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smuttymcbookface's review
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
2.5
Although I loved the premise of this, the writing style and dialogue was not for me. I found the conversations extremely dry and stilted, which meant I found it difficult to view the characters as anything but 2D.
Additionally, I did not find Kit as lovable, nor Alice as brave, as was intended. Kit was frustrating and incapable of thinking with anything other than his genitals. Alice was an enigma. Is she shy? She's been sneaking off her whole life so I doubt it. She was weak in the knees in one scene for everything Kit did, but apparently immune to him the next just for the sake of a funny scene. Also not sure why the love of being called Christopher ended after a single chapter.
Then, the most irredeemable part for me, was whenForrest had killed himself, and Alice pointed at his dead corpse and told Kit he was going to do the same unless he realised he wanted to marry her. I've read a lot of dark romance over the years and none of the dialogue was as irredeemable as that.
Additionally, I did not find Kit as lovable, nor Alice as brave, as was intended. Kit was frustrating and incapable of thinking with anything other than his genitals. Alice was an enigma. Is she shy? She's been sneaking off her whole life so I doubt it. She was weak in the knees in one scene for everything Kit did, but apparently immune to him the next just for the sake of a funny scene. Also not sure why the love of being called Christopher ended after a single chapter.
Then, the most irredeemable part for me, was when
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Child abuse
kyeruhh's review against another edition
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
3.75
The beginning of this book felt very abrupt to the point I thought I’d missed something. That said, I love a reformed rake and Alice’s character development throughout the story was fun to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death
Minor: Death of parent
iamamyyyyy's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
tigtig686's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Bullying and Death
unsuccessfulbookclub's review
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Okay THIS is what I expect from Joanna! Seduction lessons? A reformed rake (scoundrel since we are in Gilded Age America)? Oops I caught feelings? Tension? Intrigue? Food?! Chef’s Kiss. Pun intended.
Best of all? The absolutely garbage mom gets what is coming to her and it comes from our lovely FMC, Alice.
Best of all? The absolutely garbage mom gets what is coming to her and it comes from our lovely FMC, Alice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
carbs666's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
This is such a great follow up to the first book in the series! I love the premise- shy character going to the brazen one for passion/flirting lessons is a trope I will always be obsessed with- and I felt like the building of interest and affection between Kit and Alice was very authentic.
I really like that Shupe always gives her heroines something else to want - and ultimately get - besides the hero. It brings weight to internal and external conflict, because often that desired thing is threatened in some way, and it gives the heroines more dimension.
I love Kit - there's nothing more appealing than a bad boy going soft over a good girl. Overall, a great book, but 4 stars because it was baseline great and not completely extraordinary. Personally, can't wait for the duke to finally get even with all these American rascals in the next book!
I really like that Shupe always gives her heroines something else to want - and ultimately get - besides the hero. It brings weight to internal and external conflict, because often that desired thing is threatened in some way, and it gives the heroines more dimension.
I love Kit - there's nothing more appealing than a bad boy going soft over a good girl. Overall, a great book, but 4 stars because it was baseline great and not completely extraordinary. Personally, can't wait for the duke to finally get even with all these American rascals in the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Emotional abuse
valeria_gzz's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.0
4 stars only because I didn’t get that giddy feeling.
This book was AMAZING!! I like how Alice slowly grew to be braver and it wasn’t her relationship with Kit that did that but with her newfound friends!
I did love seeing Kit speak up for her in front of her mother and try to make social situations for her better while Alice’s mother was doing her very best to be awful to her.
I don’t think I’ve read many books where the fmc is a baker/cook (the only one I can remember is Act Your Age Eve Brown) and I really enjoyed this aspect of it. Especially any scene that took place in the kitchen because it showed Alice in her natural habitat and not under any stress like she may be in other places. My favorite scene in the kitchen probably has to be the second babka making though. I thought it was so cute for Kit to cook something for her specifically that.
Two small things I didn’t like: 1. A what seemed like an almost non-consensual situation where I thought Alice was going to force Kit to do something he’d specifically said he didn’t want to (because he didn’t want to make her life worse with Mrs Lusk). It did however turn out to be consensual but it made me very nervous. 2. Anytime Kit said anything gross relating to Alice being a virgin or him not having sex with virgins. It put me off and took me out of the book.
This book was AMAZING!! I like how Alice slowly grew to be braver and it wasn’t her relationship with Kit that did that but with her newfound friends!
I did love seeing Kit speak up for her in front of her mother and try to make social situations for her better while Alice’s mother was doing her very best to be awful to her.
I don’t think I’ve read many books where the fmc is a baker/cook (the only one I can remember is Act Your Age Eve Brown) and I really enjoyed this aspect of it. Especially any scene that took place in the kitchen because it showed Alice in her natural habitat and not under any stress like she may be in other places. My favorite scene in the kitchen probably has to be the second babka making though. I thought it was so cute for Kit to cook something for her specifically that.
Two small things I didn’t like: 1. A what seemed like an almost non-consensual situation where I thought Alice was going to force Kit to do something he’d specifically said he didn’t want to (because he didn’t want to make her life worse with Mrs Lusk). It did however turn out to be consensual but it made me very nervous. 2. Anytime Kit said anything gross relating to Alice being a virgin or him not having sex with virgins. It put me off and took me out of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Addiction, and Classism
Minor: Domestic abuse, Confinement, and Death
kabrahams's review against another edition
4.25
I'm a sucker for romances with baking and this did not disappoint. This book overlaps with the previous book in the series. Alice learns of Kit's reputation for turning ladies into vixens and approaches him for lessons at Maddie's house party. He agrees as long as he gives her recipes for his supper club. Things quickly get a bit steamy but Alice has begun to attract the attentions of a duke (the very same one that Maddie recently broke her engagement with) and so they try to break it off multiple times but keep getting drawn back together.
While this book had another bad boy who blames it on his bad dad, we see Kit working to find his place in the world and proving to himself and others that he isn't living in the shadow of his past. Alice also learns how to stand up to her overbearing and often mean-spirited mother. There is a rather dark subplot where a friend of Kit and Preston's has become a drunk and ends up dying a gruesome death. This was a bit jarring for me considering the relative lightness of the rest of the story. I get that it helped move the plot along, but it did feel a bit out of place.
Overall, really loved this (especially the spice) and felt like I could relate to Alice as a shy woman finding her place in the world. I'm also super excited for Nellie's book because she's quickly becoming a favorite!
While this book had another bad boy who blames it on his bad dad, we see Kit working to find his place in the world and proving to himself and others that he isn't living in the shadow of his past. Alice also learns how to stand up to her overbearing and often mean-spirited mother. There is a rather dark subplot where a friend of Kit and Preston's has become a drunk and ends up dying a gruesome death. This was a bit jarring for me considering the relative lightness of the rest of the story. I get that it helped move the plot along, but it did feel a bit out of place.
Overall, really loved this (especially the spice) and felt like I could relate to Alice as a shy woman finding her place in the world. I'm also super excited for Nellie's book because she's quickly becoming a favorite!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Grief, Emotional abuse, and Death
aqtbenz's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
nisha_nee's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.5
I have not enjoyed the previous books I read from this author but this one was pleasantly enjoyable to read about. This book solidified the trope 'Lessons in seduction' to the top of my favorites. I just love the dynamics of the characters present in this type of trope. When you know one is pining for the other, yet can't pursue since he/she knows that those lessons were intended for others, yet they still feel that kind of possessiveness. Nah, I can't explain. I also love the scenes that involved food. I can't wait to read Nellie's story and also I feel bad for the Duke of Lockwood though, twice rejected haha, no less for men from the same circle of friends. I look forward to reading the next installments in this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexual content