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valeriehell's review
5.0
Les digo, la portada de esta historia es horrorosa, parece algo sacado de un libro de Wattpad del 2014 y casi me di la vuelta cuando la vi pero me dije que esta historia debía tenía que tener algo bueno por ese promedio de calificación en Goodreads (o sea, 4.03 no lo tiene cualquiera) y me lo descargué al Kindle.
A veces me asombro de las buenas decisiones que tomo cuando estoy tan indecisa por algo.
Esta historia es hermosa, esa sinopsis no le hace justicia a la pieza de arte que es. Quedé totalmente enganchada desde el inicio con Jack y su negocio medio turbio y Oliver entrando como Pedro por su casa a exigir que le dijera porqué su hermana le pagó un montón de plata y Jack como “bitch, wtf, no te voy a decir nada, ahora lárgate de mí maldita oficina”. Eso para mí decía peligro de caer enamorado a la vista y no estaba tan equivocada.
Oliver está aburrido de su vida de aristócrata adecuado después de volver de la guerra con una pierna que le duele hasta dormido y salta a la primera oportunidad de acción al reconocer el apellido de una de las clientas de Jack. Él comienza a averiguar por su cuenta, convencido que Jack va a cometer un crimen o algo que perjudique a esta apropiada familia inglesa. Jack, por su cuenta, hace lo suyo al tratar de averiguar quién está chantajeando a esta mujer e inevitablemente vuelve a encontrarse con Oliver, una y otra vez.
Ambos se sienten atraídos por el otro y aunque Jack quiere resistirse a esa lujuria, termina cediendo a ella y durmiendo con Oliver y lo que es peor, sintiendo que se convierte en un camarada—algo contra lo que lucha porque Jack Turner odia a los aristócratas y ese aire de “puedo hacer lo que se me da la gana y salirme con la mía porque soy de una clase social que gobierna el mundo”.
Ese desprecio de Jack por la crème de la crème inglesa se muestra una y otra vez en la historia y me pareció interesante porque si bien no es un secreto que en esa época las familias aristocráticas eran intocables (a no ser que cometieran traición), ese privilegio no es algo que se toque muy seguido en romances históricos; creo que en cierto sentido enriqueció bastante la ambientación. A veces uno se pierde en lo bonito que describen la época, en los modales, la opulencia, las actividades de ocio que ninguno de nosotros se puede permitir y olvida que la brecha social de la pobreza estaba muy marcada, que incluso si tenías dinero te juzgaban si tu árbol genealógico no era “puro” o tu dinero “viejo”. Tener un romance histórico que toque estos temas y lo que es más, que sea contada desde el punto de vista de alguien “insignificante” para la sociedad y que encima trate de desafiar el status-quo es refrescante.
La opinión de Jack no cambia para nada durante todo el libro, pero él aprende con Oliver que no todos los que nacen privilegiados son imbéciles y que hay gente dispuesta a renunciar a sus privilegios en nombre del amor.
Y Oliver, dulce y precioso Oliver, no se deja gobernar por el orgullo, el hecho de que constantemente estaba dispuesto a buscar a Jack para disculparse, aceptar sus errores, su culpa y tratar de hacer las paces hacía que quisiera gritar como loca porque hacía exactamente lo que yo quería que hiciera para que pudiera ser feliz. Oliver es de esos personajes que una vez sabe lo que quiere no sale con medias tintas y lucha por ello con dientes y garras.
El romance de los dos fue totalmente épico, su camaradería dolorosa de ver y el hecho de que había un misterio, un misterio REAL que no era como yo lo había pensado hizo que me enamorara completa y locamente por esta historia. Estoy muy emocionada por leer más cosas de Cat Sebastian porque su estilo de escritura es hermoso.
Más reseñas en mi blog.
A veces me asombro de las buenas decisiones que tomo cuando estoy tan indecisa por algo.
Esta historia es hermosa, esa sinopsis no le hace justicia a la pieza de arte que es. Quedé totalmente enganchada desde el inicio con Jack y su negocio medio turbio y Oliver entrando como Pedro por su casa a exigir que le dijera porqué su hermana le pagó un montón de plata y Jack como “bitch, wtf, no te voy a decir nada, ahora lárgate de mí maldita oficina”. Eso para mí decía peligro de caer enamorado a la vista y no estaba tan equivocada.
