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hmurphy11's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
hollitha's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lucybloodworth's review
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? Yes
4.25
whitneykelley's review against another edition
5.0
Great romance!
This book took me completely by surprise, in a good way
When it was recommended to me, I was super wary of this book. Historical with a religious component? And a character feeling shame about sex? Those are all usually no-go’s for me.
Surprisingly, neither the setting or the religion stuff bothered me. I was intrigued right from the get go. It’s such an unusual setup — the characters are polar opposites in so many ways that it balances out the narrative In a way that worked for me. And I was actually caught off guard by some plot twists. (Which is always fun!)
This book took me completely by surprise, in a good way
When it was recommended to me, I was super wary of this book. Historical with a religious component? And a character feeling shame about sex? Those are all usually no-go’s for me.
Surprisingly, neither the setting or the religion stuff bothered me. I was intrigued right from the get go. It’s such an unusual setup — the characters are polar opposites in so many ways that it balances out the narrative In a way that worked for me. And I was actually caught off guard by some plot twists. (Which is always fun!)
parpacifica's review against another edition
3.0
The good:
• incredibly sweet, yet stubborn hero
• funny, independent, and awesome heroine
• opposites attract: a reverend and a woman working for a brothel
• despite the sensitive material, it is very much a historical romance not an erotica. But it still has wicked steam.
• a feminist take on the usual historical Romances (virgin hero, sexually-liberated heroine)
•KILLER writing. The descriptions are witty, all the characters have depth, and the style of writing is just so incredibly unique. You can’t help but notice the distinctness of Peckam’s style. I really don’t care about writing styles unless they suck, but Peckam’s is so good. I want all my historical romances to be written like this.
The bad (subjective):
• the foot fetish thing threw me off. I personally hate when feet are made to touch things other than inanimate, like touch someone’s face with someone’s foot, or rubbing someone’s hair and head on someone’s foot. Even typing this is making me cringe. I just have a specific disdain for feet, so the foot stuff killed some of the steam for me.
• religious talk. I’ll give it to Peckham, she did it extremely well. The talk of religion and salvation, and purity, and sex was interesting. It’s just I don’t know if I want to read about the reconciliations between Christianity and sex fetishes so deeply, y’a know? Especially because the Hero was kind of preachy about religion, and then suddenly did a 360 within a few pages. I liked what Milan did in “Unclaimed,” by using a religious word like “chaste,” without imbedding the religious elements of chastity so deeply into the novel.
As you can see, the “bads” are just general trends I personally don’t like. You might like it! Definitely give it a try.
• incredibly sweet, yet stubborn hero
• funny, independent, and awesome heroine
• opposites attract: a reverend and a woman working for a brothel
• despite the sensitive material, it is very much a historical romance not an erotica. But it still has wicked steam.
• a feminist take on the usual historical Romances (virgin hero, sexually-liberated heroine)
•KILLER writing. The descriptions are witty, all the characters have depth, and the style of writing is just so incredibly unique. You can’t help but notice the distinctness of Peckam’s style. I really don’t care about writing styles unless they suck, but Peckam’s is so good. I want all my historical romances to be written like this.
The bad (subjective):
• the foot fetish thing threw me off. I personally hate when feet are made to touch things other than inanimate, like touch someone’s face with someone’s foot, or rubbing someone’s hair and head on someone’s foot. Even typing this is making me cringe. I just have a specific disdain for feet, so the foot stuff killed some of the steam for me.
• religious talk. I’ll give it to Peckham, she did it extremely well. The talk of religion and salvation, and purity, and sex was interesting. It’s just I don’t know if I want to read about the reconciliations between Christianity and sex fetishes so deeply, y’a know? Especially because the Hero was kind of preachy about religion, and then suddenly did a 360 within a few pages. I liked what Milan did in “Unclaimed,” by using a religious word like “chaste,” without imbedding the religious elements of chastity so deeply into the novel.
As you can see, the “bads” are just general trends I personally don’t like. You might like it! Definitely give it a try.
kiwifire's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cjcharding's review against another edition
I love a good judgemental religious man succumbs to his baser desires romance as much as the next person but I really couldn’t get into this book. The MMC is a Methodist minister and his internal monologue rebuking himself for sexual desires and constantly trying to get the FMC to pray with him and being very judgemental because of HIS religious beliefs hit way to close to home for me. As someone who grew up in a repressive, strict religion and worked YEARS to overcome hurtful self doubt and guilt, this book was bringing up BIG feelings I was not comfortable with.
bodiceflipper's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
This book ran a bulldozer over my heart. The love and acceptance and understanding between Henry and Alice is amazing. 😭 My god tier tropes - enemies to lovers, forced proximity, snowed in, one bed, forbidden romance (not usually a fan but I ate this up) and best of all, virgin hero?!? RIP me.
Didn't expect to like something about a holier-than-thou preacher evangelist but I was all in here. The super slow burn was tough and spice wasn't the spiciest but the emotional longing between them did me in. Idk guys. 5⭐️
Didn't expect to like something about a holier-than-thou preacher evangelist but I was all in here. The super slow burn was tough and spice wasn't the spiciest but the emotional longing between them did me in. Idk guys. 5⭐️