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wanderlust_romance's review against another edition
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Oh I really enjoyed this!! The high tension! The stakes! The continued threat of danger! And my goodness THE WORST older brother EVER. (He got what was coming to him.) It’s a fast paced and chemistry laden story with two main characters who are forced into a marriage. Also a very interesting beginning to a theme that San Andes seems to be playing with in this series: what happens when an unscrupulous, rich man of leisure meets a foe in a hard working new industrialist who has risen above his station. Love to see it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This took me a bit to get into, but once I did, I inhaled it. Set at the turn of the 20th century in the Dominican Republic, the story is inspired by a true account of a forced marriage (a man threatened with imprisonment if he won't consent to wed). Our male main character, Sebastian, owns a now-prosperous sugar mill in San Pedro, and has recently reconnected with the neighbors to his country home, the reclusive Paulina and her sadistic and abusive older brother, Antonio. What begins as a seemingly innocuous encounter in town quickly spirals, as Antonio schemes to force Paulina and Sebastian into marriage for his own gain.
This hit so many of my favorite beats for forced marriage - resentment, repressed longing and unlikely alliances - and the backdrop of San Pedro politics, blackmail and bribery made this is a high-stakes plot. While a few of the twists were fairly predictable, the conflict resolution directly addressed the nuanced power imbalances between our main characters - he grew up poor and was orphaned young, she grew up rich but fell into the care of a controlling and manipulative brother, and they find their circumstances largely swapped in adulthood. I loved seeing how they navigate what they are to each other and whether or not they will be in a position to truly choose a life together.
And this third act!! Holy heck she WENT THERE! I haven't seen a villain meet such a satisfying end since Captured, by Beverly Jenkins. Whew, I was reeling. This was a STRESSY and atmospheric read and I can't wait to read more by Lydia San Andres!
Note: there are some continuity errors here that were a bit distracting, and a few missing beats in the MMC's POV, but honestly, I had such a good time reading this that these weren't deal breakers for me.
This hit so many of my favorite beats for forced marriage - resentment, repressed longing and unlikely alliances - and the backdrop of San Pedro politics, blackmail and bribery made this is a high-stakes plot. While a few of the twists were fairly predictable, the conflict resolution directly addressed the nuanced power imbalances between our main characters - he grew up poor and was orphaned young, she grew up rich but fell into the care of a controlling and manipulative brother, and they find their circumstances largely swapped in adulthood. I loved seeing how they navigate what they are to each other and whether or not they will be in a position to truly choose a life together.
And this third act!! Holy heck she WENT THERE! I haven't seen a villain meet such a satisfying end since Captured, by Beverly Jenkins. Whew, I was reeling. This was a STRESSY and atmospheric read and I can't wait to read more by Lydia San Andres!
Note: there are some continuity errors here that were a bit distracting, and a few missing beats in the MMC's POV, but honestly, I had such a good time reading this that these weren't deal breakers for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content
melbsreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content warnings: death of a parent (in the past), domestic violence, confinement, emotional abuse, gaslighting, mentions of slavery
A charming way to cross the Dominican Republic off my Read Around the World list! This somehow felt like a very slow read given its length, and it took me a really long time to feel like I was invested in the story. I cannot pinpoint why but at times this really did feel like I was wading through quicksand. Don't get me wrong, ultimately I very much enjoyed the story and the characters and the way the romance played out! It just took me a while to get there.
A charming way to cross the Dominican Republic off my Read Around the World list! This somehow felt like a very slow read given its length, and it took me a really long time to feel like I was invested in the story. I cannot pinpoint why but at times this really did feel like I was wading through quicksand. Don't get me wrong, ultimately I very much enjoyed the story and the characters and the way the romance played out! It just took me a while to get there.
mildrenreads's review against another edition
4.5
🇩🇴Latinx Historical romance
Set in DR🇩🇴
Fade to black
Ahhhh so freaken good! Loved the characters so much! Both were forced into a marriage but the force proximity??! The tension 😩 the brother got on my nerves the whole book book but wow this story was amazing! He was the sweetest man ever! Helping out everyone! Super selfless 🥹 and she knew what she wanted, asked for it and stood her ground 😌🙌🏼 the character development was EVERYTHING!
Favorite quote “You, Sebastian, shine with an inner light that touches everything around you” 🤭
Set in DR🇩🇴
Fade to black
Ahhhh so freaken good! Loved the characters so much! Both were forced into a marriage but the force proximity??! The tension 😩 the brother got on my nerves the whole book book but wow this story was amazing! He was the sweetest man ever! Helping out everyone! Super selfless 🥹 and she knew what she wanted, asked for it and stood her ground 😌🙌🏼 the character development was EVERYTHING!
Favorite quote “You, Sebastian, shine with an inner light that touches everything around you” 🤭
girlwithhearteyes's review against another edition
DNF @ 34%. Loved the tropes (he thinks she tricked him into marriage, she’s also a victim), but the villain was a bit too villainous and the story felt longer than it needed to be. I usually love a soapy romance but maybe I wasn’t in the mood today because I ended up skimming after 34%.
hammock_and_read's review against another edition
5.0
I loved that this is based loosely off a true event and we also get a different era for this HR-1900s Caribbean. Love a good old forced marriage of convenience, and then we find out childhood friends and then rich girl/poor boy now rich man.
This one we also get some romance suspense with it and I couldn’t put it down! Loved the setting so much for this one- Lydia did a wonderful job of making you feel as if you were there and in the house. Then these two- the chemistry from the start and friends to move. SLOW burn with this one but so worth it! Loved the side characters as well.
This one we also get some romance suspense with it and I couldn’t put it down! Loved the setting so much for this one- Lydia did a wonderful job of making you feel as if you were there and in the house. Then these two- the chemistry from the start and friends to move. SLOW burn with this one but so worth it! Loved the side characters as well.
kellyjcm's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.5
Well written, but not for me. Should have been, as it features a marriage of convenience.
theboricuabookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
As I was finishing this I was hit with the sudden pang to be on the island. While Cuba (I’m assuming this was set in Cuba due to mentions of Havana) is not Puerto Rico we share many similarities and anytime I read a story from these islands I get a little homesick.
These two were head over heels for each other before they knew it. An aching slow burn that kept me on my toes the entire time. Sebas, my sweet Sebas, who deserves the world. And Paulina who in the face of the worst kind of cruelty kept her sharp wit but did not let her brother’s actions harden her. Lydia San Andres is an auto read author for me now!
These two were head over heels for each other before they knew it. An aching slow burn that kept me on my toes the entire time. Sebas, my sweet Sebas, who deserves the world. And Paulina who in the face of the worst kind of cruelty kept her sharp wit but did not let her brother’s actions harden her. Lydia San Andres is an auto read author for me now!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
lechepatito's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the sense of place and history here, in a setting new to me - early 1900s Dominican Republic. The dynamic with the brother was pretty heavy and there were a few bonkers moments, plus a violent end, but overall a good story and strong relationship development.
andrea_author's review against another edition
4.0
Paulina's cruel brother traps her into a marriage with mill owner Sebastian, who suspects she was in on the scheme. Will he succeed in getting the marriage annulled, or can she convince him they belong together?
I loved the characters and setting in this novel. If you enjoy historical romantic suspense, this book is for you.
CW: bullying and violence
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I loved the characters and setting in this novel. If you enjoy historical romantic suspense, this book is for you.
CW: bullying and violence
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.