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So, overall really enjoyed the book. It's got some good information about starches and why they aren't the enemy. I think I'm going to try to follow this for a full month and see how I feel. Well, you know after coronavirus so I can actually buy food...
I have been reading lots of Dr. Gregor lately and I did feel McDougall left me wanting more. His book did come off with a lot of opinion based rhetoric and lacked a bit on the science. The science is there a bit but everything wasn't explained. Like he says not to drink coffee, I'm assuming something with the caffeine, I didn't get why after reading the book. I love that Gregor explains every part of it, all of the why behind it and then you get to make your own decision. Probably why all of his books are like 1,000 pages, but I love that about him...
Lots of recipes in the back of the book I'm excited to try. I liked how relaxed he is about the lifestyle. Eat whenever, however much, as long as they are foods that will fuel your body. I was also rather surprised and comforted he allows a bit of sugar and salt. I get they aren't the healthiest foods and while I have eliminated like 80% of my added sugar usage, there's sometimes you just want some brown sugar in your oatmeal lol. We've also lessened our salt usage but some foods I just can't even eat them without it.
I loved the stories of people's success stories. I get those aren't the best 'science' as it's just a person's personal experience and we all have different environments and bodies but still it's pretty motivating. I plan on getting his other books from the library (when it reopens) and checking it out.
I also bought the app, lots of great recipes on there.
I have been reading lots of Dr. Gregor lately and I did feel McDougall left me wanting more. His book did come off with a lot of opinion based rhetoric and lacked a bit on the science. The science is there a bit but everything wasn't explained. Like he says not to drink coffee, I'm assuming something with the caffeine, I didn't get why after reading the book. I love that Gregor explains every part of it, all of the why behind it and then you get to make your own decision. Probably why all of his books are like 1,000 pages, but I love that about him...
Lots of recipes in the back of the book I'm excited to try. I liked how relaxed he is about the lifestyle. Eat whenever, however much, as long as they are foods that will fuel your body. I was also rather surprised and comforted he allows a bit of sugar and salt. I get they aren't the healthiest foods and while I have eliminated like 80% of my added sugar usage, there's sometimes you just want some brown sugar in your oatmeal lol. We've also lessened our salt usage but some foods I just can't even eat them without it.
I loved the stories of people's success stories. I get those aren't the best 'science' as it's just a person's personal experience and we all have different environments and bodies but still it's pretty motivating. I plan on getting his other books from the library (when it reopens) and checking it out.
I also bought the app, lots of great recipes on there.
First time trying this author. Definitely one I will try again. Though there were things about this book that I didn't like, there was a lot I loved. Some paragraphs just made me sigh and were utterly poetic. Others had me so annoyed. I can easily see this author having a 5 star from my own picky self though with the right book. I have seen reviews of this book being erotica and I don't think that's true at all. She's a bit more adventurous with her sexual scenes (not BDSM) and there was a scene or two more than the usual book, but it wasn't the main point of the story. So if you like them steamy, give this author a try. She does have other books listed specifically as erotica (The Lass Initiated the Laird is one. It's a novella, 3.5 in Explosive Highlander series.)
Otilia is our heroine and she has been orphaned and raised by her aunt and uncle, The Earl of Thornton. After her uncle's passing, the new Earl of Thornton returns and she wants nothing to do with him. She knew him 8 years ago, made a fool of herself, and never wants to see him again. She craves her independence and plans on getting it my securing a position as a governess or companion.
Edmund is basically an arrogant, jealous lord that's kind of a jerk in the beginning. Probably why I liked him, because I love that stuff. He was in love in the past but was hurt and holds a grudge against all women for being title seekers. He can't control his reactions to Otilia though and they soon find themselves in a number of inappropriate situations. I love his jealousy and lack of control. He isn't forceful or lacking consent or anything, she is a very willing participant :) It's just any time he sees the heroine with another man he gets angry. When he comes across her alone he can't control his hands. He's very possessive.
You should give this book a try if
- You like steamy novels
- You like enemies to lovers
- You like a book all about the romance and relationship. No one's being murdered. There's no ghost. There's no mystery. I love that!
- You like the class difference trope (heroine is orphaned bastard and the hero is is an Earl)
I give this book 3.5 stars rounded to 4. I wanted to feel Edmund's pain about his past experience that jaded him so much. But all you get is a brief paragraph a few times in the book with hardly any details. The details you are given are laughable. Like you will not feel his pain was deserved, you'll think he's a big wimpy ninny for reacting the way he did. As this leads to the main point of conflict in the book – he can't love because he's been so wronged – that really bothered me. I think if the author had given a more heartbreaking reason, or give more details, maybe like a prologue with the experience and shown the pain in his head I would have been more sympathetic. But very excited to try another by her.
Also very minor and random complaint but I didn't like that his voice was described as syrupy. It was also described as honey which was fine. I think I have a negative association with a voice described as syrup. Like I've usually read it used in a negative way. Too sweet or insincere comes to mind. Which makes no sense when I am fine with the word honey and when you think of honey and syrup they are so similar...lol Totally just me. But it was such a unique way to describe the hero's voice so I noticed it every time it was mentioned
Otilia is our heroine and she has been orphaned and raised by her aunt and uncle, The Earl of Thornton. After her uncle's passing, the new Earl of Thornton returns and she wants nothing to do with him. She knew him 8 years ago, made a fool of herself, and never wants to see him again. She craves her independence and plans on getting it my securing a position as a governess or companion.
