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Every Bit a Rogue by Adrienne Basso
The Ellinghams #4
This is my first book by Adrienne Basso and I will definitely be searching out more from her. This is book 4 in the series but is fine as a standalone. Characters from books 1 and 2 are in the this story (the heroines from those stories are this heroine's sisters) but nothing that would confuse or make it unreadable. I'm unsure if perhaps you get a better perspective of Jon or Emma's personalities in the first books.
Both these main characters have had their hearts broken in the past. Jon is rumored to be a crazy recluse after being left at the altar, but really he is just finding passion in his inventions away from society. Emma found solace in her painting, but when her muse leaves her, she becomes lonely and depressed. They come together by chance on a few occasions and then are thrown together again when Jon is accused of a crime.
The thing I really enjoyed about this book was nothing really went as I expected. I read a lot, and tend to predict the direction the book will turn and it's always nice to be surprised. Not that there's a shocking revelation in this story, I just didn't find it predictable. It's a story about finding love when you think you can't, or it's just not meant for you.
I enjoyed both characters, although I did get a little frustrated with Emma towards the end of the book, and wasn't 100% on board with some of her feelings she mentioned at the end. Jon, to me, became more enjoyable as the book went on.
I thought it was fairly steamy, with 4-5 scenes. They weren't excessive. I was happy with that aspect of it.
I give 4 stars. It was a pleasant read for me, but didn't quite reach the point of strong feelings for it :)
Thanks netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own about the book
Slight spoilers about trope type ahead:
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The Ellinghams #4
This is my first book by Adrienne Basso and I will definitely be searching out more from her. This is book 4 in the series but is fine as a standalone. Characters from books 1 and 2 are in the this story (the heroines from those stories are this heroine's sisters) but nothing that would confuse or make it unreadable. I'm unsure if perhaps you get a better perspective of Jon or Emma's personalities in the first books.
Both these main characters have had their hearts broken in the past. Jon is rumored to be a crazy recluse after being left at the altar, but really he is just finding passion in his inventions away from society. Emma found solace in her painting, but when her muse leaves her, she becomes lonely and depressed. They come together by chance on a few occasions and then are thrown together again when Jon is accused of a crime.
The thing I really enjoyed about this book was nothing really went as I expected. I read a lot, and tend to predict the direction the book will turn and it's always nice to be surprised. Not that there's a shocking revelation in this story, I just didn't find it predictable. It's a story about finding love when you think you can't, or it's just not meant for you.
I enjoyed both characters, although I did get a little frustrated with Emma towards the end of the book, and wasn't 100% on board with some of her feelings she mentioned at the end. Jon, to me, became more enjoyable as the book went on.
I thought it was fairly steamy, with 4-5 scenes. They weren't excessive. I was happy with that aspect of it.
I give 4 stars. It was a pleasant read for me, but didn't quite reach the point of strong feelings for it :)
Thanks netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own about the book
Slight spoilers about trope type ahead:
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Spoiler
This book has a ruined heroine, and a forced marriage because of it.
This book! Well I'm a bit conflicted about this book. But this book! I'll get the triggers out of the way immediately. DO NOT READ if you don't want to experience rape. Or murder. The rape doesn't happen on page time, but it is to a 12 year old girl. There is attempted rape in the book of the heroine.
This book takes place in the wild 1800s of Texas. And it will really show you the atrocities commited during that time. The absolute hardness a person had to have to survive any amount of time there. The struggle of daily life, non stop just to barely etch out a living and feed yourself. I just can't imagine. Well, I could with this book. I felt like I was there. And I felt it all. I felt stress, I laughed my heart broke, I got angry. This is one of those stories that will really make you feel. I was totally engaged from the beginning.
My first impression of the book came with an author note in the beginning that really made me like the author. She was talking about how excited she is that her books have been reprinted and more people were able to get them. It sounded like she truly cared about her fans and readers. She also added a note about the Comanche tribe and their heartbreaking story of the American west settlement. I felt like she really knew this topic and cared about the world and characters she was creating.
The general synopsis: Loretta was orphaned as she watched Comanches murder and rape her family while she hid. She has never been able to get over this terror and has become mute. She is now living with her aunt and her husband and their child. Hunter is raised with the expectations of fulfilling a prophecy – he will meet a honey haired maiden with white skin whose voice has been taken. Once Hunter becomes aware of Loretta's existance, he takes her. And thus begins a dramatic battle of wills between them and their cultures.
