Scan barcode
A review by mrsbooknerd
Seven Minutes in Heaven by Eloisa James
3.0
I am struggling so much with this review because I feel like I'm allowing myself to compare 'Seven Minutes in Heaven' with other Eloisa James novels, and it's lowering my rating. Based on this book, I would award a three-star review because it was a good example of a regency-romance. Personally, it just wasn't the excellent regency novel that I expect when I read an Eloisa James. Good for the genre, poor for the author.
The Regency Romance genre is so flooded and while many of them are nice examples, it is a fairly safe genre, so authors like Eloisa James and Julia Quinn, who offer flair and signature writing styles, excite me. But I feel that the last few Eloisa James novels have lacked that flair and instead have become that safe and expected style of so many others out there.
This novel was crammed full of past characters, like their presence was good enough to support the whole book. But I would have preferred more emotion or more humour or more plot to focus on. I haven't read all of the Desperate Duchess books so I didn't have a clue about them or their stories, and really, why would I go back to read them now that they've been detailed in this book? Why can't Ward and Eugenia have a story to themselves without being weighed down by the entrance of random other characters?
Put it this way, I still remember the plot of 'When Beauty Tamed the Beast' and I still recommend it, but in a few weeks if someone asks me about this novel, I'll struggle to recall anything. The most memorable part was the dining room interlude *fans self*.
My favourite aspect of this whole novel was Ward, because although he was a bit of an arse at the end of the novel, his intentions were good and he was super-dooper hot. I loved how unapologetic he was with his attraction to Eugenia. I loved that he genuinely fought for, and cared for, his siblings. The chemistry between Ward and Eugenia was so palpable and flammable and was really wonderful.
Their whole romance though was just kind of undramatic generally, as was their reconciliation. Nothing popped or wowed me really. Eugenia happily grieved for her dead husband for seven years, but didn't fight for Ward when he tried to push her away. No, she donned her proper lady outfit and politely waved him off. I just wanted her to scream and shout and swear at him. At the start, she was swearing like a sailor, and taught Lizzie to do the same. Yet it was never mentioned again. I wanted her to leave the room and scream and curse and swear so that he overheard and knew that she was angry. But he kicked her out, she left, they got back together. No drama or hassle or comedy or tears.
Yes, this was a 'good' regency romance, and totally worth reading for the sparks between Ward and Eugenia, but it wasn't *kisses fingertips dramatically*.
The Regency Romance genre is so flooded and while many of them are nice examples, it is a fairly safe genre, so authors like Eloisa James and Julia Quinn, who offer flair and signature writing styles, excite me. But I feel that the last few Eloisa James novels have lacked that flair and instead have become that safe and expected style of so many others out there.
This novel was crammed full of past characters, like their presence was good enough to support the whole book. But I would have preferred more emotion or more humour or more plot to focus on. I haven't read all of the Desperate Duchess books so I didn't have a clue about them or their stories, and really, why would I go back to read them now that they've been detailed in this book? Why can't Ward and Eugenia have a story to themselves without being weighed down by the entrance of random other characters?
Put it this way, I still remember the plot of 'When Beauty Tamed the Beast' and I still recommend it, but in a few weeks if someone asks me about this novel, I'll struggle to recall anything. The most memorable part was the dining room interlude *fans self*.
My favourite aspect of this whole novel was Ward, because although he was a bit of an arse at the end of the novel, his intentions were good and he was super-dooper hot. I loved how unapologetic he was with his attraction to Eugenia. I loved that he genuinely fought for, and cared for, his siblings. The chemistry between Ward and Eugenia was so palpable and flammable and was really wonderful.
Their whole romance though was just kind of undramatic generally, as was their reconciliation. Nothing popped or wowed me really. Eugenia happily grieved for her dead husband for seven years, but didn't fight for Ward when he tried to push her away. No, she donned her proper lady outfit and politely waved him off. I just wanted her to scream and shout and swear at him. At the start, she was swearing like a sailor, and taught Lizzie to do the same. Yet it was never mentioned again. I wanted her to leave the room and scream and curse and swear so that he overheard and knew that she was angry. But he kicked her out, she left, they got back together. No drama or hassle or comedy or tears.
Yes, this was a 'good' regency romance, and totally worth reading for the sparks between Ward and Eugenia, but it wasn't *kisses fingertips dramatically*.