Oliver está aburrido de su vida de aristócrata adecuado después de volver de la guerra con una pierna que le duele hasta dormido y salta a la primera oportunidad de acción al reconocer el apellido de una de las clientas de Jack. Él comienza a averiguar por su cuenta, convencido que Jack va a cometer un crimen o algo que perjudique a esta apropiada familia inglesa. Jack, por su cuenta, hace lo suyo al tratar de averiguar quién está chantajeando a esta mujer e inevitablemente vuelve a encontrarse con Oliver, una y otra vez.
Ambos se sienten atraídos por el otro y aunque Jack quiere resistirse a esa lujuria, termina cediendo a ella y durmiendo con Oliver y lo que es peor, sintiendo que se convierte en un camarada—algo contra lo que lucha porque Jack Turner odia a los aristócratas y ese aire de “puedo hacer lo que se me da la gana y salirme con la mía porque soy de una clase social que gobierna el mundo”.
Ese desprecio de Jack por la crème de la crème inglesa se muestra una y otra vez en la historia y me pareció interesante porque si bien no es un secreto que en esa época las familias aristocráticas eran intocables (a no ser que cometieran traición), ese privilegio no es algo que se toque muy seguido en romances históricos; creo que en cierto sentido enriqueció bastante la ambientación. A veces uno se pierde en lo bonito que describen la época, en los modales, la opulencia, las actividades de ocio que ninguno de nosotros se puede permitir y olvida que la brecha social de la pobreza estaba muy marcada, que incluso si tenías dinero te juzgaban si tu árbol genealógico no era “puro” o tu dinero “viejo”. Tener un romance histórico que toque estos temas y lo que es más, que sea contada desde el punto de vista de alguien “insignificante” para la sociedad y que encima trate de desafiar el status-quo es refrescante.
La opinión de Jack no cambia para nada durante todo el libro, pero él aprende con Oliver que no todos los que nacen privilegiados son imbéciles y que hay gente dispuesta a renunciar a sus privilegios en nombre del amor.
Y Oliver, dulce y precioso Oliver, no se deja gobernar por el orgullo, el hecho de que constantemente estaba dispuesto a buscar a Jack para disculparse, aceptar sus errores, su culpa y tratar de hacer las paces hacía que quisiera gritar como loca porque hacía exactamente lo que yo quería que hiciera para que pudiera ser feliz. Oliver es de esos personajes que una vez sabe lo que quiere no sale con medias tintas y lucha por ello con dientes y garras.
El romance de los dos fue totalmente épico, su camaradería dolorosa de ver y el hecho de que había un misterio, un misterio REAL que no era como yo lo había pensado hizo que me enamorara completa y locamente por esta historia. Estoy muy emocionada por leer más cosas de Cat Sebastian porque su estilo de escritura es hermoso.
Más reseñas en mi blog.
jg1987's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
Entry #22 on my quarantine reading list.
[b:The Soldier's Scoundrel|29875088|The Soldier's Scoundrel (The Turner Series, #1)|Cat Sebastian|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480135489l/29875088._SY75_.jpg|50247917] is the first [a:Cat Sebastian|15171247|Cat Sebastian|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1487439203p2/15171247.jpg] book I have read and I loved every minute of it. I am a fan of historicals and had high hopes for this one after reading the synopsis. Both of the MCs were fantastic. Jack was the perfect rough and rugged bad boy whose cynical mistrust of the gentry hides a heart of gold. And Oliver was just so sweet. He came out of the army a little worse for the wear and just wants to believe people can be good. The enemies-to-lovers story line was well done and the sexual tension between Jack and Oliver was pleasantly intense. Their chemistry in the bedroom was great and I also found them, especially Oliver, to be surprisingly romantic. I really didn't know what to expect from this new to me author, but I really didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series and seeing more from this author.
Entry #22 on my quarantine reading list.
