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turnerjoylynch's review against another edition
2.0
The premise of this book is flimsy, as other reviewers have aptly pointed out. The male MC is stuck on a poorly thought though plan for revenge, confused by his inability to fully carry it out because of emerging feelings for the heroine, blah blah. The characters are flat, mostly. What makes this book interesting is the stage it sets for the following books of the series — books with better premises and more ground for believable attractions and motivations, and to varying degrees, better characters.
The sex is exciting and passionate. It’s hard to believe that with absolutely no previous encouragement, experience, intoxication, or literally even a conversation that Victoria would have a passionate encounter on an open terrace with a man she’s never met before. There are some interesting conversations regarding the Viscount’s circumstances and loss and grief that sort of explain the flimsiness of his plan for revenge. It’s touching to see him move through the stages of grief. It’s all very readable, if a touch unbelievable. You get frustrated. I believe that’s the point.
What the author does well is establish the influence of the connecting character of the (9?) book series — Lady Wallingham, a diminutive woman of great social stature who only gets details of her past disclosed in the 9th book of the series. I very much enjoyed Lady Wallingham’s insistent correspondence or comments in the beginning of every chapter, especially as plot points are foreshadowed or explained across the series. At first they seem inconsequential except to establish her as society’s most interfering dowager; then you notice the tidbits relate to the network of relationships between characters, and you dismiss them less and less with every chapter. Soon, they become a welcome friend.
The sex is exciting and passionate. It’s hard to believe that with absolutely no previous encouragement, experience, intoxication, or literally even a conversation that Victoria would have a passionate encounter on an open terrace with a man she’s never met before. There are some interesting conversations regarding the Viscount’s circumstances and loss and grief that sort of explain the flimsiness of his plan for revenge. It’s touching to see him move through the stages of grief. It’s all very readable, if a touch unbelievable. You get frustrated. I believe that’s the point.
What the author does well is establish the influence of the connecting character of the (9?) book series — Lady Wallingham, a diminutive woman of great social stature who only gets details of her past disclosed in the 9th book of the series. I very much enjoyed Lady Wallingham’s insistent correspondence or comments in the beginning of every chapter, especially as plot points are foreshadowed or explained across the series. At first they seem inconsequential except to establish her as society’s most interfering dowager; then you notice the tidbits relate to the network of relationships between characters, and you dismiss them less and less with every chapter. Soon, they become a welcome friend.
zombi's review against another edition
1.0
I can’t stand it any more, I’m DNFing this.
Encounter counter got to 1 and I just don’t care for the way this is written. The FMC is irritating and the MMC isn’t much better. Pass.
Encounter counter got to 1 and I just don’t care for the way this is written. The FMC is irritating and the MMC isn’t much better. Pass.
shomarq's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
karenfausto8's review against another edition
3.0
Una banal historia en donde la venganza toma un papel importante y las indiferencias se ven obligadas a subsitir de la vanidad y el capricho. Me pareció mortalemente simple, no hubo chispas entre todas las páginas, como la evidente tensión también resultó contraproducente sin remediar nada del balance general del libro.
Bah! No puedo con tantas historias predecibles...
Bah! No puedo con tantas historias predecibles...
hijinx_abound's review against another edition
3.0
The "perfect" English rose is compromised by a Viscount seeking revenge against her brother.
Lots of drama and a small paranormal bent. Really loved the characters.
Lots of drama and a small paranormal bent. Really loved the characters.
midknytowl's review against another edition
A solid case for why people should have premarital sex - then you don't end up stuck forever with an asswad because you've got raging hormones.
rjordan19's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
Cliffhanger: No (though the overlying story continues through the whole series – characters stories are established and grown in each book)
Epilogue: Yes, but it focuses on Harrison, the hero from the next book (Book 2 - The Truth about Cads and Dukes)
Format: audiobook checked out on Hoopla
Should I read in order?
You can read the prequel novella (Ever Yours, Annabelle) and you SHOULD because it’s one of my FAVORITE BOOKS….but not totally necessary.
Basic plot:
Lucien is determined to see revenge against Blackmore and sees the perfect opportunity in his sister, the Flower of Blackmore.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency time period (1816)
- London setting
- ruined heroine
- revenge – hero wants revenge against the heroine’s brother
- plenty of angst
- bit of an antihero
- instalust
- you’re okay with a hero that can be a bit of a controlling jerk
- possessive, jealous hero
- medium steam – I have this at 3 full scenes and concentrated in the first half of the book. I could have missed something in the latter half of the book (I don’t do as well taking notes on audio)
First line
As the heat of her bath soaked into Marissa Wyatt's Skin, a single thought drifted through her mind, the words like acid dripping a constant stream.
My thoughts:
I enjoyed a lot about this one but I read it directly after Ever Yours, Annabelle, which I really REALLY loved. Like, one of my favorite books ever probably, I adored it so much. So this one had a lot to live up to and there were a few things I wasn’t a huge fan of so it didn’t get quite to 5 stars for me.
Overall this has a lot I love in romance. Compromised heroine is my jam. Revenge plot between the hero and the heroine’s family? Yes, please. I loved the characters and ate up the angst.
