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daychaser's review against another edition
2.0
To be honest, this book was pretty bland and generic. I'm starting to see a lot of the same tired plot points and characterizations in historical romances, and this book was just nothing particularly special.
Historical romances tend to include these things:
-a practical, (sometimes fiery or bubbly) heroine who is still pretty naive and ignorant when it comes to romance and who (sooner or later) throws caution/intelligence/rational thought to the wind due to their desire for the hero
-a hero who is either dark/broody (dangerous/scary) or a womanizer (enigmatic/charming) but is always more worldly than the heroine
-the hero becomes so obsessed with the heroine by the 65% mark that all he can do is wax poetic regarding how beautiful/special/passionate/amazing/insert adjective here the heroine is. His whole life becomes the heroine. Usually includes the hero doing some wacky protective shenanigans (that always end up saving the heroine)
-irredeemably evil (male) or bitchy/jealous (female) villain with about all the subtlety of an elephant
And I'm not inherently mad at these tropes- it's just that they are used in such a tired and bland way in a lot of the HR I've read. Anyway...
Genevieve Barrett is the daughter of a vicar and an academic, who is the secret brains behind her father's work. Richard Harmsworth is a bastard, but is inheriting due to being the only heir. His status as a bastard really rubs him the wrong way and hatches a bit of a harebrained plot to take back the legendary Harmsworth jewel which is supposedly only to be owned by the actual Harmsworth line, thus silencing the gossip surrounding his birth. Genevieve is in possession of said jewel, so Richard decides to go undercover in order to take the jewel from her.
The premise was fun, and the first 50% kept me entertained enough, however past that the flaws of this book started to sink in.
Genevieve, for being book smart, is pretty naive and has her fair share of dumb moments, which were a bit frustrating. Although her dialogue was pretty biting and quick-witted, her actual deductive reasoning skills left a lot to be desired and her emotional intelligence was just not up to par. This was a bit frustrating because I feel like in HRs a lot of times heroines are so emotionally unintelligent and can't be rational, and this was the case with Genevieve. Sometimes her attraction to Richard prevented her from making good decisions. She's mad at him, then absolutely insists she must be with him, and then is mad at him again (when the plot needed some conflict between the two.) It's just not really interesting.
The last 50% became pretty melodramatic. There were a lot of grand gestures and feelings changing from chapter to chapter and I got whiplash. Richard becomes obsessed with protecting Genevieve and it's like he BREATHES and DIES for her. It got a bit too sickly sweet and the conflicts between the two were boring because the conflicts stemmed from the hero doing something problematic (aka lying about his identity in order to get the jewel) and then the heroine is *rightfully* mad but then takes him back a chapter later, which we all knew was going to happen. There is just not a lot of tension or interesting things going on thematically with these kind of conflicts.
Harmsworth was a typical HR hero, he was fine but forgettable and not particularly interesting. He was a bit cringe at some points but eh, what can you do.
As Gordon Ramsay would say: Where's the finesse? Where's the lamb sauce?
Historical romances tend to include these things:
-a practical, (sometimes fiery or bubbly) heroine who is still pretty naive and ignorant when it comes to romance and who (sooner or later) throws caution/intelligence/rational thought to the wind due to their desire for the hero
-a hero who is either dark/broody (dangerous/scary) or a womanizer (enigmatic/charming) but is always more worldly than the heroine
-the hero becomes so obsessed with the heroine by the 65% mark that all he can do is wax poetic regarding how beautiful/special/passionate/amazing/insert adjective here the heroine is. His whole life becomes the heroine. Usually includes the hero doing some wacky protective shenanigans (that always end up saving the heroine)
-irredeemably evil (male) or bitchy/jealous (female) villain with about all the subtlety of an elephant
And I'm not inherently mad at these tropes- it's just that they are used in such a tired and bland way in a lot of the HR I've read. Anyway...
Genevieve Barrett is the daughter of a vicar and an academic, who is the secret brains behind her father's work. Richard Harmsworth is a bastard, but is inheriting due to being the only heir. His status as a bastard really rubs him the wrong way and hatches a bit of a harebrained plot to take back the legendary Harmsworth jewel which is supposedly only to be owned by the actual Harmsworth line, thus silencing the gossip surrounding his birth. Genevieve is in possession of said jewel, so Richard decides to go undercover in order to take the jewel from her.
The premise was fun, and the first 50% kept me entertained enough, however past that the flaws of this book started to sink in.
