jnak's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this regency romance set in Newmarket instead of your typical London/bath or countryside. It made me want to reread the Hawthorne series with the small part Lord Trent and his wife played in this story but it would be great even without reading that series first.
adventuresofaliterarynature's review
5.0
Every time a favorite author starts a new series I get just a tiny bit nervous wondering if it can possibly hold up to the others. Thankfully though this one was wonderful! This book was one of those effortless reads that is just a happy escape. There wasn’t a lot of hullabaloo happening instead we just got to know the characters in a natural and realistic way.
I loved both Hudson and Bianca and the way they almost instantly formed a friendship. Hudson was out of his element, having lived in India all his life, but I liked how he rose to the challenge and wasn’t afraid to admit when there was a gap in his knowledge. He was such a genuine person, kind but not a pushover, confident but not proud, and more. I loved how he formed friendships with people based solely on who they were as a person not on their social standing.
Bianca wasn’t your normal society girl but she also didn’t push the boundaries to the extreme, which I appreciated since sometimes when characters are written to be “outside the box” they can come across as obnoxious but that wasn’t the case with Bianca. I liked how she could hold her own in the stables with the guys but also knew how to be a complete lady in the ballroom. I admired how she put up with her awful stepmother, choosing silence, agreement, or asking for a change. I honestly don’t know how she kept from decking the stepmother!
The relationship between Bianca and Hudson was really sweet and fun and I just loved them together.
It was also really great to see some of our favorite characters from the author's previous series!
Overall I entirely enjoyed every second of this book and I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I loved both Hudson and Bianca and the way they almost instantly formed a friendship. Hudson was out of his element, having lived in India all his life, but I liked how he rose to the challenge and wasn’t afraid to admit when there was a gap in his knowledge. He was such a genuine person, kind but not a pushover, confident but not proud, and more. I loved how he formed friendships with people based solely on who they were as a person not on their social standing.
Bianca wasn’t your normal society girl but she also didn’t push the boundaries to the extreme, which I appreciated since sometimes when characters are written to be “outside the box” they can come across as obnoxious but that wasn’t the case with Bianca. I liked how she could hold her own in the stables with the guys but also knew how to be a complete lady in the ballroom. I admired how she put up with her awful stepmother, choosing silence, agreement, or asking for a change. I honestly don’t know how she kept from decking the stepmother!
The relationship between Bianca and Hudson was really sweet and fun and I just loved them together.
It was also really great to see some of our favorite characters from the author's previous series!
Overall I entirely enjoyed every second of this book and I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
a_neverending_tbr's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book started a little slow for me and I wanted a little more interaction between the main characters along the way but the end made up for it. I loved how Bianca is an unconventional horse-crazy heroine and Hudson as the social blundering hero. I also liked the cameos of Lord Trent and Lady Adelaide from The Hawthorne House series. Bianca’s stepmother was the worst and the bit of action at the end was a nice twist.
Content Notes: Kisses
Content Notes: Kisses
leslie_books_and_socks_rock's review
5.0
This was such a fun book! I have read some of KAH’s work with the Hawthorne series and it was fun to see some familiar characters.
punandprose's review against another edition
3.0
Cute story. I loved the inclusion of horses, and I learned about a breed I'd never heard of before: the Spanish Jennet! I kind of wish some characters had more elegant names, but that's a pretty subjective issue that doesn't reflect at all on the author's ability to write a novel. Kristi Ann Hunter is a wonderful author, but I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the overall story. That said, it is a well-written book and I would heartily recommend it to anyone wanting a lovely regency story. In my regency reading heyday, I would've loved this book to pieces. Alas, regency novels just haven't held my attention all that much recently.
rachelleoliver's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.5
betherin02's review against another edition
5.0
Utterly delightful. This story beautifully illustrates a lesson I've learned over the years, living life by my own plans or to satisfy people's expectations pales in comparison to a life lived seeking God's will. Fans of Hunter's previous novels will especially enjoy the return of several beloved characters yet their interjection doesn’t take away from the story at hand. I highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. As an owner of JustRead Publicity Tours, I received compensation from the publisher and/or author to coordinate a promotional tour for this title. The opinions expressed are my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. As an owner of JustRead Publicity Tours, I received compensation from the publisher and/or author to coordinate a promotional tour for this title. The opinions expressed are my own.
shinysue's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This was a wonderful book, really engaging. Although kind of predictable, the journey was good, with lots of interesting details. I especially liked the scene of what it's like to be a gentleman calling in the morning. The nervous sitting around and awkward conversation with the family.
I couldn't keep the characters names straight, and often wasn't sure who was in a scene, until enough contextual queues were dropped. The book also ended abruptly, I don't think Hunter is comfortable writing about intimacy or courtship.
I couldn't keep the characters names straight, and often wasn't sure who was in a scene, until enough contextual queues were dropped. The book also ended abruptly, I don't think Hunter is comfortable writing about intimacy or courtship.
thecleanreadbookclub's review
4.0
I have read most of Kristi Ann Hunter’s books and had super high expectations for this book. I was thrilled that my expectations were met!!
It hadn’t taken long, though, for all those feelings to fade under the weight of the fact that finally--finally--he was going to step into the life he’d been waiting twenty-eight years to live.
As the firstborn son of the firstborn son of the sixth Viscount Stildon, Hudson had always known his destiny. Assuming of course, that he managed to stay alive to fulfill it.
This book follows the story of Hudson (Lord Stildon) and Bianca (Lady Snowley). They both realize the answer they need that will solve each of their problems is to marry. They agree to help each other find their perfect match...what could go wrong?
I highly recommend this book. The writing is phenomenal! I loved the split narrative between Hudson and Bianca. I really felt both of their own personal challenges and driving forces between the choices they felt they needed to make. Their self discovery was believable and relatable. The romance is sweet and I loved seeing some characters in this book from her Hawthorne Series!! By the end I could NOT put this book down!!
I give this book 4.5 stars and I can’t wait to see what comes from this author next!
Thank you NetGalley and Bethany house Publishers for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It hadn’t taken long, though, for all those feelings to fade under the weight of the fact that finally--finally--he was going to step into the life he’d been waiting twenty-eight years to live.
As the firstborn son of the firstborn son of the sixth Viscount Stildon, Hudson had always known his destiny. Assuming of course, that he managed to stay alive to fulfill it.
This book follows the story of Hudson (Lord Stildon) and Bianca (Lady Snowley). They both realize the answer they need that will solve each of their problems is to marry. They agree to help each other find their perfect match...what could go wrong?
I highly recommend this book. The writing is phenomenal! I loved the split narrative between Hudson and Bianca. I really felt both of their own personal challenges and driving forces between the choices they felt they needed to make. Their self discovery was believable and relatable. The romance is sweet and I loved seeing some characters in this book from her Hawthorne Series!! By the end I could NOT put this book down!!
I give this book 4.5 stars and I can’t wait to see what comes from this author next!
Thank you NetGalley and Bethany house Publishers for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.