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Chase has some family drama. With the reading of his uncle's will, everyone in the family has lost their mind and the greed is astounding. He runs an investigative business and takes it upon himself to truly look into what happened to his uncle and if it was an accident.
Minerva is a widow from a not so happy marriage. She doesn't understand how, but she is given a grand inheritance from Chase's uncle. Running her own investigative business keeps her busy, but the two band together to try to solve this mystery.
I think you should try this book if you like plenty of mystery, sleuthing, and crime solving in your novels.
I really did not like this book unfortunately. I was just so utterly....bored. I hate to say it. I had to force myself to read this and I am not usually like that, even if I don't love a novel. I literally fell asleep twice while reading this book on separate occasions. I just could not get into it. The characters felt so flat to me. I didn't care about them. There was so much time spent on the family and the inheritance and the sleuthing. I felt like when I got to 40% of the book they had barely had 3 conversations together. The first kiss was awful to me with her thinking about her dead husband the whole time. I just couldn't like it. I think maybe someone more into the investigative side of the novel will enjoy this a lot more than I did.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC. My opinions and thoughts are my own.
Minerva is a widow from a not so happy marriage. She doesn't understand how, but she is given a grand inheritance from Chase's uncle. Running her own investigative business keeps her busy, but the two band together to try to solve this mystery.
I think you should try this book if you like plenty of mystery, sleuthing, and crime solving in your novels.
I really did not like this book unfortunately. I was just so utterly....bored. I hate to say it. I had to force myself to read this and I am not usually like that, even if I don't love a novel. I literally fell asleep twice while reading this book on separate occasions. I just could not get into it. The characters felt so flat to me. I didn't care about them. There was so much time spent on the family and the inheritance and the sleuthing. I felt like when I got to 40% of the book they had barely had 3 conversations together. The first kiss was awful to me with her thinking about her dead husband the whole time. I just couldn't like it. I think maybe someone more into the investigative side of the novel will enjoy this a lot more than I did.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC. My opinions and thoughts are my own.
I know, I think I'm one of the last people on earth to start this series.
Nicholas. Oh Nicholas. Such an unrepentant rake. We start the story with him bored with life, bored with his mistress. Just bored. And through a rather funny mistake, he ends up meeting Regina. I adored Regina. She is the niece of the Malory uncles and well protected by her family. She has thought she's fallen in love many times but one of her uncles always disapproves. She's ready to move on with the societal whirl of the husband hunting season and start her life, if only she could find someone her family would allow her to marry.
The very beginning of this book was quite annoying to me. There were so many characters. So. Many. Characters. I was so lost. I spent an extra 10 minutes looking up on goodreads other story lines and family trees. It was overwhelming trying to keep everyone straight. I finally gave up and hoped that after I read a few books from the series I would figure it out. Also, the head hopping. It was bad. We jumped from the main characters to cousins to brothers to maids. Everyone had to have a paragraph it seemed, even though it didn't provide any needed information about the story. So I didn't like that either, but it was pretty restricted to the very beginning of the book.
Reggie was so fun. I adored her happy spunky personality. With the things she went through, she could have turned into a crying lump. A bitter shrew. But she just has this love for life and her family and she can get through anything! And boy, does Nick put her through it.
Nick. I could have loved you. I didn't want to like you, but I found myself liking you anyway. But then. Well, I'll get into details about that under a spoiler heading below. Let's just say I found his pride and ego too much. He was a big bratty man child that didn't grow up enough for me by the end of the book. With a bit of groveling/repentance I would have like it more. For me, he turned in a 1.5 star hero. And that really brought down the rating.
I give 3 stars.
Spoiler warning!!!!! Specific dislikes below!!!!!
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I also hated that they had sex on a splintery bench outside a ball for Reggie losing her virginity. I assumed there would be a kiss. Maybe some fondling. But then she was naked and I was like...aren't they right by a ball where people could come across them? Then he was naked and I was like ummmmm. Then they did it. On a bench. So disappointed in that.
Nicholas. Oh Nicholas. Such an unrepentant rake. We start the story with him bored with life, bored with his mistress. Just bored. And through a rather funny mistake, he ends up meeting Regina. I adored Regina. She is the niece of the Malory uncles and well protected by her family. She has thought she's fallen in love many times but one of her uncles always disapproves. She's ready to move on with the societal whirl of the husband hunting season and start her life, if only she could find someone her family would allow her to marry.
