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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Great end to the series. The reader has pretty much guessed what actually happened, so the revelations are more like confirmations, but it was nice that they got their story.
I wish we could have seen more of the brothers in this, it felt like they were missing. Though she was largely missing from their books as well so there's that.
I like her character, much of it revolves around the empire she built. It would have been nice to see her working more. And the fact that she has a spy network was never used which felt like a missed opportunity.
I wish we could have seen more of the brothers in this, it felt like they were missing. Though she was largely missing from their books as well so there's that.
I like her character, much of it revolves around the empire she built. It would have been nice to see her working more. And the fact that she has a spy network was never used which felt like a missed opportunity.
There was too much buildup to this book, so it had no choice to flop in comparison to the rest of the series. Like, after the set up of Ewan as the villain, I understood that this was supposed to be his redemption story...except that you don't truly see him becoming better and he drags out revealing the truth of the event from their childhood. And instead of improving my view of Ewan, it just lowered my opinion of Grace (who was a perfectly interesting and powerful character on her own).
But to get into my specific complaints:
1. The first 20% of the book should have been limited to a short prologue, given that it immediately follows the last book and wastes time (it literally took me a month to choke through this part)
2. Better yet, the brothers should have just killed Ewan when they had the chance (which they had, multiple times in every book in this series)
3. "He stole everything from me" - BITCH! It's been twenty years! You and your brothers are rich and powerful, and you own a successful club! I get that therapy isn't a thing at this time, but you need to move on and find something else to repeat nonstop
4. The actual "event" from their childhood was obviously the fact that Ewan tried to kill them all to win the title...and it was even more obvious that he was told to do so by the old duke...and the fact that none of them considered that he came at them in a way to give them a chance to run...they are all so stupid
5. Also, if Ewan wanted to show he changed, why didn't he burn down the old house in his first fucking chapter???
This wasn't love, it was obsession and should not have been indulged.
But to get into my specific complaints:
Spoiler
1. The first 20% of the book should have been limited to a short prologue, given that it immediately follows the last book and wastes time (it literally took me a month to choke through this part)
2. Better yet, the brothers should have just killed Ewan when they had the chance (which they had, multiple times in every book in this series)
3. "He stole everything from me" - BITCH! It's been twenty years! You and your brothers are rich and powerful, and you own a successful club! I get that therapy isn't a thing at this time, but you need to move on and find something else to repeat nonstop
4. The actual "event" from their childhood was obviously the fact that Ewan tried to kill them all to win the title...and it was even more obvious that he was told to do so by the old duke...and the fact that none of them considered that he came at them in a way to give them a chance to run...they are all so stupid
5. Also, if Ewan wanted to show he changed, why didn't he burn down the old house in his first fucking chapter???
This wasn't love, it was obsession and should not have been indulged.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did, but Grace is lacking the frustrating self-doubts of the earlier heroines, and this book's main dude focuses on women's pleasure over his own to the point that I though maybe I had missed his orgasm? because he was so content and satisfied? Also, reading this back to back with [b:Lady Chatterley's Lover|32049|Lady Chatterley's Lover|D.H. Lawrence|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1215571713l/32049._SY75_.jpg|3249302] was an experience - I would love to build a time machine and just WATCH Lawrence read all these sex scenes!
Sometimes, like the other Bareknuckle Bastard books, it got a little repetitive (YES, you've told us already a couple times in the book about how tortured you are about xyz), but not to the point that I found it too distracting (on a first read, at least). I did expect there to be something more regarding the conflicts around. so that ended up feeling a bit...shallow, but not particularly contrived, at least.
I also bought into the troubled relationship between them. Usually, when the only thing standing between a couple is angst, I get bored and frustrated quickly, especially if the solution is obvious (just talk it out, ppl), but again, on the first read, the multiple "I did this to save you" / lack of followup didn't bother me toooo much. Also, uh, I don't know if Ewan has really made up for all his past, super-shitty shit? (learned a new term from other reviews - grovel romance?)
Anyway, this might be one of my new favourite romance books (on its own - the series in general was good, but not enough to unseat The Brothers Sinister in my heart).
Sometimes, like the other Bareknuckle Bastard books, it got a little repetitive (YES, you've told us already a couple times in the book about how tortured you are about xyz), but not to the point that I found it too distracting (on a first read, at least). I did expect there to be something more regarding the conflicts around
Spoiler
pleasure houses getting invadedI also bought into the troubled relationship between them. Usually, when the only thing standing between a couple is angst, I get bored and frustrated quickly, especially if the solution is obvious (just talk it out, ppl), but again, on the first read, the multiple "I did this to save you" / lack of followup didn't bother me toooo much. Also, uh, I don't know if Ewan has really made up for all his past, super-shitty shit? (learned a new term from other reviews - grovel romance?)
Anyway, this might be one of my new favourite romance books (on its own - the series in general was good, but not enough to unseat The Brothers Sinister in my heart).
Finally Grace and Ewan's story. I cried, I'm not going to lie. So much we learn about their time with the Duke and it was such an amazing read. I loved it so much. A must read <3
ARGH. I hate to say this, but this book didn't do it for me.
I LOVE Sarah MacLean. Love, love, love her books. But this one, and this series, just didn't work for me. I was actually hesitant to even post this, because I tend not to write about ones that don't like.
See how often I say "for me," because I know it may work for you? I think it's because the setting here veered too much to an alternate-England; an alternate history, and perhaps what I need to do is to reread this embracing that possibility. I also think it's because part of the alternate history is about the three Bareknuckle Bastards creating a world that, well, fixes poverty. Again, I'm torn: on the one hand, I like that the poverty of the time is addressed. Too many regency/historicals don't talk about class and poverty and just how bad it was for anyone who wasn't rich and connected. But, again, maybe I have to reread with a shift in how I view this and believe this, because I kept thinking -- things aren't changed.
I know. Just a book. I'm overthinking.
I LOVE Sarah MacLean. Love, love, love her books. But this one, and this series, just didn't work for me. I was actually hesitant to even post this, because I tend not to write about ones that don't like.
See how often I say "for me," because I know it may work for you? I think it's because the setting here veered too much to an alternate-England; an alternate history, and perhaps what I need to do is to reread this embracing that possibility. I also think it's because part of the alternate history is about the three Bareknuckle Bastards creating a world that, well, fixes poverty. Again, I'm torn: on the one hand, I like that the poverty of the time is addressed. Too many regency/historicals don't talk about class and poverty and just how bad it was for anyone who wasn't rich and connected. But, again, maybe I have to reread with a shift in how I view this and believe this, because I kept thinking -- things aren't changed.
I know. Just a book. I'm overthinking.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
fast-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
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sad about finishing the bareknuckle bastards series :,(
I had to force myself to savor this book because it was just so damn good I wanted to keep reading until I was done. MacLean's writing is spot-on, as always, and her research really shows.
I believe there are a few morals in here that are worth remembering... (and also, it got me thinking about my "first love", which... nope. Thank god I don't see myself in any aspect of Grace and Ewan.)
The ending is superb, too -- what a great way to get out of that situation! All in all, sad to see these characters drift into side characters in the future, but this was a really wonderful end to the trilogy.
Finally. Scones. I am craving scones.
I believe there are a few morals in here that are worth remembering... (and also, it got me thinking about my "first love", which... nope. Thank god I don't see myself in any aspect of Grace and Ewan.)
The ending is superb, too -- what a great way to get out of that situation! All in all, sad to see these characters drift into side characters in the future, but this was a really wonderful end to the trilogy.
Finally. Scones. I am craving scones.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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