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kayla_llbr's review
3.0
Marriages of Convenience are one of my favorite troupes. Especially if they are caused by a "ruining" of some sort. So I was excited that early on our characters Benedict and Lady Amelia are forced to marry after being caught in a compromising situation finds them in close proximity with each other. Lady Amelia wouldn't have been caught dead with someone like Benedict, a man with no title, when she has been raised her whole life of the promise of becoming a duchess.
These two individuals are ones that would never knowingly cross each others paths. Benedict, has no use or respect for the aristocracy. He is a man that works hard and takes care of his sister and resents a marriage that makes him look either like a scoundrel that compromised a lady, or a social climber trying to further his own agendas. Lady Amelia doesn't want to live in the country with some bumpkin when her whole life has been centered around being part of the ton.
What works so well is we see how limited Amelia has been prepared for life, as the life of a aristocratic woman, is limited to social skills and ladylike pursuits. Nothing about what it means to work hard, or read for fun. Things that most normal people do. And Benedict, it's easy to understand why he has such a disdain for society that he has been outside of, as the games the aristocrats play with one another are cruel. All of their life experiences shade how they treat one another and how difficult it is when they start feeling attraction to one another, as each represents a life they do not want.
But what would have made this a really good story would have been more scenes of intimacy. When we see Amelia and Benedict warming up to each other and ready to turn their marriage from sham into something for intimate, these details take place behind the scenes. Now, I am not saying I need graphic sex in a story to hold my interest or to enjoy it, but I feel like I missed out of the vulnerability of these two characters. Instead of seeing how it plays out, Amelia giving into her attraction to Benedict and vice versa, we are only told that they are making love to one another.
I think that's why I have to rate it a 3.5 because while I enjoyed seeing how Amelia and Benedict worked together within each others worlds and how they were trying to cope with that, I never got a sense of true intimacy from them as we were never privy to those private moments together. Had I been able to see and feel what it was like between the two of them letting their guards down and being intimate together I think it would have made all their strife and conflict towards the end feel much more impactful.
Saying that, I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series, as I have hope that these two side characters will have more history to make up for a possible lack in steamy scenes.
These two individuals are ones that would never knowingly cross each others paths. Benedict, has no use or respect for the aristocracy. He is a man that works hard and takes care of his sister and resents a marriage that makes him look either like a scoundrel that compromised a lady, or a social climber trying to further his own agendas. Lady Amelia doesn't want to live in the country with some bumpkin when her whole life has been centered around being part of the ton.
What works so well is we see how limited Amelia has been prepared for life, as the life of a aristocratic woman, is limited to social skills and ladylike pursuits. Nothing about what it means to work hard, or read for fun. Things that most normal people do. And Benedict, it's easy to understand why he has such a disdain for society that he has been outside of, as the games the aristocrats play with one another are cruel. All of their life experiences shade how they treat one another and how difficult it is when they start feeling attraction to one another, as each represents a life they do not want.
But what would have made this a really good story would have been more scenes of intimacy. When we see Amelia and Benedict warming up to each other and ready to turn their marriage from sham into something for intimate, these details take place behind the scenes. Now, I am not saying I need graphic sex in a story to hold my interest or to enjoy it, but I feel like I missed out of the vulnerability of these two characters. Instead of seeing how it plays out, Amelia giving into her attraction to Benedict and vice versa, we are only told that they are making love to one another.
I think that's why I have to rate it a 3.5 because while I enjoyed seeing how Amelia and Benedict worked together within each others worlds and how they were trying to cope with that, I never got a sense of true intimacy from them as we were never privy to those private moments together. Had I been able to see and feel what it was like between the two of them letting their guards down and being intimate together I think it would have made all their strife and conflict towards the end feel much more impactful.
Saying that, I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series, as I have hope that these two side characters will have more history to make up for a possible lack in steamy scenes.
angelsbookstaloves's review
4.0
Thank you so much Forever Pub for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
These characters were both very flawed in the beginning. But, overtime there was a lot of character development (which I really loved to see). There were many times when I was laughing and rooting for their relationship, and times when I was like "oh boy this is toxic". Good examples are that Amelia tried many times to change Ben, by his clothes and the way he acted. There were a few times she said some rude things to the maids. I was very upset with her, but she improved a lot. I grew to really love her as a character.
Ben, is a huge hot guy. But, he tends to push people away/blame others that he cares for the most when something goes wrong. Like, calling Amelia useless a few times (the audacity). But, he also improved a hell of a lot and it led to a really great romantic gesture (I LOVE romantic gestures)!
In the end, these two flawed characters blossomed into a super sweet romance that I'll remember for a while!
These characters were both very flawed in the beginning. But, overtime there was a lot of character development (which I really loved to see). There were many times when I was laughing and rooting for their relationship, and times when I was like "oh boy this is toxic". Good examples are that Amelia tried many times to change Ben, by his clothes and the way he acted. There were a few times she said some rude things to the maids. I was very upset with her, but she improved a lot. I grew to really love her as a character.
Ben, is a huge hot guy. But, he tends to push people away/blame others that he cares for the most when something goes wrong. Like, calling Amelia useless a few times (the audacity). But, he also improved a hell of a lot and it led to a really great romantic gesture (I LOVE romantic gestures)!
In the end, these two flawed characters blossomed into a super sweet romance that I'll remember for a while!
mzdeb's review
3.0
Decent airplane read--you just know the scenario Amelia and Benedict were in at the start of the book was a set-up to get Edward out of his life-long betrothal to Amelia, but I guess any explanation is being saved for the sequel with Edward and Fiona. Don't know why Ben was trying so hard for townsfolk who can be riled up into rebellion despite Ben being one of the better land owners. Pulls its punches on their first steamy scene, so that you're going back and forth over pages wondering if you missed something. Considering how spineless Edward was in this book, don't know if I can be convinced that he's actually a more complicated man in his sequel.
myhandmadehell's review against another edition
3.0
Edit: I just now realized this book is regency-era Overboard (the 1980s film with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell). Like, almost exactly that. Blue collar man saves the beautiful aristocrat’s life, she goes to live with him as his wife, he forces her to do housework and take care of children when she’s never done that before. She eventually applies her hidden genius to his business and helps him create a wonderful product. They fall in love.
I’d give this two stars but I usually reserve those for books I don’t finish. So this one gets a three. It was fine. The romantic leads lacked chemistry and communication. The sizzle was just not there for me. Kind of a cool story otherwise, that just barely dipped its toes into some political waters that would probably be an excellent book on their own, but didn’t really have room to breathe in this story. I’m not super compelled to continue with the series *except* that apparently the next two books feature my actual favorite characters from this one so I’m not sure what I’ll do.
Watching the two romantic leads go back and forth around the same arguments, listening to nothing the other had to say and learning nothing until it’s too late (over and over) was kind of aggravating. For two people purported to be intelligent (a brilliantly cunning queen bee society lady and a hardworking and empathetic engineer), they sure did and said some dumb stuff. If we’d had therapy in the regency era, would that make these kinds of books more or less interesting?
Buuut…I really did appreciate the author’s willingness to dive into the politics and social expectations (upon men and women) of the time in a very frank and sometimes uncomfortable manner. And she did a fair amount of research on steam engines, which is cool.
⭐️ = 3
I’d give this two stars but I usually reserve those for books I don’t finish. So this one gets a three. It was fine. The romantic leads lacked chemistry and communication. The sizzle was just not there for me. Kind of a cool story otherwise, that just barely dipped its toes into some political waters that would probably be an excellent book on their own, but didn’t really have room to breathe in this story. I’m not super compelled to continue with the series *except* that apparently the next two books feature my actual favorite characters from this one so I’m not sure what I’ll do.
Watching the two romantic leads go back and forth around the same arguments, listening to nothing the other had to say and learning nothing until it’s too late (over and over) was kind of aggravating. For two people purported to be intelligent (a brilliantly cunning queen bee society lady and a hardworking and empathetic engineer), they sure did and said some dumb stuff. If we’d had therapy in the regency era, would that make these kinds of books more or less interesting?
Buuut…I really did appreciate the author’s willingness to dive into the politics and social expectations (upon men and women) of the time in a very frank and sometimes uncomfortable manner. And she did a fair amount of research on steam engines, which is cool.
⭐️ = 3
reading_w_dee's review
5.0
This is a can't put down, stay up late until the book lands on your face, I've got to stop everything to read this book! I devoured it and loved every bit of it! Would highly recommend and can't wait for the next book!
whatmadsreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mari1532's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this marriage of convenience book. I laughed, I cringed, but the whole way I was rooting for the couple. Parish did an excellent job of creating misunderstandings between the characters that highlighted their own personalities and histories without making the reader frustrated by the situations keeping them apart. Already have the next book in the series of my TBR pile.
aliciasplendeur's review
4.0
Benedict Asterly finds Lady Amelia alone on the side of the road after an accident that's left her carriage overturned in the snow and unconscious.
Once he gets inside he builds a fire, removes her soaked dress, and leaves her close to warm back up. When they are found both are forced into a marriage of convenience otherwise she will be ruined.
These two are definitely opposites attract. She was raised to fulfill her betrothal to the Duke, who she's been engaged to for quite some time. Amelia is pretty snobby almost to the point that you just want to dislike her. But as she starts to settle into her marriage you do get to see her grow.
Because of his past, Benedict is wary of his wife. He's attracted to her and afraid she'll grow to be unhappy like his mother.
We get lots of miscommunication before they finally admit they want to be together and are in love.
This was the first book in a new series and I can't wait for the next book.
Working on review
Once he gets inside he builds a fire, removes her soaked dress, and leaves her close to warm back up. When they are found both are forced into a marriage of convenience otherwise she will be ruined.
These two are definitely opposites attract. She was raised to fulfill her betrothal to the Duke, who she's been engaged to for quite some time. Amelia is pretty snobby almost to the point that you just want to dislike her. But as she starts to settle into her marriage you do get to see her grow.
Because of his past, Benedict is wary of his wife. He's attracted to her and afraid she'll grow to be unhappy like his mother.
We get lots of miscommunication before they finally admit they want to be together and are in love.
This was the first book in a new series and I can't wait for the next book.
Working on review
bleuetlau's review
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
3.5
Read How to Survive a Scandal by Samara Parish and it was okay. I really enjoy the contemporary issues explored but the characters had not enough development to my liking. Like they were trashing BAD the other until 85% and the resolution was not strong enough for me to believe they change. I will definitely look out for her other books because I found the exploration of class and hate to be very good and there is definitely something there.