onlyonebookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
elemee's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
sarmardea's review against another edition
2.0
This book made me so sad. Most of it was Penelope alone-and whatever apology given was not enough. I am writing this review long after I read the book but I still think about how sad it made me
beabates's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lucyd's review against another edition
4.0
I can’t wait to read the next in this series! This book introduces us to Penelope (a soon-to-be spinster) and Michael (a notorious rake and owner of a men’s club). When Michael realises that his family land can now only be won by marrying Penelope, antics begin.
sling's review against another edition
4.0
I go my hands on the rest of the series so have decided to reread. Moved up one star. Because, gosh darn it, I like Polly-ope.
3 Jan 2015
2.5 stars rounded up to 3. I liked the pragmatic heroine here better than the one in the other book I read, Nine Rules I think. I liked the concept of the four people owning the gaming establishment. The hero mostly fell flat for me though.
3 Jan 2015
2.5 stars rounded up to 3. I liked the pragmatic heroine here better than the one in the other book I read, Nine Rules I think. I liked the concept of the four people owning the gaming establishment. The hero mostly fell flat for me though.
livruther's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
i enjoyed this!! the second half of this book was really good, but michael was a real asshole at the beginning. and i wanted more of the “childhood friends” aspect. the epilogue was awesome tho.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
jobinsonlis's review against another edition
3.0
This is a perfectly standard romance novel, which isn't really a condemnation because if it had the tropes I enjoyed I would have loved it. Penelope is fine but doesn't stand out in any way (she's plain but he makes her feel beautiful, she's smart but naive, she's demure but brave when it matters). I like her sister Pippa better because she's a sarcastic amateur scientist. Bourne is a humorless, melodramatic dildo who thaws in the ends, which is my least favorite type of romance hero but if I liked that type, he would have hit all the right notes. I liked the gambling den, which is a common trope in this genre. I think I'll like the rest of the series more because I like the character types of his partners in the club way more than him: the bookish libertine who Pippa has set her sights on; the big, rowdy, and crass scoundrel who's probably smarter than he acts (one of my absolute favorite types); and the third partner who is so clearly a woman in disguise, which is a very sexy situation, especially since she owns the club. Altogether this is a good start to this series but it didn't really do much of anything for me.