alisonb's review against another edition
4.0
****SPOILER AHEAD****
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I really enjoyed this story. It mainly focuses on Bentley Rutledge and his coming to terms with a dark past.
A dissolute rake, Bentley has a devil may care kind of attitude towards life. Frederica’s character acts as the catalyst that helps break down Bentley’s walls so that he can begin to heal.
The tension of the story kept me intrigued. I would have liked more for Frederica. She was 18 years old, pregnant, and inexperienced in many ways. There is a lot of pressure for her to make a marriage work and for her to help Bentley. He is a twenty-seven year old man with a dark history of almost everything under the sun.
I would have liked to see a bit more focus on her by Bentley. At the same time, I understand that his abuse stands in the way of his being emotionally available to her until he breaks free.
Reading previous books in this series will help you to understand the secondary characters and past events, otherwise you might find yourself a bit lost.
TW: sexual abuse
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I really enjoyed this story. It mainly focuses on Bentley Rutledge and his coming to terms with a dark past.
A dissolute rake, Bentley has a devil may care kind of attitude towards life. Frederica’s character acts as the catalyst that helps break down Bentley’s walls so that he can begin to heal.
The tension of the story kept me intrigued. I would have liked more for Frederica. She was 18 years old, pregnant, and inexperienced in many ways. There is a lot of pressure for her to make a marriage work and for her to help Bentley. He is a twenty-seven year old man with a dark history of almost everything under the sun.
I would have liked to see a bit more focus on her by Bentley. At the same time, I understand that his abuse stands in the way of his being emotionally available to her until he breaks free.
Reading previous books in this series will help you to understand the secondary characters and past events, otherwise you might find yourself a bit lost.
TW: sexual abuse
smithrachaelynn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Wow. This was such an incredible read! I’m completely surprised.
What I liked:
What I liked:
- Bentley! I loved that we got to know him in layers. First we see the unserious rake, then the boy that doesn’t belong, then the dangerous gamester, then the soft-hearted family man. He was so beautifully written and by the end my heart could hardly take anymore.
- The romance, this is probably the best I’ve seen lust to love before. It was done so well that I could see the moments things started shifting in their relationship.
- Which leads me to the writing! It seemed so effortless while I was reading. But there were so many choices the author made to endear you to characters and pull your heart into the story. Just done so so well.
What I didn’t like:
- More of the pregnancy, that’s the whole reason I found this book actually! I was looking for pregnancy in romance and had this recommended. We see into Freddie’s fourth-ish month of pregnancy I think. I found myself wishing that the ending hadn’t skipped so much between the last chapter and the epilogue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Vomit, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Rape, and Sexual content
One of the characters was repeatedly sexually abused as a child and it becomes a big part of their development to face the effects of that.lucy_qhuay's review against another edition
3.0
Well, this book would sure have more stars if it weren't for some things that I found absolutely ridiculous.
First, I cannot possibly believe that a woman, even a 18-year-old gently bred lady, would have no idea that by having sex she could get pregnant! o.O
Frederica was a young, respectful lady and then she decided to have sex with rogue Bentley "Hell-Bent" Rutledge and then when she knew she was pregnant she was all "How would I know that I would get pregnant? I couldn't possibly know that this was going to happen!".
This is incredibly ridiculous! -.-
In the first place, I have some difficulty to believe that such gentle, respectful lady would risk ruin and humiliation for one night of "debauchery" in the arms of a man that she knows is almost the king of rogues.
This is a lot to take in!
Then, and though I was horrified with Bentley's past, I found it so annoying that he was all "It was my fault! I'm wicked! I'm depraved! Huh, I'm the devil!".
Dammit!! Since when a child that is abused is the responsible for the abuses? o.O
And all that "Oh, I hated it but my body liked it! I knew what I was doing!" Bull!!
We all know that faced with certain situations our body has certain responses but that doesn't mean that we like what is being done to us or that we are willing. For God's sake!
First, I cannot possibly believe that a woman, even a 18-year-old gently bred lady, would have no idea that by having sex she could get pregnant! o.O
Frederica was a young, respectful lady and then she decided to have sex with rogue Bentley "Hell-Bent" Rutledge and then when she knew she was pregnant she was all "How would I know that I would get pregnant? I couldn't possibly know that this was going to happen!".
This is incredibly ridiculous! -.-
In the first place, I have some difficulty to believe that such gentle, respectful lady would risk ruin and humiliation for one night of "debauchery" in the arms of a man that she knows is almost the king of rogues.
This is a lot to take in!
Then, and though I was horrified with Bentley's past, I found it so annoying that he was all "It was my fault! I'm wicked! I'm depraved! Huh, I'm the devil!".
Dammit!! Since when a child that is abused is the responsible for the abuses? o.O
And all that "Oh, I hated it but my body liked it! I knew what I was doing!" Bull!!
