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futurememory's review against another edition
2.0
The last book of the Carsington series of novels, and I really wanted it to end on such a different note than this!
I've been looking forward to Lisle and Olivia's romance since the third book in the series, which follows their parents. Olivia is a pretty great heroine - spunky, rebellious, a bit of a con artist and rogue. Lisle is a great foil to her, logical and exasperated. So why the two stars?
I know this is a romance novel, and that's usually light reading, but this one just felt too fluffy. There just wasn't enough here. I enjoyed the Scottish setting, the treasure hunt, and the budding romance, but the entire thing went on for far too long. The sex scenes were repetitious, the antagonists, not all that villainous, and there wasn't enough banter to go around.
I've been looking forward to Lisle and Olivia's romance since the third book in the series, which follows their parents. Olivia is a pretty great heroine - spunky, rebellious, a bit of a con artist and rogue. Lisle is a great foil to her, logical and exasperated. So why the two stars?
I know this is a romance novel, and that's usually light reading, but this one just felt too fluffy. There just wasn't enough here. I enjoyed the Scottish setting, the treasure hunt, and the budding romance, but the entire thing went on for far too long. The sex scenes were repetitious, the antagonists, not all that villainous, and there wasn't enough banter to go around.
rachelini's review against another edition
4.0
I think this is my first Loretta Chase? Not my favourite romance novel, but definitely fun, and I'll pick up others by her.
megatza's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wearecompletelybooked's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.75
sm_almon's review against another edition
4.0
A great end to the series - it was nice to go back to these characters, as they made such an impression in an earlier book.
plottrysts's review against another edition
5.0
Is this the most perfect childhood-friends-to-lovers historical romance we've ever read? Signs point to "yes."
We loved almost every page of the book, from their first meeting after five years in a crowded ballroom to their road trip to Scotland in the company with the two most inappropriate Doyennes of the Ton, to the ultimate HEA. Chase also knows how to write continuing books in a series, with references to the previous (wonderful) entries that still work for a reader coming in cold.
In short, we loved it!
Meg's 41-word summary: We all knew that Lisle and Olivia would get together. But with him in Egypt and her in England, when will it happen? Oh, when his awful parents make Lisle restore a castle in Scotland and Olivia inserts herself, that’s when.
Laine's 41-word summary: Lisle and Olivia are finally in the same place as adults; sparks fly. She strikes up a scheme to prevent his parents from cutting him off: restoring a castle. Scottish shenanigans and illicit affairs can't take the place of Egypt, though.
www.linktr.ee/plottrysts
We loved almost every page of the book, from their first meeting after five years in a crowded ballroom to their road trip to Scotland in the company with the two most inappropriate Doyennes of the Ton, to the ultimate HEA. Chase also knows how to write continuing books in a series, with references to the previous (wonderful) entries that still work for a reader coming in cold.
In short, we loved it!
Meg's 41-word summary: We all knew that Lisle and Olivia would get together. But with him in Egypt and her in England, when will it happen? Oh, when his awful parents make Lisle restore a castle in Scotland and Olivia inserts herself, that’s when.
Laine's 41-word summary: Lisle and Olivia are finally in the same place as adults; sparks fly. She strikes up a scheme to prevent his parents from cutting him off: restoring a castle. Scottish shenanigans and illicit affairs can't take the place of Egypt, though.
www.linktr.ee/plottrysts
ironskin's review against another edition
3.0
Really endearing friends to lovers opposites attract, known each other forever, story. Very enjoyable! Points deducted for g*#%y slur why do historicals do this? I know it’s not meant to be harmful but even in 2010 surely people knew better
eleennaeisloved's review
adventurous
medium-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
3.5
tita_noir's review
4.0
Finally getting around to writing a review for this....
The thing that struck me the most about this book was how very well Chase matured Lisle and Olivia. She kept their basic personalities and their relationship intact but allowed both them and it to grow in what felt like a natural way.
Olivia is still the overly dramatic, somewhat impulsive creature with a natural tendency toward larceny. Lisle is still the pragmatic, level headed person who is quite out of sync with his parents. They are still friends but there is an extra layer of adult attraction over that.
I loved how Chase created that tension that spanned between their childhood memories of each other and the new adult awareness of each other. They are no longer 10 and twelve. They are no longer forced communicate only via letters. They are in front of each other now, struck by the fact they have known and, yes, loved, each other forever but they are these two new unexplored people.
And even with all the "Hmm, of course Olivia now has breasts!" and "Oh, Goodness! Lisle is so TALL and manly handsome!!!" lusty thought roiling around in their brains, they still talk to each other with the ease and irreverence of a long and close relationship.
The dialogue between them is great and I really enjoyed how Chase made this book a perfect companion to Lord Perfect having Lisle, again, beat up someone in the street on Olivia's behalf and having the two go off (again) on an adventure that turns into a treasure hunt.
I thoroughly enjoyed the lightness of tone of this book. And got a chuckle out of Olivia's letters.
The thing that struck me the most about this book was how very well Chase matured Lisle and Olivia. She kept their basic personalities and their relationship intact but allowed both them and it to grow in what felt like a natural way.
Olivia is still the overly dramatic, somewhat impulsive creature with a natural tendency toward larceny. Lisle is still the pragmatic, level headed person who is quite out of sync with his parents. They are still friends but there is an extra layer of adult attraction over that.
I loved how Chase created that tension that spanned between their childhood memories of each other and the new adult awareness of each other. They are no longer 10 and twelve. They are no longer forced communicate only via letters. They are in front of each other now, struck by the fact they have known and, yes, loved, each other forever but they are these two new unexplored people.
And even with all the "Hmm, of course Olivia now has breasts!" and "Oh, Goodness! Lisle is so TALL and manly handsome!!!" lusty thought roiling around in their brains, they still talk to each other with the ease and irreverence of a long and close relationship.
The dialogue between them is great and I really enjoyed how Chase made this book a perfect companion to Lord Perfect having Lisle, again, beat up someone in the street on Olivia's behalf and having the two go off (again) on an adventure that turns into a treasure hunt.
I thoroughly enjoyed the lightness of tone of this book. And got a chuckle out of Olivia's letters.