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shannonbeehall's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
jmrainzy's review against another edition
hopeful
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
3.0
alentz94's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
3.5
reeyabeegale's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
I feel very sad that I only have this rating to offer, especially after being so sure it would be a 5-star read for me. The beginning up until 70%-ish of the book was so strong, I caught myself feeling swept off my feet by the budding romance between Violet and Leigh (I refuse to call him by Christian, I think Leigh suits him better).
Sadly, it was the aftermath and the reconciliation/conclusion that brought down my rating.
It would seem that the author is very confident inserting miscommunication and misunderstanding as both conflict and aftermath -- at least in this series. I've had the same problem with the first book, and with the synopsis of this, I was anticipating it but I was blindsided. When Leigh chose to be honest, I would've thought Violet would've reacted differently than she did. But the falling out happened waaaay after that which I didn't appreciate.
I didn't like how the aftermath was played out. It did seem that Leigh didn't understand the extent of damage it put on Violet's trust. I wish things were differently, I don't mind when there's groveling, but I would've appreciated this more if it was done differently.
And then the conclusion felt weak. It didn't satisfy. It felt so anticlimactic in comparison to the strong beginning of this book. Also, Leigh's deeds to prove his love was a bit pretentious in my opinion, especially if I'll take it into account in real life -- it will not fly. I didn't find it romantic at all. Don't get me wrong, I love Leigh as a hero, but I think the profession of his love and adoration should've been given more justice and depth. I can't fully explain it but it just fell short for me and I wish it could've been more.
I'm so disappointed, not because I didn't like this book but because I actually loved more than half of this book and then suddenly it went downhill. I thought I found another yearly favorite, but it fell through in the last minute. I would definitely read the third installment, which is Max's book and I'm hoping it will not have similar conflicts to both the first and the second books in the series.
I gave this a lower rating than the first book, but regardless of my dislike of the latter part of this book, I still much prefer this over that one. This was better overall, except for how it treaded in the latter chapters. I wish the ones who will read it, will enjoy it more than I did because this really deserves high ratings.
I feel very sad that I only have this rating to offer, especially after being so sure it would be a 5-star read for me. The beginning up until 70%-ish of the book was so strong, I caught myself feeling swept off my feet by the budding romance between Violet and Leigh (I refuse to call him by Christian, I think Leigh suits him better).
Sadly, it was the aftermath and the reconciliation/conclusion that brought down my rating.
It would seem that the author is very confident inserting miscommunication and misunderstanding as both conflict and aftermath -- at least in this series. I've had the same problem with the first book, and with the synopsis of this, I was anticipating it but I was blindsided. When Leigh chose to be honest, I would've thought Violet would've reacted differently than she did. But the falling out happened waaaay after that which I didn't appreciate.
I didn't like how the aftermath was played out. It did seem that Leigh didn't understand the extent of damage it put on Violet's trust. I wish things were differently, I don't mind when there's groveling, but I would've appreciated this more if it was done differently.
And then the conclusion felt weak. It didn't satisfy. It felt so anticlimactic in comparison to the strong beginning of this book. Also, Leigh's deeds to prove his love was a bit pretentious in my opinion, especially if I'll take it into account in real life -- it will not fly. I didn't find it romantic at all. Don't get me wrong, I love Leigh as a hero, but I think the profession of his love and adoration should've been given more justice and depth. I can't fully explain it but it just fell short for me and I wish it could've been more.
I'm so disappointed, not because I didn't like this book but because I actually loved more than half of this book and then suddenly it went downhill. I thought I found another yearly favorite, but it fell through in the last minute. I would definitely read the third installment, which is Max's book and I'm hoping it will not have similar conflicts to both the first and the second books in the series.
I gave this a lower rating than the first book, but regardless of my dislike of the latter part of this book, I still much prefer this over that one. This was better overall, except for how it treaded in the latter chapters. I wish the ones who will read it, will enjoy it more than I did because this really deserves high ratings.
itsjustnxkki's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
aprhodes's review against another edition
3.0
Overall: Read this if you're looking for a book that was 0% tension and 40% third-act breakup.
