You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Perfectly delightful & spicy regency romance. I loved Callie being an “on the shelf” spinster - naive, but not completely, & the connection with Gabriel was done quite well. I’ll admit the reluctance to admit his feelings at the end was rather frustrating.
adventurous
funny
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
2.5 stars rounded up
Regency Romance is not my cup of tea, even though I have tried many flavors. This is actually the first one that I was able to completely finish and it had zero to do with the theme nor the plot or any of the entire virgin aspect.
This author is able to write and if she had written this in a contemporary style it would have been five stars!!
Regency Romance is not my cup of tea, even though I have tried many flavors. This is actually the first one that I was able to completely finish and it had zero to do with the theme nor the plot or any of the entire virgin aspect.
This author is able to write and if she had written this in a contemporary style it would have been five stars!!
Loved it! Callie Loved Ralston for so long and finally looked her way I Loved there story although it sucks she had to wait so long but like they said then they would not have gone through what they have been through. Great Read! :D
ADORABLE! i loved callie with my entire being, i loved her relationship with her siblings and i loved the way she treated other girls. i read historical romances when i need something cute, fun and uncomplicated. this was definitely that.
emotional
funny
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:
Complicated
read on my booklr: https://thirtyfivebooks.tumblr.com/post/190342465286/book-review-nine-rules-to-break-when-romancing-a
wow so i had a really hard time with this one. i enjoy the occasional romance novel, don’t get me wrong. i’ve liked a fair number of them. and i’ve also read sarah maclean before.
this was just...NOT her best work by FAR. first of all, calpurnia/callie is the whiniest girl ever. we are constantly reminded of her virtue and stellar reputation, but not really shown that? and the entire book, she’s trying to ruin it anyway?
the constant miscommunications/misunderstandings between her and gabriel where they would do something sexual, then someone would make a comment/do something to be misinterpreted, and the other person would think ‘tis not meant to be/won’t work, i must treat them like shit from now on’ was SO EXHAUSTING. i get foreplay, i get cat and mouse games, but DAMN.
and interspersing that was...nothing i cared about. the subplot about a bastard child trying to prove her worth to some snobby assholes was boring. the reputation conflict (?) with callie’s brother what’s-his-face was boring. the maybe-love-triangle with gabriel’s brother what’s-his-face-st.-john was boring. i was just either bored or frustrated the entire time.
the ONLY reason this doesn’t have one star is because i think part of what i felt was intended by sarah maclean, and for that, her execution was good.
this is book 3/105 of my 2020 booklr challenge! check out the full list here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5714101?shelf=challenge-booklr-2020
wow so i had a really hard time with this one. i enjoy the occasional romance novel, don’t get me wrong. i’ve liked a fair number of them. and i’ve also read sarah maclean before.
this was just...NOT her best work by FAR. first of all, calpurnia/callie is the whiniest girl ever. we are constantly reminded of her virtue and stellar reputation, but not really shown that? and the entire book, she’s trying to ruin it anyway?
the constant miscommunications/misunderstandings between her and gabriel where they would do something sexual, then someone would make a comment/do something to be misinterpreted, and the other person would think ‘tis not meant to be/won’t work, i must treat them like shit from now on’ was SO EXHAUSTING. i get foreplay, i get cat and mouse games, but DAMN.
and interspersing that was...nothing i cared about. the subplot about a bastard child trying to prove her worth to some snobby assholes was boring. the reputation conflict (?) with callie’s brother what’s-his-face was boring. the maybe-love-triangle with gabriel’s brother what’s-his-face-st.-john was boring. i was just either bored or frustrated the entire time.
the ONLY reason this doesn’t have one star is because i think part of what i felt was intended by sarah maclean, and for that, her execution was good.
this is book 3/105 of my 2020 booklr challenge! check out the full list here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5714101?shelf=challenge-booklr-2020
“I think I’ve loved you for my entire life.” [...]
“And I shall love you for the rest of mine, Empress.”
As usual:
Excellent pace
Engaging writing style
Adorably clueless MMC (broody manchild)
Witty and refreshing FMC (full of sunshine)
The best supporting characters to ever exist
I've got 4 things to say about this particular book:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My girl Callie deserves the world, though I do wish she had a little more self-respect and self preservation. He talks shit to her, and condemns her, and that's unkind. But the moment he initiates a kiss she forgets all about it. A girl shouldn't be that blinded by passion/love. She did have a slight character development towards the end tho, but that was mostly because the circumstances pushed her to instead of it being a "she remembered who she was, and the game changed". Anyhow, ig it still counts.
Gabriel St. John is one DUMBledore.
No one writes female friendship as brilliantly as Sarah MacLean. Like wow, it's one girl after the other. Each helping the other out with braving through a scandal. Each giving the other sound advice, a shoulder to cry on. It's so invigorating and empowering to read. Refreshing, and fun too.
Benedick is SUCH a cool brother.
And so is Nicholas.
“Callie, I feel certain that the house will not crumble around us if you have a drink. Though I’m not certain you would enjoy it.”