Genevieve, for being book smart, is pretty naive and has her fair share of dumb moments, which were a bit frustrating. Although her dialogue was pretty biting and quick-witted, her actual deductive reasoning skills left a lot to be desired and her emotional intelligence was just not up to par. This was a bit frustrating because I feel like in HRs a lot of times heroines are so emotionally unintelligent and can't be rational, and this was the case with Genevieve. Sometimes her attraction to Richard prevented her from making good decisions. She's mad at him, then absolutely insists she must be with him, and then is mad at him again (when the plot needed some conflict between the two.) It's just not really interesting.
The last 50% became pretty melodramatic. There were a lot of grand gestures and feelings changing from chapter to chapter and I got whiplash. Richard becomes obsessed with protecting Genevieve and it's like he BREATHES and DIES for her. It got a bit too sickly sweet and the conflicts between the two were boring because the conflicts stemmed from the hero doing something problematic (aka lying about his identity in order to get the jewel) and then the heroine is *rightfully* mad but then takes him back a chapter later, which we all knew was going to happen. There is just not a lot of tension or interesting things going on thematically with these kind of conflicts.
Harmsworth was a typical HR hero, he was fine but forgettable and not particularly interesting. He was a bit cringe at some points but eh, what can you do.
As Gordon Ramsay would say: Where's the finesse? Where's the lamb sauce?
jonetta's review
4.0
Quick summary
Genevieve Barrett is a bluestocking, secretly the academician behind her father's reputation as an antiquarian. Richard Harmsworth is the heir to his family's legacy but has lived under the cloud of his questionable paternity. Legacy has it that the heir would have possession of the Harmsworth Jewel and Richard believes if he can get it, he'll have earned the legitimacy he's sought for most of his life.
Heart of the story
Richard has confirmed that Genevieve owns the Jewel and he assumes a fake identity to attempt to have her sell or give him the Jewel. Though she doesn't who he is, Genevieve is immediately suspicious of him. She's a confirmed spinster, valuing her independence so she's not receptive of his efforts to disarm her.
What I liked
I really liked Richard, despite his past behavior and his deception. He had a strong appreciation for Genevieve's intellect and fell for her brain as well as her attractiveness. His inevitable seduction was caring and sensual, always thinking of her. I also appreciated their banter as it was clever and engaging. There's also a sinister element to the story that hooked me as soon as it emerged.
What slowed me down
The first half of the story was tough for me to navigate. I've been accustomed to the author's writing style and really liked it. However, this book was overburdened with esoteric metaphors and arcane references that slowed my reading to a crawl. Maybe it was to accommodate the background of the heroine. Fortunately, the second half was really exciting and saved the experience.
The bottom line
The sum of this book's parts made this a really good story. While the first half was troublesome, the second more than overcompensated. It's a great romance with two very interesting characters. I'm enjoying the series and the unconventional issues presented in these regency period romances.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
Genevieve Barrett is a bluestocking, secretly the academician behind her father's reputation as an antiquarian. Richard Harmsworth is the heir to his family's legacy but has lived under the cloud of his questionable paternity. Legacy has it that the heir would have possession of the Harmsworth Jewel and Richard believes if he can get it, he'll have earned the legitimacy he's sought for most of his life.
Heart of the story
Richard has confirmed that Genevieve owns the Jewel and he assumes a fake identity to attempt to have her sell or give him the Jewel. Though she doesn't who he is, Genevieve is immediately suspicious of him. She's a confirmed spinster, valuing her independence so she's not receptive of his efforts to disarm her.
What I liked
I really liked Richard, despite his past behavior and his deception. He had a strong appreciation for Genevieve's intellect and fell for her brain as well as her attractiveness. His inevitable seduction was caring and sensual, always thinking of her. I also appreciated their banter as it was clever and engaging. There's also a sinister element to the story that hooked me as soon as it emerged.
What slowed me down
The first half of the story was tough for me to navigate. I've been accustomed to the author's writing style and really liked it. However, this book was overburdened with esoteric metaphors and arcane references that slowed my reading to a crawl. Maybe it was to accommodate the background of the heroine. Fortunately, the second half was really exciting and saved the experience.
