emilyredwood's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
heidirgorecki's review
4.0
A great love story with beautiful scenery and setting. I enjoyed both Tom and Jenny’s characters and loved the first look at Ahmed who is in the Siren of Sussex. The only detractor for me is that it felt very long and a little drawn out. I know there were a lot of locations and details but it made it feel a little redundant by the end.
sungmemoonstruck's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-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
Mimi Matthews is just so good. I love the way she writes: her sense of setting, the flow of her sentences, and the precision of her prose. This is a gorgeous slow burn, a sweeping adventure, and a moving love story. Apparently Jenny is a more divisive Matthews heroine but I loved her and thought her emotional journey was very well done. I both completely understood her resistance to marriage and bought into her transformation over the course of the novel. This is also incredibly well researched and somehow feels both true to the time and very modern and fresh. Matthews' work continues to really stand out in historical romance and I plan to keep on pressing it into people's hands.
alisonb's review
4.0
3.5 stars
An enjoyable read! At first I wasn’t sure that I was going to make it through this story. There was a lot of repetitive talk of Jenny wanting her freedom and not much action during all their travels. But I reached a point at which I accepted and embraced the story as a quiet love story instead of an adventure story with a more passion filled romance. It allowed me to really enjoy these two, although I must say that Tom was my favorite.
I also wanted to know more about Mira. I still felt something was held back, or maybe I’m reading too much into her character.
I did not care for Giles and the author did not try to redeem him. I was glad that we didn’t have a lot of scenes with him speaking.
I look forward to the next installment in this w, it’s what got me to read this series in the first place. And although I like more of an open door romance, I have been really enjoying Matthews’ style of making sure there is some physical affection (hand holding, kisses, embraces, longing looks), and that the romance doesn’t entirely disconnect from what a growing attraction and love between two people would look like.
An enjoyable read! At first I wasn’t sure that I was going to make it through this story. There was a lot of repetitive talk of Jenny wanting her freedom and not much action during all their travels. But I reached a point at which I accepted and embraced the story as a quiet love story instead of an adventure story with a more passion filled romance. It allowed me to really enjoy these two, although I must say that Tom was my favorite.
I also wanted to know more about Mira. I still felt something was held back, or maybe I’m reading too much into her character.
I did not care for Giles and the author did not try to redeem him. I was glad that we didn’t have a lot of scenes with him speaking.
I look forward to the next installment in this w, it’s what got me to read this series in the first place. And although I like more of an open door romance, I have been really enjoying Matthews’ style of making sure there is some physical affection (hand holding, kisses, embraces, longing looks), and that the romance doesn’t entirely disconnect from what a growing attraction and love between two people would look like.
papercaper's review
4.0
I think Tom Finchley might be a contender for top book boyfriend because OMFG he just waxes on and on TO Jenny about his feelings for her. Like, zero of the emotional constipation MMCs usually have. And he's just so damned capable too, he tries to anticipate anything Jenny could possibly need and takes care of it. There was also some prime sickbed caretaking that had me squealing in delight. He's really fucking swoon worthy.
Jenny is also rather frank with how she feels for Tom and it's just so refreshing, usually all the pining is just internal but here they express it to each other a lot. Though they still hold tight to their insecurities and continually try and deny themselves each other. It's so deliciously angsty but we still get tender moments where they just can't hold back. When they had their first kiss I damn near melted; MM is such a master of writing moments like that, I don't even miss more explicit scenes.
Jenny is also rather frank with how she feels for Tom and it's just so refreshing, usually all the pining is just internal but here they express it to each other a lot. Though they still hold tight to their insecurities and continually try and deny themselves each other. It's so deliciously angsty but we still get tender moments where they just can't hold back. When they had their first kiss I damn near melted; MM is such a master of writing moments like that, I don't even miss more explicit scenes.
kiki_the_witch's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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? No
4.25
lectora21's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Minor: Racism, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail
brokenrecord's review
2.0
2.5 stars. I feel like I'm being a bit harsh towards this book, but it was a bit of a let-down after how much I enjoyed the first one. Part of my issue is that what draws me to romances is the actual development and seeing how dynamics shift and change, but here Jenny and Tom start the book already into each other and wanting to be together, and… that's basically the whole book. I mean, okay, they do end up starting a semi-relationship that neither believes will last, but in general it just didn't feel like a whole lot happened between them in this book. And this book felt LONG for the story it was telling. There were so many chapters of them enjoying being with one another but dreading the end of their relationship. It took me three months to get through this book, and it really shouldn't have, but it kept losing my attention. And I didn't really enjoy that the resolution of their conflict was Anyways, I do plan on continuing on with the series because I loved the first book and the description of the third book seems much more up my alley, and there were elements of this one I enjoyed, which is why I'm not rating it any lower.
Spoiler
Jenny saying that Tom couldn't leave England, but she couldn't be without him, so she compromised by returning to England, even though… that's not really a compromise. I just don't enjoy women giving up their dreams/desires for men, and I get this was the 19th century and that would be more true to real life, but perfect period accuracy is not what draws me to historical romances. Give me a little wish fulfillment here is what I'm saying. She does at least get her independence and a little adventure first, but it still felt like she was giving up much more than Tom, so it left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.sarahflies's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
linaria's review
3.0
I think this is a case of it's me, (possibly?) not the book. I just don't like historical romance set in India. Full stop. I don't really care how respectfully the author tries to treat the subject, it just isn't exactly my setting of choice for my light reads. It's not that I think Mimi Mathews did anything wrong, but I'm personally just not a fan.
So the offputting setting really didn't help me connect with Jenny and Tom, the protagonists in this novel. About 60% of the book is just one long ride to India - by horse, boat, train, so be expecting a lot of travel in uncomfortable situations. They also pretend to be brother and sister in the book to avoid scandal - and that's also not really my favourite romance trope. I'd read other books by Mimi Mathews, but for me, this one is a pass.
So the offputting setting really didn't help me connect with Jenny and Tom, the protagonists in this novel. About 60% of the book is just one long ride to India - by horse, boat, train, so be expecting a lot of travel in uncomfortable situations. They also pretend to be brother and sister in the book to avoid scandal - and that's also not really my favourite romance trope. I'd read other books by Mimi Mathews, but for me, this one is a pass.