3.5 stars. Isidore, a young Italian-English woman, and the Duke of Cosway, English lord who has spent the last number of years living in India and exp3.5 stars. Isidore, a young Italian-English woman, and the Duke of Cosway, English lord who has spent the last number of years living in India and exploring in Africa. They were married by proxy when quite young, and Isidore has been waiting for years for Cosway to return so their marriage can really begin. She is a glamorous, wealthy young duchess, but a duchess in name only, frustrated by the long wait for her husband.
Cosway finally returns to England, and finds that his wife is not the sweet, docile young lady his mother has written to him about, but instead a strong-willed, independent woman. Their relationship gets off to a somewhat rocky start. The book follows the growth of their understanding of each other, leading eventually to them falling in love. Cosway must also learn to deal with the mess his late father had left behind him. The epilogue (in two parts!) is very cute, with (view spoiler)[triplets!! (hide spoiler)].
I enjoyed this book as part of the series, although it wasn't my favourite so far. Although I liked the MCs, I somehow didn't warm to them quite as much as some of the others in the ensemble cast of the series. But it was definitely worth reading. I'm liking the whole series, and I'm glad I decided to read it in order as I think it makes a lot more sense that way, and you get to know and understand the various characters better.
3.5 stars. I liked the romance between Jeffree and Sabina. (view spoiler)[ His obsession with her hair, particularly her braids, was cute. (hide spoil3.5 stars. I liked the romance between Jeffree and Sabina. (view spoiler)[ His obsession with her hair, particularly her braids, was cute. (hide spoiler)] The gradual growth in Jeffree was nice to see after his dry and loveless upbringing. Sabina truly brought him out of himself.
It took quite a while for Sabina to realise her own feelings, in fact a bit too long. Although I enjoyed the read overall, this was my problem with the book - for me it was too long. About 3/4 through, the business with (view spoiler)[Sabina's sister Isemay (hide spoiler)]was a little confusing and seemed to just drag on. I admit I did a little bit of skimming here. The epilogue with (view spoiler)[ Jeffree abasing himself before the queen also felt a little bit unbelievable, almost ridiculous to me. I couldn't really see the point of the scene. (hide spoiler)]
I'm still on the fence about the setting of this series. I find it hard to fully get into the zone of this pseudo-medieval world. I guess it does give the writer certain freedoms, but for me personally I would prefer it be set in the real world in medieval times, still with made up characters, but with real places and customs.
So yeah - a decent read, but too long and would have been more enjoyable for me if a couple of sections got the chop.
My kindle edition has a very nice cover, with (presumably) Sabina in a lovely deep red dress. Nice....more
Not a bad read. My first from this author. I got it as a freebie some time ago, and have finally gotten around to reading it. Le Veque seems to be verNot a bad read. My first from this author. I got it as a freebie some time ago, and have finally gotten around to reading it. Le Veque seems to be very prolific, and I would consider reading more of her books.
The main characters are likeable, and de Wolfe is part of a large, robust family, who all seem to have their own books LOL. It is a bit old-school/bodice-ripper in feel. I did find it hard to believe that the MCs fell in love so quickly. There was also a bit of violence. The storyline overall was otherwise decent....more
3 to 3.5 stars. A quick, easy read with generally likeable characters and an interesting medieval Scottish setting. I wasn't really on board with the 3 to 3.5 stars. A quick, easy read with generally likeable characters and an interesting medieval Scottish setting. I wasn't really on board with the whole basis of the plot however, which revolved around deception and lies. Not my fav trope. I might read some of the others in the series.
This was my Medieval read for November 2021 Romance Across The Ages challenge, HRBC....more
I enjoyed this final book in the Fairbourne Quartet. Some of the storyline derived from earlier books, and I'm glad I had read the others before readiI enjoyed this final book in the Fairbourne Quartet. Some of the storyline derived from earlier books, and I'm glad I had read the others before reading this one, so it all made sense.
In earlier books, Lydia was rather an enigmatic character, with suggestions she had been suffering from depression or grief. In this book she comes into her own, and the muddy past events were all cleared up. Although it was a bit frustrating that she didn't tell anyone (especially Penthurst) about the blackmail, she was pretty naive, and also trying to protect Penthurst's good name, so it was understandable.
