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3.36 AVERAGE


Poppy Fairchurch works in a flower shop and has a desperate crush on the Duke of Autenberry, who often frequents the shop and who she dreams will one day notice her. But when a carriage accident knocks him into a coma, a slip of the tongue has Poppy betrothed to him and irrevocably attached to his endearing family. The only one not buying her story is Struan Mackenzie, the duke's bastard half-brother. He knows Poppy is lying (though not quite about what) but neither can help their attraction to each other.
I really wanted to love this book because While You were Sleeping is one of my favorite movies. And despite the potential of Struan (gotta love a Scotsman, especially the ruggedly handsome variety) he was just kind of an ass. I never could quite understand what was supposed to be endearing him to her. They did kind of have a moment where they were both discussing their difficult childhoods that I felt was supposed to maybe be showing his softer side, but then he went right back to being an ass. I couldn't quite believe that she could fall in love with him at any point in his behavior.
emotional lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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shelbyday's review

3.0

This book was very entertaining and the characters had great chemistry. The only thing that bothered me was the hero was a bit too aggressive. I feel like consent was not adequately portrayed in some of the physical scenes. She would say no and he would tell her she really wanted him. It made me feel a little icky. He would pin her to a wall, at one point he wrapped his hand around her neck... This really put a damper on my enjoyment of the book. I feel the days of bodice ripping are gone. Let us instead empower strong female characters to vocalize exactly what they want and need. Having said that, I still plan on reading the next book though I am hoping the author is a bit more conscientious when it comes to the heroine saying yes and meaning it without any coercion or pressure.

I loved listening to this book!
The characters were amazing and it brought back memories of Sandy Bullock's film "While you were sleeping"
dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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528's profile picture

528's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 0%

I couldn't stand her.
She is so naive and ignorant.
She pines for years for a man she don't really know and who never gave her a second thought.
But in her mind he is the perfect man and couldn't do wrong.
She ignores any prove of his real character to not destroy her dream castle in which she is married to him.
She very likely will change in the book and come back to reality and find her real man but I'm not interested in it anymore.
bustabluth's profile picture

bustabluth's review

DID NOT FINISH

Library book returned and honestly I’ve seen while you were sleeping, so it’s fine.

bookloverchelle's review

4.0

Shop girl Poppy spends her work hours fantasizing about a certain Duke, especially the days when he stops in to buy flowers. He's been so kind to her that when she sees him outside the shop engaged in a fight she jumps to his defense. When an accident puts him in a coma and she becomes mistaken for his fiancé, Poppy knows that she should tell the truth but every time she tries circumstances change her plan. Struan doesn't know where this shop girl came from but he's convinced that she is not his half-brother's fiancé and he'll do whatever he can to prove her lies. But the more time they spend together Poppy begins to think she fell for the wrong brother. When the Duke finally wakes up, can Poppy keep her lie going or will she follow her heart to the brother that is better than any fantasy? Really sweet story that is very reminiscent of the movie, While You Were Sleeping. Loved the secondary characters that added some humor and I'm excited to continue the series!
winterreader40's profile picture

winterreader40's review

4.0

Now I just want to go watch while you were sleeping :)
Poppy has a crush on Marcus, the Duke of Attenbury, who comes in to buy flowers for his countless paramours every week. Something she willfully ignores in her fantasies, because her Duke is a perfect gentleman.
Struan is Marcus's half brother and they get into a fight, eventually causing the duke's coma. Which makes it sound worse than it was, Marcus can't stand his bastard brother and is a raging ass about it.
Poppy and Struan definitely have the distrusting adversary vibes going on in the beginning, but he saves her life a few times, they get naughty a few times all while he makes false assumptions about her level of experience.
This was a fun little romp.

Things I loved:
-poppy and struan’s banter and sexual tension
-their “meet-cute” which obviously wasn’t “cute” but it was a humorous introduction
-all of the side characters! i cannot wait for their stories
-smutty scenes
-poppy’s determination to give her sister a better life

Things that made me go “...ehhh”
-the huge love revelation and declarations from both characters felt so out of place. It was pretty clear these two were physically attracted to each other but the intense love? I didn’t buy it
-the duke as “the bad guy” who IM SURE will probably have a redemption line eventually. It just felt very cliche

Overall I enjoyed this read but, as with most historical romances, they aren’t very memorable after a few weeks.