Okay, let me get Loretta out of the way. She is the reason this book lost a star. I loved her in the beginning when she was scared and stubborn and mute. I loved her strength and determination to not lose herself. I cannot imagine her terror after witnessing what she did. I can't imagine anyone really healing from that. But...as the story went on, she just refused to yield. And it got annoying. She was constantly on guard. As soon as she started to soften and give an inch something would happen and she'd be refusing to let anyone near her again. Like I said, I can't imagine what I would do if I was in her place, I'm sure I would have been a whiny ninny that died after like 37 minutes in the West, but still. I just wanted to see her form that deep relationship with Hunter and it was just taking forever. Still, an amazing character. You want a strong woman, here you go.
Hunter! Oh I loved Hunter. LOVED him. From the very first meeting, even with all of his arrogance. There is a scene where he puts a knife in Lorettas boot so she can protect herself. She wants nothing from him and throws it down. She finds it on her windowsill when she goes upstairs. And there went my heart. And throughout the rest of the story that was Hunter's main goal. Keep her safe. Make her happy. Make her his. I felt like he just gave and gave and gave and even when he was so angry, he always cherished her and never harmed her.
There's plenty of drama in this story. There's always something crazy going on. I felt like I got to experience the Comanche way of life. I got to see a bit of living on a small farm in the west. This book made me really happy I didn't live back then lol. I'm really happy I read this book. I will definitely read more from this author. Catherine Anderson also made a note that publishers refused her work because they were too heavy, too real. She refused to budge and eventually her work was printed. I adore an author that sticks with her heart.
I will say I wished for an epilogue from this. I know it's a series, so perhaps the characters appear. I just read the synopsis for the second book and it's about Amy and Swift Antelope, who are secondary characters with plenty of page time in this book. Definitely going to try that one sometime.
This book takes place in the wild 1800s of Texas. And it will really show you the atrocities commited during that time. The absolute hardness a person had to have to survive any amount of time there. The struggle of daily life, non stop just to barely etch out a living and feed yourself. I just can't imagine. Well, I could with this book. I felt like I was there. And I felt it all. I felt stress, I laughed my heart broke, I got angry. This is one of those stories that will really make you feel. I was totally engaged from the beginning.
My first impression of the book came with an author note in the beginning that really made me like the author. She was talking about how excited she is that her books have been reprinted and more people were able to get them. It sounded like she truly cared about her fans and readers. She also added a note about the Comanche tribe and their heartbreaking story of the American west settlement. I felt like she really knew this topic and cared about the world and characters she was creating.
The general synopsis: Loretta was orphaned as she watched Comanches murder and rape her family while she hid. She has never been able to get over this terror and has become mute. She is now living with her aunt and her husband and their child. Hunter is raised with the expectations of fulfilling a prophecy – he will meet a honey haired maiden with white skin whose voice has been taken. Once Hunter becomes aware of Loretta's existance, he takes her. And thus begins a dramatic battle of wills between them and their cultures.
Okay, let me get Loretta out of the way. She is the reason this book lost a star. I loved her in the beginning when she was scared and stubborn and mute. I loved her strength and determination to not lose herself. I cannot imagine her terror after witnessing what she did. I can't imagine anyone really healing from that. But...as the story went on, she just refused to yield. And it got annoying. She was constantly on guard. As soon as she started to soften and give an inch something would happen and she'd be refusing to let anyone near her again. Like I said, I can't imagine what I would do if I was in her place, I'm sure I would have been a whiny ninny that died after like 37 minutes in the West, but still. I just wanted to see her form that deep relationship with Hunter and it was just taking forever. Still, an amazing character. You want a strong woman, here you go.
Hunter! Oh I loved Hunter. LOVED him. From the very first meeting, even with all of his arrogance. There is a scene where he puts a knife in Lorettas boot so she can protect herself. She wants nothing from him and throws it down. She finds it on her windowsill when she goes upstairs. And there went my heart. And throughout the rest of the story that was Hunter's main goal. Keep her safe. Make her happy. Make her his. I felt like he just gave and gave and gave and even when he was so angry, he always cherished her and never harmed her.
