I had to force myself through chapter 4. When she wakes up to him licking her stomach I made the decision to DNF.
Part of me was hoping thDNF chapter 5
I had to force myself through chapter 4. When she wakes up to him licking her stomach I made the decision to DNF.
Part of me was hoping the H would be "honorable" and not take his husbandly rights so the relationship could develop. He was very caring in the previous chapters afterall. And part of me is pleased that he lived up to his true rakish reputation and went through with it. The h is flat and her personality is inconsistent, so someone needs to be in-character.
It was gross, very dubcon, how he pawed at her while she was sleeping. ick. Perhaps if they had some relationship development I could stand in. Instead, the author decides to further the myth, rely on that age old trope, that red heads are vixens and super sexual, so what he was doing was a-okay. And to further my pain, which I always have with HR bcs of the hymen myth, the author decides to go with the cliche of the curtain matching the drapes! God I HATE HATE HATE stories with red heads. *vomits*
At least I can take comfort that the H is a one minute man. He lasted like 4 thrusts. He's not even embarrassed by this. The h is too stupid/innocent to notice. Can you hear the crackling from my laughter? I wish the H could. What a loser.
I'm not sure what I expected with this, but it wasn't what I read.
I haven't read the other Wallflower books, and I definitely don't plan to. A lot of reviewers seem angry over the H being basically a rapist. Well fellow reviewers, I don't know his backstory and even I hate him.
Flat dialogue. Stiff characters. All telling. Overly dramatic. Lots of references to "God." No steam. No character development. What a waste of a fun Flat dialogue. Stiff characters. All telling. Overly dramatic. Lots of references to "God." No steam. No character development. What a waste of a fun plot idea. Also, I'm not sure if these is regency or medieval. DNF 35%...more
This book is ridiculous! I guess there's an element of fantasy (not my cup of tea) which really isn't clearly disclosed. Had I known, I would never haThis book is ridiculous! I guess there's an element of fantasy (not my cup of tea) which really isn't clearly disclosed. Had I known, I would never had read this book.
Low steam (even tho the word "cock" shows up like 200 times). Boring characters. Crazy instalust. Convoluted plot. And then there's basically a cliffhanger ending.
Tessa Dare knockoff. Thankfully, it doesn't have the overused humor of Dare so it's marginally better.
The characters are boring and end up being patheTessa Dare knockoff. Thankfully, it doesn't have the overused humor of Dare so it's marginally better.
The characters are boring and end up being pathetic losers: - h conveniently doesn't have dreams and is willing to just be a wife - h is a virginal confident assertive sex kitten - H easily forgets and loses his all-business persona (he's a real beta)
There are some really cute/fluffy scenes with a boat and a carousel. But the overall story is not very compelling. The main tension is really the h and H not having a simple conversation.
I did like that it took place during the Victorian era....more
**spoiler alert** I'm actually no sure how to review this.
I desperately want to read the opinions of PhDs in gender studies. I would love to read the**spoiler alert** I'm actually no sure how to review this.
I desperately want to read the opinions of PhDs in gender studies. I would love to read their analysis of Leon/Leonie. There's a whole lot going on there, though I doubt it's intentional of the author.
I can only describe this story as a French farce. The plot is good. There's like a touch of religious allegory or parallelism that is nice. It's a shame that the author basically has to tell us though. The limited POV plus the over-the-top characters makes the story feel very shallow.
Lot's of creepy things in this book. Huge age gap between the leads, 20 years. I think it's not that unusual for the time period, but many of the character routinely bring it up like it's an issue. Which is silly because the real issue is the pseudo incest going on. Avon regularly refers to Leonie as infant or my child. Not creepy enough? Well just before Leonie was born, Avon was courting her aunt (her father's sister). The villain, Leonie's father, denied the match and humiliated Avon. Had the match been allowed, Avon would have had a child about Leonie's age and looking like Leonie.
I cannot stand Leonie. She's not exactly MPDG because she's too childlike (like the Tron movie). ...more
I'm giving it a 2 stars but it's probably a 3 stars. I just couldn't care for either MC. The plot is really interesting, there are a lot of good laughI'm giving it a 2 stars but it's probably a 3 stars. I just couldn't care for either MC. The plot is really interesting, there are a lot of good laughs, and the steam is really really good. The relationship development is a bit weak due to the fact it's all based on instalust. The ending was decent, but it felt a bit weak as the father was substituted for the pivotal conversation between the H and h....more
The battle of the sexes sex positive heterononsense of Tessa Dare is just so old.
This has the most ridI'm siding with Lord Dashwood. The h is a bitch.
The battle of the sexes sex positive heterononsense of Tessa Dare is just so old.
This has the most ridiculous and convoluted plot.
There are some good laughs, but mostly you just want to roll your eyes. It is super cringe and awkward. You'd think that an author who makes her spoken language and character mentality modern would also modernize her sex scenes. To be sure she turns her h's into fluent sex kittens and the H's are focused on female pleasure. But boy does she love to propagate the hymen and sex-is-painful myths. idgi
There are two more Tessa Dare books on my tbr and I don't know it I can take it anymore....more
The heroine The h has a similar name to the h in the first book of the series. Why not get more creative? Most unfortunately, theGod I hate this book.
The heroine The h has a similar name to the h in the first book of the series. Why not get more creative? Most unfortunately, the h is a red-head, so her entire personality is her hair. And the plot revolves around her hair too. She's described as a "cold fish" and she certainly is. So blah. So lacking in personality. So unlikable.
The hero The H is a piece of shit. He's even more unlikable than the h.
The steam Gave me PTSD to Lord Carew's Bride. Sorry, but no one enjoys dry sex. Call it dubcon. Call it marital rape. I'm calling it dry sex. The context was realistic, I'm not arguing over that. But there is absolutely no way the h enjoyed it or looked forward to it. Sorry.
Mostly I hate it because it has the tropes I hate (marriage of convenience). But I also hate it because it's so realistic. The nature of the relationship and its development were probably pretty typically for that time period. The fight scenes, as painful as they were, were just magnificent realism, no words to describe it. But I don't want to read domestic drama. I want my escapist fantasy.
I adore Mary Balogh because of her depth. This is not a pleasure read. You go through emotional trauma when you read her writing. She makes everyone work for each page you turn. I really want to give this 3 stars or less, but it is just so well written....more
A generally fun romcom. It's got a strong "battle of the sexes" theme that gets a bit cringe at times.
Really excellent steam. The H is one hot dirty A generally fun romcom. It's got a strong "battle of the sexes" theme that gets a bit cringe at times.
Really excellent steam. The H is one hot dirty talker!
The H has a bit of a touch-starved thing going on. He also had very bad mommy issues. It's a little dramatic and over-done.
I generally liked the h but... She's an expert healer. Seriously, she's like an all-knowing miracle doctor. And there's too much modern medicine vibes going on. If it was toned down she's be a lot more believable. Another overkill is the daddy issues. Late in the game the author decides to push for the h's father to be like a semi-villain. It was too much when you consider everything else going on in this book.
This book is like at least 100 pages too long. It does a very nice set up for the rest of the series.
The writing is so so bad. It makes the plot and dialogue IMPOSSIBLE to follow. The pacing is non-existDNF 20%
Ah, more Last of the Mohicans fanfiction.
The writing is so so bad. It makes the plot and dialogue IMPOSSIBLE to follow. The pacing is non-existent. You are constantly bombarded with red-head tropes. No relationship building. Lots of instalust.
I tried so hard to read this. The synopsis is nothing like the actual plot....more
**spoiler alert** The h starts off an unlikable, but it grows on you. The bit about the beauty is needed for the plot to work. Just muddle your way th**spoiler alert** The h starts off an unlikable, but it grows on you. The bit about the beauty is needed for the plot to work. Just muddle your way through the first few chapters, it’s worth it. But I do have mixed feelings on the ending (the h getting her beauty back). I wish the H had a better physical description. Looking like a viking sex god was really a detractor. The B story is about the H’s parents. While I get that we’re given scenes to flesh out that story, I would have preferred more scenes between the H and h (particularly the alcove, the library, the bedchamber, and a few more of the guardhouse). Steam was good, but I needed more. Once the big drama starts, the House connection started getting annoying. The story got a little too modern for my taste. BUT the chapter where he takes care of her just rips your fucking heart out. ...more
The build up to the main plot is a drag. It’s a bit confusing at times. But once they start playing house, it is just too sweet. I wish it lasted longThe build up to the main plot is a drag. It’s a bit confusing at times. But once they start playing house, it is just too sweet. I wish it lasted longer. The passion fizzled out quick. Meh steam. Some typos here and there.
