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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
⭐4.5 stars⭐
"They don't want to scare us. They want to end us."
"Why?"
"Because... They don't like that we are the future."
"They don't want to scare us. They want to end us."
"Why?"
"Because... They don't like that we are the future."
A good end to this romance series! It gave some great context to the "villain" of the previous books and, again, I really enjoyed the characters.
The final book in the series and it didn’t disappoint. I was curious to see how Ewan would be able to redeem himself in this story and though it did take a while he did actually have quite the redemption arc. The chemistry between him and Grace was amazing and it really carried the story. My only little complaint about the story was that it was a bit too slow paced for my taste but it didn’t change the fact that this was a great historical romance.
A great conclusion to the series, though I have to admit not my favorite of the three. (Hint: I am obsessed with Whit and Hattie)
Sarah MacLean really knows how to turn a bad guy around. I loved the arc for Duke Marwick and how it all turned out.
I want so many stories about Dahlia, I needed to know all the details of her business and I wish for short (or long) stories about many of the side characters including Lady Nora, please.
This book concludes the Bareknuckle series, but not the world of these characters. I already know that Bombshell (Hell's Bells #1) is spectacular and am so excited to spy out more of these characters in upcoming books.
Sarah MacLean really knows how to turn a bad guy around. I loved the arc for Duke Marwick and how it all turned out.
I want so many stories about Dahlia, I needed to know all the details of her business and I wish for short (or long) stories about many of the side characters including Lady Nora, please.
This book concludes the Bareknuckle series, but not the world of these characters. I already know that Bombshell (Hell's Bells #1) is spectacular and am so excited to spy out more of these characters in upcoming books.
I'm surprised this book doesn't have a higher average rating. I've loved this series and while I was hesitant about a love story between Grace and Ewan, my fears were set to rest from the start of the book. MacLean figured out a way to get me emotionally invested in these characters, despite the fact that they have very few appearances in the first two books. And Ewan played the villain in the first two books, at that!
I definitely think you need to read the first two books in the series to experience the full effect of this story. I didn't realize how much of an interest I had developed in both Grace and Ewan as individuals until I was suddenly rooting for their happy ending from chapter one. Speaking of...how can you not appreciate a Romance where the heroine gets to take her revenge on the patriarchal, misguided "hero" by staging an epic fight - both physical and verbal?! Incredible. The mental turmoil Grace and Ewan grapple with throughout this book felt so raw and so real, it made the happy ending one of the most satisfying I've read in a while.
I also just love MacLean's approach to Romance series. While most Romance novel series don't necessarily build from one book to the next, MacLean gives you just enough of a look at a side character in each book to keep you invested in their future. I can't wait to explore her other series! I'm currently reading "Bombshell" and let me tell you, I am already deeply invested in all the Hell's Belles stories.
I definitely think you need to read the first two books in the series to experience the full effect of this story. I didn't realize how much of an interest I had developed in both Grace and Ewan as individuals until I was suddenly rooting for their happy ending from chapter one. Speaking of...how can you not appreciate a Romance where the heroine gets to take her revenge on the patriarchal, misguided "hero" by staging an epic fight - both physical and verbal?! Incredible. The mental turmoil Grace and Ewan grapple with throughout this book felt so raw and so real, it made the happy ending one of the most satisfying I've read in a while.
I also just love MacLean's approach to Romance series. While most Romance novel series don't necessarily build from one book to the next, MacLean gives you just enough of a look at a side character in each book to keep you invested in their future. I can't wait to explore her other series! I'm currently reading "Bombshell" and let me tell you, I am already deeply invested in all the Hell's Belles stories.
Sarah Maclean is one of my favorite authors, and Daring and the Duke does not disappoint! It's got all the best tropes -second chances, enemies to lovers, and a great redemption arc. It's a beautiful finale to the Bastards trilogy.
Wow I have not truly hated a book that did not, objectively, do anything wrong in quite some time but oh boy did I hate this book.
A short list of things I hated:
- I have never read a more boring or less earned 'redemption' arc.
- Seriously, some mild manual labor, and getting kinda beat up does not an apology equal.
- Was there supposed to be chemistry between these characters
- You're telling me that a virgin Duke, is better at talking about sex than the woman who literally runs a brothel catering to women's pleasure? No less that a virgin Duke with no friends knows where/what a clitoris is in a time before the internet? These sex scenes were truly beyond unrealistic. Were he a rake, it'd be different but... -eyeroll- Come on, let your Heroine take control of the sex scene once in a while I am begging you.
Read Courtney Milan.
A short list of things I hated:
- I have never read a more boring or less earned 'redemption' arc.
- Seriously, some mild manual labor, and getting kinda beat up does not an apology equal.
- Was there supposed to be chemistry between these characters
- You're telling me that a virgin Duke, is better at talking about sex than the woman who literally runs a brothel catering to women's pleasure? No less that a virgin Duke with no friends knows where/what a clitoris is in a time before the internet? These sex scenes were truly beyond unrealistic. Were he a rake, it'd be different but... -eyeroll- Come on, let your Heroine take control of the sex scene once in a while I am begging you.
Read Courtney Milan.
I kind of hate-read this; I was pretty into book #1 and then book #2 was not good and if I hadn't found this at the library and then been at the end of my book pile during this endless effing lockdown I def wouldn't have read it. But... turns out I didn't hate it? Things did all kind of come together, although tbh I was hoping
ETA: Also MacLean uses the word "lush" a LOT, everything is "lush", three times on one page she used it! I dunno, just seems like sloppy writing/editing to me.
Spoiler
that Grace and Ewan wouldn't get married? and instead just shack up together all modern-like. Also wow do this generation of Marwick men produce ANY sperm with y chromosomes?ETA: Also MacLean uses the word "lush" a LOT, everything is "lush", three times on one page she used it! I dunno, just seems like sloppy writing/editing to me.
I loved the first two books, LOVED them. And I love Grace/Dahlia so I was looking forward to this one despite Ewan but I just can't even. You know there's a problem when every time the hero enters you hear Jean Ralphio in your head!
Seriously, I just can't stress how TERRIBLE he is. Murder, obsession, stalking, anger management issues. And I think Sarah MacLean tacitly acknowledges this by giving him less chapters than the other guys?
I could be wrong because I did tend to skim his self-pitying whining, but I feel like the other books were 50/50 with the MCs chapters but this felt like it leaned more towards Grace. And Grace deserved so much better!
The thing I'm most mad about might just be that I was really looking forward to spending my bank holiday weekend with Bombshell and now I need a little break from this world thanks to bloody Ewan!
Seriously, I just can't stress how TERRIBLE he is. Murder, obsession, stalking, anger management issues. And I think Sarah MacLean tacitly acknowledges this by giving him less chapters than the other guys?
I could be wrong because I did tend to skim his self-pitying whining, but I feel like the other books were 50/50 with the MCs chapters but this felt like it leaned more towards Grace. And Grace deserved so much better!
The thing I'm most mad about might just be that I was really looking forward to spending my bank holiday weekend with Bombshell and now I need a little break from this world thanks to bloody Ewan!