There's plenty of drama in this story. There's always something crazy going on. I felt like I got to experience the Comanche way of life. I got to see a bit of living on a small farm in the west. This book made me really happy I didn't live back then lol. I'm really happy I read this book. I will definitely read more from this author. Catherine Anderson also made a note that publishers refused her work because they were too heavy, too real. She refused to budge and eventually her work was printed. I adore an author that sticks with her heart.
I will say I wished for an epilogue from this. I know it's a series, so perhaps the characters appear. I just read the synopsis for the second book and it's about Amy and Swift Antelope, who are secondary characters with plenty of page time in this book. Definitely going to try that one sometime.
4.5 rounded to 5
This was my first book by this author. I haven't read the first two books in the series, but I did buy them. If I find a lot of their beginning story is found in either of those books I will add a note here. This book can be read as a standalone but I do feel like it would be better reading this in order. The characters from the previous books know or are related to these main characters and there is plenty of history going on that you don't get the full information for reading this book. Enough is given that you aren't lost, and it doesn't feel like you're reading a mini book within a book with the background, but still it would probably be helpful.
The book starts with our hero, Rayne, attending his sister's wedding. His sister is marrying the heroine, Julia's, brother. You find out that they have a history, a kiss, that has ended badly. Rayne left the scene and goes to live in America. He's been gone for two years and has returned to see his sister settled and finish his affairs before returning to America.
Julia has tried to heal her heart after Rayne broke it into pieces. Yet she has never forgotten him or searched elsewhere for love. The book doesn't really have an enemies to lovers feel like you would think though. She decides she wants him. She makes a plan with a mutual friend to abduct him.
This book is a little dark. The hero does brood, he has issues, dark desires and he doesn't want to pull Julia into his life but he struggles keeping away from her. There's a lot of internal thinking, which I do like, I feel like it really lets me know the characters more and what they are feeling. I would have liked a bit more dialogue in the book because I really like that too.
The SEX!
I will say right now I don't think this book is for everyone. The first pleasure scene you get is pages long, detailed, and honestly it went a little further than I'm used in HR. AND I LOVED IT. Hahaha. Then you get some scenes that were skimmed over and not going to lie, I was quite offended after that first wonderful scene. Just kidding, mostly. You get another scene later that does cross into a very small amount spanking and being tied. The scene was well done though, and it was just once. It's not really my thing, but I enjoyed that as well. I have asked if most of her books take this route, and I don't think it's the usual? I plan on reading book 1 soon, so I'm curious. It might just be Rayne that wants these things. Anyway, for this book, it was a bit of a step away from your normal HR.
Finally, you have a hero with a beard!!! I was so annoyed looking at the cover picture when it kept describing his rugged look and his beard. But he does shave it off later, so I guess that's excusable for a cover picture.
I was able to receive an ARC copy complimentary from netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This was my first book by this author. I haven't read the first two books in the series, but I did buy them. If I find a lot of their beginning story is found in either of those books I will add a note here. This book can be read as a standalone but I do feel like it would be better reading this in order. The characters from the previous books know or are related to these main characters and there is plenty of history going on that you don't get the full information for reading this book. Enough is given that you aren't lost, and it doesn't feel like you're reading a mini book within a book with the background, but still it would probably be helpful.
The book starts with our hero, Rayne, attending his sister's wedding. His sister is marrying the heroine, Julia's, brother. You find out that they have a history, a kiss, that has ended badly. Rayne left the scene and goes to live in America. He's been gone for two years and has returned to see his sister settled and finish his affairs before returning to America.
Julia has tried to heal her heart after Rayne broke it into pieces. Yet she has never forgotten him or searched elsewhere for love. The book doesn't really have an enemies to lovers feel like you would think though. She decides she wants him. She makes a plan with a mutual friend to abduct him.
This book is a little dark. The hero does brood, he has issues, dark desires and he doesn't want to pull Julia into his life but he struggles keeping away from her. There's a lot of internal thinking, which I do like, I feel like it really lets me know the characters more and what they are feeling. I would have liked a bit more dialogue in the book because I really like that too.
The SEX!