Edmund is basically an arrogant, jealous lord that's kind of a jerk in the beginning. Probably why I liked him, because I love that stuff. He was in love in the past but was hurt and holds a grudge against all women for being title seekers. He can't control his reactions to Otilia though and they soon find themselves in a number of inappropriate situations. I love his jealousy and lack of control. He isn't forceful or lacking consent or anything, she is a very willing participant :) It's just any time he sees the heroine with another man he gets angry. When he comes across her alone he can't control his hands. He's very possessive.
You should give this book a try if
- You like steamy novels
- You like enemies to lovers
- You like a book all about the romance and relationship. No one's being murdered. There's no ghost. There's no mystery. I love that!
- You like the class difference trope (heroine is orphaned bastard and the hero is is an Earl)
I give this book 3.5 stars rounded to 4. I wanted to feel Edmund's pain about his past experience that jaded him so much. But all you get is a brief paragraph a few times in the book with hardly any details. The details you are given are laughable. Like you will not feel his pain was deserved, you'll think he's a big wimpy ninny for reacting the way he did. As this leads to the main point of conflict in the book – he can't love because he's been so wronged – that really bothered me. I think if the author had given a more heartbreaking reason, or give more details, maybe like a prologue with the experience and shown the pain in his head I would have been more sympathetic. But very excited to try another by her.
Also very minor and random complaint but I didn't like that his voice was described as syrupy. It was also described as honey which was fine. I think I have a negative association with a voice described as syrup. Like I've usually read it used in a negative way. Too sweet or insincere comes to mind. Which makes no sense when I am fine with the word honey and when you think of honey and syrup they are so similar...lol Totally just me. But it was such a unique way to describe the hero's voice so I noticed it every time it was mentioned
(Adding this January 2020)I just have to edit my review to state this. When I read this book, I debated heavily as what to put it. For me, it was a 2 star book. Perhaps 2 1/2. The author was in a facebook group I am in, so I thought it would be best to round up to 3 stars. I stated my review kindly and made effort to point out what people might like about this book but still saying how I felt about it. I know I'm a picky reader. I always state this as well. I'm not just out to give bad reviews, there's just certain things that don't do it for me in romance.
The author, Laura Mills-Alcott, has been extremely aggressive, pushy, argumentative, downright rude, and just plain scary in her facebook comments. Once she was no longer in the group, I felt safe enough to rate the book as I honestly thought, as 2 stars. I thought that would be the end of it. Two months later, she decided to MESSAGE me and confront me on changing it from 3 to 2 stars.. I'm rather flabbergasted. I never thought I would have an author confront me on writing a review. I'm not going to lie, I had no idea what to say. I asked her if she wanted to talk about why I changed it, because why else message me about it? And she told me I did it only to be petty and it made her laugh and she appreciates the fodder. I just left the conversation. From witnessing her facebook conversations I knew trying to explain my feelings on the book would just lead me straight to a liquor store. It was also obvious she didn't want an honest discussion about my feelings about the book or the review or anything. She just really loves to argue and confront, I think. I'm not really sure.
While her unprofessionalism doesn't surprise me, it still left me unsettled. She had stated repeatedly in the group that lower ratings were also important for authors to make readers think it wasn't just their family/friends giving them 5 stars. Apparently 2 stars is too low. If you read this book, I hope you love it. If not...beware...
Perhaps I'll get another message for adding in these notes. I'm not sure. I'm a little scared lol.
(Review November 2019)
This book is the first I've tried that has 2 reading options – an edited version that is closed door love scenes and an original version that is more explicit. While great in theory, as in there's something for everyone, I didn't like that it was in the same book. I'm sure it's just the fact that I will ALWAYS choose an explicit version over closed door. When you open the book, it starts past the explanation about it all, so unless you go back to read everything you will probably be a little confused. Or you'll start the story with the less steamy version. If I wouldn't have known all this before starting, I would have been annoyed getting closed door first. But of course that's because I love the sex haha. I'm sure if I preferred closed door scenes I would have been happier. My other complaint about this is you will have no idea how far you are in the book since there's 2 books in 1. I mean, you can search for when each book ends and figure it out, and I guess you run into the same thing with anthologies, but I just didn't love it. I'm lazy like that haha.
There are slight spoilers in this review. I tried to keep specifics to things found very early in the book. However if you like to be totally surprised, please stop now and go read it :) Then tell me how you liked it!
My own personal preference for romance is pretty specific. I want the characters really focused on each other and I don't like a lot of other things going on in the book. I totally get that's not how everyone is and others get bored with a lack of plot devices. I felt like there was so much going on in this book. And it's going to be hard to talk about it without spoiling things.
Devan, Lord Castlereagh, was so unlikable to me at first. He growled at everyone, snarled, was beyond rude. Would just get up and leave a room. Demand things. I wish a bit more of his history was given, his pain, that had made him become this. He makes a turn around about ¼ to ½ through the book, but I saw nothing enjoyable about him in the beginning. Grouchy, rude, but he is recovering from a devastating loss, so I guess it's excusable. But anyway he does turn himself around and became quite pleasant.
I didn't like the first kiss at all either, but I will say those scenes improved as the book went on as well. To me, the first kiss takes place way too soon. They don't know each other at all, and the heroine, Raven, is literally in fear of him. There is struggling, and then it turns into desire. I want that tension and nothing had built up yet. I didn't understand where the switch came from. I didn't feel the passion.
Raven has come upon Devan's manor after losing her memory. He is drawn to her in a way he can't understand. She is acting as a servant in his house, so he moves her upstairs and dresses her in fine clothes. And almost immediately begins the misunderstands. It's almost constant through the whole book. The Big Miscommunication. Multiple misunderstandings that could easily be remedied with a bit of heartfelt dialogue. I do feel like these characters didn't do enough talking. They spend the book in turmoil, the hero thinking this and that and the heroine thinking that and this and none of it is even true. Raven started driving me nuts and she does something, or I guess DOESN'T do something with a secret formed later in the book that I kinda really dislike in books. Again, just me being picky.
