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jamiehatch4488's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I almost abandoned this one. The main character is an awful person. Mean, rude, selfish, doesn't have a heart, and only wants to marry for money and prestige. I wished that the main character was her sister instead. I wasn't sure if I could continue reading.
But then she is injured and she starts to change. She clings to her old life and old dreams until nearly the end of the book. Great ending to the story. I understand why it took her so long to change her views and ideas, but it was painful to wait so long for it to happen.
But then she is injured and she starts to change. She clings to her old life and old dreams until nearly the end of the book. Great ending to the story. I understand why it took her so long to change her views and ideas, but it was painful to wait so long for it to happen.
cari1268's review against another edition
4.0
I was so happy to find a clean romance at my library! While I liked this book, I definitely had my qualms about it. There was an underdeveloped hero, a drawn out story, and a puzzling stubbornness of character in the heroine. Also,
However, I'm not too picky with my romances. I just want them clean. And I did like that one plot point in this story surprised me. Overall, this was a fun read.
3.5 Stars.
Spoiler
why couldn't Charlotte learn to play the piano with her remaining fingers on the right hand?! True, it wouldn't sound nearly as good, but she could still make music. She loved music so much and was such a stubborn person, I couldn't see her not at least trying a bit more.However, I'm not too picky with my romances. I just want them clean. And I did like that one plot point in this story surprised me.
Spoiler
I did not see the finger amputations coming and was horrified and embarrassed for Charlotte. I only wish that this part of the story was delved into deeper. I would have loved seeing Charlotte struggle more with learning how to redo things.3.5 Stars.
liareadsawholelot's review against another edition
4.0
Great story, happy to see that both her and her sister got a happy ending. It was great to see the character development and how her mom turned from a great role model to a total bitch. I wish there was more to the ending, I wanted more.
jnak's review against another edition
5.0
Charlotte redeemed
I was very concerned at the beginning of this story because I really REALLY did not like Charlotte, it took a lot for me to get to a place where I wanted to root for her but it came and I’m glad I stuck with it! Great love story!
I was very concerned at the beginning of this story because I really REALLY did not like Charlotte, it took a lot for me to get to a place where I wanted to root for her but it came and I’m glad I stuck with it! Great love story!
leslie_books_and_socks_rock's review against another edition
4.0
This took me a while to get into because Charlotte is so cruel and horrible. I still can’t believe she ripped pages out of Clara’s book!
Eventually Charlotte changed but I couldn’t believe how much she still clung to her mother’s approval and wanting a title after everything that had happened.
Plus would James really be that poor if his brother is an Earl? I assumed he mostly worked because he liked it and being busy. I hated how Charlotte thought James was beneath her-even as she’s scrubbing her own tiny cottage!
Eventually Charlotte changed but I couldn’t believe how much she still clung to her mother’s approval and wanting a title after everything that had happened.
Plus would James really be that poor if his brother is an Earl? I assumed he mostly worked because he liked it and being busy. I hated how Charlotte thought James was beneath her-even as she’s scrubbing her own tiny cottage!
rachel_abby_reads's review against another edition
1.0
I finished it, but it was not a labor of love. At first, I felt like I was reading a Cinderella style story from the step-sister's POV. I was ready to lay the book down because I didn't like the main narrative character (Charlotte), but the cover and some reviews talked about character growth, and I thought, "Well, she had a crappy mom and home life, so that's hard to overcome, let's see how this goes."
Well: I don't buy the "character growth." Charlotte was appalling and rude to everyone, and when she first met James, the love interest, and I don't understand romantic heroes who get all invested in an unpleasant (at first) heroine BEFORE she's pleasant, and before she has a chance to develop more pleasant qualities. It suggests the guy is willing to suck up a certain amount of unpleasant in exchange for a sufficiently pretty face.
Her affection for the little girl Sophia (and the reciprocation) seem entirely unearned.
