shanaqui's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
The Lawrence Browne Affair features a side character from the first book: none other than Georgie Turner, conman and thief extraordinaire. I wasn't a huge fan of his character from his portrayal in the first book, but I've thought that before with Sebastian's books, and she made it work once we're in close-third POV and can see Georgie's thoughts and understand his damage.
Once again, she surprised me with the way the plot worked out. The easy and obvious conflict was not what happened, and the characters trusted each other and the bond they were forming, in a way that often doesn't happen in romance novels (and presumably real life, but I don't enjoy it there either). Okay, people didn't quite manage to communicate properly and talk out their problems -- but at least they avoided throwing away all the evidence they'd seen with their own eyes, and avoided just believing the worst of each other instantly. Even though it would, in fact, be all of a piece with their pasts. (I'm trying to be a little vague here.)
It's sort of a Beauty and the Beast story, which amused me too, and I enjoyed the way Georgie came to realise that he actually liked a lot of his marks -- it's what made him a good conman, and also a part of why he was so unhappy as a conman.
Overall, a sweet book and one I enjoyed. I loved Lawrence finding himself.
Once again, she surprised me with the way the plot worked out. The easy and obvious conflict was not what happened, and the characters trusted each other and the bond they were forming, in a way that often doesn't happen in romance novels (and presumably real life, but I don't enjoy it there either). Okay, people didn't quite manage to communicate properly and talk out their problems -- but at least they avoided throwing away all the evidence they'd seen with their own eyes, and avoided just believing the worst of each other instantly. Even though it would, in fact, be all of a piece with their pasts. (I'm trying to be a little vague here.)
It's sort of a Beauty and the Beast story, which amused me too, and I enjoyed the way Georgie came to realise that he actually liked a lot of his marks -- it's what made him a good conman, and also a part of why he was so unhappy as a conman.
Overall, a sweet book and one I enjoyed. I loved Lawrence finding himself.
misssusan's review against another edition
4.0
i am too exhausted for a real review right now so i'll just say that this is the kind of quality romance i like. mad props for the inclusion of a character with severe anxiety as the romantic lead
4 stars
4 stars
elliott_roi's review against another edition
3.5
This might be my least favourite Cat Sebastian book so far, which isn't too say it was bad at all, but for whatever reason I just wasn't very invested. I did like Georgie and Lawrence tho, and I thought they were a sweet pair. But there was nothing too spectacular or unique about this book overall.
33ewdw's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
reading_meg's review against another edition
5.0
- I wasn't sure about the premise, but I ended up loving it! Watching their relationship unfold was spectacular.
- I loved the way that family was addressed in this book, as well as how the community works around the crumbling estate.
- I thought the science aspect of this and had a ton of fun with all the scenes of the Earl and his experiments.
- I loved the way that family was addressed in this book, as well as how the community works around the crumbling estate.
- I thought the science aspect of this and had a ton of fun with all the scenes of the Earl and his experiments.
writeon_sl's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Great read from Cat Sebastian as usual.
ariabones's review against another edition
4.0
I was like 12% and smack in the middle of a library scene when I realised this book is kind of a Beauty and the Beast retelling except the Beast is a Lord struggling with mental health issues that no one wants or tries to understand except his Beauty, who is a crooked scamming thief hiding from his enemies and planning to rob him blind….I really enjoyed this. While it can be read as a standalone, some characters from the first book do make an appearance. The Soldier's Scoundrel was Jack's book, this book is dedicated to Georgie Turner.
How I adored this book. This was a slow-burn feel good romance with mental health representation. Lawrence comes from a family troubled with mental health. His father struggled and succumbed to his depression and he himself suffers from some type of anxiety, probably social, and this has made life a bit difficult for him. He needs a secretary.
In comes Georgie Turner. He’s on the run after double-crossing one of his partners and takes a job from Jack that lands him as ‘the madman’s secretary’ yet what he finds is a man not mad, just different.
The mental health was so well done, especially with that time period. Lawrence even had a therapy dog, Barnabus. The romance was well paced and so sweet and ugh my heart. They were so cute and I adored them.
How I adored this book. This was a slow-burn feel good romance with mental health representation. Lawrence comes from a family troubled with mental health. His father struggled and succumbed to his depression and he himself suffers from some type of anxiety, probably social, and this has made life a bit difficult for him. He needs a secretary.
In comes Georgie Turner. He’s on the run after double-crossing one of his partners and takes a job from Jack that lands him as ‘the madman’s secretary’ yet what he finds is a man not mad, just different.
The mental health was so well done, especially with that time period. Lawrence even had a therapy dog, Barnabus. The romance was well paced and so sweet and ugh my heart. They were so cute and I adored them.
“Listen here, my lord,” he said with a touch of his old insolence. “I’m not going anywhere, and you’re out of luck if you think you can get rid of me. You can build a dozen new houses, and I’ll simply follow you about from house to house, like a bad case of bedbugs. Where you are, I am, so get used to it.”
storytold's review against another edition
3.5
3.5, rounded up for skill rather than enjoyment. It took me six weeks to read this book, but it's a me problem. I've been on a long break from romance and I need to be on a longer one. I was frequently exasperated with the tropes, but never with the writing. Excellent for what it is.
bookcraft's review against another edition
4.0
Probably my least favorite of the trilogy, but still worthy of four stars.
As with The Soldier's Scoundrel, I bought the ebook/audiobook combo from Amazon after borrowing the audiobook from the library and deciding it was a keeper.
As with The Soldier's Scoundrel, I bought the ebook/audiobook combo from Amazon after borrowing the audiobook from the library and deciding it was a keeper.