Through all this book, the paranormal theme involves the long gone lovers, Mairead and Seamus. Feelings and dreams from this couple affect Devan and Raven. The thing that was weird to me was how Raven didn't have the same awareness of what was going on in the dreams as related to current time as Devan. It was like she was possessed. I just felt like this happening in the book could have worked if it was one of the only obstacles the couple was facing. But instead, it was this and miscommunications, and a mean girl vying for the hero, and the heroine's amnesia and trying to find her identity, and some other things that I don't even want to mention because they are spoilers. (These things mentioned happen very early in the book.) It was just too much and I feel like Devan and Raven got lost in all the craziness. As I finished, I felt like I still didn't really know either of them. I felt like Raven wasn't even her own person. I felt like I knew Mairead more, which perhaps was purposeful, I'm not sure.
I'd also like to say that Devan repeatedly disappointed me when it came to protecting and standing up for Raven. While his character did a pleasant turn around for me from the beginning, he still let her feelings and heart get trampled more than I would have liked.
Finally, the book just kept going. There are reasons for this, yet I was just ready to be done. But everything is wrapped up and addressed by the end.
The author, Laura Mills-Alcott, has been extremely aggressive, pushy, argumentative, downright rude, and just plain scary in her facebook comments. Once she was no longer in the group, I felt safe enough to rate the book as I honestly thought, as 2 stars. I thought that would be the end of it. Two months later, she decided to MESSAGE me and confront me on changing it from 3 to 2 stars.. I'm rather flabbergasted. I never thought I would have an author confront me on writing a review. I'm not going to lie, I had no idea what to say. I asked her if she wanted to talk about why I changed it, because why else message me about it? And she told me I did it only to be petty and it made her laugh and she appreciates the fodder. I just left the conversation. From witnessing her facebook conversations I knew trying to explain my feelings on the book would just lead me straight to a liquor store. It was also obvious she didn't want an honest discussion about my feelings about the book or the review or anything. She just really loves to argue and confront, I think. I'm not really sure.
While her unprofessionalism doesn't surprise me, it still left me unsettled. She had stated repeatedly in the group that lower ratings were also important for authors to make readers think it wasn't just their family/friends giving them 5 stars. Apparently 2 stars is too low. If you read this book, I hope you love it. If not...beware...
Perhaps I'll get another message for adding in these notes. I'm not sure. I'm a little scared lol.
(Review November 2019)
This book is the first I've tried that has 2 reading options – an edited version that is closed door love scenes and an original version that is more explicit. While great in theory, as in there's something for everyone, I didn't like that it was in the same book. I'm sure it's just the fact that I will ALWAYS choose an explicit version over closed door. When you open the book, it starts past the explanation about it all, so unless you go back to read everything you will probably be a little confused. Or you'll start the story with the less steamy version. If I wouldn't have known all this before starting, I would have been annoyed getting closed door first. But of course that's because I love the sex haha. I'm sure if I preferred closed door scenes I would have been happier. My other complaint about this is you will have no idea how far you are in the book since there's 2 books in 1. I mean, you can search for when each book ends and figure it out, and I guess you run into the same thing with anthologies, but I just didn't love it. I'm lazy like that haha.
There are slight spoilers in this review. I tried to keep specifics to things found very early in the book. However if you like to be totally surprised, please stop now and go read it :) Then tell me how you liked it!
My own personal preference for romance is pretty specific. I want the characters really focused on each other and I don't like a lot of other things going on in the book. I totally get that's not how everyone is and others get bored with a lack of plot devices. I felt like there was so much going on in this book. And it's going to be hard to talk about it without spoiling things.
Devan, Lord Castlereagh, was so unlikable to me at first. He growled at everyone, snarled, was beyond rude. Would just get up and leave a room. Demand things. I wish a bit more of his history was given, his pain, that had made him become this. He makes a turn around about ¼ to ½ through the book, but I saw nothing enjoyable about him in the beginning. Grouchy, rude, but he is recovering from a devastating loss, so I guess it's excusable. But anyway he does turn himself around and became quite pleasant.
I didn't like the first kiss at all either, but I will say those scenes improved as the book went on as well. To me, the first kiss takes place way too soon. They don't know each other at all, and the heroine, Raven, is literally in fear of him. There is struggling, and then it turns into desire. I want that tension and nothing had built up yet. I didn't understand where the switch came from. I didn't feel the passion.
Raven has come upon Devan's manor after losing her memory. He is drawn to her in a way he can't understand. She is acting as a servant in his house, so he moves her upstairs and dresses her in fine clothes. And almost immediately begins the misunderstands. It's almost constant through the whole book. The Big Miscommunication. Multiple misunderstandings that could easily be remedied with a bit of heartfelt dialogue. I do feel like these characters didn't do enough talking. They spend the book in turmoil, the hero thinking this and that and the heroine thinking that and this and none of it is even true. Raven started driving me nuts and she does something, or I guess DOESN'T do something with a secret formed later in the book that I kinda really dislike in books. Again, just me being picky.
