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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I love this book!! Devil is one of my all time favorite regency heroes. He is just so strong silent Alpha to the extreme!! I have reread this book several time because I love it so much!
This is a wildly popular book among many of the reviewers I follow. I read a scene from it and thought that it would be one that I would enjoy as well, but, unfortunately, this one didn't really rise above a crowded field of period romances. It is a nice enough story with a satisfactory conclusion, but I found myself irritated with it more than I normally am with such stories. My beef:
Confusing 3rd person narration. The point of view for the 3rd person narration from this story was erratic. It shifted multiple times within a chapter, and often multiple times within a single page. I like seeing a scene from multiple points of view, but it is better when the reader is allowed a good amount of time in a character's head before switching around. This erratic change of viewpoint made the story seem disjointed.
No good demarcation between scenes within chapters. It would have been really helpful to have some sort of line or extra space or something within chapters to denote that a scene had changed or that a certain amount of time had elapsed. Instead there was a jarring lack of division letting the reader know that we were moving on. If a writer insists on super long chapters, it would be helpful to have some division within them to show change of scenes.
The Alpha Hero. Maybe this was just the mood I was in this weekend. I don't normally mind alpha heroes in romances, but I kept feeling highly annoyed with Devil. First of all ... Devil? Really? What a ridiculous nickname!!!! I couldn't feel enraptured by him because his name was so ridiculous. I get it. He's dangerous and dark and intimidating. I get it. Still, I didn't care for the name. I never could understand why he immediately decided that Honoria was going to be his wife. I couldn't understand why he was so certain that she HAD to be his wife. His heavy handed tactics and temper tantrums were irritating. Ladies, do you really find this attractive in a potential husband? Really? Having said that, he does have redeeming qualities that sweeten his character. Unfortunately, I had already been turned off to his character enough that I couldn't quite get on board with the romance.
The stubborn heroine. I get that Honoria is the perfect match for an alpha male like Devil. Her stubborn haughtiness is just what is needed to tame the pompous man. But I found myself HIGHLY irritated with Honoria and her ridiculous choices in this book. I get that she might not want to marry Devil. Then get out of his house! She sticks around, begging a situation that will lead her right into his "trap." And what exactly was keeping her from marrying him? Too little time was spent on this. It was resolved too quickly. And, frankly, it was a ridiculous reason to not marry anyone. She spent so much time fighting him during this story that I was starting to root against them as a couple. There needed to be more evidence of their growing understanding about each other ... something beyond simple physical attraction.
The melodramatic mystery. Tolly has been murdered. Devil (and Honoria) are somewhat desperate to find out who did it. I figured this out almost immediately. These two took forever to come to the same conclusion. And then the final resolution of this mystery? It was ridiculously melodramatic. Where was the villain's handlebar mustache? He needed a handlebar mustache to twirl as he explained his evil mastermind plans. Ugh!
The length. This isn't a terribly long book, but I feel like it would have improved immensely if it were a hundred pages shorter. There was too much time spent flaying around, not really advancing the plot or the characters. However, I'm sure that if I were more invested in what was going on I might not have minded the length so much.
So .... this is hugely popular, so I must be in some sort of crazy mood that has kept me from enjoying this story like so many others have. It still gets three stars from me. I didn't hate it. Unfortunately, there were too many things that kept me from loving this story. Looking forward in the series, it seems like similar plots will follow the alpha males of the Cynster clan. I don't think I'll be able to deal with it. However, if you are a megafan of the alpha male lead and strong female characters to match them, I am sure that you'll find lots to love in this story. Three stars.
Confusing 3rd person narration. The point of view for the 3rd person narration from this story was erratic. It shifted multiple times within a chapter, and often multiple times within a single page. I like seeing a scene from multiple points of view, but it is better when the reader is allowed a good amount of time in a character's head before switching around. This erratic change of viewpoint made the story seem disjointed.
No good demarcation between scenes within chapters. It would have been really helpful to have some sort of line or extra space or something within chapters to denote that a scene had changed or that a certain amount of time had elapsed. Instead there was a jarring lack of division letting the reader know that we were moving on. If a writer insists on super long chapters, it would be helpful to have some division within them to show change of scenes.
The Alpha Hero. Maybe this was just the mood I was in this weekend. I don't normally mind alpha heroes in romances, but I kept feeling highly annoyed with Devil. First of all ... Devil? Really? What a ridiculous nickname!!!! I couldn't feel enraptured by him because his name was so ridiculous. I get it. He's dangerous and dark and intimidating. I get it. Still, I didn't care for the name. I never could understand why he immediately decided that Honoria was going to be his wife. I couldn't understand why he was so certain that she HAD to be his wife. His heavy handed tactics and temper tantrums were irritating. Ladies, do you really find this attractive in a potential husband? Really? Having said that, he does have redeeming qualities that sweeten his character. Unfortunately, I had already been turned off to his character enough that I couldn't quite get on board with the romance.
