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smuttymcbookface's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Both the MMC and FMC, Logan and Maddie, are easy to like but frustratingly dense about each other. Tessa Dare always does an amazing job of taking an almost outlandish plot (a 16 year old girl making up a fiance, who then turns up at her castle) and turning it into something fun rather than ridiculous.
I did find Logan quite infuriating in intimacy scenes, as he was often pushy and ignored non-verbal "No"s. This is quite common in historical romances, so I don't hold it against the book. However, when Maddie explicitly said "Stop," he did.
The ending was a little too much for my liking,
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Abandonment, and War
littlelibraryofdreams's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Sexual content, Abandonment, and Colonisation
jessgj's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really appreciate how Dare's books properly start on page one. In another writer's hand, we could have spent more time world-building and spinning our wheels but Dare just launches into the story and asks us to keep up. Instead, the book starts on page one, immediately showing us Maddy and her worldview through the letters. Unknowingly, this also builds up the believability of the romance because we're drawn into her the same way Logan is. If we kept going with the book after a few of her letters, I can't imagine how he felt after 6 years of letters.
I love the cast of characters (Grant, my dear sweet man) and appreciated how while they're the comic relief, they help humanize Logan and really make you side with him, even when he makes poor choices. They're the proof that he's not as gruff and brutish as he wants you to think he is. And the tragic backstory? Amazing and truly heartbreaking.
(I don't have a place to mention this but dang, I love a thirsty MC who's like "This isn't just my lusty desire to see a naked person, I'm a SCIENTIST!" It always slaps.)
The ending was a little clunky to me, with extra drama and loose ends to tie up. That said, I didn't mind it too much as I needed to make sure all of my new imaginary friends were okay. I'll definitely be returning to this writer.
TW: Abandonment, sexual content, panic disorder, PTSD, brief violence and injury, blood, blackmail, off-page deaths, mentions of war and battles,
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and War
indieandajean's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
If you like any of the following, this one is for you:
- Misunderstandings
-Marriage of convenience
-My heart can't take rejection so I am going to pretend I'm not in love even though I totally am.
-Kilts.
-Accents.
-Tragic backstories
-Lovable side characters
-Possessiveness
-Supporting each other's dreams
Need I say more?
I really think this might be one of my favorite books Dare has ever written, and I highly recommend reading it.
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
uranaishi's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War
elesme's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse and Abandonment
kyeruhh's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death and Death
Minor: Death of parent
daisycantread24's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Abandonment
charitytinnin's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
cup_of_rosie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Abandonment and War