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webbsusa's review against another edition
2.0
Okayish…then not at all
This book could have been so much better than it was. It started off very slow, picked up around the 40-50% mark, then the main character betrays the confidence of another character and outs them, multiple times. This is all treated like it’s not only no big deal, but perfectly understandable and valid, because of course you would tell your friends. I was completely appalled. There was NO awareness of the fact that, at the time, sharing of such a secret could have resulted in the gay character being imprisoned or institutionalized. The stakes were incredibly high, but this was treated as just another “fun” plot point.
This points to another issue with the book: it felt like a contemporary romance playacting at historical romance. Putting your characters in period dress and throwing in a few viscounts doesn’t make a book HR. I am not a huge HR stickler; I love authors like Sarah Maclean, Erica Ridley, and Eva Leigh, who are often accused of being “inauthentic.” I love Bridgerton. Unlike those authors and TV shows, this book was almost completely divorced from its historical context. Change the clothes and remove the tiles, and these characters could have been 21st century Americans.
I had been really excited to read this book, as I’d heard some good things, but it was a major disappointment.
This book could have been so much better than it was. It started off very slow, picked up around the 40-50% mark, then the main character betrays the confidence of another character and outs them, multiple times. This is all treated like it’s not only no big deal, but perfectly understandable and valid, because of course you would tell your friends. I was completely appalled. There was NO awareness of the fact that, at the time, sharing of such a secret could have resulted in the gay character being imprisoned or institutionalized. The stakes were incredibly high, but this was treated as just another “fun” plot point.
This points to another issue with the book: it felt like a contemporary romance playacting at historical romance. Putting your characters in period dress and throwing in a few viscounts doesn’t make a book HR. I am not a huge HR stickler; I love authors like Sarah Maclean, Erica Ridley, and Eva Leigh, who are often accused of being “inauthentic.” I love Bridgerton. Unlike those authors and TV shows, this book was almost completely divorced from its historical context. Change the clothes and remove the tiles, and these characters could have been 21st century Americans.
I had been really excited to read this book, as I’d heard some good things, but it was a major disappointment.
zaza_bdp's review against another edition
4.0
Si vous aimez les comédies romantiques version Régence avec des personnages qui manient à la perfection l'art de la joute verbale, le marivaudage entre ennemis de longue date, les grands-mères à la langue bien pendue (et aux idées bien arrêtées !) ainsi que les parties de campagne qui donnent lieu à des activités ... autrement plus intimes, alors vous allez passer un excellent moment avec ce roman de Martha Waters !
Le titre ne laisse aucune place au doute, les "chamailleries" sont bien au coeur de ce roman, et font office de (longs) préliminaires entre Jeremy et Diana. Ces deux-là ont passé de longues années à se regarder en chiens de faïence et à se lancer des piques bien acérées, chacun étant bien décidé à avoir le dernier mot et le dessus sur l'autre. C'est à la faveur d'une fâcheuse mésaventure que Jeremy va faire une proposition pour le moins ... inattendue à Diana, tandis qu'elle lui impose un marché qu'elle compte bien remporter !
À partir de là, tous les coups sont permis, et ils vont s'en donner à coeur joie l'un et l'autre, avant, bien sûr, de se laisser prendre à leur propre jeu. Ce rapprochement va leur permettre de mieux se connaître et de dépasser leurs préjugés. Évidemment, on s'y attend, mais j'ai été touchée par la vulnérabilité dont ils font preuve lorsqu'ils s'autorisent à baisser leur garde, en particulier Jeremy qui a des choses à régler pour faire la paix avec son passé.
Je me suis vraiment régalée avec ce roman : c'est drôle et pétillant, les répliques fusent dans tous les sens, on est vraiment dans la pure comédie, c'est très rafraîchissant à lire ! Les personnages secondaires occupent une place de choix, et la grand-mère de Jeremy n'a pas été sans me rappeler une certaine lady Danbury ! Ajoutons à cela une romance qui certes prend son temps, mais qui n'en est pas moins passionnée, bref, tous les ingrédients sont réunis pour passer un excellent moment de lecture !
Le titre ne laisse aucune place au doute, les "chamailleries" sont bien au coeur de ce roman, et font office de (longs) préliminaires entre Jeremy et Diana. Ces deux-là ont passé de longues années à se regarder en chiens de faïence et à se lancer des piques bien acérées, chacun étant bien décidé à avoir le dernier mot et le dessus sur l'autre. C'est à la faveur d'une fâcheuse mésaventure que Jeremy va faire une proposition pour le moins ... inattendue à Diana, tandis qu'elle lui impose un marché qu'elle compte bien remporter !
À partir de là, tous les coups sont permis, et ils vont s'en donner à coeur joie l'un et l'autre, avant, bien sûr, de se laisser prendre à leur propre jeu. Ce rapprochement va leur permettre de mieux se connaître et de dépasser leurs préjugés. Évidemment, on s'y attend, mais j'ai été touchée par la vulnérabilité dont ils font preuve lorsqu'ils s'autorisent à baisser leur garde, en particulier Jeremy qui a des choses à régler pour faire la paix avec son passé.
Je me suis vraiment régalée avec ce roman : c'est drôle et pétillant, les répliques fusent dans tous les sens, on est vraiment dans la pure comédie, c'est très rafraîchissant à lire ! Les personnages secondaires occupent une place de choix, et la grand-mère de Jeremy n'a pas été sans me rappeler une certaine lady Danbury ! Ajoutons à cela une romance qui certes prend son temps, mais qui n'en est pas moins passionnée, bref, tous les ingrédients sont réunis pour passer un excellent moment de lecture !
kb1290's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
nissaks's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
siandee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
katiefly's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Entertaining enemies to lovers, easy to pick up, quick read. Even better that the first book which has a long miscommunication trope.
laurenecox's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
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
Charming!
agb101103's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
3.5
freadomlibrary's review against another edition
4.0
Trigger warnings: death, grief
I've been looking forward to continuing this series since I read the first book. While I enjoyed that one a lot more, this one was also pretty entertaining! I am obsessed with Diana haha. She's so funny and spunky and wild which is usually not something common within historical romance (at least what I've read so far). I definitely laughed at some quips of her and the banter she had with Jeremy who definitely won me over a little bit. I wasn't his biggest fan in the first book, just didn't feel like he shined much or had anything unique. But I liked getting to know him and his family history much more than I expected. My only complaint is that this plot felt a little slower than I expected and I didn't laugh out loud as much as with the first book. However, I do think this book was a good addition to the series and am looking forward to reading more.
I've been looking forward to continuing this series since I read the first book. While I enjoyed that one a lot more, this one was also pretty entertaining! I am obsessed with Diana haha. She's so funny and spunky and wild which is usually not something common within historical romance (at least what I've read so far). I definitely laughed at some quips of her and the banter she had with Jeremy who definitely won me over a little bit. I wasn't his biggest fan in the first book, just didn't feel like he shined much or had anything unique. But I liked getting to know him and his family history much more than I expected. My only complaint is that this plot felt a little slower than I expected and I didn't laugh out loud as much as with the first book. However, I do think this book was a good addition to the series and am looking forward to reading more.