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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
Good solid romance with loving, respectful relationships. I appreciate the inclusion of consent throughout.
Not the most literary deep novel but a light read that did what I was looking for.
Not the most literary deep novel but a light read that did what I was looking for.
The blurb is kind of misleading - I was hoping for more of a Tempt Me at Twilight situation but instead both hero/heroine were smitten with each other, which is not a bad thing!!! but I was expecting a different thing going into the story.
But still, Devin and Viola are cute together.
But still, Devin and Viola are cute together.
I enjoyed this, but not quite as much as some previous books in this series.
I’ve come to realize that I don’t really enjoy historical romances that much, but this is one of the better ones. I liked the heroine’s shy/nervous storyline and how she learned to get over it. It was an enjoyable audiobook.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This was okay but I didn’t really connect to the characters. I thought the romance between the church guy was cute though.
Listened to audio
Listened to audio
This was an OK read it felt that scenes that should of played out were just skipped over and ones that didn't matter were focused on. Compared to the rest of the series this one was just ok. not Eloisa James best book but definitely not the worst.
The two characters were good but there was not plot twist which made their story that could of been awesome become dull.
The two characters were good but there was not plot twist which made their story that could of been awesome become dull.
3.3 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
In the fifth Wildes of Lindow Castle series, Viola, who is the duke's stepdaughter is making her debut into society. She's the extremely shy one, who pukes when she gets nervous, and just rather become a wallflower. Viola's nervousness comes from feeling like she isn't a true Wilde, because of her 'step' status. I'm new to the series and found I had no problem jumping in here, in fact, I wish there had been more scenes with Viola and the Wilde family. She spends a lot of time with her sister, Joan who is also debuting but I wish we could have seen her with her mother and especially stepfather to get some heartfelt scenes where he explains that he feels she is his daughter, no 'step' to it.
He had found a treasure in the Lindow library, and he merely had to win it away from a vicar. How hard could that be?
When Viola meets the new vicar, she can't believe how handsome he is and how she feels comfortable around him, so she decides that he is who she should marry, even though the vicar is already engaged. This issue was handled a bit unwieldy where the vicar's fiancee is uptight and has an offputting personality, so Viola feels vindicated in “saving” the vicar from the fiancee and the story kind of stays away from judging Viola for going after him. Our hero the Duke of Wynter, Devin, comes into the picture when Viola overhears him saying he wants her sister for a wife because Viola isn't a true Wilde. Devin doesn't make the best first impression, to Viola or readers, but from the first conversation he has with Viola, his character comes alive.
Then he thought about the way her eyes sparkled when she scolded him. It was an outlandish thing to find attractive.
I really enjoyed the first half, these two had good byplay and the way Devin kept trying to grasp Viola as she flittered away kept me locked in. These two had some sweet moments and I do think their journey to love, especially Viola, Devin falls first, came across in the pages but the second half slowed way down for me. There were long scenes of them just focused on the wanting to kiss and just when I was starting to really delight in them, sex scenes took over and I lost some of their good conversational play.
“No one would have arranged a marriage between us, which I think is to our benefit. And I think you would be a marvelous duchess.” Her eyes were shocked, so Devin added firmly, “I am going to woo you.”
I also thought the second half spent too much time focused on the vicar's romantic troubles; it really felt like the author ran out of steam for the main couple so moved onto the vicar. Even though Viola and Devin had pleasing chemistry, I still felt like Devin wasn't developed enough. He had an abusive father, lost his mother young, and then had an uncle and two cousins for his only family. It is also brought up that he likes, is good at math but so little was done with this, I'm not sure why it was even included. These were plot points to his character but he still only felt sketched out, like I said, he does come alive more in Viola's presence but when we lose them in the second half, he becomes even less memorable.
He was in love with his wife, desperately, wildly in love with his wife, and she was telling him that he was the reason for the greatest anguish she’d ever experienced.
The beginning half was sweet but when I was really starting to sink into the story and enjoy the couple together, the second half slowed down, had more sex scenes than the conversational byplay I was delighting in, and focused more on a side character's romance issues. I think some emotional moments were missed on not having scenes with Viola and her stepfather and even more with her step-siblings. I do think Viola will reach the heart of some who never feel they quite belong or feel dull in the presence of others who shine so effortlessly; it was lovely to see Viola, who feels that way, become the shining star in Devin's universe.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
In the fifth Wildes of Lindow Castle series, Viola, who is the duke's stepdaughter is making her debut into society. She's the extremely shy one, who pukes when she gets nervous, and just rather become a wallflower. Viola's nervousness comes from feeling like she isn't a true Wilde, because of her 'step' status. I'm new to the series and found I had no problem jumping in here, in fact, I wish there had been more scenes with Viola and the Wilde family. She spends a lot of time with her sister, Joan who is also debuting but I wish we could have seen her with her mother and especially stepfather to get some heartfelt scenes where he explains that he feels she is his daughter, no 'step' to it.
