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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
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
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