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kzimm2024's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this story- for me it felt like a fresh look at the rarely mentioned world of male impersonating in the Victorian area. HA! Did that even exist? I thought it was the other way around, boys playing women since women were scarce in that industry. Well- shows you how little I know about it all.
4.5 stars- some spoilers ahead.
I loved Clem. I loved his inner voice and that we got to hear that perspective, I loved his shock in how he responded to "Dora" (and he was shocked many, many times) and I really liked how Dora kept him on his toes "with a mixture of horror and awe". I loved the variations to her name when spoken endearingly.
The love scenes are very steamy and well done, which I appreciate about Ms. Coldbreath's writing, and this would have been a solid 5 if not for my eventual disappointment in Clem.
We have our big, strong, fearless boxer dude that has to push our girl away so she can live her dreams. I didn't mesh with that whole ending, wishing he was a strong enough man to apologize for his duplicity and hang in there with her instead of running away (it was a short lived separation thankfully).
And be honest with her about his feelings before handing her a bunch of heartache. He didn't want to hurt her so he backed away?? For someone so forthright in his manner, he was at a loss for words with Theodora.
Oh well- it ended alright, but I wished for a softer landing :)
4.5 stars- some spoilers ahead.
I loved Clem. I loved his inner voice and that we got to hear that perspective, I loved his shock in how he responded to "Dora" (and he was shocked many, many times) and I really liked how Dora kept him on his toes "with a mixture of horror and awe". I loved the variations to her name when spoken endearingly.
The love scenes are very steamy and well done, which I appreciate about Ms. Coldbreath's writing, and this would have been a solid 5 if not for my eventual disappointment in Clem.
We have our big, strong, fearless boxer dude that has to push our girl away so she can live her dreams. I didn't mesh with that whole ending, wishing he was a strong enough man to apologize for his duplicity and hang in there with her instead of running away (it was a short lived separation thankfully).
And be honest with her about his feelings before handing her a bunch of heartache. He didn't want to hurt her so he backed away?? For someone so forthright in his manner, he was at a loss for words with Theodora.
Oh well- it ended alright, but I wished for a softer landing :)
khadijareads's review against another edition
4.0
4 glowing stars for Dora
This is one amazing book. Theodora has been used and abused by pretty much everyone in her life, she was made for the stage and no one believes in her talent, mainly because she is not a conventional beauty
Her brother fires her from the family theatre and her sister elopes leaving Dora and her dreams of realizing stardom in tatters. With no avenues but indentured servitude in the form of housekeeper for her brother left to her, she strikes up a bargain with Clem, himself a disreputable theatre owner. Dora proposes a marriage of convenience for 25% share in her family's respectable theatre and thus begins our romance.
I loved the female characters in this book, my one criticism is Clem.
Overall, I loved this book tho 4 glowing stars.
Merged review:
4 glowing stars for Dora
This is one amazing book. Theodora has been used and abused by pretty much everyone in her life, she was made for the stage and no one believes in her talent, mainly because she is not a conventional beauty
Her brother fires her from the family theatre and her sister elopes leaving Dora and her dreams of realizing stardom in tatters. With no avenues but indentured servitude in the form of housekeeper for her brother left to her, she strikes up a bargain with Clem, himself a disreputable theatre owner. Dora proposes a marriage of convenience for 25% share in her family's respectable theatre and thus begins our romance.
I loved the female characters in this book, my one criticism is Clem.
Overall, I loved this book tho 4 glowing stars.
This is one amazing book. Theodora has been used and abused by pretty much everyone in her life, she was made for the stage and no one believes in her talent, mainly because she is not a conventional beauty
(sidenote: all of Alice Coldbreath's female protagonists' are quasi ugly women with winning personalities)
.Her brother fires her from the family theatre and her sister elopes leaving Dora and her dreams of realizing stardom in tatters. With no avenues but indentured servitude in the form of housekeeper for her brother left to her, she strikes up a bargain with Clem, himself a disreputable theatre owner. Dora proposes a marriage of convenience for 25% share in her family's respectable theatre and thus begins our romance.
