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somasunshine's review against another edition
3.0
There was quite a bit of fighting and I would have liked to see some more harmonious moments between Phoebe and Gabriel.
I did like the mystery with the books/publishing and the question of what happened in the Black Sea quite a lot though. I think that Phoebe could be a bit naïve and annoying at times though.
I did like the mystery with the books/publishing and the question of what happened in the Black Sea quite a lot though. I think that Phoebe could be a bit naïve and annoying at times though.
justinkhchen's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
Taking the word 'reckless' very seriously, Reckless is another lively adventurous romp from Amanda Quick (Ravished being my first read from her), if you enjoyed bookish hero/heroine, wholesome family dynamic, rich atmosphere and mysteries aplenty — this one will serve you well.
One's ability to accept the heroine's personality will dictate to their overall enjoyment; Phoebe is reckless personified. While I appreciate the novel setting her apart from the typical naive, inexperienced historical romance heroine, her unwillingness to comply can be a bit irritating, especially in the later half of the novel when she should've known better. As much as I love a plot-driven story, the third act of Reckless feels messy, where events are made purposely complex (relying on characters concealing things from each others), when easy solutions should be quite obvious.
Perhaps Amanda Quick is Tessa Dare from the 90s? Reckless might not be the most romantic, or the best structured historical romance, but it is still solid, enjoyable and kept me fully immersed and entertained.
**Historical Romance Readathon 2021: Holiday Edition | Bingo Board Prompts: Wallflower / Book You Already Own**
Taking the word 'reckless' very seriously, Reckless is another lively adventurous romp from Amanda Quick (Ravished being my first read from her), if you enjoyed bookish hero/heroine, wholesome family dynamic, rich atmosphere and mysteries aplenty — this one will serve you well.
One's ability to accept the heroine's personality will dictate to their overall enjoyment; Phoebe is reckless personified. While I appreciate the novel setting her apart from the typical naive, inexperienced historical romance heroine, her unwillingness to comply can be a bit irritating, especially in the later half of the novel when she should've known better. As much as I love a plot-driven story, the third act of Reckless feels messy, where events are made purposely complex (relying on characters concealing things from each others), when easy solutions should be quite obvious.
Perhaps Amanda Quick is Tessa Dare from the 90s? Reckless might not be the most romantic, or the best structured historical romance, but it is still solid, enjoyable and kept me fully immersed and entertained.
**Historical Romance Readathon 2021: Holiday Edition | Bingo Board Prompts: Wallflower / Book You Already Own**
excel_spreadsheet_book_nerd's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sarahlreadseverything's review against another edition
1.0
The serious issues around consent (sex is always instigated by the hero, in every instance apart from maybe one, without the heroine's consent or even acquiescence) and control (the hero constantly seeks to control the heroine's actions, without thought to her feelings or desires) just ruined every aspect of this one for me. It just sucked.
If that wasn't enough, the plot was all over the show. Here are some plot lines that would work (some of them...sort of) for me as a romance novel:
- Hero and heroine are both pursuing the same rare books for their respective collections, love burgeons out of their rivalry (love - yes please!)
- Heroine re-meets man she had known and admired from afar when she was still a child, they have to get over her childhood perceptions of them in order to fall in love
- Hero thought he was in love with older sister, who rejected him - meets younger sister (Heroine) years later and falls in love with her despite himself
- Heroine falls in love with a man who her father ruined, who has now made his fortune and has returned seeking revenge
- Bestselling author Hero falls in love with Heroine, who he does not realise is his anonymous book publisher
- Hero and Heroine are forced into marriage by circumstance, Heroine is not aware that Hero destroyed the life of the man she had thought she loved (kind of anyway) and they must get over this together when she finds out
- Damaged Hero loves Heroine (who has already married anyway because circumstance) but won't admit it, takes crazy character threatening Heroine's life to make him realise and confess his feelings
Guess what people. ALL OF THESE PLOT LINES ARE IN THIS BOOK. Really. Just. . . really??
This is why I should not read romance novels originally published prior to the millennium.
If that wasn't enough, the plot was all over the show. Here are some plot lines that would work (some of them...sort of) for me as a romance novel:
- Hero and heroine are both pursuing the same rare books for their respective collections, love burgeons out of their rivalry (love - yes please!)
- Heroine re-meets man she had known and admired from afar when she was still a child, they have to get over her childhood perceptions of them in order to fall in love
- Hero thought he was in love with older sister, who rejected him - meets younger sister (Heroine) years later and falls in love with her despite himself
- Heroine falls in love with a man who her father ruined, who has now made his fortune and has returned seeking revenge
- Bestselling author Hero falls in love with Heroine, who he does not realise is his anonymous book publisher
- Hero and Heroine are forced into marriage by circumstance, Heroine is not aware that Hero destroyed the life of the man she had thought she loved (kind of anyway) and they must get over this together when she finds out
- Damaged Hero loves Heroine (who has already married anyway because circumstance) but won't admit it, takes crazy character threatening Heroine's life to make him realise and confess his feelings
Guess what people. ALL OF THESE PLOT LINES ARE IN THIS BOOK.
