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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
emotional
Not what I was expecting and sadly disappointing. Too much angsty yesterday stuff and not enough groveling for the villain of the two previous books. That she would even forgive him for all that came before is beyond belief for this reader.
Delightful! A great story of redemption, forgiveness and a love of a lifetime sprinkled heavily with humor and spice; the perfect ending to the Bareknuckle Bastards series.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The characters were flat. Their history already well grossed and they started the book already in love so what journey was there to make! The obstacles were also nonexistent and just miscommunication. Truly a letdown
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
hopeful
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:
Complicated
The story line was predictable, without much depth, but they are my two favorite characters of the series.
Second chance romance is usually not my thing but I loved this book. Strong characters, luscious plotting, intense dialogue, and just some beautiful writing.
I liked the book. I think that what kept me from loving it was that I predicted a lot of it (and, in a way, that's understandable because I've been obsessing over Grace/Ewan since book 1 came out so I came up with a lot of headcanons, and since some of them were kind of common sense, it isn't that surprising that they actually happened, and I'm not dissapointed that they did) and that while I did like Ewan/Grace, I think I would've liked a few things changed about how their second chance went down. I also think that Ewan's "redemption" wasn't well done and was rather forced.
I do think that at the beginning Grace was too soft on him, and that while I can understand her still having feelings for him, making a sexual connection with him and being vulnerable before she knew what happened that night was something I didn't buy. For example I was super into the mask ball because in that one they're "hiding" from each other and it's a good scene of vulnerability but being also out of reach. But the other scenes of her visiting him and so on and then drawing back and him saying he'll wait for her, did nothing for me. While I understand that the reveal of him sacrificing himself was supposedly the climax of the story, I do think it should've been earlier in the book for me to feel that they're more vulnerable and open with each other and that there was an actual emotional connection. Because it only felt like sex scenes throw in there way too earlier in exchange of actual emotional development between them, and considering what happened back then and that they haven't talked in 20 years, is just sex based on feelings they had for other person 20 years ago. I wanted more scenes of them actually talking things through, of them doing something that wasn't just kissing and sex or almost sex. I wanted scenes of them getting to know each other again. Of Ewan actually showing he had something that defined him besides being obessed with Grace. Or of Grace only being defined by being the owner of a bordello.
Ewan sacrificing himself and making an opening for them to escape was something that I predicted, and Ewan faking his own death and living with Grace in Coven Garden is something I also predicted. It wasn't bad that they happened, in fact, Ewan faking his own death was the only way for him to be able to be with Grace and the Marwick line to end. The way it was presented was, however, a little underlwhelming.
I also felt Ewan was forgiven way too easily and we didn't see the "change" in him, we're just told he changed. That time skip of one year screamed lazy writing and I can't believe the people arround her circle that have read the book didn't tell her that it was a major mistake, even more so after we've been told in her podcast that the grovel and redemption were well done. Sarah, I love you, but this isn't it. You can't tell me he developed and make that development off the page. Also, him hauling some ice and getting a little beaten up and sending money to the families isn't equal to him redeeming himself. Specially when part of the people he needs to make amends to don't even know it was him who had part in the killing of their beloved ones. We're told he campaigned for a law to better the condition of the rokeries, but we never see him do it, and I think that would've been interesting, seeing him interact with other aristocrats and see him put work in convincing them to support his idea. Like including a scene of him talking to the two dukes that tried to pass the law, you know, scenes that were of Ewan redeeming himself for himself and those families instead of gotta be a better man so Grace welcomes me back.
I also felt very meh that he's working for Hattie, again, that doesn't redeem him. How him working in the docks has anything to do with the killing of those people? The answer was: he isn't or shouldn't be completely redeemed. He can't erase what he's done, and the author shouldn't force the readers to think that Ewan is 100% good boy now. I'd rather that was recognized in the book instead of having a character that felt OoC at times. Like he dissapeared for one year, we're only told he made the Marwick estate better, and we're told nothing of how he "becamme a better person", but we're supposed to believe it.
I also didn't like how inconsistent the characters seemed, Devon and Whit would've say one thing one moment to completely contradict themselves two seconds later. I also didn't believe how easily they forgave Ewan. I knew some forgiveness was needed because Grace wouldn't be cut out of their lives, but the actual work of earning that forgiveness wasn't there. Yes, he protected them as children so they could escape, but that isn't a free pass for the actions he choosed to do as a grown man: he also tried to kill them, hurt Grace and their wives, and actually killed people that were under their protection. I would've liked to see more development on that, because the epilogue with all of them being a happy family doesn't feel true if you don't give me at least some development and scenes of them making amends.
I know it sounds like I didn't like the book, I thought it was just ok. I didn't like it as much as I believed I would. I felt like in some scenes I was told they felt in a certain way instead of shown their despair, their guilt, their vulnerability. When, in the other books, I think the author showed me very well Ewan's despair and ruthlessness and Grace resenting him but also wanting to protect him from it.
And I agree with what some people have said in their reviews. Ewan had no personality besides being obssesed with Grace. He was far more interesting in the first book, in this one he was just lame. And I also agree with what was said about Grace, I didn't feel much development in her character, either, she felt more an ideal than an actual character. Compared to Felicity and Hattie, she lacks depth.
