emilygaynier's review against another edition
3.0
I don't quite like romances between people who could be argued as siblings (adoption or viewing the same adult as a parent) but it did a good job of making it not weird
I could've used this book to either have a different timeline or be longer. I feel like Ewan didn't grovel enough. He did some pretty bad things in the previous books, and while I think his actions towards Hattie were less bad, Ewan had much more to do then haul some boxes.
The explanation for his actions the night he took the title needed more attention. That should've been something brought up sooner and not after sex. I get that love makes people do dumb things, but if you truly thought the man you loved tried to kill you, wouldn't you want some details before getting some?
I dunno. I just feel like he had it too easy and Grace forgave him too quickly
I could've used this book to either have a different timeline or be longer. I feel like Ewan didn't grovel enough. He did some pretty bad things in the previous books, and while I think his actions towards Hattie were less bad, Ewan had much more to do then haul some boxes.
The explanation for his actions the night he took the title needed more attention. That should've been something brought up sooner and not after sex. I get that love makes people do dumb things, but if you truly thought the man you loved tried to kill you, wouldn't you want some details before getting some?
I dunno. I just feel like he had it too easy and Grace forgave him too quickly
intensej's review
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.
I really wanted to like this book. I loved the other two books in the Bareknuckle Bastards series. I felt that this book was a bit lackluster. I liked that Grace was so strong and independent, but I had a hard time relating to her. Ewan did so much to get Grace's forgiveness, but she kept on rejecting him and rejecting him. I also felt that the tone in the first half of this book was either very treacly sweet or really dark and gritty--it was hard to take it seriously. I loved the way Ewan's character developed, and I appreciated how much respect he had for Grace and her decisions. I just felt that this book was lacking something that is hard to describe. Grace kept acting in a very contradictory manner. On one hand, she tells Ewan that she deserves the dukedom, but she is not being very realistic or serious. Then, when he burns down the ducal estate and fakes his death, she realizes how much she loves him. What?! I loved the sibling relationship between Devon, Whit, and Grace, but I wanted to see how they would bring Ewan into the fold. I also thought that Ewan should have just told Grace the truth about that night he allegedly betrayed them. It would have resolved everything so much faster. Another thing I struggled with in this book was the whole "one year later" thing that happens between one chapter and the next really drove me crazy. It felt like a cop out.
Grace and Ewan have loved each other since they were children. When Ewan betrays Grace and her brothers in order to become the duke's heir, she is bent on revenge. Ewan discovers that Grace is not dead, and he tries to get her forgiveness for seeming to abandon her when they were younger. Grace has grown into a different person during the twenty years that have passed since they have seen each other, so they have to learn to love each other for who they are now instead of who they used to be when they were younger.
I really wanted to like this book. I loved the other two books in the Bareknuckle Bastards series. I felt that this book was a bit lackluster. I liked that Grace was so strong and independent, but I had a hard time relating to her. Ewan did so much to get Grace's forgiveness, but she kept on rejecting him and rejecting him. I also felt that the tone in the first half of this book was either very treacly sweet or really dark and gritty--it was hard to take it seriously. I loved the way Ewan's character developed, and I appreciated how much respect he had for Grace and her decisions. I just felt that this book was lacking something that is hard to describe. Grace kept acting in a very contradictory manner. On one hand, she tells Ewan that she deserves the dukedom, but she is not being very realistic or serious. Then, when he burns down the ducal estate and fakes his death, she realizes how much she loves him. What?! I loved the sibling relationship between Devon, Whit, and Grace, but I wanted to see how they would bring Ewan into the fold. I also thought that Ewan should have just told Grace the truth about that night he allegedly betrayed them. It would have resolved everything so much faster. Another thing I struggled with in this book was the whole "one year later" thing that happens between one chapter and the next really drove me crazy. It felt like a cop out.
Grace and Ewan have loved each other since they were children. When Ewan betrays Grace and her brothers in order to become the duke's heir, she is bent on revenge. Ewan discovers that Grace is not dead, and he tries to get her forgiveness for seeming to abandon her when they were younger. Grace has grown into a different person during the twenty years that have passed since they have seen each other, so they have to learn to love each other for who they are now instead of who they used to be when they were younger.
joanieelaine's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
allidon's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
breezyreader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
joanav's review
5.0
Review originally published at Romancing Romances.
I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.
I can't express how happy I am to have received this book, and just before my birthday. What a wonderful gift.
If you've read any of Sarah MacLean's books, you know she's great at turning a villain around. And this book is testament to that. Although I'll say, I liked Ewan from the first book, even though I didn't like what he did.
The Bareknuckle Bastards series follows the life of four siblings. Three boys (Devil, Whit, and Ewan) born of the same man, but different women, and a girl with no blood connection to either of them, but family nonetheless. Devil and Whit's stories are the previous books in the series, and this one is the story of the girl. The girl whose name was given by Ewan, the fourth boy. Because she didn't even have that.
Grace loved Devil and Whit as brothers, but with Ewan it was always different. And that's why it hurt so much when Ewan behaved in a way that made the Bareknuckle Bastards run away from him, scared and feeling as betrayed as possible. Their pain prevented them from seeing what was really happening.
