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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My favorite of the series. I loved all the character development, and teared up at several points. Warren is possibly one of my favorite characters ever written, and one of the most unique heroes I've ever read. Someone so rough in nature but so gentle, vulnerable, and hurt too. I think that made the teach-me trope that much more effective with Madeline and Charles.
My least favorite of the series. Warren is a jerk and had no redeeming qualities.
lighthearted
medium-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:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
tense
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When Lady Madeline Blair learns she could inherit a hefty sum from her late aunt she is overcome with the possibility she may finally be free to make her own decisions for once and finally be free. The catch? She has to be married to claim it and before the year's out which is in less than a month. Even worse, her father wishes to see her fail so he can claim her fortune instead dooming her to forever be a man's possession. Madeline runs away to Alcott Hall to seek out the Duchess, and her best friend, for assistance when she's reunited with a man she once had a spark with and a new man who's as terrifying as he is exciting. Will she be able to pull off this last grasp for freedom and potentially even find real love in the process?
Similar to the first two books in this series, while there are glimpses of Rath's brilliance that she'll later hone to perfection in her JACKSONVILLE RAYS series, this one just didn't fully come together for me. I really loved the premise and am glad it's another 'why choose' trope, but again I found the dynamics are uneven, the relationships felt rushed, and I found the push and pull far more aggravating than fueled by tension. I do enjoy the Regency time period and how that adds a whole host of fresh dilemmas and confusions, it's the kind of plots that would never work or happen in a contemporary romance, so it's a fun change, but it's no excuse for giving me such lackluster character work. And while I enjoyed all the smut scenes, Rath is and always will be excellent in this sphere, if I'm not invested in the relationships it leads me just roll my eyes or sigh instead of getting swept up in it.
It's honestly wild it came out so recently, like only just in 2023, and yet I feel like Rath has just grown leaps and bounds in crafting her relationships, or at least she found the magic sauce in her JACKSONVILLE RAYS. I have yet to read her other two books that are unrelated to that series so I'm interested to see if it's all her work or just my hockey men that hold my heart. While I did enjoy this series, I just found it lacking in a lot of areas and it hindered some of my enjoyment. It's still smutty fun, and clearly others enjoyed far more than me as it's the highest rated of the series, but I just know she's capable of crafting such better relationships and I felt this plot deserved more for how promising of a concept it was. I still recommend as I do all her books, romance is super subjective so what doesn't work for me may work for you, but this was just not as good as I hoped.
SPOILERS FROM HERE ON
I LOVED the beginning of this book and the premise, the rush to marriage so Madeline can claim a fortune and be set for life and free from the shackles of her controlling father? Hell yes, get it! It's also hysterical how desperate she is that she proposes immediately to her damn cousin, who's rightfully horrified, and then rushes to Alcott to propose to Renley, who's not even home from sea yet, and then even freaking Burke. TBH I didn't realize that Rosalie hadn't told her about her situation, or Madeline hadn't guessed, but she very quickly figures it out and it's kind of hilarious, though obnoxious that Burke has to very rudely rebuff her first and both of them indignantly say no on Tom's behalf, very possessive this bunch lol. I immediately remembered from last book meeting sweet angel Charles Brey so I knew he'd be one of her suitors, but we also met John Warren immediately on her journey who proceeds to take her first kiss forcibly and then make fun of her for never having traveled on her own and not quite knowing what to do, so immediately those were her suitors. And then Charles's dying uncle made a reference of 'you can't be back here, don't go to him' and I was like gay??? And of course meaning Warren, so that's our setup, very strong, very exciting.
I loved Charles and Warrens dramatic backstory. Charles has only ever been with Warren, as he's training to be a vicar (basically a kind of priest, but I just kept thinking of Joey finding Rachel's dirty book in Friends lol), and only loved him, but his uncle caught them and kicked Warren out of their house and forced Charles to leave knowing he'd just fall back into 'sin' if he stayed. So he leaves without a word breaking Warren's heart and this is his first time back in like three years I think, and tbh his uncle was right because Warren IMMEDIATELY comes to find him and they immediately fuck. Warren is far too possessive for me, but I get in this case it's partially out of fear of losing him again and in disbelief that he's back, so it's kind of rushed and rough, but hot.
