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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Summed up in a nut shell, this was a great book! I very much admired the hero and heroine, the story had wonderful pacing pared with consistent momentum until the very end. The climax was written beautifully, and the storyline was simple enough to be entertaining and complex enough to be legitimate.
The plot of the novel contains many surprises and the characters, most especially the hero Duncan, was very interestingly structured. Nothing is as it may appear in regards to this male lead. One of the most best aspects to this book, in my humble opinion, is the fact that the reader genuinely connects with, and care for, both Duncan and Margaret.
It's sometimes difficult to put into exact words why a book is necessarily good, or bad.
I think what is most impressive in regards to this book is the fact that it is actually surprising how well this plot works. One would think, based on the description of the book, that the storyline would be too simplistic to be so enthralling. However, because Balogh has written such wonderful characters to begin with, the plot doesn't need to be overtly flashy. We simply want it all to work out well for our characters, and that was the forethought in my mind as I read this book.
And yet, my admiration for this novel goes past the simple reasons, too. I am rather impressed with the fact that Ms. Balogh takes somewhat of a different turn with her characters. Without giving away too many spoilers, I am impressed with the honesty between the hero and heroine in regards to each other after their marriage. Although, don't get me wrong, without question there are secrets between the two, however I'm referring more along the lines from the romantic standpoint between the two. Often enough whenever I read a romance, I notice that if an author is playing the "arranged/forced to marry" card with their characters, both parties simply ignore a romantic light to the marriage- and never discuss that aspect at all. Such was not the case with At Last Comes Love, and this was something that singularly stood out in my mind while finishing the story.
Finally, the last note I have as far as this book is concerned are one point that I absolutely love seeing in romance novels of any sub genre. Strength. Both Duncan and Margaret are very strong characters, yet not in an obnoxious sort of light. They stand firm for what they believe is right, despite what their family or society might think otherwise. This is one facet to the book that I truly loved above all else!
And, while nothing can be perfect with any novel, this book comes very, very close.
The plot of the novel contains many surprises and the characters, most especially the hero Duncan, was very interestingly structured. Nothing is as it may appear in regards to this male lead. One of the most best aspects to this book, in my humble opinion, is the fact that the reader genuinely connects with, and care for, both Duncan and Margaret.
It's sometimes difficult to put into exact words why a book is necessarily good, or bad.
I think what is most impressive in regards to this book is the fact that it is actually surprising how well this plot works. One would think, based on the description of the book, that the storyline would be too simplistic to be so enthralling. However, because Balogh has written such wonderful characters to begin with, the plot doesn't need to be overtly flashy. We simply want it all to work out well for our characters, and that was the forethought in my mind as I read this book.
And yet, my admiration for this novel goes past the simple reasons, too. I am rather impressed with the fact that Ms. Balogh takes somewhat of a different turn with her characters. Without giving away too many spoilers, I am impressed with the honesty between the hero and heroine in regards to each other after their marriage. Although, don't get me wrong, without question there are secrets between the two, however I'm referring more along the lines from the romantic standpoint between the two. Often enough whenever I read a romance, I notice that if an author is playing the "arranged/forced to marry" card with their characters, both parties simply ignore a romantic light to the marriage- and never discuss that aspect at all. Such was not the case with At Last Comes Love, and this was something that singularly stood out in my mind while finishing the story.
Finally, the last note I have as far as this book is concerned are one point that I absolutely love seeing in romance novels of any sub genre. Strength. Both Duncan and Margaret are very strong characters, yet not in an obnoxious sort of light. They stand firm for what they believe is right, despite what their family or society might think otherwise. This is one facet to the book that I truly loved above all else!
And, while nothing can be perfect with any novel, this book comes very, very close.
I reaaaally liked this, in part because I seem to have embraced this whole thing where media I consume seems to be coming for me to talk me through Feelingsgate 2018, through which I hope to organically come to the same realizations Duncan and Margaret come to in this book--the vulnerability and the joy of being able to receive love as readily as one gives it. I enjoyed that on a philosophical, emotional, and personal level, but I also really found the implausible plot to work for me--a little white lie that quickly spins out of control is something I easily see. And I liked that they were both "old." It felt... natural, even with the typical romance novel circumstances.
I also really like the constant presence of the rest of the family. Mary Balogh seems to be really good at looping that in naturally.
