Scan barcode
A review by sarahholt
The Duke I Tempted by Scarlett Peckham
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
Things I liked: Archer's desire for them to be equals from day one, accurate BDSM portrayal, that Poppy never once judged him for what he liked, Constance being a wonderful friend, Archer and Constance's investment in Poppy's business, accurate portrayal of Archer's PTSD symptoms, Poppy was never pressured to give up the clothes that made her comfortable, the amount of thought Archer put in to making sure Poppy was as independent as possible while married, Tom as a villain, Poppy seeking out professional help to give Archer what he needs safely, and I LOVED the concept of the magical indoor forest, that was one of the coolest things I've read in a long time.
Things I didn't love: I feel like some of the conflict was from situations created just for the sake of conflict or misunderstanding, rather than it coming from plot relevant events. For example, the fire felt like it was just a device for Archer's PTSD to be displayed and for both of them to feel unheard. They already had a lot of miscommunication by that point in the book so I don't think it was vital that it happened again, and I think Archer's PTSD could have been expanded on when Georgie was lost. There was also a couple side plots that weren't resolved but maybe they'll be addressed in the next book.
About the "cheating": Archer's desires were never sexual in nature, they were about giving up control to feel more grounded. People do that in a lot of ways, this one just happens to include nudity. Arousal was a byproduct, not the main goal. Also Poppy's hurt was because he didn't trust her to share that with her, not that he was doing it with someone else.
I think this was a wonderful first novel and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Things I didn't love: I feel like some of the conflict was from situations created just for the sake of conflict or misunderstanding, rather than it coming from plot relevant events. For example, the fire felt like it was just a device for Archer's PTSD to be displayed and for both of them to feel unheard. They already had a lot of miscommunication by that point in the book so I don't think it was vital that it happened again, and I think Archer's PTSD could have been expanded on when Georgie was lost. There was also a couple side plots that weren't resolved but maybe they'll be addressed in the next book.
About the "cheating": Archer's desires were never sexual in nature, they were about giving up control to feel more grounded. People do that in a lot of ways, this one just happens to include nudity. Arousal was a byproduct, not the main goal. Also Poppy's hurt was because he didn't trust her to share that with her, not that he was doing it with someone else.
I think this was a wonderful first novel and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.