I admit to skimming, because EVERY TIME she talked about being captured by his gaze, or thoughts of him, or blah blah blah I had to skip ahead a bit, so - is ALL of her change of character based on? She never seemed to talk to anyone besides Clara, James and the Abbotts, she doesn't seem to have noticed anyone else in the town except one other little girl, Caroline. Where is all this reputed kindness and unselfishness coming from? Because she does chores for a change?
Anyway: I realize tension, and protestations of "no, I don't love him" and "no, he doesn't love me" are stock in trade for these things, but I wasn't feeling it in this book. I was more interested in Clara, and - oh wait - that brings up other issues:
1) In what early nineteenth century England does an upper class parent send her daughters to live unaccompanied and unchaperoned, etc etc and reasonably expect either of them to make a suitable match with a wealthy, titled peer?
2) How does a 16 year old girl get married without at least one parent giving legal permission, in said nineteenth century England?
3) On what planet does a GOVERNESS earn enough money to keep herself and her sister fed and housed without additional financial support?
You know how you can tell this book sucked? Because it's a fluffy, clean romance that took me five days to finish. I can usually swallow these in one sitting. Next time, I'm letting it go when I'm tired of it at page 60. The self-discipline to withhold judgment and finish did not pay off in the end.
Well: I don't buy the "character growth." Charlotte was appalling and rude to everyone, and when she first met James, the love interest, and I don't understand romantic heroes who get all invested in an unpleasant (at first) heroine BEFORE she's pleasant, and before she has a chance to develop more pleasant qualities. It suggests the guy is willing to suck up a certain amount of unpleasant in exchange for a sufficiently pretty face.
Her affection for the little girl Sophia (and the reciprocation) seem entirely unearned.
I admit to skimming, because EVERY TIME she talked about being captured by his gaze, or thoughts of him, or blah blah blah I had to skip ahead a bit, so - is ALL of her change of character based on
Spoiler
getting her hand caught in the fish trap and having fingers amputatedAnyway: I realize tension, and protestations of "no, I don't love him" and "no, he doesn't love me" are stock in trade for these things, but I wasn't feeling it in this book. I was more interested in Clara, and - oh wait - that brings up other issues:
1) In what early nineteenth century England does an upper class parent send her daughters to live unaccompanied and unchaperoned, etc etc and reasonably expect either of them to make a suitable match with a wealthy, titled peer?
2) How does a 16 year old girl get married without at least one parent giving legal permission, in said nineteenth century England?
3) On what planet does a GOVERNESS earn enough money to keep herself and her sister fed and housed without additional financial support?
You know how you can tell this book sucked? Because it's a fluffy, clean romance that took me five days to finish. I can usually swallow these in one sitting. Next time, I'm letting it go when I'm tired of it at page 60. The self-discipline to withhold judgment and finish did not pay off in the end.
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Really liked this second book from this author. It is a sequel to Mischief and Manors however you don't have to read the first book to understand what's going on in this book. In the first book, Charlotte is a manipulative spoiled rich girl who is completely unlikable. In this book, Ms. Newbold takes this unlikable character and makes her likable, complex, and someone you really want to cheer for. I enjoyed peeling back the layers of Charlotte and watching her change. I liked her sister Clara and her willingness to forgive. I loved James and his patient yet strong character. This is a clean romance that I would definitely recommend to my daughter. Looking forward to more by this author!
deannah's review against another edition
3.0
This was a new twist--the heroine for most of the book is rather unlikable. But, in the end, she realizes what her priorities should be and lives happily ever after. I thought it was a pretty decent regency romance.
sarahsbookstack's review against another edition
4.0
Charlotte was a frustrating character! But there is pure reason for it, her horrible mother! I loved the dynamic of Clara and Charlotte though once Charlotte softened towards her. The thing that happens to Charlotte with her hand had me cringing. James was so patient with Charlotte, I feel like he loved her pretty quickly. Very cute story of triumphing over your circumstances and letting real love into your life.
rachearl's review against another edition
4.0
A story of great redemption. Charlotte was just the worst but found her way to the light just in time to find true happiness.