[b:The Soldier's Scoundrel|29875088|The Soldier's Scoundrel (The Turner Series, #1)|Cat Sebastian|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480135489l/29875088._SY75_.jpg|50247917] is the first [a:Cat Sebastian|15171247|Cat Sebastian|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1487439203p2/15171247.jpg] book I have read and I loved every minute of it. I am a fan of historicals and had high hopes for this one after reading the synopsis. Both of the MCs were fantastic. Jack was the perfect rough and rugged bad boy whose cynical mistrust of the gentry hides a heart of gold. And Oliver was just so sweet. He came out of the army a little worse for the wear and just wants to believe people can be good. The enemies-to-lovers story line was well done and the sexual tension between Jack and Oliver was pleasantly intense. Their chemistry in the bedroom was great and I also found them, especially Oliver, to be surprisingly romantic. I really didn't know what to expect from this new to me author, but I really didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series and seeing more from this author.
jujudepamplemousse's review
3.0
The romance in this book was really cute. The chemistry between the grumpy but lonely Oliver and the cynical but unworthy feeling Jack was great. It was nice to see how much they both adored each other despite the appearances. And it was even better to see them asking for forgiveness and making amends when they were acting wrongly. For me the down side was the important quantity of explicit scenes that did not really feel necessary.
llamallamacallurmama's review
3.75
**Most of my reviews contain detailed Content Notes (including CW/TW) sections, which may include spoilers and general tags. I have tried to mark them appropriately, but please use caution.**
3.75
Audio (Gary Furlong)
* Summary: Private investigator, sometimes criminal, and general lord-hater Jack finds himself stuck with Lord Rivington (Oliver - recovering from war injuries and adjusting to civilian life) as they investigate a blackmailing campaign against one of Jack’s clients.
* Stats: HR (Regency), M/M, open door, part of a series, stands alone.
* Notes: One of the best parts of this story was the consistency of the chronic pain/disability one of the MMC’s is dealing with. I’m so tired of authors telling me someone has pain, or weakness, or loss of function, and then not following through on representing that throughout the narrative - or giving a quick solution. Not the case here! The story gets a little confusing for me, though I did enjoy it, and found both characters quite entertaining, particularly in their banter back and forth, and genuine caretaking. I struggled a bit more with Oliver than with Jack, but love the way the story winds up and will happily imagine them in their epilogue life (though I found the resolution just a little silly)!
OTT and Spoilery Content Notes:
Military mmc, mmc with limp, mmc with chronic injury/pain, detective mmc, class gap, mmc uses a mobility aid (cane), blackmail (of side character), closeted mmc, gay mmcs, 25-30 mmc:5 years older mmc, veteran mmc, alcohol, criminal mmc, thin mmc, classism, mmc was a sex worker when “little more than a boy”, mmc is mugged and assaulted, fistfight/knife and stick violence, blood, death of parent (mentioned), domestic abuse/intimate partner violence/domestic violence (against side character), rape/sexual assault (of side characters, implied), injury (fairly minor), mmc has paid for it sex, weight loss (unintentional), mmc throws something out of anger (while alone), mmc punches mmc, social/legal homophobia, scarred MMC, whiny dom, a little light power play, begging, anal play/anal sex, lube use, death, rimming, MCs mother was a sex worker, murder of parent (mentioned), firearms, shooting, minor medical care, opiate use (laudanum, for pain), caretaking, description of war (including crimes, death, vigilante execution)
3.75
Audio (Gary Furlong)
* Summary: Private investigator, sometimes criminal, and general lord-hater Jack finds himself stuck with Lord Rivington (Oliver - recovering from war injuries and adjusting to civilian life) as they investigate a blackmailing campaign against one of Jack’s clients.
* Stats: HR (Regency), M/M, open door, part of a series, stands alone.
* Notes: One of the best parts of this story was the consistency of the chronic pain/disability one of the MMC’s is dealing with. I’m so tired of authors telling me someone has pain, or weakness, or loss of function, and then not following through on representing that throughout the narrative - or giving a quick solution. Not the case here! The story gets a little confusing for me, though I did enjoy it, and found both characters quite entertaining, particularly in their banter back and forth, and genuine caretaking. I struggled a bit more with Oliver than with Jack, but love the way the story winds up and will happily imagine them in their epilogue life (though I found the resolution just a little silly)!
OTT and Spoilery Content Notes:
bookishplantmom's review
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was a good quick weekend book
fralenuvole's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
noahhawthorne's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
book_hound_ross's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
moonmisandrist's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love romance stories but I am cursed to be super picky about them and get the ick, as the youth say, quite easily. I knew this book was would be great, as my best friend has never led me astray, yet I couldn't fathom how good it would be.
