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thecleanreadbookclub's review
5.0
Have you ever heard the title of a book and knew it was going to be a good fit? That’s exactly what I thought when I heard this title. It solidified even more after seeing the cover, and after getting the synopsis I knew I needed to read this book!
One of my favorite aspects of Karen’s writing is getting to revisit with characters from previous books. It’s like getting together with old friends! Lady Walmsley is one of those characters that I love getting reconnected with! I would also like to find myself a Lady Walmsley in real life!
Susan is such a fun character. She has such a strong personality. For the most part it is a credit to herself. However, she needs a little help to see her as someone worth fighting for. Enter George. He can’t stand her, or her him, and it is glorious. There could not have been a better title for this book. It’s perfection!
This is an outstanding novel by Karen Tuft and one of my favorites from her and I highly recommend it! I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Covenant Communications. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
One of my favorite aspects of Karen’s writing is getting to revisit with characters from previous books. It’s like getting together with old friends! Lady Walmsley is one of those characters that I love getting reconnected with! I would also like to find myself a Lady Walmsley in real life!
Susan is such a fun character. She has such a strong personality. For the most part it is a credit to herself. However, she needs a little help to see her as someone worth fighting for. Enter George. He can’t stand her, or her him, and it is glorious. There could not have been a better title for this book. It’s perfection!
This is an outstanding novel by Karen Tuft and one of my favorites from her and I highly recommend it! I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Covenant Communications. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
doseofromance's review
3.0
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I couldn't really get into the book. There aren't any "big" problems with it, I just didn't find it very compelling. I also wasn't a huge fan of the male protagonist. He seemed very arrogant and self-centered. This does improve somewhat in the course of the book, it just made it a bit more difficult for me to get into the story overall.
I couldn't really get into the book. There aren't any "big" problems with it, I just didn't find it very compelling. I also wasn't a huge fan of the male protagonist. He seemed very arrogant and self-centered. This does improve somewhat in the course of the book, it just made it a bit more difficult for me to get into the story overall.
mystic_dragon's review
2.0
I really thought this was going to be a great read, but the pacing and lack of communication/connection between the two leads let me down.
Up until about 70% in, I was thinking this was going to be a 4 star read. It had a solid romance building, I loved the side character of 'Aunt Margaret', and the whole makeover/Fairy Godmother-esque aspect was enjoyable to read. However, especially unfortunate due to this book being predominantly a romance, the love story just did not flow or feel right. I liked reading the interactions between Susan and Aylesham, especially in the initial stages when they go from enemies to friends. However, it was like I'd missed 50 pages at the 70% mark, the feelings they have for each other go from cordial and friendly to lovestruck in an instant? And this would be slightly understandable had they truly gotten to know each other, except somehow we as the reader know the backstory of Aylesham and his history of illness and pneumonia, as well as Susan's own past as the jilted lover, and yet they never get to know this about each other? By the end of the book, they don't know each other and that really took away both from my enjoyment of the novel, and my belief that these two were really going to last after the events of this book. That being said, I liked the writing and the build up, it's just a real shame that the last quarter or so of the book botched it for me.
2.5 stars.
** This e-ARC was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
Up until about 70% in, I was thinking this was going to be a 4 star read. It had a solid romance building, I loved the side character of 'Aunt Margaret', and the whole makeover/Fairy Godmother-esque aspect was enjoyable to read. However, especially unfortunate due to this book being predominantly a romance, the love story just did not flow or feel right. I liked reading the interactions between Susan and Aylesham, especially in the initial stages when they go from enemies to friends. However, it was like I'd missed 50 pages at the 70% mark, the feelings they have for each other go from cordial and friendly to lovestruck in an instant? And this would be slightly understandable had they truly gotten to know each other, except somehow we as the reader know the backstory of Aylesham and his history of illness and pneumonia, as well as Susan's own past as the jilted lover, and yet they never get to know this about each other? By the end of the book, they don't know each other and that really took away both from my enjoyment of the novel, and my belief that these two were really going to last after the events of this book. That being said, I liked the writing and the build up, it's just a real shame that the last quarter or so of the book botched it for me.
2.5 stars.
** This e-ARC was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
ebgracie77's review
4.0
Surprisingly sweet. Really enjoyed this one. I like when the main characters see quality in their partner and tell them why they are uniquely special. It was so fun to see how much they started to enjoy each other.
a_neverending_tbr's review
5.0
“I know we do not know enough about each other“ he said softly “But I do know there is a fire that burns between us and that you know it as well as I do. And that fire gives me hope.”
