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offbrandmusclemilk's review against another edition
4.0
sweet and full of current pop culture
I love a steamy romance that doesn't simply end in marriage and epilogue in pregnancy. Loved the villain quoting a modern day villain.
I love a steamy romance that doesn't simply end in marriage and epilogue in pregnancy. Loved the villain quoting a modern day villain.
kaitrates's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
'You're here,' he repeated, taking her hand and drawing it against his chest, right above his pounding heartbeat. 'In my heart. Somehow you crashed your way into it when I wasn't looking. The same way you barged into my library, I supposed. But you're here now, inside. Emma, you're the very life of me.'
BRB don't mind me completely SWOONING over this gorgeous, funny, steamy romance.
This was my first Tessa Dare book (though I apparently read a short story of hers in a Christmas anthology years ago) and it absolutely won't be my last. I had a blast!
So many surprising and funny moments in this! From Ash moonlighting as a vigilante (LOVE) to the many sex scenes to our badass girl group.
I've taken a long break from histrom, mostly because my taste in books has evolved. It feels good to "come home" and find unexpected disability rep in a type of book that I've definitely become less likely to pick up in recent years (namely those by white authors featuring characters who are white, cishet, conventionally attractive, thin, and appearing pre-disabled).
What kept this from being a true 5 star for me is that I wanted it to rooted in a bit more of a disability justice lens. I wanted more from Ash's character arc related to his scarring and chronic pain, as well as his identity as disabled. I wanted him to reckon with his sense of self, his internalised ableism and pretty privelege. I also chaff at the fact that this is apparently a beauty and the beast retelling because of his disability? ICK.
All in all, I really enjoyed this and am eager to dive into the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Sexual content, Body shaming, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and War
mrdarcysgirl's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
annick's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The funny sarcastic banter in the opening scenes was great. But I lost interest soon after with the narrative and plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
sunny_r's review against another edition
4.0
4.2- Tessa Dare novels are just so fun and full of character! I really enjoyed this one
hayboys_girl's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
4.5
This had me giggling out loud. The banter between these two characters is so entertaining. Ash is just a big dummy who can’t understand feelings that aren’t anger or annoyance. He’s a marshmallow inside. I loved how light hearted this was, I loved how tender the love story was. Him going to see Emma’s father?! That was highly entertaining. I didn’t love the whole Monster of Mayfair storyline. I didn’t think it was really needed, it didn’t add anything to the story and could have been left out. Other than that, highly entertaining and the perfect read for when you are looking for an entertaining, romantic read.
michelle904's review against another edition
5.0
This was book #54 for Romanceopoly 2020.
Pack: Sun
Square: Courtship Row
Challenge: Read a historical romance where the h/H is a wallflower
Pack: Sun
Square: Courtship Row
Challenge: Read a historical romance where the h/H is a wallflower
aleromo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
It was so fluffy, warm, cute, no angst, no deep plot, which is honestly not really what I like but I still loved it. I highlighted all the cute things Ash said to Emma, his Shakespearean insults, and Emma’s pet names.
“I am serious. Really, truly, honestly, earnestly, properly. And I mean to have you, completely.”
“Touch her and you will pay with your lives, you diseased, maggoty curs.”
“In my heart. Somehow you crashed your way into it when I wasn’t looking. The same way you barged into my library, I suppose. But you’re here now, inside. Emma, you’re the very life of me.”
It was adorable and I was smiling like an idiot. I devoured it in less than a day, I didn’t feel the almost 400 pages.
Is this the beginning of my Regency Duke Romance Era?
zaza_bdp's review
4.0
Je me suis vraiment régalée avec ce nouveau roman de Tessa Dare ! Une fois encore, cette auteure fait mouche, notamment grâce aux dialogues très réussis, et à l'intensité de son héros, qui m'a d'ailleurs fait penser à Jeremy, le héros de "L'impulsive".
Il y a une espèce de folie douce qui règne dans ce roman, que ce soit au niveau de la personnalité de l’héroïne, prête à tout pour dérider son duc et conquérir son cœur, notamment en l'affublant de surnoms tout plus idiots et ridicules les uns que les autres, ou des autres personnages rencontrés dans le livre. Je pense notamment aux personnages secondaires, qui contribuent largement à cette ambiance parfois surréaliste. En effet, le personnel du duc est pour le moins ... indiscipliné, et toute la maisonnée considère qu'elle a voix au chapitre concernant le bonheur conjugal de leur maître, ce qui donne lieu à des scènes farfelues. Et puis il y a aussi les nouvelles amies d'Emma; sans oublier toute leur ménagerie ...Ce groupe de jeunes femmes qui sortent de l'ordinaire n'a sûrement pas fini de nous faire rire et de nous surprendre !
J'ai un gros faible pour les héros reclus, affaiblis, balafrés et misanthropes sur les bords, et je dois dire que Ash est un personnage réussi, qui a su très vite me conquérir. Finalement, c'est bien lui le plus vulnérable des deux, celui qui a le plus besoin d'affection, et cela le rend touchant.
La romance est touchante et intense, j'ai pris grand plaisir à voir Emma conquérir son duc, et j'ai vraiment adoré leurs dialogues ! Une réussite donc !
Il y a une espèce de folie douce qui règne dans ce roman, que ce soit au niveau de la personnalité de l’héroïne, prête à tout pour dérider son duc et conquérir son cœur, notamment en l'affublant de surnoms tout plus idiots et ridicules les uns que les autres, ou des autres personnages rencontrés dans le livre. Je pense notamment aux personnages secondaires, qui contribuent largement à cette ambiance parfois surréaliste. En effet, le personnel du duc est pour le moins ... indiscipliné, et toute la maisonnée considère qu'elle a voix au chapitre concernant le bonheur conjugal de leur maître, ce qui donne lieu à des scènes farfelues. Et puis il y a aussi les nouvelles amies d'Emma; sans oublier toute leur ménagerie ...Ce groupe de jeunes femmes qui sortent de l'ordinaire n'a sûrement pas fini de nous faire rire et de nous surprendre !
J'ai un gros faible pour les héros reclus, affaiblis, balafrés et misanthropes sur les bords, et je dois dire que Ash est un personnage réussi, qui a su très vite me conquérir. Finalement, c'est bien lui le plus vulnérable des deux, celui qui a le plus besoin d'affection, et cela le rend touchant.
La romance est touchante et intense, j'ai pris grand plaisir à voir Emma conquérir son duc, et j'ai vraiment adoré leurs dialogues ! Une réussite donc !