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wellactjoally's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Child out of wedlock. Chickens. Poverty. Polio. Schoolteacher. Wooing via pies and chocolate and books. Making up with hard relationships.
sarah_moynihan's review against another edition
3.0
'Lydia Taylor's roof is leaking, her chickens are out of control, and she can't afford the rent. When her daughter falls ill, the last person she wants knocking at her door is Alfred Lowe. The school teacher's stern scowl makes her feel like he can see through her façade of a respectable widow and judge all her secrets. If he wants to achieve his dream of his own school, Alfred Lowe needs to marry a wealthy lady. But he's drawn to the enigmatic Lydia Taylor, and the illness of her daughter makes him realize how important she is to him. The injustice of the greedy landlord, or a dirty chicken house, he'll take on anything for her.
As the crisis of Annie Taylor's illness deepens, Alfred woos Lydia with chocolate, savory pies, flowers, and novels. But the past creeps into the present, casting a long shadow. They must choose whether they can love, despite the risk to everything they've ever wanted.'
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Once a Fallen Lady is the second book in Eve Pendle's Fallen Lady series and is a historical romance.
This book was pretty good, there was nothing wrong with it. And everyone else seemed to really love it, but I just felt like I knew eveything that was going to happen. The characters were all very sweet and I sympathized with them, but nothing surprised me.
I don't really have much to say about this book. It a good read, it will hold your attention, and it's a sweet story. But it just felt like other books with a similiar plot, so I'm only giving it 3 stars, nothing really stood out to me.
This is a novella, totaling under 200 oages, so it's a really fast read. You can read it in one sitting. And although it is the second in a series, it serves as a stand-alone and you do not need to have read the first in the series beforehand.
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I read this book with my Kindle Unlimited membership.
As the crisis of Annie Taylor's illness deepens, Alfred woos Lydia with chocolate, savory pies, flowers, and novels. But the past creeps into the present, casting a long shadow. They must choose whether they can love, despite the risk to everything they've ever wanted.'
__________________________________
Once a Fallen Lady is the second book in Eve Pendle's Fallen Lady series and is a historical romance.
This book was pretty good, there was nothing wrong with it. And everyone else seemed to really love it, but I just felt like I knew eveything that was going to happen. The characters were all very sweet and I sympathized with them, but nothing surprised me.
I don't really have much to say about this book. It a good read, it will hold your attention, and it's a sweet story. But it just felt like other books with a similiar plot, so I'm only giving it 3 stars, nothing really stood out to me.
This is a novella, totaling under 200 oages, so it's a really fast read. You can read it in one sitting. And although it is the second in a series, it serves as a stand-alone and you do not need to have read the first in the series beforehand.
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I read this book with my Kindle Unlimited membership.
tessisreading2's review against another edition
4.0
Victorian-era romance between a mild-mannered schoolteacher and a widowed mother with a secret (she’s not really a widow). Pendle writes with a strong sense of place and time - this feels like a realistic Victorian England, about realistic people with realistic problems - while at the same time neatly side-stepping a lot of the issues of the era. (Am I a little skeptical about Alfred's sheer perfection? Yes. Yes, I am. Did I love it anyway? Yes. Yes, I did.) Content warning for serious illness of a child.
maisyreads1817's review against another edition
4.0
Short and sweet but still managed to develop characters well. Was brilliant to see this characters story after reading the previous book. The Polio stuff was a bit off but the authors note acknowledges that and she’s right it would have been very depressing if it was more accurate and that wasn’t what I was here for. This definitely continued the feelings of the first book so definitely read that one first.
girlwithhearteyes's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
Historical romance about a single mother who has a sick child and is trying to get by despite a leaking roof and exorbitant rents, and the school teacher who is a bit stoic but just wants ease her troubles and woo her with chocolates.
This was slower-paced than I usually prefer, but I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The story was really sweet and focussed a lot on domestic moments rather than big drama. There was still drama, but I’d call it ‘quiet drama’. The plot was well-constructed, didn’t rely on (any?) tropes, and I really liked Eve Pendle’s writing style.
One nitpick: I didn’t love how the money troubles were resolved, because it felt like a side character signalled to be the villain didn’t end up being that villainous. But that choice made more sense after I realised who the main characters in the first book were.
Historical romance about a single mother who has a sick child and is trying to get by despite a leaking roof and exorbitant rents, and the school teacher who is a bit stoic but just wants ease her troubles and woo her with chocolates.
This was slower-paced than I usually prefer, but I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The story was really sweet and focussed a lot on domestic moments rather than big drama. There was still drama, but I’d call it ‘quiet drama’. The plot was well-constructed, didn’t rely on (any?) tropes, and I really liked Eve Pendle’s writing style.
One nitpick: I didn’t love how the money troubles were resolved, because it felt like a side character signalled to be the villain didn’t end up being that villainous. But that choice made more sense after I realised who the main characters in the first book were.
janina_augustine's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
briarsreviews's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
Once a Fallen Lady by Eve Pendle is the historical romance book I have been patiently waiting for.
Annie's polio makes it hard on her single other Lydia, but don't worry too much loyal readers... Alfred Lowe, Annie's school professor, comes to the rescue. Alfred and Lydia hit it off and a beautiful romance begins to bloom. But, the rent is too high and continues to climb, and Lydia's ex-husband is a wee bit of a mysterious issue... Things will get messy, but you know they always turn out great in the end.
