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scoutmomskf's review against another edition
4.0
Good book. Ellie is fairly content with her life. She's been told often enough that between her plain face and her limp she isn't marriage material. She fills her days being a housekeeper for her stepbrother and writing educational books for children. All that changes when Blake, Earl of Hainford arrives to tell her that her stepbrother is dead.
I enjoyed this first scene with Ellie and Blake. He arrives on her doorstep, bleeding from a bullet wound, and instead of going into hysterics as he expected, Ellie takes charge and insists on treating his wound. Meanwhile, Blake tries desperately to give her the bad news. He's rather surprised by how well she takes it, which adds to his guilty feelings about how her brother died. Those guilty feelings grow stronger when he discovers that her brother lost her inheritance in a stock gamble.
Ellie is practical, intelligent, and honest. She takes what she knows of her circumstances and plans accordingly. She knows that making the long trip to her sole remaining option of a house in Lancashire by herself is a risky proposition. So she takes a chance and informs Blake that it is his responsibility to see her safely there. Blake is surprised by the demand, amused by her reasoning, and finds himself agreeing to escort her and her maid.
I liked Blake. In spite of the circumstances that resulted in her brother's death, he is not the reckless rake he appeared to be. He works hard at his responsibilities and plays hard when he gets the chance. He is haunted by an event in his past that has him keeping his emotions locked up. But he can't deny that he feels a need to protect Ellie.
I enjoyed their trip to her property. Their conversations are fun as Blake is intrigued by a woman so different than the others he knows. Blake also shows an unexpected sensitivity as he realizes that there is more to Ellie's discomfort around men than just being unused to them. This is demonstrated during the carriage accident scene. I ached for Ellie and her panic and appreciated Blake's understanding. His protective feelings for her continue to grow as they reach their destination. But when he sees the condition of the house, he goes a bit overboard in his reaction. This makes Ellie even more determined to stand on her own, and he has no choice but to leave her there. However, he is unable to forget about her and attempts a secret rescue when he finds out her home is in trouble. The confrontation when she discovers the truth is another one where Blake finds himself doing the unexpected and unexplainable - he proposes marriage.
Blake knows he eventually needs to marry. He likes Ellie and can see an acceptable future with her. He has no intention of letting his emotions get involved - his past has shown him that it's a bad idea. Though a bit disdainful of her looks and appeal when they first met, he has begun to see past the surface. Ellie is stunned by the proposal. She can't imagine why he would want her when there are more beautiful and accomplished women available to him. But she is determined to be the best wife she can be while protecting her heart.
I was a little frustrated with Ellie at this point. She was so determined to be the perfect wife that she did things that were unnecessary, such as trying to disguise her limp and hiding her writing. Blake won big points with me with his care for her when he realized what she had done. He was also tender and sensitive when it came to their wedding night and dealing with her fears.
I had high hopes for them as they started their honeymoon. It was obvious that their feelings for each other were growing stronger. There were some wonderfully romantic scenes between them. But Blake was still haunted by his past, and that kept him from recognizing his feelings for Ellie until it was almost too late. I ached for Ellie over what she witnessed and believed. Her feelings were understandable, and I thought the way she gained some extra time to think was pretty clever. I enjoyed the ending as Blake was finally able to let go of the past and embrace a future with Ellie. I also liked that Ellie finally believed that Blake loved her just as she was.
I enjoyed this first scene with Ellie and Blake. He arrives on her doorstep, bleeding from a bullet wound, and instead of going into hysterics as he expected, Ellie takes charge and insists on treating his wound. Meanwhile, Blake tries desperately to give her the bad news. He's rather surprised by how well she takes it, which adds to his guilty feelings about how her brother died. Those guilty feelings grow stronger when he discovers that her brother lost her inheritance in a stock gamble.
Ellie is practical, intelligent, and honest. She takes what she knows of her circumstances and plans accordingly. She knows that making the long trip to her sole remaining option of a house in Lancashire by herself is a risky proposition. So she takes a chance and informs Blake that it is his responsibility to see her safely there. Blake is surprised by the demand, amused by her reasoning, and finds himself agreeing to escort her and her maid.
I liked Blake. In spite of the circumstances that resulted in her brother's death, he is not the reckless rake he appeared to be. He works hard at his responsibilities and plays hard when he gets the chance. He is haunted by an event in his past that has him keeping his emotions locked up. But he can't deny that he feels a need to protect Ellie.
