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reclusivebookslug's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-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
It's one of the best representations of sexual assault I've seen in the genre. I love how supportive John is and how the book explores systematic issues of rape culture and survivor's silence.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
excel_spreadsheet_book_nerd's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
4.0
cmilam06's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
Traumatized FMC and in disguise footman MMC. Fun storytelling, a great and guy
whosevita's review against another edition
3.0
I can't say any new things about that it was charming bc the past three books where the same, but this books is considerably lower in quality. THERE ARE SO MANY PLOTHOLES.
For example:
At the end of book 2 right after the London exhibition, Emma asks the question "where is prudence" Because she hasn't seen her for a month. But in this books in the timeliness prudence is there at the London exhibition. Same problem with the ball. In book 2 prudence isn't there, in book 3 she is there, and impossible to kiss as well.
More smaller things like John roark meeting the real lord Castleton and having the exact same conversation twice.
For example:
At the end of book 2 right after the London exhibition, Emma asks the question "where is prudence" Because she hasn't seen her for a month. But in this books in the timeliness prudence is there at the London exhibition. Same problem with the ball. In book 2 prudence isn't there, in book 3 she is there, and impossible to kiss as well.
More smaller things like John roark meeting the real lord Castleton and having the exact same conversation twice.
jackiehorne's review against another edition
This is the second Maya Rodale book I've tried, and the second I could not finish. Rodale's writing style is unsophisticated, with overly simplistic word choices and a lot of bland, unnecessary word repetition, and so many anachronistic words that I stopped keeping count. Content-wise, the idea that a woman who has been raped needs to overcome her cynicism towards men and embrace her own Prince Charming was pretty hard to swallow. I also wasn't keen on being in the POV of the heroine's rapist, even for the short while we're given it; what was the purpose?
From others' reviews, I understand that the book has some interesting things to say about class, but they don't happen in the first third of the book that I read, so I can't comment there.
From others' reviews, I understand that the book has some interesting things to say about class, but they don't happen in the first third of the book that I read, so I can't comment there.
shelbyday's review against another edition
3.0
Rating 2.5
Rodale does a great job handling the topic of sexual assault in Regency England. Unfortunately, it was much too common during this time period. She definitely did her research on both the victims and the assailants. The story itself was pretty good overall and had some great twists and turns. I think it fell a bit short in the dialogue department. Some lines came across as corny or unbelievable. I also felt like the relationship and trust moved a bit too fast. However, I understand that there can be only so many pages in a book. This is the first Maya Rodale book that I have read. Even though I have rated it a 2.5, I think Rodale has potential and I will look into some of her other books. Not a bad read, but didn't blow me away.
Rodale does a great job handling the topic of sexual assault in Regency England. Unfortunately, it was much too common during this time period. She definitely did her research on both the victims and the assailants. The story itself was pretty good overall and had some great twists and turns. I think it fell a bit short in the dialogue department. Some lines came across as corny or unbelievable. I also felt like the relationship and trust moved a bit too fast. However, I understand that there can be only so many pages in a book. This is the first Maya Rodale book that I have read. Even though I have rated it a 2.5, I think Rodale has potential and I will look into some of her other books. Not a bad read, but didn't blow me away.
aqtbenz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
ilaurin's review against another edition
4.0
Unusual regency that involves a girl who has been raped and a hero who was a footman. It was a well done romance with like able heroes. Also made you think of the plague of women then and now.
sarcastodon's review against another edition
5.0
Pretty massive **trigger warning** on this one:
**This story is deals with rape through memory of the main character**
This books was pretty intense, and quite a departure from the other two Wallflower books. It is about a rape survivor in a time and society where if it was found out, the woman would have had to marry her attacker. You can only imagine the lengths a woman would have gone to to prevent that from happening. She also knows her attacker, and has to see and be in his presence quite often. (Balls, parties, etc...) There is some pretty descriptive narrative in the form of Prudence's (the main character) memories. Over a period of time you end up with her whole story of what happened. You are not hit with the whole story all at once. (Not sure which would be harder).
Also, some Spoiler alerts to follow.
All of that being said, I did enjoy this book. Prue is a very strong character, in my mind. She was attacked in her first Season, and she is now at the end of her fourth Season when the book starts. She has developed her own coping mechanisms, her own ways to try to keep herself safe. And she has had to do all this while knowing who her attacker is and seeing him quite regularly. But of course, she has some pretty intense trust issues with men, and that includes John at first. He very slowly starts to gain her trust. One day Prue encounters her attacker again in a place where she cannot avoid or get away from him, and he proceeds to attack her again. John intervenes, and pummels the shit out of him (Yay!) The story progresses from there with John teaching Prue to protect herself to the best of her abilities. She also decides that it is time to take back her body for HERSELF.
I haven't ever really read a book that deals with the topic of rape in quite this way. Quite often it is used as a plot device to move one point of the story to the next through some sort of trauma or another. This book is about a survivor and how she slowly overcame her attacker and reclaimed her sense of self. While it can be intense at some times, I definitely recommend this book.
**If anything in the review is offensive, I do apologize. That is definitely not my intention. I thought out each bit quite a bit as I wrote it, because I didn't want to upset anyone due to the main topic of this particular book.**
**This story is deals with rape through memory of the main character**
This books was pretty intense, and quite a departure from the other two Wallflower books. It is about a rape survivor in a time and society where if it was found out, the woman would have had to marry her attacker. You can only imagine the lengths a woman would have gone to to prevent that from happening. She also knows her attacker, and has to see and be in his presence quite often. (Balls, parties, etc...) There is some pretty descriptive narrative in the form of Prudence's (the main character) memories. Over a period of time you end up with her whole story of what happened. You are not hit with the whole story all at once. (Not sure which would be harder).
Also, some Spoiler alerts to follow.
All of that being said, I did enjoy this book. Prue is a very strong character, in my mind. She was attacked in her first Season, and she is now at the end of her fourth Season when the book starts. She has developed her own coping mechanisms, her own ways to try to keep herself safe. And she has had to do all this while knowing who her attacker is and seeing him quite regularly. But of course, she has some pretty intense trust issues with men, and that includes John at first. He very slowly starts to gain her trust. One day Prue encounters her attacker again in a place where she cannot avoid or get away from him, and he proceeds to attack her again. John intervenes, and pummels the shit out of him (Yay!) The story progresses from there with John teaching Prue to protect herself to the best of her abilities. She also decides that it is time to take back her body for HERSELF.
I haven't ever really read a book that deals with the topic of rape in quite this way. Quite often it is used as a plot device to move one point of the story to the next through some sort of trauma or another. This book is about a survivor and how she slowly overcame her attacker and reclaimed her sense of self. While it can be intense at some times, I definitely recommend this book.
**If anything in the review is offensive, I do apologize. That is definitely not my intention. I thought out each bit quite a bit as I wrote it, because I didn't want to upset anyone due to the main topic of this particular book.**