rainelle_barrett's review against another edition
4.0
I voluntary reviewed this ARC after receiving a free copy. I so loved this book. It was funny. The characters were very witty and very dramatic in their own way. Margaret’s mother was over the top with drama, but I loved it.
Frankly if I had a mother like that, I would have committed her to some insane asylum. Boy how did her husband put up with her?! The writing had fluid to it. Some areas may have slowed for me, but once the humor picked I continued reading. The romance between Margaret and Jarves slowly evolved in the book, but I much rather prefer that it started in the beginning with a strong desire from one another in the beginning of the book.
Then continue on a steamy passionate ride through the book. For example stolen kisses here or there. Maybe, a passionate love making in Jarves’s room. Towards the end the story had to much details that was not related to the issue at at hand. Then for the last page, the coming together of the couple was one line.
? Anyway, the book was good, but give it more steamy, hot passion, with an abundance of bed four play.
Frankly if I had a mother like that, I would have committed her to some insane asylum. Boy how did her husband put up with her?! The writing had fluid to it. Some areas may have slowed for me, but once the humor picked I continued reading. The romance between Margaret and Jarves slowly evolved in the book, but I much rather prefer that it started in the beginning with a strong desire from one another in the beginning of the book.
Then continue on a steamy passionate ride through the book. For example stolen kisses here or there. Maybe, a passionate love making in Jarves’s room. Towards the end the story had to much details that was not related to the issue at at hand. Then for the last page, the coming together of the couple was one line.
? Anyway, the book was good, but give it more steamy, hot passion, with an abundance of bed four play.
rlward66's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Bianca Blythe writes a cute historical fiction romance story of an unconventional heroin who loves archeology and is sure she will end up a bluestocking wallflower. However, she has told her family and especially her ailing grandmother that she has a fiance and will be married when he returns from war. Things change when she gets mistaken as a highwaywoman and accidentally kidnaps a good looking elligable bachelor. I enjoyed this story and how it all played out.
haewilya's review against another edition
2.0
The first part was good but starting at the middle up to the end, it justs read like one prolonged resolution that's not a resolution to me at all. It's like the conflict never happened.
xandra_evelyn's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Parts I liked: how the heroine captured the hero (usually it's the other way around), some funny parts, how the characters changed because of their ordeal, the happy ending.
Parts I didn't: there are some incredibly cringe parts that gave me a LOT of anxiety, the relationship aspect was glossed over
Parts I didn't: there are some incredibly cringe parts that gave me a LOT of anxiety, the relationship aspect was glossed over
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Emotional abuse: Fiona's family, not her love interestredhairedashreads's review
5.0
4.5 stars
Fiona Amberly is a strong willed female who refuses to be like the other “ton.” She doesn’t want to get married or deal with men who see women as just arm candy. She just wants to be an archaeologist and discover history. She even develops a system of measurement and labeling for future researchers!
As you can tell, I really loved Fiona. She doesn’t let bad situations stop her from achieving her dream. This wallflower is spunky, smart, and determined. I loved everything about her character.
Percival Carmichael is a war veterans who lost part of his leg. Percival is quite a interesting character. He spends the beginning of the book trying to get away from Fiona but quickly changes his mind once he actually starts talking and interacting with her. But like most hero's, he messes up, and not in a little way either. He quickly realizes his mistake but it takes him a few months to admit it and try to win her back.
I really loved the romance between these two. It was quick but perfect for the situation. He supports her work and continues to encourage her to look for archaeological sites. Fiona may hate being part of society but she realizes she tries to make everyone comfortable as possible, especially those shy wallflowers. I really like how they both make concessions for their different lifestyles, but don’t give up their goals to do so.
Overall a wonderful book. I definitely plan on reading more of Blythe’s books in the future.
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Romanceopoly Mystery Challenge #2 - Wallflower or courtesan
Fiona Amberly is a strong willed female who refuses to be like the other “ton.” She doesn’t want to get married or deal with men who see women as just arm candy. She just wants to be an archaeologist and discover history. She even develops a system of measurement and labeling for future researchers!
