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eemms's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book started off so strong but the last 25% just tanked it for me.
At least 2/3s of this book are great - Penny is sweet and kindhearted, Gabriel respects her, it's very silly and sweet and there's lots of kittens and animals. Lots of points for Penny being a MC who has masturbated before and Gabriel really respects her choices including her desire to get railed! Great! I'm still not totally sure what year it takes place in or what type of parrot Delilah is (she's got to be a cockatoo right?) but whatever, it's set in Fantasy Regency England and not everyone cares about parrots like I do.
The last quarter is just...totally deflated it all for me. Somehow it stopped feeling like it was about Penny? The emotional climax is definitely when Penny confides in Gabriel. It's a big deal for her, and he respects that. It's great, I liked it. Then I looked at how long was left in the book and knew that the pacing was going to let me down.There's a last minute conflict over nothing which goes nowhere in terms of emotional payout, and then the end of the book is a big confrontation where Gabriel goes all alpha protector on her in a way no one is here for. There was nothing I liked about it. I don't like when LIs go violent to solve problems, I don't like him deciding to "take care of things" for her - these were lampshaded even, with Penny's friends being like "this is kind of unfair to take out of Penny's hands" and the book just went ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ about it. And then idk, something about the way Penny confronted her past abuser in the very end just felt...off? It's nice that it happened I guess, Bad Guy got his due, I guess? But emotionally it just wasn't there for me and it all felt totally extraneous.
Maybe just file this under "would've been better as a novella" and take it at that.
cw:past child sexual abuse
At least 2/3s of this book are great - Penny is sweet and kindhearted, Gabriel respects her, it's very silly and sweet and there's lots of kittens and animals. Lots of points for Penny being a MC who has masturbated before and Gabriel really respects her choices including her desire to get railed! Great! I'm still not totally sure what year it takes place in or what type of parrot Delilah is (she's got to be a cockatoo right?) but whatever, it's set in Fantasy Regency England and not everyone cares about parrots like I do.
The last quarter is just...totally deflated it all for me. Somehow it stopped feeling like it was about Penny? The emotional climax is definitely when Penny confides in Gabriel. It's a big deal for her, and he respects that. It's great, I liked it. Then I looked at how long was left in the book and knew that the pacing was going to let me down.
Maybe just file this under "would've been better as a novella" and take it at that.
cw:
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Child abuse
unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Sexism
Moderate: Bullying, Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Misogyny
Pedophilia is in the past and described but not super graphic although one of the MCs experiences it.ctsquirrel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Animals:
-Bixby, a two-legged terrier
-Marigold, a nanny goat "of unimpeachable character, who is definitely not breeding"
-Angus, a 3yo Highland steer
-Delilah, a parrot who isn't from a brothel (what's she saying, "Want a foxglove?")
-Hubert, an otter (not a ferret)
-Freya, a hedgehog (and not the best accessory for a night at Almack's)
-13 kittens
Everyone's back in the one, I loved Chase and Ash's dynamic. The three men trying to help the goat give birth was easily one of the funniest scenes in the series so far. And Chase's wards are morbid flower girls.
-Bixby, a two-legged terrier
-Marigold, a nanny goat "of unimpeachable character, who is definitely not breeding"
-Angus, a 3yo Highland steer
-Delilah, a parrot who isn't from a brothel (what's she saying, "Want a foxglove?")
-Hubert, an otter (not a ferret)
-Freya, a hedgehog (and not the best accessory for a night at Almack's)
-13 kittens
Everyone's back in the one, I loved Chase and Ash's dynamic. The three men trying to help the goat give birth was easily one of the funniest scenes in the series so far. And Chase's wards are morbid flower girls.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
Child/Sexual Abuse: Penny was sexually abused by a family friend as a child.le3713's review against another edition
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual assault
Moderate: Child abuse
allisonami's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Pedophilia
hannahollihan's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Child abuse
indianagranger's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Child abuse
nebraskanwriter's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Blood
pagesfromhome's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
This has officially become my favorite Tessa Dare! I loved Penny and Gabriel and the growth of their relationship. I loved the agency that Penny had and how equal their relationship felt. Definitely some more difficult parts when dealing with each of their pasts, but Tessa Dare handles it with care.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse and Pedophilia
lindseyisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault