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buuboobaby's review
DNF @ 45%
This is just not working for me. I have no idea why - maybe the scorn directed at Raphe got on my nerves one time too many.
This is just not working for me. I have no idea why - maybe the scorn directed at Raphe got on my nerves one time too many.
lumbermouth's review
3.0
Sometimes you are a piece of trash and then the state department comes swooping in to tell you that you are not trash, and then you have to clean up your act and learn to be fancy, and it's fine. It's all fine.
taisie22's review against another edition
4.0
Rafe Matthews is living in St Giles, working as a dock laborer and earning extra money in bare-knuckle boxing when he inherits the Dukedom of Huntley. His new neighbor is Lady Gabriella, an etymologist who is about to be engaged to a respected Earl. Of course, they are almost immediately attracted to each other and Gabriella offers to tutors the new lord and his sisters in manners.
This is a well-written, well-told Regency romance. It has a modern feel that might off-put any strict historical fans, but I thought it a fun read. There were a lot of familiar situations if you read Regency romances, but Ms. Barnes almost always came up with a new twist and surprised me. I look forward to Amelia's story, the next book in the series.
This is a well-written, well-told Regency romance. It has a modern feel that might off-put any strict historical fans, but I thought it a fun read. There were a lot of familiar situations if you read Regency romances, but Ms. Barnes almost always came up with a new twist and surprised me. I look forward to Amelia's story, the next book in the series.
serenityfire's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the first half of this book, but then it went off the rails with more and more over the top things happening back to back in the last 1/3. It felt like the ending was rushed and the sex scene tacked on. I will read the next one to see what happens to his sister, but I hope that book is significantly less melodramatic.
lowbrowreaderofzerof_cks's review
3.0
Well-written. OK read but did not leave me moved one way or other - so middlin' score it is.
beckymmoe's review
4.0
I really liked this story!
Though parts of it didn't feel totally accurate--smaller details, mostly; overall it was fairly plausible historical fiction--the story was entertaining and the characters extremely likable. And though I shuddered slightly when Gabriella was hanging out with spiders and beetles (spiders! and beetles!) it was really easy to adore her character anyway. And Raphe...ah, Raphe. You've got to love a guy who's been taking care of his younger sisters since the age of eight and somehow managed to educate all three of them himself. (One of the aforementioned details--where on earth would they get books as penniless, parentless kids living in St. Giles? But still, it's hard not to love characters who get excited by libraries and bookstores, so I'll go with it :))
Also very interesting to note that though there's chemistry galore here and all kinds of lusting after each other, actual sexytimes are sparse. I actually didn't miss it--it was nice to focus on the relationship for a change...plus, chemistry and lust and hot and heavy dreams filled in the gap nicely ;)
Raphe's younger sister Amelia is clearly being set up as the heroine of the next book, and I am so there, people! Can't wait!
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Though parts of it didn't feel totally accurate--smaller details, mostly; overall it was fairly plausible historical fiction--the story was entertaining and the characters extremely likable. And though I shuddered slightly when Gabriella was hanging out with spiders and beetles (spiders! and beetles!) it was really easy to adore her character anyway. And Raphe...ah, Raphe. You've got to love a guy who's been taking care of his younger sisters since the age of eight and somehow managed to educate all three of them himself. (One of the aforementioned details--where on earth would they get books as penniless, parentless kids living in St. Giles? But still, it's hard not to love characters who get excited by libraries and bookstores, so I'll go with it :))
Also very interesting to note that though there's chemistry galore here and all kinds of lusting after each other, actual sexytimes are sparse. I actually didn't miss it--it was nice to focus on the relationship for a change...plus, chemistry and lust and hot and heavy dreams filled in the gap nicely ;)
Raphe's younger sister Amelia is clearly being set up as the heroine of the next book, and I am so there, people! Can't wait!
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
cleocleveland's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed Raphe and Gabriella and I have to say that the cover is pretty evocative of them. So often the cover has nothing to do with the characters but this one really makes me think of them. Raphe is certainly a different sort of duke, it was an unexpected inheritance and he certainly didn't grow up in privilege. Gabriella did but doesn't hide the fact that she doesn't always fit in. There's a lot of exploration of class issues but it doesn't overshadow the slow burn romance between the two. There's some unnecessary family drama at the end but it didn't take much away from the main characters or the secondary ones that will be filling out the series.