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tuttidolci's review against another edition
4.0
Surprisingly (or not) good.
I really enjoyed the "chase" aspect of this story, particularly because it was a chase for something which both protagonists originally dismissed. I liked Anne very much. Enjoyed her bravado which (for the time period) was bold. And of course, Jack. Loved him from the onset (in the previous book). But I do have a soft spot for a seemingly damaged hero.
I really enjoyed the "chase" aspect of this story, particularly because it was a chase for something which both protagonists originally dismissed. I liked Anne very much. Enjoyed her bravado which (for the time period) was bold. And of course, Jack. Loved him from the onset (in the previous book). But I do have a soft spot for a seemingly damaged hero.
cassandra67b07's review against another edition
2.0
I had heard good things about this book and I wanted to like it. But the saintly widow, damaged hero, and the double life just bored me. No wit or charm in the characters or situations. I didn't finish this after I gave it a good try at about 30%. Life is too short.
e_funk44's review against another edition
1.0
Can I rate this 0 stars?
Ummmmmmmmm why did I just waste hours of my life on this book??? Let me just say I wasn't expecting a lot out of this book. I was expecting a light cheesy romance novel but I didn't even get that. This book is one of the most boring-est I have ever read. These reviews are so misleading so here is a very honest one.
Okay so the premise was SO promising. I mean a women who flies across the rooftops of 19th century London and robs from people who have done her wrong?! Sounds awesome right? Then you add in a government spy who is trying to find her. Oooo exciting. Except, the summary totally LIED. She only robs someone ONCE in the first chapter! I mean technically she does at the end but its not even in detail. More about this below.
Okay let me back up and add more to the plot. So "thief" by night and deeply troubled and lonely widow by day, Anne Wilder is a chaperone to her cousin (?) during her season. A night time robbery goes wrong when she ends up in a trap set by the devilishly handsome Colonel Jack Seward who has impossibly straight posture and impeccable manners. Seriously if I had a dollar for every time I had to hear about his perfect posture and good manners I could pay off my student loans. When they meet it is instant lust and they just want each other so badly. She escapes and now he's more hell bent on finding her yada yada yada. (Side note, Jack is sent to find who this thief is by his evil and abusive father)
Jack is navigating the ball room scene to try and find the thief when he stumbles across the beautiful widow with the prettiest indigo eyes. He quickly falls head over heels with the woman (conflicted over his love for her and his lust for the thief) not knowing that they're the same person. Meanwhile, Anne is trying to stay away from the Colonol but can't because....umm actually I don't know why. I think it's because she feels something that she never felt before?
The opening scene was really good and the rest was......so. Boring. It started out action packed with her robbing someone and then meeting Jack and I'm like yes BUT THEN SHE DOESN'T ROB SOMEONE OR CLIMB ROOFTOPS FOR THE NEXT HUNDRED OR SO PAGES!!!! No scratch that, when she does go out back on the rooftops THE ONE TIME it isn't to even rob someone but to go find her man. LIKE WTF! And when she does go out to rob someone at the very end of the book we don't even get any detail of it *throws book in frustration*
So what happened the rest of the book? NOTHING! Absolutely nothing! It was filled with them chit chatting at ballrooms and having (un)witty banter back and forth while both of them are struggling with their emotions. These scenes were so dull and so so boring.
I didn't find their love to be...hmm I don't know how to say this...I wasn't invested in it AT ALL. I could have cared less if they ended up with each other. I also found his obsession of her and his obsession for revenge on her (which doesn't make sense and is totally out of line) sick and just not right.
Also, I found this super disturbing. Unfortunately I have deleted the book from my device and can't look up the direct quote or anything but right before their sexy time scene he talks about how he would rape her if he had to because he needed her sooo badly. Ummm excuse me?! When I read that line I just had it. I should have dnf'd it at that moment.
All in all this was awful and so disappointing. I was expecting something more action packed and light and fun. Someone said in their review that this was the best game of cat and mouse. Yah, no. Definitely not in my perspective. Don't waste your time on this one. I have read lots of better written, exciting and interesting cliche romance novels than this one.
Ummmmmmmmm why did I just waste hours of my life on this book??? Let me just say I wasn't expecting a lot out of this book. I was expecting a light cheesy romance novel but I didn't even get that. This book is one of the most boring-est I have ever read. These reviews are so misleading so here is a very honest one.
Okay so the premise was SO promising. I mean a women who flies across the rooftops of 19th century London and robs from people who have done her wrong?! Sounds awesome right? Then you add in a government spy who is trying to find her. Oooo exciting. Except, the summary totally LIED. She only robs someone ONCE in the first chapter! I mean technically she does at the end but its not even in detail. More about this below.
Okay let me back up and add more to the plot. So "thief" by night and deeply troubled and lonely widow by day, Anne Wilder is a chaperone to her cousin (?) during her season. A night time robbery goes wrong when she ends up in a trap set by the devilishly handsome Colonel Jack Seward who has impossibly straight posture and impeccable manners. Seriously if I had a dollar for every time I had to hear about his perfect posture and good manners I could pay off my student loans. When they meet it is instant lust and they just want each other so badly. She escapes and now he's more hell bent on finding her yada yada yada. (Side note, Jack is sent to find who this thief is by his evil and abusive father)
Jack is navigating the ball room scene to try and find the thief when he stumbles across the beautiful widow with the prettiest indigo eyes. He quickly falls head over heels with the woman (conflicted over his love for her and his lust for the thief) not knowing that they're the same person. Meanwhile, Anne is trying to stay away from the Colonol but can't because....umm actually I don't know why. I think it's because she feels something that she never felt before?
The opening scene was really good and the rest was......so. Boring. It started out action packed with her robbing someone and then meeting Jack and I'm like yes BUT THEN SHE DOESN'T ROB SOMEONE OR CLIMB ROOFTOPS FOR THE NEXT HUNDRED OR SO PAGES!!!! No scratch that, when she does go out back on the rooftops THE ONE TIME it isn't to even rob someone but to go find her man. LIKE WTF! And when she does go out to rob someone at the very end of the book we don't even get any detail of it *throws book in frustration*
So what happened the rest of the book? NOTHING! Absolutely nothing! It was filled with them chit chatting at ballrooms and having (un)witty banter back and forth while both of them are struggling with their emotions. These scenes were so dull and so so boring.
I didn't find their love to be...hmm I don't know how to say this...I wasn't invested in it AT ALL. I could have cared less if they ended up with each other. I also found his obsession of her and his obsession for revenge on her (which doesn't make sense and is totally out of line) sick and just not right.
Also, I found this super disturbing. Unfortunately I have deleted the book from my device and can't look up the direct quote or anything but right before their sexy time scene he talks about how he would rape her if he had to because he needed her sooo badly. Ummm excuse me?! When I read that line I just had it. I should have dnf'd it at that moment.
All in all this was awful and so disappointing. I was expecting something more action packed and light and fun. Someone said in their review that this was the best game of cat and mouse. Yah, no. Definitely not in my perspective. Don't waste your time on this one. I have read lots of better written, exciting and interesting cliche romance novels than this one.
riskyduck's review against another edition
3.0
Intriguing, fun premise of a noble, widow thief. She robin hoods for a variety of reasons, but runs into trouble that goes by the name Jack. Liked the h/h, the rest was ok.
What kept the pace of the book flowing was the intensity of their emotions/lust when it broke through their normal controlled facades. Crazy physical attraction was laid on thick from the beginning, and it was a foundation for the deeper romance that followed. The middle section of Jack poorly investigating the thief's identity was boring, but Anne's inevitable unmasking was intense, followed by an anti-climatic trudge to a neat ending.
Both characters have backstories that are interesting/original-ish, but nothing that rang 100% believable and were touching.
I think the main problem was the original idea was short, sweet, and simple, but when it ran out of steam to fill a whole novel, Brockway shoved a bunch of random plot in to give it more heft.
The plot, characters, and their motivations aren't detailed, thought out, or sensible enough. Things just happen, and you accept them to keep the story going, much like you'd go with the latest James Bond movie. This plot was particularly convoluted and leaky. Random side plots and secondary characters slowed the pace down, but the two main characters were compelling enough for me.
I think Connie Brockway always brings just enough to the table to keep me interested and entertained. I wouldn't re-read her books, but I don't regret the time I spent on them. But something in her writing isn't enough for me to every be dazzled.
Hated how stupid and nonsensical the ending was, but I liked how their romance wrapped up.
What kept the pace of the book flowing was the intensity of their emotions/lust when it broke through their normal controlled facades. Crazy physical attraction was laid on thick from the beginning, and it was a foundation for the deeper romance that followed. The middle section of Jack poorly investigating the thief's identity was boring, but Anne's inevitable unmasking was intense, followed by an anti-climatic trudge to a neat ending.
Both characters have backstories that are interesting/original-ish, but nothing that rang 100% believable and were touching.
I think the main problem was the original idea was short, sweet, and simple, but when it ran out of steam to fill a whole novel, Brockway shoved a bunch of random plot in to give it more heft.
The plot, characters, and their motivations aren't detailed, thought out, or sensible enough. Things just happen, and you accept them to keep the story going, much like you'd go with the latest James Bond movie. This plot was particularly convoluted and leaky. Random side plots and secondary characters slowed the pace down, but the two main characters were compelling enough for me.
I think Connie Brockway always brings just enough to the table to keep me interested and entertained. I wouldn't re-read her books, but I don't regret the time I spent on them. But something in her writing isn't enough for me to every be dazzled.
Hated how stupid and nonsensical the ending was, but I liked how their romance wrapped up.
leabookjoy's review against another edition
4.0
Choked by the memory of her husband, the gentle widow Anne became a mysterious thief at night and stole valuable objects of the ton of London. But when she met Colonel Jack Seward, things get complicated. Between passion, fear and betrayal, the danger is not where it seems ...
As a fan of spies and thieves stories, this romance was perfect !! The author's style is pleasant, the plot and subplots are exciting (I always find this story of stolen letter very suspicious !!) and even though I find sometimes the characters a little too tortured, I really loved seeing the game of cat and mouse between Anne and Jack =)
In short, a historical romance full of suspense and passion =D I can't wait to read Strand's story =)
As a fan of spies and thieves stories, this romance was perfect !! The author's style is pleasant, the plot and subplots are exciting (I always find this story of stolen letter very suspicious !!) and even though I find sometimes the characters a little too tortured, I really loved seeing the game of cat and mouse between Anne and Jack =)
In short, a historical romance full of suspense and passion =D I can't wait to read Strand's story =)
kristine2221's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
tamreel_stitches's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book as a First Reads winner. This was a wonderful book.
eaterofwordsandworlds's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75