The bottom line
The sum of this book's parts made this a really good story. While the first half was troublesome, the second more than overcompensated. It's a great romance with two very interesting characters. I'm enjoying the series and the unconventional issues presented in these regency period romances.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
taisie22's review against another edition
4.0
This is a reread since I reread the first book in the series and just continued. Rake Richard has always been aware of his illegitimate status and determines to steal a lost family jewel in hopes it will confer some legitimacy on him. Currently, Genevieve, a bluestocking scholar, has the jewel, hoping to use it to bolster her scholarly reputation. Richard assumes a disguise to get close to Genevieve.
This is a fun book if you ignore some of the plot holes. Both Richard and Genevieve are interesting characters, but I found the villain's machinations to be somewhat unbelievable. Ms. Campbell always writes a good romance though and this is a good continuation of the series.
This is a fun book if you ignore some of the plot holes. Both Richard and Genevieve are interesting characters, but I found the villain's machinations to be somewhat unbelievable. Ms. Campbell always writes a good romance though and this is a good continuation of the series.
gamz's review against another edition
4.0
4 Ahhh-mazing! Stars
“You defeat me, Miss Barrett. How am I to work my wiles when you undo me at every turn?”
I loved every moment of A Rake’s Midnight Kiss! It is as charming as it’s hero and as smart as it’s heroine. Anna Campbell does it again! She has proven again why she is one of the top Historical Romance authors.
Sir Richard Harmsworth is out to prove his right to the Harmsworth baronetcy by finding the lost Harmsworth Jewel. His search for the elusive treasure leads him to the home of the historian, Reverend Ezekiel Barrett, and his daughter, Miss Genevieve Barrett, in the tiny village of Little Derrick, in Oxfordshire. After numerous offers to buy the jewel from Miss Barrett had been denied, in desperation, Richard assumes a false identity; Mr. Christopher Evans, and becomes the student of the good Reverend Barrett.
Genevieve is skeptical of Mr. Evans from the start. He’s too handsome, too flirtatious and dresses way too well for the country. She also finds that for the first time in her life, she is way too attracted to the man. Mr. Evans is not what he seems and she is suspicious of him. Genevieve believes that he is here a representative of Sir Richard Harmsworth, sent to get the jewel from her.
Written as a much lighter than the earlier books in the series, A Rake’s Midnight Kiss, had me chuckling. As charming as “Mr. Evans” tries to be, Genevieve shoots him down at every turn. The witty repartee between them makes the story sparkle with humor and charm. Even when there is a heavy subject matter being addressed, the exchanges between Genevieve and Richard/Christopher makes the situation lighter.
As the story reveals itself, you learn more about Richard, and his pain and shame of being a known bastard and of his mother’s infidelity and subsequent lifestyle. He is a man who hides his pain behind a laissez faire attitude. During his impersonation of Christopher Evans, Genevieve is the only person he allows to know the real him. I loved his character in Seven Night’s in a Rouge’s Bed, when he and Sirius helped Sidonie get in to see Sedgemoor and gain his help to get Jonas out of jail. His devil-may-care, charming attitude makes his seem care free and uncaring about anything serious. In A Rake’s Midnight Kiss you learn that the real man is so much more, and it takes a smart, strong woman like Genevieve to make him realize it.
The main villain, Lord Neville Fairbrother, is a nasty piece of work. Once he learned that Genevieve has the Harmsworth Jewel, he offers to buy it from her. When he is unsuccessful, he proposes to her. Again, she says no, so he resorts to foul means to get the jewel. Even resorting to kidnapping and attempted murder. Of course he gets his at the end, but it left me a little scared of the Duke of Sedgemoor. That man is seriously cold.
My favorite character is Sirius. A mutt of unknown breed and origins, he easily stole heart with his cunning, bravery and charm. A Rake’s Midnight Kiss is an excellent book and is A Definite Must Read!. The characters are all wonderful, the plot is excellent and there’s Sirius – he’s worth it all by himself.
“You defeat me, Miss Barrett. How am I to work my wiles when you undo me at every turn?”
I loved every moment of A Rake’s Midnight Kiss! It is as charming as it’s hero and as smart as it’s heroine. Anna Campbell does it again! She has proven again why she is one of the top Historical Romance authors.
Sir Richard Harmsworth is out to prove his right to the Harmsworth baronetcy by finding the lost Harmsworth Jewel. His search for the elusive treasure leads him to the home of the historian, Reverend Ezekiel Barrett, and his daughter, Miss Genevieve Barrett, in the tiny village of Little Derrick, in Oxfordshire. After numerous offers to buy the jewel from Miss Barrett had been denied, in desperation, Richard assumes a false identity; Mr. Christopher Evans, and becomes the student of the good Reverend Barrett.
