This book was my least favorite in the series. Gabe lives on the edge constantly risking his life in ridiculous ways after surviving a carriage race cThis book was my least favorite in the series. Gabe lives on the edge constantly risking his life in ridiculous ways after surviving a carriage race crash that killed his friend. It’s all very maudlin and depressing, especially when his guilt is a major story element when it comes to Gabe wanting to marry that same friend’s sister. Personally, I found the guilt storyline to be repetitive, depressing, and boring.
Considering that I also don’t like the way Jeffries writes the romance threads in any of her books, there just wasn’t anything in this book that I enjoyed. I’ve explained my issues with this author’s romance elements in previous reviews from this series. I don’t plan to read more from Jeffries once I finish this series.
Merged review:
This book was my least favorite in the series. Gabe lives on the edge constantly risking his life in ridiculous ways after surviving a carriage race crash that killed his friend. It’s all very maudlin and depressing, especially when his guilt is a major story element when it comes to Gabe wanting to marry that same friend’s sister. Personally, I found the guilt storyline to be repetitive, depressing, and boring.
Considering that I also don’t like the way Jeffries writes the romance threads in any of her books, there just wasn’t anything in this book that I enjoyed. I’ve explained my issues with this author’s romance elements in previous reviews from this series. I don’t plan to read more from Jeffries once I finish this series.
Merged review:
This book was my least favorite in the series. Gabe lives on the edge constantly risking his life in ridiculous ways after surviving a carriage race crash that killed his friend. It’s all very maudlin and depressing, especially when his guilt is a major story element when it comes to Gabe wanting to marry that same friend’s sister. Personally, I found the guilt storyline to be repetitive, depressing, and boring.
Considering that I also don’t like the way Jeffries writes the romance threads in any of her books, there just wasn’t anything in this book that I enjoyed. I’ve explained my issues with this author’s romance elements in previous reviews from this series. I don’t plan to read more from Jeffries once I finish this series.
Merged review:
This book was my least favorite in the series. Gabe lives on the edge constantly risking his life in ridiculous ways after surviving a carriage race crash that killed his friend. It’s all very maudlin and depressing, especially when his guilt is a major story element when it comes to Gabe wanting to marry that same friend’s sister. Personally, I found the guilt storyline to be repetitive, depressing, and boring.
Considering that I also don’t like the way Jeffries writes the romance threads in any of her books, there just wasn’t anything in this book that I enjoyed. I’ve explained my issues with this author’s romance elements in previous reviews from this series. I don’t plan to read more from Jeffries once I finish this series.
Merged review:
This book was my least favorite in the series. Gabe lives on the edge constantly risking his life in ridiculous ways after surviving a carriage race crash that killed his friend. It’s all very maudlin and depressing, especially when his guilt is a major story element when it comes to Gabe wanting to marry that same friend’s sister. Personally, I found the guilt storyline to be repetitive, depressing, and boring.
Considering that I also don’t like the way Jeffries writes the romance threads in any of her books, there just wasn’t anything in this book that I enjoyed. I’ve explained my issues with this author’s romance elements in previous reviews from this series. I don’t plan to read more from Jeffries once I finish this series....more
I had a difficult time enjoying this story due to the absurd amount of virtue signaling. Lady Augusta saves people from spousal abuse, human traffickiI had a difficult time enjoying this story due to the absurd amount of virtue signaling. Lady Augusta saves people from spousal abuse, human trafficking, wrongful imprisonment, discrimination based on race, and outcast due to sexual orientation and gender. At the time the book ends, she is also attempting to save the life of her sister who is a breast cancer patient and help a man who has been falsely accused of murder prove his innocence. I don’t know the exact time frame for all of these feats of justice, but I think it’s only a few months. I don’t think the social justice warriors of today could even manage all of that in such a short time. Augusta is not totally unlikable, but she can definitely come across as annoyingly self-righteous.
I was looking for a lighthearted read and wasn’t prepared to take on so many serious subjects when I picked up this book. I was expecting a mystery with a romantic twist. Instead I felt like I read a book with an agenda. I’m sure this will be a good fit for someone, but it was not for me. ...more
2.5 stars. I’ve had this book for a while but have avoided reading it because I read a few negative reviews. I don’t think it was as bad as I was expe2.5 stars. I’ve had this book for a while but have avoided reading it because I read a few negative reviews. I don’t think it was as bad as I was expecting, but it wasn’t a great story either.
