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jmcrane79's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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? Yes
3.75
lifeand100books's review against another edition
4.0
I truly truly truly enjoyed these characters. Patience is such a fierce mother that is willing to do anything for her son. I just loved her. And Busick, the wounded war hero that just never gives up. Just loved them.
I can't wait to read about more of the widows that are in the Widow's Grace. (And to find out Gantry's story!)
I can't wait to read about more of the widows that are in the Widow's Grace. (And to find out Gantry's story!)
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
A delicious slow burn interracial Regency romance between a widow and the Duke who has become ward to her infant son. Born in the Caribbean, Patience is of mixed race and fell in love with a rich man. However, when he dies she is sent to Bedlam psychiatric asylum only to escape and make her way back in disguise.
I loved the dynamic between the Duke and Patience! Haunted from his own time and losses during the Napoleonic war where he lost part of his leg, he is determined to do right by his ward, even if it means keeping around the woman he doesn't realize is the baby's mother. Highly recommended for fans of Julia Quinn or Mary Balogh and great on audio narrated by Bahni Turpin! Looking forward to reading more books in this series!
I loved the dynamic between the Duke and Patience! Haunted from his own time and losses during the Napoleonic war where he lost part of his leg, he is determined to do right by his ward, even if it means keeping around the woman he doesn't realize is the baby's mother. Highly recommended for fans of Julia Quinn or Mary Balogh and great on audio narrated by Bahni Turpin! Looking forward to reading more books in this series!
balletbookworm's review
3.0
3.5 stars. I liked the story - it had a good mystery plot (although I'm still a little hazy about how the whole plot worked but that's pretty minor) and I liked the historical detail Riley put into Patience's backstory both as a woman color and also her plight as a widow who does not have guardianship of her own child and how she has very, very little (extremely little) legal recourse to baby Lionel. Busick is also a character we rarely see in romantic fiction - a hero who has lost a limb in wartime that affects how he's treated by others despite his rank as a duke. This is a pretty low steam romance - but not chaste because there's definitely kissing and a number of boob jokes.
But there's definitely a structural thing that bugs me - Patience's perspective is in 1st person while Busick's perspective is in close 3rd. Drives me batty and definitely pulls me out of the story.
Spoiler
embezzling the gambling hellBut there's definitely a structural thing that bugs me - Patience's perspective is in 1st person while Busick's perspective is in close 3rd. Drives me batty and definitely pulls me out of the story.
jojo_mando's review
3.0
The ARC of this book was provided by the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a decent historical romance. It took me a little to get into the story – the writing in the first few pages felt a little off, and it was tricky for me to really understand what was going on. Once I got into the story, there was a lot to like. I enjoyed that the protagonist is a POC from the Caribbean, it added a different perspective that is often lost in Regency romance. It was also great to see a realistic portrayal of wartime injuries during that time.
However, I didn’t fully buy into the romance, and there were some choices that made me feel frustrated.
Overall, this was a middle of the road read, with a few bright spots that make it stand out from other books in the genre.
This was a decent historical romance. It took me a little to get into the story – the writing in the first few pages felt a little off, and it was tricky for me to really understand what was going on. Once I got into the story, there was a lot to like. I enjoyed that the protagonist is a POC from the Caribbean, it added a different perspective that is often lost in Regency romance. It was also great to see a realistic portrayal of wartime injuries during that time.
However, I didn’t fully buy into the romance, and there were some choices that made me feel frustrated.
Overall, this was a middle of the road read, with a few bright spots that make it stand out from other books in the genre.
primahattie2's review
3.0
Overall, I liked the premise of this. It was a different story. I didn't think that it was difficult to follow or read (some historical romances can be hard to follow along). Overall I gave it 4 stars, which means I like it.
Patience has lost everything: her husband (suicide) and her child (taken away). She
Will do nothing but to get her son back, even posing as a man and then taking the identity of a wet nurse. Her son is placed into the care of his cousin, the Duke of Repington. How we, the more age is around the Duke, the more she sees that he is a good man and is good to her son. Will her feelings for the Duke hey in the way of her main job: to get her son back?
Patience has lost everything: her husband (suicide) and her child (taken away). She
Will do nothing but to get her son back, even posing as a man and then taking the identity of a wet nurse. Her son is placed into the care of his cousin, the Duke of Repington. How we, the more age is around the Duke, the more she sees that he is a good man and is good to her son. Will her feelings for the Duke hey in the way of her main job: to get her son back?
greylandreviews's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars
This had so much going for it; with the single parent and nanny trope, I thought it was going to be right up my alley. Nope. I found this very hard to read because, of the two different points a view between the characters. Patience's is first and Busick's is in third.
Trigger Warnings:mention of suicide, sexual assault, mention of war, violence, drugging, racism, and murder.
This had so much going for it; with the single parent and nanny trope, I thought it was going to be right up my alley. Nope. I found this very hard to read because, of the two different points a view between the characters. Patience's is first and Busick's is in third.
Trigger Warnings:mention of suicide, sexual assault, mention of war, violence, drugging, racism, and murder.
elizpeace's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the characters but the plot felt disjointed and jumpy. Often I was confused at what was happening and/or who was speaking. Can’t decide if I will read the next book.
librariandest's review
1.0
From page 7:
"On the count of three, I'd grab the fat tree trunk.
One.
Two.
Two and a half.
Two and a third.
Three. I started and clung to the vine..."
HOLD UP. DOES THIS AUTHOR THINK 2 AND 1/3 COMES *AFTER* 2 AND 1/2?! I THOUGHT THIS AUTHOR HAD A PHD IN ENGINEERING FROM STANFORD.
I apologize for the all-caps, but I can't even.
Am I so petty that I couldn't get over this one small mistake? Yes. Yes, I am. It makes me think no one who worked on this book understands simple fractions.
"On the count of three, I'd grab the fat tree trunk.
One.
Two.
Two and a half.
Two and a third.
Three. I started and clung to the vine..."
HOLD UP. DOES THIS AUTHOR THINK 2 AND 1/3 COMES *AFTER* 2 AND 1/2?! I THOUGHT THIS AUTHOR HAD A PHD IN ENGINEERING FROM STANFORD.
I apologize for the all-caps, but I can't even.
Am I so petty that I couldn't get over this one small mistake? Yes. Yes, I am. It makes me think no one who worked on this book understands simple fractions.