maisyreads1817's review
4.0
Short and sweet but still managed to develop characters well. Was brilliant to see this characters story after reading the previous book. The Polio stuff was a bit off but the authors note acknowledges that and she’s right it would have been very depressing if it was more accurate and that wasn’t what I was here for. This definitely continued the feelings of the first book so definitely read that one first.
girlwithhearteyes's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
Historical romance about a single mother who has a sick child and is trying to get by despite a leaking roof and exorbitant rents, and the school teacher who is a bit stoic but just wants ease her troubles and woo her with chocolates.
This was slower-paced than I usually prefer, but I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The story was really sweet and focussed a lot on domestic moments rather than big drama. There was still drama, but I’d call it ‘quiet drama’. The plot was well-constructed, didn’t rely on (any?) tropes, and I really liked Eve Pendle’s writing style.
One nitpick: I didn’t love how the money troubles were resolved, because it felt like a side character signalled to be the villain didn’t end up being that villainous. But that choice made more sense after I realised who the main characters in the first book were.
Historical romance about a single mother who has a sick child and is trying to get by despite a leaking roof and exorbitant rents, and the school teacher who is a bit stoic but just wants ease her troubles and woo her with chocolates.
This was slower-paced than I usually prefer, but I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The story was really sweet and focussed a lot on domestic moments rather than big drama. There was still drama, but I’d call it ‘quiet drama’. The plot was well-constructed, didn’t rely on (any?) tropes, and I really liked Eve Pendle’s writing style.
One nitpick: I didn’t love how the money troubles were resolved, because it felt like a side character signalled to be the villain didn’t end up being that villainous. But that choice made more sense after I realised who the main characters in the first book were.
janina_augustine's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
4.5
briarsreviews's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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? No
4.0
Once a Fallen Lady by Eve Pendle is the historical romance book I have been patiently waiting for.
Annie's polio makes it hard on her single other Lydia, but don't worry too much loyal readers... Alfred Lowe, Annie's school professor, comes to the rescue. Alfred and Lydia hit it off and a beautiful romance begins to bloom. But, the rent is too high and continues to climb, and Lydia's ex-husband is a wee bit of a mysterious issue... Things will get messy, but you know they always turn out great in the end.
I love getting SO lucky with romance books that I'm able to deep dive into them and disappear from the world in an epic binge. This book was such a lovely read and it pulled at all the heart strings. Organic romance that will give you shivers, a shocking scheme that will blow your mind, and a relationship that blooms so naturally you'll be begging for more. I honestly loved Eve Pendle's writing! It can be really hard to write an engaging historical romance without the political nonsense, and Eve made it perfect.
I want to read more by Eve Pendle. This book is a must read and so far one of my faves of 2022.
Four out of five stars.
I received this book for free from the author, Eve Pendle, in exchange for an honest review.
Annie's polio makes it hard on her single other Lydia, but don't worry too much loyal readers... Alfred Lowe, Annie's school professor, comes to the rescue. Alfred and Lydia hit it off and a beautiful romance begins to bloom. But, the rent is too high and continues to climb, and Lydia's ex-husband is a wee bit of a mysterious issue... Things will get messy, but you know they always turn out great in the end.
I love getting SO lucky with romance books that I'm able to deep dive into them and disappear from the world in an epic binge. This book was such a lovely read and it pulled at all the heart strings. Organic romance that will give you shivers, a shocking scheme that will blow your mind, and a relationship that blooms so naturally you'll be begging for more. I honestly loved Eve Pendle's writing! It can be really hard to write an engaging historical romance without the political nonsense, and Eve made it perfect.
I want to read more by Eve Pendle. This book is a must read and so far one of my faves of 2022.
Four out of five stars.
I received this book for free from the author, Eve Pendle, in exchange for an honest review.
readingrosiee's review
3.0
2.5 star rounded up
Lydia is living in a small town either her daughter Annie. One day she is late for school and runs into the new school teacher Mr Lowle.
After 2 years, Annie gets sick and Mr Alfred Lowe starts making visits to check on Annie. Over the course of a few weeks, he tends to Lydia and Annie, bring books, sweets, and pie. But what he doesn’t know is Lydia has a secret that could ruin everything she’s built in the last 10 years.
There are some things I liked about the ONCE A FALLEN LADY but most I didn’t.
I liked:
1. The working class setting - it’s rare to read a book focused on the working class in the 1800s. Usually it’s dukes and earls. So that was really refreshing.
2. Lydia’s strength and determination to make a good life for her and her daughter. She’s built a really special place for them.
