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reeyabeegale's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars.
I'm so sad, this was one of my most anticipated books in September and I was so excited to read it. I only started reading historical romance this year, and I've only ever read Tessa Dare's works - - which we may conclude, highly affects how I read other historical romance books. I found this to be more drama than romance.
As I've said, I'm accustomed to Dare's writing, and one of my problems with this book was that. It's not bad or poor writing, but the story flow was too slow for my liking. I find some of the conversations included in here were unnecessary and forced to fill in gaps.
I also found the plot to be predictable. When I got to chapter 4 or so, I was hoping it will surprise me by the end, but it didn't happen.
Also, I didn't like how there weren't a lot of scenes to show that Leela and Hunt were developing feelings deeper than intimacy, except for when they say so. There was also a time I found Leela hypocritical for suggesting a relationship with Hunt after the scandal, when she was very opposed to it prior. I understood that the time she found it agreeable, was the "best" time, however, the quick shift in mindset got me questioning where she really stood on the matter in the first place.
The things I liked most in the book was the political aspects of it. I loved how the society standards were often brought up, and challenged. I loved that Leela was different from the women often accepted to be of high status. Most of all, I loved her heritage background, it's so refreshing and I think the author did a good job with it. I wish there were more scenes of this, apart from when she uses Arabic terms.
All in all, I think this book wasn't for me. But other readers who have been reading historical romance might enjoy it more. I'd still love to read other books by Diana Quincy in the future, since her plots are very intriguing.
--Had to edit, because I realized I wanted to include how I'm looking forward to reading the next book! I'm highly intrigued by Griffin.
I'm so sad, this was one of my most anticipated books in September and I was so excited to read it. I only started reading historical romance this year, and I've only ever read Tessa Dare's works - - which we may conclude, highly affects how I read other historical romance books. I found this to be more drama than romance.
As I've said, I'm accustomed to Dare's writing, and one of my problems with this book was that. It's not bad or poor writing, but the story flow was too slow for my liking. I find some of the conversations included in here were unnecessary and forced to fill in gaps.
I also found the plot to be predictable. When I got to chapter 4 or so, I was hoping it will surprise me by the end, but it didn't happen.
Also, I didn't like how there weren't a lot of scenes to show that Leela and Hunt were developing feelings deeper than intimacy, except for when they say so. There was also a time I found Leela hypocritical for suggesting a relationship with Hunt after the scandal, when she was very opposed to it prior. I understood that the time she found it agreeable, was the "best" time, however, the quick shift in mindset got me questioning where she really stood on the matter in the first place.
The things I liked most in the book was the political aspects of it. I loved how the society standards were often brought up, and challenged. I loved that Leela was different from the women often accepted to be of high status. Most of all, I loved her heritage background, it's so refreshing and I think the author did a good job with it. I wish there were more scenes of this, apart from when she uses Arabic terms.
All in all, I think this book wasn't for me. But other readers who have been reading historical romance might enjoy it more. I'd still love to read other books by Diana Quincy in the future, since her plots are very intriguing.
--Had to edit, because I realized I wanted to include how I'm looking forward to reading the next book! I'm highly intrigued by Griffin.
excel_spreadsheet_book_nerd's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
alexandreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
hollitha's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
auteaandtales's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Considering they got together in the second chapter, I was wondering what events would unfold to carry this for a whole book. It ended up being a fun read, I really liked the chemistry between the main characters, and Leela especially is such a kickass woman who knows what she wants and what she deserves and isn’t afraid to demand that.
I also enjoyed the side characters, and how Leela defended and supported other women, even when she was jealous of them. I feel like we don’t get enough of that in books, women do not need to and should not tear down other women especially over a man, which I’m glad did not happen here!
I didn’t enjoy it as much as Quincy’s other book, The Duke Gets Desperate, though. I felt like that one was a lot more ‘padded out’ and we got to see the love interests spend some time with each other to really connect. I wish we got to see that between these two characters, as well. It was there, just not quite as much as I would have liked.
But it was a fun, mostly lighthearted story with some serious themes of racism and misogyny. I will be continuing with the series.
SPOILERS
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I also wasn’t a fan of the way it ended. Leela spoke on how she couldn’t have children and, although I felt like it was unclear as to whether or not she wanted children or if she was disappointed in herself for not ‘fulfilling her duties’, I liked that she was loved anyway.
Although I was happy for her when we find out she had a child with him, it felt wrong? Part of me is glad they got to experience what I assume Leela wanted for herself, but it felt like it was saying their ending wouldn’t have truly been happy if she remained unable to have children. Something about that just didn’t feel right.
But, again, I’m glad that this wish of theirs got fulfilled.
I also enjoyed the side characters, and how Leela defended and supported other women, even when she was jealous of them. I feel like we don’t get enough of that in books, women do not need to and should not tear down other women especially over a man, which I’m glad did not happen here!
I didn’t enjoy it as much as Quincy’s other book, The Duke Gets Desperate, though. I felt like that one was a lot more ‘padded out’ and we got to see the love interests spend some time with each other to really connect. I wish we got to see that between these two characters, as well. It was there, just not quite as much as I would have liked.
But it was a fun, mostly lighthearted story with some serious themes of racism and misogyny. I will be continuing with the series.
SPOILERS
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I also wasn’t a fan of the way it ended. Leela spoke on how she couldn’t have children and, although I felt like it was unclear as to whether or not she wanted children or if she was disappointed in herself for not ‘fulfilling her duties’, I liked that she was loved anyway.
Although I was happy for her when we find out she had a child with him, it felt wrong? Part of me is glad they got to experience what I assume Leela wanted for herself, but it felt like it was saying their ending wouldn’t have truly been happy if she remained unable to have children. Something about that just didn’t feel right.
But, again, I’m glad that this wish of theirs got fulfilled.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Animal cruelty, Classism, Infertility, and Racism
babiefats's review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Soooooo—are we just gonna ignore that the happily ever after is almost predicated on a woman’s ability to just magically have a child despite the entire narrative being about her finding love for herself and being deserving of love despite her “womanly role”… eff that. Tomatoes. Tomatoes.
carakupferman's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jmichels2's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
starry_eyed_nikki's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
wanderlust_romance's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I have been waiting on my library hold for this book for MONTHS. And then realized it was available through Hoopla and immediately jumped on it...much like Leela and Elliot jumped in bed together. Horny historical, hallelujah. I’m all about it. You not only get plenty of steam, you also get a pretty solid middle finger to patriarchal white English society. Elliot Townsend, the Duke of Huntington, was ironic in asserting himself as a paragon of propriety: as a man with a mistress in London, a one night stand at an inn, an all but assured engagement, and a clandestine affair with Leela! Keep it in your pants, Hunt! For her part, Leela is a widowed marchioness who has traveled through the Levant (Palestine) and authored a wildly popular travelogue. Listen, this is Regency era England, so of course there are patriarchal dynamics at play, which are amplified because Leela is also an Arab. There was plenty of cultural representation through language, food, and traditions, and also no denying the pride Leela has in reconnecting to her heritage. I enjoyed the angsty and forbidden dynamic between these MCs. A solidly enjoyable hissy rono. I’ll be reading/listening to the rest of the series for sure!