As you can tell, I really loved Fiona. She doesn’t let bad situations stop her from achieving her dream. This wallflower is spunky, smart, and determined. I loved everything about her character.
Percival Carmichael is a war veterans who lost part of his leg. Percival is quite a interesting character. He spends the beginning of the book trying to get away from Fiona but quickly changes his mind once he actually starts talking and interacting with her. But like most hero's, he messes up, and not in a little way either. He quickly realizes his mistake but it takes him a few months to admit it and try to win her back.
I really loved the romance between these two. It was quick but perfect for the situation. He supports her work and continues to encourage her to look for archaeological sites. Fiona may hate being part of society but she realizes she tries to make everyone comfortable as possible, especially those shy wallflowers. I really like how they both make concessions for their different lifestyles, but don’t give up their goals to do so.
Overall a wonderful book. I definitely plan on reading more of Blythe’s books in the future.
_________________________________________
Romanceopoly Mystery Challenge #2 - Wallflower or courtesan
chyina's review
4.0
This book was hilarious. From the ridiculous idea of pretending to be a highwaywoman to the sheer confounded look on Percival's face as he gets to know Fiona. In fact, it is the comedy that truly makes this book worth reading.
Fiona is a quiet girl who enjoys archaeology instead of balls and matchmaking. Being an English noble, these are not proper attributes for her to have and so she spends most of her time at home, taking care of her aging Grandmother. She loves her Grandmother who wants to see her married before she dies so she concocts a fiance, a loving and funny captain who helped fight Napoleon. But when her secret spirals out of control, she is forced to find a man to pretend to be her fiance for a while.
Percival was a rake but after losing his leg in the war he feels like less of a man, especially since the life he leads is no longer his own. His cousin died in battle and now he has to take his place as duke and marry the woman his cousin was courting...even though they never met. He isn't looking forward to it.
Blythe places the characters in awkward situations that could be rectified but for simple misunderstandings and as a huge fan of awkward humor, I kept reading. Though the beginning was a bit slow, the story grows on you.
Fiona is a quiet girl who enjoys archaeology instead of balls and matchmaking. Being an English noble, these are not proper attributes for her to have and so she spends most of her time at home, taking care of her aging Grandmother. She loves her Grandmother who wants to see her married before she dies so she concocts a fiance, a loving and funny captain who helped fight Napoleon. But when her secret spirals out of control, she is forced to find a man to pretend to be her fiance for a while.
Percival was a rake but after losing his leg in the war he feels like less of a man, especially since the life he leads is no longer his own. His cousin died in battle and now he has to take his place as duke and marry the woman his cousin was courting...even though they never met. He isn't looking forward to it.
Blythe places the characters in awkward situations that could be rectified but for simple misunderstandings and as a huge fan of awkward humor, I kept reading. Though the beginning was a bit slow, the story grows on you.
deannasworld's review
4.0
Biance Blythe has written a fun-filled historical which will not only make you giggle at the hilarity of the story but also shed a tear at some of the more poignant moments.
This was a fun book to read. The first half was filled with shenanigans and misunderstandings and hijinks. Fun. Fun. Fun. Then the second half of the book turn a bit of a turn as the hijinks turned into a horrible confrontation which made me SO angry. I think I stayed angry for a large part of the remainder of the book and then I felt sad, and then happy again. This story, which was supposed to be a lighthearted fun read for me turned into a roller coaster of emotions I was not prepared for. I didn't want that. I had just come off reading some very emotional stories and I was tired of being jerked around on an emotional chain. I wanted something to lighten my heard and make me feel good. This story managed to do that for the most part, but man, some things happened in it which really pissed me off. At one point, I got so angry, I had angry tears in my eyes. It's a good thing Percival redeemed himself in the end.
