retiring2read's review
4.0
3.5 stars. This book started out very strong. We have a smart and sassy heroine who would rather be a spinster than marry for social conventions. She is an intelligent woman who speaks her mind. Add in one of "The Hellions", Ash, known for his carousing and adventures. Put them into "The Nightingale", an establishment where women wear masks and choose men for anonymous trysts. ~She may end up a spinster, but Minerva is determined to have one sensual sexual experience before accepting her fate. ~
The writing is solid, the dialogue is wonderful and I loved Minerva. However, the middle dragged on a bit. There were a few missed opportunities for interesting twists and turns, particularly around Minerva's alter ego, that would have helped with the pacing.
I read the book and listened to the audio. While the voice on audio was fine, there was little differentiation between the characters in the dialogue. I preferred the physical read.
Timeline/Setting: Regency, England
Tropes: Spinster, Hidden Identity
Warnings/Problematic Content:None
The writing is solid, the dialogue is wonderful and I loved Minerva. However, the middle dragged on a bit. There were a few missed opportunities for interesting twists and turns, particularly around Minerva's alter ego, that would have helped with the pacing.
I read the book and listened to the audio. While the voice on audio was fine, there was little differentiation between the characters in the dialogue. I preferred the physical read.
Timeline/Setting: Regency, England
Tropes: Spinster, Hidden Identity
Warnings/Problematic Content:None
ksaeng's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
haewilya's review
4.0
I was hesistant to read it at first because I thought it will go the usual way - heroine likes having sex with hero so much that she falls in love with him. Not my favorite trope, obviously. But this was a pleasant surprise, and their relationship evolved more because of their conversation, imo, than their intimate encounters. There a miniscule dick move there at the end but it was so small and didn't push through that it didn't blight the rest of the book for me. Too bad the premise of the next book inn the series is one of my most hated trope so I won't be able to read it (and get a glimpse of Ashe and Minerva again)
stephaduck's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kellycoburn37's review
5.0
I’ve been reading a lot more historical romance recently and this one definitely stands out in my mind. I adored this book and this couple. I couldn’t put this book down.
I loved the idea of a spinster trying to make her last hurrah and meeting someone special. Plus, add in the perfectly scarred and emotionally unavailable Ashe and I become obsessed. I also adored the photography aspect of this! It felt really unexpected and fantastic.
I loved the idea of a spinster trying to make her last hurrah and meeting someone special. Plus, add in the perfectly scarred and emotionally unavailable Ashe and I become obsessed. I also adored the photography aspect of this! It felt really unexpected and fantastic.
stephaduck's review against another edition
3.0
randomly selected and turned on the audiobook for this to fall asleep and wow i did not know what i was signing up for. i was closing my eyes to take a nap and turned on the book and it opens with a train explosion that orphans the male lead. then he grows up and part of his trauma response is that now he has a foot and leg fetish. this is explained by him as him being attracted to body parts that help him push out the image of “charred” and “mangled” dead bodies from the train explosion. obviously no therapy or processing his feelings so now he’s a foot leg and ankle guy and photographs women’s legs to cope with his trauma. when he got the female lead an anklet as a token of his affection I cheered. everyone knows trauma and intrusive thoughts go away when you meet a lovely lady with perfect gams.
I was annoyed that the female lead Minerva was constantly using negative self talk throughout the entire story. while she is confident in parts of herself, I was frustrated with how often she talked about how men didnt find her attractive. I don’t enjoy when someone puts so much of their self esteem on the perception of men. and she knows that a lot of these men are trash anyways!! Her lack of self confidence is only really remedied by a man being attracted to her. I wish her confidence came from within herself! nonetheless I found her fun and chaotic. people do crazy things when they’re horny
Anyways I ate this up and listened to it in like 2 days and now I’m onto the next in the series. this is the exact type of chaos I enjoy in this genre. 3.25 stars
P.S. lord ashebury would’ve loved wikifeet. bummer to live before the internet
I was annoyed that the female lead Minerva was constantly using negative self talk throughout the entire story. while she is confident in parts of herself, I was frustrated with how often she talked about how men didnt find her attractive. I don’t enjoy when someone puts so much of their self esteem on the perception of men. and she knows that a lot of these men are trash anyways!! Her lack of self confidence is only really remedied by a man being attracted to her. I wish her confidence came from within herself! nonetheless I found her fun and chaotic. people do crazy things when they’re horny
Anyways I ate this up and listened to it in like 2 days and now I’m onto the next in the series. this is the exact type of chaos I enjoy in this genre. 3.25 stars
P.S. lord ashebury would’ve loved wikifeet. bummer to live before the internet
_floo_'s review against another edition
4.0
reading historical romances will forever take me back to being 15 years old and my mom finally allowing me to read the 100+ books she had in this genre
thanys_thoughts's review
4.0
This is about Minerva and Ashe. I liked Minerva as a character. She knew what she wanted, independent, and felt she was worth love despite being a spinster. And I loved that about her. Ashe was an orphan, raised by a madman grieving over his wife, and struggled with PTSD over the train wreck (that he wasn't in? I wasn't sure about that storyline). He struggles with a learn disability of dyscalculia (not able to read numbers), but it doesn't make an appearance until well 50% into the book. I liked the connection between the two of them.
I liked some of the modern issues brought up (women being allowed sexual experiences, modesty in clothing). The thought the steam was tame for being in a sex club (but that might be because I was reading a much spicier historical at the same time). I did think Ashe needed to grovel more and Minerva forgave him too easily.
The audiobook was good. But the epilogue was randomly voiced by a male narrator at the end. I wish he had voiced Ashe's perspective throughout.
I definitely am intrigued by Edward's book though. I'm hoping its like When He was Wicked by Julia Quinn vibes.
I liked some of the modern issues brought up (women being allowed sexual experiences, modesty in clothing). The thought the steam was tame for being in a sex club (but that might be because I was reading a much spicier historical at the same time). I did think Ashe needed to grovel more and Minerva forgave him too easily.
The audiobook was good. But the epilogue was randomly voiced by a male narrator at the end. I wish he had voiced Ashe's perspective throughout.
I definitely am intrigued by Edward's book though. I'm hoping its like When He was Wicked by Julia Quinn vibes.
hm08's review
3.0
3.5 stars
I adored the first half (which was a solid 5 stars), but the second half let me down. Ashe's deception went on for too long and I didn't buy his "grovel" at all. Minerva deserved more :')
I adored the first half (which was a solid 5 stars), but the second half let me down. Ashe's deception went on for too long and I didn't buy his "grovel" at all. Minerva deserved more :')