The stubborn heroine. I get that Honoria is the perfect match for an alpha male like Devil. Her stubborn haughtiness is just what is needed to tame the pompous man. But I found myself HIGHLY irritated with Honoria and her ridiculous choices in this book. I get that she might not want to marry Devil. Then get out of his house! She sticks around, begging a situation that will lead her right into his "trap." And what exactly was keeping her from marrying him? Too little time was spent on this. It was resolved too quickly. And, frankly, it was a ridiculous reason to not marry anyone. She spent so much time fighting him during this story that I was starting to root against them as a couple. There needed to be more evidence of their growing understanding about each other ... something beyond simple physical attraction.
The melodramatic mystery. Tolly has been murdered. Devil (and Honoria) are somewhat desperate to find out who did it. I figured this out almost immediately. These two took forever to come to the same conclusion. And then the final resolution of this mystery? It was ridiculously melodramatic. Where was the villain's handlebar mustache? He needed a handlebar mustache to twirl as he explained his evil mastermind plans. Ugh!
The length. This isn't a terribly long book, but I feel like it would have improved immensely if it were a hundred pages shorter. There was too much time spent flaying around, not really advancing the plot or the characters. However, I'm sure that if I were more invested in what was going on I might not have minded the length so much.
So .... this is hugely popular, so I must be in some sort of crazy mood that has kept me from enjoying this story like so many others have. It still gets three stars from me. I didn't hate it. Unfortunately, there were too many things that kept me from loving this story. Looking forward in the series, it seems like similar plots will follow the alpha males of the Cynster clan. I don't think I'll be able to deal with it. However, if you are a megafan of the alpha male lead and strong female characters to match them, I am sure that you'll find lots to love in this story. Three stars.
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. This book reminds me of how I felt reading some of the old school romances (think Johanna Lindsey) but without the helpless heroine or the bodice ripping. I loved the arrogance of the hero. I loved the "will they or won't they and finally they did" especially with the hero being the reticent one.
Yes, I figured out who had done it far earlier than expected but figuring it out that early was much like the hero and heroine figuring it out early and not being able to figure out how the villain had done it. I wasn't disappointed in the early discovery in the slightest.
This goes on my reread shelf without question.
Yes, I figured out who had done it far earlier than expected but figuring it out that early was much like the hero and heroine figuring it out early and not being able to figure out how the villain had done it. I wasn't disappointed in the early discovery in the slightest.
This goes on my reread shelf without question.
If memory serves me right, this is the first romance novel I've read cover to cover. While the general idea of this story was hilarious, it dragged on forever and failed to engage the reader in any way. The plot was predictable and unimaginative, the mystery was easily solved within the first hundred pages. What Stephanie Laurens does do an excellent job of is character development. I loved her characters and how they interacted with one another. Though Honoria was trying at times, her interactions wtih Devil Cynster were hilarious and kept me reading. I doubt that I will continue with the Cynster series, but I'm glad I broadened my horizens.
For some reason I can't quite put my finger on, I had a hard time getting through this book.
Macho hero meets stubborn heroine. Maybe 3.5 as the villian was quite obvious and the plot was a little over the top, however, I do love stubborn heroines who don't let society dictate to them.
I was tempted to paste in the review I just did of the other Laurens' book I read. Actually, I think I will, since it fits:
In this case, the hero is nicknamed Devil, he has a driver named Webster for a little humorous wordplay when they interact, and this heroine is Honoria, a geeky-spinster turned sexpot. Here there's a mystery to be solved, but really, when there are a limited number of people to consider, it's usually pretty obviously who had the most to gain, and yep, that's who dunnit.
There's nothing glaringly wrong with this book, but it's like cotton candy - fluffy and sweet, but not filling.
Laurens writes smoothly (IMO she overwrites a bit), there is a good deal of suspense, the heroine is sufficiently plucky and independent, the hero stalwart, brave and hunky. It's a very satisfactory, sexy, light read, that kept me entertained the entire time I read it, and which I totally forgot the moment I put it aside.
In this case, the hero is nicknamed Devil, he has a driver named Webster for a little humorous wordplay when they interact, and this heroine is Honoria, a geeky-spinster turned sexpot. Here there's a mystery to be solved, but really, when there are a limited number of people to consider, it's usually pretty obviously who had the most to gain, and yep, that's who dunnit.
There's nothing glaringly wrong with this book, but it's like cotton candy - fluffy and sweet, but not filling.
I snort with laughter every time I look at the top of the page and see what this book is called.
3.75 stars. I read this book on the recommendation of [b:Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches' Guide to Romance Novels|5660117|Beyond Heaving Bosoms The Smart Bitches' Guide to Romance Novels|Sarah Wendell|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1347498083s/5660117.jpg|5831642]. The intelligent, practical heroine and ultra-alpha hero hit my historical romance sweet spot. I've kind of outgrown this genre, but back in the day I would have loved this.