Spoiler
That last one not even once, but four separate times.This is why I should not read romance novels originally published prior to the millennium.
ifeanart's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jackiehorne's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 Trying hard to be funny, but not quite succeeding.
bponsford's review against another edition
DNF - Too much of the same old, same old.
topy_loving_books's review against another edition
4.0
Even if this book was publish in 1992, it mostly aged very well. It was such a lovely surprised, because I didn't like much the first book I've read from her (Dangerous). Now I'm even more curious to read Ravished.
The things I enjoyed the most with this book were:
- the reckless heroine (never a title felt so right), Phoebe, who always put herself in the worse situations (but it's not her fault most of the time) and see the hero as her knight in shining armor (even if he stop feeling that way, especially since he tried to help her sister 8 years ago and it backfired in his face). She is not your typical wallflower, as she is 25 years and with a limp leg after a big accident when she's a kid. Since that, she got overprotected by her family, who infantilized her. Same with previous suitors. That's where the hero is different, as he treats her more as an equal (hot waltz partner), even during their wedding in his own controlling way. She see behind his stern mask and is his biggest supporter, seeing his noble qualities where he long stopped believing in himself.
- the hero, Gabriel, newly upgraded to the Earl of Wylde and writer à succès (anonyme) is very stern and here for revenge against her family. But he's instantly charmed (even if he doesn't want to admit it) to Phoebe's wit. Yes he complains about her recklessness several times, but that's what makes her different and why he's drawn to her. But I got annoyed with him as the book progressed, and he kept his feelings under a tight leash (even if she confessed hers many times) but asked of her a complete submission and profession of love. Yes I know he has been betrayed various times, and had trust issues but it didn't excuse his behavior. That's where the book shows its age, because it takes the all bloody book for him to share his feelings and by this point you are like the heroine and just shrugging without much reaction. Also how he was controlling her and kept repeating she had to do as she was told, because he's her husband was frustrating. And finally how he got what he want by seducing her with kissed and s3x. Yes she was always willing, but I think she was too forgiving.
- the banter between them was phenomenal. I highlighted so many great lignes between them as they keep fighting each other with words. It's their love langage.
- her loving family even if overprotective always support Phoebe and accept Gabriel quite rapidly. It's nice to see him slowly trusting them and becoming a proper part of her family.
Overall I like that we got into action right away, from chapter one, and that those two were drawn to each other instantly and it's a constant through the book. Their love for collectable books was adorable, and his rakish way to get the lady of the tower on their wedding night was priceless.
The things I enjoyed the most with this book were:
- the reckless heroine (never a title felt so right), Phoebe, who always put herself in the worse situations (but it's not her fault most of the time) and see the hero as her knight in shining armor (even if he stop feeling that way, especially since he tried to help her sister 8 years ago and it backfired in his face). She is not your typical wallflower, as she is 25 years and with a limp leg after a big accident when she's a kid. Since that, she got overprotected by her family, who infantilized her. Same with previous suitors. That's where the hero is different, as he treats her more as an equal (hot waltz partner), even during their wedding in his own controlling way. She see behind his stern mask and is his biggest supporter, seeing his noble qualities where he long stopped believing in himself.
- the hero, Gabriel, newly upgraded to the Earl of Wylde and writer à succès (anonyme) is very stern and here for revenge against her family. But he's instantly charmed (even if he doesn't want to admit it) to Phoebe's wit. Yes he complains about her recklessness several times, but that's what makes her different and why he's drawn to her. But I got annoyed with him as the book progressed, and he kept his feelings under a tight leash (even if she confessed hers many times) but asked of her a complete submission and profession of love. Yes I know he has been betrayed various times, and had trust issues but it didn't excuse his behavior. That's where the book shows its age, because it takes the all bloody book for him to share his feelings and by this point you are like the heroine and just shrugging without much reaction. Also how he was controlling her and kept repeating she had to do as she was told, because he's her husband was frustrating. And finally how he got what he want by seducing her with kissed and s3x. Yes she was always willing, but I think she was too forgiving.
- the banter between them was phenomenal. I highlighted so many great lignes between them as they keep fighting each other with words. It's their love langage.
- her loving family even if overprotective always support Phoebe and accept Gabriel quite rapidly. It's nice to see him slowly trusting them and becoming a proper part of her family.
Overall I like that we got into action right away, from chapter one, and that those two were drawn to each other instantly and it's a constant through the book. Their love for collectable books was adorable, and his rakish way to get the lady of the tower on their wedding night was priceless.