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A review by kzimm2024
A Contracted Spouse for the Prizefighter by Alice Coldbreath
4.0
I really liked this story- for me it felt like a fresh look at the rarely mentioned world of male impersonating in the Victorian area. HA! Did that even exist? I thought it was the other way around, boys playing women since women were scarce in that industry. Well- shows you how little I know about it all.
4.5 stars- some spoilers ahead.
I loved Clem. I loved his inner voice and that we got to hear that perspective, I loved his shock in how he responded to "Dora" (and he was shocked many, many times) and I really liked how Dora kept him on his toes "with a mixture of horror and awe". I loved the variations to her name when spoken endearingly.
The love scenes are very steamy and well done, which I appreciate about Ms. Coldbreath's writing, and this would have been a solid 5 if not for my eventual disappointment in Clem.
We have our big, strong, fearless boxer dude that has to push our girl away so she can live her dreams. I didn't mesh with that whole ending, wishing he was a strong enough man to apologize for his duplicity and hang in there with her instead of running away (it was a short lived separation thankfully).
And be honest with her about his feelings before handing her a bunch of heartache. He didn't want to hurt her so he backed away?? For someone so forthright in his manner, he was at a loss for words with Theodora.
Oh well- it ended alright, but I wished for a softer landing :)
4.5 stars- some spoilers ahead.
I loved Clem. I loved his inner voice and that we got to hear that perspective, I loved his shock in how he responded to "Dora" (and he was shocked many, many times) and I really liked how Dora kept him on his toes "with a mixture of horror and awe". I loved the variations to her name when spoken endearingly.
The love scenes are very steamy and well done, which I appreciate about Ms. Coldbreath's writing, and this would have been a solid 5 if not for my eventual disappointment in Clem.
We have our big, strong, fearless boxer dude that has to push our girl away so she can live her dreams. I didn't mesh with that whole ending, wishing he was a strong enough man to apologize for his duplicity and hang in there with her instead of running away (it was a short lived separation thankfully).
And be honest with her about his feelings before handing her a bunch of heartache. He didn't want to hurt her so he backed away?? For someone so forthright in his manner, he was at a loss for words with Theodora.
Oh well- it ended alright, but I wished for a softer landing :)