And I LOVED that Rosalie immediately is like, omg Charles is a perfect husband for Madeline and Burke asks this horrid, invasive questions at dinner, much to James horror who didn't know about the plan. And then the next damn day Madeline proposes to Charles and explains the concept, even saying if he wished it to be a marriage in title only that'd be fine with her, and it's SO hot that Charles is like, hell no if we're getting married I want a real marriage, you'd be mine and they have a hot make out which Warren RUDELY interrupts, I'll come back to that in his section. Warren calls her on her shit being like, don't you dare trap him in this sham marriage for her sake, only after he kisses her stupidly, but it's mainly because he's jealous. And then he gets all possessive over Charles IN ALCOTT and of course, James catches them. Also hilarious, I freaking love James. And he straight up says, without explicitly saying, what his situation is with Rosalie and their boys and how if Charles is openminded they could have even more than he ever dreamed, even offering him the vicar position in their town so he can stay. Literally this was less than halfway through the book and I was like...ok so this is legit so easy, this is the obvious answer, and yet this is unfortunately where this book went off the rails for me.
The clear, obvious answer is spelled out for us above, so to keep the damn book going we have to have this aggravatingly long bullshit, fake drama to keep it going. Charles can't marry Madeline because he's in love with Warren and it'd be unfair to her. But jokes, she also has feelings for him and when she finds out they have feelings for each other she's not only all right with it, but is super turned on by it. Charles cant stay in Finchley because Warren's here, but jokes they're in love with each other and want to be together and both want Madeline. They have nothing to offer her, but the whole point of Madeline marrying is to get this hefty fortune where she won't need her dowry and can tell her father to fuck off so she doesn't care they're poor. But also apparently Warren's older bro died so actually he's the heir to his father's fortune and titles despite being a bastard, but he doesn't want it, but it is an option. Like straight up, bullshit after bullshit excuse that's not a real excuse just to prolong unnecessary drama instead of actually crafting these relationships and SHOWING them legitimately fall in love. All they do is have sexual encounters, fight, more sex, fight, sex, and fight, over and over again, I was SO irritated! And the damn kicker? Charles is wracked with this religious shame from his uncle who told him he'd go to hell and homosexuality is a sin and it's why he couldn't be with his love for all these years, when JOKES he not only had a secret gay lover for ages, but he was a fucking reverend LIKE WHAT A HYPOCRITE! I get that's the point, but this fucker couldn't have told him this ages ago?! And he only found out by reading letters, which he explicitly told him not to so he may have never known the truth, good lord.
