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jencolumb0's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I wanted to like this book. I am usually all in on historical romances centered on flippant, reluctant dukes with hearts of gold who fall for self-sufficient bluestockings.
However, the writing on this one was tough to handle. I couldn’t really pin down the era despite having clear years to go by. The first time Giles called Diana a minx, it was jarring (because who actually has ever said that outside Hollywood when black & white was still the default medium) . . . and it didn’t get better the next 400 times he did it. It was also distracting that a bunch of Brits were purportedly wishing each other Merry (not Happy) Christmas. What put me over the edge was the exceptionally unromantic discussion of the sexual assault Diana narrowly avoided . . . just after she and Giles finally slept together. Ugh.
Anyway, I’m glad I got this in electronic format and no trees sacrificed themselves for this experience. It’s not terrible; there are just so many better things out there.
However, the writing on this one was tough to handle. I couldn’t really pin down the era despite having clear years to go by. The first time Giles called Diana a minx, it was jarring (because who actually has ever said that outside Hollywood when black & white was still the default medium) . . . and it didn’t get better the next 400 times he did it. It was also distracting that a bunch of Brits were purportedly wishing each other Merry (not Happy) Christmas. What put me over the edge was the exceptionally unromantic discussion of the sexual assault Diana narrowly avoided . . . just after she and Giles finally slept together. Ugh.
Anyway, I’m glad I got this in electronic format and no trees sacrificed themselves for this experience. It’s not terrible; there are just so many better things out there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Abandonment
Moderate: Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy and War
garbage_mcsmutly's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
📝 This was a fun and easy little regency romp. Plenty of humor (everyone) and pining (both of them) and brooding (him). The book went by super fast.
🕵️The end goal/mystery to be solved was kind of predictable once we get the main components of it, and the FMC is supposed to be really good at sniffing out the truth, so it was a bit disappointing that she didn't catch on to it sooner.
🎧 This was dual POV but only one narrator (female). The actor did a very good job with all the different voices, good and varied accents, and it was always clear who was talking.
🌶️ 2.5/5 There was tension and a couple kisses, then one (fairly lengthy) explicit scene.
🕵️The end goal/mystery to be solved was kind of predictable once we get the main components of it, and the FMC is supposed to be really good at sniffing out the truth, so it was a bit disappointing that she didn't catch on to it sooner.
🎧 This was dual POV but only one narrator (female). The actor did a very good job with all the different voices, good and varied accents, and it was always clear who was talking.
🌶️ 2.5/5 There was tension and a couple kisses, then one (fairly lengthy) explicit scene.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexism, and Abandonment
Minor: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Deportation
mrsalexisrjones's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A stubborn girl who would rather do journalistic work and live as a spinster and a man who is determined to never marry find themselves entangled in a mystery. Will they find the answers? And can they resist temptation to fall in love?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
mllejules's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
prettylightsandcitynights's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
dianaschmidty's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
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? Yes
4.5
This book was delightful! Since the first book, I could feel the spark between Diana and Giles, and the pay off was amazing! While this book was not as funny as the first, as it dealt with more serious subjects, it was still witty, entertaining, and romantic, just like the first.
I loved the mysteries surrounding the book. It was really fun to watch Giles and Diana bicker as they solved his family mystery and she went on her semi-wild goose chases. It was also a great catalyst for them to fall in love, with all of their adorable moments hiding in the bushes and riding in long carriage rides. This led to some of the best love confessions I’ve ever read.
Once again, the side characters were great additions! Olivia is still an icon and I’m now so excited for the romance between the characters with the “stupid names,” (their words, not mine), because Vee and Galahad are definitely made for each other, just like Minerva and Hugh and Diana and Hugh.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Virginia Heath for providing me access to this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Gun violence
samanthameyer's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
lazers28's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
whatemilysreading's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Another cute one! I loved Giles (of course) and while I think that not everything is necessarily period appropriate, some of the dialogue feels very modern, I still really enjoy this series and look forward to the third!
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault and Kidnapping
allingoodtime's review
emotional
hopeful
tense
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
While I was looking forward to the story between Diana and Giles, there were a few things at the beginning that made this a slow starter for me. Namely, the pair of them poking fun at a woman they thought Giles’ father intended to force him to marry. (To be clear, this was not done within hearing of anyone else, including the poor lady.) There was a lot of derogatory language used about this poor young woman who, by their own admission, was a harmless and kind person. It came up a few more times throughout the story, but not to the extent it did in the first chapter. I think I understand what the author was going for, but it just felt very mean-spirited and unnecessary to me.
In the long run, I’m glad I continued the story. Diana and Giles are great at denying their true feelings, but everyone around them can feel the chemistry they have. Their banter and nitpicking are fun instead of tedious. They are able to open up to each other far more than they can with anyone else. When it comes to the romance, I felt the story was spot on.
Giles’ valet. Dalton is such a hoot. He’s grumpy but loyal. Once he spends time with Diana, he becomes just as loyal to her as he is to Giles. He understands her mind and where she came from. Diana has a need to be independent and spending the majority of her life struggling to make ends meet she doesn’t understand the need for propriety. Dalton gives her far more leeway than Giles ever would, but it’s what is needed for her job and Dalton still makes sure she is always safe.
All of the characters, from Diana and her extended family and Giles and his staff, add a zany richness to this story. Not in an over-the-top way, but in an enjoyable comedic way. When it comes to the storyline and characters I really can’t complain. But there were times I felt the author needed to reach outside the box she was in. When describing facial expressions she often fell back on the same phrase and it stood out because it was an interesting phrase to use. It became much less interesting when used numerous times throughout.
I found that once I got into this story, I liked it even more than the first book. I can already see where the youngest Merriwell sister will find her love and it should be quite interesting.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely*
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault