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shinysue's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure what this book is. It's certainly not a romance. Nor is it a mystery. I can only conclude that it's a prequel to an adventure series? I imagine we're going to follow each of the gents as they get married?
There was a lot more plot than I expected, and I honestly didn't like any of the characters. A piece of me was kind of rooting for the villain. At least she was interesting.
There was a lot more plot than I expected, and I honestly didn't like any of the characters. A piece of me was kind of rooting for the villain. At least she was interesting.
welkinvault's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Well researched and well written, but it begins with a scene of a drugged rape. I am still not sure why the author used that plot device to have the two main characters marry.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
frahhn's review against another edition
I don't know how to rate this one so I won't.
bradleygiselle's review against another edition
1.0
DNF'd 3% in. TW for an on page drugging and rape.
stacieadavis's review against another edition
1.0
Content warning: sexual assault.
Full disclosure: this book may have gotten three stars from me in other circumstances. The author seems to have done her setting research, and it kept my interest. What I won't overlook in this book is the fact that it used a rape as a "meet-cute" for the romantic leads. Although it isn't one of those books where the male protagonist himself wins the hand of the fair lady after having sexually assaulted her--which is especially stomach-turning on the scale of awful--the rapist still goes unpunished, the other characters downplay the seriousness of the attack, and the crime becomes normalized as merely an awkward social gaffe. Eleanor Delaney's independent spirit is no consolation for this ugliness. She merely becomes yet another woman whose pain is compounded by the indifference of both her attacker and her society to her fundamental personhood.
Full disclosure: this book may have gotten three stars from me in other circumstances. The author seems to have done her setting research, and it kept my interest. What I won't overlook in this book is the fact that it used a rape as a "meet-cute" for the romantic leads. Although it isn't one of those books where the male protagonist himself wins the hand of the fair lady after having sexually assaulted her--which is especially stomach-turning on the scale of awful--the rapist still goes unpunished, the other characters downplay the seriousness of the attack, and the crime becomes normalized as merely an awkward social gaffe. Eleanor Delaney's independent spirit is no consolation for this ugliness. She merely becomes yet another woman whose pain is compounded by the indifference of both her attacker and her society to her fundamental personhood.
violette's review against another edition
Ugh. Rape and adultery do not a romance make. DNF.
rhodesgiselle's review against another edition
1.0
DNF'd 3% in. TW for an on page drugging and rape.
arian624's review against another edition
4.0
I like this book. I really do. But only because I liked the hero and the heroine and their relationship. But I feel uncomfortable with my enjoyment of the book because of the rape at the beginning. The first time I picked up this book, I couldn't even get past the beginning. Especially because of the gaslighting. The second time around, I skimmed over this part and liked the rest of the book. I do not understand why rape/assault/abuse is so often a theme in Jo Beverley's book. There are much better plot devices out there for romance novels.