It's hard to explain why it worked so well, it just had all the right moving parts. Jack, who works as a private investigator but ONLY for women clients, and Oliver, a disabled solider returning to society and trying to find a purpose. You just love to see two people, both with their own flaws, learning to be friends, to trust each other as they try to get by in the world AND of course, falling in love while doing so.
I don't think a story about two men falling in love needs to pay much attention to women, all I ask is that it's not cruel to them. Well as Soldier's Scoundrel is a perfect novel, it takes it time to portray the women so wonderfully and as complete human beings (and yes, supports women's wrongs!) - while not taking away any development from the two leads.
The romance between Jack and Oliver is so believable and it was so fun to watch them work together and come together as a couple by the end. Jack's calm and collected exterior falling apart as he fusses over Oliver was so cute and tender. Oliver getting flustered when Jack's criminal mouth flirts with him is such a fun dynamic. I really appreciated how real Oliver felt as a character - war is hell on the body and mind, and the author doesn't make light of the injuries to his body and soul he returns with. My own shitty knee ached along with his - damn someone invent elevators already in his world!!! I appreciated that his disability was always present and consistent, even taken into account during sex, but never slowed down the story or the character.
Everything in the story works and is believable. The mystery is fun, the romance is soft and sweet and spicy, the journey is a hell of a ride, and the happy end is earned (and still believable, even in the setting)!
It's hard to explain why it worked so well, it just had all the right moving parts. Jack, who works as a private investigator but ONLY for women clients, and Oliver, a disabled solider returning to society and trying to find a purpose. You just love to see two people, both with their own flaws, learning to be friends, to trust each other as they try to get by in the world AND of course, falling in love while doing so.
I don't think a story about two men falling in love needs to pay much attention to women, all I ask is that it's not cruel to them. Well as Soldier's Scoundrel is a perfect novel, it takes it time to portray the women so wonderfully and as complete human beings (and yes, supports women's wrongs!) - while not taking away any development from the two leads.
The romance between Jack and Oliver is so believable and it was so fun to watch them work together and come together as a couple by the end. Jack's calm and collected exterior falling apart as he fusses over Oliver was so cute and tender. Oliver getting flustered when Jack's criminal mouth flirts with him is such a fun dynamic. I really appreciated how real Oliver felt as a character - war is hell on the body and mind, and the author doesn't make light of the injuries to his body and soul he returns with. My own shitty knee ached along with his - damn someone invent elevators already in his world!!! I appreciated that his disability was always present and consistent, even taken into account during sex, but never slowed down the story or the character.
Everything in the story works and is believable. The mystery is fun, the romance is soft and sweet and spicy, the journey is a hell of a ride, and the happy end is earned (and still believable, even in the setting)!
amieib's review
5.0
It is a damn shame that the cover of this book is so dreadful because, as a result of how awful it is, there is a sizeable portion of the book community that will probably never read it. I probably would not have read it if I wasn't already head over heels in love with Cat Sebastian's writing.
That said, Jack and Oliver can take my heart and do whatever they wish with it because they are that good together. Reading them fall deeply in love with each other was so satisfying. Oliver is the sweetest thing ever and Jack is an absolute hoot.
What was different was the fact that there was such a good balance between plot and vibes. They were on a mission and I loved it. Jack is the feminist King of my dreams and even though his methodology is questionable, his heart and morals are certainly in the right place. I loved that Oliver came to realise that the world is not as black and white as he would prefer it was. They worked through their nuances and issues without losing themselves.
We also love care-taking scenes and there were a couple of those as well as the wildest declaration of love I have ever read.
Anyway, if you ever see this, I urge you not to be put off by the cover of this book and please read it. Don't keep yourself away from happiness by judging this book by its cover.
That said, Jack and Oliver can take my heart and do whatever they wish with it because they are that good together. Reading them fall deeply in love with each other was so satisfying. Oliver is the sweetest thing ever and Jack is an absolute hoot.
What was different was the fact that there was such a good balance between plot and vibes. They were on a mission and I loved it. Jack is the feminist King of my dreams and even though his methodology is questionable, his heart and morals are certainly in the right place. I loved that Oliver came to realise that the world is not as black and white as he would prefer it was. They worked through their nuances and issues without losing themselves.
We also love care-taking scenes and there were a couple of those as well as the wildest declaration of love I have ever read.
Anyway, if you ever see this, I urge you not to be put off by the cover of this book and please read it. Don't keep yourself away from happiness by judging this book by its cover.