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rosemwood's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 actually. This is the second book of the series. The series is ok to read and makes for a nice romance story. I picked this up because it sounded like a Christmas story but it is not. They do celebrate Christmas but not until the very end and not much is described about it. Mostly this is a romance story. One interesting point is that the author has a quote from Jane Austin at the beginning of each chapter. Some trigger warnings.
katyanaish's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this one - Damaris and Freddy are both wonderful, and both so desperately in need of someone to save them. It was beautiful watching them save each other.
lizzie_reads_books's review
3.5
I liked the fleshed out female of the story and liked her background. I thought the hero could have had more depth. The parents are awful and I don’t want them to be forgiven. I love a cottage scene. I liked the acceptance of the hero of the female’s past. I love this author and like the writing even if it wasn’t my favorite book of her.
stephanieviolet's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really enjoyed the series! The second in this series is hilarious and fun, filled with surprises that I didn't see coming and a lovely world filled with complex characters.
rebroxannape's review against another edition
2.0
For a modern Regency romance, this one was not half bad. I don't remember why I picked this one up, especially since I had thought another book by this author was so absurd that I gave it one star and skipped through most of it in 2 hours. I think it was because someone on my Georgette Heyer Facebook group compared the hero of this one, Freddy, to Freddy of [b:Cotillion|2728041|Cotillion|Georgette Heyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1564390278l/2728041._SX50_.jpg|2093215] Indeed the hero was the best thing about this book and did bear a passing resemblance to one of my favorite heroes.
Unfortunately, I am just about over romance novels that don't bring anything more to the table than the romance. Here we have two protagonists who are dead set against getting married agreeing to a fake betrothal to keep people off their backs. This one suffers because the journey to the inevitable finally falling in love part to the entirely obvious from the beginning deep dark secret that the heroine harbors is pretty tedious.
But there were some bright spots. One was the heroine's takedown and telling off of Freddy's cruel and blind parents.
The other was Freddy's refreshing reaction to Damaris' drama of finally confessing why she can never marry.
Poor Damaris. She sure got the wind taken out of her sails.
Anne Gracie is not a bad writer, but there is no wit despite the light pleasant easy tone. There are too many eye-rolling moments and cliches in character development and plot. She is very repetitive. The cutesy term "muffin" for ingenues trying to trap Freddy into marriage is repeated like 40 times in a book just a little over 300 pages long. It was distracting and annoying.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings.com/
Unfortunately, I am just about over romance novels that don't bring anything more to the table than the romance. Here we have two protagonists who are dead set against getting married agreeing to a fake betrothal to keep people off their backs. This one suffers because the journey to the inevitable finally falling in love part to the entirely obvious from the beginning deep dark secret that the heroine harbors is pretty tedious.
But there were some bright spots. One was the heroine's takedown and telling off of Freddy's cruel and blind parents.
Damaris couldn’t believe it. Had they never reflected on what they’d done? “You two treated him like an assassin, when he was just a little boy who liked to play cricket with his brother. Twelve years old, and you pushed him out of the family...What kind of parents are you? You lost one son, but you threw the other away.”And it was not just one short scene either. She wins every point quite a few times.
The other was Freddy's refreshing reaction to Damaris' drama of finally confessing why she can never marry.
“Well, I’m shocked,” said Freddy in as shocked a manner as he could conjure up. “Deeply shocked,” he repeated. “May I serve you some of this apple tart? It looks and smells delicious, doesn’t it?” “Apple tart?” she repeated blankly. “Didn’t you hear what I said?”
Poor Damaris. She sure got the wind taken out of her sails.
Anne Gracie is not a bad writer, but there is no wit despite the light pleasant easy tone. There are too many eye-rolling moments and cliches in character development and plot. She is very repetitive. The cutesy term "muffin" for ingenues trying to trap Freddy into marriage is repeated like 40 times in a book just a little over 300 pages long. It was distracting and annoying.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings.com/
rebroxannape's review against another edition
2.0
For a modern Regency romance, this one was not half bad. I don't remember why I picked this one up, especially since I had thought another book by this author was so absurd that I gave it one star and skipped through most of it in 2 hours. I think it was because someone on my Georgette Heyer Facebook group compared the hero of this one, Freddy, to Freddy of [b:Cotillion|2728041|Cotillion|Georgette Heyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1564390278l/2728041._SX50_.jpg|2093215] Indeed the hero was the best thing about this book and did bear a passing resemblance to one of my favorite heroes.
Unfortunately, I am just about over romance novels that don't bring anything more to the table than the romance. Here we have two protagonists who are dead set against getting married agreeing to a fake betrothal to keep people off their backs. This one suffers because the journey to the inevitable finally falling in love part to the entirely obvious from the beginning deep dark secret that the heroine harbors is pretty tedious.
But there were some bright spots. One was the heroine's takedown and telling off of Freddy's cruel and blind parents.
The other was Freddy's refreshing reaction to Damaris' drama of finally confessing why she can never marry.
Poor Damaris. She sure got the wind taken out of her sails.
Anne Gracie is not a bad writer, but there is no wit despite the light pleasant easy tone. There are too many eye-rolling moments and cliches in character development and plot. She is very repetitive. The cutesy term "muffin" for ingenues trying to trap Freddy into marriage is repeated like 40 times in a book just a little over 300 pages long. It was distracting and annoying.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings.com/
Unfortunately, I am just about over romance novels that don't bring anything more to the table than the romance. Here we have two protagonists who are dead set against getting married agreeing to a fake betrothal to keep people off their backs. This one suffers because the journey to the inevitable finally falling in love part to the entirely obvious from the beginning deep dark secret that the heroine harbors is pretty tedious.
But there were some bright spots. One was the heroine's takedown and telling off of Freddy's cruel and blind parents.
Damaris couldn’t believe it. Had they never reflected on what they’d done? “You two treated him like an assassin, when he was just a little boy who liked to play cricket with his brother. Twelve years old, and you pushed him out of the family...What kind of parents are you? You lost one son, but you threw the other away.”And it was not just one short scene either. She wins every point quite a few times.
The other was Freddy's refreshing reaction to Damaris' drama of finally confessing why she can never marry.
“Well, I’m shocked,” said Freddy in as shocked a manner as he could conjure up. “Deeply shocked,” he repeated. “May I serve you some of this apple tart? It looks and smells delicious, doesn’t it?” “Apple tart?” she repeated blankly. “Didn’t you hear what I said?”
Poor Damaris. She sure got the wind taken out of her sails.
Anne Gracie is not a bad writer, but there is no wit despite the light pleasant easy tone. There are too many eye-rolling moments and cliches in character development and plot. She is very repetitive. The cutesy term "muffin" for ingenues trying to trap Freddy into marriage is repeated like 40 times in a book just a little over 300 pages long. It was distracting and annoying.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings.com/
katieandrews658's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bluestockings_read's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit, Emotional abuse, Rape, Grief, Violence, Sexual assault, and Trafficking
Minor: Death of parent, Misogyny, Colonisation, Physical abuse, Trafficking, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Kidnapping
bookloverchelle's review against another edition
4.0
Another great read from Anne Gracie in the Chance Sisters series. Damaris is harboring a secret, even bigger than the lie of who her sisters really are to her. This secret is keeping her from marriage so she hopes for the chance to buy a small cottage in the country and live a quiet life. When Freddy is given the task of watching over the Chance sisters he can't seem to keep his eyes off of Damaris. When they are thrown in to in close quarters will they be able to stick to their plan of friendship or will the feelings that they both harbor come to fruition? Great read, can't wait to see where the series goes!
addieray's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5