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A review by jonetta
A Rake's Midnight Kiss by Anna Campbell
4.0
Quick summary
Genevieve Barrett is a bluestocking, secretly the academician behind her father's reputation as an antiquarian. Richard Harmsworth is the heir to his family's legacy but has lived under the cloud of his questionable paternity. Legacy has it that the heir would have possession of the Harmsworth Jewel and Richard believes if he can get it, he'll have earned the legitimacy he's sought for most of his life.
Heart of the story
Richard has confirmed that Genevieve owns the Jewel and he assumes a fake identity to attempt to have her sell or give him the Jewel. Though she doesn't who he is, Genevieve is immediately suspicious of him. She's a confirmed spinster, valuing her independence so she's not receptive of his efforts to disarm her.
What I liked
I really liked Richard, despite his past behavior and his deception. He had a strong appreciation for Genevieve's intellect and fell for her brain as well as her attractiveness. His inevitable seduction was caring and sensual, always thinking of her. I also appreciated their banter as it was clever and engaging. There's also a sinister element to the story that hooked me as soon as it emerged.
What slowed me down
The first half of the story was tough for me to navigate. I've been accustomed to the author's writing style and really liked it. However, this book was overburdened with esoteric metaphors and arcane references that slowed my reading to a crawl. Maybe it was to accommodate the background of the heroine. Fortunately, the second half was really exciting and saved the experience.
The bottom line
The sum of this book's parts made this a really good story. While the first half was troublesome, the second more than overcompensated. It's a great romance with two very interesting characters. I'm enjoying the series and the unconventional issues presented in these regency period romances.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
Genevieve Barrett is a bluestocking, secretly the academician behind her father's reputation as an antiquarian. Richard Harmsworth is the heir to his family's legacy but has lived under the cloud of his questionable paternity. Legacy has it that the heir would have possession of the Harmsworth Jewel and Richard believes if he can get it, he'll have earned the legitimacy he's sought for most of his life.
Heart of the story
Richard has confirmed that Genevieve owns the Jewel and he assumes a fake identity to attempt to have her sell or give him the Jewel. Though she doesn't who he is, Genevieve is immediately suspicious of him. She's a confirmed spinster, valuing her independence so she's not receptive of his efforts to disarm her.
What I liked
I really liked Richard, despite his past behavior and his deception. He had a strong appreciation for Genevieve's intellect and fell for her brain as well as her attractiveness. His inevitable seduction was caring and sensual, always thinking of her. I also appreciated their banter as it was clever and engaging. There's also a sinister element to the story that hooked me as soon as it emerged.
What slowed me down
The first half of the story was tough for me to navigate. I've been accustomed to the author's writing style and really liked it. However, this book was overburdened with esoteric metaphors and arcane references that slowed my reading to a crawl. Maybe it was to accommodate the background of the heroine. Fortunately, the second half was really exciting and saved the experience.
The bottom line
The sum of this book's parts made this a really good story. While the first half was troublesome, the second more than overcompensated. It's a great romance with two very interesting characters. I'm enjoying the series and the unconventional issues presented in these regency period romances.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)