Then there's Warren. If I thought Burke was obnoxious, Warren is the exact same if not worse (side note, Burke is just as annoying as a side character, never subtle about his possessiveness over Rosalie despite how they try to keep up appearances, disliking Charles only because Rosalie flirted with him ONCE in book 1, straight up saying her baby was his, refusing to leave to try and help/find the doctor (unlike angel Tom) and making poor Charles do it because he's too selfish to not pretend to be martyr by her side, this man is so annoyiinngggg, ugh needed to be said). Warren is very quickly rude, domineering, and possessive, but they just laugh it off like, ha ha, that's Warren, like?!?! NO! He takes her first kiss AND fingers her, the first without her permission, but she kisses him back so I guess she liked it??? I just do not get his appeal. They're also another 'fated to be' couple, like on first meeting there's this electricity and he's obsessed with her. Every time they're together they just paw at each other and they're like 'I've never felt this way' but truly WHY?!? It's never explained, it makes no fucking sense, I do not get it! Zero work was put into their relationship other than they're both attracted to each other, he's huge, and he just takes what he wants, but that's apparently a good thing?! What pisses me off is he has ALL the sex scenes! The kisses were equal at first, but then it's just everything with Warren, even the Charles moments are with him, but he also gets moments with just Charles and just Madeline, where Charles gets nothing by himself, how is that fair?! I had the same issue in the last two books that it's so heavily one-sided in content and it's always with my least favorite love interest so it's just such a bummer. The fact Warren gets two solo sex scenes with both of them is kind of fucked up. And even more obnoxious, he's insanely possessive and needs to be the center of their universe, he's so needy. So he has the opportunity to inherit his father's titles since his bro dies which would put him at equal station of Madeline and marrying her would make that even easier, but he doesn't want that. He says he'd do it for her, obviously, but he hates his father and doesn't wish to inherit his titles, he likes working and is a great groundskeeper. He says it makes the most sense for Charles to marry Madeline and then they could all be together, which is what they all want. But then the moment they officially propose, this fucker has the GALL to act hurt and left out by it. Like...wtf?! THIS WAS LITERALLY YOUR IDEA! He's all, oh you'll be married and I'll just be here. Same with a fight they get in earlier, he's all, 'you only want me for sex' but to be fair...he has done nothing to prove their relationship is deeper than that, so wtf do you want from them?! And then how can he be upset with them for doing EXACTLY what he wanted them to do?? At every turn he just annoyed me more and more and even his sexy moments just made me eye roll. It was never deeper, he just took and did what he wanted, but I'm supposed to view that as exciting? No thanks. NOW Warren did have a shining moment by quite literally saving Rosalie's life. Long story short, her second baby is breeched during a snowstorm and they can't find her doctor, but since Warren literally has delivered animals before, he's the best option they have to help turn the baby so Rosalie can deliver without bleeding out and it's basically because of him she even lives until the doctor shows up. So I'll definitely give him his flowers here, that was awesome.
Charles on the other hand is a whole different issue. Obviously I prefer him from the jump, he's darling and such a good person, but can turn up the heat when he wants to. I don't blame him for not initially wanting to marry Madeline because it's so rushed and he doesn't want a fake marriage and thinks it'd be unfair to say yes to her when he has feelings for Warren. And then he's petrified what she'd say if she found out about them, but the fact she immediately is like, 'there's nothing wrong with love' and he isn't like, marry me now, like wtf are you waiting for?? Also James has that incredible convo with him so early and is like, life doesn't have to be so close minded, if you're willing to trust you can open yourself up to a whole lot more (also James's example of giving Rosalie whatever she'd want pretty much comparing her needing a pineapple in winter to also wanting two other men, cracked me the fuck up). But he very clearly hinted that there was more in it for him too and he's happier than he ever dreamed possible and again this happened SO early in the damn book! But still Charles remained obstinate for so damn long, it was so annoying! And for what?! And then once it was clear all three of them were into each other, it pissed me off when they'd pair off and the third wasn't thought of. Especially because it'd always be Warren and Madeline or Warren and Charles, it's always Warren, he's so fucking selfish, wtf?! And they'd always be like, 'I'm yours, I'm yours, no one elses' but clearly that's not freaking true!! Just talk about it a different way! And I was SO irritated Charles and Madeline didn't have more moments without Warren because I loved those two, they had by far the best dynamic and so much promise. Like when he's all, 'if we get married it won't be fake, you'll be fully mine,' that's so hot! Or when he saw her with Patrick (her cousin) and immediately freaked out at how familiar they were and was very, 'that's my woman back the f off,' I love that! I did love that Charles was the one who stood up to Madeline's shithead father and called her his wife and proposed to her without Warren, I'm so grateful for that because they needed those moments. But yeah, it's annoying they didn't get more smut of just them. I really just loved the concept of this book, but instead of having the whole plot be Charles running away from what he really wants, have them actually try out being together and then bring Warren in. And again, Warren shouldn't get all the solo moments, it's bullshit and unfair.
