marshmallowbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was like a cross between Emma and Pride and Prejudice with none of the awkward parts..
decafplease's review against another edition
2.0
I actually can't remember why I gave this a two-star rating. All the more reason to not change the verdict. Hm...mainly cos it read too predictable and the protagonist's choices didn't seem to make much sense? Talk about major flaws.
jadziadax's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of my favorite books I've read in awhile. It's a fairly obvious romance, but amusing and unique.
I wouldn't call it a love triangle, really, as it's clear (mild spoiler here) and the style of writing and dialogue was well done.
I wouldn't call it a love triangle, really, as it's clear (mild spoiler here)
Spoiler
that she is going to end with with Mr. Fredrick and not Lord Boring-- it's not a real attraction, just money basedbak8382's review against another edition
4.0
Althea must marry for money if she is to keep your family home and support her mother, younger brother, and 2 stepsisters. Unfortunately there are not many young men to choose from in her small community until Lord Boring arrives. Suddenly the neighborhood is much livelier, and Boring appears to be everything Althea could want in a husband. Yet she is constantly distracted by other people around her including Boring's cousin Mr. Fredrick, who appears at first to be the last man she could ever be prevailed on to marry!
This is a lovely homage to [a:Jane Austen|1265|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1282032472p2/1265.jpg]. [a:Patrice Kindl|31265|Patrice Kindl|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1244141468p2/31265.jpg]subtly weaves in elements of several of Austen's novels while creating characters and situations that are distinctly her own. It's a quick, fun read for any Austen fan.
This is a lovely homage to [a:Jane Austen|1265|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1282032472p2/1265.jpg]. [a:Patrice Kindl|31265|Patrice Kindl|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1244141468p2/31265.jpg]subtly weaves in elements of several of Austen's novels while creating characters and situations that are distinctly her own. It's a quick, fun read for any Austen fan.
literatehedgehog's review against another edition
2.0
Fun, charming, predictable. Decent beach read fare.
kricketa's review against another edition
3.0
this looks straight up my alley! "pride & prejudice" meets "i captured the castle." it was sweet, funny and a little predictable. i could have probably read it in one sitting if i hadn't accidentally left it at work over a holiday.
shanyreader's review against another edition
3.0
*Facepalm* I really do not know what I expected from this book, but it certainly was not the one I expected.
The Characters: Our MC...Althea. I did not like her very much AT ALL. I thought she was very selfish and self-righteous. I understand the need to marry into money- but I don't think any Austenian heroine really would have been so selfish as she was. I could sense the attachment to her family, yes, but she was so invested in her own love-life and scheming that I really could not respect her. I thought she was indeed very clever, especially the hilarious episode with Prudence and Charity and getting them to pay for some roof repairs, but other little shenanigans she had really backfired on her and she knew it.
Prudence and Charity: Your typical, one-sided, evil step-sisters. I kept imagining them as Anastasia and Drizella from Cinderella XD They didn't really add much humor since they were SO stingy with money and stole sweets from kids...heh...but they served a purpose in the novel I suppose.
Alexander and Mother: Bland. Alexander was only there to move the plot along a bit and the mother was a nice lady, yes--but she wasn't very helpful for much. Though I suppose she tried her very best with the two daughters she inherited. And
The Males: Boring (what on EARTH kind of name was that?) and Fredricks...typical guys. Boring at least and Mr. Fredricks being a Darcy equivalent kind of bugged me a lot..
Others: Blah. One's a gambler. One calls people mermaids. Workers. Doctors. Not much to report here. Typical characters.
Plot: I signed up for a short, quick, exciting read...and I got something that dragged out in some parts much more than I signed up for. The castle was important, I suppose--very I Capture the Castle but just...even more so. So little food...how on earth do they survive??? But yeah...love story with twists...and may I say, some where really good twists that I approved of and were actually welcome to add some suspense to this book!
The Good: I feel like a lot of the above was part of the bad...but the book wasn't that bad. True, it's no Pride and Prejudice, but then again, nothing is and can be again. It was a simple, nostalgic read and I thoroughly enjoyed being so grumpy at it for getting my hopes up so much. A good read for a slow day, especially since it's so cute and small, and sweet :)
3 stars. I wouldn't read it again by choice, but I would recommend it. ^.^
The Characters: Our MC...Althea. I did not like her very much AT ALL. I thought she was very selfish and self-righteous. I understand the need to marry into money- but I don't think any Austenian heroine really would have been so selfish as she was. I could sense the attachment to her family, yes, but she was so invested in her own love-life and scheming that I really could not respect her. I thought she was indeed very clever, especially the hilarious episode with Prudence and Charity and getting them to pay for some roof repairs, but other little shenanigans she had really backfired on her and she knew it.
Spoiler
That thing with Ms. Vincy and Goldaming--just really low on Althea's partPrudence and Charity: Your typical, one-sided, evil step-sisters. I kept imagining them as Anastasia and Drizella from Cinderella XD They didn't really add much humor since they were SO stingy with money and stole sweets from kids...heh...but they served a purpose in the novel I suppose.
Spoiler
Charity's marriage was a pretty big plot twistAlexander and Mother: Bland. Alexander was only there to move the plot along a bit and the mother was a nice lady, yes--but she wasn't very helpful for much. Though I suppose she tried her very best with the two daughters she inherited. And
Spoiler
I think everyone saw the relationship between her and the Marquis coming from five miles away, no?The Males: Boring (what on EARTH kind of name was that?) and Fredricks...typical guys. Boring at least
Spoiler
Didn't turn out as bad as I thought he would have--he ended up like that guy from Sense and Sensibility and not like Wickham at leastSpoiler
I wish the romance had been developed a bit more. I know that she had emotions on her end, but his side of the romance was literally not expressed until the last 10 pages. I mean...COME ON! I wanted it to be the tiniest bit more spread out throughout the novelOthers: Blah. One's a gambler. One calls people mermaids. Workers. Doctors. Not much to report here. Typical characters.
Plot: I signed up for a short, quick, exciting read...and I got something that dragged out in some parts much more than I signed up for. The castle was important, I suppose--very I Capture the Castle but just...even more so. So little food...how on earth do they survive??? But yeah...love story with twists...and may I say, some where really good twists that I approved of and were actually welcome to add some suspense to this book!
The Good: I feel like a lot of the above was part of the bad...but the book wasn't that bad. True, it's no Pride and Prejudice, but then again, nothing is and can be again. It was a simple, nostalgic read and I thoroughly enjoyed being so grumpy at it for getting my hopes up so much. A good read for a slow day, especially since it's so cute and small, and sweet :)
3 stars. I wouldn't read it again by choice, but I would recommend it. ^.^
sandraagee's review against another edition
3.0
Suffered a bit from telling rather than showing, but this book was fun nonetheless. It's a perfectly predictable light summer read.
sonia_reppe's review against another edition
3.0
Fun, light read. Predictable for someone who's read Jane Austen. But really, no kiss at the end?
dtrumps's review against another edition
4.0
Regency era Austenesque tale of a girl who needs to marry well in order to keep her late father’s hand made castle in the family. Althea was smart and funny and willing to sacrifice herself on the alter of matrimony. Read the first page and you’ll be laughing out loud. And it only gets better. 4.5/5