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lizzie_b99's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Minor: Self harm
This has a plot that's very similar to another of Lynsay Sands's novels, Devil in the Highlands. It's much better executed in this novel. The use of humour and well-developed, rich characters are both better in this novel. This novel still had some unnecessary repetition, but less so than in Devil in the Highlands.yuna's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
CW: body shaming, minor description of self harm
Very fast-paced, compulsively readable. The characters are probably a bit relaxed on period-correct behavior and speech, but I'm here for it. This is my kind of historical romance. I quite enjoyed it and will definitely continue with the series.
There are some silly moments that border on ridiculous--like Annabel running around with a dress tangled around her head--but the characters poke fun at themselves a lot and that helped me suspend my disbelief. Annabel's parents and the villain of the story are laughably, un-complicatedly Bad People. The villain is a flat, 2-D clown villain. Their obsession with Annabel kind of comes out of nowhere and felt forced into the story.
Loved the friendships with Sionag and Giorsal. Found myself wishing for a little more physical and setting descriptions.
Was not a fan of the rampant body shaming that went on in this book. There's a lot of fat shaming toward Annabel, and while some of it is critiqued or combated on the page, the book's #1 defensive strategy is to skinny and/or appearance shame right back. So...there's work to be done here.
Re: some of the content warnings: there's brief description of Annabel being forced to self harm, mostly because of anti-fatness. For the rest: Spoilers! there are a few conversations between Annabel and Kate where most of the content warnings occur. Kate is a gaslighting, toxic, fat shaming bitch. If vicious sister relationships aren't your bag...either skip this book or leave off once she shows up (it's not for a while). It's a romance, you know how this ends. Also, Kate arguably kills her lover? It's an accident...but is it? Not sure if this counts for the murder tag.
Very fast-paced, compulsively readable. The characters are probably a bit relaxed on period-correct behavior and speech, but I'm here for it. This is my kind of historical romance. I quite enjoyed it and will definitely continue with the series.
There are some silly moments that border on ridiculous--like Annabel running around with a dress tangled around her head--but the characters poke fun at themselves a lot and that helped me suspend my disbelief. Annabel's parents and the villain of the story are laughably, un-complicatedly Bad People. The villain is a flat, 2-D clown villain. Their obsession with Annabel kind of comes out of nowhere and felt forced into the story.
Loved the friendships with Sionag and Giorsal. Found myself wishing for a little more physical and setting descriptions.
Was not a fan of the rampant body shaming that went on in this book. There's a lot of fat shaming toward Annabel, and while some of it is critiqued or combated on the page, the book's #1 defensive strategy is to skinny and/or appearance shame right back. So...there's work to be done here.
Re: some of the content warnings: there's brief description of Annabel being forced to self harm, mostly because of anti-fatness. For the rest: Spoilers!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Minor: Kidnapping, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
allingoodtime's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Another book that I gave into the hype on Twitter and I’m so glad I did. This story is fun and sexy; both the MFC and MMC are wonderful people I want to be friends with.
Honestly, I was prepared for Ross to be a bit of a brute and not have the patience Annabelle was going to need in a husband. To my surprise, he quickly proved to be a big old cinnamon roll. Ross grew up with very caring parents who loved each other and their children very much. He wanted the same thing for himself. Annabelle grew up thinking men never put a woman’s wants or needs ahead of their own and that to disappoint her husband could mean punishment. Although all of Ross’ actions showed her this wasn’t the truth, it took a few days for Annabelle to stop waiting for that other shoe to drop.
From the moment they were walking to the chapel, minutes after meeting for the first time, I was all in on this couple. Their chemistry was wonderful and the mix of Annabelle’s naivete and stubbornness with Ross’ tenderness and strength was a winning combination.
There is a mystery/suspense element to this story. Annabelle keeps getting approached by a strange man when she is alone, which soon turns dangerous. This leads to some of the fun in this book. I cannot tell you how many times this poor woman was concussed! I know it seems odd to say that is fun, but it was a bit zany and wild the way this story flowed and came together. I loved it and cannot wait to read more of this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Child abuse
Moderate: Fatphobia
unsuccessfulbookclub's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Choppy writing but really adorable characters and a fabulous listen vs. read. Very steamy! Alas, for a Lynsay Sands - NO POISONINGS! 😂
FMC (Annabel) has trained to be a nun and is very worried about “bedding” but the MMC (Ross) is such a sweet delight of a man, determined to woo her and convince her that bedding can be enjoyable. Lots of shenanigans mainly surrounding a strange person who keeps knocking Annabel unconscious and trying to kidnap her. Being knocked out is a main theme for this book - I think the final tally on KOs was 10, three of which were incurred by Annabel in the space of a week. 🤕
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Murder, Violence, Kidnapping, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Alcohol, Classism, and Blood
Minor: Death and Death of parent
rakizaka's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Fatphobia
jujubeees's review against another edition
3.0
Main character and main villain were annoying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
megloveswords12's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Physical abuse
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