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agrippinaes's review against another edition
4.0
Marcus and Lillian have never seen eye to eye - she finds the aristocrat too stiff and snobbish, whilst he finds the American heiress too brash and impulsive. Yet neither of them can deny their attraction to one another. When they’re placed in close proximity at a house party Marcus is hosting, they can’t seem to stop crossing paths with each other - and find themselves acting on their feelings, despite their best efforts to avoid it.
I enjoyed reading this. Lisa Kleypas’ work is just so readable: I just wanted to devour it in one sitting. The dynamic between Marcus and Lillian is really fun; she’s such a fun, bold heroine, and he’s so stiff and hard. The contrast between them is really entertaining as it plays out and they had really good chemistry. Watching both of them soften and warm to each other was quite sweet.
It also had a decent external plot. I read The Devil in Winter first - I’ve actually read it multiple times - so I knew where it was going with St Vincent, but I was surprised how much I liked St Vincent in this. He was very charming and persuasive and whilst I obviously don’t like what he ends up doing, it surprised me how much he came across as a viable option for Lillian in this book.
However, I wasn’t keen on the first love scene between Marcus and Lillian - iffy isn’t even the word, and I would caution anyone who hasn’t read this to check content warnings before reading. It’s just one of those scenes where I don’t really get why it happens like that.
Overall I thought this was a good book. It wasn’t my favourite Lisa Kleypas by any stretch and whilst I liked both characters I didn’t like them as much as I’ve liked others of hers, but there’s something very appealing about the relationship between Marcus and Lillian that made it hard to stop reading.
Content Notes: Hate-to-love, opposites attract
Warnings:, sexual assault , kidnap, drugging, child abuse (in past).
Other:, infidelity / cheating (side characters).
I enjoyed reading this. Lisa Kleypas’ work is just so readable: I just wanted to devour it in one sitting. The dynamic between Marcus and Lillian is really fun; she’s such a fun, bold heroine, and he’s so stiff and hard. The contrast between them is really entertaining as it plays out and they had really good chemistry. Watching both of them soften and warm to each other was quite sweet.
It also had a decent external plot. I read The Devil in Winter first - I’ve actually read it multiple times - so I knew where it was going with St Vincent, but I was surprised how much I liked St Vincent in this. He was very charming and persuasive and whilst I obviously don’t like what he ends up doing, it surprised me how much he came across as a viable option for Lillian in this book.
However, I wasn’t keen on the first love scene between Marcus and Lillian - iffy isn’t even the word, and I would caution anyone who hasn’t read this to check content warnings before reading. It’s just one of those scenes where I don’t really get why it happens like that.
Overall I thought this was a good book. It wasn’t my favourite Lisa Kleypas by any stretch and whilst I liked both characters I didn’t like them as much as I’ve liked others of hers, but there’s something very appealing about the relationship between Marcus and Lillian that made it hard to stop reading.
Content Notes: Hate-to-love, opposites attract
Warnings:
Spoiler
Death of a parent (in past), dubious consentSpoiler
The first time the hero and heroine sleep together she’s very drunk and he is sober.Spoiler
not hero; heroine is touched inappropriately by another characterOther:
Spoiler
On-page sex, OM stuffSpoiler
Heroine is sort of courted by an OM who kisses her a few times on-page.mrsbooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
Another great read from Lisa Kleypas - I loved the characters and the plot, though it was a tad lacking in action until near the end, I felt that the character development and the rolling romance more than compensated for the lack of dastardly criminals.
I liked Marcus but I just felt that he was more stickish than similar heroes, yet this made the impact of his bedroom gymnastics more appealing, and his flirting very appealing. I similarly grew to like Lillian while initially thinking her too immature and lacking in depth.
Another great read - I just love Kleypas novels.
I liked Marcus but I just felt that he was more stickish than similar heroes, yet this made the impact of his bedroom gymnastics more appealing, and his flirting very appealing. I similarly grew to like Lillian while initially thinking her too immature and lacking in depth.
Another great read - I just love Kleypas novels.
angrydance's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
madelynmurphy's review against another edition
4.0
This one had some more humour in it than the last which was a lot of fun! Exactly what I need while I wait for season 3 part 2 of Bridgerton. Although I’m not sure how I feel about the next love interest for Evie’s story.
katievkfeller's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
sharonjay's review against another edition
1.0
Skimmed from 60%
I was determined to like this book as I really enjoyed Lillian and Westcliff from the first book.
I was immediately put off by him kissing her as she struggled...that's not sexy to me. We know from her POV that she wasn't THAT bothered by it but HE didn't know that :/ But I thought "Ok, whatever, this a HR, these things happen." And was enjoying the book for the most part until an event around 60%.
Let's call it what it is...rape.
He took her virginity while she was drunk.
Being drunk means not being able to give consent.
Louder for the people in the back: BEING DRUNK MEANS NOT BEING ABLE TO GIVE CONSENT.
And this wasn't a tipsy hookup, he knew full well she was half-a-bottle-of-brandy-drunk. Of course, we are reading her POV so we know that she's sexually attracted to him, but there is a difference between wanting and willing. Everyday people choose NOT to do things they want to do for various reasons. Would she have chosen to have sex with him if he tried sober? Probably. But we'll never know. He took her choice away. And if I'm being honest, the drunk "hookup" is lazy writing regardless.
All this being said, I know there are readers who go for this kind of stuff in their HRs so ok. To each their own. Just disappointed after having liked the first book so much.
I was determined to like this book as I really enjoyed Lillian and Westcliff from the first book.
I was immediately put off by him kissing her as she struggled...that's not sexy to me. We know from her POV that she wasn't THAT bothered by it but HE didn't know that :/ But I thought "Ok, whatever, this a HR, these things happen." And was enjoying the book for the most part until an event around 60%.
Let's call it what it is...rape.
He took her virginity while she was drunk.
Being drunk means not being able to give consent.
Louder for the people in the back: BEING DRUNK MEANS NOT BEING ABLE TO GIVE CONSENT.
And this wasn't a tipsy hookup, he knew full well she was half-a-bottle-of-brandy-drunk. Of course, we are reading her POV so we know that she's sexually attracted to him, but there is a difference between wanting and willing. Everyday people choose NOT to do things they want to do for various reasons. Would she have chosen to have sex with him if he tried sober? Probably. But we'll never know. He took her choice away. And if I'm being honest, the drunk "hookup" is lazy writing regardless.
All this being said, I know there are readers who go for this kind of stuff in their HRs so ok. To each their own. Just disappointed after having liked the first book so much.
jnettreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
samanthaxe's review against another edition
This book is one big consent issue. I also can’t see how Kleypas will successfully turn St Vincent into the hero for the next book. Yikes all around
pagesfromhome's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Okay, I really enjoyed the first book in this series but this one was a no go.
I can see how the plot is interesting, but it just had too many of my least favorite things to want to recommend it (seemingly real hate between main characters, a “first time” happening under the influence, and then kidnapping/threat of rape), just very much not my thing.
I can see how the plot is interesting, but it just had too many of my least favorite things to want to recommend it (seemingly real hate between main characters, a “first time” happening under the influence, and then kidnapping/threat of rape), just very much not my thing.