*Marriage of Convenience
*Dual POV
The last couple of Regency romances that I read before this one were slightly disappointing because I just didn’t feel like the main characters had enough on-page time together/interactions to make any kind of real connection between them believable or exciting. That was not the case here! So many great conversations, swoony kisses and everything I love about this genre. I loved Susan’s family dynamics and George’s relationships with his servants as he was without a family himself. Lady Walmsley and her interactions with her mother hen butler added great comedic value and her fawning over Susan was also so sweet. And an epilogue!! That has also been missing from the last couple of books that I’ve read and I love the closure they bring. I had this one on my shelf for far too long without picking it up. Don’t make my mistake - it was fantastic!
Romantic Content: Kisses
*Marriage of Convenience
*Dual POV
The last couple of Regency romances that I read before this one were slightly disappointing because I just didn’t feel like the main characters had enough on-page time together/interactions to make any kind of real connection between them believable or exciting. That was not the case here! So many great conversations, swoony kisses and everything I love about this genre. I loved Susan’s family dynamics and George’s relationships with his servants as he was without a family himself. Lady Walmsley and her interactions with her mother hen butler added great comedic value and her fawning over Susan was also so sweet. And an epilogue!! That has also been missing from the last couple of books that I’ve read and I love the closure they bring. I had this one on my shelf for far too long without picking it up. Don’t make my mistake - it was fantastic!
Romantic Content: Kisses
thetinyreader's review
2.0
Regency books about a heroine that is considered a ”spinster,” and a hero that is not interested in getting married is not an uncommon one. This is my first book by Karen Tuft.
I love the book cover; it looks stunning! It’s a stand-alone book, but it does have characters from her other books. As for the main characters, George can be a little bit too grumpy and brooding, and I guess because he has found no hopes of making someone genuinely interested in marrying him. Meanwhile, Susan is very honest and opinionated, a common trait of a so-called ”spinster” during that era. And let’s not forget a bluestocking. While I am glad that in our period, everything has changed, and women with more progressive ideas are being acknowledged, I still think that we have so much more to improve to become a better society.
When Prinny is included in a regency book with quite a modern writing style, it makes me realize,” oh, this was during the regency era.” If you are prickly with historical errors, then there are some in this book. I wanted to like it because the plot was somewhat interesting, but in the end, I find that it lacks character development, and some moments were just too meh (especially the scene with the German Royals; it was only to overly dramatic). I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I’m giving it 2.5 stars.
I love the book cover; it looks stunning! It’s a stand-alone book, but it does have characters from her other books. As for the main characters, George can be a little bit too grumpy and brooding, and I guess because he has found no hopes of making someone genuinely interested in marrying him. Meanwhile, Susan is very honest and opinionated, a common trait of a so-called ”spinster” during that era. And let’s not forget a bluestocking. While I am glad that in our period, everything has changed, and women with more progressive ideas are being acknowledged, I still think that we have so much more to improve to become a better society.
When Prinny is included in a regency book with quite a modern writing style, it makes me realize,” oh, this was during the regency era.” If you are prickly with historical errors, then there are some in this book. I wanted to like it because the plot was somewhat interesting, but in the end, I find that it lacks character development, and some moments were just too meh (especially the scene with the German Royals; it was only to overly dramatic). I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I’m giving it 2.5 stars.
tboofy's review
4.0
If you like the genre, you’ll like book. Pretty typical hate-at-first-site turned to true-love kind of story.
jesforeverlostinbooks's review
5.0
Oh I loved this one! I love a clean regency romance and this one had all the feels. I read it in two days
thebookscript's review
5.0
I loved this book so much more than I anticipated I would
It follows two people...a woman in her late twenties...past the point of being an interest in the London Season....and a Duke....a man who has put off marriage for too many years and finally finds himself in quite the political scheme. Will they find a mutually beneficial match and love along the way?
I loved having a regency woman who was the same age as me and see how she grew into her strengths through the story. She doesn’t let the Duke off easy and their back and forth was so much fun to witness. The Duke very much so had this prideful stern dark and handsome Mr Darcy appeal which obviously is always a good thing in my opinion
It follows two people...a woman in her late twenties...past the point of being an interest in the London Season....and a Duke....a man who has put off marriage for too many years and finally finds himself in quite the political scheme. Will they find a mutually beneficial match and love along the way?
I loved having a regency woman who was the same age as me and see how she grew into her strengths through the story. She doesn’t let the Duke off easy and their back and forth was so much fun to witness. The Duke very much so had this prideful stern dark and handsome Mr Darcy appeal which obviously is always a good thing in my opinion
tucker4's review
3.0
This started really strongly, setting up the Duke and Susan's antagonistic relationship, but halfway through it felt like a switch was flipped and suddenly they were in love and wanted to get married for real. The transition from hate to love was just too abrupt.