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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
LISTEN HERE, SON, I love Avon romances. Avon… They just get me, ya know? They’re so original and funny, and aware of their audience and… heck it, it’s just nice to be pandered to for once. I’ll read outside of my “cat-nip” just out of support because I’m so excited that Avon actually listens to what the modern romance reader wants to see more of. Even if it’s not my particular… Interest? Like all romance readers, I have my genre “cat-nip” (Regencies, Victorians, and Fantasy), and from there, there are sub-genres. I LOVE a good twist on an old troupe. I love something that seems absurd on paper but is written with genuine care and heart. (I’m always looking for a rec, so if you can think of any, drop a line!) But no one is here to hear me beat a dead horse that is “Let’s Defend Romance Novels!” It’s tiresome to have that conversation over and over, and if you’re already here, there’s a good chance I can spare you that conversation and just talk about the book.
The Girl With The Make-Beleive Husband hasn’t been out for more than a few months, and somehow it’s managed to become one of those books that I have three different copies of. That is: ebook, paperback, and audiobook. This was before I’d even gotten around to reading it and is a testament to A) how excited I was about it and B) how disorganized I am.
Now, I love a good Regency. I haven’t seen many that take place outside of England, so I thought a British Regency in Baby America was interesting. The Girl With The Make-Believe Husband is about Cecilia Harcourt, a girl who is stuck between options. Her ailing father has recently died, and her brother, a soldier fighting in the colonies, has gone missing. If she were to stay in England, her icky cousin would have to marry her. Not satisfied with this solution, she instead sails to America to find her brother, but instead finds herself in an awkward position where she must slip into a fiction – which is that she’s married to her brother’s best friend Edward Rokesby (whom she knows through letters), a handsome officer who is unconscious and needs her care. Upon his waking, Cecilia hems and haws about explaining the truth of the situation and just lets the falsehood ride out because Rokesby has lost some of his memory and can’t confirm or deny any of Cecilia’s claims.* Plus, it’s not like he hadn’t been attracted to her before he’d ever gotten the chance to meet her, or anything like that. It’s not like he Wouldn’t have married her, or anything like that. Not at all.
You know what? I was too hyped by this book and I still loved it. It wasn’t as funny as I’d have liked – I think I was hoping for some slapstick (I’m always looking for slapstick in the wrong situations). I thought Cecilia and Edward’s sneaky-sneaky “I know something You don’t know” was a perfect set up for some rom-com shenanigans, but the deceptions were actually pretty big and high-stakes. So maybe this wasn’t a rom-com at all. 😦
Whatever. The ending was perfect,** the story didn’t bore or annoy me, and the epilogue makes me think I really need to read the rest of the series, like, NOW.
* – This is Romancelandia, and this kind of contrived situation is totally fine and encouraged.
** – Though Mrs. Finch can go f*ck herself.
this review was originally posted on my blog, which you can find here
The Girl With The Make-Beleive Husband hasn’t been out for more than a few months, and somehow it’s managed to become one of those books that I have three different copies of. That is: ebook, paperback, and audiobook. This was before I’d even gotten around to reading it and is a testament to A) how excited I was about it and B) how disorganized I am.
Now, I love a good Regency. I haven’t seen many that take place outside of England, so I thought a British Regency in Baby America was interesting. The Girl With The Make-Believe Husband is about Cecilia Harcourt, a girl who is stuck between options. Her ailing father has recently died, and her brother, a soldier fighting in the colonies, has gone missing. If she were to stay in England, her icky cousin would have to marry her. Not satisfied with this solution, she instead sails to America to find her brother, but instead finds herself in an awkward position where she must slip into a fiction – which is that she’s married to her brother’s best friend Edward Rokesby (whom she knows through letters), a handsome officer who is unconscious and needs her care. Upon his waking, Cecilia hems and haws about explaining the truth of the situation and just lets the falsehood ride out because Rokesby has lost some of his memory and can’t confirm or deny any of Cecilia’s claims.* Plus, it’s not like he hadn’t been attracted to her before he’d ever gotten the chance to meet her, or anything like that. It’s not like he Wouldn’t have married her, or anything like that. Not at all.
You know what? I was too hyped by this book and I still loved it. It wasn’t as funny as I’d have liked – I think I was hoping for some slapstick (I’m always looking for slapstick in the wrong situations). I thought Cecilia and Edward’s sneaky-sneaky “I know something You don’t know” was a perfect set up for some rom-com shenanigans, but the deceptions were actually pretty big and high-stakes. So maybe this wasn’t a rom-com at all. 😦
Whatever. The ending was perfect,** the story didn’t bore or annoy me, and the epilogue makes me think I really need to read the rest of the series, like, NOW.
* – This is Romancelandia, and this kind of contrived situation is totally fine and encouraged.
** – Though Mrs. Finch can go f*ck herself.
this review was originally posted on my blog, which you can find here
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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:
No
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Julia Quinn never fails to absolutely grab me. I don’t know how she manages to keep introducing new lead characters with unique voices after so many books but she’s definitely got a skill. Additionally, I commend this book for trying something different and breaking the typical predictable format. It was full of angst and emotion that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. There were some hiccups such as the way race is discussed alongside sexual abuse. Domestic violence also seems to keep weedling its way into these books but now I know what I’m getting into with this genre. That being said, the book as a whole was still greatly enjoyable.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
No