--
That's Benedick y'all. Callie's older bro. What a gem.
“We are not entangled.”
“No, of course not.” Nick waved a hand idly in the air and spoke wryly. “It’s quite common for you to come at me twice in one day over a woman.”
--
And this is Nicholas. Gabriel's bro. Again, what a gem.
The last thing I want is a marriage with someone who will regret such an arrangement from the moment we speak our vows.
“When I am done with him, I am coming for your sister. And, if you intend to keep me from her, you had better have an army at your side.”
--
This is where Ralston (Gabriel) finally won me over to his side.
“I most certainly shall not! I am no longer meek and biddable!”
“You labor under the misconception that you were ever meek and biddable!”
--
Benedick, Benedick, Benedick. Ralston may have won me, but I'll always be yours.
“It appears that you’ve gone and fallen in love.”
“And I shall love you for the rest of mine, Empress.”
As usual:
Excellent pace
Engaging writing style
Adorably clueless MMC (broody manchild)
Witty and refreshing FMC (full of sunshine)
The best supporting characters to ever exist
I've got 4 things to say about this particular book:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My girl Callie deserves the world, though I do wish she had a little more self-respect and self preservation. He talks shit to her, and condemns her, and that's unkind. But the moment he initiates a kiss she forgets all about it. A girl shouldn't be that blinded by passion/love. She did have a slight character development towards the end tho, but that was mostly because the circumstances pushed her to instead of it being a "she remembered who she was, and the game changed". Anyhow, ig it still counts.
Gabriel St. John is one DUMBledore.
No one writes female friendship as brilliantly as Sarah MacLean. Like wow, it's one girl after the other. Each helping the other out with braving through a scandal. Each giving the other sound advice, a shoulder to cry on. It's so invigorating and empowering to read. Refreshing, and fun too.
Benedick is SUCH a cool brother.
And so is Nicholas.
Quotes and Thoughts
“Callie, I feel certain that the house will not crumble around us if you have a drink. Though I’m not certain you would enjoy it.”
--
That's Benedick y'all. Callie's older bro. What a gem.
“We are not entangled.”
“No, of course not.” Nick waved a hand idly in the air and spoke wryly. “It’s quite common for you to come at me twice in one day over a woman.”
--
And this is Nicholas. Gabriel's bro. Again, what a gem.
The last thing I want is a marriage with someone who will regret such an arrangement from the moment we speak our vows.
“When I am done with him, I am coming for your sister. And, if you intend to keep me from her, you had better have an army at your side.”
--
This is where Ralston (Gabriel) finally won me over to his side.
“I most certainly shall not! I am no longer meek and biddable!”
“You labor under the misconception that you were ever meek and biddable!”
--
Benedick, Benedick, Benedick. Ralston may have won me, but I'll always be yours.
“It appears that you’ve gone and fallen in love.”
A straightforward and fun historical romance. I probably would have gone from simply liking to loving this one if I had not previously read one of Sarah MacLean's more recent series (Hell's Belles). Callie lacks the brashness and independence that made me fall in love with Sesily, Adelaide, and Imogen, though I do think she shows hints of it, and Juliana clearly has it in spades. I think I was unprepared for how much more self-loathing Callie has.
Ultimately what didn't work for me here were things that I don't consider failings on the book's part, but rather personal preferences against:
Ultimately what didn't work for me here were things that I don't consider failings on the book's part, but rather personal preferences against:
- Callie's confidence is all externally rooted. She understandably has very low self-esteem and abysmal self-talk, and by the end she is better able to stand in her own power, but it never seems to come from an internal shift to believe that she is worthy; she believes she is because Ralston is there to reinforce it. I think this is likely the most realistic scenario given the amount of time that passes in the book, but it's tough to see someone you're rooting for not recognize their value on their own.
- The foundation of the attraction between Callie and Ralston was weak for me. Yes, she's been pining for him for 10 years, but why? Because he showed her some attention in a garden once upon a time?
- Furthermore, while I greatly enjoyed what a himbo Ralston becomes for Callie, he seems drawn to her primarily because he finds her original and novel, which isn't inherently a bad thing to be attracted to, but I would've loved if the epilogue had something like
them making up more lists, and generally continuing their shenanigans as a married couple . That would've leant some credence to the idea their attraction has longevity. The couple who have more public sex scenes than private bedroom ones should be continuing to play at the edge of scandal!
- Furthermore, while I greatly enjoyed what a himbo Ralston becomes for Callie, he seems drawn to her primarily because he finds her original and novel, which isn't inherently a bad thing to be attracted to, but I would've loved if the epilogue had something like
What I did especially love is something I think Sarah MacLean excels at: the way she writes women and their relationships with one another. While the women regularly had conflict with one another, they were never pitted against each other. Nastasia as
Definitely a decent debut novel that I think the shine only wears off of in comparison to newer works, which is maybe ironic when you consider Callie being put on the shelf and Mariana getting engaged after her first season. But it has instilled in me full confidence that I will find something positive in any Sarah MacLean novel I read, new or old.