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winterreader40's review against another edition
3.0
Esme is close to giving birth when her aunt decides to through a house party for her inviting Lord Stephen as a possible new husband for her. But Lady Beatrix decides she wants Stephen after she's already coached her friend Helene into trying to seduce him to tick off her estranged husband, at some point every woman in this story is after this man for something which was just to much in the long run.
We finally married off 2 characters that started in book one which was good because they were getting annoying. Honestly the 2 supposed MC's didn't seem that central to the story making this my least favorite of this series so far.
We finally married off 2 characters that started in book one which was good because they were getting annoying. Honestly the 2 supposed MC's didn't seem that central to the story making this my least favorite of this series so far.
desertbookworm's review against another edition
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jody_diou's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
jphoffman's review against another edition
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Fun cast of characters. Took a little while to get going and sort out all of relationships but then I enjoyed it. Hang in there past the first third.
As Always RJ has the Shakespeare references. I feel like there may have been some Midsummer's night dream in here or is it Much Ado about Nothing ?? In addition to R&J.
As Always RJ has the Shakespeare references. I feel like there may have been some Midsummer's night dream in here or is it Much Ado about Nothing ?? In addition to R&J.
lectorliber04's review against another edition
3.0
Not too keen on Esme's and Sebastian's story as I was with the secondary characters.
dmwmtgal's review against another edition
3.0
http://imaromancereader.blogspot.com/2006/08/wild-pursuit.html
topy_loving_books's review against another edition
2.0
Well this was a long and painful ride... Thankfully I could listen to the audiobook, and the fact it was part of a bookclub read gave me the strength to get through it.
Seriously, why so many characters and POV? I was so sure the story was all about Esmee and her gardener/marquess. Even if I haven't read the two previous books, and witness her all journey with her late husband, I rooted for her from the first page. I can't say the same about the suppose MCs who were so difficult to connect with in comparaison. Their only good scenes involved the goat. But I couln't seriously see how his feelings for her were more than mer lust. And also she was an interesting and strong female character, we didn't had enough info about her, appart her interest for naughty poetry.
I like that our two lead ladies are two experience women, who know their worth and how to seduce men. But I also struggled with how men and the other ladies view them for this very reason, as they are constantly degraded for expressing openly their desire and sicking for it. When men are glorified doing the exact same thing. The double standard is appalling, and sadly it's still the same in the 21th century. The book didn't age well in that aspect.
Seriously, why so many characters and POV? I was so sure the story was all about Esmee and her gardener/marquess. Even if I haven't read the two previous books, and witness her all journey with her late husband, I rooted for her from the first page. I can't say the same about the suppose MCs who were so difficult to connect with in comparaison. Their only good scenes involved the goat. But I couln't seriously see how his feelings for her were more than mer lust. And also she was an interesting and strong female character, we didn't had enough info about her, appart her interest for naughty poetry.
I like that our two lead ladies are two experience women, who know their worth and how to seduce men. But I also struggled with how men and the other ladies view them for this very reason, as they are constantly degraded for expressing openly their desire and sicking for it. When men are glorified doing the exact same thing. The double standard is appalling, and sadly it's still the same in the 21th century. The book didn't age well in that aspect.
balletbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
As it turns out, Esme gets half a book to herself and her naughty gardener (she's been slumming a la DH Lawrence, though we are thankfully spared ridiculous sentiments about naming body parts). She and Bonnington provide half the romantic intrigue in the book while Bea and Stephen have the other half (and then the foursome becomes entangled due to everyone's inability to be honest about their feelings and Esme's mommy issues - her mother is dreadful).
I do have to agree with Bea on the subject of Helene - if I had a husband who enticed me to elope then ran about installing an appalling number of mistresses in my household I'd stab him with a fork/take to blunt objects, too. Helene is a rather pitiable character but a bit tiresome since this has been a third book with her as a side character and she's made little to no progress with that reprobate husband of hers (although I think they suffer from some of the same bedroom issues as Poppy and Fletch from the Desperate Duchesses series).
I do have to agree with Bea on the subject of Helene - if I had a husband who enticed me to elope then ran about installing an appalling number of mistresses in my household I'd stab him with a fork/take to blunt objects, too. Helene is a rather pitiable character but a bit tiresome since this has been a third book with her as a side character and she's made little to no progress with that reprobate husband of hers (although I think they suffer from some of the same bedroom issues as Poppy and Fletch from the Desperate Duchesses series).
hhartwich's review against another edition
4.0
I like how we are getting 2 stories in 1 in these books.
nturner2810's review against another edition
3.0
Another Shakespeare-influenced story from James.
I enjoyed this fast moving hate-to-love romance with its many characters and interwoven storylines. We see a number of different women with strong personalities throughout this story and the common thread, aside from romance, is the strength of female friendship.
It is not unusual in this genre to find significant age differences between MCs, however, there is something of a twenty year age gap in this one, which kept me from giving it a 4 star as it was a bit much for my liking. Particularly as our male MC is identified as not particularly attractive or interesting by multiple invested females, and yet is still swarmed.
The writing, however, was as witty and clever as usual, with great world building and layered characters who show development and depth.
All in all, a bit of fun wrapped up with Shakespearean madness and that typical James touch.
I enjoyed this fast moving hate-to-love romance with its many characters and interwoven storylines. We see a number of different women with strong personalities throughout this story and the common thread, aside from romance, is the strength of female friendship.
It is not unusual in this genre to find significant age differences between MCs, however, there is something of a twenty year age gap in this one, which kept me from giving it a 4 star as it was a bit much for my liking. Particularly as our male MC is identified as not particularly attractive or interesting by multiple invested females, and yet is still swarmed.
The writing, however, was as witty and clever as usual, with great world building and layered characters who show development and depth.
All in all, a bit of fun wrapped up with Shakespearean madness and that typical James touch.