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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
* I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. *
Thaddeus is recently titled duke that dutifully sets out to find a wife to give him an heir. He sets his sights on Jane who checks off all the boxes on his list. Unfortunately, her sister Lavinia is having none of it and keeps interrupting his chances of courting Jane who is in love with someone else. When they are found in a compromising situation, Thaddeus is forced to marry Lavinia to protect both of their honors. While neither are particularly thrilled about the situation, they agree to an arrangement that brings them together in bed but no where else.
What I liked:
- The sex positivity! Lavinia demands a more pleasurable sex life and Thaddeus is willing to hear her out and work with her.
- I really enjoyed the relationship between Lavinia and her siblings. They are so open and honest with each other and protect each other.
What needed work:
- The conflict entirely hinges on miscommunication which could have easily been resolved when they were first negotiating. It also felt out of character for Lavinia to not speak up for herself from the beginning when she doesn't have a problem doing that for other issues like sex.
- I really did not feel the love between these two characters. Sure, they had fun in bed and got used to the other being around but that does not equate to love. They barely spent time with each other outside of the bedroom so I didn't really feel that connection. I personally need to feel that emotional connection to really root for and believe that a couple is in love.
- I thought it was really interesting that Lavinia was a writer but it really only came into play at the beginning and at the end. I would have love to see it more throughout the story other than the inserts.
Overall, I liked this book. It was enjoyable as I was reading it but it probably will not take up any real estate in my brain. However, I am definitely interested in picking up more from this author because the sex scenes and sex positivity were great.
Thaddeus is recently titled duke that dutifully sets out to find a wife to give him an heir. He sets his sights on Jane who checks off all the boxes on his list. Unfortunately, her sister Lavinia is having none of it and keeps interrupting his chances of courting Jane who is in love with someone else. When they are found in a compromising situation, Thaddeus is forced to marry Lavinia to protect both of their honors. While neither are particularly thrilled about the situation, they agree to an arrangement that brings them together in bed but no where else.
What I liked:
- The sex positivity! Lavinia demands a more pleasurable sex life and Thaddeus is willing to hear her out and work with her.
- I really enjoyed the relationship between Lavinia and her siblings. They are so open and honest with each other and protect each other.
What needed work:
- The conflict entirely hinges on miscommunication which could have easily been resolved when they were first negotiating. It also felt out of character for Lavinia to not speak up for herself from the beginning when she doesn't have a problem doing that for other issues like sex.
- I really did not feel the love between these two characters. Sure, they had fun in bed and got used to the other being around but that does not equate to love. They barely spent time with each other outside of the bedroom so I didn't really feel that connection. I personally need to feel that emotional connection to really root for and believe that a couple is in love.
- I thought it was really interesting that Lavinia was a writer but it really only came into play at the beginning and at the end. I would have love to see it more throughout the story other than the inserts.
Overall, I liked this book. It was enjoyable as I was reading it but it probably will not take up any real estate in my brain. However, I am definitely interested in picking up more from this author because the sex scenes and sex positivity were great.
It was cute! Some bits were unbelievable, but I didn't mind. I loved the pieces taken from Pride and Prejudice as it's one of my favorite books. Buddy read this with a friend and it was fun to giggle over <3
emotional
funny
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
I'm liking each book in this series more and more and Thaddeus and Lavinia were a delight. I loved how this one was full marriage of convenience. It was done so well and I loved all the bargains they made to try and not fall in love with each other. Of course they did anyway and it was great. Lavinia was a firecracker and I really enjoyed that she was a writer. Their relationship was so fun. I thought Lavinia's relationship with her siblings and I definitely picked up that Jane will be getting her own love story. As always, I enjoy seeing the characters from the other books and I really liked this one!
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Grumpy/sunshine. She marries the Duke to save her sister; he marries her to make an heir. Her parents SUCK, but her siblings are cool. Also, she’s secretly a writer who is REALLY into her husband’s thighs.
Overall, good chemistry, some spice. The writing is a little repetitive (24 references to the Duke’s thighs), and the ending wraps up very quickly. Would love more detail or scene setting, but the pace of this makes it a quick read.
Overall, good chemistry, some spice. The writing is a little repetitive (24 references to the Duke’s thighs), and the ending wraps up very quickly. Would love more detail or scene setting, but the pace of this makes it a quick read.
Thad is dull. Thad is bad at sex. Thad is lonely. Thad is a bad communicator. Thad assumes a lot of things... If I wanted to read about every guy I've dated... I'd write that story... but alas, I don't want to. Lavinia was great. She needed a better love interest, the end.
emotional
lighthearted
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
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
I've really appreciated and enjoyed this series and this was probably my favorite of the series. More than anything, I loved that this took your typical historical romance marriage of convenience trope and turned it on it's head but presenting an issue we don't usually see in romance books: an incompatibility in bed. I found that absolutely fascinating and unique and loved reading about how the couple had to work together to make that aspect of their lives work and how that drew them together in their daily lives. I wish that was something we saw in more romance novels because I think it really brings a couple together in a different way than we usually see.