I struggled a touch with how Lucien and Victoria feel into lust so quickly. I like a tension buildup and just felt in minimally here. But what really made me struggle with this one compared to the prequel novel, is how they continued to have sex without the emotional aspect. Victoria would be hurt by him, angry with him and still submit to him and it just felt missing a little something for me.
I also got a little annoyed at the end how Lucien totally shut down and Victoria had to put in most of the effort to salvaging the relationship. I think it fit with the plot and Lucien’s prior problems, but I think it just drug on a touch too long for me, personally.
Still, I adored a lot about this one and loved how angsty their ending was. Lots of emotional focus. Also now I am starting to see why everyone complained that Colin couldn’t really recover as a hero from his previous actions...
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts: Taken from audio, any mistakes are my own
When he spoke again, his voice was dark and faintly raspy.
“You are my wife. We will share one bed so I may have you whenever I desire.”
“But Lucien, I -”
“Victoria.”
“Yes?”
“Be quite, so I may kiss you.”
---
“I would do anything for you, Victoria,” he rasped. “For your happiness. Anything. I would swim until I drowned. Walk until no ground remained. You asked once if you matter to me at all? The answer is this. You are the only thing that matters.”
Content warnings:
- Grief over family multiple family member’s death
- Duel fought resulting in death
- Suicide of a pregnant side character due to ruination
- possible feelings of infidelity – heroine kisses the hero while shes engaged to someone else. He pushes her to do so and she’s not happy in the engagement
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes: I felt like there was more than this? I could have missed some.
Safe sex: I don’t believe so but they are married a monogamous
7% - kisses, breast play
33% - 🔥 fingering/oral for her
42% - kiss
44% - 🔥 her on top
58% - 🔥 kisses and fingering at the theater, then blow job (incomplete) and missionary-ish in the carriage
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
Cliffhanger: No (though the overlying story continues through the whole series – characters stories are established and grown in each book)
Epilogue: Yes, but it focuses on Harrison, the hero from the next book (Book 2 - The Truth about Cads and Dukes)
Format: audiobook checked out on Hoopla
Should I read in order?
You can read the prequel novella (Ever Yours, Annabelle) and you SHOULD because it’s one of my FAVORITE BOOKS….but not totally necessary.
Basic plot:
Lucien is determined to see revenge against Blackmore and sees the perfect opportunity in his sister, the Flower of Blackmore.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency time period (1816)
- London setting
- ruined heroine
- revenge – hero wants revenge against the heroine’s brother
- plenty of angst
- bit of an antihero
- instalust
- you’re okay with a hero that can be a bit of a controlling jerk
- possessive, jealous hero
- medium steam – I have this at 3 full scenes and concentrated in the first half of the book. I could have missed something in the latter half of the book (I don’t do as well taking notes on audio)
First line
As the heat of her bath soaked into Marissa Wyatt's Skin, a single thought drifted through her mind, the words like acid dripping a constant stream.
My thoughts:
I enjoyed a lot about this one but I read it directly after Ever Yours, Annabelle, which I really REALLY loved. Like, one of my favorite books ever probably, I adored it so much. So this one had a lot to live up to and there were a few things I wasn’t a huge fan of so it didn’t get quite to 5 stars for me.
Overall this has a lot I love in romance. Compromised heroine is my jam. Revenge plot between the hero and the heroine’s family? Yes, please. I loved the characters and ate up the angst.
I struggled a touch with how Lucien and Victoria feel into lust so quickly. I like a tension buildup and just felt in minimally here. But what really made me struggle with this one compared to the prequel novel, is how they continued to have sex without the emotional aspect. Victoria would be hurt by him, angry with him and still submit to him and it just felt missing a little something for me.
I also got a little annoyed at the end how Lucien totally shut down and Victoria had to put in most of the effort to salvaging the relationship. I think it fit with the plot and Lucien’s prior problems, but I think it just drug on a touch too long for me, personally.
Still, I adored a lot about this one and loved how angsty their ending was. Lots of emotional focus. Also now I am starting to see why everyone complained that Colin couldn’t really recover as a hero from his previous actions...
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts: Taken from audio, any mistakes are my own
When he spoke again, his voice was dark and faintly raspy.
“You are my wife. We will share one bed so I may have you whenever I desire.”
“But Lucien, I -”
“Victoria.”
“Yes?”
“Be quite, so I may kiss you.”
---
“I would do anything for you, Victoria,” he rasped. “For your happiness. Anything. I would swim until I drowned. Walk until no ground remained. You asked once if you matter to me at all? The answer is this. You are the only thing that matters.”
Content warnings:
- Grief over family multiple family member’s death
- Duel fought resulting in death
- Suicide of a pregnant side character due to ruination
- possible feelings of infidelity – heroine kisses the hero while shes engaged to someone else. He pushes her to do so and she’s not happy in the engagement
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes: I felt like there was more than this? I could have missed some.
Safe sex:
7% - kisses, breast play
33% - 🔥 fingering/oral for her
42% - kiss
44% - 🔥 her on top
58% - 🔥 kisses and fingering at the theater, then blow job (incomplete) and missionary-ish in the carriage
mshultz89's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
3.75