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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
Rating: 4 stars
What I Liked: This was quite a fun book. It was an easy read, very engaging with nice writing. I liked both the main characters - Lavinia in particular was amusing, as I liked her honesty and forthrightness. Thaddeus was a good hero, too. I liked his stiffness and how he softened towards Lavinia as the story developed. I actually really liked how their relationship was presented: they were definitely opposites and a good example of a grumpy/sunshine couple, yet they were very similar in a lot of respects too, with the lists and pragmatism, and the shared stubbornness and temper.
Their relationship worked really well for me for this reason. I liked the angle oftheir sex life being bad at the start - not bad, necessarily, but boring for her, and how they both handled it. I liked that she was direct and honest with him quickly and that he reacted by doing better rather than taking objection to the idea he was bad in bed. It allowed their relationship to develop in quite a fun way and as a result I found the way their feelings grew felt very genuine and natural. The sex scenes were well written and I thought they had really good chemistry. I also liked the final reconciliation scene, as I thought it was touching and well-written.
What I Didn’t: I found some of the padding around it a little superfluous -
Overall: This was a nicely written romance with some strong sex scenes and a very sweet, genuine romance between the main couple. I wasn’t so keen on some of the side plots, mainly because I thought they could have been a little more detailed and as they were they felt a bit underserved.
Would I Recommend It?: Yes, if you want a well-written, steamy marriage-of-convenience, opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine historical romance.
Would I Read Something By The Author Again?: Yes.
Content Notes:
Other: On-page sex, difficult relationship with parents, discussions of pregnancy and eventual pregnancy.
What I Liked: This was quite a fun book. It was an easy read, very engaging with nice writing. I liked both the main characters - Lavinia in particular was amusing, as I liked her honesty and forthrightness. Thaddeus was a good hero, too. I liked his stiffness and how he softened towards Lavinia as the story developed. I actually really liked how their relationship was presented: they were definitely opposites and a good example of a grumpy/sunshine couple, yet they were very similar in a lot of respects too, with the lists and pragmatism, and the shared stubbornness and temper.
Their relationship worked really well for me for this reason. I liked the angle of
What I Didn’t: I found some of the padding around it a little superfluous -
Spoiler
aside from being the catalyst for their final fallout, I found her hidden identity as an author a bit boring - I would have liked more scenes of her writing and possibly more hints towards him that she was an author. It just ended up feeling a bit unnecessary to me.Overall: This was a nicely written romance with some strong sex scenes and a very sweet, genuine romance between the main couple. I wasn’t so keen on some of the side plots, mainly because I thought they could have been a little more detailed and as they were they felt a bit underserved.
Would I Recommend It?: Yes, if you want a well-written, steamy marriage-of-convenience, opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine historical romance.
Would I Read Something By The Author Again?: Yes.
Content Notes:
Spoiler
Warnings: Vomiting.Other: On-page sex, difficult relationship with parents
Spoiler
For both. His parents were indifferent and her mother is verbally critical of her.
I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an advanced reader copy of this story.
A Wicked Bargain For The Duke, by Meg Frampton, is available at booksellers on 4-27-2021. Wicked Bargain is book 3 in the Hazards of Dukes series. I love the play on the title, I was a fan of the Dukes Of Hazzard way back when. Thad and Lavinia are likeable characters but I didn't love them. It wasn't till Thad loosened up that it seemed the couple might get an HEA. Lavinia was too outgoing for the time period and spoke her mind when other ladies did not. I guess it's ok if it's to your husband. She just didn't bowl me over. Anyway, what started out as a marriage of scandal turned out ok with both of them being open and honest like, hopefully, a modern marriage. It was interesting to watch how Thad realized that his idea of a perfect Duchess wasn't what he wanted in a wife.
A Wicked Bargain For The Duke, by Meg Frampton, is available at booksellers on 4-27-2021. Wicked Bargain is book 3 in the Hazards of Dukes series. I love the play on the title, I was a fan of the Dukes Of Hazzard way back when. Thad and Lavinia are likeable characters but I didn't love them. It wasn't till Thad loosened up that it seemed the couple might get an HEA. Lavinia was too outgoing for the time period and spoke her mind when other ladies did not. I guess it's ok if it's to your husband. She just didn't bowl me over. Anyway, what started out as a marriage of scandal turned out ok with both of them being open and honest like, hopefully, a modern marriage. It was interesting to watch how Thad realized that his idea of a perfect Duchess wasn't what he wanted in a wife.
I loved this book. It was exactly what I needed right now—something light and fun, but still emotionally satisfying. I adored Lavinia; she’s smart, she’s funny, and she’s forthright. I knew Thaddeus from the previous books and was happy to see him loosen up a little. My favorite thing about this book is that the couple *actually talked to each other about their problems.* When Lavinia wasn’t sexually satisfied, she initiated a conversation about that fact, and together they discussed how to fix the problem. This is unusual in historical romance, but it shouldn’t be!
I was not a fan of the previous book in the series, but this one brought me back around. Now I’m really hoping Jane’s story will be next!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I was not a fan of the previous book in the series, but this one brought me back around. Now I’m really hoping Jane’s story will be next!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This book wasn't for me. I didn't like the characters. They were clueless. The sex scenes were awkward. I got bored very quickly.
The Duke was, oh what to say, rigid, stiff, former military, in want of a wife. A proper, quiet wife.
Lavinia is the life of the party. She also writes romance novels under a male name. Not proper, not quiet.
Thad wants to marry Lavinia's sister Jane, Lavinia thinks that is a stupid idea and does everything to stop it. Boom, marriage of convenience. And both are unhappy. Thad missed out on his proper wife, Lavinia wants more (though his thigh muscles are to die for.)
They argue, they fall in love without knowing it, and a very realistic for time. It is awkward, he things it was great, she was all this is it? Yes no magical orgasms for everyone and best time ever. They had to understand each other.
Oh and there are excerpts from her book too. I liked those sprinkled in.
It was nice to see these two fall in love. I enjoyed the book.
I liked the narrator, she did have good distinct voices for everyone, though her voice for Thad was very manly indeed
Lavinia is the life of the party. She also writes romance novels under a male name. Not proper, not quiet.
Thad wants to marry Lavinia's sister Jane, Lavinia thinks that is a stupid idea and does everything to stop it. Boom, marriage of convenience. And both are unhappy. Thad missed out on his proper wife, Lavinia wants more (though his thigh muscles are to die for.)
They argue, they fall in love without knowing it, and a very realistic for time. It is awkward, he things it was great, she was all this is it? Yes no magical orgasms for everyone and best time ever. They had to understand each other.
Oh and there are excerpts from her book too. I liked those sprinkled in.
It was nice to see these two fall in love. I enjoyed the book.
I liked the narrator, she did have good distinct voices for everyone, though her voice for Thad was very manly indeed
I enjoyed my first Megan Frampton book, had an unusual story with the heroine clearly stating that her husband was not satifisying her in bed and gave him instructions to improve. That part of the story was very good. The misunderstanding theme between them did grow tiresome and I feel that was really the only conflict. Also I did not like the narrator's voicing of the main characters. Made them sound too old--not the worst narration but did detract from the story.