kshertz's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It’s definitely your classical romance historical fiction. Light on the historical part. Great on the romance and smut part. I probably could take more of that but I was happy with what I got. It’s very lighthearted and an easy read. I enjoyed the characters and would love for some of the side characters to have your own story. Definitely recommend his romance book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Sexual content, and Violence
jackiepreston's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Cursing, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol, Death, Misogyny, and Death of parent
bookwormbullet's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Sexual harassment
soniajoy98's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Blood, Gun violence, Sexual harassment, Violence, Alcohol, Classism, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Child abuse, Infidelity, and Rape
allisonwonderlandreads's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
"Love is nonsense, and you are going to need your girls with you to survive whatever it brings next."
So I have to admit to some foolishness on my part. I picked this up, delighted with the "first in a new series!" advertisement, not understanding it was actually "first in a new spinoff series, deeply embedded in an established world of characters with long, intertwined backstories" so my bad on that front. I wasted a lot of time in the beginning perplexed by shorthand reminders of characters and situations that were all completely new to me. I just figured other lovely fools like myself could use a warning on that front.
But let's get down to the fun of this book. I liked the set-up for the series, which is a team of women using information, craftiness, and occasional explosions to curb men who use their power to harm others. Sesily is this gender-bent rake/vigilante, which brought me great delight. Her wit is SHARP, and I found myself highlighting several one-liners on the off-chance it inspires me to be faster (and cleverer) on the uptake, myself. Sesily's wit, flirtatious nature, and penchant for scandal obviously lent itself to superior banter, as well. My favorite humor was the self-aware jokes that make nods to genre tropes and old standbys. I appreciated that Sesily broke so many barriers, not only through her boldness but also her lack of desire for children (only #1 cool aunt status). There's also something extremely satisfying about a thirty, flirty, and thriving historical heroine rather than a teenage ingenue just loose on the world.
Then we have Caleb. He's an overly dominant, protective alpha man for my tastes. There are no red flags in terms of unbalanced power dynamic or consent issues. In this case, it's merely a case of personal taste. In the last quarter, I did appreciate learning his backstory, but an intriguing background does not a compelling personality make.
This is a romance where I far preferred one lead over another, and I thought the sexual tension was much stronger than the emotional journey. For those reasons, I enjoyed my introduction to this series and to the author in general, but it wasn't my favorite. I look forward to seeing how the rest of the girl gang find their own love stories.
Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It's out now!
So I have to admit to some foolishness on my part. I picked this up, delighted with the "first in a new series!" advertisement, not understanding it was actually "first in a new spinoff series, deeply embedded in an established world of characters with long, intertwined backstories" so my bad on that front. I wasted a lot of time in the beginning perplexed by shorthand reminders of characters and situations that were all completely new to me. I just figured other lovely fools like myself could use a warning on that front.
But let's get down to the fun of this book. I liked the set-up for the series, which is a team of women using information, craftiness, and occasional explosions to curb men who use their power to harm others. Sesily is this gender-bent rake/vigilante, which brought me great delight. Her wit is SHARP, and I found myself highlighting several one-liners on the off-chance it inspires me to be faster (and cleverer) on the uptake, myself. Sesily's wit, flirtatious nature, and penchant for scandal obviously lent itself to superior banter, as well. My favorite humor was the self-aware jokes that make nods to genre tropes and old standbys. I appreciated that Sesily broke so many barriers, not only through her boldness but also her lack of desire for children (only #1 cool aunt status). There's also something extremely satisfying about a thirty, flirty, and thriving historical heroine rather than a teenage ingenue just loose on the world.
Then we have Caleb. He's an overly dominant, protective alpha man for my tastes. There are no red flags in terms of unbalanced power dynamic or consent issues. In this case, it's merely a case of personal taste. In the last quarter, I did appreciate learning his backstory, but an intriguing background does not a compelling personality make.
This is a romance where I far preferred one lead over another, and I thought the sexual tension was much stronger than the emotional journey. For those reasons, I enjoyed my introduction to this series and to the author in general, but it wasn't my favorite. I look forward to seeing how the rest of the girl gang find their own love stories.
Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It's out now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Sexual harassment
Minor: Blood
More...