Penthurst actually felt as if he was a duke, unlike some HRs that simply use the 'duke' trope too casually IMO. I liked his character, and I liked the way his involvement in the notorious duel (from before the first book!) was gradually unravelled and resolved. The ending was quite satisfying and tied up all of the loose ends.
This was a bit of a slow burn love story, with Lydia and Penthurst's relationship developing fully after they were married. The love happened gradually but convincingly, and I enjoyed their journey.
Although I didn't enjoy the previous book (Book 3) as much as the others, overall this has been an enjoyable series and well worth the read....more
2.5 maybe? I wanted this book to be a lot more interesting than it turned out to be. The overall plot concept was quite good, but somehow the characte2.5 maybe? I wanted this book to be a lot more interesting than it turned out to be. The overall plot concept was quite good, but somehow the characters themselves didn't really engage or feel real. I didn't really care much about what happened to them, and found myself skimming. Luckily it was a library book, so nothing lost by trying it. ...more
2.5 to 3 stars. This was an okay read, but as with other early Lisa Kleypas books I've read, I didn't enjoy it as much as her more recent books. This 2.5 to 3 stars. This was an okay read, but as with other early Lisa Kleypas books I've read, I didn't enjoy it as much as her more recent books. This was published in 1996 and it did indeed feel a little old school, especially the climactic scene near the end, when there was a little too much violence for my liking, quickly followed by a sex scene which frankly felt somewhat awkward in the context.
I didn't really like the leads, Damon and Julia, that much. I think Kleypas' drawing of her characters has improved over the years in her later books. I didn't fully connect with these two. Logan Scott, a secondary character, was enigmatic and interesting and perhaps there was a little bit too much of a focus on him, to the detriment of the main storyline.
I didn't mind the 'married in childhood trope', but I struggled to believe that a duchess could be an actress. It just was totally unbelievable to me, especially once everyone knew she was a duchess. Just no.
So overall, it was a bit of a 'meh' read for me, and has confirmed my opinion that Kleypas' earlier books aren't really to my taste. However I have great respect for her as an author and I absolutely love some of her more recent works.
This was an October 2020 BOTM for HRBC, 'betrothed in childhood' trope....more
3.5 stars. Quite an enjoyable read. I tried this book a while ago and couldn't get drawn in, but on this second attempt, I pushed though and was somew3.5 stars. Quite an enjoyable read. I tried this book a while ago and couldn't get drawn in, but on this second attempt, I pushed though and was somewhat surprised I actually ended up liking it.
The writing has some annoying modernisms and some odd grammatical constructions. But the characters and storyline were fresh, different and interesting. A story about the middle to lower classes, which makes a nice change for a historical romance. Not a duke to be seen. And Mina and her prizefighter were actually quite lovely together.
I will now try again with some other books by this writer....more
2.5 stars. I tried another new-to-me author, but I didn't really love this one. Hero and heroine were quite well-drawn, but the hero's angsty back sto2.5 stars. I tried another new-to-me author, but I didn't really love this one. Hero and heroine were quite well-drawn, but the hero's angsty back story was just a bit too much for me to take. There were some funny lines and some sweet scenes. But overall, not really my cup of tea. I admit, I did some skimming. Oh well, I tried....more
3.5 to 4 stars. An enjoyable read that is not the usual cliche historical romance. The 'beast' of the title, Charles, has a facial disfigurement and a3.5 to 4 stars. An enjoyable read that is not the usual cliche historical romance. The 'beast' of the title, Charles, has a facial disfigurement and a limp, and he's also self-conscious about his looks (understandable) and rather vain. Luckily, he's also basically kind-hearted and loving, as well as hard-working and intelligent. So while I was uncomfortable with his vanity, his good qualities outweighed the bad.
The heroine, Louise, is a kind of Consuela Vanderbilt type figure. Amercian, young, beautiful, intelligent, from an extremely wealthy background. Her parents had arranged an advantageous marriage for her with an older European prince, the 'beast'. Fortunately the fictional Louise's parents weren't as driven as the real Vanderbilts. (The real Consuela's mother was reputed to be bullying, manipulative, abusive, driven, ambitious, determined to snatch a title for her daughter at any cost, which she did. Consuela and her duke later divorced).
