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sah1's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
celery's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
larsenfoster's review against another edition
3.0
I would give this somewhere closer to 2.5 stars. I absolutely loved the first book in this series and everything after that has gotten progressively worse for me. By the time they got married (not even a 3rd through the book), I found Hattie's character to be so insufferable. You were so fascinated by him the first 50 pages but when you made a choice that resulted in you HAVING to be with him, now he's SOOOO beneath you??? I'm not gonna get into it but the ENDING - also frustrating. Am I gonna read the 4th book - yes - but this one was a no-go for me.
smiley7245's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
The ending was not as strong as the middle for this book. This book has two of my favorite tropes and I really enjoyed a good portion of it, but I felt let down my the conclusion. Forced marriage and only one bed. Throw in a light enemies to lovers and this book seems like it could have everything that I would want in a book. But it fell flat at the end. So, Hattie goes to an art showing at Mr. Blacktone's house, only she doesn't know it's been cancelled and he doesn't know it was supposed to happen at all and when he walks to greet her he greets her with a kiss. She slaps him and runs away. He realizes who she is and finally agrees to one of the invitations that Mrs. Greenfield has been sending. They see each other at a lunchon and make conversation by the buffet. He opens the house up for the art shows. He plans to be seen with her, alone. But instead, they get caught kissing. She can't even say it was forced because she leaned in. So, they get married and he sells his 30% shares in a Spanish railway for half price. The do not consummate on the first night or the second. On the second day she sees a woman in the parlor with her hand on his face and she assumes that she's his mistress and that he's violating his marriage vows after two days. Really, it was a friend who was trying to help him seduce his wife. She goes to Lucy who gives her the means to run away to France where she could be safe. But, as she is heading to the train he grabs her and moves her to a different train, going to Scotland. It's rough going for a while and then it's less rough. The inn only has one bed and it takes entirely too long for it to work it's magic. In fact, it takes her getting drunk at a wedding, and him not doing anything and her getting to know him before anything happens. Then they are both insatiable. He is falling for his wife and she for him. Meanwhile, he is working on safety for the mine he bought and she is learning how to use a camera. Then, the mine collapses and he gets cold again. She returns to London to find the not mistress who tells her that his mother and sister both drowned in a mine that was owned by the man who he bought this mine from. Later, she hears noise coming from his study but it's not him, it's his man of all affairs and he is searching through his desk. He takes her hostage but her husband shows up and saves the day. They make up and then she tells him she wants to separate because she needs to be wooed, to know if she's in love with her husband because she's in love with him or because he was her captor. She goes to France and ends up teaching the other runaway women about photography. He waits 6 months then comes to get her. To court her. They go back to Scotland so she can take pictures of the miners and the book ends with them married again and her putting on an art show with her pictures of the miners from Scotland. I enjoyed most of this, so much so that I had to text two different friends about it. But while the end was in line with the motives of the characters, it was lacking.
oumeugo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
sarah_weav's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lavins's review against another edition
2.0
Compared to the other two is terrible. But then again is pretty bad in general. The plot is weak at best, the romance is ridiculous and I couldn't care less about all the political views expressed far too many times and all throughout the book.
I hope the next one will be better.
I hope the next one will be better.
fezzik's review against another edition
informative
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? Yes
4.75
lindsaykosnick's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0