Through all this book, the paranormal theme involves the long gone lovers, Mairead and Seamus. Feelings and dreams from this couple affect Devan and Raven. The thing that was weird to me was how Raven didn't have the same awareness of what was going on in the dreams as related to current time as Devan. It was like she was possessed. I just felt like this happening in the book could have worked if it was one of the only obstacles the couple was facing. But instead, it was this and miscommunications, and a mean girl vying for the hero, and the heroine's amnesia and trying to find her identity, and some other things that I don't even want to mention because they are spoilers. (These things mentioned happen very early in the book.) It was just too much and I feel like Devan and Raven got lost in all the craziness. As I finished, I felt like I still didn't really know either of them. I felt like Raven wasn't even her own person. I felt like I knew Mairead more, which perhaps was purposeful, I'm not sure.
I'd also like to say that Devan repeatedly disappointed me when it came to protecting and standing up for Raven. While his character did a pleasant turn around for me from the beginning, he still let her feelings and heart get trampled more than I would have liked.
Finally, the book just kept going. There are reasons for this, yet I was just ready to be done. But everything is wrapped up and addressed by the end.
This story was my first contemporary in quite a while. Overall I liked it. Stars got knocked for me for lack of build up of tension (first few chapters were good, then fizzled) and lack of character depth, mainly for the hero. I would have liked to have spent more time in the hero’s head. The author also took development opportunities and completely missed them by saying vague statements like “they shared stories all night of their childhood”.
I did love their families. I loved the sex.
I thought the beat down on the heroines looks were a little overplayed (I get it, Butterface, but I felt like it was still high school). I would have liked to have seen the heroine get some confidence. I also thought the plot was pretty predictable, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Just with all the other things it made the book only 3 stars for me.
I did love their families. I loved the sex.
I thought the beat down on the heroines looks were a little overplayed (I get it, Butterface, but I felt like it was still high school). I would have liked to have seen the heroine get some confidence. I also thought the plot was pretty predictable, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Just with all the other things it made the book only 3 stars for me.
I ADORED this book. LOVED it. I started it when I should have been sleeping and instead stayed up half the night reading 70% of it. I have never tried this author but oh she has climbed quickly up my next to read list for more.
This is book 3 in the series and can be read as a standalone. The heroines from the previous 2 books are in this story, but just briefly and you can easily grasp the story and their friendship without reading them prior to this.
Reese is the hero. It has almost a beauty and the beast feel to it in some parts. He tempts her with a rose. He has a tangled, beastly garden they help nurture, though it retains its underworld feel. But he is not a beast. He is wonderful. Utterly sweet, receptive, loving, such a beta hero through and through. Reese was never meant to be the Earl, so he went into the military. He suffers from PTSD from a few things that have occurred in his life. But he finds Sophie to be the perfect balm for his tortured soul.
Sophie is promised to another. She doesn't love him but she knows what she must do to save her family. Her family is near destitute because of her father's gambling and drinking. Her favorite thing to be a part of is the Debutante Underground and escape her reality for a little while. It's unusual for me to really love a heroine. I loved her. I want her in my life and being my friend. She's one of those just wonderful people that brighten your day no matter what. I was literally felt happier reading about her.
This book starts out introducing us to the Debutante Underground, a secret group that discusses whatever women love and focuses on the weekly newspaper clipping of The Debutante's Revenge. This is what binds the heroines from the 3 books of the series together. It was wonderful to read and experience, something a bit new and different.
This book had so much sweetness in it. So much love. There were feels everywhere for me with this book. I have no hesitation about the couple being together. I know they love each other. I know they will be happy ever after. Some stories I'm just not fully convinced by the end but I can see Reese and Sophie's future clearly.
I remember looking at the page count and saying I love this book. It was 7%. I remember thinking I REALLY love this book. It was 12%. And then I was completely and absolutely lost in the story. It takes a good story to get me fully immersed, just watching the characters play out before. And before I knew it, it was 4am and I was 70% done. Can't wait to try another one by her.
Thanks netgalley for the complimentary ARC. These opinions are completely my own.
This is book 3 in the series and can be read as a standalone. The heroines from the previous 2 books are in this story, but just briefly and you can easily grasp the story and their friendship without reading them prior to this.
Reese is the hero. It has almost a beauty and the beast feel to it in some parts. He tempts her with a rose. He has a tangled, beastly garden they help nurture, though it retains its underworld feel. But he is not a beast. He is wonderful. Utterly sweet, receptive, loving, such a beta hero through and through. Reese was never meant to be the Earl, so he went into the military. He suffers from PTSD from a few things that have occurred in his life. But he finds Sophie to be the perfect balm for his tortured soul.
Sophie is promised to another. She doesn't love him but she knows what she must do to save her family. Her family is near destitute because of her father's gambling and drinking. Her favorite thing to be a part of is the Debutante Underground and escape her reality for a little while. It's unusual for me to really love a heroine. I loved her. I want her in my life and being my friend. She's one of those just wonderful people that brighten your day no matter what. I was literally felt happier reading about her.
This book starts out introducing us to the Debutante Underground, a secret group that discusses whatever women love and focuses on the weekly newspaper clipping of The Debutante's Revenge. This is what binds the heroines from the 3 books of the series together. It was wonderful to read and experience, something a bit new and different.
This book had so much sweetness in it. So much love. There were feels everywhere for me with this book. I have no hesitation about the couple being together. I know they love each other. I know they will be happy ever after. Some stories I'm just not fully convinced by the end but I can see Reese and Sophie's future clearly.
I remember looking at the page count and saying I love this book. It was 7%. I remember thinking I REALLY love this book. It was 12%. And then I was completely and absolutely lost in the story. It takes a good story to get me fully immersed, just watching the characters play out before. And before I knew it, it was 4am and I was 70% done. Can't wait to try another one by her.
Thanks netgalley for the complimentary ARC. These opinions are completely my own.
This is the second book in the Society for Single Ladies series. I haven't read the first. I would make a guess that you should read the first, as I was left with no idea about exactly what the society for single ladies was, or how our heroine ended up a part of it, or what exactly her role was to be there. So perhaps that is explained in the first one, but I haven't read it so I have no idea. I wouldn't recommend this as a standalone for that reason.
Benedict and Dorothea are betrothed but Benedict is young and passionate and finds he just doesn't care. He makes a bunch of rash, dangerous mistakes with his friends and family and breaks off the engagement. He's left with a huge mess that changes his life in drastic ways.
The story picks up about 7 years later. Dorothea and Benedict are at the same country house party. Dorothea has her duties for the society of single ladies, which is to find who the real heir is. Benedict is trying to get his life back together.
I didn't like this book for a number of reasons. The beginning wasn't bad, even though I don't usually love the second chance romance trope. But it was a little silly how quickly they jumped into a relationship with each other with their history. But, okay, I can get past that. But I felt like as the book went on, I didn't know Dorothea at all. Benedict you get to know a bit, but I was left with Dorothea just being such a flat character. I didn't really understand how or why she got into the society of single ladies or what her real purpose was there, what her family life had been like, basically any history on her at all.
The end of the book just got absurd and basically turned into a classic game of Clue. Who dunnit? There were multiple house guests that wasted page time with nonsense and conversations that weren't needed. There's crimes being committed and everyone has a guess who does it, yet none of the guests seem to care enough to leave the house party. It was just strange. So many unlikable characters. In some ways it was a little boring, even though there was a lot going on. It just wasn't stuff I cared about.
It was fairly steamy with a few scenes that were pretty detailed but I just didn't feel the pull between the characters that much to appreciate it, unfortunately.
Thank you netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All of these opinions are my own.
Safety warning:
Benedict and Dorothea are betrothed but Benedict is young and passionate and finds he just doesn't care. He makes a bunch of rash, dangerous mistakes with his friends and family and breaks off the engagement. He's left with a huge mess that changes his life in drastic ways.
The story picks up about 7 years later. Dorothea and Benedict are at the same country house party. Dorothea has her duties for the society of single ladies, which is to find who the real heir is. Benedict is trying to get his life back together.
I didn't like this book for a number of reasons. The beginning wasn't bad, even though I don't usually love the second chance romance trope. But it was a little silly how quickly they jumped into a relationship with each other with their history. But, okay, I can get past that. But I felt like as the book went on, I didn't know Dorothea at all. Benedict you get to know a bit, but I was left with Dorothea just being such a flat character. I didn't really understand how or why she got into the society of single ladies or what her real purpose was there, what her family life had been like, basically any history on her at all.
The end of the book just got absurd and basically turned into a classic game of Clue. Who dunnit? There were multiple house guests that wasted page time with nonsense and conversations that weren't needed. There's crimes being committed and everyone has a guess who does it, yet none of the guests seem to care enough to leave the house party. It was just strange. So many unlikable characters. In some ways it was a little boring, even though there was a lot going on. It just wasn't stuff I cared about.
It was fairly steamy with a few scenes that were pretty detailed but I just didn't feel the pull between the characters that much to appreciate it, unfortunately.
Thank you netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All of these opinions are my own.
Safety warning:
Spoiler
suicide/death
This is my first book by Cathleen Ross and I was so excited for this book based on the synopsis. The hero, Aaron, is being forced to marry against his will because his father, the duke, needs money and heirs. He comes across Crystal, who speaks for women's rights, believes in desire, and has said marriage is not for her, and decides shes the perfect thing to stir up his family.
Unfortunately this book was just not for me. I can't say I could get into Crystal much after she says a lot of shocking and aggressive things for the time and then gets surprised when the men react badly.
Things like:
Women deserve their freedom and should get to decide who to marry. Their intelligence is equal to a man's. Women want to enjoy sexual congress. Women feel desire.
At first I thought I would enjoy this book because she spoke for those things, but how naive she was...she just didn't strike me as a suffragette that was going to make a difference sadly because she'll be too busy having tomatoes thrown at her and sitting in jail. Her tact was completely missing and I just found her too brash (especially after reading books like Bringing Down the Duke, which I adored)
There were a few things I enjoyed in the book like the discussions on new inventions of the home including water closets and showers. It's fun experiencing that stuff from someone's eyes that are seeing it for the first time. It must have been glorious hahaha. I also enjoyed the family dinner and the banter with the family. But nothing between the hero and heroine really and that is why I give this book such a low rating.
But I just never got into the love story. Or either character really. The hero I just didn't like. He came across as literally only caring about having sex. It was all he thought about, the bulge in his pants, and it was focused on so much I knew nothing about him, except he had a bulge in his pants and it was bothering him. He didn't seem to REALLY get to know the heroine. Like how he admired her so much for her women's rights ideals and fighting for children to learn instead of being put to work, yet was shocked when she fought back at him after he was ordering her around and commanding her. And he also had another suitor he wasn't interested in, but the only reasons were are given are her laugh and her beaver teeth. I just thought it was awful. Don't dislike people for things they can't control. Dislike them for their actions, if need be. She was also described as a 'Dreadful overdressed creature with teeth like a beaver? She sounds like a wheezing donkey.' by another character in the book. Yet all we see of her character is she is a debutante trying to find a husband and doing what her mother tells her. She's not mean or vindictive or malicious. She's just not good enough for the hero's bulge in his pants and it made me dislike him even more.
This is just my own opinion. If you've read her before please feel free to share your feelings below! I know some things I dislike in a book can be another person's favorite.