Ok, that is an exaggeration, but I was not the right reader for this book. This book is the second in one of those interconnected series, and I have not read the first book. But I did not feel lost, but I did feel a little bored by all the setup scenes for the next book.
The book starts with Christian asking for Violet's hand in marriage. While he is primarily motivated by money, he is also highly attracted to her and eager for Violet to be his wife. This is what I mean by 0 tension. I don't like the book to start with one of the main characters half in love already. I'm looking for the love story, but this one feels like it's already half-done.
Violet doesn't feel as strongly initially, although she is very attracted to Christian and even kisses him by the 13% mark. And after just a few days in she's also ready to marry him. So they are both totally in love and are ready to marry by the around 40% mark. So then what is the rest of the book?
Well, first it's just a lot of miscommunication as they refuse to discuss their feelings. Then they agree to marry, only for there to be another 25% of the book left. The rest is breakup drama before we get our HEA.
These are not the ratios of love-story to break-up that I'm looking for in my romance. I want the falling-in-love section to be drawn out, full of angst and yearning, and the breakup section to be small (or better yet, non-existent).
I know I'm in the minority here, but I don't like the "MMC is so in love with the FMC that he can't think straight" thing. We get so much of Christian's POV and it's just so boring to hear how Violet is perfect in every single possible way. It's just not realistic and no matter how many times the author tells me it's "love not infatuation", it reads like infatuation because real love is more complex than what is being presented here.
To end on a few things I did like. I liked that this wasn't a Regency book, but was in the 1860s; that felt fresh. I also liked the conversations around women's rights and the needs of the poor, always a good addition to these books.
I think I'll skip the rest of the series, because it seems like it's more of the same. But I can see why this would appeal to certain readers.
Ok, that is an exaggeration, but I was not the right reader for this book. This book is the second in one of those interconnected series, and I have not read the first book. But I did not feel lost, but I did feel a little bored by all the setup scenes for the next book.
The book starts with Christian asking for Violet's hand in marriage. While he is primarily motivated by money, he is also highly attracted to her and eager for Violet to be his wife. This is what I mean by 0 tension. I don't like the book to start with one of the main characters half in love already. I'm looking for the love story, but this one feels like it's already half-done.
Violet doesn't feel as strongly initially, although she is very attracted to Christian and even kisses him by the 13% mark. And after just a few days in she's also ready to marry him. So they are both totally in love and are ready to marry by the around 40% mark. So then what is the rest of the book?
Well, first it's just a lot of miscommunication as they refuse to discuss their feelings. Then they agree to marry, only for there to be another 25% of the book left. The rest is breakup drama before we get our HEA.
These are not the ratios of love-story to break-up that I'm looking for in my romance. I want the falling-in-love section to be drawn out, full of angst and yearning, and the breakup section to be small (or better yet, non-existent).
I know I'm in the minority here, but I don't like the "MMC is so in love with the FMC that he can't think straight" thing. We get so much of Christian's POV and it's just so boring to hear how Violet is perfect in every single possible way. It's just not realistic and no matter how many times the author tells me it's "love not infatuation", it reads like infatuation because real love is more complex than what is being presented here.
To end on a few things I did like. I liked that this wasn't a Regency book, but was in the 1860s; that felt fresh. I also liked the conversations around women's rights and the needs of the poor, always a good addition to these books.
I think I'll skip the rest of the series, because it seems like it's more of the same. But I can see why this would appeal to certain readers.
hsumanityreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A little more formulaic than the first of the series, I still really enjoyed this one!! Christian is a classic rogue, and while Violet is more than a typical heiress, we get all of her quirks and bluestocking tendencies as fuel to the fire of why Christian wants her.
I wasn’t as *surprised* by any of the turns of events, but I sure did love that it picked up immediately after the first, and we got the crew together again to try to save Violet from scandal. How I loved Christian being the good guy for his first time!!
I wasn’t as *surprised* by any of the turns of events, but I sure did love that it picked up immediately after the first, and we got the crew together again to try to save Violet from scandal. How I loved Christian being the good guy for his first time!!