The very beginning of this book was quite annoying to me. There were so many characters. So. Many. Characters. I was so lost. I spent an extra 10 minutes looking up on goodreads other story lines and family trees. It was overwhelming trying to keep everyone straight. I finally gave up and hoped that after I read a few books from the series I would figure it out. Also, the head hopping. It was bad. We jumped from the main characters to cousins to brothers to maids. Everyone had to have a paragraph it seemed, even though it didn't provide any needed information about the story. So I didn't like that either, but it was pretty restricted to the very beginning of the book.
Reggie was so fun. I adored her happy spunky personality. With the things she went through, she could have turned into a crying lump. A bitter shrew. But she just has this love for life and her family and she can get through anything! And boy, does Nick put her through it.
Nick. I could have loved you. I didn't want to like you, but I found myself liking you anyway. But then. Well, I'll get into details about that under a spoiler heading below. Let's just say I found his pride and ego too much. He was a big bratty man child that didn't grow up enough for me by the end of the book. With a bit of groveling/repentance I would have like it more. For me, he turned in a 1.5 star hero. And that really brought down the rating.
I give 3 stars.
Spoiler warning!!!!! Specific dislikes below!!!!!
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Spoiler
So halfway through, I wasn't in love with Nick, but I was trying to understand his behaviors. I get his issues. Did he take it too far? Yes. I didn't even 100% hate him when he left Reggie on their wedding night. I was pissed yes. But the fact that he leaves the country and doesn't say anything for 6 months? And her family had to bring him back? Yeah he was 'going' to come back. Maybe if I had more time in his head to feel his turmoil about being away from Reggie. BUT. BUT!!!! When he comes back and he acts like he does. Oh I hated him. So much. His pride was more important than anything here. No apology made. No groveling. I know he's a Lindsey hero and they are unapologetic alpha males that love yet make no excuses for their behavior. But it just wasn't enough for me. The way he treats her like the baby wasn't even his and she cheated on him while she HAD TO GIVE BIRTH ALONE. Grr. Just grr. And then the fact that is hoard of mistresses ascend on the house and he doesn't even kick them out! But he's so controlling over Reggie seeing someone from her past. He was just SO unpleasant. I can't love him. No.I also hated that they had sex on a splintery bench outside a ball for Reggie losing her virginity. I assumed there would be a kiss. Maybe some fondling. But then she was naked and I was like...aren't they right by a ball where people could come across them? Then he was naked and I was like ummmmm. Then they did it. On a bench. So disappointed in that.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Reread October 2023
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (I think this time for me it was a 4 – during my initial read through I rated it a 5 so I’m going to keep it as that on the ratings)
Readability: 3.5 rounded to 📖📖📖📖 - I really struggled with the slowness of the beginning.
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥 (There’s 4 scenes but 2 are close together and I combined)
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine (I felt like it was more the heroine’s POV)
When mains are first on page together: Pretty much first page
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: listened to an audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Should I read in order?
Ideally, yes? Pennyroyal Green features mains from two feuding families and has a bit of mystery running through them all about Lyon Redmond’s disappearance which really takes off in this book. Though, I think if you didn’t mind some prior events and characters mentioned, you could pick this one up alone (when I first read this one, I read it alone and really enjoyed it!)
Basic plot:
Violet is bored with society and longs for her missing brother, Lyon. When the opportunity comes to steal aboard a ship, Violet takes it to find her brother and prove his innocence.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency
- ship setting with a road trip feel
- English/American hero (English born, American raised) and English heroine pairing
- Captain hero – he’s been sailing for 20 years
- hero has dimples!
- Earl hero
- bit of opposites attract – Violet is more of a society butterfly, emotional and a bit vain while Asher is quiet, steady and strong. He keeps his emotions under lock and key
- slow burn
- medium steam – 4 full scenes but two were close together so I combined them
Ages:
- Hero is 32, didn’t catch heroine but would guess early to mid 20s?
First line:
He looks like a bored lion lounging amidst a flock of geese.
My thoughts:
So, I did really like this one! But not as much as my initial read a few years ago. I really struggled with the slowness this time around, even though I was expecting it. Maybe because I knew it was going to be like that I turned it into a thing in my head, I don’t know 😂
I adored Violet. Even though she’s a bit of a society snob, I just fell in love with her. She’s bored and a bit dramatic for attention...but with Asher I feel like they were really perfect for each other. He calms her, she shakes him out his shell. It really is a perfect opposites attract between them.