Thanks netgalley for the complimentary ARC. These thoughts and opinions are my own.
MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW – BE WARNED!!!!!! LEAVE POST NOW IF YOU DON'T WANT SPECIFIC PLOT DISCUSSION.
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Then there was this really weird side part in the book about white slavery. It just seemed so random and was not done well and the subject surely wasn't done justice. It didn't sit well with me the way it was presented, with the heroine saying things like “There are no white slaves.” and “The working class was so ignorant they would believe anything they were told.” She doesn't keep these views, but I felt like her 'awakening' wasn't done well enough for me to care about her any more after this experience. And then she uses some line later that she's a slave to her passion or feelings for the hero (something like that) and I just thought it was in really bad taste with that going on in the book. And lastly when they find who was kidnapping people they make sure he doesn't hang so that he too can be a slave. So they were so abhorred with the idea of slavery they made sure he becomes that?
And lastly she has sworn off marriage and he knows he can't marry her so he basically wants her a mistress. And she's only mildly upset. And after all this supposed conflict he just decides to ask her to marry him and it says
But she realized she loved him.
It was just so...blah. So anticlimactic. No feels. I have no idea if these people truly love each other and I am not left with a feeling that they will live happily ever after and that's just sad.
Unfortunately this book was just not for me. I can't say I could get into Crystal much after she says a lot of shocking and aggressive things for the time and then gets surprised when the men react badly.
Things like:
Women deserve their freedom and should get to decide who to marry. Their intelligence is equal to a man's. Women want to enjoy sexual congress. Women feel desire.
At first I thought I would enjoy this book because she spoke for those things, but how naive she was...she just didn't strike me as a suffragette that was going to make a difference sadly because she'll be too busy having tomatoes thrown at her and sitting in jail. Her tact was completely missing and I just found her too brash (especially after reading books like Bringing Down the Duke, which I adored)
There were a few things I enjoyed in the book like the discussions on new inventions of the home including water closets and showers. It's fun experiencing that stuff from someone's eyes that are seeing it for the first time. It must have been glorious hahaha. I also enjoyed the family dinner and the banter with the family. But nothing between the hero and heroine really and that is why I give this book such a low rating.
But I just never got into the love story. Or either character really. The hero I just didn't like. He came across as literally only caring about having sex. It was all he thought about, the bulge in his pants, and it was focused on so much I knew nothing about him, except he had a bulge in his pants and it was bothering him. He didn't seem to REALLY get to know the heroine. Like how he admired her so much for her women's rights ideals and fighting for children to learn instead of being put to work, yet was shocked when she fought back at him after he was ordering her around and commanding her. And he also had another suitor he wasn't interested in, but the only reasons were are given are her laugh and her beaver teeth. I just thought it was awful. Don't dislike people for things they can't control. Dislike them for their actions, if need be. She was also described as a 'Dreadful overdressed creature with teeth like a beaver? She sounds like a wheezing donkey.' by another character in the book. Yet all we see of her character is she is a debutante trying to find a husband and doing what her mother tells her. She's not mean or vindictive or malicious. She's just not good enough for the hero's bulge in his pants and it made me dislike him even more.
This is just my own opinion. If you've read her before please feel free to share your feelings below! I know some things I dislike in a book can be another person's favorite.
Thanks netgalley for the complimentary ARC. These thoughts and opinions are my own.
MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW – BE WARNED!!!!!! LEAVE POST NOW IF YOU DON'T WANT SPECIFIC PLOT DISCUSSION.
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Spoiler
Then there was this really weird side part in the book about white slavery. It just seemed so random and was not done well and the subject surely wasn't done justice. It didn't sit well with me the way it was presented, with the heroine saying things like “There are no white slaves.” and “The working class was so ignorant they would believe anything they were told.” She doesn't keep these views, but I felt like her 'awakening' wasn't done well enough for me to care about her any more after this experience. And then she uses some line later that she's a slave to her passion or feelings for the hero (something like that) and I just thought it was in really bad taste with that going on in the book. And lastly when they find who was kidnapping people they make sure he doesn't hang so that he too can be a slave. So they were so abhorred with the idea of slavery they made sure he becomes that?
And lastly she has sworn off marriage and he knows he can't marry her so he basically wants her a mistress. And she's only mildly upset. And after all this supposed conflict he just decides to ask her to marry him and it says
But she realized she loved him.
It was just so...blah. So anticlimactic. No feels. I have no idea if these people truly love each other and I am not left with a feeling that they will live happily ever after and that's just sad.
A Lady's Gift for Seduction by Jess Michaels
I loved this short story!! Our hero, Henry, is wallflower. He has spectacles. He has a hobby that everyone in his family and social sphere seem to disapprove of. The heroine, Evangeline, has a take charge, be in control personality. She thinks she can manage the hero when she realizes she can use a relationship with him, but she quickly finds herself out of her depth. Really really enjoyed this story. It had enough conflict, tension, in depth character development to make me happy. And the steam! Definitely will be checking out more Jess Michaels. I believe this was my first story by her. My only complaint was the heroine was not easy to love and annoyed me a bit, especially towards the end. But it was nice seeing the more stereotypical roles reversed in the relationship.
A Lady's Gift for Scandal by Elizabeth Essex
As much as I enjoyed the first story of this duet, I think this one is my favorite. Tamsin thinks she can get what she wants out of life if she can just be 'lightly ruined'. She strikes a friendship with Evangeline and gets introduced to simple Simon. I adored Simon. I thought his character was just so different. If you love a man who lets the woman lead the way and is a true gentleman about consent, I think you will like this story as well. He's so much a gentleman. I loved watching them fall in love. It was so accidental and perfect. I did feel the heroine took it a little far with her poor mother at the end. I actually felt really bad for her mom in this story with the way she acted. Tamsin came off as rather self absorbed.
