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konvineo's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
This was okay. Eleanor is a cool kind of character, and it was nice to see a female protagonist being an outspoken successfull business owner. My main gripes with the book is, firstly, the almost overuse of the words "male" and especially "female". Because it wasn't used as I did above, but as replacements for "man" and "woman", and it's just so unappealing. Secondly, the miscommunication in this book is so terribly inane, it could have been solved so fast if they had sat down and TALKED.
This was okay. Eleanor is a cool kind of character, and it was nice to see a female protagonist being an outspoken successfull business owner. My main gripes with the book is, firstly, the almost overuse of the words "male" and especially "female". Because it wasn't used as I did above, but as replacements for "man" and "woman", and it's just so unappealing. Secondly, the miscommunication in this book is so terribly inane, it could have been solved so fast if they had sat down and TALKED.
Spoiler
When they started their affair before getting married, they could've sat down, and Eleanor could've talked about her worries about their different societal standings. It was so ridiculous and also super annoying, because I kept thinking that somebody would bring it up... maybe not Daniel because it didn't seem to cross his mind in his POV. Which was also super annoying, because I thought he was supposed to be smart.bookishnerdyandcurious's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this more than I actually, which was surprising as what I've really liked what I've read of Eva Leigh's work before and wanted to try some more of her work. However, this book didn't do it for me - it's not bad, it's well written, but I think that there were just things that made for distractions while I read. I didn't think that the excerpts from her articles at the start of every chapter were necessary or needed at all - perhaps it shows the characters skill at portraying the events, but it just seemed insipid to me and I just couldn't see the point. Our H tries to stop our h from finding out what's really behind his rakish facade and possibly thwarting his investigation to find his friend, so he tempts her with access to his rakish life to write about for her paper. Part of me was like "okay, clever" and another was "dude, she's a freakin' journalist, do you really think that's she's not going to know something's off and want to investigate?".
All that said, I did love how Eva Leigh brought the two storylines together and how the h not only kept our H's secret once she discovered it, but made it a point to help him, despite his protests. There were definitely parts of this book that I loved and will very likely read the rest of the series. (I'm intrigued by the H/h for the next book in the series, so that will get me to read it eventually, if nothing else.)
All that said, I did love how Eva Leigh brought the two storylines together and how the h not only kept our H's secret once she discovered it, but made it a point to help him, despite his protests. There were definitely parts of this book that I loved and will very likely read the rest of the series. (I'm intrigued by the H/h for the next book in the series, so that will get me to read it eventually, if nothing else.)
saynabreadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
What a book! Eva Leigh has written a brilliant historical romance novel she has an eye for period detail, very polished and rich characters who keep surprising us and graet plot too. From beginning to end the hero and heroine take us racing through London moving through anger and wit, fine banter, and powerful attraction.
And it was great recommendation by Tessa Dare
And it was great recommendation by Tessa Dare
lilaknitsandreads's review against another edition
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? Yes
3.0
aprilbooksandwine's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
3.5
readingmissfroggy's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I liked the premise of the book a lot and I had high hopes for this one because of this (basically I'm looking for another favourite historical romance author besides Sarah MacLean). In the end, I did really enjoy the story but not as much as I hoped I would.
First of all, it somehow felt really episodic. Every episode would either be a time where Eleanor and Daniel went out or one where they had a battle of wits (which weren't as funny as I wanted). Their outings were fun but there weren't enough of them and at times some things took a bit too long.
I never really felt like I saw them fall in love, more like into lust actually and then suddenly they realise that their lust is actually love or something like that. I wanted to swoon but if I'm not in love with the couple that is really hard to do. What they have is supposed to be a forbidden romance but I never felt that desperation and wishing them to be together because I wasn't in love with their love. Character wise I think that they could have great chemistry though.
The big dark secret that Daniel had felt a bit like a let down, it wasn't nearly as dark as I wanted it to be. Not only wasn't it dark enough (in my opinion) but I also felt like Daniel was too easily distracted from his mission and didn't spent enough time thinking or working on it. I get that he can't think about it 24/7 but I missed some of the urgency that he apparently feels. Only the last 50 or so pages focus on this dark secret of his but before that we have 400 pages where it is mentioned every so often and some acts are shown but it is not (dark) enough. Other than that Daniel was a fine character but not a hero that I have fallen in love with.
Eleanor as a working woman was nice but I felt like her dramatic past was revealed in a way that didn't leave me with a lot of impact. She talks about it so flippantly, and that could be a surviving mechanism but I didn't feel like we ever saw her struggle with it. It was mentioned kind of in between things, giving Daniel a chance to get angry at the people that hurt her, and then nothing was done with it. If we had left it out she would still be exactly the same character. I liked the scenes where Eleanor was working on a piece or doing some editorial stuff, I think those where the moments where she really shined in the story.
The last 30 or so pages felt suddenly super dramatic and at times were written in such a way that I had to wonder who had said what which is never good in my opinion. Besides it being super dramatic it also wasn't enough page time to really flesh-out the drama so that left me kinda unsatisfied.
I will definitely pick up the next book in this series but for now Sarah MacLean is my unbeaten historical romance queen.
I liked the premise of the book a lot and I had high hopes for this one because of this (basically I'm looking for another favourite historical romance author besides Sarah MacLean). In the end, I did really enjoy the story but not as much as I hoped I would.
First of all, it somehow felt really episodic. Every episode would either be a time where Eleanor and Daniel went out or one where they had a battle of wits (which weren't as funny as I wanted). Their outings were fun but there weren't enough of them and at times some things took a bit too long.
I never really felt like I saw them fall in love, more like into lust actually and then suddenly they realise that their lust is actually love or something like that. I wanted to swoon but if I'm not in love with the couple that is really hard to do. What they have is supposed to be a forbidden romance but I never felt that desperation and wishing them to be together because I wasn't in love with their love. Character wise I think that they could have great chemistry though.
The big dark secret that Daniel had felt a bit like a let down, it wasn't nearly as dark as I wanted it to be. Not only wasn't it dark enough (in my opinion) but I also felt like Daniel was too easily distracted from his mission and didn't spent enough time thinking or working on it. I get that he can't think about it 24/7 but I missed some of the urgency that he apparently feels. Only the last 50 or so pages focus on this dark secret of his but before that we have 400 pages where it is mentioned every so often and some acts are shown but it is not (dark) enough. Other than that Daniel was a fine character but not a hero that I have fallen in love with.
Eleanor as a working woman was nice but I felt like her dramatic past was revealed in a way that didn't leave me with a lot of impact. She talks about it so flippantly, and that could be a surviving mechanism but I didn't feel like we ever saw her struggle with it. It was mentioned kind of in between things, giving Daniel a chance to get angry at the people that hurt her, and then nothing was done with it. If we had left it out she would still be exactly the same character. I liked the scenes where Eleanor was working on a piece or doing some editorial stuff, I think those where the moments where she really shined in the story.
The last 30 or so pages felt suddenly super dramatic and at times were written in such a way that I had to wonder who had said what which is never good in my opinion. Besides it being super dramatic it also wasn't enough page time to really flesh-out the drama so that left me kinda unsatisfied.
I will definitely pick up the next book in this series but for now Sarah MacLean is my unbeaten historical romance queen.
evelynmeisell's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
feyley's review against another edition
4.0
So I needed a pick-me-up which generally means I turn to romance novels because they are quick, easy reads. And generally they are pretty entertaining with their ridiculous stories.
I have never been impressed with a romance novel until now. This one was extremely well-written. Both the characters had very sharp wit and I find that I would never want to get into a quip battle with the author. I've read bestsellers and prize-winning books that are written more poorly than this. I also really enjoyed the story, it was thought out and actually had meaning. The characters didn't just haphazardly fall into bed together for no reason other than the fact that they hate each other or can never be together.
I will definitely be reading the second book in the series once I can find a copy.
I have never been impressed with a romance novel until now. This one was extremely well-written. Both the characters had very sharp wit and I find that I would never want to get into a quip battle with the author. I've read bestsellers and prize-winning books that are written more poorly than this. I also really enjoyed the story, it was thought out and actually had meaning. The characters didn't just haphazardly fall into bed together for no reason other than the fact that they hate each other or can never be together.
I will definitely be reading the second book in the series once I can find a copy.
kyeruhh's review against another edition
I just didn’t particularly care abt either MC.