I will say right now I don't think this book is for everyone. The first pleasure scene you get is pages long, detailed, and honestly it went a little further than I'm used in HR. AND I LOVED IT. Hahaha. Then you get some scenes that were skimmed over and not going to lie, I was quite offended after that first wonderful scene. Just kidding, mostly. You get another scene later that does cross into a very small amount spanking and being tied. The scene was well done though, and it was just once. It's not really my thing, but I enjoyed that as well. I have asked if most of her books take this route, and I don't think it's the usual? I plan on reading book 1 soon, so I'm curious. It might just be Rayne that wants these things. Anyway, for this book, it was a bit of a step away from your normal HR.
Finally, you have a hero with a beard!!! I was so annoyed looking at the cover picture when it kept describing his rugged look and his beard. But he does shave it off later, so I guess that's excusable for a cover picture.
I was able to receive an ARC copy complimentary from netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
If you love highlander novels, give this one a try. It's got all the classic things to love
A large, alpha highlander hero
a kidnapped heroine
rival clans that want revenge
The hero is a total alpha. Ewan is the leader of his clan and has been wanting revenge against the Camerons. I rather enjoyed Ewan. He was a little funny, demanding, assertive with his kisses, but sweet underneath.
The heroine is the king's bastard and as such she is entitled to a property that is high demand. Kidnapped from her hiding place, Mairin goes through quite tough times before being brought to Ewan's clan. If you've read Maya Banks in the past you know she doesn't shy away from physical violence, and this heroine experiences it as well. (NOT from the hero)
I could not stand this heroine :( I loved her the first few chapters because she was strong and resilient and protective of those vulnerable around her. Then when she became safe with Ewan, I think every single thing she did annoyed me. I'll admit I'm usually much harder on my heroines than my heroes. She was just so naive and the things she did were so dumb to me. Some made me cringe, some made me mad. She basically ruined the book for me. I give 2 stars because I liked the hero and I smirked a few times while reading.
This book has way more sex in it than I was expecting too. Quite steamy. Which I usually like. I just didn't care about any of it because of my character disconnect with the heroine.
A large, alpha highlander hero
a kidnapped heroine
rival clans that want revenge
The hero is a total alpha. Ewan is the leader of his clan and has been wanting revenge against the Camerons. I rather enjoyed Ewan. He was a little funny, demanding, assertive with his kisses, but sweet underneath.
The heroine is the king's bastard and as such she is entitled to a property that is high demand. Kidnapped from her hiding place, Mairin goes through quite tough times before being brought to Ewan's clan. If you've read Maya Banks in the past you know she doesn't shy away from physical violence, and this heroine experiences it as well. (NOT from the hero)
I could not stand this heroine :( I loved her the first few chapters because she was strong and resilient and protective of those vulnerable around her. Then when she became safe with Ewan, I think every single thing she did annoyed me. I'll admit I'm usually much harder on my heroines than my heroes. She was just so naive and the things she did were so dumb to me. Some made me cringe, some made me mad. She basically ruined the book for me. I give 2 stars because I liked the hero and I smirked a few times while reading.
This book has way more sex in it than I was expecting too. Quite steamy. Which I usually like. I just didn't care about any of it because of my character disconnect with the heroine.
Regina is a dutiful daughter. She has known forever that she will marry for the convenience of her parents. She is disappointed in their choice however, and finds the nerve to run away the morning of her wedding.
The Scoundrel of St. Giles is well known for his dastardly deeds, even by sweet and innocent Regina. Yet, he provides her safety, food, comfort and isn't at all the villain she thought he was. But Regina doesn't know Carlton's past and why he is so determined to keep her with him.
I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but it was fine as a stand alone. But I have read that Carlton is found in other stories in the series, and the series seems to be well loved, so perhaps start at the beginning for the full effect.
This book has such high reviews from all of my goodread friends. I think I just had bad luck with this book. There was something about it that did not pull it together for me. I have so many questions and complains and am just left asking, “Why?”. Why was this happening? Why was that happening? WHY are they falling in love? I don't know. But it happened. And it's not a bad book at all, it was just missing something for me. And there was a lot of action and chaos going on, which is not something I love. But you might! So, everyone else give it a try.
My favorite part of this book was that he had a mustache, which I think are hideous, and the heroine thinks it's hideous. Lol. Is that random?? Just kidding, there were a lot of really cute scenes in this book, and the hero's love is powerful for the heroine. I think truly one of my favorite parts was when he found out she'd never had cake and makes sure to get her one to try.