I enjoyed their trip to her property. Their conversations are fun as Blake is intrigued by a woman so different than the others he knows. Blake also shows an unexpected sensitivity as he realizes that there is more to Ellie's discomfort around men than just being unused to them. This is demonstrated during the carriage accident scene. I ached for Ellie and her panic and appreciated Blake's understanding. His protective feelings for her continue to grow as they reach their destination. But when he sees the condition of the house, he goes a bit overboard in his reaction. This makes Ellie even more determined to stand on her own, and he has no choice but to leave her there. However, he is unable to forget about her and attempts a secret rescue when he finds out her home is in trouble. The confrontation when she discovers the truth is another one where Blake finds himself doing the unexpected and unexplainable - he proposes marriage.
Blake knows he eventually needs to marry. He likes Ellie and can see an acceptable future with her. He has no intention of letting his emotions get involved - his past has shown him that it's a bad idea. Though a bit disdainful of her looks and appeal when they first met, he has begun to see past the surface. Ellie is stunned by the proposal. She can't imagine why he would want her when there are more beautiful and accomplished women available to him. But she is determined to be the best wife she can be while protecting her heart.
I was a little frustrated with Ellie at this point. She was so determined to be the perfect wife that she did things that were unnecessary, such as trying to disguise her limp and hiding her writing. Blake won big points with me with his care for her when he realized what she had done. He was also tender and sensitive when it came to their wedding night and dealing with her fears.
I had high hopes for them as they started their honeymoon. It was obvious that their feelings for each other were growing stronger. There were some wonderfully romantic scenes between them. But Blake was still haunted by his past, and that kept him from recognizing his feelings for Ellie until it was almost too late. I ached for Ellie over what she witnessed and believed. Her feelings were understandable, and I thought the way she gained some extra time to think was pretty clever. I enjoyed the ending as Blake was finally able to let go of the past and embrace a future with Ellie. I also liked that Ellie finally believed that Blake loved her just as she was.
tsubhdearg's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.0
robinwalter's review
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
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? N/A
4.0
Satisfying and enjoyable, better than I had expected
rachelm31f6b's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lucyp21's review against another edition
3.0
This book I got out of the library on a whim because I thought this would be a Cinderella historical retelling. It's not but it is a rags-to-riches story with a likeable heroine and a nice romantic arc.
Ellie lives with her stepbrother, writing the adventures of dreary Oscar and basically staying away from the social season altogether, when her stepbrother gets killed, leaving her with his debts. Blake is partly responsible for her stepbrother's death and she ropes him in to helping her, leading them to go on a journey to her new home. Ellie was a honest and forthright heroine and I loved reading about her scribblings about Oscar and her wish to push him into a few canals along the way, as well ashow she banters with Blake and approaches everything with a sensible state-of-mind, even being stranded in a leaking house with no water. Blake is a little less likeable but I'm here for the heroes who find themselves following after their heroines, completely bemused at how they got here but enjoying it nonetheless.
The first half of the novel was about Ellie and Blake getting to know each other and it was very enjoyable for me, with it being refreshingly different to the normal roadtrips you see in historical novels. I liked Ellie's maid and Blake's cousin being there as well, giving some levity to the trip, and the description of Ellie charming everyone when she got to her destination was what I wanted to read.
Then the second half of the novel came and I wasn't so enthused about this half. It started to follow my similar misunderstandings and conflicts I've seen in other historical romances and the rational personality of Ellie started to disappear. When she fled from her home when her pregnancy was discovered, I found myself frustrated and thinking she was acting like a young teenager, not a grown woman. Not to mention dragging her maid and groom along with her, risking their jobs if Blake wasn't half as understanding as he was. Then they were only at the farm for a few days before Blake arrived and dragged her back. It was a little bit frustrating seeing the characters backslide in the second half of the novel and it wasn't as enjoyable for me as the first half.
3.5 stars!
Ellie lives with her stepbrother, writing the adventures of dreary Oscar and basically staying away from the social season altogether, when her stepbrother gets killed, leaving her with his debts. Blake is partly responsible for her stepbrother's death and she ropes him in to helping her, leading them to go on a journey to her new home. Ellie was a honest and forthright heroine and I loved reading about her scribblings about Oscar and her wish to push him into a few canals along the way, as well ashow she banters with Blake and approaches everything with a sensible state-of-mind, even being stranded in a leaking house with no water. Blake is a little less likeable but I'm here for the heroes who find themselves following after their heroines, completely bemused at how they got here but enjoying it nonetheless.
The first half of the novel was about Ellie and Blake getting to know each other and it was very enjoyable for me, with it being refreshingly different to the normal roadtrips you see in historical novels. I liked Ellie's maid and Blake's cousin being there as well, giving some levity to the trip, and the description of Ellie charming everyone when she got to her destination was what I wanted to read.
Then the second half of the novel came and I wasn't so enthused about this half. It started to follow my similar misunderstandings and conflicts I've seen in other historical romances and the rational personality of Ellie started to disappear.
3.5 stars!
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