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the_everyday_reader's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ember_eyes_are_for_tigers's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
This was disappointing.
I must admit, I’m not the biggest fan of Sabrina Jeffries but I do enjoy some of her books, however, this one was really not it. Both main characters were annoying, Griff’s especially, he was really unpleasant to read about.
The premise had potential and the author is excellent at writing witty characters, where the book falls short is the writing.
Unfortunate!
I must admit, I’m not the biggest fan of Sabrina Jeffries but I do enjoy some of her books, however, this one was really not it. Both main characters were annoying, Griff’s especially, he was really unpleasant to read about.
The premise had potential and the author is excellent at writing witty characters, where the book falls short is the writing.
Unfortunate!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Child abuse
haewilya's review against another edition
2.0
I only like it for Daniel and Helena. Rosalind's so strong supposedly but just feels weak to me. And Griff's comes off as a selfish bastard to me. And he treats Rosalind badly IMO. But maybe that's just me.
elblackwell's review against another edition
3.0
Never have I ever more deservedly given a book 3 stars. Let’s do this pro/con style.
PRO:
Lovely, lively, intelligent, robust, loyal, protective, self-sufficient heroine.
CON:
Total asshole, deceitful, easy to anger, belligerent hero.
PRO:
Use of the word cock!
CON:
Use of the word honeypot! :(((
PRO:
Wonderful side characters. Hell, I cared more about the hinted at romance for the second book than I did this one.
CON:
The sex was WAY too dubiously consensual and always seemed to be the hero’s way of shutting up the heroine. And it worked. :(
PRO:
DANIELLLLLLLLL.
CON:
Daniel’s not the hero. Sigh.
Marsden Griffin “Griff” Knighton runs Knighton Trading, only second in success to the East India Company. He’s also (falsely) labeled a bastard by society (and the law?). You see, his uncle stole his parents’ marriage certificate after the chapel in Gretna Green burned down and denied him his birthright. For the majority of the book you don’t know why, and it doesn’t really make a huge difference in the end. But there ya have it.
Only now the, not so rightful, Earl of Swanlea has offered Griff proof of his legitimacy … if he’ll marry one of his daughters, The Swanlea Spinsters. (Though one of them is 17, so really, poor girl don’t deserve the label.) Griff, in no hurry to do anything to please the Earl, devises a plan that involves his right hand man, Daniel, posing as him and charming the girls while Griff searches high and low for the marriage certificate in secret.
Rosalind is the middle daughter of the Earl of Swanlea, elder sister to Juliet, and younger sister to Helena. Clearly, their father is a huge fan of Shakespeare and passed that passion onto Rosalind herself. Much of the banter between Griff and Rosalind involves quoting Mr. Shakespeare. Though, at one point, Griff notes that it wouldn’t kill Rosalind to branch out a little bit.
Rosalind and Griff have a meet cute that involves her brandishing a sword and shield and mistaking him for a gypsy (author’s words) thief. It’s actually a nice meet cute, but to say they get off on the wrong foot is an understatement. Rosalind doesn’t for one moment believe that Griff’s intentions are innocent in snooping about the estate, and Griff constantly underestimates how intelligent Rosalind is.
It is a lovely book. I just have as many quibbles with it as I have enjoyable aspects. I really cannot forgive the dubious nature of the sex scenes. Just one sex scene that wasn’t the result of trying to end and argument would’ve been so very, very nice. And one sex scene that he didn’t drag her into it by undressing her as she protested ALSO would’ve been really appreciated. Also, please never use the word honeypot for a vagina. Just. Don’t. Ever. Do. It.
But when they weren’t having sex, I enjoyed their banter and I really did love Rosalind and her sisters and Daniel. I just have never wished for a better hero quite so hard as I did with this one.
PRO:
Lovely, lively, intelligent, robust, loyal, protective, self-sufficient heroine.
CON:
Total asshole, deceitful, easy to anger, belligerent hero.
PRO:
Use of the word cock!
CON:
Use of the word honeypot! :(((
PRO:
Wonderful side characters. Hell, I cared more about the hinted at romance for the second book than I did this one.
CON:
The sex was WAY too dubiously consensual and always seemed to be the hero’s way of shutting up the heroine. And it worked. :(
PRO:
DANIELLLLLLLLL.
CON:
Daniel’s not the hero. Sigh.
Marsden Griffin “Griff” Knighton runs Knighton Trading, only second in success to the East India Company. He’s also (falsely) labeled a bastard by society (and the law?). You see, his uncle stole his parents’ marriage certificate after the chapel in Gretna Green burned down and denied him his birthright. For the majority of the book you don’t know why, and it doesn’t really make a huge difference in the end. But there ya have it.