I was able to receive an ARC copy complimentary from netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
What follows are SERIOUS SPOILERS and my random questions, thoughts and wonderings.
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Firstly, I'd like to address the reason she had to run away from her wedding. Her betrothed was a 14 year old boy with some degenerative disease that affected his muscles. Okay, I get it, she's 18 and she doesn't want to marry a child. But he was SO NICE. And I felt SO BAD for him. I was actually hoping this was the hero and they had some kind of separation and then came back together when he was older. But she was so devastated thinking he couldn't ride horses with her or play hide and seek with their imaginary kids. I just thought it was ridiculously shallow and stupid reasons. I'm not mad at her for running away but I wish it was done a bit different. I want Stokes to have his own story. He deserves love oh so much.
I also didn't like how the names for people changed. They were all the 'right' names but it was annoying me. Like the brother was sometimes called Marcus then he was called Viscount Seabrook and I was like who the f is Viscount Seabrook lol. And Guthrie is Guthrie half the time and Carlton half the time.
So, Regina runs away and just runs into the Scoundrel of St. Giles and decides he's the perfect man to stay with. Ummm okay. She's so naive it hurts. And immediately they are so attracted to each other but I don't feel it. I don't get why? Like what drew them together. I guess the physical attraction but it didn't have the feels of that.
So Carlton has a huge plan of revenge. He wants to hurt Regina's father so he keeps her close and sends her father threatening notes about compromising her.
There's a scene where Regina starts rearranging furniture in his room and rooting through all of his stuff. Pulling everything out his drawers and putting everything on the bed and that scene was just so weird and annoying to me. They barely knew each other, well I guess that's why she wanted to root through everything, but I was so annoyed with her for that. And then she was all like chewing on her lip, oh why are you mad?
Regina decides she wants Guthrie so she has the brothel owner give her a training. But it doesn't come to anything in the book and I was a little sad about that. I was wanting a little more from her sexual curiosity.
Patrick. He's one of Gurthie's cronies and has worked for him forever proving his worth and trust. But for no apparent reason, both Guthrie and Regina get the heebie jeebies from him. He kidnaps her and other women and sells them to be raped and hurt and who knows what else. He does this because he knew he would always be the one not in command. The way the scene was done it was just so...lame. Like Guthrie was like “Why'd ye do this?” and Patrick was like “It seemed like a good way to get ahead” It just seemed so lackluster of a response to someone who literally stole your woman and knew she'd be raped and hurt. He does intend to kill him after their discussion but Regina stops him to save his soul. Maybe I read too much Kerrigan Byrne, but he deserved to die. There were children as young as 8 years old kidnapped for this endeavor. I have no remorse for the criminals.
Then the end just dissolved into chaos with revenge plots being revealed, murders being spoken of and charged, etc. The relationship was lost to me.
The Scoundrel of St. Giles is well known for his dastardly deeds, even by sweet and innocent Regina. Yet, he provides her safety, food, comfort and isn't at all the villain she thought he was. But Regina doesn't know Carlton's past and why he is so determined to keep her with him.
I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but it was fine as a stand alone. But I have read that Carlton is found in other stories in the series, and the series seems to be well loved, so perhaps start at the beginning for the full effect.
This book has such high reviews from all of my goodread friends. I think I just had bad luck with this book. There was something about it that did not pull it together for me. I have so many questions and complains and am just left asking, “Why?”. Why was this happening? Why was that happening? WHY are they falling in love? I don't know. But it happened. And it's not a bad book at all, it was just missing something for me. And there was a lot of action and chaos going on, which is not something I love. But you might! So, everyone else give it a try.
My favorite part of this book was that he had a mustache, which I think are hideous, and the heroine thinks it's hideous. Lol. Is that random?? Just kidding, there were a lot of really cute scenes in this book, and the hero's love is powerful for the heroine. I think truly one of my favorite parts was when he found out she'd never had cake and makes sure to get her one to try.
I was able to receive an ARC copy complimentary from netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
What follows are SERIOUS SPOILERS and my random questions, thoughts and wonderings.
