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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this!
To sum it up:
- This is the kind of book where the hero meets the heroine, and immediately knows she's going to be his duchess. No, he's not forceful or obstinate, but just literally charmed enough by her honesty and bright attitude that he knows she's the one for him and decides to woo her. Mind-numbingly romantic, yes. Domineering and ogre-like, no.
- There is a very slight love triangle, but the blurb exaggerates it. Yes, the heroine thinks she's in love with the perfect vicar, but she's also self-aware enough that she knows it's just a passing infatuation and doesn't take any serious action to pursue him after she meets our hero. It's not because she falls for the hero right away (in fact, she doesn't even know he's interested in her), but because she's very realistic and knows deep down that she and the vicar aren't suited. Plus, the vicar is betrothed and our heroine is far too good to want to break up that betrothal. So this is only really a plot point for the first 1/3 of the book, when the duke sees the vicar as competition.
- The friendship between the hero and heroine is genuine and refreshing. They are both likable characters, and the heroine especially is bright, cheerful, and straightforward. There's a moment of desperation on the duke's end where he thinks he needs to get her to agree to marry him even if he has to resort to having her pity him (this idea quickly disappears) so he tells her his mother died when he was young. Instead of pitying him like he expects, she asks him if he misses his mother, or the idea of his mother more.
- There are a few secrets the couple are keeping from one another, but they're don't result in a big rift or misunderstanding. I actually loved how anti-climactic the confessions were because they handled it so matter-of-factly and level-headedly. Who else hates it when the main character in a romance novel is keeping a secret the whole time until the truth comes out at the wrong times and it causes a huge rift?
You think that the reveal that the hero was the guy who yelled at Viola years ago and caused her crippling shyness is going to cause her to fear him and leave him temporarily. It's reasonable even, as he doesn't confess this until late in the novel. Fortunately, she takes it in stride and says she knows he would never yell at her or their future children, and reaffirms her love for him instead.
- The hero finds something that seems to incriminate the heroine, but doesn't care because his feelings for her are unwavering enough that he doesn't even confront her about it. This is really refreshing, and the heroine does bring it up later and clarifies that it was from before they got married and it's a total non-issue. I love a hero that doesn't immediately think the worst of his wife!
- The plot moves really fast. The couple gets married around the halfway point (I think?) so it's not going to be them going back-and-forth and being indecisive for the whole book.
TL;DR: I'm giving this book 4 stars because it avoids all the tropes I hate in romance novels (love triangles, characters unwilling to admit their feelings for one another, super slow burns, big misunderstandings/secrets, enemies-to-lovers, etc.) and is quick-paced and enjoyable despite being relatively shallow and weak in plot.
To sum it up:
- This is the kind of book where the hero meets the heroine, and immediately knows she's going to be his duchess. No, he's not forceful or obstinate, but just literally charmed enough by her honesty and bright attitude that he knows she's the one for him and decides to woo her. Mind-numbingly romantic, yes. Domineering and ogre-like, no.
- There is a very slight love triangle, but the blurb exaggerates it. Yes, the heroine thinks she's in love with the perfect vicar, but she's also self-aware enough that she knows it's just a passing infatuation and doesn't take any serious action to pursue him after she meets our hero. It's not because she falls for the hero right away (in fact, she doesn't even know he's interested in her), but because she's very realistic and knows deep down that she and the vicar aren't suited. Plus, the vicar is betrothed and our heroine is far too good to want to break up that betrothal. So this is only really a plot point for the first 1/3 of the book, when the duke sees the vicar as competition.
- The friendship between the hero and heroine is genuine and refreshing. They are both likable characters, and the heroine especially is bright, cheerful, and straightforward. There's a moment of desperation on the duke's end where he thinks he needs to get her to agree to marry him even if he has to resort to having her pity him (this idea quickly disappears) so he tells her his mother died when he was young. Instead of pitying him like he expects, she asks him if he misses his mother, or the idea of his mother more.
