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3.24 AVERAGE
3.24 AVERAGE
challenging
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.75 Stars
A competently written historical romance that feels…weirdly unromantic? Livia starts out in a bad situation, struggling with self-worth issues, and then spends the rest of this book in better circumstances with…people who magnify her self-worth issues. At every turn, she’s just insulted and emotionally dragged through the mud.
Gabriel is…eh. He’s so emotionally constipated that I’m not really convinced he ever really opened up.
I think I’m also pretty tired of wealthy landed gentlemen in these books having a chip on their shoulders about gold diggers. Like, y’all. This is a dependence YOU created. Deal with it.
I’m not totally sure I buy them being in love, either. It seemed to come out of nowhere.
It sounds like I really didn’t like this book. And that’s not true. I finished it, so the writing was compelling enough. Really, the star of the show here is Mrs. Penhallow, Gabriel’s grandmother. I love a bitter, meddling matriarch, and her development over the course of the book is really engaging.
That being said, it’s kind of a problem when my favorite character in a romance is…neither of the main couple. This just wasn’t a super fun read, tbh.
Carolyn Morris did excellent audio narration, though.
At thirty-years-old, Gabriel Penhallow needs a wife after avoiding family expectations whilst serving in the Diplomatic Corps. Now back in England, his Grandmother's determined for him to find a bride and an heir to continue the family line. When Grandmama finds a perfect match for him, he accepts his fate, only what happens next is quite what she'd intended for her grandson.
Livia Stuart has lived with her Uncle Charles and Aunt Bella since she becoming orphaned in India as a small child. She's lonely except for the miserable visits from Cecily Orr. When Cecily's parents Lord and Lady Glanville announce there's to be an engagement announcement at the Ball they are hosting for their daughter and one the Marriage Mart's most eligible men; Gabriel Penhallow, there's an offer for Livia to attend and view the proceedings from behind a palm display in the Egyptian themed ballroom. Only, the proceedings at the Ball doesn't go quite to plan and Livia somehow managed to get herself engaged.
Humour and melodrama by the plenty in this wonderful début novel by Lisa Berne. The protagonists play a delightful game of push and pull, as they tentatively try to build a relationship. Both are stubborn when pride obstructs common sense. Nothing is plain sailing as someone tries to sabotage the highly improper engagement more than the couple themselves. Then there's the formidable force that's Mrs Penhallow, who's determined everything should be done her way...if only her Grandson would listen.
"Perhaps," he suggested to his grandmother, irony in his tone, "I ought to propose first"
All in all, a well written and highly entertaining Regency novel, with a devilishly handsome hero and a strong, determined and beautiful heroine who against all the odds find their perfect happy ending at Surmont Hall. With the mention of an unsavoury Scottish cousin, Alasdair and an amusing cameo appearance from Hugo Penhallow, we're given a little taste of what is to follow in this delightful new series.
***arc generously received courtesy of Avon Books via Edelweiss+***
Livia Stuart has lived with her Uncle Charles and Aunt Bella since she becoming orphaned in India as a small child. She's lonely except for the miserable visits from Cecily Orr. When Cecily's parents Lord and Lady Glanville announce there's to be an engagement announcement at the Ball they are hosting for their daughter and one the Marriage Mart's most eligible men; Gabriel Penhallow, there's an offer for Livia to attend and view the proceedings from behind a palm display in the Egyptian themed ballroom. Only, the proceedings at the Ball doesn't go quite to plan and Livia somehow managed to get herself engaged.
Humour and melodrama by the plenty in this wonderful début novel by Lisa Berne. The protagonists play a delightful game of push and pull, as they tentatively try to build a relationship. Both are stubborn when pride obstructs common sense. Nothing is plain sailing as someone tries to sabotage the highly improper engagement more than the couple themselves. Then there's the formidable force that's Mrs Penhallow, who's determined everything should be done her way...if only her Grandson would listen.
"Perhaps," he suggested to his grandmother, irony in his tone, "I ought to propose first"
All in all, a well written and highly entertaining Regency novel, with a devilishly handsome hero and a strong, determined and beautiful heroine who against all the odds find their perfect happy ending at Surmont Hall. With the mention of an unsavoury Scottish cousin, Alasdair and an amusing cameo appearance from Hugo Penhallow, we're given a little taste of what is to follow in this delightful new series.
