digitlchic's review
5.0
Thoroughly enjoyed this sweet, touching and - at some moments - laugh out loud funny book.
carolynsbookshelf's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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? Yes
5.0
millysreads's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
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
3.75
katleap's review against another edition
4.0
A horse breeder by trade, Corbin Jonquil is more at home in the stables than in the ballroom of his sprawling estate. Corbin is the quietest of the Jonquil brothers and has always faded into the background, contentedly unnoticed. When a mysterious young widow, Mrs. Clara Bentford, moves into the neighborhood, however, Corbin quickly comes to realize that being noticed has its advantages. But how to catch the eye of the lady? So he goes to his brothers for advice which results in incident. (hehe) When the menace of Clara's past threatens to tear them apart reappears in the shape of her abusive brother in law, Corbin steps in to rescue.
The whole book was adorable. Corbin is sweet in his shyness and Clara is the perfect balance. I love Sarah and Edmund. Instant family, yay.
janaya's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
leslie_books_and_socks_rock's review
5.0
Corbin is so quiet that I kept wanting to read to see how he would get Mrs. Bentford to notice him. I loved all the other characters from Sarah M. Eden's other books, the brothers, Lord Cavratt and especially the Duke of Kielder.
ellingtonfeint's review against another edition
4.0
Corbin is very sweet and shy and Clara is fierce and steadfast.
This is my second reread. The first time I gave it 4 stars, unlike the rest which were 5 and I feel kinda bad doing that to Corbin! But I think the main reason is because Corbin spends much of the book being a blank canvas for his brothers suggestions, none of which work of course, and there's not enough time spent to get to know Corbin. The insights on his brothers are interesting, but they detract from the main story bc they are laid on top of it instead of being a side dish.
Corbin is so shy that it's difficult to get to know him through his brother's stories, so not utilising every spare moment of this book to pack his personality into is frustrating.
The setting is gorgeous, the countryside and Clara's small cottage, I love it! And the children, especially tiny Alice, are adorable.
The villans are infuriating, and that's got a lot to do with the fact that they never acknowledge how darstedly they're being.
I don't know why later on in the series Clara is referred to as being quieter than Catherine, after all this is the lady who hit Mr Finley in the knees with a branch to save Catherine! After, of course, hitting Corbin in the face with a frying pan...
All in all, enjoyable, but aren't they all? Haha. It's interesting on reread to discover the background work that was done in the early books, that was followed up later. It seems the Jonquils have always been a family with problems but their golden hair tricks you into seeing sunshine.
I am looking forward to the series being finished, I'd love a few books past Charlie even, and then I'll get to reread them again all together!
This is my second reread. The first time I gave it 4 stars, unlike the rest which were 5 and I feel kinda bad doing that to Corbin! But I think the main reason is because Corbin spends much of the book being a blank canvas for his brothers suggestions, none of which work of course, and there's not enough time spent to get to know Corbin. The insights on his brothers are interesting, but they detract from the main story bc they are laid on top of it instead of being a side dish.
Corbin is so shy that it's difficult to get to know him through his brother's stories, so not utilising every spare moment of this book to pack his personality into is frustrating.
The setting is gorgeous, the countryside and Clara's small cottage, I love it! And the children, especially tiny Alice, are adorable.
The villans are infuriating, and that's got a lot to do with the fact that they never acknowledge how darstedly they're being.
I don't know why later on in the series Clara is referred to as being quieter than Catherine, after all this is the lady who hit Mr Finley in the knees with a branch to save Catherine! After, of course, hitting Corbin in the face with a frying pan...
All in all, enjoyable, but aren't they all? Haha. It's interesting on reread to discover the background work that was done in the early books, that was followed up later. It seems the Jonquils have always been a family with problems but their golden hair tricks you into seeing sunshine.
I am looking forward to the series being finished, I'd love a few books past Charlie even, and then I'll get to reread them again all together!
dreams_in_print'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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse