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amandaventure 's review for:
Wilde in Love
by Eloisa James
Sigh… There’s a reason I never got into historical romances and Wilde in Love is a prime example. I really wanted to get into a new historical author. I’m constantly looking for another Tessa Dare. Since Eloisa James has been compared to Tessa Dare, I was hoping for a fun rom-com. Sadly, this wasn’t a rom-com. Maybe my expectations were off and that’s why I was, to put it bluntly, bored to tears by Wilde in Love. I’m not trying to say it’s poorly written or anything, I personally just found this particular story to be dull.
I’m going to preface this review with the fact that I don’t read historical romance for accuracy. I mean, I don’t want to read a book set in 1778 and all the characters have cell phones or something. The period can be accurate but I would prefer the characters to be a little less accurate. For example: in the Regency period I know that men and women didn’t actually spend very much if any time alone together. However, if you are trying to write a romance for a modern reader like me, it doesn’t help sell the relationship. In Wilde in Love Alaric and Willa spend very little time interacting with each other before a relationship between them is forged. Seriously, they maybe spend an hour a day in each other’s presence and the vast majority of that hour is spent around a bunch of other people. They barely have any conversations with each other before this love connection is made. I understand the accuracy of their courtship but as a reader I found that I was bored to tears by it.
I gave Wilde in Love two stars because it did have its moments where it was pretty decent. There’s a whole bog rescue scene that was pretty ok. Also there are cute pets. Willa adopts a baby skunk and a mangey tomcat that acts as a mother hen to said baby skunk. Cute animal antics went quite far in saving this from a 1 star. Maybe I’m spoiled with Tessa Dare books where the characters are rebellious and forward thinking. Those characters always manage to spend some “alone” time together. Wilde in Love was just a bit too prim and proper for my personal tastes but it wasn’t particularly poorly written. I think this is a book for people who enjoy courtly romances with a slow burn. I, on the other hand, am looking for something a little bolder.
I’m going to preface this review with the fact that I don’t read historical romance for accuracy. I mean, I don’t want to read a book set in 1778 and all the characters have cell phones or something. The period can be accurate but I would prefer the characters to be a little less accurate. For example: in the Regency period I know that men and women didn’t actually spend very much if any time alone together. However, if you are trying to write a romance for a modern reader like me, it doesn’t help sell the relationship. In Wilde in Love Alaric and Willa spend very little time interacting with each other before a relationship between them is forged. Seriously, they maybe spend an hour a day in each other’s presence and the vast majority of that hour is spent around a bunch of other people. They barely have any conversations with each other before this love connection is made. I understand the accuracy of their courtship but as a reader I found that I was bored to tears by it.
I gave Wilde in Love two stars because it did have its moments where it was pretty decent. There’s a whole bog rescue scene that was pretty ok. Also there are cute pets. Willa adopts a baby skunk and a mangey tomcat that acts as a mother hen to said baby skunk. Cute animal antics went quite far in saving this from a 1 star. Maybe I’m spoiled with Tessa Dare books where the characters are rebellious and forward thinking. Those characters always manage to spend some “alone” time together. Wilde in Love was just a bit too prim and proper for my personal tastes but it wasn’t particularly poorly written. I think this is a book for people who enjoy courtly romances with a slow burn. I, on the other hand, am looking for something a little bolder.