red_steele's review against another edition
2.0
Terrible abrupt end! This book had potential but fell flat. Ivo and Jim were jerks and don’t deserve Cora or Bertha. It’s disappointing that the author did not provide an alternate ending instead of providing a reward for abhorrent behaviors. Ivo is a cheating, pompous bastard who left his wife while she was pregnant. When Ivo finally returns Cora takes him back and acts like all is well in their marriage.
Jim too was an arse and he did not care enough to understand the nature of the relationship Bertha had with Cora. The author could have developed their relationship much more instead of Jim constantly taking liberties with Bertha every time he saw her, which could have placed her job in peril. Ivo nor Jim deserved a happy ending.
I was also outraged that the author provided an option for Cora to run away with Teddy.
No more Daisy Goodwin books for me. This and the Fortune Hunter were poorly written.
Jim too was an arse and he did not care enough to understand the nature of the relationship Bertha had with Cora. The author could have developed their relationship much more instead of Jim constantly taking liberties with Bertha every time he saw her, which could have placed her job in peril. Ivo nor Jim deserved a happy ending.
I was also outraged that the author provided an option for Cora to run away with Teddy.
No more Daisy Goodwin books for me. This and the Fortune Hunter were poorly written.
clittleford3's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
It was like reading a soap opera. Contrived and lacking depth or resolution. If I didn’t need to finish it for a book challenge I would have dropped it.
bearavenclaw's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
floreena's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
ketzigirl33's review against another edition
3.0
easy to tell what is going to happen but if you need a book to read quickly and easily yet still enjoy, then this is it.
deservingporcupine's review against another edition
1.0
The jacket reviews made this book sound like it would be more than a poorly written period romance. I made it to page 200 before I finally just gave up -- it was less. I didn't care about a single character and nothing that happened was interesting at all. Maybe it gets better, but I was just not interested in slogglng through.
trudecal's review against another edition
3.0
Some great history woven in, but overall the emotion and conversation read very predictably and stiff for me.
penandpage's review against another edition
4.0
If you love anything about turn of the English aristocracy or rich Americans, you will adore this book.
Cora Cash is the wealthiest heiress in America, and as the book opens, she is thinking about marriage. There are several things I love about Cora. She isn't trying to be "better" than her friends. She isn't trying to rise above her money. She is simply a beautiful rich girl looking for love, pretty dresses, shimmering jewels, and a fancy party. And she isn't blond!
Cora and her family travel abroad to try to find Cora a titled husband and Cora literally falls into Ivo, the Duke of Wareham's backyard.
What follows is two love stories. One is the love story of Cora and Ivo, who really don't know anything about each other. The other is of Bertha and Jim, both servants in the house. Both love stories are unexpected and very real. There is a level of intimacy with the characters that makes you want to hold onto them long after the story is over.
I highly recommend this descriptive, engrossing novel! You get all the fun and lavishness of American "old money" with the stuffiness and manners of the English Aristocracy.
Cora Cash is the wealthiest heiress in America, and as the book opens, she is thinking about marriage. There are several things I love about Cora. She isn't trying to be "better" than her friends. She isn't trying to rise above her money. She is simply a beautiful rich girl looking for love, pretty dresses, shimmering jewels, and a fancy party. And she isn't blond!
Cora and her family travel abroad to try to find Cora a titled husband and Cora literally falls into Ivo, the Duke of Wareham's backyard.
What follows is two love stories. One is the love story of Cora and Ivo, who really don't know anything about each other. The other is of Bertha and Jim, both servants in the house. Both love stories are unexpected and very real. There is a level of intimacy with the characters that makes you want to hold onto them long after the story is over.
I highly recommend this descriptive, engrossing novel! You get all the fun and lavishness of American "old money" with the stuffiness and manners of the English Aristocracy.