He had found a treasure in the Lindow library, and he merely had to win it away from a vicar. How hard could that be?
When Viola meets the new vicar, she can't believe how handsome he is and how she feels comfortable around him, so she decides that he is who she should marry, even though the vicar is already engaged. This issue was handled a bit unwieldy where the vicar's fiancee is uptight and has an offputting personality, so Viola feels vindicated in “saving” the vicar from the fiancee and the story kind of stays away from judging Viola for going after him. Our hero the Duke of Wynter, Devin, comes into the picture when Viola overhears him saying he wants her sister for a wife because Viola isn't a true Wilde. Devin doesn't make the best first impression, to Viola or readers, but from the first conversation he has with Viola, his character comes alive.
Then he thought about the way her eyes sparkled when she scolded him. It was an outlandish thing to find attractive.
I really enjoyed the first half, these two had good byplay and the way Devin kept trying to grasp Viola as she flittered away kept me locked in. These two had some sweet moments and I do think their journey to love, especially Viola, Devin falls first, came across in the pages but the second half slowed way down for me. There were long scenes of them just focused on the wanting to kiss and just when I was starting to really delight in them, sex scenes took over and I lost some of their good conversational play.
“No one would have arranged a marriage between us, which I think is to our benefit. And I think you would be a marvelous duchess.” Her eyes were shocked, so Devin added firmly, “I am going to woo you.”
I also thought the second half spent too much time focused on the vicar's romantic troubles; it really felt like the author ran out of steam for the main couple so moved onto the vicar. Even though Viola and Devin had pleasing chemistry, I still felt like Devin wasn't developed enough. He had an abusive father, lost his mother young, and then had an uncle and two cousins for his only family. It is also brought up that he likes, is good at math but so little was done with this, I'm not sure why it was even included. These were plot points to his character but he still only felt sketched out, like I said, he does come alive more in Viola's presence but when we lose them in the second half, he becomes even less memorable.
He was in love with his wife, desperately, wildly in love with his wife, and she was telling him that he was the reason for the greatest anguish she’d ever experienced.
The beginning half was sweet but when I was really starting to sink into the story and enjoy the couple together, the second half slowed down, had more sex scenes than the conversational byplay I was delighting in, and focused more on a side character's romance issues. I think some emotional moments were missed on not having scenes with Viola and her stepfather and even more with her step-siblings. I do think Viola will reach the heart of some who never feel they quite belong or feel dull in the presence of others who shine so effortlessly; it was lovely to see Viola, who feels that way, become the shining star in Devin's universe.
If you like contrived "oh no what if they can't work it out" scenarios followed by the big make up then this is not the book for you. If you often find yourself skimming through several chapters because you know that yes indeedy the heroine and hero will work it all out in the final chapter (and probably have at least one child with another on the way in the epilogue) because this is a romance, then yes, READ THIS BOOK.
Without giving too much away: the heroine writes a letter early in the novel which the hero later finds. The hero lost his temper once a few years before the main story traumatizing the heroine. It all comes out, of course, after the couple marries (by special license, naturally) and has been blissfully happy for several weeks.
And finally a couple in a romance novel reacts like a mature adults. He listens to her explanation. She reassures him that, tho she witnessed the loud scene, he isn't the sole reason of her social anxiety. No one flees to the country. No one has the epiphany that s/he really does love the other and the past doesn't matter. They argue. They talk. They come to terms. Then the epilogue.
I hope this is the start of new trend in romance novels (and rom-coms, too): intelligent, reasonable characters who forgo the Real Housewives staged drama.
Without giving too much away: the heroine writes a letter early in the novel which the hero later finds. The hero lost his temper once a few years before the main story traumatizing the heroine. It all comes out, of course, after the couple marries (by special license, naturally) and has been blissfully happy for several weeks.
And finally a couple in a romance novel reacts like a mature adults. He listens to her explanation. She reassures him that, tho she witnessed the loud scene, he isn't the sole reason of her social anxiety. No one flees to the country. No one has the epiphany that s/he really does love the other and the past doesn't matter. They argue. They talk. They come to terms. Then the epilogue.
I hope this is the start of new trend in romance novels (and rom-coms, too): intelligent, reasonable characters who forgo the Real Housewives staged drama.
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Child abuse, Alcohol