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michellemccrawwriter's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Dementia
cmloia's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
I absolutely adored this book and the love between Clem and Arch. Though I felt some descriptions to be arduous and long-winded in the first half, the payoff of was so thoroughly worth it.
Though I've most definitely cried reading romance books before, I can only recall it being because of situations befalling one of the characters. I dare say this is the first time the romance and love itself has brought me to tears (not sad tears, just overwhelmed with emotion tears).
Plus, the friendships in the book (not just between Arch and Clem) were well flushed out, endearing, and friendship goals for all of us.
All of this is to say, that I loved this book so much, that it has reached my tier of protectiveness where I won't actually recommend it to anyone because any negative criticisms will be personal affronts and crush my spirits. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU DO DECIDE TO READ THIS OF YOUR OWN VOLITION, KEEP YOUR 3, 2, AND 1 STAR REVIEWS OFF MY FEED, PALS. 💕
Songs that kept popping into my head while reading: The Garden Rules and Lifening by Snow Patrol, and just the entire Fallen Empires album in general
***quotes***
"She was profoundly uninterested in catching a man, and she was beginning to think that life was too short not to simply read what one wanted to read." (68)
"'My point,' Effie said, 'is that if you truly consider it, the idea of family is rather odd. You're born into a group of people, and it's as random as throwing salt into the wind. The grains land where they land.'" (95)
"The quiet between them felt medicinal--in the same way the trees and the streams and the stars, even the ones that formed a picture of a hunter, always had been." (112)
Though I've most definitely cried reading romance books before, I can only recall it being because of situations befalling one of the characters. I dare say this is the first time the romance and love itself has brought me to tears (not sad tears, just overwhelmed with emotion tears).
Plus, the friendships in the book (not just between Arch and Clem) were well flushed out, endearing, and friendship goals for all of us.
All of this is to say, that I loved this book so much, that it has reached my tier of protectiveness where I won't actually recommend it to anyone because any negative criticisms will be personal affronts and crush my spirits. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU DO DECIDE TO READ THIS OF YOUR OWN VOLITION, KEEP YOUR 3, 2, AND 1 STAR REVIEWS OFF MY FEED, PALS. 💕
Songs that kept popping into my head while reading: The Garden Rules and Lifening by Snow Patrol, and just the entire Fallen Empires album in general
***quotes***
"She was profoundly uninterested in catching a man, and she was beginning to think that life was too short not to simply read what one wanted to read." (68)
"'My point,' Effie said, 'is that if you truly consider it, the idea of family is rather odd. You're born into a group of people, and it's as random as throwing salt into the wind. The grains land where they land.'" (95)
"The quiet between them felt medicinal--in the same way the trees and the streams and the stars, even the ones that formed a picture of a hunter, always had been." (112)
c7s24's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
🌶️
allieasaurus's review
funny
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
3.75
salmentoc's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
4.25
bakingbookworm's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This Regency-era RomCom has a cute premise about three earls who are eager to go on their annual trip. Just three rich young men hanging out, doing their favourite things with no distractions.
But that's not how life works, is it?
Instead, the earls are asked to put their testosterone-fueled weekend on hold and come to the aid of two sisters, damsels in distress, if you will. I expected to love this book, but truth be told, while it had an interesting cast and premise, it has a painfully slow start. Too much time is spent dithering in monotonous, repetitious dialogue and rehashing of the characters' issues with each other, marriage and whether tis nobler to not eat beasties, instead of developing some semblance of a plot.
The story doesn't get going until the halfway mark and the chapters are a whopping 20+ pages long. Too long for a RomCom. The story has a Bridgerton-esque vibe but the spice factor doesn't rear its saucy head until around the 75% mark.
If it weren't for being stubborn and the fact that I met the author at a recent event, I probably would have DNF'd it. I simply needed more time with the earls. They were a great trio of guys who support and have such a great friendship.
This was a miss for me but I'm in the minority. I really enjoyed Holiday's Duke, Actually (the second book in her Christmas in Eldovia series) so I plan to pick up the other books in that series.
mparker's review against another edition
slow-paced
5.0
This book is pure delight! I loved the characters and the deep backgrounds everyone has! I love the love story that developed but more importantly the story between the sisters! *chef’s kiss*
mayadaniele_'s review against another edition
2.0
2.5⭐️ It was okay. Needed something to fill the Bridgerton void. This kind of did that. There were cute parts but pretty slow for a shorter book. Very ehh.
marhelman's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0