I absolutely loved this book. I read it in just a few hours. Sarah MacLean's writing is so compelling, and so sexy! Her characters come to life before your eyes and just amaze you with their behaviours and actions.
Grace is this strong, independent woman. A queen in her turf. Covent Garden was her home, even though she was not born there. She knew it from Ewan's stories, and when the time came, Grace, Devil, and Whit all ran to it. And when Ewan could, the first thing he did was chase Grace and track her down. No, not chase. Search for her. And his heart and mind couldn't take it when his brothers told him she was dead. Because he knew he could feel her. And when he started to believe them, nothing could stand in his path to destruction for they had let the woman he loved die. Which is something Whit and Devil ended up admitting they would have probably done, if their loved ones had died in the same way.
I loved the heart to heart talks between Grace and Ewan, and how their trust starts to rebuild, and how Ewan realizes it has to be Grace's choice. It could not be in any different way.
The one thing I missed in the book was a reunion of the brothers at the end. Ewan told Grace what happened, but I would have liked a talk between the brothers. Devil and Whit learn the truth just as Grace, but if only we had a scene with the brothers being closer, or at least that open door...
The way Ewan suffered broke my heart. And I have to admit I shed a tear or two when Ewan made his confession of what his dreams were: "“You, and me, here [Covent Garden]. With a collection of flame-haired babes.” She closed her eyes. “My brothers. Their children. A family.”".
I am usually not a fan of second-chance romances, but this one... it's golden!
In short, read this book. You won't regret it, and you'll love the Bareknuckle Bastards.
I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.
I can't express how happy I am to have received this book, and just before my birthday. What a wonderful gift.
If you've read any of Sarah MacLean's books, you know she's great at turning a villain around. And this book is testament to that. Although I'll say, I liked Ewan from the first book, even though I didn't like what he did.
The Bareknuckle Bastards series follows the life of four siblings. Three boys (Devil, Whit, and Ewan) born of the same man, but different women, and a girl with no blood connection to either of them, but family nonetheless. Devil and Whit's stories are the previous books in the series, and this one is the story of the girl. The girl whose name was given by Ewan, the fourth boy. Because she didn't even have that.
Grace loved Devil and Whit as brothers, but with Ewan it was always different. And that's why it hurt so much when Ewan behaved in a way that made the Bareknuckle Bastards run away from him, scared and feeling as betrayed as possible. Their pain prevented them from seeing what was really happening.
I absolutely loved this book. I read it in just a few hours. Sarah MacLean's writing is so compelling, and so sexy! Her characters come to life before your eyes and just amaze you with their behaviours and actions.
Grace is this strong, independent woman. A queen in her turf. Covent Garden was her home, even though she was not born there. She knew it from Ewan's stories, and when the time came, Grace, Devil, and Whit all ran to it. And when Ewan could, the first thing he did was chase Grace and track her down. No, not chase. Search for her. And his heart and mind couldn't take it when his brothers told him she was dead. Because he knew he could feel her. And when he started to believe them, nothing could stand in his path to destruction for they had let the woman he loved die. Which is something Whit and Devil ended up admitting they would have probably done, if their loved ones had died in the same way.
I loved the heart to heart talks between Grace and Ewan, and how their trust starts to rebuild, and how Ewan realizes it has to be Grace's choice. It could not be in any different way.
The one thing I missed in the book was a reunion of the brothers at the end. Ewan told Grace what happened, but I would have liked a talk between the brothers. Devil and Whit learn the truth just as Grace, but if only we had a scene with the brothers being closer, or at least that open door...
The way Ewan suffered broke my heart. And I have to admit I shed a tear or two when Ewan made his confession of what his dreams were: "“You, and me, here [Covent Garden]. With a collection of flame-haired babes.” She closed her eyes. “My brothers. Their children. A family.”".
I am usually not a fan of second-chance romances, but this one... it's golden!
In short, read this book. You won't regret it, and you'll love the Bareknuckle Bastards.
mssarahbn's review
5.0
The final book in the series and it didn’t disappoint. I was curious to see how Ewan would be able to redeem himself in this story and though it did take a while he did actually have quite the redemption arc. The chemistry between him and Grace was amazing and it really carried the story. My only little complaint about the story was that it was a bit too slow paced for my taste but it didn’t change the fact that this was a great historical romance.
sambreanne's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
asomeone's review against another edition
emotional
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
seffra's review
3.0
3 stars!
This book could have been amazing! I enjoyed it and I did like the overall story. However, I felt like the things I thought the book would have spent a lot of time on, it didn’t. The grovelling, the family relationships. I also thought this book was going to be overly romantic because these characters deserved it.
I enjoyed it for what we got and I did like the route SM went in terms of Ewan and what happened 20 years ago.
This book could have been amazing! I enjoyed it and I did like the overall story. However, I felt like the things I thought the book would have spent a lot of time on, it didn’t. The grovelling, the family relationships. I also thought this book was going to be overly romantic because these characters deserved it.
I enjoyed it for what we got and I did like the route SM went in terms of Ewan and what happened 20 years ago.