I also really like the constant presence of the rest of the family. Mary Balogh seems to be really good at looping that in naturally.
All of Balogh's sentences have the same cadence and all her characters have the same (anachronistic) sense of morality, but possibly because of this she can be strangely soothing to read when I have a headache.
I don't really like any of her books except the ones I imprinted on as a teenager/college student, though.
I don't really like any of her books except the ones I imprinted on as a teenager/college student, though.
It went from not that bad to incredibly boring, despite flurries of plot toward the end (all too obviously manufactured to keep our interest.) this is a book that would have been far better had it lost 150 pages. Yet, I suppose the author had a contract so she fluffed it out as well as she could.
That said, it is a triumph in two distinct ways:
1. A blow against insta-love:
In fact it read very much like an author's RANT against the idea of insta love as well as love based mainly on lust, i.e. about 75% of romances when it was written. The characters endlessly discuss and define the progress of their feelings, both agreeing vehemently that just brief friendship and strong sexual chemistry does not automatically equal love or assure it in the future.
In fact, on at least two occasions the hero wonders if he will come to hate the heroine in the future, due to her strong character.
2. The heroine's strong character:
It's talked about a bit more than its demonstrated (in fact, infuriatingly, her kid brother who she raised tries to boss her on occasion, which she bears affectionately. I would have bonked him.) But, she does get some good solid banter in and generally pulls her weight versus the hero.
I don't understand why her past experience had to leave her so naive and terrible at kissing though. Why does she have to be terribly pure?
Anyhow, there's some good stuff in here. I'd love to sit down and chat with the author about this book. On the other hand, it's not worth a re-read. The bad or boring stuff was just too dull.
That said, it is a triumph in two distinct ways:
1. A blow against insta-love:
In fact it read very much like an author's RANT against the idea of insta love as well as love based mainly on lust, i.e. about 75% of romances when it was written. The characters endlessly discuss and define the progress of their feelings, both agreeing vehemently that just brief friendship and strong sexual chemistry does not automatically equal love or assure it in the future.
In fact, on at least two occasions the hero wonders if he will come to hate the heroine in the future, due to her strong character.
2. The heroine's strong character:
It's talked about a bit more than its demonstrated (in fact, infuriatingly, her kid brother who she raised tries to boss her on occasion, which she bears affectionately. I would have bonked him.) But, she does get some good solid banter in and generally pulls her weight versus the hero.
I don't understand why her past experience had to leave her so naive and terrible at kissing though. Why does she have to be terribly pure?
Anyhow, there's some good stuff in here. I'd love to sit down and chat with the author about this book. On the other hand, it's not worth a re-read. The bad or boring stuff was just too dull.
I thought this was going to be 5 stars but the last 2 chapters are so dramatic I wanted to tell Meg to Get Out. I loved the first 80% of the soft, slow romance. Both characters are very kind, despite dramatic circumstances. The end ups the drama to truly crazy levels, but I still enjoyed it.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a delightful read for an afternoon - I particularly appreciated that they were both upfront and honest with each other about their feelings and their reasons for marriage, and worked from there to a satisfying and loving relationship.
This was fine. The conflict seemed to get sorted much more easily than I believed, but aside from that it was a fine book with some good character development.
Oddly enough, I liked the female more than the male in this romance novel. However, her reactions were often a little over the top, and didn't always seem to fit her characterization.
Still, I enjoyed this book quite a bit.
Still, I enjoyed this book quite a bit.
1.5
Bored me to tears. Repetitive. Historical inaccuracies. Heroine was a complete Mary Sue and hero was her Gary Stue and EVERYbloodyONE sang her praises. Can two fictional characters, main ones at that, be more bland? Nay.
I kept waiting for things to get better, for the writing to not drag, for the author to not repeat every freaking detail ad nauseam. Never happened. Good god, the hero was freaking boring. How that's possible with such an interesting backstory, I'll never know.
Bored me to tears. Repetitive. Historical inaccuracies. Heroine was a complete Mary Sue and hero was her Gary Stue and EVERYbloodyONE sang her praises. Can two fictional characters, main ones at that, be more bland? Nay.
I kept waiting for things to get better, for the writing to not drag, for the author to not repeat every freaking detail ad nauseam. Never happened. Good god, the hero was freaking boring. How that's possible with such an interesting backstory, I'll never know.