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katdid'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? It's complicated
4.0
Enjoyed this more than book #3, even though he was kind of a dick to Lily/Lilah in that book I liked Nick a lot in this one (and way more than Christian/Kit, the MMC in #3) although he still did some highly dickish things. Catherine was surprisingly likeable! Also she has a rough time of it! Kidnapped by a lunatic with a grudge in book #3; kidnapped away into an asylum by her brother in this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism and Kidnapping
juliereadsromance's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
jackiehorne's review against another edition
3.0
Two in a row now from Duran that have left me feeling unsatisfied. Again, we have a pretty conventional (at least as far as Victorian historical romance goes) plot and characters: Catherine Everleigh, half owner of Everleigh's Auction House, needs to marry in order to keep her shifty brother from selling the concern out from under her. Hoping to hire the disreputable uncle of her former employee to convince brother dearest to do otherwise, she summons Nicholas O'Shea to do her bidding. But O'Shea, who worked his way up to be the ruler of Whitechapel and three other London parishes, isn't one to be summoned, or told what to do.
But when the two discover they have a mutual enemy, and mutual goals, they decide to work together. And Catherine proposes that they marry, with a strict contract granting her rights to run the auction house, and the right to divorce O'Shea after five years. Of course, the two end up having the hots for each other, in spite of their intentions not to sleep together again after consummating the marriage...
And of course, it turns out that the criminal boss O'Shea is a pretty good guy, only looking out for his peeps in Whitechapel. Significantly, we don't ever see him committing any crime, nor hear of any crime being committed that isn't justified by protecting himself or others, during this book (although he behaved pretty cruelly to his niece in the earlier LADY BE GOOD in this series). Amazing how those gambling den owners and crime lords don't ever really commit any crimes to get where they are in historical romance, isn't it?
I did find Nick's radical talk about the whys and wherefores of the differences between rich and poor compelling, though, and I especially appreciated Catherine's urging him to enter politics in order to try and change said whys and wherefores through legal channels, rather than just criminally circumventing them.
The black moment centers around whether Nick will allow Catherine the respect and freedom she demands and whether he will lower himself to beg her to be his wife in truth. Can't say that I found the resolution of these two stumbling blocks to their romance at all appealing, particularly from a feminist point of view:. That Duran succumbed to the overly tired formula mentioned in said spoiler was a HUGE disappointment.
But when the two discover they have a mutual enemy, and mutual goals, they decide to work together. And Catherine proposes that they marry, with a strict contract granting her rights to run the auction house, and the right to divorce O'Shea after five years. Of course, the two end up having the hots for each other, in spite of their intentions not to sleep together again after consummating the marriage...
And of course, it turns out that the criminal boss O'Shea is a pretty good guy, only looking out for his peeps in Whitechapel. Significantly, we don't ever see him committing any crime, nor hear of any crime being committed that isn't justified by protecting himself or others, during this book (although he behaved pretty cruelly to his niece in the earlier LADY BE GOOD in this series). Amazing how those gambling den owners and crime lords don't ever really commit any crimes to get where they are in historical romance, isn't it?
I did find Nick's radical talk about the whys and wherefores of the differences between rich and poor compelling, though, and I especially appreciated Catherine's urging him to enter politics in order to try and change said whys and wherefores through legal channels, rather than just criminally circumventing them.
The black moment centers around whether Nick will allow Catherine the respect and freedom she demands and whether he will lower himself to beg her to be his wife in truth. Can't say that I found the resolution of these two stumbling blocks to their romance at all appealing, particularly from a feminist point of view:
Spoiler
somehow, a man's right to keep his loved ones safe always trumps a woman's right to make her own decisionsbookshelf1792's review
3.0
This was ok. I like Nick and there was a very thrilling, suspenseful stretch that was really great. I felt a bit bogged down by the politics though and felt it a bit slow going. I also just don’t buy into their love. I do like that they challenged each other but I didn’t feel the pull.
dewey007's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The stars are for Nick and Nick only.
sofyy1102's review against another edition
3.0
I swear, thanks to this book I'm about to create a new bookself: annoying main character.
I fucking hate spoiled brats, and that's exactly what the heroine of this book is. The only thing that made this book slightly enjoyable was the occasional witty dialogue.
Should I call this new bookself: main character I want to strangle?
I fucking hate spoiled brats, and that's exactly what the heroine of this book is. The only thing that made this book slightly enjoyable was the occasional witty dialogue.
Should I call this new bookself: main character I want to strangle?
girlwithhearteyes's review
5.0
5 stars
Wow, why did I put off reading a Meredith Duran book until now?? This was fantastic.
Nick is a crime lord, Catherine is a business-minded heiress, and circumstances bring them together in a marriage of convenience (my favourite trope!) that quickly becomes very passionate. Seriously, the passion between them. 🥵
I loved the their dynamic — Nick and Catherine are from very different worlds, but they also *see* each other and respect what the other person has achieved. I got Meredith Bancroft and Matthew Farrell vibes (IYKYK).
The storytelling was stellar — parts felt quite sinister, but everything was well paced and came together at the end.
I gobbled this up.
Wow, why did I put off reading a Meredith Duran book until now?? This was fantastic.
Nick is a crime lord, Catherine is a business-minded heiress, and circumstances bring them together in a marriage of convenience (my favourite trope!) that quickly becomes very passionate. Seriously, the passion between them. 🥵
I loved the their dynamic — Nick and Catherine are from very different worlds, but they also *see* each other and respect what the other person has achieved. I got Meredith Bancroft and Matthew Farrell vibes (IYKYK).
The storytelling was stellar — parts felt quite sinister, but everything was well paced and came together at the end.
I gobbled this up.
hannahreads09's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
3.75
nellesnightstand1's review against another edition
4.0
“I told you once: violence is clumsy. But sometimes it’s called for. And when me and mine are at stake, I’ll do what I must. Show no weakness, accept no insult, allow no advantage: that’s the law of the street.” - Nicholas O'Shea
I seem to have missed Lady Be Good where Nick and Catherine were introduced. This one had me hooked. She was bound and determined to that he was scum...he let her find out his good qualities on her own but damn Nick was tough and caring. I'm hoping that several supporting characters get their story told.
I seem to have missed Lady Be Good where Nick and Catherine were introduced. This one had me hooked. She was bound and determined to that he was scum...he let her find out his good qualities on her own but damn Nick was tough and caring. I'm hoping that several supporting characters get their story told.