The romance in this book originates between a young adult man and a very young girl. There is definitely an element of grooming present even though the author tries very hard to present it as an innocent friendship. The criticisms I read focused primarily on this issue, and I do think it was in poor taste. It could have been easily remedied by letting the main characters be the same age in a more balanced childhood friendship. The rest of the story could have easily played out the same way. The adult-child friendship was unnecessary to the plot.
The rest of the story was okay but not very memorable. It was an interesting twist to have the female protagonist be a character with complete deafness. However, sometimes the story is laser focused on her deafness and other times it’s almost like the author pretended she could hear and communicate perfectly fine. Keep in mind that there would have been schools for deaf students in Europe at the time, but this character did not attend any such place and had also never been taught to speak.
Lastly, there is a “mystery” at the end which is only a mystery because our female protagonist refuses to tell anyone who attempted to assault her. It’s so stupid and unbelievable that she wouldn’t tell anyone. She had no good reason not to. To me, this was the weakest part of the story because it felt so artificial. ...more
As much as I liked the first book in this trilogy, I didn’t care for this one at all. It wasn’t that the writing was bad or different, I just didn’t pAs much as I liked the first book in this trilogy, I didn’t care for this one at all. It wasn’t that the writing was bad or different, I just didn’t personally care for the circumstances or characters. I can appreciate that the author once again took a unique approach to the story, but this book had a very dark and almost ominous tone for a historical romance novel that I didn’t enjoy.
Lydia is a former prostitute turned mistress for a rather despicable man who treats her like garbage. She is a numbers genius and is attempting to gamble her way out of the need for her situation. In a gambling den she meets Will who is also trying to gamble his way into a better financial situation for noble reasons. They become gambling partners of a sort. Both are plagued with memories from the past. Both have a significant amount of emotional damage.
I just didn’t find the book enjoyable to read. I found it depressing.
Merged review:
As much as I liked the first book in this trilogy, I didn’t care for this one at all. It wasn’t that the writing was bad or different, I just didn’t personally care for the circumstances or characters. I can appreciate that the author once again took a unique approach to the story, but this book had a very dark and almost ominous tone for a historical romance novel that I didn’t enjoy.
Lydia is a former prostitute turned mistress for a rather despicable man who treats her like garbage. She is a numbers genius and is attempting to gamble her way out of the need for her situation. In a gambling den she meets Will who is also trying to gamble his way into a better financial situation for noble reasons. They become gambling partners of a sort. Both are plagued with memories from the past. Both have a significant amount of emotional damage.
I just didn’t find the book enjoyable to read. I found it depressing....more
If you don’t mind the misunderstanding trope, then you may enjoy this book more than I did. Personally, I just can’t stand a story in which one or botIf you don’t mind the misunderstanding trope, then you may enjoy this book more than I did. Personally, I just can’t stand a story in which one or both main characters is hiding the truth about something and the other is therefore jumping to the wrong conclusions. This is one of those stories. If the two characters had just been honest with each other from the beginning, neither would have been miserable for an entire year and there would be no book.
There is a secondary storyline in this book with a female villain who tries to reclaim a younger brother after dumping him for his older brother who holds the title. This is a plot line that this author recycles in other books she writes in later years. I didn’t care for this plot point either, so this book was a bit of a double disappointment for me. ...more
This is the 7th book I’ve read from this author and they’ve consistently been in the 2-3 star range for me. I know she is popular in this genre, but IThis is the 7th book I’ve read from this author and they’ve consistently been in the 2-3 star range for me. I know she is popular in this genre, but I’m just finally accepting that her writing isn’t a good match for me as a reader. This will be my last.
I can honestly say that this is the only book I’ve ever read that started with the POV of a very young boy wrestling with his masturbation frequency while being severely punished for his sexual deviancy by abusive relatives. I would never pick up a ROMANCE novel and expect that content in the first chapter - or at all. I finished the book, but I knew at that moment that I’m done with this author. Her ideas for what constitutes romance content do not match what I want to read in a romance novel.
Anthony and Madeline’s story is really nothing special. He’s a rake and she’s a science minded school teacher. They fall in love for no reason after a few sexual encounters. They keep secrets from each other and Madeline purposefully deceives Anthony repeatedly. This leads to misunderstandings and incorrect assumptions. The misunderstanding trope is one of my least favorite in the romance genre.
