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rafacolog's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Kidnapping
angelfireeast24's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
mcmizzie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Sarah MacLean is such a strong writer for the histrom genre and if forced marriage & reforming villains is your cup of tea, you’ll love this. Penelope’s self-doubt was a bit much for me (thought very in character) and it was really engaging to read her story after Leighton’s.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual assault
jeannine's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I think the amount of angst in this series before we get a satisfactory resolution is just too much for me. I happened to read the second book before this one and just circled back to read the opening story.
Penelope is solidly in spinster territory when her father adds land he acquired that used to belong to a neighbor to her dowry. The neighboring estate was first lost in a card game by a teenage Michael, who had been Penelope’s childhood friend. Michael left the area after losing the land, but returns when he hears he could have the land through marrying her.
Unfortunately, for about 275 pages of a 415 page book, Michael is despicable and Penelope is desperately trying to find some control and affection in her topsy-turvy life.
The last 100 pages or so are great. I think the first 300 could have been edited down so the cruelty and hurt was quite as tedious.
Penelope is solidly in spinster territory when her father adds land he acquired that used to belong to a neighbor to her dowry. The neighboring estate was first lost in a card game by a teenage Michael, who had been Penelope’s childhood friend. Michael left the area after losing the land, but returns when he hears he could have the land through marrying her.
Unfortunately, for about 275 pages of a 415 page book, Michael is despicable and Penelope is desperately trying to find some control and affection in her topsy-turvy life.
The last 100 pages or so are great. I think the first 300 could have been edited down so the cruelty and hurt was quite as tedious.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Abandonment