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kaaeellii's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
wildwolverine's review against another edition
2.0
Deception is the Quick novel that deceived me. I have been on a streak of good Quick novels, and this one had pirates, so it promised to be just as entertaining as the others. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to expectations. Normally, Quick includes a mystery in her novels that must be solved by a tenacious heroine and a brusque, intelligent, and loving hero. Unfortunately, the hero is ridiculous, the heroine an idiot, and the mystery pointless.
The heroine Olympia cares about only one thing: her "research". This research is supposedly about treasure and customs from different cultures around the world. Of course, the implications of this research being based on racist suppositions goes without saying. While this research of hers isn't really explored (thankfully), it was still painful to contemplate. Beyond this, Olympia is completely insipid. She can't tell she is on the verge of being assaulted, and she says multiple times that she cannot be bothered with anything beyond her research, so when Jared starts organizing her household and the education of the three boys she is in charge of, she starts to protest, but really. The woman forgot to pay her own servants. I swear she'd forget to get dressed. She was neither clever nor charming, neither insightful nor sweet. A very uninspiring heroine and the typical "book smart" heroine who has absolutely no common sense and no conversational skills whatsoever.
So, it's a complete shock when Jared just immediately falls in love with her on sight. Aside from his eyepatch, he wasn't a particularly memorable character. He had a propensity to order Olympia around, which annoyed me, and while she would protest, the protest would be swept away in the next chapter. He's a very typical hero for Quick, but usually her heroines will challenge his bossiness and put him in his place, but Olympia seemed like a mockery of a heroine. Her protests held no weight, and so Jared's demands seemed completely reasonable because she was just so flighty.
They mystery is what kept me hanging on, and the promise that they would travel to a remote island to unearth a treasure. I'm sorry to say that the mystery is essentially a red herring, and the story was a whole lot of nothing. I know I'm mostly being hard on the heroine, but I honestly do find the trope of a woman who is book smart but lacks all common sense to be insulting and sexist. The heroine can't be too perfect or readers won't relate to her, but Olympia wasn't really book smart or street smart. She was just stupid, but the universe of Deception really wanted to convince us she was an intelligent and accomplished woman. As a result, this book was really quite dreadful, I'm sorry to say.
The heroine Olympia cares about only one thing: her "research". This research is supposedly about treasure and customs from different cultures around the world. Of course, the implications of this research being based on racist suppositions goes without saying. While this research of hers isn't really explored (thankfully), it was still painful to contemplate. Beyond this, Olympia is completely insipid. She can't tell she is on the verge of being assaulted, and she says multiple times that she cannot be bothered with anything beyond her research, so when Jared starts organizing her household and the education of the three boys she is in charge of, she starts to protest, but really. The woman forgot to pay her own servants. I swear she'd forget to get dressed. She was neither clever nor charming, neither insightful nor sweet. A very uninspiring heroine and the typical "book smart" heroine who has absolutely no common sense and no conversational skills whatsoever.
So, it's a complete shock when Jared just immediately falls in love with her on sight. Aside from his eyepatch, he wasn't a particularly memorable character. He had a propensity to order Olympia around, which annoyed me, and while she would protest, the protest would be swept away in the next chapter. He's a very typical hero for Quick, but usually her heroines will challenge his bossiness and put him in his place, but Olympia seemed like a mockery of a heroine. Her protests held no weight, and so Jared's demands seemed completely reasonable because she was just so flighty.
They mystery is what kept me hanging on, and the promise that they would travel to a remote island to unearth a treasure. I'm sorry to say that the mystery is essentially a red herring, and the story was a whole lot of nothing. I know I'm mostly being hard on the heroine, but I honestly do find the trope of a woman who is book smart but lacks all common sense to be insulting and sexist. The heroine can't be too perfect or readers won't relate to her, but Olympia wasn't really book smart or street smart. She was just stupid, but the universe of Deception really wanted to convince us she was an intelligent and accomplished woman. As a result, this book was really quite dreadful, I'm sorry to say.
laurenjodi's review against another edition
2.0
Deception
2 Stars
Amanda Quick is one of my absolute favorite historical romance authors. Unfortunately, this is not a stellar example of her work; in fact, it is exactly the opposite.