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Spoiler
Firstly, I'd like to address the reason she had to run away from her wedding. Her betrothed was a 14 year old boy with some degenerative disease that affected his muscles. Okay, I get it, she's 18 and she doesn't want to marry a child. But he was SO NICE. And I felt SO BAD for him. I was actually hoping this was the hero and they had some kind of separation and then came back together when he was older. But she was so devastated thinking he couldn't ride horses with her or play hide and seek with their imaginary kids. I just thought it was ridiculously shallow and stupid reasons. I'm not mad at her for running away but I wish it was done a bit different. I want Stokes to have his own story. He deserves love oh so much.
I also didn't like how the names for people changed. They were all the 'right' names but it was annoying me. Like the brother was sometimes called Marcus then he was called Viscount Seabrook and I was like who the f is Viscount Seabrook lol. And Guthrie is Guthrie half the time and Carlton half the time.
So, Regina runs away and just runs into the Scoundrel of St. Giles and decides he's the perfect man to stay with. Ummm okay. She's so naive it hurts. And immediately they are so attracted to each other but I don't feel it. I don't get why? Like what drew them together. I guess the physical attraction but it didn't have the feels of that.
So Carlton has a huge plan of revenge. He wants to hurt Regina's father so he keeps her close and sends her father threatening notes about compromising her.
There's a scene where Regina starts rearranging furniture in his room and rooting through all of his stuff. Pulling everything out his drawers and putting everything on the bed and that scene was just so weird and annoying to me. They barely knew each other, well I guess that's why she wanted to root through everything, but I was so annoyed with her for that. And then she was all like chewing on her lip, oh why are you mad?
Regina decides she wants Guthrie so she has the brothel owner give her a training. But it doesn't come to anything in the book and I was a little sad about that. I was wanting a little more from her sexual curiosity.
Patrick. He's one of Gurthie's cronies and has worked for him forever proving his worth and trust. But for no apparent reason, both Guthrie and Regina get the heebie jeebies from him. He kidnaps her and other women and sells them to be raped and hurt and who knows what else. He does this because he knew he would always be the one not in command. The way the scene was done it was just so...lame. Like Guthrie was like “Why'd ye do this?” and Patrick was like “It seemed like a good way to get ahead” It just seemed so lackluster of a response to someone who literally stole your woman and knew she'd be raped and hurt. He does intend to kill him after their discussion but Regina stops him to save his soul. Maybe I read too much Kerrigan Byrne, but he deserved to die. There were children as young as 8 years old kidnapped for this endeavor. I have no remorse for the criminals.
Then the end just dissolved into chaos with revenge plots being revealed, murders being spoken of and charged, etc. The relationship was lost to me.
The Virgin and the Rogue by Sophie Jordan
The Rogue Riles #6
I know the cover has been mentioned many times but I just love it! It's so damn sexy. I feel like the hero's pose and those back muscles, just wow. I saw this originally on John Paul's facebook page and was like I NEED IT!!!! When I saw it was Sophie Jordan's book, I was a little hesitant because she's been so hit or miss for me. I have read the first 3 books from this series and I strongly disliked books 1 and 3. But I overall liked book 2. This is book 6 but reads fine as a standalone. The heroine, Charlotte, lives with her sister and her husband, who are the hero and heroine from book 5, so it might be pleasant to read that story at least beforehand but not necessary. (At least that's how I feel with not having read book 5 :)
Now, I'm not going to lie, this book is a little ridiculous. It begins with Charlotte suffering from horrible menstrual cramps and her sister making her a tonic. It sounds like this is a frequent occurrence, but this time her sister experiments a bit with her herbs and makes her an aphrodisiac that turns Charlotte into a sex monster.
What follows is VERY SEXY. Two very hot, explicit scenes (no penetration) all before 40%. I was quite surprised. And while I usually don't love too much of that right away in the story, it worked here. This was a book I wanted to see what happened and I was eager to pick it back up again.
Kingston is a bastard, but is well known by the ladies and even the matchmaking mamas. He's had his fun but something has totally stolen the joy of women from him. He has a long celibate period before the heroine, I always love when that happens with a hero. Kingston is so damn sexy. And I really did like him. But, something happened with the character development in the book for me that I was left with only slightly knowing and caring about both characters. He has pain and we get to witness some of it but something just didn't quite grab my heart about him that it should have.
