cheri_champagne's review
DNF at 77%. I'll be quick, because I genuinely don't want to dwell on this novel any more than I have to. I had to force myself to read this far because I bought the thing and didn't want to waste my money, but I just can't go any further.
The sex scenes, while plentiful, are almost mechanical and a bit blasé. I wanted to see some heat, some passion between these two, but just like Alan's character, his sex was dull as dirt. What it really needed was some emotion. It felt devoid of feeling, entirely, and even though this was bordering on a historical erotica novel, I did still want to be romanced. Jem might have been hired as a whore, but with Alan he shouldn't have been acting like one, at least not after that first night.
Alan was a two-dimensional character that did absolutely nothing for the book. Jem was honestly the only thing I liked about this story. He was bright and vibrant, and I genuinely couldn't see what he saw in Alan. So much more to say here, but I just don't want to bother getting into it. Put simply, there was zero chemistry, zero emotion, and that left me with zero interest.
The plot, like the sex, was mechanical and predictable. It was so dashed boring, I fell asleep reading it several times, and the only time that's happened before was over a decade ago when I was in university studying for tests late into the night. It felt like the plot about the girl and the doctor was brought in because the authors couldn't think of any other way to get the heroes to do something that's not sex together. The villain was two-dimensional, and the little sprite was the only female in the whole book that gets a line.
This was a big disappointment, because the blurb was promising.
1*
The sex scenes, while plentiful, are almost mechanical and a bit blasé. I wanted to see some heat, some passion between these two, but just like Alan's character, his sex was dull as dirt. What it really needed was some emotion. It felt devoid of feeling, entirely, and even though this was bordering on a historical erotica novel, I did still want to be romanced. Jem might have been hired as a whore, but with Alan he shouldn't have been acting like one, at least not after that first night.
Alan was a two-dimensional character that did absolutely nothing for the book. Jem was honestly the only thing I liked about this story. He was bright and vibrant, and I genuinely couldn't see what he saw in Alan. So much more to say here, but I just don't want to bother getting into it. Put simply, there was zero chemistry, zero emotion, and that left me with zero interest.
The plot, like the sex, was mechanical and predictable. It was so dashed boring, I fell asleep reading it several times, and the only time that's happened before was over a decade ago when I was in university studying for tests late into the night. It felt like the plot about the girl and the doctor was brought in because the authors couldn't think of any other way to get the heroes to do something that's not sex together. The villain was two-dimensional, and the little sprite was the only female in the whole book that gets a line.
This was a big disappointment, because the blurb was promising.
1*
becka6131's review
4.0
This was absolutely delightful. Much funnier and happier than I expected from the description, despite some harrowing scenes in the last quarter of the book (CW child abuse and off-screen medical experimentation, although the culprit gets his comeuppance pretty sharpish). Jem's cheerfulness was infectious and some of his lines had me laughing out loud, and although Alan starts off a total snob, you can still kind of see the appeal. Alan's developing feelings for Jem and vice versa were well-handled and although at 300 pages this is a bit longer than most romances I've read, I could have stood for it to be longer just to spend more time with these characters. It rounds off perfectly, though - recommended!
cakereads's review
2.0
Surprised it wasn't as bad as I feared; quite an okay book.
It's almost a PWP with all those sex scenes, but alright, there was development of the relationship between Jem and Alan, and the rescue of the child was nicely done, even if only to add some sort of climax to the thin plot.
It's almost a PWP with all those sex scenes, but alright, there was development of the relationship between Jem and Alan, and the rescue of the child was nicely done, even if only to add some sort of climax to the thin plot.
jemzero's review
1.0
I started this book and was enjoying it. Stories about sex workers falling in love with clients aren't necessarily my bag, but the character of Jem was charming and Alan's emotional state made me sad. Then, there was a graphic scene of Alan trying to kill Jem, a destitute sex worker, over a petty theft. The assault was sickening and I felt like it was very romanticized. I kept reading a few pages hoping there would be some apology, but there wasn't -- just continued nastiness and aggression between the so-called lovers.
I cannot abide by romanticizing violence against sex workers and the poor. This was far too violent for a romance. Intimate partner violence is neither charming nor enjoyable. I'm extremely disappointed and obviously did not finish it, and returned for a refund.
I cannot abide by romanticizing violence against sex workers and the poor. This was far too violent for a romance. Intimate partner violence is neither charming nor enjoyable. I'm extremely disappointed and obviously did not finish it, and returned for a refund.
crtsjffrsn's review
3.0
Sir Alan Watleigh has tried very hard to resist acting on his urges. So when he sets out to find a young man to bring home in a moment of weakness, he expects it will be the last time he does anything of the sort. But there is something about Jem that strikes Alan, and he doesn't want to let him go. He hires him on as a valet, and the two fall into a routine that works for them both. But when Alan learns that the daughter of a soldier he commanded may be in trouble, he knows he must set out to save her. And Jem insists on coming along--a proposition that may prove deadly for them both...
Despite some heavy content here (violence, implied non-consent situations), there is a lightness to this story that largely comes from Jem. Here is someone who has experienced a rather rough life, but he doesn't give up, he perseveres, and he makes the best of everything he has. And at the same time, he never asks for anything he doesn't think he deserves--even when he might deserve way more than he's asking for. And he is an influence on Alan that I'm not sure Alan even realizes he needs...
Despite some heavy content here (violence, implied non-consent situations), there is a lightness to this story that largely comes from Jem. Here is someone who has experienced a rather rough life, but he doesn't give up, he perseveres, and he makes the best of everything he has. And at the same time, he never asks for anything he doesn't think he deserves--even when he might deserve way more than he's asking for. And he is an influence on Alan that I'm not sure Alan even realizes he needs...
bookcraft's review
3.0
Audiobook note: Jasper de Montfort's narration was lackluster, and his continual mispronunciation of Badajoz drove me nuts. I didn't deduct stars, because that's not the book's fault, but I wanted to mention it.
dreamerfreak's review
4.0
I know I liked this book, but right now I'm too tired to remember why. I hate DST.... But more seriously, watching Jem coaxing Alan out of his shell and his self-hatred was a lot of fun. Jem is flirty and sexy, and Alan is very stiff upper lip, and they made a great couple! That, combined with the creepy villain subplot made for a very entertaining read. And the ending was happy while still keeping with historical realities, for the most part. Loverly!
lilybear's review
4.0
A delightful historical romance featuring a male-whore with a heart of gold and a handsome lord haunted by scars and ghosts of the war. Jem, is a street rat with quick witts and a silver tongue. And he'll break through lord melancholy's defences if it's the last thing he does. As the two grow closer Lord Alan receives word that the daughter of one of his deceased squadrons is endanger. He has to pull himself together and have faith in his new valet/theif/whore to save the young girl from the grips of a mad surgeon. Some child abuse happens and it gets kind of dark but I guarantee a HEA.