, forcing Nick to run for it. Years later, Maggie recognizes John Beresford, the Viscount St. Clare, as her lost love.
Ms. Matthews has mentioned that this book was inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, and certainly, it's a very familiar plot with the deviation that Mercedes, or Maggie in this book, is not married by the time that Edmond, or Nicholas in this book, returns. This makes for a different ending that honestly wasn't as satisfactory to me as a reader. No spoilers but this crucial difference makes Maggie into a needy woman begging for John's attention and John into an aloof aristocrat, disdainful of the woman who helped him escape.
Ms. Matthews always writes a good story and I love her Victorian settings. This is still a good read, but, for me, I might have been happier even if there wasn't a HEA.
Ms. Matthews has mentioned that this book was inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, and certainly, it's a very familiar plot with the deviation that Mercedes, or Maggie in this book, is not married by the time that Edmond, or Nicholas in this book, returns. This makes for a different ending that honestly wasn't as satisfactory to me as a reader. No spoilers but this crucial difference makes Maggie into a needy woman begging for John's attention and John into an aloof aristocrat, disdainful of the woman who helped him escape.
Ms. Matthews always writes a good story and I love her Victorian settings. This is still a good read, but, for me, I might have been happier even if there wasn't a HEA.