I did like all three of them together though, I won't lie. Even though Warren is the first one to finger her, I'm glad Charles is her first penetrative sex, it just felt right. Especially since Charles had never been with a woman before so I loved that this was really new for both of them. I kind of wish they figured this out on their own, but Warren being more experienced and coaching him through it to make sure she'd have as good of a time as them was hot. Also him saying she needs to take Charles first because he's not as big as Warren made me laugh a lot. I won't lie, I love that Madeline and Charles get sandwiched at different times, it's hot and the multitude of different, creative positions these three get into are funny. I also appreciated anal prep was actually discussed here as opposed to the last two where they're all conveniently gungho for it. I enjoyed that Madeline was not only a legit virgin, but a Regency era virgin who knows straight up NOTHING at the start of this book so every experience is very new for her and the boys take that into account to make sure she's all right, loved that. I am surprised how shy Rosalie is about discussing it with her though. Like I get that it's that time period and ladies don't speak this way, but Rosalie is far from shy and often acts as a big sister to Madeline, if she can't tell her who the heck else could?! She of course does, and I'm grateful Madeline has another woman to openly speak to, but yeah it surprised me how coy she tries to be.
I also did appreciate how much the quartet from the last two books are involved with this, very similar to Rath's others series, so I love that. Renley isn't in this nearly enough and most of his section is him feeling cooped up due to the storm and wanting to play around. It's an incredibly dumb excuse to get them to practice fencing and Madeline shows she's actually quite good and almost beats Burke, much to my enjoyment, until Rosalie goes into labor. I also forgot Rosalie named her first baby after James's older brother George, as per his request, but as she's a girl her name is Georgina, so cute. And we, as said above, have another traumatic pregnancy which I knew she'd be fine because I'm pretty sure the last book's epilogue was with Rosalie's third baby, but still it's a lot. What's with Rath and these horrifying pregnancies!? Unnecessary! But I still enjoyed seeing them even though it only solidified my feelings that James is the best guy and Burke is just as annoying as ever.
Overall, I love Rath's writing so I still had a lot of fun, but with the uneven dynamics and construction, I found this one even more annoying than the last book. The smut is good, but I think it really could've been better if more time was given to properly develop these relationships. Also no more 'lust at first sight' 'fated to be', I freaking hate that trope, it's just so fucking lazy. Think of ANY other reason for people to fall in love, I beg of you. Still a fun time, I'm glad I read it, but her Rays series just remains her crowning jewel and I'm unsure anything else will come close.
Similar to the first two books in this series, while there are glimpses of Rath's brilliance that she'll later hone to perfection in her JACKSONVILLE RAYS series, this one just didn't fully come together for me. I really loved the premise and am glad it's another 'why choose' trope, but again I found the dynamics are uneven, the relationships felt rushed, and I found the push and pull far more aggravating than fueled by tension. I do enjoy the Regency time period and how that adds a whole host of fresh dilemmas and confusions, it's the kind of plots that would never work or happen in a contemporary romance, so it's a fun change, but it's no excuse for giving me such lackluster character work. And while I enjoyed all the smut scenes, Rath is and always will be excellent in this sphere, if I'm not invested in the relationships it leads me just roll my eyes or sigh instead of getting swept up in it.
It's honestly wild it came out so recently, like only just in 2023, and yet I feel like Rath has just grown leaps and bounds in crafting her relationships, or at least she found the magic sauce in her JACKSONVILLE RAYS. I have yet to read her other two books that are unrelated to that series so I'm interested to see if it's all her work or just my hockey men that hold my heart. While I did enjoy this series, I just found it lacking in a lot of areas and it hindered some of my enjoyment. It's still smutty fun, and clearly others enjoyed far more than me as it's the highest rated of the series, but I just know she's capable of crafting such better relationships and I felt this plot deserved more for how promising of a concept it was. I still recommend as I do all her books, romance is super subjective so what doesn't work for me may work for you, but this was just not as good as I hoped.