Genevieve is skeptical of Mr. Evans from the start. He’s too handsome, too flirtatious and dresses way too well for the country. She also finds that for the first time in her life, she is way too attracted to the man. Mr. Evans is not what he seems and she is suspicious of him. Genevieve believes that he is here a representative of Sir Richard Harmsworth, sent to get the jewel from her.
Written as a much lighter than the earlier books in the series, A Rake’s Midnight Kiss, had me chuckling. As charming as “Mr. Evans” tries to be, Genevieve shoots him down at every turn. The witty repartee between them makes the story sparkle with humor and charm. Even when there is a heavy subject matter being addressed, the exchanges between Genevieve and Richard/Christopher makes the situation lighter.
As the story reveals itself, you learn more about Richard, and his pain and shame of being a known bastard and of his mother’s infidelity and subsequent lifestyle. He is a man who hides his pain behind a laissez faire attitude. During his impersonation of Christopher Evans, Genevieve is the only person he allows to know the real him. I loved his character in Seven Night’s in a Rouge’s Bed, when he and Sirius helped Sidonie get in to see Sedgemoor and gain his help to get Jonas out of jail. His devil-may-care, charming attitude makes his seem care free and uncaring about anything serious. In A Rake’s Midnight Kiss you learn that the real man is so much more, and it takes a smart, strong woman like Genevieve to make him realize it.
The main villain, Lord Neville Fairbrother, is a nasty piece of work. Once he learned that Genevieve has the Harmsworth Jewel, he offers to buy it from her. When he is unsuccessful, he proposes to her. Again, she says no, so he resorts to foul means to get the jewel. Even resorting to kidnapping and attempted murder. Of course he gets his at the end, but it left me a little scared of the Duke of Sedgemoor. That man is seriously cold.
My favorite character is Sirius. A mutt of unknown breed and origins, he easily stole heart with his cunning, bravery and charm. A Rake’s Midnight Kiss is an excellent book and is A Definite Must Read!. The characters are all wonderful, the plot is excellent and there’s Sirius – he’s worth it all by himself.
jaclynder's review against another edition
4.0
Genevieve Barrett is smart, lady scholar, the problem is that no one knows. For years she has been writing her father's work and he has been gaining all the credit. Her pleas for acknowledgment have fallen on deaf ears and Genevieve has decided to take matters into her own hands by publishing a very important piece on the Harmsworth Jewel, which apparently proves the legitimacy of the Harmsworth family.
Sir Richard Harmsworth is a confirmed bastard and has been branded as such in society. Richard wants nothing more to get his hands on the Harmsworth Jewel, in a misguided believe that possessing the jewel will silence the society gossip. To gain the jewel Richard resorts to some drastic means - he takes on a new persona and infiltrates the vicarage as a student to Genevieve's father. Of course nothing could possibly go wrong with this plan...
After meeting and getting to know Genevieve, Richard slowly falls under her spell and is determined to undermine her prim persona and win her heart rather than the jewel. The problem is that Genevieve has no idea that Richard is really Harmsworth, who has been trying to buy the jewel for some time. Ultimately, Richard will have to figure out how to tell Genevieve the truth without losing her trust.
Overall, I was really rather surprised with this one. I wasn't able to get through the first book in the series, which I didn't actually realize was part of this series until I did a Goodreads search. What it boiled down to was I liked the plot in A Rake's Midnight Kiss and I liked the characters. At time Genevieve was a little stubborn and resistant, but I liked that she didn't just succumb to Richard's charms. And Richard was a pretty awesome hero. He changed through the course of the novel form being a self-involved rake to being someone who did care about others.
This was a great historical and I'm looking forward to more in the series. A Rake's Midnight Kiss had it all - humor, romance, a dastardly villain - what more could you ask for?
Sir Richard Harmsworth is a confirmed bastard and has been branded as such in society. Richard wants nothing more to get his hands on the Harmsworth Jewel, in a misguided believe that possessing the jewel will silence the society gossip. To gain the jewel Richard resorts to some drastic means - he takes on a new persona and infiltrates the vicarage as a student to Genevieve's father. Of course nothing could possibly go wrong with this plan...
After meeting and getting to know Genevieve, Richard slowly falls under her spell and is determined to undermine her prim persona and win her heart rather than the jewel. The problem is that Genevieve has no idea that Richard is really Harmsworth, who has been trying to buy the jewel for some time. Ultimately, Richard will have to figure out how to tell Genevieve the truth without losing her trust.
Overall, I was really rather surprised with this one. I wasn't able to get through the first book in the series, which I didn't actually realize was part of this series until I did a Goodreads search. What it boiled down to was I liked the plot in A Rake's Midnight Kiss and I liked the characters. At time Genevieve was a little stubborn and resistant, but I liked that she didn't just succumb to Richard's charms. And Richard was a pretty awesome hero. He changed through the course of the novel form being a self-involved rake to being someone who did care about others.
This was a great historical and I'm looking forward to more in the series. A Rake's Midnight Kiss had it all - humor, romance, a dastardly villain - what more could you ask for?
intostarlight's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars
I liked it but I didn't love it. The first half of the book bored me a little and I couldn't get into it. It just became one thing after another. The second half picked up but too little, too late for more than 3 stars rating. There was also just a little too much love/hate for me to enjoy this book better (too much "I hate him but I love him" for my taste). Also there was the "big misunderstanding" that could have been cleared up with an open conversation between the H/h. I really hate those.
But overall it was well written with likable characters.
I liked it but I didn't love it. The first half of the book bored me a little and I couldn't get into it. It just became one thing after another. The second half picked up but too little, too late for more than 3 stars rating. There was also just a little too much love/hate for me to enjoy this book better (too much "I hate him but I love him" for my taste). Also there was the "big misunderstanding" that could have been cleared up with an open conversation between the H/h. I really hate those.
But overall it was well written with likable characters.
silvercal's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this smoldering romance by one of my favorite authors! Genevieve Barrett is tired of living in her father's shadow and is ready to break free and show the world who really writes up his academic articles by publishing her research on the mysterious Harmsworth Jewel. Unfortunately, the jewel was left to her by an aunt and Sir Richard Harmsworth wants it back for himself and will go to any means to obtain it back...even steal. When the break in goes awry, he is drawn to the prickly Genevieve and devises a new plan that involves going undercover to seduce the lady and get the jewel back. What he does not expect is to have Genevieve help him find himself and fall hard for her. When a vile threat poses too great of a risk to Genevieve's life, Richard knows he must tell her the truth before it is too late. Will Genevieve be able to forgive the deceit and hurt that Richard has caused?
Reading an Anna Campbell romance is always guaranteed to make me smile, blush and devour the book to fast and wish I had not! This book accomplished all of that and more! I adored Genevieve with her appealing, clever, prickly demeanor she is just the right woman to help Richard see past the views of society to the man he truly is. She can see that his heart is heavily guarded due to his mothers indiscretion that lead to his birth and it has shaped him into the man he is today. Richard has grown up with being sneered at in society as all of society knows he is not the true heir, even if he was accepted by his father. She finds herself misjudging him just as everyone else has done but she gradually sees him for the kind, brave, perceptive handsome man he is. The only thing that really bothered my about the wonderful story was the deception. I understand why Richard did what he did but it is always a touchy subject for me, especially when he choose to finally reveal his true identity to Genevieve. I thought the villain aspect was well done and worked well within this story. Anna Campbell writes with her usual lush descriptions and smoldering passion and I got swept away by the delicious romance of Richard and Genevieve! 4 stars
eARC provided by Grand Central Publishing via netgalley
Reading an Anna Campbell romance is always guaranteed to make me smile, blush and devour the book to fast and wish I had not! This book accomplished all of that and more! I adored Genevieve with her appealing, clever, prickly demeanor she is just the right woman to help Richard see past the views of society to the man he truly is. She can see that his heart is heavily guarded due to his mothers indiscretion that lead to his birth and it has shaped him into the man he is today. Richard has grown up with being sneered at in society as all of society knows he is not the true heir, even if he was accepted by his father. She finds herself misjudging him just as everyone else has done but she gradually sees him for the kind, brave, perceptive handsome man he is. The only thing that really bothered my about the wonderful story was the deception. I understand why Richard did what he did but it is always a touchy subject for me, especially when he choose to finally reveal his true identity to Genevieve. I thought the villain aspect was well done and worked well within this story. Anna Campbell writes with her usual lush descriptions and smoldering passion and I got swept away by the delicious romance of Richard and Genevieve! 4 stars
eARC provided by Grand Central Publishing via netgalley