Overall I was extremely impressed with these two short stories. I will definitely be checking out more by these authors, as this was my first taste of both.
4.5 stars rounded to 5
I was able to receive an ARC copy complimentary from netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I loved this short story!! Our hero, Henry, is wallflower. He has spectacles. He has a hobby that everyone in his family and social sphere seem to disapprove of. The heroine, Evangeline, has a take charge, be in control personality. She thinks she can manage the hero when she realizes she can use a relationship with him, but she quickly finds herself out of her depth. Really really enjoyed this story. It had enough conflict, tension, in depth character development to make me happy. And the steam! Definitely will be checking out more Jess Michaels. I believe this was my first story by her. My only complaint was the heroine was not easy to love and annoyed me a bit, especially towards the end. But it was nice seeing the more stereotypical roles reversed in the relationship.
A Lady's Gift for Scandal by Elizabeth Essex
As much as I enjoyed the first story of this duet, I think this one is my favorite. Tamsin thinks she can get what she wants out of life if she can just be 'lightly ruined'. She strikes a friendship with Evangeline and gets introduced to simple Simon. I adored Simon. I thought his character was just so different. If you love a man who lets the woman lead the way and is a true gentleman about consent, I think you will like this story as well. He's so much a gentleman. I loved watching them fall in love. It was so accidental and perfect. I did feel the heroine took it a little far with her poor mother at the end. I actually felt really bad for her mom in this story with the way she acted. Tamsin came off as rather self absorbed.
Overall I was extremely impressed with these two short stories. I will definitely be checking out more by these authors, as this was my first taste of both.
4.5 stars rounded to 5
I was able to receive an ARC copy complimentary from netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is my first Amelia Grey. This book reads fine as a standalone having not read book #1.
This book started out absolutely amazing. I was totally in love with everything. It starts with the heroine, Julia, playing in the park with her 4 year old son and getting stuck in a tree while trying to get his butterfly net out. She meets the hero, Garret, this way while waiting for her son and maid to go get help. I adored that scene. It was such a wonderful meeting, a bit silly and somehow built this beautiful tension between the characters. Established their personalities enough that you knew being a mother was important to Julia, as well as her reputation, yet she longed for more freedom and how Garret has been searching for something to help him settle down (he has been a sailor for many years) and thinks he finds it in Julia.
I really think you should try this book if you like
~not overly explicit sex scenes. There were 2 scenes I believe and while I prefer a lot more detail and explicitness, I couldn't deny some beautiful prose in them. Very focused on the feeling and emotions and not the mechanics of it. If you like sweet books or fade to black this might work for you as well, they were well done in that aspect.
~A solid hero. Not sure what word would be best to describe him. Devoted? He is wholeheartedly there for his heroine, no matter what. He's not casting off marriage for some awful reason we all roll our eyes at, he's not trying to dupe his dad with a sham marriage, he is just infatuated with Julia and it never wavers until it becomes a full love.
~The hero rescues heroine trope. While she's not totally defenseless, her sex and time period have left her little options to help herself. The hero helps save her from her troubles.
~You like a widow or a mother as a heroine. Julia was also a vegetarian and I found that unique.
If that is enough to intrigue you, I suggest you give it a try. I, however, am extremely picky and the book kept losing it's steam and my interest as I read on. Specific spoilers ahead regarding my dislikes, please avoid if you don't want to know!
Thanks netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All these opinions and thoughts are my own.
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The main problem is that Julia wants her freedom from the duke, her father in law. He is very controlling and won't give her any freedom unless she relinquishes her son to be raised by him. It was a good plot...at first. But it took over the whole book for me, it was always about the duke, worrying about the duke, talking about the duke, hypothesizing about the duke, plotting against the duke, planning to fight the duke, and the duke doesn't enter the book until the end. And the conflict is resolve in one short conversation. I was not expecting that and after all of that emotional drama it was rather a let down.
Julia bothered me quite a bit towards the end. I thought one of her choices with her son was ridiculous especially after all of her drama with the way her sons tutor acted. Not that she did the same things, but it all came down to the same logic – he was too young to be treated like that. I really disagreed with one of her decisions. I also felt like she truly didn't understand the hero's love by the end of the book. The fact that she assumed he was trying to take her away from her son after everything he had said and down to protect them made me feel like she knew him not at all. I will say I liked the epilogue and it made them seem like they really were having a happy ever after so that made me feel a bit better.
This book started out absolutely amazing. I was totally in love with everything. It starts with the heroine, Julia, playing in the park with her 4 year old son and getting stuck in a tree while trying to get his butterfly net out. She meets the hero, Garret, this way while waiting for her son and maid to go get help. I adored that scene. It was such a wonderful meeting, a bit silly and somehow built this beautiful tension between the characters. Established their personalities enough that you knew being a mother was important to Julia, as well as her reputation, yet she longed for more freedom and how Garret has been searching for something to help him settle down (he has been a sailor for many years) and thinks he finds it in Julia.
I really think you should try this book if you like
~not overly explicit sex scenes. There were 2 scenes I believe and while I prefer a lot more detail and explicitness, I couldn't deny some beautiful prose in them. Very focused on the feeling and emotions and not the mechanics of it. If you like sweet books or fade to black this might work for you as well, they were well done in that aspect.
~A solid hero. Not sure what word would be best to describe him. Devoted? He is wholeheartedly there for his heroine, no matter what. He's not casting off marriage for some awful reason we all roll our eyes at, he's not trying to dupe his dad with a sham marriage, he is just infatuated with Julia and it never wavers until it becomes a full love.