Louise in the book is compliant, accepting the match made for her, but at eighteen not really knowing herself and on somewhat of a quest to find out who she really is and what she wants in her life.
The first part of the book takes place on an ocean voyage, with Louise sailing to Europe to meet and marry the fiance her parents have arranged. Unbeknownst to her, he's on board the ship too, and they start a wild affair. Charles knows who she is, but she doesn't know who he is. They make love in the dark. Intriguing set-up.
The second part of the book is set in France. The marriage takes place, and the two protagonists get to know each other better. It takes the rest of the book for the knot to be unwound and for Charles' identity as the shipboard lover to be revealed. Fortunately they are both deeply in love by this stage.
It's an interesting plot, and the characterisations had many layers. The protagonists were very human, and not always completely likeable, although you still felt sympathetic towards them. The writer did a fine job of making her characters's motives understandable.
A side aspect of this book was the perfume industry at the turn of the twentieth century, and the nature of ambergris, a product that is no longer used in perfumes, as it's from sperm whales. This added another layer of interest to the book.
Overall an unusual and high-quality HR, well-written and with very well-done plot and characterisations.
I read this as the April 2020 BOTM for HRBC, 'age gap' trope....more
3.5 to 4 stars. Enjoyable read about a savvy business woman with a vulnerable centre due to a horrid childhood. Her boss arranges a marriage for her w3.5 to 4 stars. Enjoyable read about a savvy business woman with a vulnerable centre due to a horrid childhood. Her boss arranges a marriage for her with his (formerly) ne'er-do-well son. This kind of trope often doesn't work for me in a CR, but the writer did a good job of setting it up and making the situation kinda believable.
Quite a bit of the book takes place on a cattle ranch in Wyoming, where the H has turned his life around and become a successful rancher. So, when you see the title of the book, it turns out to be not quite what you expected. But it's not a cowboy romance either. It's a kinda slow burn romance, with the story unfolding at a steady pace. It kept me reading to the end, which seems to be quite a feat for me recently LOL.
Quite different from Ms Dangelico's other CRs, but for me, her best book since Wrecking Ball....more
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. I started this ages ago and liked it at first. Then I started to lose interest in the storyline so I put it aside for3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. I started this ages ago and liked it at first. Then I started to lose interest in the storyline so I put it aside for a while, and forgot about it, actually. I finally picked it up again, and quickly got drawn back in to Ranulf and Gwenllian's story. (Not sure of the Welsh spelling LOL). I ended up ripping through the last 2/3 of the book in a day or so. Now I wish I'd finished it sooner....
I don't read much medieval, and at times there was a little too much politics for me. But overall, the story centred around a strong and beautiful love story. There were some lovely moments as the two of them came to realise how much they meant to each other. The push and pull from outside forces did add interest and tension. The ending was beautiful and very satisfying.
This book was my August 2019 read (medieval) for the Romance Across The Ages challenge (even though I didn't finish it till October!)...more
2.5 stars. I liked the idea of this book better than I liked the execution. An American heiress groomed by her parents (particularly her unpleasant mo2.5 stars. I liked the idea of this book better than I liked the execution. An American heiress groomed by her parents (particularly her unpleasant mother) to capture an impoverished British title. She succeeds, being forced into a marriage of convenience with the heir to a duke. After some misunderstandings and angst, they do fall in love. Sadly for me, I did not really engage with the characters. It all felt a little flat to me, and I ended up doing some skimming towards the end. Many have enjoyed this book more than me, though, so by all means try it for yourself.
The writer acknowledges that her heroine was in part inspired by the real life story of Consuela Vanderbilt, who did marry her duke but without such a happy ending. I have read another (fictional) book also based on the same woman, and strangely enough, I also found that book rather flat and uninteresting. My Last Duchess by Daisy Goodwin. The real life story itself is more fascinating to me than either of these two books. *shrugs* Oh well, at least I did try another new-to-me author. I don't plan to read any more in this series, however.