The other thing that is confusing is the personalities. The H is set up to be like a rogue, but he’s just a cinnamon roll of a beta. It’s almost annoying. The h’s personality is a bit flakey. ...more
I’m gonna have to agree with some of the other reviewers that this book is “odd.”
The H is a socially awkward bumbling idiot with PTSD. It’s cute untiI’m gonna have to agree with some of the other reviewers that this book is “odd.”
The H is a socially awkward bumbling idiot with PTSD. It’s cute until he starts kissing/groping the h because it just felt so out of character for him. He’s adorable and their relationship could be very sweet/cute. It got very annoying having to read his constant lustful thoughts of her (thankfully not too erotic).
The h can’t really decide on a personality. At first, she comes off as this enigmatic, witty, mature woman. She has these random streaks of shyness and conflicting obsessions with propriety. And she fizzles out into this nervous virgin. I swear the flips were done on purpose to add to relationship building. It would have been better if she was more assertive and the H remained the beta that he truly is.
The H and h are written about being attracted to each other, but it’s more telling than showing. I didn’t feel any passion.
The setting is allegedly Regency, but it doesn’t really feel it. I imagined this taking place in like 1919.
WTF IS IT WITH THIS AUTHOR AND CHILD ABUSE (AND ALSO RAPE). THIS IS THE SECOND BOOK INVOLVING IT!!!!
Great, another book about the wives. All I want to do is read about Finch and his story. But no, we gotta waste time reading about the matchmaking terror wives. Like I’m glad to see the characters not be sidelined, but it just bloats a rather very interesting plot with boring filler.
The conflict between the brothers felt forced. I was so upset Finch became a duke. I was hoping to read his story of his life as a vicar. The author still can’t write children.
Really frustrating that the author goes out of her way to detail childhood sexual abuse, having the H afraid of intimacy to the point of being completely virginal in all things, and then suddenly he’s suave and all into attracting a mate. JFC
I don’t really get the h. She was controlled and isolated by a real SOB. Why does she not dream of freedom? Why doe she want a child?????
Does anyone know why the H and h were in love? I didn't get their connection.
I think the super sensitive subject matter was not handled with care at all.
DNF at 23%. I'm so disappointed in this book because the premise sounds so good. Of the little I read, the war PTSD seemed pretty well written. I had DNF at 23%. I'm so disappointed in this book because the premise sounds so good. Of the little I read, the war PTSD seemed pretty well written. I had to stop because I could just not stand the author's writing style. It's very much like stage directions. The interactions are very stiff and formal. There's lots of exposition-like dialogue. It's all telling, not showing. I also didn't care for the author's insistence that the h is "full figured" but also "not fat." It was annoying. I guess this author is just not for me. :(...more
Not my cup of tea. Low steam. I could not stand the h. She had an awful personality. Every other sentence was about her "curse." The H was awesome. HeNot my cup of tea. Low steam. I could not stand the h. She had an awful personality. Every other sentence was about her "curse." The H was awesome. He was hilarious and adorable. Himbo vibes. But all the characters were just over-the-top charactures. I thought the premise was good, but it really wasn't exactly the core of the novel....more
Too many secondary characters. They became a peanut gallery of plot devices (though Nate's family were a lot This is not a bodice ripper.
Bad pacing.
Too many secondary characters. They became a peanut gallery of plot devices (though Nate's family were a lot of fun). The H & h could have come together on their own had more care been giving to the writing.
My favorite part had to be when the author undermined her own story: "'If a marquess and a duke don't care about our family's secrets, why should a captain' Orlando asked quietly." Orlando, you read my mind.
Inconsistent characterization. First, h is stoney and proper. She quickly becomes a lovesick fool. Nate is angry and then he isn't. We read all about how h is very concerned about soldiers, but we hardly ever see it. They become less than background characters, plot devices. Nate's name and the book description lead you to believe the H will be a broody and surly veteran/anti-hero. He's got to be the nicest good guy there is.
Very repetitive. I don't think I've ever hated the word "friend" before....more
DNF Only made it 11% through. The H went to insta-lust way to fast for me. The h had such a blah personality. I tried to imagine her as like Rapunzel DNF Only made it 11% through. The H went to insta-lust way to fast for me. The h had such a blah personality. I tried to imagine her as like Rapunzel from Tangled, but all I thought think of was Merida from Brave. In either case, the h just felt too young. She had this gross, puppy-love thing going on for the H....more
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