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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
Okay, so I should explain the 4 star rating quickly here. I loved *nearly* everything about this book, but there were a few things I couldn't overlook. The biggest, most glaring one, is that the cover art/model doesn't really match the description of our female protagonist, Stella. Wild curly red hair, check. Glasses, Larger body size, Freckles, Where?
Anyway. That aside, I felt that she was too smart, and generally confident enough in herself up until it came to mention of Yasmin. And despite being friends with the Duke, she just couldn't bear to come anywhere close to trusting him. At all. Not even a little. I get that it goes with the trope, but I felt the author dragged her insecurities on a little too far.
I also felt the whole "love triangle" with Silvester, Giles, and Yasmin very off putting, and it seemed to detract from the story instead of add to it. It turns out, I hadn't realized this was third in a series and much of the first part was taking place at the same time as the second book. So all these scenes, much from Stella's POV, were really just from the second book. And while I'm fine with series overlapping time frames, this felt uncomfortable and excessive and I feel like the author just did this to re-use scenes and not have to put as much effort into plot development.
I could be wrong in that assessment, and *again* I'm giving this a 4/5, so I *did* enjoy the book. Just some minor irritations. Maybe I'd have liked it better had I read the first two?
Anyway. That aside, I felt that she was too smart, and generally confident enough in herself up until it came to mention of Yasmin. And despite being friends with the Duke, she just couldn't bear to come anywhere close to trusting him. At all. Not even a little. I get that it goes with the trope, but I felt the author dragged her insecurities on a little too far.
I also felt the whole "love triangle" with Silvester, Giles, and Yasmin very off putting, and it seemed to detract from the story instead of add to it. It turns out, I hadn't realized this was third in a series and much of the first part was taking place at the same time as the second book. So all these scenes, much from Stella's POV, were really just from the second book. And while I'm fine with series overlapping time frames, this felt uncomfortable and excessive and I feel like the author just did this to re-use scenes and not have to put as much effort into plot development.
I could be wrong in that assessment, and *again* I'm giving this a 4/5, so I *did* enjoy the book. Just some minor irritations. Maybe I'd have liked it better had I read the first two?
This book made me laugh, cry and hope. I loved reading Stella and Silvester's story.
Oh, I just loved this book? The writing sparkled, it wa funny but still had good amounts of angst. I loved Stella and the way her insecurities were handled, and Silvester was a lovely character, albeit insensitive at times. The sexual tension between them was really fun and the book as a whole was very romantic and steamy. I felt for both characters and the way their relationship developed was lovely. It was just a joy to read, I barely noticed the length of it at all, it was just a delicious read for me.
Content Notes: Friends-to-lovers.
Warnings:
Other:The MMC spends much of the book actively planning to marry another woman, and appears to have had feelings for her; however, the OW is clearly in love with another character, and is the subject of the previous book in the series. She never really entertains the MMC’s suit but there are a couple of points where it looks like she is, and their engagement is briefly announced. Once the MMC marries the FMC he is insistent he never really had feelings for the OW, but the FMC feels very insecure about it and the MMC acts like an idiot sometimes, giving her the impression he still loves the OW. .
Content Notes: Friends-to-lovers.
Warnings:
Spoiler
Death of a parent (in past), references to child abuse.Other:
Spoiler
On-page sex, OW drama
A perfect summer read for those who are hopeless romantics who don't quite fit the bill of "perfection". Nice to see a book that brings into focus (pun intended) the fact that beauty is truly in the eye and heart of the beholder. Kudos to Ms. James for shooting down stereotypes in regency romance.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
This was 400 pages of men being idiots. I don't think Silvester did one thing right. He happened upon the right thing but he never consciously made it.
Despite the idiotic men, Eloisa James is so witty and charming in her writing that I can't not have fun while reading her. Just not as much fun as I would've if Silvester had been smarter.
Despite the idiotic men, Eloisa James is so witty and charming in her writing that I can't not have fun while reading her. Just not as much fun as I would've if Silvester had been smarter.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-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
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-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
lighthearted
medium-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