I just could not love this book. There were things I loved, but in between those passages I would go back to disliking it.

The first few chapters were really hard for me. I thought perhaps it was something with her writing style. I almost felt...outside the story, not being drawn in. It was weird and I know I’m not describing it correctly. But I’m glad I didn’t give up and I was able to get into it as the book went on.

This book was doing basically nothing for me until their first love scene. The characters felt so flat, I wasn’t feeling their connection, the tension to me was minimal. But then those first two love scenes happened and I was like....what...did I just read 😆 But in a good way. It was so descriptive and intense and just hot. It just surprised me.

From there the book did pick up a bit for me. Quite a few scenes I did really enjoy. Like when our heroine Anna is given the rose plants by Edward. When they take a carriage ride together and she explains what exactly happened behind their first secret meeting in London.

I did love Edwards small pox scars (I love a scarred hero), shame on the cover for implying only the right side of his face was scarred 🙄. I enjoyed him overall as a character, mainly in the second half of the book. I thought he was especially sweet when trying to convince Anna to marry him.

I hated his “temper”. It was talked about so much it was overdone and ridiculous. He never showed signs of a temper when he was helping his tenants or with his friends or even when defending his lady at a ball. But he throws and breaks multiple things just...because, mostly in the beginning half of the book. I hated that. He came off like a spaz. I also disliked the lacking amount of time you got to spend in his head. I also hated the chosen place in the book for him to pour his heart out about his past to Anna. I think that would have been better placed as a growing moment for the couple, not after a devastating relationship blow. Or perhaps done over time in the book to grow him as a character.

Anna...can’t say I loved her. I felt like her character was all over the place. She was sassy and feisty but pure and sweet then lustful...I just didn’t connect with her that well. She also licks her lips at least 6 times. Over the lip licking.

Also HATED that the little subplot with Felicity Clearwater was even in there. Dumb dumb dumb.