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topy_loving_books's review against another edition
4.0
After loving so much Tapestry from this same author, I had big expectations for this book. And at first I struggled with it, because it didn’t get me as much, but slowly the writing and the characters won me over. They are not your typical HR heroes.
Margaret Esterly is a commoner who married the bastard son of a duke. When she become a widow she tries to survive by attempting to sell a volume of scandalous memoirs. That’s how she met Michael Hawthorne, aka starchy Earl of Montraine during a mascarade ball. He is in a great need of an heiress to refill his coffers, but can’t forget this mysterious masked woman. And he can be really persistent to get what he wants.
Even if he kept saying how proper and in control he was, we saw a complete reckless side of him anytime he was in the vicinity of the heroine. Watching him loosing it over her, again and again, was so delightful. And even more when he tried to convince himself that he needed just one more kiss, one more night, week…
But the heroine was as lost as him, to face those feelings and this desire that she discovered through the naughty books she tried to sell, and wanted to explore this wild side of her with Michael. Margaret was so refreshing compare to the usual heroines we have because she was not part of the ton. Being older, she had a better understanding of her own body ans of what she wanted. Also she valued her freedom. As a commoner, she had way more of it than the usual diamonds of the season.
Margaret Esterly is a commoner who married the bastard son of a duke. When she become a widow she tries to survive by attempting to sell a volume of scandalous memoirs. That’s how she met Michael Hawthorne, aka starchy Earl of Montraine during a mascarade ball. He is in a great need of an heiress to refill his coffers, but can’t forget this mysterious masked woman. And he can be really persistent to get what he wants.
Even if he kept saying how proper and in control he was, we saw a complete reckless side of him anytime he was in the vicinity of the heroine. Watching him loosing it over her, again and again, was so delightful. And even more when he tried to convince himself that he needed just one more kiss, one more night, week…
But the heroine was as lost as him, to face those feelings and this desire that she discovered through the naughty books she tried to sell, and wanted to explore this wild side of her with Michael. Margaret was so refreshing compare to the usual heroines we have because she was not part of the ton. Being older, she had a better understanding of her own body ans of what she wanted. Also she valued her freedom. As a commoner, she had way more of it than the usual diamonds of the season.
laurjuli's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
rainnbooks's review against another edition
3.0
A refreshing change from the usual books in this genre. The heroine is a pauper and the hero is not miraculously super duper rich.He is also struggling for financial stability but I liked how he finds a way out to achieve his heart's desire. The conversations were sensible and quiet and very mature. The mystery about the journals kept the story spicy but the slow growth of love and affection between Michael and Margaret made it an entertaining read.
atunah's review
4.0
A hero Earl that solves cyrillic ciphers for the crown and he has a bit of a puzzle solving mind. So to him, his crazy attraction to the heroine is a puzzle to be solved. Takes him a while to figure he has fallen head over heals. He is ruthlessly relentless in pursuing her. He just doesn't get the why.
It was so cute when he held on to one of her gloves after a meeting keeping it close to him. :)
The heroine is not of his station, a widow of a duke by blow. She was raised by a governess grandma.
I like that the hero has to learn some lessons of privilege. As in he didn't give a lot of thought how things would affect the heroine and the things he took for granted based on his station. I thought that was well done.
There are some really sensual scenes here. Erotic really. Lots of create communication back and forth between them. And they go boating. :)
There is very little internal dialogue going on and come to think about it, I don't think other Ranney books I read have that either. So rather than having internal waffling going on for pages and pages, the characters actually talk to each other. They talk a lot, but still not saying what they probably should. I think the communicating lets one get to know the characters better.
It was so cute when he held on to one of her gloves after a meeting keeping it close to him. :)
The heroine is not of his station, a widow of a duke by blow. She was raised by a governess grandma.
I like that the hero has to learn some lessons of privilege. As in he didn't give a lot of thought how things would affect the heroine and the things he took for granted based on his station. I thought that was well done.
There are some really sensual scenes here. Erotic really. Lots of create communication back and forth between them. And they go boating. :)
There is very little internal dialogue going on and come to think about it, I don't think other Ranney books I read have that either. So rather than having internal waffling going on for pages and pages, the characters actually talk to each other. They talk a lot, but still not saying what they probably should. I think the communicating lets one get to know the characters better.
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