Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare

4 reviews

kb33's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

Ransom spent 90% of the book being a jerk to everyone. In the very end he said some nice words that didn’t include an apology and was very easily forgiven. And it was entirely unrealistic that Ransom wanted everyone to know that he and Izzy were sleeping together without being married. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship

Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Death, Miscarriage, Violence, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

the_rabble's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.75

Two egregiously down-on-their-luck 1800s-ish British protagonists occupy a dilapidated castle on together. Shenanigans ensue.

2 POVs, spicy historical romance/home reno/proto nerd culture story. 3rd person, past tense. I think both protagonists are late 20s.

This one has a bunch of unexpected turns and fun payoffs. Dare pulls from a lot of places and topics she clearly loves. It'd be very easy to be spoiled and- as someone who loves a spoiler- it actually is more fun to just ride the ride. The stakes are stable/not outsized so the urge isn't there. Dare does a good job foreshadowing and building surprise without dread.

Ransom and Izzy are excellent. Really loved both of these characters. Both POV voices are distinct and choices are character driven and relatable. We get some late reveals, but they're fun to watch bump against each other.

Sex scenes are great.

First book of three book series. You can read them in any order. Promise of the series' premise is "woman owns castle" and the stories are independent from book to book. 

This one may be my favorite of the three.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Sexism

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

Ableism and sexism are largely in the story as relevant institutional elements of 1800s England. Child abuse, bullying, and emotional abuse (of a child/young person) are all off-page background and not something done by anyone we meet in the story. [Ableism]Ransom is

newly blind/severely vision impaired and while micro-aggressions abound

, the final

conflict involves

institutional ableism in the form of bad guys sending him to an asylum due to his vision.

indieandajean's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful fast-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

3.75

Here we are folks, another great bodice ripper (literally in this one, in case you need that for some sort of reading challenge bingo board). I love Tessa Dare's ability to add just enough of an interesting plot to keep my attention and this book certainly has very similar vibes to much of her other work. It reminded me very much of The Duchess deal, but I found the characters here more likeable. The plot was fun, the spice level was more than adequate, and overall I found it to be a fun light read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content

Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism

martamae77's review

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Child abuse and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death of parent and Pregnancy