SPOILERS FROM HERE ON
I LOVED the beginning of this book and the premise, the rush to marriage so Madeline can claim a fortune and be set for life and free from the shackles of her controlling father? Hell yes, get it! It's also hysterical how desperate she is that she proposes immediately to her damn cousin, who's rightfully horrified, and then rushes to Alcott to propose to Renley, who's not even home from sea yet, and then even freaking Burke. TBH I didn't realize that Rosalie hadn't told her about her situation, or Madeline hadn't guessed, but she very quickly figures it out and it's kind of hilarious, though obnoxious that Burke has to very rudely rebuff her first and both of them indignantly say no on Tom's behalf, very possessive this bunch lol. I immediately remembered from last book meeting sweet angel Charles Brey so I knew he'd be one of her suitors, but we also met John Warren immediately on her journey who proceeds to take her first kiss forcibly and then make fun of her for never having traveled on her own and not quite knowing what to do, so immediately those were her suitors. And then Charles's dying uncle made a reference of 'you can't be back here, don't go to him' and I was like gay??? And of course meaning Warren, so that's our setup, very strong, very exciting.
I loved Charles and Warrens dramatic backstory. Charles has only ever been with Warren, as he's training to be a vicar (basically a kind of priest, but I just kept thinking of Joey finding Rachel's dirty book in Friends lol), and only loved him, but his uncle caught them and kicked Warren out of their house and forced Charles to leave knowing he'd just fall back into 'sin' if he stayed. So he leaves without a word breaking Warren's heart and this is his first time back in like three years I think, and tbh his uncle was right because Warren IMMEDIATELY comes to find him and they immediately fuck. Warren is far too possessive for me, but I get in this case it's partially out of fear of losing him again and in disbelief that he's back, so it's kind of rushed and rough, but hot.
And I LOVED that Rosalie immediately is like, omg Charles is a perfect husband for Madeline and Burke asks this horrid, invasive questions at dinner, much to James horror who didn't know about the plan. And then the next damn day Madeline proposes to Charles and explains the concept, even saying if he wished it to be a marriage in title only that'd be fine with her, and it's SO hot that Charles is like, hell no if we're getting married I want a real marriage, you'd be mine and they have a hot make out which Warren RUDELY interrupts, I'll come back to that in his section. Warren calls her on her shit being like, don't you dare trap him in this sham marriage for her sake, only after he kisses her stupidly, but it's mainly because he's jealous. And then he gets all possessive over Charles IN ALCOTT and of course, James catches them. Also hilarious, I freaking love James. And he straight up says, without explicitly saying, what his situation is with Rosalie and their boys and how if Charles is openminded they could have even more than he ever dreamed, even offering him the vicar position in their town so he can stay. Literally this was less than halfway through the book and I was like...ok so this is legit so easy, this is the obvious answer, and yet this is unfortunately where this book went off the rails for me.
The clear, obvious answer is spelled out for us above, so to keep the damn book going we have to have this aggravatingly long bullshit, fake drama to keep it going. Charles can't marry Madeline because he's in love with Warren and it'd be unfair to her. But jokes, she also has feelings for him and when she finds out they have feelings for each other she's not only all right with it, but is super turned on by it. Charles cant stay in Finchley because Warren's here, but jokes they're in love with each other and want to be together and both want Madeline. They have nothing to offer her, but the whole point of Madeline marrying is to get this hefty fortune where she won't need her dowry and can tell her father to fuck off so she doesn't care they're poor. But also apparently Warren's older bro died so actually he's the heir to his father's fortune and titles despite being a bastard, but he doesn't want it, but it is an option. Like straight up, bullshit after bullshit excuse that's not a real excuse just to prolong unnecessary drama instead of actually crafting these relationships and SHOWING them legitimately fall in love. All they do is have sexual encounters, fight, more sex, fight, sex, and fight, over and over again, I was SO irritated! And the damn kicker? Charles is wracked with this religious shame from his uncle who told him he'd go to hell and homosexuality is a sin and it's why he couldn't be with his love for all these years, when JOKES he not only had a secret gay lover for ages, but he was a fucking reverend LIKE WHAT A HYPOCRITE! I get that's the point, but this fucker couldn't have told him this ages ago?! And he only found out by reading letters, which he explicitly told him not to so he may have never known the truth, good lord.
