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rjordan19's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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
4.0
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞 (There’s something really romantic about an enduring love like this – the obstacles this couple overcomes is rather astounding)
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: A bit but overall it’s a heavier book
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? a mix but maybe more plot?
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: almost immediately – Chapter 1 (about 2-3% in)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, a few months in the future (4 months or so)
Format: listened to the audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Should I read in order?
I think overall this series would be better in order as there’s some character cross over and events referenced, but overall this one does focus mostly on the main couple so rebel readers will probably be fine.
Basic plot:
Sophia finds herself in a total muddle when she realizes she doesn’t love her betrothed, but his cousin instead...
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (?)
- forbidden love/taboo vibes – heroine is engaged to hero’s cousin
- affair
- captain hero
- pets – heroine has a dog
-pregnancy
- LGBT positive
- low to mid steam – 2 full scenes
Ages:
- heroine is 20, didn’t catch hero
First line:
Sophia tugged at the leading string to draw Peaches closer to the hem of her dress.
My thoughts:
I think I said the first book of this series put me on a roller coaster and I had a variety of feelings about it – I feel similarly about this book! I think I liked it a bit more than book, but it’s still such a unique story and a bit crazy.
I don’t mind the ‘adultery’ aspect here, but I think the plot points and separations of the mains dwindled my enjoyment a bit. This couple had so much working against them and I was on my toes the whole time and was left wanting to just have the time to get to know the mains well and enjoy some longing between them.
I cannot help but think that this series would make absolutely amazing TV.
I did really love both main characters! I think I wouldn’t reread this one, but again another really memorable book unlike anything else I’ve read in HR.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- parental death
- heroine was raped by a family member when she was 13 (off page, remembered)
- confrontation with rapist in heroine’s bedroom while she’s under laudanum
- mention of homophobia and anti-LGBT legislation
- possible feelings of infidelity – the heroine marries the hero’s cousin and they continue their affair
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex: No and it does result in pregnancy
Hows the consent? It’s good/implied
3% - kiss
25% - kiss
39% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her, missionary
“Dev, please, please kiss me.”
“I would kiss every inch of you Sophia,” he whispered and his lips trailed lower, his hands at her back, loosening her gown.
“I would touch every inch of you. Taste every inch of you.”
49% - kiss
57% - 🔥 fingering for her, must be quiet, missionary
Keeping her gaze focused was difficult, nearly impossible. But his own would not allow hers to waver. She licked the palm of his hand. Now it was she who watched his eyes cloud with arousal.
“Wench,” he whispered, removing both of his hands to unfasten his falls.
62% - kiss
70% - kiss
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞 (There’s something really romantic about an enduring love like this – the obstacles this couple overcomes is rather astounding)
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: A bit but overall it’s a heavier book
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? a mix but maybe more plot?
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: almost immediately – Chapter 1 (about 2-3% in)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, a few months in the future (4 months or so)
Format: listened to the audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Should I read in order?
I think overall this series would be better in order as there’s some character cross over and events referenced, but overall this one does focus mostly on the main couple so rebel readers will probably be fine.
Basic plot:
Sophia finds herself in a total muddle when she realizes she doesn’t love her betrothed, but his cousin instead...
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (?)
- forbidden love/taboo vibes – heroine is engaged to hero’s cousin
- affair
- captain hero
- pets – heroine has a dog
-
- LGBT positive
- low to mid steam – 2 full scenes
Ages:
- heroine is 20, didn’t catch hero
First line:
Sophia tugged at the leading string to draw Peaches closer to the hem of her dress.
My thoughts:
I think I said the first book of this series put me on a roller coaster and I had a variety of feelings about it – I feel similarly about this book! I think I liked it a bit more than book, but it’s still such a unique story and a bit crazy.
I don’t mind the ‘adultery’ aspect here, but I think the plot points and separations of the mains dwindled my enjoyment a bit. This couple had so much working against them and I was on my toes the whole time and was left wanting to just have the time to get to know the mains well and enjoy some longing between them.