I loved the female characters in this book, my one criticism is Clem.
Spoiler
While I love a good alphah*le the lying and lack of belief in Dora's talents and continuing to wait for her to fail pissed me off. Even after her popular success. Some of the things he did towards the end of the book truly pissed me off and crossed into callous behaviour.Overall, I loved this book tho 4 glowing stars.
Merged review:
4 glowing stars for Dora
This is one amazing book. Theodora has been used and abused by pretty much everyone in her life, she was made for the stage and no one believes in her talent, mainly because she is not a conventional beauty
(sidenote: all of Alice Coldbreath's female protagonists' are quasi ugly women with winning personalities)
.Her brother fires her from the family theatre and her sister elopes leaving Dora and her dreams of realizing stardom in tatters. With no avenues but indentured servitude in the form of housekeeper for her brother left to her, she strikes up a bargain with Clem, himself a disreputable theatre owner. Dora proposes a marriage of convenience for 25% share in her family's respectable theatre and thus begins our romance.
I loved the female characters in this book, my one criticism is Clem.
Spoiler
While I love a good alphah*le the lying and lack of belief in Dora's talents and continuing to wait for her to fail pissed me off. Even after her popular success. Some of the things he did towards the end of the book truly pissed me off and crossed into callous behaviour.Overall, I loved this book tho 4 glowing stars.
rachel_reads91's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
4.25
Historical, romance, fiction
andskye's review
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
sarah_gb's review
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? No
4.5
jordannahst's review against another edition
4.5
This might be Alice’s best book yet. And that’s coming from someone who absolutely adores her medieval novels! This was just so different to what I’m used to when it comes to historical romance. I absolutely loved it! Theo was such a great heroine – I love her a lot and she deserves the entire world 🥺 and I have to mention my soft spot for Clem(ent) lol. The side characters were brilliant too (one of AC’s wonderful talents!!). I’m so, so happy everyone got their happy endings (well almost, maybe Felix’s will come soon!). Eddie and Harold!!! I KNEW IT!!!! All the love for one of my favourite authors always 💖
idmiliris's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
riz715zo's review
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.5
what in the world was up with the editing - name changes and misnaming, paragraphs from one spot in the wrong time - not sure what happened between this book and the others which I absolutely loved. The actual characters felt flat. Bummer.
bookish_kristina's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
This series is the best, most original group of books I’ve read in forever. So well done. So far each book has explored a completely original and different part of Victorian society through the eyes of two compelling and complete characters who marry for convenience and ultimately find love. This book was set in the theatres and music halls of Victorian London. A young woman with big dreams of being a male impersonator and acting in male stage roles is stifled by her family. She seeks freedom by marrying a somewhat retired, brutish but charming, prizefighter who owns a music hall. This book gives us glimpses into the rougher side of Victorian life juxtaposed by the staunchly strict middle class mores of the time. i found it extremely interesting. Clem, the hero, is a known charmer and a bit of a flash gentry - a flashy lower class person who has made something of himself - and yet doesn’t attempt to comport himself as a respectable man. He is a complicated hero, in earlier books shown as a ladies man, but his still waters run deep. He is NOT a man-whore in this book, he seems to have out grown that side of himself, so this is not a rake redemption story. He is, however, a man who has not known much love in his life and has to learn how to be honest, supportive and vulnerable with his Dora - with that being said it does take him awhile to get there. He keeps a secret from his wife in this book for a long time, and it eats away at him. So I did like Clem, but maybe not so much as I liked Ben from the last book.
In this story it was Theodora who stole the show - literally on stage as a male impersonator and in the story - with her strength, optimism, vulnerability, determination and loyalty. This loyalty bites her in the ass a few times, but she is always so resilient. She was a great character.