Then there's Warren. If I thought Burke was obnoxious, Warren is the exact same if not worse (side note, Burke is just as annoying as a side character, never subtle about his possessiveness over Rosalie despite how they try to keep up appearances, disliking Charles only because Rosalie flirted with him ONCE in book 1, straight up saying her baby was his, refusing to leave to try and help/find the doctor (unlike angel Tom) and making poor Charles do it because he's too selfish to not pretend to be martyr by her side, this man is so annoyiinngggg, ugh needed to be said). Warren is very quickly rude, domineering, and possessive, but they just laugh it off like, ha ha, that's Warren, like?!?! NO! He takes her first kiss AND fingers her, the first without her permission, but she kisses him back so I guess she liked it??? I just do not get his appeal. They're also another 'fated to be' couple, like on first meeting there's this electricity and he's obsessed with her. Every time they're together they just paw at each other and they're like 'I've never felt this way' but truly WHY?!? It's never explained, it makes no fucking sense, I do not get it! Zero work was put into their relationship other than they're both attracted to each other, he's huge, and he just takes what he wants, but that's apparently a good thing?! What pisses me off is he has ALL the sex scenes! The kisses were equal at first, but then it's just everything with Warren, even the Charles moments are with him, but he also gets moments with just Charles and just Madeline, where Charles gets nothing by himself, how is that fair?! I had the same issue in the last two books that it's so heavily one-sided in content and it's always with my least favorite love interest so it's just such a bummer. The fact Warren gets two solo sex scenes with both of them is kind of fucked up. And even more obnoxious, he's insanely possessive and needs to be the center of their universe, he's so needy. So he has the opportunity to inherit his father's titles since his bro dies which would put him at equal station of Madeline and marrying her would make that even easier, but he doesn't want that. He says he'd do it for her, obviously, but he hates his father and doesn't wish to inherit his titles, he likes working and is a great groundskeeper. He says it makes the most sense for Charles to marry Madeline and then they could all be together, which is what they all want. But then the moment they officially propose, this fucker has the GALL to act hurt and left out by it. Like...wtf?! THIS WAS LITERALLY YOUR IDEA! He's all, oh you'll be married and I'll just be here. Same with a fight they get in earlier, he's all, 'you only want me for sex' but to be fair...he has done nothing to prove their relationship is deeper than that, so wtf do you want from them?! And then how can he be upset with them for doing EXACTLY what he wanted them to do?? At every turn he just annoyed me more and more and even his sexy moments just made me eye roll. It was never deeper, he just took and did what he wanted, but I'm supposed to view that as exciting? No thanks. NOW Warren did have a shining moment by quite literally saving Rosalie's life. Long story short, her second baby is breeched during a snowstorm and they can't find her doctor, but since Warren literally has delivered animals before, he's the best option they have to help turn the baby so Rosalie can deliver without bleeding out and it's basically because of him she even lives until the doctor shows up. So I'll definitely give him his flowers here, that was awesome.