Let's talk about Percival then, shall we? He's your classically handsome duke, though a rather reluctant duke, only inheriting the title after the unfortunate death of a cousin. He's also a war hero. He's missing a leg and I rather imagined him like Alex Minsky (perhaps without all the tattoos!) in one of Michael Stokes' fabulous photos of veterans, only more handsome! Percival is coming to terms with becoming a duke and all the responsibilities it entails when he's accidentally kidnapped by Fiona who is mistaken for a highwaywoman. Percival finds himself enchanted by this refreshingly honest, funny and intelligent woman as escape attempts, misunderstandings and hijinks ensue. I felt a lot for Percival. He was being forced in a position he didn't want to be in but he was determined to do right by his title and the estate. He's such an honorable man. An rake and a rogue trying to do what's right. It did annoy me somewhat that Percival felt since he was missing a leg, he needed to be forced to do what others expected of him. I'm glad he managed to work through his own self worth to determine what was right for himself and what he needed to do for his own happiness.
As for Fiona, she's a delightfully fun heroine. She's your typical wallflower and bluestocking with a penchant for archeology, more at home digging in holes than in drawing rooms and ballrooms. I liked that about her. I liked how honest she was and how much she tried at all times to do the right thing. It slayed me, absolutely slayed me when she was treated very poorly and very unfairly at one point in the story. It brought angry tears to my eyes. I wanted to rail and yell and holler about how unfair and horrible everyone was being. If I was there, I would have smacked some sense into all those people. Nasty rabbits! Still, Fiona was a far stronger woman than anyone gave her credit for, even in the face of terrible loss. She went off and followed her dreams, and achieved great things. It made me very happy when the nasty rabbit had to eat crow at the end.
I think this is a debut novel for Ms Blythe and it is an excellent effort. I'm looking forward to other stories from her in the future ... especially now that I know what to expect from them. :-)
This was a fun book to read. The first half was filled with shenanigans and misunderstandings and hijinks. Fun. Fun. Fun. Then the second half of the book turn a bit of a turn as the hijinks turned into a horrible confrontation which made me SO angry. I think I stayed angry for a large part of the remainder of the book and then I felt sad, and then happy again. This story, which was supposed to be a lighthearted fun read for me turned into a roller coaster of emotions I was not prepared for. I didn't want that. I had just come off reading some very emotional stories and I was tired of being jerked around on an emotional chain. I wanted something to lighten my heard and make me feel good. This story managed to do that for the most part, but man, some things happened in it which really pissed me off. At one point, I got so angry, I had angry tears in my eyes. It's a good thing Percival redeemed himself in the end.
Let's talk about Percival then, shall we? He's your classically handsome duke, though a rather reluctant duke, only inheriting the title after the unfortunate death of a cousin. He's also a war hero. He's missing a leg and I rather imagined him like Alex Minsky (perhaps without all the tattoos!) in one of Michael Stokes' fabulous photos of veterans, only more handsome! Percival is coming to terms with becoming a duke and all the responsibilities it entails when he's accidentally kidnapped by Fiona who is mistaken for a highwaywoman. Percival finds himself enchanted by this refreshingly honest, funny and intelligent woman as escape attempts, misunderstandings and hijinks ensue. I felt a lot for Percival. He was being forced in a position he didn't want to be in but he was determined to do right by his title and the estate. He's such an honorable man. An rake and a rogue trying to do what's right. It did annoy me somewhat that Percival felt since he was missing a leg, he needed to be forced to do what others expected of him. I'm glad he managed to work through his own self worth to determine what was right for himself and what he needed to do for his own happiness.
As for Fiona, she's a delightfully fun heroine. She's your typical wallflower and bluestocking with a penchant for archeology, more at home digging in holes than in drawing rooms and ballrooms. I liked that about her. I liked how honest she was and how much she tried at all times to do the right thing. It slayed me, absolutely slayed me when she was treated very poorly and very unfairly at one point in the story. It brought angry tears to my eyes. I wanted to rail and yell and holler about how unfair and horrible everyone was being. If I was there, I would have smacked some sense into all those people. Nasty rabbits! Still, Fiona was a far stronger woman than anyone gave her credit for, even in the face of terrible loss. She went off and followed her dreams, and achieved great things. It made me very happy when the nasty rabbit had to eat crow at the end.
I think this is a debut novel for Ms Blythe and it is an excellent effort. I'm looking forward to other stories from her in the future ... especially now that I know what to expect from them. :-)