I didn’t quite love Asher as much in this go around. Maybe he was just a bit too quiet for me? A bit too reserved. Though when he does show his emotion, it’s so rewarding. It really grabbed my heart during the scenes he feared for her safety – the storm and the pirates.
I did have a fun time reading this one. It’s my favorite of the series so far.
Quotes Any typos/mistakes are my own
But still, he didn’t blink. As though he wouldn’t dream of wasting a second on blinking, when he could be looking at her instead.
---
He brought a fingertip to her lips, slowly enough to allow her to turn her head if she so chose. She watched it riveted, her eyes nearly crossing at the bridge of her nose. He wasn’t coy. He wasn’t a green lad. He intended to touch her.
“Don’t toy with me, Miss Redmond.” His finger landed on her lips and as though it had found the road home, reverently trembling a little, followed the line of them.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- racism – there is language by side characters using words like ‘Indian’ and ‘savage’ to describe Indigenous Americans and the American bred hero
- some Romani stereotypes (flirtatious) as well as the word ‘gypsy’ used (not negatively for the characters in the setting)
- at the beginning of the book there’s mention of the hero visiting brothels and having a mistress
- brief mention of the hero wanting to buy a plantation (a free one – he’s against slavery)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex: I don’t believe so
76% - 🔥kisses, fingering for her
She wanted it, as much as she feared it. He knew, and something shifted that knee infinitesimally closer and pleasure burned through her like that whiskey.
“Where do you want me to touch you?” his demanded, voice low and taut
Everywhere.
86% - 🔥thank god you’re alive sex
This time something at the very core of him, something never before stirred was found and blissfully incinerated. He groaned. Need wracked him. He shook with it, with a force of desire for this woman, only this woman.
89% - oral for her, followed by missionary – this is quite close to the prior scene and with how long you wait for it, it really feels like one longer scene
”Will the crew be wondering where you are?”
“The crew knows where I am. They assume I’m comforting you.”
93% - 🔥missionary with her legs over his shoulders and pinning her hands back
His lips impatiently found hers, which welcomed him, as his hands impatiently pushed up her nightdress. Waited while it snagged on her chin. Pulled it off with an oath and flung it to the ground as though it attacked him first.
100% - kiss
Original Review - February 2019
I ended up totally loving this book. I give 4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The beginning was rather slow. In fact it was a good 200 pages until things started picking up (you won’t get a kiss until after the 200 page mark either.) The tension to me wasn’t really strong, and yes I would have preferred more in the beginning of the book. Once ‘The Potato Incident’ happened, it all started getting much better 😉Yet the writing to me was so good. I feel like Julie Anne Long has a unique writing style. It just felt like I was being wrapped in poetry, I just loved it. So it wasn’t boring to me, although I can see how some people might find it so. Something about her writing reminded me of Sarah Maclean, just so detailed and rich, the way things are explained just suck you in. I found a lot of that in Sarah Macleans Wicked and the Wallflower and I know people felt that book was slow.
Once the tension cracked between them it was so amazing. You know when a book just squeezes your heart? Your heart is burning for the characters in the story. The kisses and sex were so amazing and rich in detail, exactly like I love them.
The problem of the story (the hero and heroine are both hunting the heroines brother for very different reasons) drives along the plot but the two of them are together for the whole book and it is about their relationship.
There was some humor in the book I just adored and found quite witty and delicious. It’s not your laugh out loud ridiculousness of Julia Quinn or Tessa Dare, it’s more subtle and something I absolutely love in my books.
This is book 4 in a series. It’s my first by this author. I would 100% try basically all of her other books at this point to get those feels again.😍
My complaints are rather small, the lack of full tension in the beginning of the book, the ending felt rather quick and I would have preferred more time spent on their reunion and of course I want an epilogue.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (I think this time for me it was a 4 – during my initial read through I rated it a 5 so I’m going to keep it as that on the ratings)
Readability: 3.5 rounded to 📖📖📖📖 - I really struggled with the slowness of the beginning.
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥 (There’s 4 scenes but 2 are close together and I combined)
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine (I felt like it was more the heroine’s POV)
When mains are first on page together: Pretty much first page
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: listened to an audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Should I read in order?
Ideally, yes? Pennyroyal Green features mains from two feuding families and has a bit of mystery running through them all about Lyon Redmond’s disappearance which really takes off in this book. Though, I think if you didn’t mind some prior events and characters mentioned, you could pick this one up alone (when I first read this one, I read it alone and really enjoyed it!)
Basic plot:
Violet is bored with society and longs for her missing brother, Lyon. When the opportunity comes to steal aboard a ship, Violet takes it to find her brother and prove his innocence.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency
- ship setting with a road trip feel
- English/American hero (English born, American raised) and English heroine pairing
- Captain hero – he’s been sailing for 20 years
- hero has dimples!
- Earl hero
- bit of opposites attract – Violet is more of a society butterfly, emotional and a bit vain while Asher is quiet, steady and strong. He keeps his emotions under lock and key
- slow burn
- medium steam – 4 full scenes but two were close together so I combined them
Ages:
- Hero is 32, didn’t catch heroine but would guess early to mid 20s?
First line:
He looks like a bored lion lounging amidst a flock of geese.
My thoughts:
So, I did really like this one! But not as much as my initial read a few years ago. I really struggled with the slowness this time around, even though I was expecting it. Maybe because I knew it was going to be like that I turned it into a thing in my head, I don’t know 😂
I adored Violet. Even though she’s a bit of a society snob, I just fell in love with her. She’s bored and a bit dramatic for attention...but with Asher I feel like they were really perfect for each other. He calms her, she shakes him out his shell. It really is a perfect opposites attract between them.
I didn’t quite love Asher as much in this go around. Maybe he was just a bit too quiet for me? A bit too reserved. Though when he does show his emotion, it’s so rewarding. It really grabbed my heart during the scenes he feared for her safety – the storm and the pirates.
I did have a fun time reading this one. It’s my favorite of the series so far.
Quotes Any typos/mistakes are my own
But still, he didn’t blink. As though he wouldn’t dream of wasting a second on blinking, when he could be looking at her instead.
---
He brought a fingertip to her lips, slowly enough to allow her to turn her head if she so chose. She watched it riveted, her eyes nearly crossing at the bridge of her nose. He wasn’t coy. He wasn’t a green lad. He intended to touch her.
“Don’t toy with me, Miss Redmond.” His finger landed on her lips and as though it had found the road home, reverently trembling a little, followed the line of them.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- racism – there is language by side characters using words like ‘Indian’ and ‘savage’ to describe Indigenous Americans and the American bred hero
- some Romani stereotypes (flirtatious) as well as the word ‘gypsy’ used (not negatively for the characters in the setting)
- at the beginning of the book there’s mention of the hero visiting brothels and having a mistress
- brief mention of the hero wanting to buy a plantation (a free one – he’s against slavery)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:
76% - 🔥kisses, fingering for her
She wanted it, as much as she feared it. He knew, and something shifted that knee infinitesimally closer and pleasure burned through her like that whiskey.
“Where do you want me to touch you?” his demanded, voice low and taut
Everywhere.
86% - 🔥thank god you’re alive sex
This time something at the very core of him, something never before stirred was found and blissfully incinerated. He groaned. Need wracked him. He shook with it, with a force of desire for this woman, only this woman.
89% - oral for her, followed by missionary – this is quite close to the prior scene and with how long you wait for it, it really feels like one longer scene
”Will the crew be wondering where you are?”
“The crew knows where I am. They assume I’m comforting you.”
93% - 🔥missionary with her legs over his shoulders and pinning her hands back
His lips impatiently found hers, which welcomed him, as his hands impatiently pushed up her nightdress. Waited while it snagged on her chin. Pulled it off with an oath and flung it to the ground as though it attacked him first.
100% - kiss
Original Review - February 2019
I ended up totally loving this book. I give 4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The beginning was rather slow. In fact it was a good 200 pages until things started picking up (you won’t get a kiss until after the 200 page mark either.) The tension to me wasn’t really strong, and yes I would have preferred more in the beginning of the book. Once ‘The Potato Incident’ happened, it all started getting much better 😉Yet the writing to me was so good. I feel like Julie Anne Long has a unique writing style. It just felt like I was being wrapped in poetry, I just loved it. So it wasn’t boring to me, although I can see how some people might find it so. Something about her writing reminded me of Sarah Maclean, just so detailed and rich, the way things are explained just suck you in. I found a lot of that in Sarah Macleans Wicked and the Wallflower and I know people felt that book was slow.
