Scan barcode
frahhn's review against another edition
2.0
Here's the thing I am a *sucker* for Amanda Quick historicals, and I love when the "youngsters" sillily discount their "elders" in a romance but I am so sick of all the weird-ass treatment of sex workers in these books I've been noticing lately?
They all need to be saved, sex work is the height of hell etc...and I just hate it. I know that victorian principles cannot be ignored for the period but many people who are sex workers like their jobs!! They are as happy as any of us can be under capitalism! And it makes me really really sad to have to get through pages of a heroine I mostly like trying to "save" someone--it's just not that simple. Ugh.
They all need to be saved, sex work is the height of hell etc...and I just hate it. I know that victorian principles cannot be ignored for the period but many people who are sex workers like their jobs!! They are as happy as any of us can be under capitalism! And it makes me really really sad to have to get through pages of a heroine I mostly like trying to "save" someone--it's just not that simple. Ugh.
lowbrowreaderofzerof_cks's review against another edition
5.0
This is definitely now one of my favorite Amanda Quick novels next to Ravished. Wonderfully funny, with fast suspense plot that doesn't really matter because character interactions are so witty and hilarious. No rapey pseudo-alpha heroes, no fainting sheep of a virgin heroine. The hero IS alpha but in the best possible way, the heroine is headstrong and occasionally impulsive but not TSTL.
This pretty much describes their relationship to a T:
"That afternoon in The Academy’s schoolroom Leo had argued at length in an effort to talk Beatrice out of joining him in the clandestine activities he had planned. She had listened very politely until boredom set in and then she had been forced to put her foot down very firmly. For an intelligent man, Leo could be extremely stubborn at times, she thought."
Snigger. Happy sigh. Will go to keeper list.
This pretty much describes their relationship to a T:
"That afternoon in The Academy’s schoolroom Leo had argued at length in an effort to talk Beatrice out of joining him in the clandestine activities he had planned. She had listened very politely until boredom set in and then she had been forced to put her foot down very firmly. For an intelligent man, Leo could be extremely stubborn at times, she thought."
Snigger. Happy sigh. Will go to keeper list.
cleocleveland's review against another edition
4.0
Typical Amanda Quick (and that's a good thing) - fun story, likeable characters, awesome dog. :)
lifefullofwords's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
An excellent historical romantic suspense novel. The mystery element was more prominent than I expected but I enjoyed it. I did not predict who the ultimate villain was but I’m bad at guessing. The romance was lovely, I loved Beatrice and liked that she was a little older than other historical romance heroines from this era. Monkcrest was a bit of an ass but that’s to be expected in a romance first published about 20 years ago. I would definitely recommend this book, Amanda Quick is popular for a reason.
An excellent historical romantic suspense novel. The mystery element was more prominent than I expected but I enjoyed it. I did not predict who the ultimate villain was but I’m bad at guessing. The romance was lovely, I loved Beatrice and liked that she was a little older than other historical romance heroines from this era. Monkcrest was a bit of an ass but that’s to be expected in a romance first published about 20 years ago. I would definitely recommend this book, Amanda Quick is popular for a reason.
wendysimon's review
4.0
This was just the type of book I needed right now. A period romance/mystery with a strong female heroise. Beatrice Poole is an author under the pseudonym Mrs. Ameilia York. When her niece's future is put in jeopardy by the untimely death of their uncle and a lack of dowry, Beatrice sets out to find where the money went. She finds a reference to a large purchase that she believes was the Forbidden Rings of Aphrodite which open up a statue with a treasure inside. Now she believes her uncle was murdered and turns to Leo, the Earl of Monkcrest, to help because he is an expert on antiquities. The rest of the book describes their budding romance and their search for the truth which ends up leaving a lot of bodies behind. When they finally do discover the treasure, it is quite hilarious.
donnaslair's review
3.0
I really wish we could give half stars! This would be a 3.5 for me. On the whole, I enjoyed the mystery, the characters, and the way the protagonists got together. The author added just enough humor to keep it fun, without breaking the feel of the period.
I'm definitely planning to seek out the rest in this series, though I'm not certain how the series ties together...the next book is "I Thee Wed", which would imply a continuation of the characters and/or plot from this one. But to me, it feels like Beatrice and Leo, the main characters of "With This Ring", have reached their conclusion, along with the mystery. I suppose I'll find out soon!
While enjoyable, I feel like the whole pretext of the mystery was somewhat contrived, and there were a few too many period stereotypes in the secondary characters. These are minor gripes, and can easily be ignored in light of the book's good points.
I'm definitely planning to seek out the rest in this series, though I'm not certain how the series ties together...the next book is "I Thee Wed", which would imply a continuation of the characters and/or plot from this one. But to me, it feels like Beatrice and Leo, the main characters of "With This Ring", have reached their conclusion, along with the mystery. I suppose I'll find out soon!
While enjoyable, I feel like the whole pretext of the mystery was somewhat contrived, and there were a few too many period stereotypes in the secondary characters. These are minor gripes, and can easily be ignored in light of the book's good points.
aimee70807's review
5.0
Excellent historical romantic suspense with an archaeology thread. Fast, fun, and pushed all my buttons.
stellar_raven's review
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Took me until nearly halfway into the book to really get into it, but over all an enjoyable read. If you've enjoyed other books by Amanda Quick, you should like this one as well.
Took me until nearly halfway into the book to really get into it, but over all an enjoyable read. If you've enjoyed other books by Amanda Quick, you should like this one as well.
celli's review
4.0
A gift as part of a book swap--the kind of book you just bury yourself in. I love Quick's formula for romance. <3
wyvernfriend's review
3.0
Leo Drake is known as the "Mad Monk of Monkcrest" and is notoriously eccentric and inhospitable. When Beatrice Poole turns up on his door he is intrigued and when she reveals that she's searching for the Forbidden Rings of Aphrodite. She also believes that her uncle, who last had the rings, was killed for them.
The two of them have to work together and he starts finding himself attracted to this very independent woman who writes "horrid Novels" as a means of support. She also finds herself attracted to him but is unsure if she wants to sacrifice her independence for another marriage.
It's pretty predictable but the characters are both well drawn and great fun.
The two of them have to work together and he starts finding himself attracted to this very independent woman who writes "horrid Novels" as a means of support. She also finds herself attracted to him but is unsure if she wants to sacrifice her independence for another marriage.
It's pretty predictable but the characters are both well drawn and great fun.