Once all the secrets are finally out in the open, they realize their stories intersect and are able to help each other. The end.
There were plot holes, there were so many things that didn’t make any sort of logical sense, there is a grown man who is cured of lifelong PTSD by having sex with the right woman, etc. I just can’t think of a single good thing to say about this book. ...more
I definitely prefer Balogh’s newer romance series to her earlier (this one is 1994) stand alone romances. Her dialogue, characters and writing have alI definitely prefer Balogh’s newer romance series to her earlier (this one is 1994) stand alone romances. Her dialogue, characters and writing have all improved significantly in the last thirty years as you would expect.
This book reminded me so much of a simplified version of The Poldark Series. The setting is a mining town in Wales in which the locals are revolting against horrendous working conditions and pay. The rebels are fighting against the wealthy landowners as well as the British government. Alex is a landowner who inherited the property a couple years prior but it visiting for the first time. Until he arrives, he doesn’t understand what the local people are suffering. The more he learns, the more he wants to help and make a difference. However, the locals don’t trust him.
Alex’s love interest is a young local girl who he technically should not marry, but that doesn’t stop him from falling in love.
This is probably the first book I’ve read by this author in which I thought the dialogue was tough to get through. It frequently sounds very corny or cringy - especially in the romantic scenes. There is a lot of misplaced loyalty that make people seem gullible and kind of dumb. Overall, I just didn’t enjoy it very much. It’s not the worst romance I’ve ever read, but it leaves a lot to be desired. ...more
Beyond the Sunrise is a stand alone love story that is packed full of toxic behavior. Both Jeanne and Robert display this with hateful sexual encounteBeyond the Sunrise is a stand alone love story that is packed full of toxic behavior. Both Jeanne and Robert display this with hateful sexual encounters, but Jeanne is the most toxic female protagonist I’ve read in a romance novel in a very long time (maybe ever). She uses and manipulates people as a game with zero thought to their feelings, she can change personalities on a dime, she is an epic liar, she brings violence into arguments, etc.
There were moments that I liked parts of this story. The Napoleon war writing was interesting and I liked the revenge plot. I also liked Robert most of the time. He was written as a loyal, honest and decent guy. Unfortunately, the good in the book was vastly overwhelmed by the toxicity that Jeanne brings to the story.
Claudia Martin is the severe owner and head mistress of the girls school in Bath that is featured in the Bedwyn and Westcott series before becoming ceClaudia Martin is the severe owner and head mistress of the girls school in Bath that is featured in the Bedwyn and Westcott series before becoming center stage in this series. She is not a character whom you would expect to have a love story, but here it is. And you know what? It’s done in a way that humanizes her and is still believable for her character. I really liked it. I didn’t like everything about it (such as an engagement that never should have happened between her love interest and someone else), but I found it to be a satisfying ending to wrap up all three series.
If you are a fan of the friends to lovers trope and enjoy a romance with a slower but sincere build, you should enjoy this one. Claudia is not the typical 18-20 year old bride we usually find in these books. She’s in her thirties and is definitely considered a spinster. This adds a sense of maturity to the dialogue and plot that we don’t often see in this genre. I would read this book again. ...more
Susanna and Peter’s story is a friends to lovers romance with a slower build. This is one of my favorite romance tropes so I was a fan of this book. ISusanna and Peter’s story is a friends to lovers romance with a slower build. This is one of my favorite romance tropes so I was a fan of this book. I particularly liked seeing Peter behave with sincere care and loyalty toward Susanna throughout the progression of their friendship.
The “villain” in this story is a member of Peter’s family. The relationship between Peter and this person seems intolerable, so his professed love and loyalty toward her feels out of place. This mismatch is the one thing that seemed like a plot hole to me.
As far as the rest of the story, there were a few cringy parts when Susanna was very condescending toward Peter. For example, she told him to find a way to like himself, which was so odd because he isn’t written as a character who doesn’t like himself.
I enjoyed this book and have enjoyed this quartet. I would read this book again but it wouldn’t be at the top of my reread list. ...more
I like this episode of the Simply Quartet, but it is a little sad for a romance novel. The two main characters are each living under the cloud of tragI like this episode of the Simply Quartet, but it is a little sad for a romance novel. The two main characters are each living under the cloud of tragedy and pain before being drawn together initially by mutual loneliness. While they do eventually fall in love, it often feels like they are both so desperate for the companionship of a partner that it wouldn’t have mattered who it was. I’m not sure that the author did a good job of convincing me that they were actually choosing each other rather than being each other’s only choice.
