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upturnedroots's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
5.0
A very dark read, so tread carefully, but what a wild ride of a tale.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
cursebreakker's review against another edition
emotional
slow-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
3.5
I liked this book marginally better than the first one, I feel like the story gripped me more. Apart from that, the main characters are very likeable and little Henry is a darling (can't wait to read his book).
Just a disclaimer, this book deals with some very heavy themes and I found myself surprised to find it in a historical romance novel. So I'll leave some trigger warnings...
Just a disclaimer, this book deals with some very heavy themes and I found myself surprised to find it in a historical romance novel. So I'll leave some trigger warnings...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Murder
wolvenheart's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse
dreamfyre's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Rape
andra_mihaela_s's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
3.25 stars
This book follows Olivia Stanford, Duchess of Lovingdon- recently widowed with a child, and Jack Dodger - the wicked owner of Dodger's (high class gaming hell) and former street urchin, as they try to deal with the requirements stipulated by the late Duke in his will.
I really wanted to read about Jack of Olivia since finding out about them through their daughter's book . I'm quite dissapointed with the way in which Heath creates drama in her romances...she wants to tackle sensitive topics that were very much present in that time (and also now), but she's not commiting to fully exploring and discussing such situations with the reader.
Her books are more of "this is a horrible thing that happened then, but let me show you all the ways in which a couple can argue and make up". This may work for you, or not..that depend if the couple has enough chemistry for you to stay interested. Obviously, for me it wasn't enough.
I need to say that I really enjoyed seeing a hero have such a sweet relationship with a child; more so given the fact that Jack is has a cold personality and, in the beginning, comes off as wanting to lessen the connection between mother and child. I also liked Olivia as a mother....as a woman..hmmm...not as much.
It was quite strange to see parenting, and after that a pair of lovers that didn't have enough chemistry between them to keep me from noticing aspects of the storyy less than perfect.
One such aspect was the trauma Jack suffered. A very serious trauma might I add. >..>
I didn't enjoy how the author choose to resolve the conflict of the book at all. We have a connection with the past through trauma, and one more personal...sadly both of them were horrible: trauma was used by the author to make her characters confess, and the personal connection...to make me feel unconfortable with the whole relationship....man...it feels wrong to know what I hoped to be just misleading is the actual thruth.
Yes, this could be possible and I'm sure it was common back then, but now...it's something I don't want to read about.
Nevertheless, Heath can write a good romance with well-rounded characters that stay true to themselves. I will give credit when it's due, like now when, despite not liking how the story ended, the epiloque made me accept it a bit more. Jack's journal entry reflected the right amount of conflicting feelings over the revelations and a beautiful conviction to be a great father!
Before I end this review, some content warnings are needed: child abuse, mentioning of sexual abuse.
In conclusion, I believe you'll enjoy this book if you like reading about couples with children; if you like your hero's to fulfill the role of guardian/father; and if you want to read about cold-hearted/ detached man finding their special someone. Beware though! Any additional topic/theme besides the romance is more of a B plot and nothing else!If this is ok with you, I recommend you try this book!
Enjoy
This book follows Olivia Stanford, Duchess of Lovingdon- recently widowed with a child, and Jack Dodger - the wicked owner of Dodger's (high class gaming hell) and former street urchin, as they try to deal with the requirements stipulated by the late Duke in his will.
I really wanted to read about Jack of Olivia since finding out about them through their daughter's book . I'm quite dissapointed with the way in which Heath creates drama in her romances...she wants to tackle sensitive topics that were very much present in that time (and also now), but she's not commiting to fully exploring and discussing such situations with the reader.
Her books are more of "this is a horrible thing that happened then, but let me show you all the ways in which a couple can argue and make up". This may work for you, or not..that depend if the couple has enough chemistry for you to stay interested. Obviously, for me it wasn't enough.
I need to say that I really enjoyed seeing a hero have such a sweet relationship with a child; more so given the fact that Jack is has a cold personality and, in the beginning, comes off as wanting to lessen the connection between mother and child. I also liked Olivia as a mother....as a woman..hmmm...not as much.
It was quite strange to see parenting, and after that a pair of lovers that didn't have enough chemistry between them to keep me from noticing aspects of the storyy less than perfect.
One such aspect was the trauma Jack suffered. A very serious trauma might I add. >..>
I didn't enjoy how the author choose to resolve the conflict of the book at all. We have a connection with the past through trauma, and one more personal...sadly both of them were horrible: trauma was used by the author to make her characters confess, and the personal connection...to make me feel unconfortable with the whole relationship....man...it feels wrong to know what I hoped to be just misleading is the actual thruth.
Yes, this could be possible and I'm sure it was common back then, but now...it's something I don't want to read about.
Nevertheless, Heath can write a good romance with well-rounded characters that stay true to themselves. I will give credit when it's due, like now when, despite not liking how the story ended, the epiloque made me accept it a bit more. Jack's journal entry reflected the right amount of conflicting feelings over the revelations and a beautiful conviction to be a great father!
Before I end this review, some content warnings are needed: child abuse, mentioning of sexual abuse.
In conclusion, I believe you'll enjoy this book if you like reading about couples with children; if you like your hero's to fulfill the role of guardian/father; and if you want to read about cold-hearted/ detached man finding their special someone. Beware though! Any additional topic/theme besides the romance is more of a B plot and nothing else!If this is ok with you, I recommend you try this book!
Enjoy
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual violence