What I didn’t like:
1. Mr. Lowe has been infatuated with Lydia for 2 years- but we never know it. There wasn’t much ground work for the story.
2. The choppiness. It was very matter of fact and seemed to miss the finer detail of romance.
Would I recommended it? Probably not. But maybe that’s just me.
Lydia is living in a small town either her daughter Annie. One day she is late for school and runs into the new school teacher Mr Lowle.
After 2 years, Annie gets sick and Mr Alfred Lowe starts making visits to check on Annie. Over the course of a few weeks, he tends to Lydia and Annie, bring books, sweets, and pie. But what he doesn’t know is Lydia has a secret that could ruin everything she’s built in the last 10 years.
There are some things I liked about the ONCE A FALLEN LADY but most I didn’t.
I liked:
1. The working class setting - it’s rare to read a book focused on the working class in the 1800s. Usually it’s dukes and earls. So that was really refreshing.
2. Lydia’s strength and determination to make a good life for her and her daughter. She’s built a really special place for them.
What I didn’t like:
1. Mr. Lowe has been infatuated with Lydia for 2 years- but we never know it. There wasn’t much ground work for the story.
2. The choppiness. It was very matter of fact and seemed to miss the finer detail of romance.
Would I recommended it? Probably not. But maybe that’s just me.
aheadofthenight's review
4.0
At about 1/3 of the book, I enjoyed it so far. Had been very curious about Lydia and Alfred's backgrounds and how their romance would blossom.
Lydia has a child who is suddenly struck with polio. They are already living in genteel poverty as it is so a sick child would make it worse. Where would she get money to treat her? Anyhow, Alfred first checked in on Annie when she was absent from school. Then it snowballed (slowly) from there.
One thing about the book is that the author has her characters examine their own feelings and this is very good.
I think my expectations have been missing the right spots but all is well in the end and I am glad that the three of them are happy. A solid romance with a historical setting.
Note: I received a free copy via Romance Rehab and Romance Remedy.
Lydia has a child who is suddenly struck with polio. They are already living in genteel poverty as it is so a sick child would make it worse. Where would she get money to treat her? Anyhow, Alfred first checked in on Annie when she was absent from school. Then it snowballed (slowly) from there.
One thing about the book is that the author has her characters examine their own feelings and this is very good.
I think my expectations have been missing the right spots but all is well in the end and I am glad that the three of them are happy. A solid romance with a historical setting.
Spoiler
There is a connection with [b:Falling for a Rake|45730308|Falling for a Rake|Eve Pendle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1557739267l/45730308._SY75_.jpg|70523537] where you will find the father of Annie is... the hero of Faling for a Rake. He is remorseful and realises that he should have done more before.Spoiler
There's a side plot where the baronet's agent is skimming the rent money by charging extra.Note: I received a free copy via Romance Rehab and Romance Remedy.
cakt1991's review
5.0
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Eve Pendle is a new-to-me author, but we have talked a bit on Twitter, and I was struck by the blurb of this book when I saw it, and how it stood out from a lot of what is being published in historical romance right now. While there are some familiar elements, they happen to be some of my favorite things: the cinnamon roll hero and the heroine “ruined” due to the double standards set by society, as well as its overwhelming class snobbery.
Alfred…what a dreamy hero. He’s a schoolteacher, while things between him and Lydia do start off on an awkward note, things develop in a wonderful way, with his feelings for her growing, while she’s more reluctant to fall in love, due to how she’s been hurt in the past. His tenderness toward her is wonderful, while also not pushing her to do anything she doesn’t want to do.
I truly felt for Lydia, and rooted for her, both as the circumstances that led to her present situation were revealed and observing her dedication to her daughter, who has polio. Writing the character of someone with a disability, as well as their caregiver, can be complicated, but I love that Pendle makes this story one of optimism, and a fairly good representation of a family where one of its members has a disability.
This novella is absolutely wonderful. Great characters with absolutely wonderful romantic arc, with depth and complexity in spite of its novella length. I recommend this to all lovers of historical romance.
Eve Pendle is a new-to-me author, but we have talked a bit on Twitter, and I was struck by the blurb of this book when I saw it, and how it stood out from a lot of what is being published in historical romance right now. While there are some familiar elements, they happen to be some of my favorite things: the cinnamon roll hero and the heroine “ruined” due to the double standards set by society, as well as its overwhelming class snobbery.
Alfred…what a dreamy hero. He’s a schoolteacher, while things between him and Lydia do start off on an awkward note, things develop in a wonderful way, with his feelings for her growing, while she’s more reluctant to fall in love, due to how she’s been hurt in the past. His tenderness toward her is wonderful, while also not pushing her to do anything she doesn’t want to do.
