Tsja, wat kan ik zeggen? De blurb klonk veelbelovend, maar de praktijk was toch wel anders. Ik ergerde me groen en geel aan (het gedrag van) Nigel/Turner, de onzinnige aanvaringen en misverstanden.. Het einde was zoet, wat je met zulke verhalen kunt verwachten. De (lijdens)weg ernaartoe daarentegen..

Mijn eerste kennismaking met Julia Quinn was de Bridgerton serie. Vervolgens las ik de Rokesby’s, Queen Charlotte.. hoewel het merendeel op hetzelfde neerkomt, zijn het vermakelijke verhalen waar ik me telkens weer in verloor. Dit boek was echter een misser. Ik had het misschien kunnen weten door het feit dat dit verhaal (en de rest van de Bevelstoke serie) alleen in het Nederlands is verschenen als kasteelromannetje.. wat vervolgens ook niet vindbaar is hier op GR:



Het is mijn eer te na om een boek niet uit te lezen als het niet is wat ik ervan verwachtte (zeker met maar 210 bladzijden..), maar dit boek staat toch echt onder aan mijn rangorde als het om JQ gaat.. al met al ben ik erg benieuwd of het tweede en derde deel me versteld zullen doen staan.. wordt vervolgd!

Loved this story! I know it’s an over the top historical fiction mixed with childhood love sappy story but I loved reading as Turner healed and changed how he acted with Miranda and eventually came to terms with his feelings. I also loved Miranda growing up and her feelings maturing.
It’s adorable and fun to read with drama and heartbreak and a sticky sweet ending.
funny lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Julia Quinn's romances are cozy for me. This was a charming romance for the most part, although the mid-point incident (this is barely a spoiler - hunting lodge, wet clothes, we've all been through this trope a million times) felt contrived.
funny lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

me to nigel bevelstoke in a wendy williams voice: DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional lighthearted slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I usually love Julia Quinn's work, but I really didn't like this book.  The two main characters were extremely unlikable. I disliked the hero so much that I wasn't even pulling for the match halfway through the book. She should have just stayed in Scotland.  The heroine's reaction to events of the book made absolutely no sense.  I would not recommend this book.  Very disappointing.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Delightful! Quinn really knows how to write!
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
hopeful sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Historical romance