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mefromson's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful story. The characters and cultures clash well, and her defenses take a long time to wear down. I enjoyed the moment that she finds a way to settle the fight with wisdom from her own past, and starts to be respected by the same people who were shunning her for being English in the first place.
sarah_moynihan's review
4.0
Kind of weary about this one. I really, really, didn't like Anna in the second of this series. And Henrietta holds many of the same views and attitude that I disliked in Anna, but to a stronger degree. And worse yet, Henrietta was the major cause of all of Anna's ridiculousness and tediousness. Henreitta was a very flat character and was even a bit of a villain to the story of Anna and Edmond. So needless to say, I'm worried that I'll hate this one. But! Perhaps my low expectaions will allow me to be very pleasantly surprised and love this one. Fingers crossed.
Just like in the book about Anna, we have a husband threatening to take his marital rights without his wife's consent, after promising they would not do that very thing. Come on. I get that this is part and parcel for the time period written, but still. I don't want to read that crap in a book, especially not in two books. How am I supposed to like a character after that? To believe that he is deserving of her trust and love? How would any character be expected to eventually look past such an awful threat?
Granted he's not constantly threatening it like Edmond was. It only happens the once and he seems to realize right after saying it how much of a piece of crap it makes him to be.
So much whiplash. Anna is constantly back and forth about everything. She dislikes a person, then likes them, then is distrustful again. I wouldn't put up with her if I knew her. But these people are apparently more patient than I.
Surprisingly though, Henrietta is SOOO much better than Anna. With Anna, I could't really respect Edmond for putting up with her and I truly didn't believe she deserved him or her happy ending. But Henrietta, who gave Anna all her negative views and mistrust of men, has actual trauma and is less cruel, violent, childish, petty, and provoking than Anna. I actually could see where Henrietta was coming from and I felt that her fears and reactions to her fears were quite appropriate and justified.
Most the time I just felt bad for Connor. He was really kind and caring and didn't deserve the awful treatment that he was getting from all directions. People accusing him of all manner of things and targeting him. Poor guy can't catch a break and all he's trying to do is do right by the greatest amount of people he possibly can.
Even when Connor attempts to defend his wife against Allistar. The next we see of her, she's absolutely furious with him and accusing him of being decietful and betraying those most important to him. How are you going to accept the accusations of his cousin who was literally just seeking to intimidate and threaten you? Accept the accusations of complete strangers who have treated you poorly over your husband, the only person who has a genuine concern for your well-being and happiness and has treated you respectfully in this new and unfamiliar place? Girl, check your logic. Fine, you don't want to be vulnerable, but even from a simple survival stand point, must admit that your logic is backwards. And his cousin is believing that he has betrayed him too! BUT no one will tell him what is going on. You know what, Connor? Forget them, you don't need any of them. You're better than all of them.
But I am happy that things worked out the way they did. I'm glad Henrietta is able to grow as a person and escape the shadow of her demons. That she can start building relationships with other people, instead of keeping herself stranded on her own little island of loneliness and anger. I'm especially glad that things worked out for the best for Connor, that his patience and dependibility paid off.
Henrietta really does grow into a truly respectable and likable character toward the end of the book, I was actually rooting for her. She was kicking ass and taking names, all while expressing emotions and ~feelings.~ So proud.
Now I'm intruiged with Tristan's tale, but that will have to wait until book six in the series, I believe.
Just like in the book about Anna, we have a husband threatening to take his marital rights without his wife's consent, after promising they would not do that very thing. Come on. I get that this is part and parcel for the time period written, but still. I don't want to read that crap in a book, especially not in two books. How am I supposed to like a character after that? To believe that he is deserving of her trust and love? How would any character be expected to eventually look past such an awful threat?
Granted he's not constantly threatening it like Edmond was. It only happens the once and he seems to realize right after saying it how much of a piece of crap it makes him to be.
So much whiplash. Anna is constantly back and forth about everything. She dislikes a person, then likes them, then is distrustful again. I wouldn't put up with her if I knew her. But these people are apparently more patient than I.
Surprisingly though, Henrietta is SOOO much better than Anna. With Anna, I could't really respect Edmond for putting up with her and I truly didn't believe she deserved him or her happy ending. But Henrietta, who gave Anna all her negative views and mistrust of men, has actual trauma and is less cruel, violent, childish, petty, and provoking than Anna. I actually could see where Henrietta was coming from and I felt that her fears and reactions to her fears were quite appropriate and justified.
Most the time I just felt bad for Connor. He was really kind and caring and didn't deserve the awful treatment that he was getting from all directions. People accusing him of all manner of things and targeting him. Poor guy can't catch a break and all he's trying to do is do right by the greatest amount of people he possibly can.
Even when Connor attempts to defend his wife against Allistar. The next we see of her, she's absolutely furious with him and accusing him of being decietful and betraying those most important to him. How are you going to accept the accusations of his cousin who was literally just seeking to intimidate and threaten you? Accept the accusations of complete strangers who have treated you poorly over your husband, the only person who has a genuine concern for your well-being and happiness and has treated you respectfully in this new and unfamiliar place? Girl, check your logic. Fine, you don't want to be vulnerable, but even from a simple survival stand point, must admit that your logic is backwards. And his cousin is believing that he has betrayed him too! BUT no one will tell him what is going on. You know what, Connor? Forget them, you don't need any of them. You're better than all of them.
But I am happy that things worked out the way they did. I'm glad Henrietta is able to grow as a person and escape the shadow of her demons. That she can start building relationships with other people, instead of keeping herself stranded on her own little island of loneliness and anger. I'm especially glad that things worked out for the best for Connor, that his patience and dependibility paid off.
Henrietta really does grow into a truly respectable and likable character toward the end of the book, I was actually rooting for her. She was kicking ass and taking names, all while expressing emotions and ~feelings.~ So proud.
Now I'm intruiged with Tristan's tale, but that will have to wait until book six in the series, I believe.
rani_reeds's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-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
3.25
theweebeast's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this book. I wanted to like Henrietta, but in the end, I found her to be a little too damaged for a compelling romance novel. I thoroughly enjoyed Connor's character; his patience, devotion, and his communication style. What I did feel, however, is that Henrietta didn't deserve him. Harsh perhaps, but it's the truth. A severely tortured heroine was someone I ended up really struggling to root for.
crazychriss93's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this one ;-)
The heroine is very strong and brave even though she doesn't trust herself and rely on herself. Good character development. Awesome feminist, that gal!
The Hero was gorgeous as well. Intent on making amends, correcting his mistake.
The plot was probably my favorite Part <3 Very intricate, not predictable,...
The heroine is very strong and brave even though she doesn't trust herself and rely on herself. Good character development. Awesome feminist, that gal!
The Hero was gorgeous as well. Intent on making amends, correcting his mistake.
The plot was probably my favorite Part <3 Very intricate, not predictable,...
mparkhill's review
4.0
Another enjoyable book in the Second Chance series. This one has a bit of magic in it which makes it enjoyable. In this one, we meet Henrietta again and understand the reason for her fears and anger. Only through love is she able to overcome them.
kristin's review
4.0
I would like to thank the author for providing a free copy of the book.
Wolf is brilliant at looking at really sensitive issues and treating them with the greatest of respect, the issue doesn't just disappear when it becomes inconvenient to the author. I also love the feminist element to her novels.
In this story Henrietta (friend of Anna - book 2) gets her own story. She is married against her will to a Scottish Marquees Connor and together they both learn to fight their deemons.
Wolf is brilliant at looking at really sensitive issues and treating them with the greatest of respect, the issue doesn't just disappear when it becomes inconvenient to the author. I also love the feminist element to her novels.
In this story Henrietta (friend of Anna - book 2) gets her own story. She is married against her will to a Scottish Marquees Connor and together they both learn to fight their deemons.
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