Charles on the other hand is a whole different issue. Obviously I prefer him from the jump, he's darling and such a good person, but can turn up the heat when he wants to. I don't blame him for not initially wanting to marry Madeline because it's so rushed and he doesn't want a fake marriage and thinks it'd be unfair to say yes to her when he has feelings for Warren. And then he's petrified what she'd say if she found out about them, but the fact she immediately is like, 'there's nothing wrong with love' and he isn't like, marry me now, like wtf are you waiting for?? Also James has that incredible convo with him so early and is like, life doesn't have to be so close minded, if you're willing to trust you can open yourself up to a whole lot more (also James's example of giving Rosalie whatever she'd want pretty much comparing her needing a pineapple in winter to also wanting two other men, cracked me the fuck up). But he very clearly hinted that there was more in it for him too and he's happier than he ever dreamed possible and again this happened SO early in the damn book! But still Charles remained obstinate for so damn long, it was so annoying! And for what?! And then once it was clear all three of them were into each other, it pissed me off when they'd pair off and the third wasn't thought of. Especially because it'd always be Warren and Madeline or Warren and Charles, it's always Warren, he's so fucking selfish, wtf?! And they'd always be like, 'I'm yours, I'm yours, no one elses' but clearly that's not freaking true!! Just talk about it a different way! And I was SO irritated Charles and Madeline didn't have more moments without Warren because I loved those two, they had by far the best dynamic and so much promise. Like when he's all, 'if we get married it won't be fake, you'll be fully mine,' that's so hot! Or when he saw her with Patrick (her cousin) and immediately freaked out at how familiar they were and was very, 'that's my woman back the f off,' I love that! I did love that Charles was the one who stood up to Madeline's shithead father and called her his wife and proposed to her without Warren, I'm so grateful for that because they needed those moments. But yeah, it's annoying they didn't get more smut of just them. I really just loved the concept of this book, but instead of having the whole plot be Charles running away from what he really wants, have them actually try out being together and then bring Warren in. And again, Warren shouldn't get all the solo moments, it's bullshit and unfair.
I did like all three of them together though, I won't lie. Even though Warren is the first one to finger her, I'm glad Charles is her first penetrative sex, it just felt right. Especially since Charles had never been with a woman before so I loved that this was really new for both of them. I kind of wish they figured this out on their own, but Warren being more experienced and coaching him through it to make sure she'd have as good of a time as them was hot. Also him saying she needs to take Charles first because he's not as big as Warren made me laugh a lot. I won't lie, I love that Madeline and Charles get sandwiched at different times, it's hot and the multitude of different, creative positions these three get into are funny. I also appreciated anal prep was actually discussed here as opposed to the last two where they're all conveniently gungho for it. I enjoyed that Madeline was not only a legit virgin, but a Regency era virgin who knows straight up NOTHING at the start of this book so every experience is very new for her and the boys take that into account to make sure she's all right, loved that. I am surprised how shy Rosalie is about discussing it with her though. Like I get that it's that time period and ladies don't speak this way, but Rosalie is far from shy and often acts as a big sister to Madeline, if she can't tell her who the heck else could?! She of course does, and I'm grateful Madeline has another woman to openly speak to, but yeah it surprised me how coy she tries to be.
I also did appreciate how much the quartet from the last two books are involved with this, very similar to Rath's others series, so I love that. Renley isn't in this nearly enough and most of his section is him feeling cooped up due to the storm and wanting to play around. It's an incredibly dumb excuse to get them to practice fencing and Madeline shows she's actually quite good and almost beats Burke, much to my enjoyment, until Rosalie goes into labor. I also forgot Rosalie named her first baby after James's older brother George, as per his request, but as she's a girl her name is Georgina, so cute. And we, as said above, have another traumatic pregnancy which I knew she'd be fine because I'm pretty sure the last book's epilogue was with Rosalie's third baby, but still it's a lot. What's with Rath and these horrifying pregnancies!? Unnecessary! But I still enjoyed seeing them even though it only solidified my feelings that James is the best guy and Burke is just as annoying as ever.
Overall, I love Rath's writing so I still had a lot of fun, but with the uneven dynamics and construction, I found this one even more annoying than the last book. The smut is good, but I think it really could've been better if more time was given to properly develop these relationships. Also no more 'lust at first sight' 'fated to be', I freaking hate that trope, it's just so fucking lazy. Think of ANY other reason for people to fall in love, I beg of you. Still a fun time, I'm glad I read it, but her Rays series just remains her crowning jewel and I'm unsure anything else will come close.