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jackiepreston's review
emotional
funny
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Death of parent
jessicalarson125's review
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Sexual harassment, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
tjazz's review
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Toxic relationship, Classism, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death of parent, Infertility, Emotional abuse, and Pregnancy
bedtimesandbooks's review
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Child abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy and Infertility
givemaribooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.5
Let me start by saying that HE PLAYED HER LIKE A CELLO. Naked. As foreplay.
I loved this book. I would have given it 5 stars but I think there were some pacing issues at the beginning. It is also possible that it was a me problem and not with the book. I plan on re-reading it when the next book comes out, so maybe I will change my rating then. Either way, I loved this characters, the MCs and the side characters. I loved that Blackstone's friends, family, and even his staff accepted Neve into their group and were rooting for them to be together. The relationship progression was perfect, especially considering how closed off Blackstone was due to his history with his family. He was also neurodivergent, so seeing him come to accept himself and his differences was so sweet. I also loved Neve; she knew what she wanted and spoke her mind. As different as these two were they made sense together, and I was rooting for them every step of the way. The chemistry and the pinning were just *chef's kiss*
I can't wait for the rest of the series, and I will be digging into this author's backlist because if her other books are anything like this one then I will love them too.
CW: Loss of parents off page, parental abuse, fertility issues (ends with pregnancy), sexual harassment.
I loved this book. I would have given it 5 stars but I think there were some pacing issues at the beginning. It is also possible that it was a me problem and not with the book. I plan on re-reading it when the next book comes out, so maybe I will change my rating then. Either way, I loved this characters, the MCs and the side characters. I loved that Blackstone's friends, family, and even his staff accepted Neve into their group and were rooting for them to be together. The relationship progression was perfect, especially considering how closed off Blackstone was due to his history with his family. He was also neurodivergent, so seeing him come to accept himself and his differences was so sweet. I also loved Neve; she knew what she wanted and spoke her mind. As different as these two were they made sense together, and I was rooting for them every step of the way. The chemistry and the pinning were just *chef's kiss*
I can't wait for the rest of the series, and I will be digging into this author's backlist because if her other books are anything like this one then I will love them too.
CW: Loss of parents off page, parental abuse, fertility issues (ends with pregnancy), sexual harassment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Child abuse
Minor: Infertility
noellelovesbooks's review
4.25
I received a finished copy, ahead of release, for being part of the Forever Publishings influencer program.
Content Warnings: Sexual scenes, ableism, sexism, violence, classism, sexual harassment. Mention of physical/mental/emotional abuse and loss of a loved one.
Fauxmance to romance is one of my favorite tropes and I absolutely adored the way it was used in this book. Neve and Lysander’s meet-cute is hilarious and full of heated glances.
Watching these two fight their attraction and growing interest in the other had me laughing, swooning, and occasionally wanting to lock them in a room until they talked it all out.
I love that the author actually put content warnings in the front of the book and that she was inspired to write a neurodivergent hero after going through one of her child’s neurodivergent diagnoses.
Although there wasn’t an understanding of neurodivergence at that time, historically, I loved being able to see Lysander’s process through different conversations and situations. As someone who constantly misunderstands, or is misunderstood, during conversations that lead to anger from others or me…it was wonderful seeing that representation.
I also loved how we’re able to see in action, and in thought, how much Lysander cared. Too many people see neurodivergent people as uncaring or unemotional which isn’t the case, we merely process and express things differently than our neurotypical counterparts.
This was my first Amalie read and I’m so excited to start devouring her backlist as I wait for the next installment of this series to release next year!
Content Warnings: Sexual scenes, ableism, sexism, violence, classism, sexual harassment. Mention of physical/mental/emotional abuse and loss of a loved one.
Fauxmance to romance is one of my favorite tropes and I absolutely adored the way it was used in this book. Neve and Lysander’s meet-cute is hilarious and full of heated glances.
Watching these two fight their attraction and growing interest in the other had me laughing, swooning, and occasionally wanting to lock them in a room until they talked it all out.
I love that the author actually put content warnings in the front of the book and that she was inspired to write a neurodivergent hero after going through one of her child’s neurodivergent diagnoses.
Although there wasn’t an understanding of neurodivergence at that time, historically, I loved being able to see Lysander’s process through different conversations and situations. As someone who constantly misunderstands, or is misunderstood, during conversations that lead to anger from others or me…it was wonderful seeing that representation.
I also loved how we’re able to see in action, and in thought, how much Lysander cared. Too many people see neurodivergent people as uncaring or unemotional which isn’t the case, we merely process and express things differently than our neurotypical counterparts.
This was my first Amalie read and I’m so excited to start devouring her backlist as I wait for the next installment of this series to release next year!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Classism, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Out July 12, 2022 [Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!]
Rating: 4/5 stars
Lord Lysander Blackstone, Duke of Montcroix, is a stone-hearted gargoyle who cares only about his fortune. But when he is unexpectedly rescued by Miss Geneviève Valery, a struggling ballerina, and the two hatch a fake dating scheme to help Lysander secure a favorable business deal, he just might learn that he has a heart underneath all his armor after all.
I love all Regency-era/Victorian era/historical UK-set romances and that is just it, but this one in particular was SO MUCH FUN. I absolutely flew through it (just one more chapter! I said as I continued to read five more chapters) and the romance was so sweet and swoony and gorgeous and funny and wonderful. Lysander, in particular, is a captivating male lead—a neurodivergent hero who is guarded with his heart but driven to the grandest of grand gestures for the woman he can’t help but love. And Geneviève is a tough, smart, no-nonsense heroine who is unafraid to stand up for herself and fight for what she wants. Together, they make a fire-and-ice pair that I absolutely could not get enough of.
When it comes to romances, I’m pretty particular about my endings, and I really liked this one, which had a very sweet epilogue (including some great foreshadowing for the next book in the series!) I absolutely cannot wait to revisit these characters in whatever Amalie Howard writes next!
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: Regency-era romance; grumpy + sunshine trope; he-falls-first trope.
CW: Discussions of sexual/physical assault; child abuse; death of a parent.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Lord Lysander Blackstone, Duke of Montcroix, is a stone-hearted gargoyle who cares only about his fortune. But when he is unexpectedly rescued by Miss Geneviève Valery, a struggling ballerina, and the two hatch a fake dating scheme to help Lysander secure a favorable business deal, he just might learn that he has a heart underneath all his armor after all.
I love all Regency-era/Victorian era/historical UK-set romances and that is just it, but this one in particular was SO MUCH FUN. I absolutely flew through it (just one more chapter! I said as I continued to read five more chapters) and the romance was so sweet and swoony and gorgeous and funny and wonderful. Lysander, in particular, is a captivating male lead—a neurodivergent hero who is guarded with his heart but driven to the grandest of grand gestures for the woman he can’t help but love. And Geneviève is a tough, smart, no-nonsense heroine who is unafraid to stand up for herself and fight for what she wants. Together, they make a fire-and-ice pair that I absolutely could not get enough of.
When it comes to romances, I’m pretty particular about my endings, and I really liked this one, which had a very sweet epilogue (including some great foreshadowing for the next book in the series!) I absolutely cannot wait to revisit these characters in whatever Amalie Howard writes next!
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: Regency-era romance; grumpy + sunshine trope; he-falls-first trope.
CW: Discussions of sexual/physical assault; child abuse; death of a parent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexism
Minor: Infidelity
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