***arc generously received courtesy of Avon Books via Edelweiss+***
enjoyably emotional story. Definitely got the feels reading this. Enjoyed the slow burn. ending/resolution felt a bit rushed, but overall enjoyed the book.
A really good historical romance that I enjoyed reading!Gabriel isn't interested in marrying, but he will do it since that is what is expected of him and though his grandmother has chosen the Lady Cecilia for him, there is just something about Livia that makes him kiss her.And obviously they're caught and now have to marry.
Livia's parents died when she was young, so her uncle is more than happy to wash his hands off her.Livia isn't that interested in marrying this arrogant cad, especially one who mistook her for a servant just the day before.But society dictates that they must and now she has to listen to his grandmother.
Will love bloom along the way or will they be destined for an unhappy marriage?
Gabriel and Livia were interesting main characters, but too stubborn and hardheaded at times.The way the connection between them developed from a simple attraction to a beautiful relationship was amazing.Livia undergoes many transformations and learns a lot.She was intelligent,feisty but a bit naive in the beginning of the book.But that changes.
The way they fell in love with each other was good, but there is also a lot of push and pull.There are many conflicts and misunderstandings which could have been solved by proper communication, but eh, we wouldn't have a book then would we?
I loved Gabriel's grandmother and his cousin Hugo!They were amazing secondary characters.
I loved the fact that the author mixed in humor too, as it breaks off the monotony in a HR book.
I can't wait to read Hugo's story in the next book!
Livia's parents died when she was young, so her uncle is more than happy to wash his hands off her.Livia isn't that interested in marrying this arrogant cad, especially one who mistook her for a servant just the day before.But society dictates that they must and now she has to listen to his grandmother.
Will love bloom along the way or will they be destined for an unhappy marriage?
Gabriel and Livia were interesting main characters, but too stubborn and hardheaded at times.The way the connection between them developed from a simple attraction to a beautiful relationship was amazing.Livia undergoes many transformations and learns a lot.She was intelligent,feisty but a bit naive in the beginning of the book.But that changes.
The way they fell in love with each other was good, but there is also a lot of push and pull.There are many conflicts and misunderstandings which could have been solved by proper communication, but eh, we wouldn't have a book then would we?
I loved Gabriel's grandmother and his cousin Hugo!They were amazing secondary characters.
I loved the fact that the author mixed in humor too, as it breaks off the monotony in a HR book.
I can't wait to read Hugo's story in the next book!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really liked this one! Set in England in 1811. Gabriel Penhallow is set to follow his grandmother's dictates and propose to the shallow Cecily. He suddenly meets Livia in the woods, and she makes him forget all about what he is supposed to do. I kind of adore Livia, she's got a sense of humor and she isn't impressed by other people's nonsense and she gets angry and I just really like her. I also liked that Livia is clearly a full-figured woman; extra points to the author for *not* using the descriptor "curves in all the right places," which I find odious. I think I tend to enjoy books where the heroine and hero bicker a lot while they're getting to know each other, and this is one of those. I hope the next one measures up!
This book absolutely grabbed me and I was immersed in this wonderful story of a stoic man and a lonely woman who both deserve to find a partner in love.
From a crafting point of view, Berne was brilliant in how she cultivated the arc for these two characters. She even brings in a misunderstanding-which I know can turn some readers off-but she executed it so well that I think she is listening to what readers want out of a misunderstanding.
Every love scene worked towards the progression of Livia and Gabriel’s connection, and highlighted the cracks that were beginning to erupt in Gabriel’s "Penhallow Mask”.
I read this book in one night. I could not put it down!
From a crafting point of view, Berne was brilliant in how she cultivated the arc for these two characters. She even brings in a misunderstanding-which I know can turn some readers off-but she executed it so well that I think she is listening to what readers want out of a misunderstanding.
Every love scene worked towards the progression of Livia and Gabriel’s connection, and highlighted the cracks that were beginning to erupt in Gabriel’s "Penhallow Mask”.
I read this book in one night. I could not put it down!