I like this particular book more as part of the series than as a stand alone story. I also enjoy the connections to the Bedwyn and Westcott series. ...more
I really enjoyed the beginning and the end of this story. The middle dragged much longer than it needed to because Frances did not trust Lucious with I really enjoyed the beginning and the end of this story. The middle dragged much longer than it needed to because Frances did not trust Lucious with the truth about her past. If she had been honest with him earlier, the book would have been half the length. As it was, the meet-cute for this couple while they are stranded during a snowstorm together was fun and romantic. The ending when the truth is finally out was satisfying as well.
I do really like that this series takes place in Bath and features teachers from the school for orphans. This ties into both the Westcott and the Bedwyn series by this author. I like that Balogh ties her series together in the same world. It gives the setting a very homey and comfortable feel....more
I wasn’t expecting this story to be so dull. It started good with a gentleman ship captain and a single lady on an ocean voyage. Unfortunately, that wI wasn’t expecting this story to be so dull. It started good with a gentleman ship captain and a single lady on an ocean voyage. Unfortunately, that was the best part. The rest of the book is literally the two of them saying a million times that they can’t be together and must say goodbye and move on… all while they continue to sleep together. That’s the entire story. There isn’t anything more to it than that. Not one I would read again. ...more
I’m not a big fan of this series, but it’s partially a preference issue rather than only being about writing quality. In this book, everybody is eitheI’m not a big fan of this series, but it’s partially a preference issue rather than only being about writing quality. In this book, everybody is either cheating on someone, has openly cheated on their spouse in the past, is having an affair with a married person, is talking about mistresses and paramours, etc. There is a significant focus on open infidelity. Frankly, that’s just not what I want in my romance novels. To me, that is anti-romance.
A second theme in this book is competitive chess. Every country in Europe is obsessed with all things chess and the heroes of the day are the best chess players. I know how to play chess and have a sibling who plays competitively, and even with that being the case, I found this theme boring. In my opinion, it was too much of a stretch to try to revolve romance stories around this game. I could care less how good of a chess player a character is - especially when that is the extent of a character’s entire personality. There is no more depth than that for several characters.
The one couple who doesn’t play chess is the primary romance in this book, but their romance takes a back seat to the themes above. They are almost side characters in their own story. This isn’t a book I would read again. ...more
3.5 stars. This is the final book in the Survivor’s Club series. It is finally George’s story. As the fatherly role to the other club members, George 3.5 stars. This is the final book in the Survivor’s Club series. It is finally George’s story. As the fatherly role to the other club members, George has played a pivotal role in all their lives while his own personal life took a back seat.
Dora is an excellent match for George. Their relationship was foreshadowed slightly in a previous book when Dora’s sister married another member of the club. While they are matched well, their relationship isn’t particularly interesting. It’s basically just two lonely people who get married so they don’t have to be lonely anymore.
The drama in this book comes from a storyline outside of the romance. The brother of George’s first wife decides he doesn’t want to see George find happiness. There is a twist in the book revolving the brother, but unfortunately it’s like the world’s least surprising twist. I really wish the author hadn’t made the twist so obvious. If it had been shocking, the whole book would have been better.
Mary Balogh is one of my favorite romance authors even though her books can be hit or miss for me. I really like how she ties large groups of people together in her series. She can write long series with individual romances in each book without losing the connection to the people we’ve met in earlier books. I think she’s one of the best at doing this within the historical romance genre. This series proves that she doesn’t need the characters to be related to accomplish it.
Overall, I really liked this series as a whole even though I didn’t love all of the individual books....more
Imogen and Percy’s story is one of my favorite’s in this series for a few reasons. Imogen is the only female member of the Survivor’s club. She saw heImogen and Percy’s story is one of my favorite’s in this series for a few reasons. Imogen is the only female member of the Survivor’s club. She saw her husband die during the Napoleon wars and this book does a really good job of explaining why her recovery has seemed so impossible to her. I thought the author divulged the details perfectly.
Percy is one of my favorite love interests in the series. He is charming and funny and makes everyone feel at ease. What I like about him is that he had already made the decision to change his life for the better BEFORE he met Imogen rather than because he met her. This is what makes him unique to this series as well as this genre. Usually these stories focus on love changing people rather than people finding love because they were already changing.
