The first 2/3rds of this book can come off as a boring domestic drama. I personally don't care for stories abOne of the best thrillers I've ever read.
The first 2/3rds of this book can come off as a boring domestic drama. I personally don't care for stories about the challenges of marriage. It's a trick! Great twists. I didn't see any of it coming.
Loved the references to mystery/thriller/horror authors and the genres.
Excellent. This is the first story I've read where there was an actual realistic portrayal of prostitution. I adored both characters. This book was toExcellent. This is the first story I've read where there was an actual realistic portrayal of prostitution. I adored both characters. This book was too short. I wish we got more time with them and their romance.
I took off one star for the sex scenes. While the portrayal of transactional sex, intimacy, and the development of sexual relationships felt incredibly authentic, it wasn't realistic. Only one scene has prep and one scene has ZERO lubricant. The author's choice of language was also extremely jarring (fellate, fellatio). ...more
The characters felt flakey. At first I really liked the h. I was not convinced of her manipulation. It felt more like she had a persoA disappointment.
The characters felt flakey. At first I really liked the h. I was not convinced of her manipulation. It felt more like she had a personality change. Considering how long this book is, I'm surprised her "flip" was done so poorly. The H is made to come off as a psycho, but I really didn't get psycho vibes. He saved her and he had genuine deep sympathy for her mother's cancer.
A lot of the plot felt tool-y. The h has a job, but it really only functions as plot devices for two incidents. The h's mom has cancer, and once it serves its purpose the incurable cancer magically goes away.
It also features the hymen myth. This book takes place in the 2010's. The hymen myth has no place in this decade....more
This story is very bad, and, also, the "bad guy" is not very bad.
Of course we all saw that coming, but seriously? Sebastian is a really lame psychopaThis story is very bad, and, also, the "bad guy" is not very bad.
Of course we all saw that coming, but seriously? Sebastian is a really lame psychopath. I honestly think he's more in the spectrum since his problems come down to struggling to interact in social settings.
Once again we have a kidnapping novel hinging on good looks. Overall, it's just a really boring and stupid.
I did like the Beauty & Beast vibes. I also liked how the H immediately started using we/our. That was cute....more
Be warned, this contains a lot of cheating. If you're not okay with that, you won't like this. This starts off fantastic. It goWhat a disappointment.
Be warned, this contains a lot of cheating. If you're not okay with that, you won't like this. This starts off fantastic. It goes down hill quickly at about 40%. The two leads, who both had nice refreshing personalities, quickly turn into selfish cowards. Awful people really. The h spends the last third of the book crying. This book dragged on forever. It should have been at least 150 pages shorter. The epilogue was insulting. The author tired to tie up all the loose ends and broken hearts.
My heart breaks for poor Magnus. He was wealthy, relatively handsome, offered to take care of Lauren's estate, offered to support her orphans, offered to support her hobby of taking in orphans. He supported her in every way. He came to respect and adore her. I just cannot believe Lauren walked away from that! To make the plot work the author had him turn slightly controlling and condescending. Honestly, Lauren wasn't good enough for that man. Fuck her. #justiceformagnus....more
The first 30% of this was really really good. It had a couple of really hot scenes. Then it's like the author panicked because she only had enough forThe first 30% of this was really really good. It had a couple of really hot scenes. Then it's like the author panicked because she only had enough for a novella instead of a full-length novel and started grasping at straws.
There's a wedding plot that is just a drag. First, it's boring. Second, it blackens the trysts and turns them into incidents of cheating. Billy deserved so much better. The h just constantly shit on him He fucking offered to elope! The ending was so unnecessary and it dragged on forever....more
Up until chapter 14, this was looking to be a 5 start read. Chapters 14 to 16 are dedicated to one "pivotal"**spoiler alert** NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE
Up until chapter 14, this was looking to be a 5 start read. Chapters 14 to 16 are dedicated to one "pivotal" sex scene. It was the fucking cringiest of cringes. I was rolling my eyes so hard I feared they were either gonna get stuck or pop out. But I went with it. The h is an unmarried Earl's daughter with a past regular lover, and I can kinda she why the author went with this background to make the plot work. There's about 10 (painful cringe) pages devoted to consent, so the deed is gotta be good, right?
WRONG
Julius uses THE FUCKING PULL OUT METHOD ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME
Leo fucking Tolstoy wrote his female MCs having extensive discussion about birth control TWO DECADES BEFORE THIS BOOK TAKES PLACE! Condoms were regularly being used in America in the 1890's when this book takes place. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? The author wants you to suspend your disbelief that an Earl's daughter in the 1890's in gonna have regular unprotected sex with TWO MEN, has the audacity to cheat on the first guy, is fiercely independent and assertive BUT DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL?
The author writes about consent, oral sex, blow jobs, cowgirl, but can't write about condoms????
Sorry, but you can't pick and choose historical accuracy. I honestly shouldn't be so surprised and so angry because the characters are so flakey in personality. The instalust is thick here.
I can't think of another couple in a romance book that I despise more.
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