I love getting SO lucky with romance books that I'm able to deep dive into them and disappear from the world in an epic binge. This book was such a lovely read and it pulled at all the heart strings. Organic romance that will give you shivers, a shocking scheme that will blow your mind, and a relationship that blooms so naturally you'll be begging for more. I honestly loved Eve Pendle's writing! It can be really hard to write an engaging historical romance without the political nonsense, and Eve made it perfect.
I want to read more by Eve Pendle. This book is a must read and so far one of my faves of 2022.
Four out of five stars.
I received this book for free from the author, Eve Pendle, in exchange for an honest review.
Annie's polio makes it hard on her single other Lydia, but don't worry too much loyal readers... Alfred Lowe, Annie's school professor, comes to the rescue. Alfred and Lydia hit it off and a beautiful romance begins to bloom. But, the rent is too high and continues to climb, and Lydia's ex-husband is a wee bit of a mysterious issue... Things will get messy, but you know they always turn out great in the end.
I love getting SO lucky with romance books that I'm able to deep dive into them and disappear from the world in an epic binge. This book was such a lovely read and it pulled at all the heart strings. Organic romance that will give you shivers, a shocking scheme that will blow your mind, and a relationship that blooms so naturally you'll be begging for more. I honestly loved Eve Pendle's writing! It can be really hard to write an engaging historical romance without the political nonsense, and Eve made it perfect.
I want to read more by Eve Pendle. This book is a must read and so far one of my faves of 2022.
Four out of five stars.
I received this book for free from the author, Eve Pendle, in exchange for an honest review.
readingrosiee's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 star rounded up
Lydia is living in a small town either her daughter Annie. One day she is late for school and runs into the new school teacher Mr Lowle.
After 2 years, Annie gets sick and Mr Alfred Lowe starts making visits to check on Annie. Over the course of a few weeks, he tends to Lydia and Annie, bring books, sweets, and pie. But what he doesn’t know is Lydia has a secret that could ruin everything she’s built in the last 10 years.
There are some things I liked about the ONCE A FALLEN LADY but most I didn’t.
I liked:
1. The working class setting - it’s rare to read a book focused on the working class in the 1800s. Usually it’s dukes and earls. So that was really refreshing.
2. Lydia’s strength and determination to make a good life for her and her daughter. She’s built a really special place for them.
What I didn’t like:
1. Mr. Lowe has been infatuated with Lydia for 2 years- but we never know it. There wasn’t much ground work for the story.
2. The choppiness. It was very matter of fact and seemed to miss the finer detail of romance.
Would I recommended it? Probably not. But maybe that’s just me.
Lydia is living in a small town either her daughter Annie. One day she is late for school and runs into the new school teacher Mr Lowle.
After 2 years, Annie gets sick and Mr Alfred Lowe starts making visits to check on Annie. Over the course of a few weeks, he tends to Lydia and Annie, bring books, sweets, and pie. But what he doesn’t know is Lydia has a secret that could ruin everything she’s built in the last 10 years.
There are some things I liked about the ONCE A FALLEN LADY but most I didn’t.
I liked:
1. The working class setting - it’s rare to read a book focused on the working class in the 1800s. Usually it’s dukes and earls. So that was really refreshing.
2. Lydia’s strength and determination to make a good life for her and her daughter. She’s built a really special place for them.
What I didn’t like:
1. Mr. Lowe has been infatuated with Lydia for 2 years- but we never know it. There wasn’t much ground work for the story.
2. The choppiness. It was very matter of fact and seemed to miss the finer detail of romance.
Would I recommended it? Probably not. But maybe that’s just me.
aheadofthenight's review against another edition
4.0
At about 1/3 of the book, I enjoyed it so far. Had been very curious about Lydia and Alfred's backgrounds and how their romance would blossom.
Lydia has a child who is suddenly struck with polio. They are already living in genteel poverty as it is so a sick child would make it worse. Where would she get money to treat her? Anyhow, Alfred first checked in on Annie when she was absent from school. Then it snowballed (slowly) from there.
One thing about the book is that the author has her characters examine their own feelings and this is very good.
I think my expectations have been missing the right spots but all is well in the end and I am glad that the three of them are happy. A solid romance with a historical setting.
There is a connection with [b:Falling for a Rake|45730308|Falling for a Rake|Eve Pendle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1557739267l/45730308._SY75_.jpg|70523537] where you will find the father of Annie is... the hero of Faling for a Rake. He is remorseful and realises that he should have done more before.
There's a side plot where the baronet's agent is skimming the rent money by charging extra.
Note: I received a free copy via Romance Rehab and Romance Remedy.
Lydia has a child who is suddenly struck with polio. They are already living in genteel poverty as it is so a sick child would make it worse. Where would she get money to treat her? Anyhow, Alfred first checked in on Annie when she was absent from school. Then it snowballed (slowly) from there.
One thing about the book is that the author has her characters examine their own feelings and this is very good.
I think my expectations have been missing the right spots but all is well in the end and I am glad that the three of them are happy. A solid romance with a historical setting.
Note: I received a free copy via Romance Rehab and Romance Remedy.