Charlotte I was left feeling similarly. I enjoyed her overall, but nothing extreme. I was still left feeling I only knew the basics about her, which made me sad because she was discussed so much as being this dowdy, boring lump and I didn't want to leave the book still feeling like she was a dowdy, boring lump. Lol. And she came out a little bit (I mean she came out A LOT sexually, but I wanted more than that.) I loved the sexual side of her finding her confidence but I wanted to see more of this fiery personality underneath.
So the sex was great. The story was overall good. The characters were okay. The emotional side was okay. Overall I really liked it but could have really loved it with a few tweaks. This has turned my opinion of Sophie Jordan to the better though. I have been liking the books from her less and less and this one is probably my second favorite by her.
Thank you net galley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own regarding the story.
The Rogue Riles #6
I know the cover has been mentioned many times but I just love it! It's so damn sexy. I feel like the hero's pose and those back muscles, just wow. I saw this originally on John Paul's facebook page and was like I NEED IT!!!! When I saw it was Sophie Jordan's book, I was a little hesitant because she's been so hit or miss for me. I have read the first 3 books from this series and I strongly disliked books 1 and 3. But I overall liked book 2. This is book 6 but reads fine as a standalone. The heroine, Charlotte, lives with her sister and her husband, who are the hero and heroine from book 5, so it might be pleasant to read that story at least beforehand but not necessary. (At least that's how I feel with not having read book 5 :)
Now, I'm not going to lie, this book is a little ridiculous. It begins with Charlotte suffering from horrible menstrual cramps and her sister making her a tonic. It sounds like this is a frequent occurrence, but this time her sister experiments a bit with her herbs and makes her an aphrodisiac that turns Charlotte into a sex monster.
What follows is VERY SEXY. Two very hot, explicit scenes (no penetration) all before 40%. I was quite surprised. And while I usually don't love too much of that right away in the story, it worked here. This was a book I wanted to see what happened and I was eager to pick it back up again.
Kingston is a bastard, but is well known by the ladies and even the matchmaking mamas. He's had his fun but something has totally stolen the joy of women from him. He has a long celibate period before the heroine, I always love when that happens with a hero. Kingston is so damn sexy. And I really did like him. But, something happened with the character development in the book for me that I was left with only slightly knowing and caring about both characters. He has pain and we get to witness some of it but something just didn't quite grab my heart about him that it should have.
Charlotte I was left feeling similarly. I enjoyed her overall, but nothing extreme. I was still left feeling I only knew the basics about her, which made me sad because she was discussed so much as being this dowdy, boring lump and I didn't want to leave the book still feeling like she was a dowdy, boring lump. Lol. And she came out a little bit (I mean she came out A LOT sexually, but I wanted more than that.) I loved the sexual side of her finding her confidence but I wanted to see more of this fiery personality underneath.
So the sex was great. The story was overall good. The characters were okay. The emotional side was okay. Overall I really liked it but could have really loved it with a few tweaks. This has turned my opinion of Sophie Jordan to the better though. I have been liking the books from her less and less and this one is probably my second favorite by her.
Thank you net galley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own regarding the story.
Ok I really disliked this book. I think you should give this book a try if you don't mind books being on lower steam end. Like way low. One kiss, I think and one love scene, both very close to the end. Quite a few people have liked it, though, and you never know what you'll like you until you read it. This is just my own personal opinion.
This was my first novel by this author. I would try her again, its not that the writing was bad or anything, more of just a real character disconnect. I didn't really like either character. They didn't inspire strong feelings in me. I started this book like 10 days ago and had to force myself to finish it.
The book starts with shy, American, orphan Sarah in bed with Brice,who is a Baron. I personally thought the first chapter was beyond absurd with the way the two characters were forced into marriage. But I was willing to let all of that go. Sarah is extremely shy, being raised in a convent and in a new country, her social skills are painfully lacking. Brice has recently lost two of his friends to marriage and dagnabbit it's not going to happen to him. He abhors marriage above all else apparently relishing in his life filled with brothels and gaming hells. Neither of these characters appealed to me. There was no depth. They were annoying. They had no substance. I could have used them for bookmarks and never picked it up again.
