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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
the best part of this series is that everyone stopped being stupid rich for no reason and quite literally said "fuck you" to the dukedom at every turn
Gave it 2.5 stars. Just wasnt a type of book that I would enjoy now. I can definitely see that my taste in books has changed!! It was good paced one but still wasnt my cup of tea. I found lot of scenes too cringy
3.5. Loved a lot about this but there were some significant flaws as well. I like Grace, her club, and her employees the best.
Update 8/21/20: I had read this first and have now just finished the first novel in the trilogy. After reading some reviews i expected that Ewan would be irredeemably horrible in it but he's not. Honestly, the Bastards are all kind of asses so far. On to number two...
Update 8/21/20: I had read this first and have now just finished the first novel in the trilogy. After reading some reviews i expected that Ewan would be irredeemably horrible in it but he's not. Honestly, the Bastards are all kind of asses so far. On to number two...
Amy, you’re going to be so disappointed in me, buutttttt, this was my favorite book. Grace was a fascinating character (1000% better than Felicity at least), and Ewan is actually likable (as opposed to Devil).
#Ewanisnotthevillain
#Ewanisnotthevillain
This book is perfection! It is definitely my favorite romance book I have read to date and in the very top of the list of the best books I have ever read. The third in an amazing trilogy, Daring and the Duke tells the story of Grace and Ewan. The two have a long, troubled history with one another. Grace is exactly what I want to read in a female character today. She is a fighter, literally and figuratively. She is strong. She stands up not just for herself but for those around her. In the first two books we learn of the horrid things that Ewan has done in the past to both Grace and others around her. MacLean brings him to this book with the reader thinking there is almost no way he can redeem himself. In addition, one cannot imagine a hero deserving of and equal to the power that is Grace. However, because this author is so masterful, Ewan not only finds his redemption, he has become the very best hero I have ever read. He is the hero I never knew I wanted and definitely needed.
The writing is so good. MacLean just improves upon herself throughout each book of this trilogy with this final book showing what a master she is at her craft. There are so many lines and scenes and even little nuances that just make this story so much more than it could have been on the surface. It is a book that will stay with me for a long time and is sure to be a consistent re-read for me. While the book can surely stand alone, it is so much better for having read the first two in this trilogy so I would definitely recommend starting with the beginning. MacLean has outdone herself here and you would be wise to go purchase the first two books in preparation for this one to come out as it's a must read you do not want to miss.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an ARC of this book. The opinions here are my own.
The writing is so good. MacLean just improves upon herself throughout each book of this trilogy with this final book showing what a master she is at her craft. There are so many lines and scenes and even little nuances that just make this story so much more than it could have been on the surface. It is a book that will stay with me for a long time and is sure to be a consistent re-read for me. While the book can surely stand alone, it is so much better for having read the first two in this trilogy so I would definitely recommend starting with the beginning. MacLean has outdone herself here and you would be wise to go purchase the first two books in preparation for this one to come out as it's a must read you do not want to miss.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an ARC of this book. The opinions here are my own.
I wanted to like this one because Grace is a total badass but you can't just take the villain of the past two books and expect me to like him as a romantic lead.
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
dark
emotional
slow-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
WOW. Wow, wow, wow. Have I mentioned WOW?
I'm not going to lie, I had doubts about Ewan doing enough groveling to truly make this redemption arc work, but I NEVER SHOULD HAVE DOUBTED THE QUEEN. Sarah Maclean delivered the MOST satisfying grovel novel and childhood friends to enemies to lovers romance for Ewan and Grace. And goodness gracious, the hope this book inspired in me was a miracle during this time. (Hi. Pandemic. Police Brutality. Institutional Racism.)
Grace - Daring - takes absolutely no prisoners. You want a badass heroine? Look no further. A life in Covent Garden has turned her into a fighter and a queen. She was the first bareknuckle bastard and she protects her own no matter what. She has just one soft spot - for the boy she'd loved 20 years ago, the one who'd given her her name. The one who'd betrayed them all and then came back again years later intent on destroying them.
Ewan's only ever wanted one thing - Grace. When his brothers originally told him she was dead, he'd reacted...poorly. (For the record: yes I know that is the understatement of the century). But now he knows she's alive and he'll do anything - anything - to win her back. Including, but not limited to: a bout in the ring, hauling ice without a hook, laundry, and orgasms. (Let's be honest, it's true.)
There are so many levels to this story that it would take probably an entire 300-page novel to unpack it all, but, honestly it was so perfect. There was no other way it would have worked except for the way that Sarah wrote it. It goes beyond groveling, beyond forgiveness, to these two people who have loved each other since they were 13 realizing that neither of them are who they were all those years ago. Do they love this new person? Is the risk worth the reward? What are they willing to do for this love? And it's everything.
I'm so sad to see the bareknuckle bastard series end, and I'm seriously considering starting again from the beginning just to experience it all over again. (All my new books are giving me serious side eye.) But it couldn't have ended in a more satisfying way.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not going to lie, I had doubts about Ewan doing enough groveling to truly make this redemption arc work, but I NEVER SHOULD HAVE DOUBTED THE QUEEN. Sarah Maclean delivered the MOST satisfying grovel novel and childhood friends to enemies to lovers romance for Ewan and Grace. And goodness gracious, the hope this book inspired in me was a miracle during this time. (Hi. Pandemic. Police Brutality. Institutional Racism.)
Grace - Daring - takes absolutely no prisoners. You want a badass heroine? Look no further. A life in Covent Garden has turned her into a fighter and a queen. She was the first bareknuckle bastard and she protects her own no matter what. She has just one soft spot - for the boy she'd loved 20 years ago, the one who'd given her her name. The one who'd betrayed them all and then came back again years later intent on destroying them.
Ewan's only ever wanted one thing - Grace. When his brothers originally told him she was dead, he'd reacted...poorly. (For the record: yes I know that is the understatement of the century). But now he knows she's alive and he'll do anything - anything - to win her back. Including, but not limited to: a bout in the ring, hauling ice without a hook, laundry, and orgasms. (Let's be honest, it's true.)
There are so many levels to this story that it would take probably an entire 300-page novel to unpack it all, but, honestly it was so perfect. There was no other way it would have worked except for the way that Sarah wrote it. It goes beyond groveling, beyond forgiveness, to these two people who have loved each other since they were 13 realizing that neither of them are who they were all those years ago. Do they love this new person? Is the risk worth the reward? What are they willing to do for this love? And it's everything.
I'm so sad to see the bareknuckle bastard series end, and I'm seriously considering starting again from the beginning just to experience it all over again. (All my new books are giving me serious side eye.) But it couldn't have ended in a more satisfying way.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.