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adelie_wants_books_and_snacks's review against another edition
5.0
Omg I fucking LOVED this book!!!!
Actually cried lol
It was just the sweetest and most romantic one of the series for me anyways.
I loved the childhood friendship and the call backs to book 3. And the banter and funny moments.
I really like how Lisle has Rupert’s fighting skills, Daphne’s knowledge, and Benedict’s logical mind.
You see a mixture of personality traits of the people who raised him.
I also love the description of how women’s clothes are changing now that we’re in the 1830’s.
It was such a sweet story. Full of romance and adventure. I loved it.
I really enjoyed this series. Gonna miss the characters.
I could easily continue reading adventures of Rupert and Daphne as well as Olivia and Lisle.
I really can’t decide which books of this series I liked best. I feel Alistair, Rupert, and Lisle are all equally number 1 for me. And then Benedict 2nd, and Darius 3rd.
Actually cried lol
It was just the sweetest and most romantic one of the series for me anyways.
I loved the childhood friendship and the call backs to book 3. And the banter and funny moments.
I really like how Lisle has Rupert’s fighting skills, Daphne’s knowledge, and Benedict’s logical mind.
You see a mixture of personality traits of the people who raised him.
I also love the description of how women’s clothes are changing now that we’re in the 1830’s.
It was such a sweet story. Full of romance and adventure. I loved it.
I really enjoyed this series. Gonna miss the characters.
I could easily continue reading adventures of Rupert and Daphne as well as Olivia and Lisle.
I really can’t decide which books of this series I liked best. I feel Alistair, Rupert, and Lisle are all equally number 1 for me. And then Benedict 2nd, and Darius 3rd.
annkniggendorf's review against another edition
5.0
Fun! A worthwhile (temporary?) closure of the Carsington series. And we met Lisle & Olivia, the runaways from Lord Perfect, again! :-)
distilledreads's review
adventurous
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
This was the second book by Loretta Chase I’ve read and I did enjoy it fractionally more than A Duke in Shining Armor. A lot of that had to do with the setting in Scotland. I’ve not read any other books in this series and I know my enjoyment would likely have been increased if I had, but I got along just fine having not read the previous installments.
shamb00's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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? No
3.0
sharonwb's review against another edition
4.0
If only real life childhood crushes could end this way....I enjoyed this story and rounding up to 4 stars--not quite with the feels and the conflict was weak but the banter between the characters was charming and satisfying. Nice wrapping up of the series.
balletbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
Cute. Fun to read. Never quite got why Lisle's parents got on his nerves (seemed quite normal to get pissed that your eldest son would rather stay in Egypt than home in England). Olivia seemed a bit over the top in her hoydenish ways. Good resolution to the ghost/treasure issue.
Didn't realize this was a book 5, so it does read quite well.
Didn't realize this was a book 5, so it does read quite well.
carobcbg's review
3.0
★★★½. The last ten percent of the book was such a let-down after what had been a really great book. I very much enjoyed the characters and their repartee.
falulatonks's review against another edition
4.0
I really, really, really enjoyed this. I've said before that Chase can be a little dry, and regency romance in general starts off significantly cool because there's so much regency-ness to get through -all those social boundaries, how hard it is to get a chance to talk, how making out ends up being a 'and then marriage!' thing rather than anything really about exploring and getting to know how you fit with someone - but the fact that Lisle and Olivia have known each other for years and yell and rage and talk about anything makes it so much easier to get into right away.
And Lisle and Olivia are both so charming, and so aware of each other but such dummies about how they feel themselves - their conversations made me smile, their flaws and their arguments felt legit to me (without feeling like two people who condescend towards each other and underestimate each other, which books with arguing 'ships do too often - I mention this because I was worried about vibes I got from the first couple of chapters, but we moved past that quickly), and I loved how clearly they fit. It wasn't just a 'I like you more than anyone else' thing - though it is that, as a foundation, which is lovely - but two people figuring out what exactly they are to each other, and realising that could be love, in a solid, adoring way - and finding this because of this work they do together.
The plot itself was also super charming! I liked how simple it was, and I've always loved stories about people who create something together. The fact that they built a home is just...dreamy.
I was biased about how much I loved this 'ship from the get-go, so I knew I'd enjoy this book a whole lot. I was right. I'm glad when I'm right about these things.
And Lisle and Olivia are both so charming, and so aware of each other but such dummies about how they feel themselves - their conversations made me smile, their flaws and their arguments felt legit to me (without feeling like two people who condescend towards each other and underestimate each other, which books with arguing 'ships do too often - I mention this because I was worried about vibes I got from the first couple of chapters, but we moved past that quickly), and I loved how clearly they fit. It wasn't just a 'I like you more than anyone else' thing - though it is that, as a foundation, which is lovely - but two people figuring out what exactly they are to each other, and realising that could be love, in a solid, adoring way - and finding this because of this work they do together.
The plot itself was also super charming! I liked how simple it was, and I've always loved stories about people who create something together. The fact that they built a home is just...dreamy.
I was biased about how much I loved this 'ship from the get-go, so I knew I'd enjoy this book a whole lot. I was right. I'm glad when I'm right about these things.
guiltlesspleasures's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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? No
5.0
Reading one of the few books by your favorite author that you haven't read before is a bittersweet experience. Like, it was so good! But also, I will no longer be able to read it for the first time! And now I have one less Loretta Chase book to read (until she writes more)!
But oh, how I loved this book. The CHARACTERS. Olivia and Lisle were perfect grownup versions of their childhood selves in Lord Perfect (which I highly recommend you read before this one, but it's not *strictly* necessary). Some might class this as a Grumpy/Sunshine romance, but really it's Order/Chaos, which is much more up my alley. Olivia is a force of nature that Lisle is powerless to withstand. When he sees her for the first time since she hit puberty, he is literally struck dumb.
But oh, how I loved this book. The CHARACTERS. Olivia and Lisle were perfect grownup versions of their childhood selves in Lord Perfect (which I highly recommend you read before this one, but it's not *strictly* necessary). Some might class this as a Grumpy/Sunshine romance, but really it's Order/Chaos, which is much more up my alley. Olivia is a force of nature that Lisle is powerless to withstand. When he sees her for the first time since she hit puberty, he is literally struck dumb.
If someone, centuries hence, happens to dig up my corpse and anatomize my brain, he will find, etched there in unmistakable characters: Olivia. Suddenly. Unexpectedly.
and
"I was bored senseless," she went on," but the look on your face when you discovered my bosoms was priceless. It was all I could do to keep a straight face.”
The supporting cast of characters is also so brilliant. The wonderful Dowager Countess of Hargate only makes a brief appearance, but two of her Harpies accompany Olivia to Scotland as her chaperones, and they are the most amazing comic relief.
"Nichols [Lisle's valet] will introduce you to the staff and take you about the castle later," Olivia told Herrick [the new butler]. "Ladies Cooper and Withcote won't be up and about until noon at the earliest." They would ogle him and make improper remarks, but he would simply have to get used to it.
And Nichols. Nichols! Here starts the campaign to give him his own book. So competent! Surprisingly strong! And apparently the women of Egypt talk admiringly of his *stamina*. There is a brief, perfectly written scene in chapter 15 with him and Olivia's lady's maid Bailey that made me laugh with joy.
Olivia and Lisle were so very delightful (and horny) together—and Loretta Chase is so good in that she really makes you wonder how on earth these two are going to get their HEA. Their approaches to life are so different, not to mention that Lisle is yearning to get back to Egypt. But (spoiler alert) she manages it, and I believe it will truly be a HEA.
And the last line: Perfection. Absolute perfection. Queen Loretta strikes again.