I'm really sad this book didn't work for me as I thought it would. It's a shame because I've been waiting for their book ever since I read of them when Wicked and the wallflower was published. However, I'll give her next series a try. I'm kind of excited to read about the wallflower, specially. I'm also curious of what she'll do about the duchess(will the duke come back, will she be the character that actually divorces him?, will she become a widow?). Also, I was very excited about Nastasia and Asriel being in this book. I really liked Nastasia in Nine rules to break while romancing a rake and I adored Asriel in the casino series. I'm crossing my fingers for Asriel to be one of the male mc's in the next series. And, dare I say it? Bennedict, too?
I do think that at the beginning Grace was too soft on him, and that while I can understand her still having feelings for him, making a sexual connection with him and being vulnerable before she knew what happened that night was something I didn't buy. For example I was super into the mask ball because in that one they're "hiding" from each other and it's a good scene of vulnerability but being also out of reach. But the other scenes of her visiting him and so on and then drawing back and him saying he'll wait for her, did nothing for me. While I understand that the reveal of him sacrificing himself was supposedly the climax of the story, I do think it should've been earlier in the book for me to feel that they're more vulnerable and open with each other and that there was an actual emotional connection. Because it only felt like sex scenes throw in there way too earlier in exchange of actual emotional development between them, and considering what happened back then and that they haven't talked in 20 years, is just sex based on feelings they had for other person 20 years ago. I wanted more scenes of them actually talking things through, of them doing something that wasn't just kissing and sex or almost sex. I wanted scenes of them getting to know each other again. Of Ewan actually showing he had something that defined him besides being obessed with Grace. Or of Grace only being defined by being the owner of a bordello.
Ewan sacrificing himself and making an opening for them to escape was something that I predicted, and Ewan faking his own death and living with Grace in Coven Garden is something I also predicted. It wasn't bad that they happened, in fact, Ewan faking his own death was the only way for him to be able to be with Grace and the Marwick line to end. The way it was presented was, however, a little underlwhelming.
I also felt Ewan was forgiven way too easily and we didn't see the "change" in him, we're just told he changed. That time skip of one year screamed lazy writing and I can't believe the people arround her circle that have read the book didn't tell her that it was a major mistake, even more so after we've been told in her podcast that the grovel and redemption were well done. Sarah, I love you, but this isn't it. You can't tell me he developed and make that development off the page. Also, him hauling some ice and getting a little beaten up and sending money to the families isn't equal to him redeeming himself. Specially when part of the people he needs to make amends to don't even know it was him who had part in the killing of their beloved ones. We're told he campaigned for a law to better the condition of the rokeries, but we never see him do it, and I think that would've been interesting, seeing him interact with other aristocrats and see him put work in convincing them to support his idea. Like including a scene of him talking to the two dukes that tried to pass the law, you know, scenes that were of Ewan redeeming himself for himself and those families instead of gotta be a better man so Grace welcomes me back.
I also felt very meh that he's working for Hattie, again, that doesn't redeem him. How him working in the docks has anything to do with the killing of those people? The answer was: he isn't or shouldn't be completely redeemed. He can't erase what he's done, and the author shouldn't force the readers to think that Ewan is 100% good boy now. I'd rather that was recognized in the book instead of having a character that felt OoC at times. Like he dissapeared for one year, we're only told he made the Marwick estate better, and we're told nothing of how he "becamme a better person", but we're supposed to believe it.
I also didn't like how inconsistent the characters seemed, Devon and Whit would've say one thing one moment to completely contradict themselves two seconds later. I also didn't believe how easily they forgave Ewan. I knew some forgiveness was needed because Grace wouldn't be cut out of their lives, but the actual work of earning that forgiveness wasn't there. Yes, he protected them as children so they could escape, but that isn't a free pass for the actions he choosed to do as a grown man: he also tried to kill them, hurt Grace and their wives, and actually killed people that were under their protection. I would've liked to see more development on that, because the epilogue with all of them being a happy family doesn't feel true if you don't give me at least some development and scenes of them making amends.
I know it sounds like I didn't like the book, I thought it was just ok. I didn't like it as much as I believed I would. I felt like in some scenes I was told they felt in a certain way instead of shown their despair, their guilt, their vulnerability. When, in the other books, I think the author showed me very well Ewan's despair and ruthlessness and Grace resenting him but also wanting to protect him from it.
And I agree with what some people have said in their reviews. Ewan had no personality besides being obssesed with Grace. He was far more interesting in the first book, in this one he was just lame. And I also agree with what was said about Grace, I didn't feel much development in her character, either, she felt more an ideal than an actual character. Compared to Felicity and Hattie, she lacks depth.
I'm really sad this book didn't work for me as I thought it would. It's a shame because I've been waiting for their book ever since I read of them when Wicked and the wallflower was published. However, I'll give her next series a try. I'm kind of excited to read about the wallflower, specially. I'm also curious of what she'll do about the duchess(will the duke come back, will she be the character that actually divorces him?, will she become a widow?). Also, I was very excited about Nastasia and Asriel being in this book. I really liked Nastasia in Nine rules to break while romancing a rake and I adored Asriel in the casino series. I'm crossing my fingers for Asriel to be one of the male mc's in the next series. And, dare I say it? Bennedict, too?