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geekxgirl 's review for:
His Reluctant Lady
by Aydra Richards
2.5/3 Stars
Well, I didn't hate it. It was rather decent all things considered but compared to book one it simply didn't hold a candle to it. And having read book three before book one and now two, I can easily say book one is the best thus far. Easily.
I was really curious about Westwood (David) after reading book three. I liked him more as the book went on rather than immediately tbh. He had a certain vulnerability to him that was very authentic and sincere for a man in his position and what he had went through in life by losing his parents so young. I liked that he had so many facets to him. Generally he was just a likeable guy regardless of his own self doubt/worth it himself.
Now Poppy...ehhh. I had this entirely different vision of who Poppy was after hearing about her as Westwood's wife in book three but alas I was entirely wrong. And in some ways not in a good way.
It took me a long time to like Poppy and even when I did I found it was in moments rather than as a whole. I liked her strength of character and her loyalty to her twin sisters. It was admirable what she sacrificed to keep a roof over their heads and to give her sisters everything she never had herself. All quality attributes that were lovely to have in a heroine.
But particularly her cold and harsh outlook about reality and herself was SUCH a bummer to read. Had it been only early in the story that we had to hear it over and over I would have brushed it off but it continues throughout. There's being practical and realistic and then there's being stubborn and cowardly. Much of the time Poppy acted in the latter. I hated when she'd instantly refuse something because she "can't" or it was a matter of how "there's no point" to her doing it. Most of the time it was her being scared of failing and being insecure because she had never done it.
And yes, I can totally relate to that. But to a certain degree. After a while it became such an ugly part of her personality for me. I love a good opinionated heroine but much of the time Poppy's way of speaking and her reactive way of responding rubbed on my last nerve. I absolutely hated how she'd always throw up her chin in defiance for some such reason when talking with David. She was so unnecessarily combative and caustic for more than half the book that it truly was hard to enjoy her scenes. More so her chapters where we listen to her thoughts.
I did love how David came to love Poppy and how happy she made him. While not many, the handful of scenes of them acting like a true couple without some drama were really cute and enjoyable. If not for the first half of the story and seeing so much negativity and cynicism from Poppy and all her unflattering traits I probably would have liked her more.
So, Poppy was an issue for me. Her self worth and issue with her own self image (though no fault of her own) were tiresome and frustrating when they'd appear, especially so frequently. Though some of the fault might lie with how the author wrote her and what was focused on.
One thing I also found frustrating (and disappointing) was the last few chapters and the end. What a ridiculous, predictable and unsatisfying way to end the book. Why would it be the first instinct to RUN AWAY from your own home and your husband just because he didn't say he loved you back immediately? Absurd! Like, can we not give the man a moment to absorb that things changed between you two? Nah? Then let's abandon your husband and run away to Bath. Makes sense! (Not)
Truly this made me so frustrated when it happened. For a supposedly intelligent woman Poppy was rather emotionally immature at times. I HATED how the book ended. And I actually found myself annoyed with Jilly, who I generally liked in her book, because she told David to give Poppy space. Because what else did he expect Poppy to do when he replied that he was fond of her when she blurted out she was in love with him?? MAYBE NOT RUN AWAY WITHOUT A GODDAMN NOTE OR REASON WHY WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE.
Alright, alright. I'm cool.
Well, I didn't hate it. It was rather decent all things considered but compared to book one it simply didn't hold a candle to it. And having read book three before book one and now two, I can easily say book one is the best thus far. Easily.
I was really curious about Westwood (David) after reading book three. I liked him more as the book went on rather than immediately tbh. He had a certain vulnerability to him that was very authentic and sincere for a man in his position and what he had went through in life by losing his parents so young. I liked that he had so many facets to him. Generally he was just a likeable guy regardless of his own self doubt/worth it himself.
Now Poppy...ehhh. I had this entirely different vision of who Poppy was after hearing about her as Westwood's wife in book three but alas I was entirely wrong. And in some ways not in a good way.
It took me a long time to like Poppy and even when I did I found it was in moments rather than as a whole. I liked her strength of character and her loyalty to her twin sisters. It was admirable what she sacrificed to keep a roof over their heads and to give her sisters everything she never had herself. All quality attributes that were lovely to have in a heroine.
But particularly her cold and harsh outlook about reality and herself was SUCH a bummer to read. Had it been only early in the story that we had to hear it over and over I would have brushed it off but it continues throughout. There's being practical and realistic and then there's being stubborn and cowardly. Much of the time Poppy acted in the latter. I hated when she'd instantly refuse something because she "can't" or it was a matter of how "there's no point" to her doing it. Most of the time it was her being scared of failing and being insecure because she had never done it.
And yes, I can totally relate to that. But to a certain degree. After a while it became such an ugly part of her personality for me. I love a good opinionated heroine but much of the time Poppy's way of speaking and her reactive way of responding rubbed on my last nerve. I absolutely hated how she'd always throw up her chin in defiance for some such reason when talking with David. She was so unnecessarily combative and caustic for more than half the book that it truly was hard to enjoy her scenes. More so her chapters where we listen to her thoughts.
I did love how David came to love Poppy and how happy she made him. While not many, the handful of scenes of them acting like a true couple without some drama were really cute and enjoyable. If not for the first half of the story and seeing so much negativity and cynicism from Poppy and all her unflattering traits I probably would have liked her more.
So, Poppy was an issue for me. Her self worth and issue with her own self image (though no fault of her own) were tiresome and frustrating when they'd appear, especially so frequently. Though some of the fault might lie with how the author wrote her and what was focused on.
One thing I also found frustrating (and disappointing) was the last few chapters and the end. What a ridiculous, predictable and unsatisfying way to end the book. Why would it be the first instinct to RUN AWAY from your own home and your husband just because he didn't say he loved you back immediately? Absurd! Like, can we not give the man a moment to absorb that things changed between you two? Nah? Then let's abandon your husband and run away to Bath. Makes sense! (Not)
Truly this made me so frustrated when it happened. For a supposedly intelligent woman Poppy was rather emotionally immature at times. I HATED how the book ended. And I actually found myself annoyed with Jilly, who I generally liked in her book, because she told David to give Poppy space. Because what else did he expect Poppy to do when he replied that he was fond of her when she blurted out she was in love with him?? MAYBE NOT RUN AWAY WITHOUT A GODDAMN NOTE OR REASON WHY WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE.
Alright, alright. I'm cool.