The story itself is a friends to lovers trope, which is a trope I usually enjoy. There were a lot of positives for me with this one. ...more
Only a Promise is Ralph and Chloe’s love story. As with the other members of the Survivor’s Club, Ralph was severely injured during the Napoleon wars.Only a Promise is Ralph and Chloe’s love story. As with the other members of the Survivor’s Club, Ralph was severely injured during the Napoleon wars. Although he eventually recovered physically from his injuries, he has never recovered emotionally from watching his three closest friends murdered in front of him.
Ralph must marry because he must produce an heir. Because he can’t offer any sort of emotion to the marriage, he is making the decision strictly out of obligation. Chloe is a companion to his Grandmother. Seeing Ralph’s predicament as her only shot to ever get married and have children, she takes a gamble and proposes to him.
I really liked how this book ended. It got better as the book progressed. However, before Ralph actually falls for Chloe he is very verbally abusive to her. I really did not enjoy many parts of the book because of that. To suggest that a verbally abusive person will suddenly stop behaving that way once he falls in love is a very toxic concept. This did curb my enthusiasm about the book somewhat.
Trigger warning for serious conversations about suicidal attempts and thoughts. ...more
Only Enchanting is Flavian’s love story. As with all the members of the Survivor’s Club, Flavian was severely injured during the Napoleon wars. In hisOnly Enchanting is Flavian’s love story. As with all the members of the Survivor’s Club, Flavian was severely injured during the Napoleon wars. In his case, the worst of his injuries are brain damage. He still has memory lapses, nightmares, a stutter and severe headaches many years after the physical wounds healed.
Agnes represents safety to Flavian and that is what originally draws him to her. With her help, he finally begins to fix the holes in his memory. This includes his fractured memories of his former fiancé.
I’d say that the one thing about this book that wasn’t done particularly well is that we are told that this couple falls in love, but it isn’t shown how or why. It really seems more like simple attraction of Agnes’s part, and Flavian just keeps saying that she feels safe to him. Not much of a love story if I’m being honest. Other than that, I also found it a little awkward to read Flavian’s dialogue with his stutter. I’m not sure there is a right way to execute this, but it was a little off-putting to try to read this.
Overall, I am a fan of Balogh’s historical fiction series. She is one of my favorite writers in this genre. I particularly enjoy her series arcs, but I don’t always love each individual installment. ...more
This was sort of a combination of a murder mystery, a romance, and a comedy. I don’t think any of those themes were done especially well, but it was mThis was sort of a combination of a murder mystery, a romance, and a comedy. I don’t think any of those themes were done especially well, but it was mildly entertaining at times.
As far as the romance between Richard and Christiana, they basically fell in love because they were each decent people and they had sexual chemistry. There really wasn’t anything deeper than that between them.
The murder mystery and subsequent blackmail requires literally no sleuthing at all because both guilty parties fully confess their crimes unnecessarily. Honestly, that was the most disappointing thing about the story. I was hoping for some actual intrigue and investigation. That did not happen.
Overall, I thought this was a quick and easy read that required no emotional or mental investment. If you are in the mood for a story like that, this would fit the bill. ...more
As the final book in the Bedwyn family series, this wasn’t as good as I was hoping it would be. Wulfric has been a constant presence in the series up As the final book in the Bedwyn family series, this wasn’t as good as I was hoping it would be. Wulfric has been a constant presence in the series up to this point, but only as a powerful and serious older brother/father figure to the family. He hasn’t been allowed to have his own feelings or personal desires and relationships. His entire identity has been about his responsibilities as a Duke and the head of his family. He’s entirely honorable and loyal, but he completely lacks interpersonal skills and is misunderstood because of that. He kind of reminds me of a Mr Darcy character in this regard. I genuinely wanted to see him find his HEA.
I really liked that the author chose to pair him with a woman who is fun and lighthearted and who brings happiness wherever she goes. This was the perfect opposites attract scenario for Wulfric. I understood and enjoyed why he would be attracted to Christine.
Where the book failed in my opinion is that the author made their courtship so painful and full of rejection. Wasn’t the point of Wulfric’s falling for her because of Christine’s innately joyful temperament? For some reason she chose to bring joy to everyone else around her but plenty of misery to Wulfric. It seemed like the author kept telling us that Christine is a bright light in the world, but then wrote her actions and dialogue as definitely not the way she was described. ...more