We all know that faced with certain situations our body has certain responses but that doesn't mean that we like what is being done to us or that we are willing. For God's sake!
bloom37's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
3.0
nononanette's review against another edition
4.0
Bentley, the notorious but charming younger son and Frederica. Unusually deep for the genre. Primarily a character study, an exploration of the power of the past to shape one’s life and the need to confront it in order to have a future.
Carlyle’s story departs from the typical “forced marriage” plot in that it is a psychological study of a truly tortured hero. Bentley’s tense relationship with his brother, his disastrous excesses, his underlying pain all stem from the past and he must confront his demons if he is to find happiness with Freddie. When the truth finally comes out, it makes sense of all of Bentley’s reckless and self-destructive behavior.
Freddie is almost as interesting a character as Bentley. She may be young, but her unusual life and circumstances have given her wisdom beyond her years. Her choices - first to refuse Bentley and then to accept the devil she knows - show her maturity and good sense. She also is the catalyst who forces Bentley to face the past. She is a good match for a complex hero.
Carlyle’s story departs from the typical “forced marriage” plot in that it is a psychological study of a truly tortured hero. Bentley’s tense relationship with his brother, his disastrous excesses, his underlying pain all stem from the past and he must confront his demons if he is to find happiness with Freddie. When the truth finally comes out, it makes sense of all of Bentley’s reckless and self-destructive behavior.
Freddie is almost as interesting a character as Bentley. She may be young, but her unusual life and circumstances have given her wisdom beyond her years. Her choices - first to refuse Bentley and then to accept the devil she knows - show her maturity and good sense. She also is the catalyst who forces Bentley to face the past. She is a good match for a complex hero.
sewcialist_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
Heavy on emotions. More character study than plot driven. An interesting historical. Worth the read.
juliana_caterin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
4.0
abbythompson's review against another edition
4.0
I have been waiting for Bentley's story since he was introduced! What an interesting, complex, fascinating character. I loved his contradictions - the ultimate bad boy with a heart of gold. His past trauma made sense of his later actions, as did his confusion and reluctance to understand what happened.
Pairing up Bentley with Freddie, who we met in Carlyle's first novel My False Heart was a stroke of linking genius. I loved seeing Freddie all grown up and standing up for herself. Her compassion and fears were genuinely motivated and consistent throughout Carlyle's novels.
I worry, though, that Carlyle is getting a little sloppy. The writer's tics were present and there was a lot more "telling" rather than "showing." A good example is the repeated explanation that Freddie is an orphan and so family and home are very important to her. I'm not sure we really needed Bentley to tell us that. It was also unclear if it was meant for the readers or as a personal realization for Bentley.
Anyways, in the end, the story was hot, steamy, sweet and fun.
Pairing up Bentley with Freddie, who we met in Carlyle's first novel My False Heart was a stroke of linking genius. I loved seeing Freddie all grown up and standing up for herself. Her compassion and fears were genuinely motivated and consistent throughout Carlyle's novels.
I worry, though, that Carlyle is getting a little sloppy. The writer's tics were present and there was a lot more "telling" rather than "showing." A good example is the repeated explanation that Freddie is an orphan and so family and home are very important to her. I'm not sure we really needed Bentley to tell us that. It was also unclear if it was meant for the readers or as a personal realization for Bentley.
Anyways, in the end, the story was hot, steamy, sweet and fun.
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
Frederica d'Avillez is positive she's never going to get married. She's illegitimate and didn't "take" in her first season. Now, her safety option, Johnny, has informed her that he's marrying his cousin.
Bentley Rutledge is positive he's never going to get married. He's mad and bad and a womanizer. Besides, he doesn't want to.
But when Freddie, a girl he's only noticed is a woman, comes home upset when he's just come in drunk, he can't stop her advances. He tries several times (despite saying he's not a gentleman) but he ends up deflowering the virgin. He knows that he has to do the right thing and writes a note that ends up blowing out the window when he makes his escape.
Freddie's family wants her to get married when they find out she's pregnant. But when she protests, they plan instead for her to take a long trip putting out the word that she's getting married to a distant cousin. Bentley is aghast. He's the one who took her virginity, Freddie should be marrying him! So he demands his rights and then whisks her off to Chalcote, the family seat. He hates it there but isn't really sure why. They'll have to work through the ghosts of his past in order to get ready for their future.
Bentley Rutledge is positive he's never going to get married. He's mad and bad and a womanizer. Besides, he doesn't want to.
But when Freddie, a girl he's only noticed is a woman, comes home upset when he's just come in drunk, he can't stop her advances. He tries several times (despite saying he's not a gentleman) but he ends up deflowering the virgin. He knows that he has to do the right thing and writes a note that ends up blowing out the window when he makes his escape.
Freddie's family wants her to get married when they find out she's pregnant. But when she protests, they plan instead for her to take a long trip putting out the word that she's getting married to a distant cousin. Bentley is aghast. He's the one who took her virginity, Freddie should be marrying him! So he demands his rights and then whisks her off to Chalcote, the family seat. He hates it there but isn't really sure why. They'll have to work through the ghosts of his past in order to get ready for their future.