Only now the, not so rightful, Earl of Swanlea has offered Griff proof of his legitimacy … if he’ll marry one of his daughters, The Swanlea Spinsters. (Though one of them is 17, so really, poor girl don’t deserve the label.) Griff, in no hurry to do anything to please the Earl, devises a plan that involves his right hand man, Daniel, posing as him and charming the girls while Griff searches high and low for the marriage certificate in secret.
Rosalind is the middle daughter of the Earl of Swanlea, elder sister to Juliet, and younger sister to Helena. Clearly, their father is a huge fan of Shakespeare and passed that passion onto Rosalind herself. Much of the banter between Griff and Rosalind involves quoting Mr. Shakespeare. Though, at one point, Griff notes that it wouldn’t kill Rosalind to branch out a little bit.
Rosalind and Griff have a meet cute that involves her brandishing a sword and shield and mistaking him for a gypsy (author’s words) thief. It’s actually a nice meet cute, but to say they get off on the wrong foot is an understatement. Rosalind doesn’t for one moment believe that Griff’s intentions are innocent in snooping about the estate, and Griff constantly underestimates how intelligent Rosalind is.
It is a lovely book. I just have as many quibbles with it as I have enjoyable aspects. I really cannot forgive the dubious nature of the sex scenes. Just one sex scene that wasn’t the result of trying to end and argument would’ve been so very, very nice. And one sex scene that he didn’t drag her into it by undressing her as she protested ALSO would’ve been really appreciated. Also, please never use the word honeypot for a vagina. Just. Don’t. Ever. Do. It.
But when they weren’t having sex, I enjoyed their banter and I really did love Rosalind and her sisters and Daniel. I just have never wished for a better hero quite so hard as I did with this one.
twistinthetale's review against another edition
2.0
Two frustrating main characters and an inordinately lengthy process of revealing multiple deceptions meant this novel posed some reading challenges. There were entertaining moments without being riveting.
thebookcoyote's review against another edition
3.0
"A Dangerous Love" is the first book in the Swanlea Spinsters series. It is the story of Marsden Griffith Knighton ("Griff"), who has been wrongly denied his inheritance of the Earldom of Swanlea, and Lady Rosalind, a passionate and rather eccentric young lady who is the daughter of the current Earl. Wanting to see his daughters taken care of before he dies, the ailing Earl of Swanlea blackmails Griff with proof of his legitimacy. He can have the proof of his parents' marriage if he marries one of the Earl of Swanlea's daughters. Griff is having none of the marriage, but decides to play along and recover the marriage certificate himself. To do this, he switches places with his man of affairs - Daniel Brennan - the son of a notorious Irish highwayman who must pretend to be Griff while the real Griff searches the house. Rosalind is suspicious as soon as she finds the (real) Griff snooping around her father's desk the first night he is there. Following him around wherever he goes, a passion ignites between them that neither of them expected... This book is fun, if a little complex. It's also a bit unrealistic that Daniel Brennan would be taken for a gentleman, although Jeffries counters that by the fact that Griff is a tradesman, so people expect him to be a little gruff. There are some anachronisms in this book - I found myself constantly asking myself if that would have really happened, or if Rosalind really could have gotten away with that, and the language seems a bit modern for my taste. Nonetheless, it's an enjoyable book, and a quick read.
melodicfate's review
4.0
This was lots of fun.
I love Sabrina Jeffries' writing style. She balances wit and steaminess quite well. This book was no different. Rosalind was a strong-minded, clever woman. I also appreciated that she wasn't the normal petite heroine. Griff, the hero, was quite layered. Ambitious to a fault, he didn't see all he was giving up in order to further his company. Still, he had a way about him. Plus, this book has a scene that makes plums(a fruit I dislike)into something rather...titilating. The deception went on for longer than I'd have liked, and Griff learned his lesson almost too late, but I found I always needed to know what would happen next.
I love Sabrina Jeffries' writing style. She balances wit and steaminess quite well. This book was no different. Rosalind was a strong-minded, clever woman. I also appreciated that she wasn't the normal petite heroine. Griff, the hero, was quite layered. Ambitious to a fault, he didn't see all he was giving up in order to further his company. Still, he had a way about him. Plus, this book has a scene that makes plums(a fruit I dislike)into something rather...titilating. The deception went on for longer than I'd have liked, and Griff learned his lesson almost too late, but I found I always needed to know what would happen next.
megloveswords12's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Racism