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julyavenue's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
meganperfect's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
3.25
loyaultemelie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
I find reviewing romance novels to be particularly difficult, because my feelings surrounding them are much more the result of my emotions then specific plot beats or passages I can point to - this being one of the features and, in my opinion, strengths of the genre. That being said, I will try.
This book really, really worked for me. Maybe because I understood Sophie's emotions and feelings, maybe because the plot of 'new money lady is fed up with snobbery and disguises herself as a man and gtfos' is just the most delightful set up for a romance novel. Maybe because Sarah Maclaen is a master at plotting, and the circular nature of the beginning and the ending made me just delighted. Whatever it was, I really enjoyed this book. I found it refreshing and novel and I just loved the way that our main leads work together. Certain romance novels make you feel like characters are attracted to each other, but this one made me think not only that, but that King and Sophie are innately very compatible. Their love, while of course involving sex, was way more developed than just physical attraction. It really was impressive. Even more so that their relationship developing into love felt very natural, despite the fact that I really did want to push King into his own fishpond a few times. Well played Maclean, well played...
This book really, really worked for me. Maybe because I understood Sophie's emotions and feelings, maybe because the plot of 'new money lady is fed up with snobbery and disguises herself as a man and gtfos' is just the most delightful set up for a romance novel. Maybe because Sarah Maclaen is a master at plotting, and the circular nature of the beginning and the ending made me just delighted. Whatever it was, I really enjoyed this book. I found it refreshing and novel and I just loved the way that our main leads work together. Certain romance novels make you feel like characters are attracted to each other, but this one made me think not only that, but that King and Sophie are innately very compatible. Their love, while of course involving sex, was way more developed than just physical attraction. It really was impressive. Even more so that their relationship developing into love felt very natural, despite the fact that I really did want to push King into his own fishpond a few times. Well played Maclean, well played...
jillian_elizabeth's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I’ve enjoyed other works by Sarah MacLean, but this was not my favorite of hers. I had a hard time connecting with the FMC and MMC for some reason. Not a bad book, but not one I feel will stand out in my memory.
soapyreads22's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
5.0
lechepatito's review against another edition
4.0
Even my less favorite MacLean reads are still better than most - these characters are so well developed, the road trip trope works great here, and the scene in the labyrinth is perfect.
readingmissfroggy's review against another edition
4.0
After finishing The Rules of Scoundrels series by the same author I really felt the need to dive into another series by her. The synopsis of this one totally captured my attention. Dunking your cheating brother-in-law in a pond at a garden party and escaping in a carriage that is not your own with some marquess who is know for ruining ladies? Sign me up!
In the end I didn't fall in love with this book as quickly as with her other series. And I find it so difficult to explain why. I loved the events that took place, I also really enjoyed Sophie as a character and King had a really interesting backstory. So why did it take me up until 50% in before I fell in love with it? I don't know. Maybe because I finally felt connected to King? Maybe because I finally felt some chemistry between King and Sophie? I simply don't know.
What I do know is that there are so many events and things happening in this book, it is absolutely amazing! When I was 50% through I thought I would be close to the end (read this as an e-book) but nope, we still had 50% more of this wonderful story to go! And maybe all these events took me a while to fall in love with the characters. It took me a while to see who they really are outside of their extraordinary situation. But the events, oh man they were amazing. I'm not just talking about dunking that horrible brother-in-law, I'm also talking about highwayman, cross-dressing, gun wounds, terribly romantic scenes and the most awkward dinner ever.
Another absolute gem in this novel were the little hints to The Rules of Scoundrels series. The Fallen Angel wasn't mentioned by name but King did talk about this exclusive gaming hell for artistocrats so you can't tell me that it's not TFA!
But... There is one thing that I really want to mention about this book. Something that made me appreciate the story, the characters and especially the author so much more. And that is that this book addresses some issues in both real life and in fictional life. The fact that alcohol and the way someone dresses are absolutely no good reason for sexual assault. The fact that (hurtful) nicknames can really devalue people. I really appreciate how Sarah put it in the story. It didn't feel forced, it felt genuine and needed. Thank you!
In the end I didn't fall in love with this book as quickly as with her other series. And I find it so difficult to explain why. I loved the events that took place, I also really enjoyed Sophie as a character and King had a really interesting backstory. So why did it take me up until 50% in before I fell in love with it? I don't know. Maybe because I finally felt connected to King? Maybe because I finally felt some chemistry between King and Sophie? I simply don't know.
What I do know is that there are so many events and things happening in this book, it is absolutely amazing! When I was 50% through I thought I would be close to the end (read this as an e-book) but nope, we still had 50% more of this wonderful story to go! And maybe all these events took me a while to fall in love with the characters. It took me a while to see who they really are outside of their extraordinary situation. But the events, oh man they were amazing. I'm not just talking about dunking that horrible brother-in-law, I'm also talking about highwayman, cross-dressing, gun wounds, terribly romantic scenes and the most awkward dinner ever.
Another absolute gem in this novel were the little hints to The Rules of Scoundrels series. The Fallen Angel wasn't mentioned by name but King did talk about this exclusive gaming hell for artistocrats so you can't tell me that it's not TFA!
But... There is one thing that I really want to mention about this book. Something that made me appreciate the story, the characters and especially the author so much more. And that is that this book addresses some issues in both real life and in fictional life. The fact that alcohol and the way someone dresses are absolutely no good reason for sexual assault. The fact that (hurtful) nicknames can really devalue people. I really appreciate how Sarah put it in the story. It didn't feel forced, it felt genuine and needed. Thank you!
jcrit15's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
julie2525's review against another edition
5.0
Sarah MacLean’s novels bring me life. This over the top story is about the “easiest” of the famous Talbot sisters (See: Bombshell). Every Talbot sister is a walking scandal. Attempting to leave (escape) a ball early and catch a ride back to Mayfair, Sophie jumps on the back of a carriage disguised as a footman. The carriage does not go to Mayfair. Instead, Sophie and Eversley stumble through a series of ridiculous shenanigans and obviously end up married.
Tropes: Road Trip, Scandal, Forced Proximity, Heroine disguised as man
Tropes: Road Trip, Scandal, Forced Proximity, Heroine disguised as man
ab98's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.5