I truly felt for Lydia, and rooted for her, both as the circumstances that led to her present situation were revealed and observing her dedication to her daughter, who has polio. Writing the character of someone with a disability, as well as their caregiver, can be complicated, but I love that Pendle makes this story one of optimism, and a fairly good representation of a family where one of its members has a disability.
This novella is absolutely wonderful. Great characters with absolutely wonderful romantic arc, with depth and complexity in spite of its novella length. I recommend this to all lovers of historical romance.
beautifullybookishbethany's review
4.0
Once a Fallen Lady is a surprisingly well-developed and well-paced historical romance novella. I really enjoyed this and would seek out more by this author. If you are looking for something short and satisfying, this is a great pick.
Lydia Taylor is raising a 10-year-old daughter and living on the brink of poverty. Her secret is that she is a ruined woman and her daughter is a bastard child. But when the child falls seriously ill, she develops a sweet relationship with the local school teacher.
I thought the romance her was very sweet and enjoyable. The hero is definitely a beta-type and I was all for it. He brings her books and chocolate and is so incredibly sweet with the daughter. Lovely and well-executed. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Lydia Taylor is raising a 10-year-old daughter and living on the brink of poverty. Her secret is that she is a ruined woman and her daughter is a bastard child. But when the child falls seriously ill, she develops a sweet relationship with the local school teacher.
I thought the romance her was very sweet and enjoyable. The hero is definitely a beta-type and I was all for it. He brings her books and chocolate and is so incredibly sweet with the daughter. Lovely and well-executed. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
jamesflint's review
5.0
On my blog.
Galley provided by publisher
You know when you find a new favourite author and you immediately have to devour everything they’ve ever written? That was me last year, discovering Eve Pendle. As such, I’ve been waiting impatiently for this book ever since.
Once a Fallen Lady is about Lydia Taylor, a “widow”, who lives in a small village with her daughter Annie. When Annie falls ill, her teacher, Alfred Lowe, comes to help out, drawn to Lydia for reasons he doesn’t quite know. Alfred supports Lydia throughout Annie’s illness and they follow that usual romance trope of falling in love (complete with the slowburn).
Hands down the best part of Eve Pendle’s books is always the characters, and that’s no different here. Lydia is a single mother just wanting a good life for her child, after being cast out by her family, and Alfred is the complete opposite of the somewhat prevalent “alpha male dickhead” trope (not that that can’t be done well, it just gets tiring after a bit). All both of them are trying to do is their best, and I love them for it. I also love how, when Lydia rejects Alfred, he doesn’t push her into something she feels uncomfortable with. He’s always happy to let her set the boundaries (more of this in romances please).
And then there’s the slowburn! Granted, it’s sort of less of one here, because it’s a novella after all, but still. In that short time, Pendle succeeds in slowly ratcheting up the tension until you’re begging for them to get together. Which is, let’s be honest, pretty much the perfect sort of romance.
So, really, what I’m driving at here is that I desperately need you all to read this. Like, right now.
Galley provided by publisher
You know when you find a new favourite author and you immediately have to devour everything they’ve ever written? That was me last year, discovering Eve Pendle. As such, I’ve been waiting impatiently for this book ever since.
Once a Fallen Lady is about Lydia Taylor, a “widow”, who lives in a small village with her daughter Annie. When Annie falls ill, her teacher, Alfred Lowe, comes to help out, drawn to Lydia for reasons he doesn’t quite know. Alfred supports Lydia throughout Annie’s illness and they follow that usual romance trope of falling in love (complete with the slowburn).
Hands down the best part of Eve Pendle’s books is always the characters, and that’s no different here. Lydia is a single mother just wanting a good life for her child, after being cast out by her family, and Alfred is the complete opposite of the somewhat prevalent “alpha male dickhead” trope (not that that can’t be done well, it just gets tiring after a bit). All both of them are trying to do is their best, and I love them for it. I also love how, when Lydia rejects Alfred, he doesn’t push her into something she feels uncomfortable with. He’s always happy to let her set the boundaries (more of this in romances please).
And then there’s the slowburn! Granted, it’s sort of less of one here, because it’s a novella after all, but still. In that short time, Pendle succeeds in slowly ratcheting up the tension until you’re begging for them to get together. Which is, let’s be honest, pretty much the perfect sort of romance.
So, really, what I’m driving at here is that I desperately need you all to read this. Like, right now.
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