- There are a few secrets the couple are keeping from one another, but they're don't result in a big rift or misunderstanding. I actually loved how anti-climactic the confessions were because they handled it so matter-of-factly and level-headedly. Who else hates it when the main character in a romance novel is keeping a secret the whole time until the truth comes out at the wrong times and it causes a huge rift?
- The hero finds something that seems to incriminate the heroine, but doesn't care because his feelings for her are unwavering enough that he doesn't even confront her about it. This is really refreshing, and the heroine does bring it up later and clarifies that it was from before they got married and it's a total non-issue. I love a hero that doesn't immediately think the worst of his wife!
- The plot moves really fast. The couple gets married around the halfway point (I think?) so it's not going to be them going back-and-forth and being indecisive for the whole book.
TL;DR: I'm giving this book 4 stars because it avoids all the tropes I hate in romance novels (love triangles, characters unwilling to admit their feelings for one another, super slow burns, big misunderstandings/secrets, enemies-to-lovers, etc.) and is quick-paced and enjoyable despite being relatively shallow and weak in plot.
This was the quirky, silly story that I needed in this stressful time. The Wildes of Lindow Castle series is not one that takes itself seriously, and I like that. I've enjoyed the prior books in the series (except for the 4th one, which I apparently missed, but will be soon remedied). I like the way Viola came out of her shell among Devin's almost instant devotion and her pet crow (of whom there was never enough). The secondary characters were perfect in their roles, but I really would have loved to see more of Caitlin and Mr. Marlowe's romance
Overall, a three and a half star read. I would have rated this a full four stars, but there was too much discussion of the fact that men's nipples exist for my preference.
Overall, a three and a half star read. I would have rated this a full four stars, but there was too much discussion of the fact that men's nipples exist for my preference.
Viola and Devin had the most fun in this book and it made me have fun while reading it. Their first meeting happens when Viola eavesdrops on him and his uncle, when he says some bad things about her. Which makes Viola determined to hate him, especially since she is trying to make the vicar love her.
Devin insists and he creates opportunities where they can get to know each other. I really enjoyed those moments and everything that happened when he succeeded to earn her attention.
Devin insists and he creates opportunities where they can get to know each other. I really enjoyed those moments and everything that happened when he succeeded to earn her attention.
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was such a fun and lighthearted romance. While some things were a little implausible, I really enjoyed it.
Viola is a super shy wallflower. So shy she is literally sick sometimes. Devin is a duke who needs to marry and has decided on Joan, Viola's sister. Viola thinks she is in love with the engaged vicar. This actually sounds super dramatic, but it is pretty light and not overly so.
I enjoyed Viola and Devin quite a bit, both together and separately. She is actually pretty stubborn and strong willed, not just a wilting wallflower. Devin is super cold and closed off but is really interesting as well.
I did think Viola got over her shyness and social anxiety REALLY quickly. Like almost too quickly.
Side note: was the printmaking thing actually a thing that happened? I love it so I hope so.
Viola is a super shy wallflower. So shy she is literally sick sometimes. Devin is a duke who needs to marry and has decided on Joan, Viola's sister. Viola thinks she is in love with the engaged vicar. This actually sounds super dramatic, but it is pretty light and not overly so.
I enjoyed Viola and Devin quite a bit, both together and separately. She is actually pretty stubborn and strong willed, not just a wilting wallflower. Devin is super cold and closed off but is really interesting as well.
I did think Viola got over her shyness and social anxiety REALLY quickly. Like almost too quickly.
Side note: was the printmaking thing actually a thing that happened? I love it so I hope so.
This was very cute with very little conflict. I think that might have made the last quarter more frustrating. The drama that unfolds with the Vicar and the play while the main character and duke are messing around made for a very uncomfortable juxtaposition. I was grumbling about it while I read it.
This was so so so cute and adorable and fantastic and Viola and Devin are one of my otps now, none touch them ok? Ok.
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
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes