Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn

3 reviews

mariskyjy's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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

4.5

This one is up there in my ranking of the Bridgerton books. I personally enjoy the formula of rakish hero with daddy issues, so I am biased. Hyacinth as a character is a lot of fun, and I found her the most relatable heroine yet (yes, I have ADHD. Maybe those two things correlate.).  Gareth is fun when he's not brooding (which honestly doesn't happen often!), and I actually understood why he and Hy were a good match.  There's a lot of Lady Danbury in this one, which did not disappoint. Also, some cute espionage stuff in which (small spoiler)

our heroine gets to wear britches rather than an elaborate dress!

I enjoy that Julia Quinn gives her romantic leads depth and personality; as this series is my first foray into romance novels, it's great to know it's not all "here is my Gary Sue love interest who could be replaced with a cardboard cutout and there'd be more emotional depth". 

The only plot point that others have pointed out - Gareth sleeping with Hyacinth to make her unable to dismiss their engagement - seemed a little more nuanced to me. When he kisses her in her house, he clearly says he doesn't want to live without her, so he proposed, and then suddenly it jumps to sexy time a while later, and he has the aforementioned motive. That leap bumps the rating down for me.

An excerpt directly from my own personal romantic yearnings:

“And I know,” [Hyacinth] said, letting out a short, staccato breath, the sort one did when one couldn’t quite believe what one was saying, “that it’s often rather hard work to love me.”

And suddenly Gareth realized that some things did come in a flash. And there were some things one simply knew without being able to explain them. Because as he stood there watching her, all he could think was—No.
No.
It would be rather easy to love Hyacinth Bridgerton.
He didn’t know where the thought had come from, or what strange
corner of his brain had come to that conclusion, because he was quite certain it would be nearly impossible to live with her, but somehow he knew that it wouldn’t be at all difficult to love her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Grief, and Pregnancy

Death of a sibling. Brief mentions of pregnancy and infidelity in Isabella's diary; the infidelity is a big plot point. Emotional abuse from Gareth's father (and Isabella's husband, imo).

brownieboo's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Grief, Pregnancy, and War

lunep's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Ableism, Death, Infidelity, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Miscarriage