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jndsouza's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
3.75
hsumanityreads's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.75
This was SUCH fun story! Leila is an artist, the daughter of a criminal, married to a criminal who lives for gaslighting her. The Comte d’Esmond is a man of many talents, languages, and names… principally solving crimes at the moment. Their paths keep crossing, and they can’t deny there is attraction between them. But with one more murder, they realize they’re tangled together in a web ten years in the making.
This novel truly reads like a mystery. So many villains, so much gaslighting, so many possible suspects! I enjoyed the way Leila and Esmond worked separately and together to figure out the massive ring of crimes and who was responsible. And of course, we love when they *actually* get together!! Loretta is the queen or intricate back stories and luscious romances and this has them both in spades.
This novel truly reads like a mystery. So many villains, so much gaslighting, so many possible suspects! I enjoyed the way Leila and Esmond worked separately and together to figure out the massive ring of crimes and who was responsible. And of course, we love when they *actually* get together!! Loretta is the queen or intricate back stories and luscious romances and this has them both in spades.
katyanaish's review
5.0
*****4.5*****
It was interesting to pick up on Ismal's story 10 years after the events of book 1. He was a pretty wicked villain throughout the first book, but I remember the bit at the end, where Jason tells Ismal that he pities Ismal - that he is a brilliant, talented young man who threw his life away - and it stood out to me. I was curious to understand more about the young man (he was only 22 in the first book) and what had led him down this road.
We don't get a lot of the backstory in this book, but we get some... and that coupled with the bits in the first book where everyone acknowledged that Ali was a vicious tyrant was enough to throw most of Ismal's behavior into a different light. It actually makes me think poorly of Jason, honestly, that he would work for a man who would butcher a whole village if a person in it displeased him. But I suppose that's neither here nor there.
I liked this one more than the last book because, while we have an equally brilliant heroine in this book... she fits better into this one because she's not surrounded by people who treat her like an idiot for doing what most non-cowardly people in her situation would do. That's refreshing. I also appreciated the tangled mystery in this one. Unraveling all the horrible shit her husband had done, and how it involved all these other people ... it was fascinating (and it made me feel surprise that no one had killed that contemptible piece of shit earlier).
And I loved Leila and Ismal together. They complemented each other perfectly, in terms of intellect and personality. It made the book a joy to read.
It was interesting to pick up on Ismal's story 10 years after the events of book 1. He was a pretty wicked villain throughout the first book, but I remember the bit at the end, where Jason tells Ismal that he pities Ismal - that he is a brilliant, talented young man who threw his life away - and it stood out to me. I was curious to understand more about the young man (he was only 22 in the first book) and what had led him down this road.
We don't get a lot of the backstory in this book, but we get some... and that coupled with the bits in the first book where everyone acknowledged that Ali was a vicious tyrant was enough to throw most of Ismal's behavior into a different light. It actually makes me think poorly of Jason, honestly, that he would work for a man who would butcher a whole village if a person in it displeased him. But I suppose that's neither here nor there.
I liked this one more than the last book because, while we have an equally brilliant heroine in this book... she fits better into this one because she's not surrounded by people who treat her like an idiot for doing what most non-cowardly people in her situation would do. That's refreshing. I also appreciated the tangled mystery in this one. Unraveling all the horrible shit her husband had done, and how it involved all these other people ... it was fascinating (and it made me feel surprise that no one had killed that contemptible piece of shit earlier).
And I loved Leila and Ismal together. They complemented each other perfectly, in terms of intellect and personality. It made the book a joy to read.
mhbee's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
adelie_wants_books_and_snacks's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect after how disappointed I was with the previous book. I had no idea this book was going to be about Ismal and let me tell you I was so happy. Especially considering the mega crush I developed while reading the first book. I LOVED his redemption story. I didn’t think I could love this man more than I already do lol. Every time he said something it had me giggling like a besotted idiot.
I loved the plot, the pace, the intrigue. The romance and chemistry between Leila and Ismal was incredibly sexy and sensual. The sex scene was literally taken out of my fantasies: pillows, carpet, by the fire. Stop. Just stop.
I liked Leila way more than Esme. I so identified with her having her husband fill her head with so much self doubt and making her feel like there was something wrong with her.
I loved the murder mystery plot, the various character stories, the pace.
I guess the only thing for me that stopped it from being perfect was the whole hot/cold attitude from Leila for a good part of the book and the whole breaking shit and having a tantrum (not as bad as Esme in the first book though). And the other thing that disappointed me were 2 sex scenes toward the end that faded to black rather than being described.
But appart from that I loved it. Ismal and Leila need their own series where they make love and solve crimes lol
I loved the plot, the pace, the intrigue. The romance and chemistry between Leila and Ismal was incredibly sexy and sensual. The sex scene was literally taken out of my fantasies: pillows, carpet, by the fire. Stop. Just stop.
I liked Leila way more than Esme. I so identified with her having her husband fill her head with so much self doubt and making her feel like there was something wrong with her.
I loved the murder mystery plot, the various character stories, the pace.
I guess the only thing for me that stopped it from being perfect was the whole hot/cold attitude from Leila for a good part of the book and the whole breaking shit and having a tantrum (not as bad as Esme in the first book though). And the other thing that disappointed me were 2 sex scenes toward the end that faded to black rather than being described.
But appart from that I loved it. Ismal and Leila need their own series where they make love and solve crimes lol
420blazeit's review
4.0
this was more mystery than romance imo, and im not even complaining. loretta chase is just too good at weaving in this insane mystery, revenge, crimes-against-the-crown storyline amidst a good ol' romance plot. i don't even know how she made ismal redeemable, that man was a meNACE in the last book, and towards the end i wasn't even mad at him. like it's all excused, pls be with leah i love her. for some reason i wanted her to paint more portraits, i felt like it was missing. but the reason for four stars wasn't bc of lack of portrait painting but more because the plot was a little confusing towards the end lmao, like i was a little lost there for a second bc everyone used each others' MANY titles interchangeably. i was always wracking my brain on the identities of the Duke of Something and the Count of Something only to find out they were the same person. but anyway yeah, this was a good build-up to the third book which has been on my tbr for tOO long.
heidenkind's review
5.0
My favorite Chase book ever! The Comte d'Esmond is srsly hawt. And the heroine is a painter in 19th-century France! Can you say right up my alley?
riskyduck's review
3.0
Chase crafts some gorgeous characters and sensible plot that makes this a solidly enjoyable book.
Leila is admirable and Ismal's a good match to teach her how to enjoy life.
Francis plays the villain in death through his poisonous actions/words. Chase succeeds here much better than most authors, who try to make their rampaging, knife/gun wielding, plot perpetuators scary, but end up seeming silly, boring, and ineffectual.
For one novel to have both a good villain and ending is rare enough; throw in an adorable, intriguing couple and you've got a lovely 3 hours of escape waiting to be read.
Leila is admirable and Ismal's a good match to teach her how to enjoy life.
Francis plays the villain in death through his poisonous actions/words. Chase succeeds here much better than most authors, who try to make their rampaging, knife/gun wielding, plot perpetuators scary, but end up seeming silly, boring, and ineffectual.
For one novel to have both a good villain and ending is rare enough; throw in an adorable, intriguing couple and you've got a lovely 3 hours of escape waiting to be read.
seeinghowitgoes's review
3.0
Loretta Chase builds these multi faceted stories, layer upon layer of backstories, characters and romance. It's a murder mystery with roots from a decade in the past, of a beautiful widow and her story.