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mvbookreviewer's review against another edition
3.0
3.75 Stars Historical Romance
Nick Gentry who is reputed to be the most skillful lover in all of England acquires the knowledge that goes along with his inherent skill from Mrs. Gemma Bradshaw, the owner of the most well trained house of prostitutes in London. Nick who has always been sensual by nature had refused to seek out just any woman to satisfy his hungers until holding back becomes too much for him and he finally seeks out Mrs. Bradshaw’s brothel after he turns 24 of age. Nick who is disreputable at best is described as a man who is popular with the public, feared in the underworld and detested by the Bow Street Runners who continuously try to hunt him down until Sir Ross Cannon who has now retired from the Bow Street Runners finally catches up with him and convinces Nick to work for them.
Charlotte Howard (Lottie) is a woman who is on the run. Having being betrothed to Lord Radnor since childhood by her parents who had practically made a deal with the devil himself to keep themselves ensconced in the lap of luxury, Charlotte had found every aspect of her life being controlled by Radnor himself. Knowing that marriage to the controlling mad man that Charlotte’s parents refused to see that he was would be a fate worse than death itself, Charlotte flees from home and seeks employment at Lord Westcliff’s residence as a companion to his mother.
Lord Radnor who is besides himself for the fact that Charlotte dared run away from him hires Nick to bring back his bride to be whether she is willing to come back or not. When Nick encounters the woman whom he had been hunting after for the past 2 months, Nick is surprised to find himself enchanted with the woman who for the first time in his life seems to be calling to something deep inside of himself that Nick refuses to recognize.
Full review: http://bit.ly/dnvYmu
Nick Gentry who is reputed to be the most skillful lover in all of England acquires the knowledge that goes along with his inherent skill from Mrs. Gemma Bradshaw, the owner of the most well trained house of prostitutes in London. Nick who has always been sensual by nature had refused to seek out just any woman to satisfy his hungers until holding back becomes too much for him and he finally seeks out Mrs. Bradshaw’s brothel after he turns 24 of age. Nick who is disreputable at best is described as a man who is popular with the public, feared in the underworld and detested by the Bow Street Runners who continuously try to hunt him down until Sir Ross Cannon who has now retired from the Bow Street Runners finally catches up with him and convinces Nick to work for them.
Charlotte Howard (Lottie) is a woman who is on the run. Having being betrothed to Lord Radnor since childhood by her parents who had practically made a deal with the devil himself to keep themselves ensconced in the lap of luxury, Charlotte had found every aspect of her life being controlled by Radnor himself. Knowing that marriage to the controlling mad man that Charlotte’s parents refused to see that he was would be a fate worse than death itself, Charlotte flees from home and seeks employment at Lord Westcliff’s residence as a companion to his mother.
Lord Radnor who is besides himself for the fact that Charlotte dared run away from him hires Nick to bring back his bride to be whether she is willing to come back or not. When Nick encounters the woman whom he had been hunting after for the past 2 months, Nick is surprised to find himself enchanted with the woman who for the first time in his life seems to be calling to something deep inside of himself that Nick refuses to recognize.
Full review: http://bit.ly/dnvYmu
desertlover's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 STARS
"Perhaps I'm your guardian angel."
"You don't look very angelic to me."
So, Nick is officially my favorite male character of LP's to date! I feel reluctant to label him a "hero" because I think he would be offended. This was sexy, but there was also many heartfelt moments. Watching these two slowly fall in love was near perfection. Also, I adored seeing Marcus and his role made my appreciate him even more.
"Perhaps I'm your guardian angel."
"You don't look very angelic to me."
So, Nick is officially my favorite male character of LP's to date! I feel reluctant to label him a "hero" because I think he would be offended. This was sexy, but there was also many heartfelt moments. Watching these two slowly fall in love was near perfection. Also, I adored seeing Marcus and his role made my appreciate him even more.
heatherloureads's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Nick and Lottie were so cute. 😍 I loved how protective Nick was of Lottie, and I loved how caring and nurturing Lottie was of Nick. They were such a good couple. The story took a while to take off for me, but I did enjoy seeing the two of them get to know each other and form a deep bond. There was a well-balanced amount of steamy scenes and getting to know each other, which I appreciated as well.
I could have done without the constant reference to Lottie combing through Nick's chest hair, though.
I could have done without the constant reference to Lottie combing through Nick's chest hair, though.
abbyvee's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
clurff's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
birdwatching's review against another edition
2.0
Ah that was disappointing. Despite a problematic setup, I was enjoying the chemistry between the two leads but the characterisation was threadbare and the plot such as it was fizzled around the halfway mark
chrisrin's review against another edition
2.0
The book was okay, I'm not interested in reading more in the series.
liketheainapple's review against another edition
4.75
SUCH a readable story by Kleypas to cap off the Bow Street Runners trilogy. Nick Gentry is a fascinating character, the most interesting male lead of this series. His tragic backstory exposes so much about the injustices of policing and incarceration.
I love how Kleypas explores ideas of possession, autonomy, and touch through our leads, Nick and Charlotte. Both have suffered sexual abuse, have unique relationships with physical intimacy, and have lived in conditions of unfreedom. Nick lived under constant threat of rape while in prison, and as a result "It seemed impossible to explain that for him, sex and pain and guilt were plaited together, that the simple act of making love to someone seemed as impossible as making himself jump off a cliff." His placement in prison and his later "freedom" are both due to his brother-in-law Sir Ross Cannon. Before he meets Charlotte, he spends years under the tutelage of a madam, where he cultivates this deep knowledge of sex as healing and tenderness. Charlotte has long been promised to Lord Radnor and has been molested and controlled by him. Her freedom from him comes at great cost.
There's then an intriguing contestation of free choices between Charlotte and Nick. He pursues her knowing who she is, but she doesn't know who he is. Her dalliance with him is liberating--her first free expression of physical desire--until she finds out she has been betrayed by him. Her subsequent marriage to him is a mixed bag of free and unfree choices. So much to chew on!
I love how Kleypas explores ideas of possession, autonomy, and touch through our leads, Nick and Charlotte.
There's then an intriguing contestation of free choices between Charlotte and Nick. He pursues her knowing who she is, but she doesn't know who he is. Her dalliance with him is liberating--her first free expression of physical desire--until she finds out she has been betrayed by him. Her subsequent marriage to him is a mixed bag of free and unfree choices.