While many of Quick's heroines are eccentric bluestockings, Olympia Wingfield is the first whose naiveté reaches a completely new level of idiocy as she has one TSTL moment after another.
The hero, Jared Ryder, has incredible potential as a disfigured and lonely soul in desperate need of love and companionship. Sadly, his lust at first sight obsession with Olympia is incomprehensible given his characterization as a sensible and logical man as opposed to her scatter-brained nature.
The mystery surrounding the diary that contains clues to a missing treasure is intriguing; however, like the romance, it is underdeveloped and there is little to no tension or suspense involved in the Da Vinci Code like search.
In sum, definitely not one of Quick's better efforts. The romance is downright odd with an ill-suited couple, ridiculously worded sex scenes and a convoluted mystery that is resolved easily and unsatisfactorily. Skip this one and read Ravished instead.
2 Stars
Amanda Quick is one of my absolute favorite historical romance authors. Unfortunately, this is not a stellar example of her work; in fact, it is exactly the opposite.
While many of Quick's heroines are eccentric bluestockings, Olympia Wingfield is the first whose naiveté reaches a completely new level of idiocy as she has one TSTL moment after another.
The hero, Jared Ryder, has incredible potential as a disfigured and lonely soul in desperate need of love and companionship. Sadly, his lust at first sight obsession with Olympia is incomprehensible given his characterization as a sensible and logical man as opposed to her scatter-brained nature.
The mystery surrounding the diary that contains clues to a missing treasure is intriguing; however, like the romance, it is underdeveloped and there is little to no tension or suspense involved in the Da Vinci Code like search.
In sum, definitely not one of Quick's better efforts. The romance is downright odd with an ill-suited couple, ridiculously worded sex scenes and a convoluted mystery that is resolved easily and unsatisfactorily. Skip this one and read Ravished instead.
groovyfrood's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
qwelling4's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
thunguyen's review against another edition
4.0
It's a surprise to myself that I like the book very much by the time I finished it. It didn't start too well, I thought the plot was quite boring at first and was not impressed with the heroine's complete lack of common sense. But there was a good amount of comedy so it was fun to keep reading. And then the later half of the story turns out to be an ok mystery. Subplots and secrets revealed. Both our hero and heroine were just too clever to be true. I like very much the stereotype of our hero, I think he's very unique in the historical romance world.
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Re-read as I couldn't find anything that is perfectly balanced between romance and mystery, plus a lot of fun. I feel like this story could cheer me up any time. Knowing the plots help me better accepting the social tensions that Olympia had to deal with, and I don't find her too silly the 2nd time around. Jared is still the coolest book boyfriend.
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Re-read as I couldn't find anything that is perfectly balanced between romance and mystery, plus a lot of fun. I feel like this story could cheer me up any time. Knowing the plots help me better accepting the social tensions that Olympia had to deal with, and I don't find her too silly the 2nd time around. Jared is still the coolest book boyfriend.
librahero's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rockchick's review against another edition
4.0
Olympia is the romance heroine I love reading about and would love to have as a friend in real life.
She is smart, loyal, adventures.
I loved her thirst for knowledge and dedication and support to the people she loves.
Her attraction to Jared was instant and mutual.
They were so great together.
Olympia may have not traveled the world, but she is a woman of the world and it shows in her actions.
Olympia is wise and daring and I was glad she met Jared so they can be wild together.
She is smart, loyal, adventures.
I loved her thirst for knowledge and dedication and support to the people she loves.
Her attraction to Jared was instant and mutual.
They were so great together.
Olympia may have not traveled the world, but she is a woman of the world and it shows in her actions.
Olympia is wise and daring and I was glad she met Jared so they can be wild together.
sling's review against another edition
2.0
2.49 rounded down to two. Going in the donate pile.
I wasn't really fond of the hero, the heroine, the children the side characters, or the sub-plot. The sub-sub-plot nearly saved it.
I wasn't really fond of the hero, the heroine, the children the side characters, or the sub-plot. The sub-sub-plot nearly saved it.