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sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy and Sexual content
Minor: Vomit, Suicide, Homophobia, Gaslighting, and Death of parent
ahenrybitch's review against another edition
4.5
This was good, but I adore Ravishing the Heiress. RH has a slow burn, unrequited love, and its all tension- which is my favorite shit. But Beguiling the Beauty was a quick read and I got to see snippets of Millie and Fitz so overall… good. I still have no interest in reading more about Helena and Hastings though.
knitnetic's review against another edition
2.0
As much as I loved the sequel (Ravishing the Heiress) to this book, I really should have trusted myself when I read the cover copy and said, "Huh, that doesn't sound so good." As indicated on the back of the book, this story revolves around Fitz' older sister, the amazingly beautiful Venetia, and wealthy lord-turned-scientist the Duke of Lexington. After getting fuming mad at the Duke, Venetia decides to seduce him and leave him in an attempt to make him feel as angry as she does.
I should state up front that I generally dislike "revenge sex" plot lines. They often make me feel as though neither character is a particularly good person, and that, as a result, they don't really deserve the happy ending they get. Yet, after loving the characters in the sequel so much, I thought I'd go ahead and give this book a try, in spite of my misgivings. That was a mistake.
My first issue with the book was that I didn't really believe the reasons for Venetia's ire. Yes, I would probably be angry too -- maybe even angry enough to, say, confront him directly? But angry enough to wear a veil for a week, ditch my relatives, and jump on an ocean liner? Um, no, probably not. The fact that this was her way of punishing him sort of made Venetia seem like exactly the woman he described.
Furthermore, the "intimacy" between Lexington and Venetia was less than satisfactory. I found myself highlighting multiple passages during their sex scenes that I found really disturbing -- one of the worst being when Lexington's "don't cheat me, that was not a kiss" (102), when Venetia is trying to pull away from him. He continually implies that she somehow owes him sex, intimacy, and, eventually, love. He is also apparently a god in the bedroom, as he is regularly ready to go 3 or 4 times in a night, and she almost always climaxes instantly and continually. Right....
Additionally, the storyline really seemed like overkill. You see it coming as early as page 68, and from then until roughly page 205, when it is confirmed, I kept hoping it wouldn't happen. The storyline is overused and really makes Venetia seem naïve (at best) or downright stupid (at worst). It just seemed like another conflict to be piled upon a stack of conflicts.
Finally, this book seemed a lot longer than it needed to be. I'm sure that's partially due to the fact that I wasn't enjoying it from about page 30 onward. Yet, it really seemed like the book was ready to end around page 225.
So, I've clearly learned a good lesson here -- trust yourself to know your tastes. I really hoped that since it was written by an author I like as part of a series I've otherwise loved, all would be well. But...nope. Just didn't work for me. I know there are some who've loved this book, and I am sincerely glad of that. But I'm just not one of them.
I should state up front that I generally dislike "revenge sex" plot lines. They often make me feel as though neither character is a particularly good person, and that, as a result, they don't really deserve the happy ending they get. Yet, after loving the characters in the sequel so much, I thought I'd go ahead and give this book a try, in spite of my misgivings. That was a mistake.
My first issue with the book was that I didn't really believe the reasons for Venetia's ire.
Spoiler
While at a speech given by the Duke, he anonymously describes her as a money-grubbing beauty who led to the demise of her first husband.Furthermore, the "intimacy" between Lexington and Venetia was less than satisfactory. I found myself highlighting multiple passages during their sex scenes that I found really disturbing -- one of the worst being when Lexington's "don't cheat me, that was not a kiss" (102), when Venetia is trying to pull away from him. He continually implies that she somehow owes him sex, intimacy, and, eventually, love. He is also apparently a god in the bedroom, as he is regularly ready to go 3 or 4 times in a night, and she almost always climaxes instantly and continually. Right....
Additionally, the
Spoiler
pregnancyFinally, this book seemed a lot longer than it needed to be. I'm sure that's partially due to the fact that I wasn't enjoying it from about page 30 onward. Yet, it really seemed like the book was ready to end around page 225.
Spoiler
If Venetia had simply shown up to dinner and they had both acted like grown adults, there would have been no need for the cliché pregnancy storyline or the unloving marriage.So, I've clearly learned a good lesson here -- trust yourself to know your tastes. I really hoped that since it was written by an author I like as part of a series I've otherwise loved, all would be well. But...nope. Just didn't work for me. I know there are some who've loved this book, and I am sincerely glad of that. But I'm just not one of them.
surejan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Sherry Thomas is a skilled writer. The premise is fairly outrageous, but her descriptions and pacing keep things sounding logical and not as ludicrous as it could be. I read the second book of this series first, so it was fun to go back and see how Venetia and Christian got together. On to the third book!
rachlloyd's review against another edition
Imagine being so pretty everyone’s initial reaction to you is to offer marriage…including members of the church.
onlyonebookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
selazem's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
cwerber's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
adeselnaferreira's review against another edition
1.0
Plot was predictable and the female character was dumb! Oh let me make him fall in love with me so I can have my revenge. Bitch, you grab a gun and have revenge with a bullet in his head!
nmcchristy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0