And as usual with this series, there is a lot of hot/awkward/polite Victorian sex, this book erred on the side of awkward more often than not, but I loved it. It was authentic. Not all sex is this perfectly choreographed gymnastics we see too often in romance. This was still swoon worthy, but also funny and sweet.
So I highly recommend this series to anyone into HR or historical fiction, romance, or just wants to try something new and original.
This series is the best, most original group of books I’ve read in forever. So well done. So far each book has explored a completely original and different part of Victorian society through the eyes of two compelling and complete characters who marry for convenience and ultimately find love. This book was set in the theatres and music halls of Victorian London. A young woman with big dreams of being a male impersonator and acting in male stage roles is stifled by her family. She seeks freedom by marrying a somewhat retired, brutish but charming, prizefighter who owns a music hall. This book gives us glimpses into the rougher side of Victorian life juxtaposed by the staunchly strict middle class mores of the time. i found it extremely interesting. Clem, the hero, is a known charmer and a bit of a flash gentry - a flashy lower class person who has made something of himself - and yet doesn’t attempt to comport himself as a respectable man. He is a complicated hero, in earlier books shown as a ladies man, but his still waters run deep. He is NOT a man-whore in this book, he seems to have out grown that side of himself, so this is not a rake redemption story. He is, however, a man who has not known much love in his life and has to learn how to be honest, supportive and vulnerable with his Dora - with that being said it does take him awhile to get there. He keeps a secret from his wife in this book for a long time, and it eats away at him. So I did like Clem, but maybe not so much as I liked Ben from the last book.
In this story it was Theodora who stole the show - literally on stage as a male impersonator and in the story - with her strength, optimism, vulnerability, determination and loyalty. This loyalty bites her in the ass a few times, but she is always so resilient. She was a great character.
And as usual with this series, there is a lot of hot/awkward/polite Victorian sex, this book erred on the side of awkward more often than not, but I loved it. It was authentic. Not all sex is this perfectly choreographed gymnastics we see too often in romance. This was still swoon worthy, but also funny and sweet.
So I highly recommend this series to anyone into HR or historical fiction, romance, or just wants to try something new and original.
c4nd1e's review against another edition
4.0
Theo wants to be an actress. She and her siblings were raised by their uncle, who owned a theater. When their uncle died, he gave Theo and her siblings each partial ownership of the theater, but since Theo is an unmarried woman, her brother controls all of it. Now her brother wants her to give up acting to work as an unpaid housekeeper in their family home.
Clem is a former prize fighter who now runs a music hall. He wants to expand his business and he has his eye on Theo's family theater.
Theo propositions Clem with a convenient marriage so they can both get what they want. He will have partial ownership of the theater, and she can work as an actress at the music hall.
I really like Theo and I love that she figured out a way to follow her dreams. She's a unique character and has many qualities that seem almost contradictory, but somehow it works and makes sense. She's confident and perceptive, but insecure and naive.
Clem has always thought of himself as ruthless. He was alone from a young age, became a prizefighter, then, when his fighting career slowed, he opened a music hall. He is enamored with Theo pretty much from the get-go, but tries to keep her at arm's length. It takes a while for him to figure out his feelings.
This book has some cameos from the first two Victorian prizefighter books.
Clem is a former prize fighter who now runs a music hall. He wants to expand his business and he has his eye on Theo's family theater.
Theo propositions Clem with a convenient marriage so they can both get what they want. He will have partial ownership of the theater, and she can work as an actress at the music hall.
I really like Theo and I love that she figured out a way to follow her dreams. She's a unique character and has many qualities that seem almost contradictory, but somehow it works and makes sense. She's confident and perceptive, but insecure and naive.
Clem has always thought of himself as ruthless. He was alone from a young age, became a prizefighter, then, when his fighting career slowed, he opened a music hall. He is enamored with Theo pretty much from the get-go, but tries to keep her at arm's length. It takes a while for him to figure out his feelings.
This book has some cameos from the first two Victorian prizefighter books.