I cannot help but think that this series would make absolutely amazing TV.
I did really love both main characters! I think I wouldn’t reread this one, but again another really memorable book unlike anything else I’ve read in HR.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- parental death
- heroine was raped by a family member when she was 13 (off page, remembered)
- confrontation with rapist in heroine’s bedroom while she’s under laudanum
- mention of homophobia and anti-LGBT legislation
- possible feelings of infidelity – the heroine marries the hero’s cousin and they continue their affair
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:
Hows the consent?
3% - kiss
25% - kiss
39% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her, missionary
“Dev, please, please kiss me.”
“I would kiss every inch of you Sophia,” he whispered and his lips trailed lower, his hands at her back, loosening her gown.
“I would touch every inch of you. Taste every inch of you.”
49% - kiss
57% - 🔥 fingering for her, must be quiet, missionary
Keeping her gaze focused was difficult, nearly impossible. But his own would not allow hers to waver. She licked the palm of his hand. Now it was she who watched his eyes cloud with arousal.
“Wench,” he whispered, removing both of his hands to unfasten his falls.
62% - kiss
70% - kiss
sassysmutlover's review against another edition
5.0
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.
OMG, the emotional rollercoaster and feels from this book! It wins the award for the unique and different first meeting that will suck you and have you wondering what will happen next. I wanted to hate Lord Harald and his family, but just couldn't. They really had the best intentions especially the Duchess. There are many twists that will make you cry, cheer and be shocked throughout the story. I had my fingers crossed about the stepbrother and was very pleased, but shocked in the end. I held my breath so many times when it came to the plan and worried about how it would play out. The ending was perfect, but I didn't want it to end!
Sophia just wants to be safe and happy and feels that will happen with her fiance until she meets Devlin. She was stronger than she looked and could take anything thrown at her. I loved that she found her voice and started to take control of her life more and more. She always saw the good and never judged.
Devlin never thought he would find the love the way he did. He had so many things thrown at him and he kept going. I loved that looked for answers and saw her as the sweet girl she was. I was afraid he would give up, but he never did. I loved that he clearly loved his family.
OMG, the emotional rollercoaster and feels from this book! It wins the award for the unique and different first meeting that will suck you and have you wondering what will happen next. I wanted to hate Lord Harald and his family, but just couldn't. They really had the best intentions especially the Duchess. There are many twists that will make you cry, cheer and be shocked throughout the story. I had my fingers crossed about the stepbrother and was very pleased, but shocked in the end. I held my breath so many times when it came to the plan and worried about how it would play out. The ending was perfect, but I didn't want it to end!
Sophia just wants to be safe and happy and feels that will happen with her fiance until she meets Devlin. She was stronger than she looked and could take anything thrown at her. I loved that she found her voice and started to take control of her life more and more. She always saw the good and never judged.
Devlin never thought he would find the love the way he did. He had so many things thrown at him and he kept going. I loved that looked for answers and saw her as the sweet girl she was. I was afraid he would give up, but he never did. I loved that he clearly loved his family.
kaycuozzo's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book a lot. I give it 3.5 stars as the plot of the story was very entertaining and different then other historical romance books i’ve read, especially containing sensitive subjects. I’m excited to read the other books in this series.
Can be read as a stand-alone but highly recommend reading them in order.
Can be read as a stand-alone but highly recommend reading them in order.
teaandbooklover's review against another edition
4.0
I was really enjoying the book until I felt it got a bit preachy and Shakespearian or Gothic. I had no idea the book was going to take a turn that way and I was ready for the end before it got there. I agree there can be triggers here for various reasons, so just a forewarning.
When all was said and done, the HEA price was too high for me. In fact I feel like I need to read a happy romance now to cover what I just read. Still, I do think the author is a fantastic writer and has talent, but this story was not for me.
When all was said and done, the HEA price was too high for me. In fact I feel like I need to read a happy romance now to cover what I just read. Still, I do think the author is a fantastic writer and has talent, but this story was not for me.
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