Scan barcode
guiltlesspleasures's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
There’s a corner of my book rating system with a population of two: Sherry Thomas and Jennifer McQuiston. In this corner, ratings become difficult. Every book by these authors is wonderfully written, and even if I give them four stars or even three, it doesn’t mean that I didn’t love them.
Well, welcome to the corner, Felicity Niven. Like Thomas and McQuiston, she does something different than pretty much everyone else writing historical romance today, and I stand in awe of her craft.
That’s not to say her books are perfect. In this one, for example, I needed a setdown of Giles and a little less agonizing by Alasdair and Arabella about whether the other person truly loved them. I also found it hard to pin down Arabella’s personality for ages—in the beginning, she comes across as quite dim and childish, but then we are told she’s very smart and “dauntless.” Finally, I wish they’d known each other for just a titch longer than 10 minutes before they fell madly in love (unbeknownst to each other).
But those notes aside, I loved watching these two romantics fall in love properly: Arabella with her bold flirtation and wandering hands, and Alasdair with his awkwardness and virginal shyness. Their experimentation is hot (and realistic) throughout and then sets the page ablaze when they finally get their sh*t together.
There are two medical scenes that made my toes curl, a road trip (yay!) and even a little mystery.
And throughout, Niven’s exquisite prose and finely drawn characters.
happily_after_heas's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-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
I admit I quickly read the first few chapters to get through the inevitable ruination and the reunion between Arabella and Alisdair. So many unexpected events in this book and I just loved every minute.
Arabella was incredibly naive and stupid in the beginning of the book. But she's also very young and lonely and looking for love. She desperately wants a relationship in a connection with another person that isn't related to her and has huge feelings for Alisdair.
Alisdair is a sweet sweet cinnamon roll of a hero. He is such a good man and also a stoic man with principles and morals unlike so many of the men that Arabella has met in her past. You can't help but love him as a person and the way he sees Arabella.
The progression of this book as interesting because time does pass and there are time jumps in the book which we don't see a lot of authors doing today. And I appreciate Felicity taking chances to move the book along and not dragging things out, understanding the time line has to progress or else the book would not make sense. Felicity is so great at giving us new spins on tropes. Would recommend reading the other books in the series just so you know the other characters background and development.
Highly recommend A Perilous Flirtation!
Arabella was incredibly naive and stupid in the beginning of the book. But she's also very young and lonely and looking for love. She desperately wants a relationship in a connection with another person that isn't related to her and has huge feelings for Alisdair.
Alisdair is a sweet sweet cinnamon roll of a hero. He is such a good man and also a stoic man with principles and morals unlike so many of the men that Arabella has met in her past. You can't help but love him as a person and the way he sees Arabella.
The progression of this book as interesting because time does pass and there are time jumps in the book which we don't see a lot of authors doing today. And I appreciate Felicity taking chances to move the book along and not dragging things out, understanding the time line has to progress or else the book would not make sense. Felicity is so great at giving us new spins on tropes. Would recommend reading the other books in the series just so you know the other characters background and development.
Highly recommend A Perilous Flirtation!
wearecompletelybooked's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
onlyonebookshelf'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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Blood, and Medical content
gemin1reader's review against another edition
2.75
This was my least favourite of the series, purely because I found the main characters a bit annoying.
There’s some great tropes - Regency road trip, virgin MMC, sex lessons, forced proximity, class differences, one-bed etc.
I did like that Arabella was opinionated - particularly about female pleasure - but she was also very stroppy. And Alasdair was sweet but veered the slightest bit towards ‘nice guy’ for me. I didn’t find the sex scenes very sexy 🫤 and I hated that they were ‘in love’ based on an initial ten minute meeting.
There’s also a horrible other character who bizarrelygets appendicitis and is saved by an operation I’m fairly sure would have actually killed him at the time. But he wasn’t a character I had any sympathy for so it was all a bit odd.
There’s some great tropes - Regency road trip, virgin MMC, sex lessons, forced proximity, class differences, one-bed etc.
I did like that Arabella was opinionated - particularly about female pleasure - but she was also very stroppy. And Alasdair was sweet but veered the slightest bit towards ‘nice guy’ for me. I didn’t find the sex scenes very sexy 🫤 and I hated that they were ‘in love’ based on an initial ten minute meeting.
There’s also a horrible other character who bizarrely
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death
Minor: Vomit
jenn_alwaysreading's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
3.5
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
Loved this couple and their complicated but authentic path to intimacy. Particularly appreciated the initial plot set-up that establishes why our heroine abandons her family. It was really well done and sensitively handled. The frequent discussions of consent, the disavowal of a concept of female "purity" and the emphasis on respect were excellent. I think I should have read these in order! I would have appreciated Harry, Thomas and the good Dr SO much more had I read in order!
stephkmcg's review against another edition
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
3.0
More...