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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
I've been sitting here for an hour trying to think of how to start this review, and I still don't think I'm ready. I probably need to sit with it for a while longer, maybe reread some parts of the book and just soak it all in.
I can say now, however, that I loved this book. Loved it. Can feel it crowding up against [b:Flowers from the Storm|360259|Flowers from the Storm|Laura Kinsale|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1275622146s/360259.jpg|788122] on my list of favorite historical romances. I know, some of you are gasping right now! I mean it, though. The depth and complexity of characterization, the beauty and insightfulness of the prose, the way Patricia Gaffney was able to make me believe in the love between the heroine and hero, make me believe the hero's change and redemption after the absolutely awful things he did, make me believe in the heroine's strength and ability to forgive...as I said before, Gaffney's some kind of sorceress! Or just a great observer of humanity, and an incredibly talented writer.
Maybe I'll be able to write something more in-depth and intelligent later. Maybe after a second reading somewhere down the line. In the meantime, this is a great discussion of the book and hits on a lot of the things I appreciated about it.
5 stars
I can say now, however, that I loved this book. Loved it. Can feel it crowding up against [b:Flowers from the Storm|360259|Flowers from the Storm|Laura Kinsale|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1275622146s/360259.jpg|788122] on my list of favorite historical romances. I know, some of you are gasping right now! I mean it, though. The depth and complexity of characterization, the beauty and insightfulness of the prose, the way Patricia Gaffney was able to make me believe in the love between the heroine and hero, make me believe the hero's change and redemption after the absolutely awful things he did, make me believe in the heroine's strength and ability to forgive...as I said before, Gaffney's some kind of sorceress! Or just a great observer of humanity, and an incredibly talented writer.
Maybe I'll be able to write something more in-depth and intelligent later. Maybe after a second reading somewhere down the line. In the meantime, this is a great discussion of the book and hits on a lot of the things I appreciated about it.
5 stars
Rachel is immediately arrested for vagrancy upon her release from prison where she just spent 10 years locked up for murdering her abusive husband. Sebastian, a viscount and local magistrate, is fascinated by Rachel and her circumstances and agrees to hire her as his housekeeper. Sound like an odd start for a historical romance novel? It is, but sparks soon fly between Sebastian and Rachel and love is sure to follow. If you enjoy it, check out the other two books in Gaffney's Wyckerly Trilogy: To Love and to Cherish and Forever & Ever.
-Lindsey D.-
-Lindsey D.-
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
Moderate: Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Police brutality
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
I'm torn on how I feel with this one. Yes I can see the conflict, but at the same time, I'm not sure if I enjoyed Patricia's writing, or I couldn't see the characters as a couple.
Historical romance for the dark romance girlies. Not as satisfying turnaround/redemption for the "hero" as I wanted.
I've been sitting here for an hour trying to think of how to start this review, and I still don't think I'm ready. I probably need to sit with it for a while longer, maybe reread some parts of the book and just soak it all in.
I can say now, however, that I loved this book. Loved it. Can feel it crowding up against [b:Flowers from the Storm|360259|Flowers from the Storm|Laura Kinsale|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1275622146s/360259.jpg|788122] on my list of favorite historical romances. I know, some of you are gasping right now! I mean it, though. The depth and complexity of characterization, the beauty and insightfulness of the prose, the way Patricia Gaffney was able to make me believe in the love between the heroine and hero, make me believe the hero's change and redemption after the absolutely awful things he did, make me believe in the heroine's strength and ability to forgive...as I said before, Gaffney's some kind of sorceress! Or just a great observer of humanity, and an incredibly talented writer.
Maybe I'll be able to write something more in-depth and intelligent later. Maybe after a second reading somewhere down the line. In the meantime, this is a great discussion of the book and hits on a lot of the things I appreciated about it.
5 stars
I can say now, however, that I loved this book. Loved it. Can feel it crowding up against [b:Flowers from the Storm|360259|Flowers from the Storm|Laura Kinsale|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1275622146s/360259.jpg|788122] on my list of favorite historical romances. I know, some of you are gasping right now! I mean it, though. The depth and complexity of characterization, the beauty and insightfulness of the prose, the way Patricia Gaffney was able to make me believe in the love between the heroine and hero, make me believe the hero's change and redemption after the absolutely awful things he did, make me believe in the heroine's strength and ability to forgive...as I said before, Gaffney's some kind of sorceress! Or just a great observer of humanity, and an incredibly talented writer.
Maybe I'll be able to write something more in-depth and intelligent later. Maybe after a second reading somewhere down the line. In the meantime, this is a great discussion of the book and hits on a lot of the things I appreciated about it.
5 stars
I was told that this book was going to be dark and heavy so I knew what I was getting into when starting. Let me start off with saying how much I needed Rachel to be happy so bad, and how much my heart broke for Lydia in spite of what she put Rachel through.
Sebastian repels and infuriates me, but what I feel about him is a conflicting. Everytime I find myself liking this guy, I remember what he did. From the rape to the scene where Rachel sits with him and his friends shattered me. However towards the end, I found myself liking him for the sake of Rachel. It sucks because I know I should despise him, but I just don’t. Maybe I do, but not as much as I should. I am the type of reader who is totally fine with asshole MMCs as long as they grovel in the end… but Sebastian has been an expection. I absolutely do not excuse or forgive him for everything he did. And if it means anything, he’s even worse than an asshole. He did not grovel. He did not even redeem himself properly.
He reminds me a little bit of Val from Elizabeth Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series in a way that they are bad guys who fell in love who never redeemed themselves. However, Val is built as very fictional whereas Sebastian feels “real”.