~The hero rescues heroine trope. While she's not totally defenseless, her sex and time period have left her little options to help herself. The hero helps save her from her troubles.
~You like a widow or a mother as a heroine. Julia was also a vegetarian and I found that unique.
If that is enough to intrigue you, I suggest you give it a try. I, however, am extremely picky and the book kept losing it's steam and my interest as I read on. Specific spoilers ahead regarding my dislikes, please avoid if you don't want to know!
Thanks netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All these opinions and thoughts are my own.
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Spoiler
After all the tension and build up I was a little disappointed in the scenes. They were short and not descriptive, but I know that works better for some people.The main problem is that Julia wants her freedom from the duke, her father in law. He is very controlling and won't give her any freedom unless she relinquishes her son to be raised by him. It was a good plot...at first. But it took over the whole book for me, it was always about the duke, worrying about the duke, talking about the duke, hypothesizing about the duke, plotting against the duke, planning to fight the duke, and the duke doesn't enter the book until the end. And the conflict is resolve in one short conversation. I was not expecting that and after all of that emotional drama it was rather a let down.
Julia bothered me quite a bit towards the end. I thought one of her choices with her son was ridiculous especially after all of her drama with the way her sons tutor acted. Not that she did the same things, but it all came down to the same logic – he was too young to be treated like that. I really disagreed with one of her decisions. I also felt like she truly didn't understand the hero's love by the end of the book. The fact that she assumed he was trying to take her away from her son after everything he had said and down to protect them made me feel like she knew him not at all. I will say I liked the epilogue and it made them seem like they really were having a happy ever after so that made me feel a bit better.
I did not read book 1 of this series and this can be read alone. It seems books 1 and 2 happen during the same time. Reading this book made me want to read book 1 for sure!
So Anne Shelley is one of 3 triplets. Such an anomaly and never seen as her own true self, instead always seen as part of a set. She is engaged to the Earl of Harcourt but feels nothing for him. She knows she is being doomed to a lackluster life with someone she can never love. Instead, she chooses adventure and scandal and runs away with an exciting man. But nothing is as she thinks it will be when she finds herself taken instead to an island with his cousin and left there.
Rook wants nothing to do with his cousins games anymore. Hence the island, away from everyone. But he gets roped in once again and now is taking care of some pampered society miss until his cousin's return.
You should give this book a try if you like
-forced proximity
-road trip romance
-class differences (heroine is active in society, hero is a prostitutes son that grew up on the streets)
-steamy romance (I think there's at least 3 scenes)
I found this book a pleasant read. I liked the premise, it was a little different from what I usually read. I can't say I loved the heroine, Anne. She was okay but she bothered me a bit. The hero, Rook, I liked. I usually just adore those street heroes that come from nothing. The thing with this book that left me wanting was I felt the character development was a little sparse. Its there, they weren't completely 2 dimensional, but I felt like more time was spent in the bedroom and sexual feelings than other feelings between the couple. I wanted to know them both a little more, more of their backgrounds and feelings. This novel is on the sex focused side with multiple scenes (definitely not erotica, just more than average) and I rather wished more of the beginning time on the island was spent getting to know each other deeper. Still, a fun read and my first full length Jess Michaels. I would definitely try her again.
The end kind of dissolved into pure villain chaos, which I don't love. If you love a bit of a mystery and some stressful situations for the hero and heroine than you will like the ending more than me. It also sets up the next book, which left me curious about it. I am wondering how Rook and Anne really work out their happily ever after, so will hopefully see that in book 3 at some point.
I give 3.5 rounded to 4
Thank you netgalley for the ARC, these opinions are completely my own.
So Anne Shelley is one of 3 triplets. Such an anomaly and never seen as her own true self, instead always seen as part of a set. She is engaged to the Earl of Harcourt but feels nothing for him. She knows she is being doomed to a lackluster life with someone she can never love. Instead, she chooses adventure and scandal and runs away with an exciting man. But nothing is as she thinks it will be when she finds herself taken instead to an island with his cousin and left there.
Rook wants nothing to do with his cousins games anymore. Hence the island, away from everyone. But he gets roped in once again and now is taking care of some pampered society miss until his cousin's return.
You should give this book a try if you like
-forced proximity
-road trip romance
-class differences (heroine is active in society, hero is a prostitutes son that grew up on the streets)
-steamy romance (I think there's at least 3 scenes)
I found this book a pleasant read. I liked the premise, it was a little different from what I usually read. I can't say I loved the heroine, Anne. She was okay but she bothered me a bit. The hero, Rook, I liked. I usually just adore those street heroes that come from nothing. The thing with this book that left me wanting was I felt the character development was a little sparse. Its there, they weren't completely 2 dimensional, but I felt like more time was spent in the bedroom and sexual feelings than other feelings between the couple. I wanted to know them both a little more, more of their backgrounds and feelings. This novel is on the sex focused side with multiple scenes (definitely not erotica, just more than average) and I rather wished more of the beginning time on the island was spent getting to know each other deeper. Still, a fun read and my first full length Jess Michaels. I would definitely try her again.
The end kind of dissolved into pure villain chaos, which I don't love. If you love a bit of a mystery and some stressful situations for the hero and heroine than you will like the ending more than me. It also sets up the next book, which left me curious about it. I am wondering how Rook and Anne really work out their happily ever after, so will hopefully see that in book 3 at some point.
I give 3.5 rounded to 4
Thank you netgalley for the ARC, these opinions are completely my own.