I just kept waiting for it to get better. And in some ways it does, but not nearly enough to save it. Caroline, who I'm assuming is a character from a previous story, befriends Sarah and wants to help her seduce her husband. She gives her the kama sutra book and tells her to study it. Which she does and then writes entries into her diary. Honestly that's probably the only part of the book I liked, was her writing in her diary but there's only a few short entries.
The huge thing that got me was the lack of interaction between the hero and heroine. I felt like they hardly spent any time together. I felt like I was reading the same cycle repeated over and over and over until the tend of the book. Sarah blushes, Brice says how much he doesn't want a wife, Sarah chews on her lip and Brice being a huge rake, stares and says, Wait, DO I want a wife? Then they part. They meet again, Sarah blushes, they part. They meet again, Sarah blushes and chews on her lip, Brice tries to talk to her and Sarah, being overly clumsy, spills 16 things, individually blushing after every item. They part. I just kept waiting and waiting for it pick up and for them to connect. I wanted her to actually implement some of the things she was curious about in the kama sutra book. But that never happens either.
A completely unnecessary villain is introduced and time away from their nonexistent relationship is spent on that as well.
I couldn't stand how Sarah is treated poorly by the house staff. She's now the wife of a Baron and she doesn't even bother to address the disrespect. I just kept waiting for her to come in to her own and be her own person but I felt like it never really happened. Brice talks to the staff later in the book and they 'seem to have accepted her' which was basically the only closure you'll get the situation.
Sorry to complain so much. Just not for me. And in case you think I'm exaggerating, she blushes 28 times only from what I counted and, not going to lie, I lost much attention after 52% of the book so who knows how many more there were. She also chews on her lips no less than 12 times. Once I noticed, which was unfortunately chapter 1, I could not unsee it.
I was able to receive an ARC copy complimentary from netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This was my first novel by this author. I would try her again, its not that the writing was bad or anything, more of just a real character disconnect. I didn't really like either character. They didn't inspire strong feelings in me. I started this book like 10 days ago and had to force myself to finish it.
The book starts with shy, American, orphan Sarah in bed with Brice,who is a Baron. I personally thought the first chapter was beyond absurd with the way the two characters were forced into marriage. But I was willing to let all of that go. Sarah is extremely shy, being raised in a convent and in a new country, her social skills are painfully lacking. Brice has recently lost two of his friends to marriage and dagnabbit it's not going to happen to him. He abhors marriage above all else apparently relishing in his life filled with brothels and gaming hells. Neither of these characters appealed to me. There was no depth. They were annoying. They had no substance. I could have used them for bookmarks and never picked it up again.
I just kept waiting for it to get better. And in some ways it does, but not nearly enough to save it. Caroline, who I'm assuming is a character from a previous story, befriends Sarah and wants to help her seduce her husband. She gives her the kama sutra book and tells her to study it. Which she does and then writes entries into her diary. Honestly that's probably the only part of the book I liked, was her writing in her diary but there's only a few short entries.
The huge thing that got me was the lack of interaction between the hero and heroine. I felt like they hardly spent any time together. I felt like I was reading the same cycle repeated over and over and over until the tend of the book. Sarah blushes, Brice says how much he doesn't want a wife, Sarah chews on her lip and Brice being a huge rake, stares and says, Wait, DO I want a wife? Then they part. They meet again, Sarah blushes, they part. They meet again, Sarah blushes and chews on her lip, Brice tries to talk to her and Sarah, being overly clumsy, spills 16 things, individually blushing after every item. They part. I just kept waiting and waiting for it pick up and for them to connect. I wanted her to actually implement some of the things she was curious about in the kama sutra book. But that never happens either.
A completely unnecessary villain is introduced and time away from their nonexistent relationship is spent on that as well.
I couldn't stand how Sarah is treated poorly by the house staff. She's now the wife of a Baron and she doesn't even bother to address the disrespect. I just kept waiting for her to come in to her own and be her own person but I felt like it never really happened. Brice talks to the staff later in the book and they 'seem to have accepted her' which was basically the only closure you'll get the situation.
Sorry to complain so much. Just not for me. And in case you think I'm exaggerating, she blushes 28 times only from what I counted and, not going to lie, I lost much attention after 52% of the book so who knows how many more there were. She also chews on her lips no less than 12 times. Once I noticed, which was unfortunately chapter 1, I could not unsee it.
I was able to receive an ARC copy complimentary from netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.