Once the tension cracked between them it was so amazing. You know when a book just squeezes your heart? Your heart is burning for the characters in the story. The kisses and sex were so amazing and rich in detail, exactly like I love them.
The problem of the story (the hero and heroine are both hunting the heroines brother for very different reasons) drives along the plot but the two of them are together for the whole book and it is about their relationship.
There was some humor in the book I just adored and found quite witty and delicious. It’s not your laugh out loud ridiculousness of Julia Quinn or Tessa Dare, it’s more subtle and something I absolutely love in my books.
This is book 4 in a series. It’s my first by this author. I would 100% try basically all of her other books at this point to get those feels again.😍
My complaints are rather small, the lack of full tension in the beginning of the book, the ending felt rather quick and I would have preferred more time spent on their reunion and of course I want an epilogue.
First of all, beautiful cover and as I read, exactly how I pictured Ida, our heroine.
Ida is embarking on a quest to fit all the pieces together needed for her business of making perfumes. She uses serum in her perfumes, which is also used in the making of the ever popular potions in this Victorian world.
Nick is a potions specialist and recovering addict. He has a nose for potion ingredients and has been seeing the problem of potion strength and endurance lacking recently. Their quests collide on a train where they form a partnership and travel together.
Lots to love about this book. I enjoyed Catherine’s writing style and found her potions world interesting but not overwhelming. Humorous with unique characters. I really enjoyed all the dialogue.
It’s very action packed, road trip romance. I loved seeing France, Italy and India through their eyes. This story was reminiscent of Amanda Quick to me, in a good way. Just fun characters that are involved with a whimsical aspect, working together and forging that bond that turns into love.
I actually wasn’t loving Nicks nickname for Ida, or the reason behind it, but the way it was addressed and called out in the story made me laugh and forgive it all. I will certainly be giving her other books a try.
Ida is embarking on a quest to fit all the pieces together needed for her business of making perfumes. She uses serum in her perfumes, which is also used in the making of the ever popular potions in this Victorian world.
Nick is a potions specialist and recovering addict. He has a nose for potion ingredients and has been seeing the problem of potion strength and endurance lacking recently. Their quests collide on a train where they form a partnership and travel together.
Lots to love about this book. I enjoyed Catherine’s writing style and found her potions world interesting but not overwhelming. Humorous with unique characters. I really enjoyed all the dialogue.
It’s very action packed, road trip romance. I loved seeing France, Italy and India through their eyes. This story was reminiscent of Amanda Quick to me, in a good way. Just fun characters that are involved with a whimsical aspect, working together and forging that bond that turns into love.
I actually wasn’t loving Nicks nickname for Ida, or the reason behind it, but the way it was addressed and called out in the story made me laugh and forgive it all. I will certainly be giving her other books a try.
Wow! So glad I abandoned my paranormal reading to come back to HR - my very first Lenora Bell - If I Only Had a Duke. Read it in one night and truly loved this story. 4 1/2 stars.
I found Lenora to have a wonderful writing style. Laugh out loud humor in the first half of the book. I loved the characters, they had memorable personalities. I enjoyed spending a fair amount of time in the hero’s head as well as the heroine, which I love!
Our heroine, Thea, has always been a good little girl, attempting perfection for her mother and society. Towards the beginning of the book she’s given a new pair of red boots from a family member. I just love how they symbolize her fiery personality coming to life and her adventures just starting in them. She’s funny, sweet, feisty and I really enjoyed her character.
Our Duke, Dalton, is a Rake with a carefully crafted reputation and a dark secret. A man with pain and barriers erected, he’s not about to let this little innocent woman ruin his plans, or ruin her. Loved the Dukes character. I also really enjoyed his manservant Con. He was a wonderful side character.
You won’t be getting a kiss until 150 pages in and full consummation much much later 😆. I loved the scene that takes place in between those though. I still felt the pull of the main characters through most of the book. There were steamy scenes in the beginning that didn’t even have a kiss. I thought it was well done.
There were a few minor things I didn’t love in the book. I can’t even really say I disliked them, just maybe I wasn’t expecting. I wasn’t in love with the very end and I also wish there was an epilogue further in the future.
I found Lenora to have a wonderful writing style. Laugh out loud humor in the first half of the book. I loved the characters, they had memorable personalities. I enjoyed spending a fair amount of time in the hero’s head as well as the heroine, which I love!
Our heroine, Thea, has always been a good little girl, attempting perfection for her mother and society. Towards the beginning of the book she’s given a new pair of red boots from a family member. I just love how they symbolize her fiery personality coming to life and her adventures just starting in them. She’s funny, sweet, feisty and I really enjoyed her character.
Our Duke, Dalton, is a Rake with a carefully crafted reputation and a dark secret. A man with pain and barriers erected, he’s not about to let this little innocent woman ruin his plans, or ruin her. Loved the Dukes character. I also really enjoyed his manservant Con. He was a wonderful side character.
You won’t be getting a kiss until 150 pages in and full consummation much much later 😆. I loved the scene that takes place in between those though. I still felt the pull of the main characters through most of the book. There were steamy scenes in the beginning that didn’t even have a kiss. I thought it was well done.
There were a few minor things I didn’t love in the book. I can’t even really say I disliked them, just maybe I wasn’t expecting. I wasn’t in love with the very end and I also wish there was an epilogue further in the future.
I just can’t with this book....I can’t keep going. Giving up at page 176...
I just haven’t connected with either main character except on a level of strong dislike bordering hatred. I haven’t found anything likeable or redeeming about them all. I don’t care if their marriage works out. I don’t care if it fails. I don’t care about anything except how fast I can start another boom that’s not this
I just haven’t connected with either main character except on a level of strong dislike bordering hatred. I haven’t found anything likeable or redeeming about them all. I don’t care if their marriage works out. I don’t care if it fails. I don’t care about anything except how fast I can start another boom that’s not this
Safety warning attached at end
This is my very first Julia London. This book is okay to read as a stand alone, but might be better in order. There was recap in it, so I'm not sure if that would be annoying for a person that read the first book, but it was brief. I'm thinking both hero and heroine from this book were in the first book so again I'm not sure how much you got to know them in that book.
Caroline's good friend Eliza (heroine from the first book) has married the crown prince of Alucia, Sebastian (hero from first book). She is so offended when the prince's brother, Leopold, doesn't notice or even remember her. Leopold is rather tired of being the useless second prince with no responsibilities. His father demands a marriage to secure relations with another country, but before he does, he wants one last trip to England.
Give this book a try if you like
-Royalty tropes. The hero is a prince for a fictional country.
-A bit of a different location. About 1/3 of this book takes place in Alucia, which was really fun. The rest is England.
-Where the heroine is the more aggressive one in the relationship
-A story with a bit of humor and a bit of mystery
-Lighter on the sex, only 1 full scene, 1 partial scene, and a few kisses
-A very light sprinkling of enemies to lovers (doesn't really have that feel for most of the book, but there's a bit where there's banter and some dislike.)
I have never loved a heroine as much as I loved this one. Many reviewers disliked her, and honestly thinking about her personality traits – being a bit vain, over confident, a tad spoiled – I would have thought I would too. But I just loved her. She was just so HAPPY. I felt her smile light up the book. She was so spunky never gave up her beliefs and freely shared her feelings. I adored the first half of the book with her attending the wedding in Alucia. She had me grinning and laughing and I just wanted to see her, be her friend. Leo doesn't want much to do with her in the beginning and she at first seems just determined to prove him wrong.
As the book goes on though, I felt like the romance was so lacking. It was so slow in the beginning already, and then once they return to England, this mystery takes over the book. Leo is given sensitive information about plots against his country and he tries to make headway into solving the mystery and protecting those who are vulnerable. But I felt like a lot of it was him doing it himself. Maybe I would have liked this more if the two were doing it all together, but that doesn't happen until the end of the book. I felt like a lot of their time was spent apart from each other. I will say I just adored all the parts they were together. I enjoyed every scene of that. But it felt like it was only half the book. And they didn't have sex until after 90% and I just don't think I'm that patient hahaha.
This definitely has not turned me off Julia London. So many parts I just treasured and she made me laugh and smile quite a few times. The kisses were so sweet and full of feeling. I think she could be a hit for me in another book.
Thank you netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Safety warnings (slight possible spoilers)
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This is my very first Julia London. This book is okay to read as a stand alone, but might be better in order. There was recap in it, so I'm not sure if that would be annoying for a person that read the first book, but it was brief. I'm thinking both hero and heroine from this book were in the first book so again I'm not sure how much you got to know them in that book.
Caroline's good friend Eliza (heroine from the first book) has married the crown prince of Alucia, Sebastian (hero from first book). She is so offended when the prince's brother, Leopold, doesn't notice or even remember her. Leopold is rather tired of being the useless second prince with no responsibilities. His father demands a marriage to secure relations with another country, but before he does, he wants one last trip to England.
Give this book a try if you like
-Royalty tropes. The hero is a prince for a fictional country.
-A bit of a different location. About 1/3 of this book takes place in Alucia, which was really fun. The rest is England.
-Where the heroine is the more aggressive one in the relationship
-A story with a bit of humor and a bit of mystery
-Lighter on the sex, only 1 full scene, 1 partial scene, and a few kisses
-A very light sprinkling of enemies to lovers (doesn't really have that feel for most of the book, but there's a bit where there's banter and some dislike.)
I have never loved a heroine as much as I loved this one. Many reviewers disliked her, and honestly thinking about her personality traits – being a bit vain, over confident, a tad spoiled – I would have thought I would too. But I just loved her. She was just so HAPPY. I felt her smile light up the book. She was so spunky never gave up her beliefs and freely shared her feelings. I adored the first half of the book with her attending the wedding in Alucia. She had me grinning and laughing and I just wanted to see her, be her friend. Leo doesn't want much to do with her in the beginning and she at first seems just determined to prove him wrong.
As the book goes on though, I felt like the romance was so lacking. It was so slow in the beginning already, and then once they return to England, this mystery takes over the book. Leo is given sensitive information about plots against his country and he tries to make headway into solving the mystery and protecting those who are vulnerable. But I felt like a lot of it was him doing it himself. Maybe I would have liked this more if the two were doing it all together, but that doesn't happen until the end of the book. I felt like a lot of their time was spent apart from each other. I will say I just adored all the parts they were together. I enjoyed every scene of that. But it felt like it was only half the book. And they didn't have sex until after 90% and I just don't think I'm that patient hahaha.
This definitely has not turned me off Julia London. So many parts I just treasured and she made me laugh and smile quite a few times. The kisses were so sweet and full of feeling. I think she could be a hit for me in another book.
Thank you netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Safety warnings (slight possible spoilers)
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Spoiler
slavery, human trafficking, sexual assault (implied)
Solid 3.5 but rounding to 4
Safety warnings attached at end.
Wow this book has been totally different than anything I've read...ever. This is my first Scarlett Peckham and I will be trying her again for sure. I think she's a great writer. Explicit sex, language, borderline offensive in some parts, just the rawness of real life people – the wonderful parts, the loving parts, and sometimes the true ugliness we can show. This was not an easy read. It's not light and fluffy. It's heavy. It's emotional. It's filled with angst and heart break. Parts were wonderful. Parts were horrible. It's definitely a memorable story.
So many stories about the rake. Oh he's so handsome with his flirtations, his sexual conquests, his ability to walk away from those nights emotionally unscathed. But, there is another side to these stories sometimes. The woman that is ruined. The woman who has no options in life anymore except what she scrape by with from the generosity of others. The woman who people run to other side of the street to get away from, laugh at, yell slurs to, threaten...the woman who is utterly broken by the choice made by two people yet only she is held accountable. This story is about such a girl, Seraphina.
I loved and hated Sera. When she was honest about her feelings she was beautiful. Her memoirs broke my heart and were by far my favorite part of this story. So strong. Unflappable in the face of the cruelty of society. I cannot help but admire her. But her full recovery is far from complete. And while she is learning how to heal from all of her past hurts, she can be rather ugly. It's all completely understandable. I do not blame her for her choices even though I do not like them. But that's the draw of this story, its powerful realness. She's a radical, a woman's rights acitvist, fighting to give her sex the tiniest bit of freedom and rights. It definitely made me feel the inequality in this story. It made me fear living in this time as a woman. It brought life to those movements in a way I haven't read before.
Adam is the hero. Born a bastard, a widower with 2 children. He works with his in laws in an architect firm when his true passion is art. I liked Adam, but Sera's story so overshadowed him and their relationship, my feelings could only grow to lukewarm. I loved that he had truly loved his wife. So many books have to make something wrong with the previous spouse, like it always must be a once in a lifetime love and I just don't think that's true. While I prefer first love stories instead of second chance, I believe in loving multiple people and it was refreshing seeing someone recovering from that pain and moving forward. Enough time was spent on his feelings that it was acknowledged and gave him depth but it didn't overshadow Sera and Adam's relationship.
This book is probably a bit more just the story of Sera. Her life. Her choices. Her recovery. Her healing. The relationship of Adam and Sera to me got a bit lost in it all. Took the back seat of the plot of the book. And this might work for some people but it made me like the book a bit less than otherwise probably. There's a lot of sex in the book and it's NAUGHTY. The words...they are all used. So ye who offend easily begone. But the sex happened so fast to me and I kept waiting for more relationship, more friendship, more connection but it was soooo slow going. It made me care about the sex less. I also wish I had more time in Adam's head (from the book in general), or more feelings from the sex. Very explicit, mostly hot, but almost mechanical in some scenes. So all these things, couple with quite a few spots of boredom in the story (I felt like the non sex scenes with the hero and heroine were a very small part of the book) lead me to 3.5 stars.
I got this book from netgalley as an ARC. As always these feelings are completely my own opinions.
Safety warnings:
Safety warnings attached at end.
Wow this book has been totally different than anything I've read...ever. This is my first Scarlett Peckham and I will be trying her again for sure. I think she's a great writer. Explicit sex, language, borderline offensive in some parts, just the rawness of real life people – the wonderful parts, the loving parts, and sometimes the true ugliness we can show. This was not an easy read. It's not light and fluffy. It's heavy. It's emotional. It's filled with angst and heart break. Parts were wonderful. Parts were horrible. It's definitely a memorable story.
So many stories about the rake. Oh he's so handsome with his flirtations, his sexual conquests, his ability to walk away from those nights emotionally unscathed. But, there is another side to these stories sometimes. The woman that is ruined. The woman who has no options in life anymore except what she scrape by with from the generosity of others. The woman who people run to other side of the street to get away from, laugh at, yell slurs to, threaten...the woman who is utterly broken by the choice made by two people yet only she is held accountable. This story is about such a girl, Seraphina.
I loved and hated Sera. When she was honest about her feelings she was beautiful. Her memoirs broke my heart and were by far my favorite part of this story. So strong. Unflappable in the face of the cruelty of society. I cannot help but admire her. But her full recovery is far from complete. And while she is learning how to heal from all of her past hurts, she can be rather ugly. It's all completely understandable. I do not blame her for her choices even though I do not like them. But that's the draw of this story, its powerful realness. She's a radical, a woman's rights acitvist, fighting to give her sex the tiniest bit of freedom and rights. It definitely made me feel the inequality in this story. It made me fear living in this time as a woman. It brought life to those movements in a way I haven't read before.
Adam is the hero. Born a bastard, a widower with 2 children. He works with his in laws in an architect firm when his true passion is art. I liked Adam, but Sera's story so overshadowed him and their relationship, my feelings could only grow to lukewarm. I loved that he had truly loved his wife. So many books have to make something wrong with the previous spouse, like it always must be a once in a lifetime love and I just don't think that's true. While I prefer first love stories instead of second chance, I believe in loving multiple people and it was refreshing seeing someone recovering from that pain and moving forward. Enough time was spent on his feelings that it was acknowledged and gave him depth but it didn't overshadow Sera and Adam's relationship.
This book is probably a bit more just the story of Sera. Her life. Her choices. Her recovery. Her healing. The relationship of Adam and Sera to me got a bit lost in it all. Took the back seat of the plot of the book. And this might work for some people but it made me like the book a bit less than otherwise probably. There's a lot of sex in the book and it's NAUGHTY. The words...they are all used. So ye who offend easily begone. But the sex happened so fast to me and I kept waiting for more relationship, more friendship, more connection but it was soooo slow going. It made me care about the sex less. I also wish I had more time in Adam's head (from the book in general), or more feelings from the sex. Very explicit, mostly hot, but almost mechanical in some scenes. So all these things, couple with quite a few spots of boredom in the story (I felt like the non sex scenes with the hero and heroine were a very small part of the book) lead me to 3.5 stars.
I got this book from netgalley as an ARC. As always these feelings are completely my own opinions.
Safety warnings: