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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
This wasn't great, kids. Very nearly a deus ex machina at the end there. Saved only by a pinch of foreshadowing
Meh. This is more like 2.5 stars because it was difficult for me to get through. It was super boring in the beginning, but it picked up speed in the last few chapters. I was incredibly grateful that Calum didn't spend chapters being mad at Eve when she revealed her secret. This was just not my favorite book in the series.
I can't say enough about Christi Caldwell - every time I read one of her books, it's like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day! Whenever I am in a book slump, I grab one of her books to make it all better. Doesn't matter which book. If it has her name on it, I'm reading it. This one was of particular interest to me, because I love the idea of childhood friends becoming lovers as adults. It's a trope that I really like in a romance novel. The hero was one of my favorites in the previous Sinful Brides books, so I was excited to read about his happily ever after!
Lady Eve Pruitt needs safety from her brother, and the Hell and Sin Gaming Club is the perfect place for her to hide until she can get access to her funds left to her by her father. Disguised as Eve Swindell, she is hired on by the club as the bookkeeper, and in doing so, she puts herself in direct contact with the boy she betrayed seventeen years ago, Calum Dabney. Of course, he's not a boy anymore, and Eve can't help but be attracted to this man who towers over her and kisses with such passion. Soon she loses control of her disguise and finds herself falling in love with him, though he is still unaware of who she really is. When he finds out, it will take all of Eve's courage to fight for her safety and for the love she has just now found.
Eve and Calum were an amazing couple, though they had their bumps and bruises along the way. Although I didn't like how long Eve lied to Calum about her true identity, I understood it and loved her selflessness when it came to others who depended on her. Calum was rightfully gruff and cautious of Eve at first, but he can't help but be attracted to the woman who stands up to him. I loved how he and Eve came together once her true identity was found out, because that was my main concern while reading. I wanted him to acknowledge that her betrayal all those years ago was unintentional, and I also wanted him to realize the hell she went through at home since then. What came out of this story was a love that was stronger than either Eve or Calum imagined, and I wish the story had kept going long after it ended.
I'm excited for the next book Christ Caldwell creates - it's sure to be a winner!
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
Lady Eve Pruitt needs safety from her brother, and the Hell and Sin Gaming Club is the perfect place for her to hide until she can get access to her funds left to her by her father. Disguised as Eve Swindell, she is hired on by the club as the bookkeeper, and in doing so, she puts herself in direct contact with the boy she betrayed seventeen years ago, Calum Dabney. Of course, he's not a boy anymore, and Eve can't help but be attracted to this man who towers over her and kisses with such passion. Soon she loses control of her disguise and finds herself falling in love with him, though he is still unaware of who she really is. When he finds out, it will take all of Eve's courage to fight for her safety and for the love she has just now found.
Eve and Calum were an amazing couple, though they had their bumps and bruises along the way. Although I didn't like how long Eve lied to Calum about her true identity, I understood it and loved her selflessness when it came to others who depended on her. Calum was rightfully gruff and cautious of Eve at first, but he can't help but be attracted to the woman who stands up to him. I loved how he and Eve came together once her true identity was found out, because that was my main concern while reading. I wanted him to acknowledge that her betrayal all those years ago was unintentional, and I also wanted him to realize the hell she went through at home since then. What came out of this story was a love that was stronger than either Eve or Calum imagined, and I wish the story had kept going long after it ended.
I'm excited for the next book Christ Caldwell creates - it's sure to be a winner!
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
Adored the main protagonists. Eve and Calum are da best. No, really, both of them are determined and strong-willed, brave in more than one way, and both of them know how to fight for their own life (and their happiness)
I was quite fond of the ending, liked that the Hero m wasn't the one who saved the damsel in distress (even though it was a man who did it, anyway, but heyy it wasn't the boyfriend)...
The plot?
Definitely interesting. Quite some drama but I like that. (with her cruel brother looking for her and him worrying about the Hell and Sin Club)
The ending came a bit too fast for me. Seemed rushed but then that's something that we can usually find in regency romances.
All in all, probably didn't deserve the 5 Stars I handed out... Guess it was a bit... boring? Don't know... Still, a good read!
I was quite fond of the ending, liked that the Hero m wasn't the one who saved the damsel in distress (even though it was a man who did it, anyway, but heyy it wasn't the boyfriend)...
The plot?
Definitely interesting. Quite some drama but I like that. (with her cruel brother looking for her and him worrying about the Hell and Sin Club)
The ending came a bit too fast for me. Seemed rushed but then that's something that we can usually find in regency romances.
All in all, probably didn't deserve the 5 Stars I handed out... Guess it was a bit... boring? Don't know... Still, a good read!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Review originally posted here: https://courtneyreadsromancesite.wordpress.com/2019/04/05/review-of-the-heiresss-deception-sinful-brides-4-by-chrisi-caldwell/
The Heiress’s Deception was a bit of a disappointment as a closer to the series, and not only because I’m aware that some of the issues left unresolved in this one have been carried over to the spinoff, the Wicked Wallflowers, of which I have previously read one book, The Vixen.
That being said, Caldwell’s strengths are still on display here in terms of great character work. Both Calum and Eve are intriguing, with compelling backstories, although I didn’t feel moved by them in the same way I did with some of the previous books in the series, especially The Lady’s Guard. I also found myself a bit conflicted on the “deception” aspect, feeling like his feelings of betrayal by her as a child weren’t explored enough, while also feeling like it was forgiven a bit too quickly due to the situation.
I also just didn’t feel the love between them, and despite the dangers put in their way, there didn’t feel like insurmountable stakes were there, especially in comparison to the prior book. I wanted a lot more from Eve’s brother as a villain in execution, although in theory, he had a good setup. I just didn’t really care about whether or not he was thwarted or not. And towards the end, I just found something I couldn’t describe lacking, so I actually ended up skimming toward the end, hoping to see it all come together, finding myself in how quickly things wrapped up.
This is a bit of a disappointment, especially as I’ve come to like some of Christi Caldwell’s newer books I’ve read since she started working with Montlake Romance (granted, I still haven’t read many of them), but I think this is a case of all the ingredients being there, and there just being a flaw in execution. I do feel like if you’re a fan of Caldwell’s character work, or a fan of flawed heroes and heroines who go through struggles, this is the book (and author) for you.
The Heiress’s Deception was a bit of a disappointment as a closer to the series, and not only because I’m aware that some of the issues left unresolved in this one have been carried over to the spinoff, the Wicked Wallflowers, of which I have previously read one book, The Vixen.
That being said, Caldwell’s strengths are still on display here in terms of great character work. Both Calum and Eve are intriguing, with compelling backstories, although I didn’t feel moved by them in the same way I did with some of the previous books in the series, especially The Lady’s Guard. I also found myself a bit conflicted on the “deception” aspect, feeling like his feelings of betrayal by her as a child weren’t explored enough, while also feeling like it was forgiven a bit too quickly due to the situation.
I also just didn’t feel the love between them, and despite the dangers put in their way, there didn’t feel like insurmountable stakes were there, especially in comparison to the prior book. I wanted a lot more from Eve’s brother as a villain in execution, although in theory, he had a good setup. I just didn’t really care about whether or not he was thwarted or not. And towards the end, I just found something I couldn’t describe lacking, so I actually ended up skimming toward the end, hoping to see it all come together, finding myself in how quickly things wrapped up.
This is a bit of a disappointment, especially as I’ve come to like some of Christi Caldwell’s newer books I’ve read since she started working with Montlake Romance (granted, I still haven’t read many of them), but I think this is a case of all the ingredients being there, and there just being a flaw in execution. I do feel like if you’re a fan of Caldwell’s character work, or a fan of flawed heroes and heroines who go through struggles, this is the book (and author) for you.
I really wish the horrid brother got what he deserved!!!