Scan barcode
readbooks_eatapples's review against another edition
2.0
I almost don’t know what to say about this.
I kept experiencing secondhand embarrassment while reading, that it was published with so many mistakes, and stilted dialogue and writing overall. It’s a mostly compelling story, but I had to force myself to finish. It reads like a first or second draft, like it’s self-published. Honestly, it’s a travesty. With a good editor, this could have been a four star for me.
I am still cringing. This author needs a new editor and likely a new agent, or they need better mentoring and support.
I kept experiencing secondhand embarrassment while reading, that it was published with so many mistakes, and stilted dialogue and writing overall. It’s a mostly compelling story, but I had to force myself to finish. It reads like a first or second draft, like it’s self-published. Honestly, it’s a travesty. With a good editor, this could have been a four star for me.
I am still cringing. This author needs a new editor and likely a new agent, or they need better mentoring and support.
shannanh's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed the third and final book in this series. Cecelia and Felton marry to help each other out, Cecelia's saftey and Gantry being a widower with two young daughters. Cecelia ends up running away, feeling like they shouldn't have married, and one day, Felton stumbles across a painting of hers, and ends up finding her. They both have to make a decision.
I hate that this is the last book in the series, because I have enjoyed this series. The secondary characters were very supportive in this book, as well as gave such great advice to both characters individually. I enjoyed the style of the author with these regency stories and I can't wait to read the next book by the author.
I received a copy of the book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts and opinions.
I hate that this is the last book in the series, because I have enjoyed this series. The secondary characters were very supportive in this book, as well as gave such great advice to both characters individually. I enjoyed the style of the author with these regency stories and I can't wait to read the next book by the author.
I received a copy of the book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts and opinions.
jenniferk's review against another edition
2.0
Least favorite in series. Why didn’t he tell her about her older sister? That seemed cruel and denying her resources of support.
jennms_qkw's review against another edition
4.0
I like Vanessa Riley's series. These were flawed characters and the Lord G's dad is a total pain in the ass. Also communication, people. Also, arranged marriages and second chances. Also interfering family members.
Still to see the historical setting and the multi-country problems with colonialism, and have this story along with that was nice.
Still to see the historical setting and the multi-country problems with colonialism, and have this story along with that was nice.
booksbythecup's review against another edition
Bahni Turpin as he narrator so it was easy to power through this one. Of the 3 books in the series, book 1 I best, book 2 is not bad, but book 3 had a lot going on. I sort of tired the back and forth with Cecilia and Felton.
paula_s's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review
With a series of flashbacks we learn that Felton Lance, Lord Gentry, who is the heir of a duke and a spy under Lord Liverpool meets Miss Cecilia Thomas, the daughter of a wealthy man in Demerara, in the Caribbean. He was on a mission and she saved his life literally by flirting with him. So he asks for her hand in marriage and she says yes. At the beginning everything goes well, there’s a lot of passion, Cecilia gets along with his daughters from a previous marriage, but soon enough Felton has to go away on missions which take months for him to solve. Cecilia, an incredibly talented painter, feels more and more rejected by his jealous sister and doesn’t feel respected by the servants. Also being a blackamoor makes her stand out so life is anything but easy for her. Eventually she leaves him and the drama is served.
This is my least favorite book of the series. There was something quite right about the writing, the style was great as usual in Vanessa Riley but sometimes I got the feeling that she repeats many of the conversations like if the two main characters were caught in a loop every so often. I did find many of the conversations interesting because of the subjects that are explained in the novel, things like being a woman, being different, cultural shocks, slaverism, family, loyalties and morality. Still, their personal conversations, when the subject was their relationship, they felt frustrating, and they were indeed frustrating for the characters, but they never talk properly, even at the end when Cilia wants to confess something he shuts her with his kisses, twice. I felt passion but not chemistry, so the passion felt momentaneous instead of progressive. And the love triangle was, I mean, what was the point? I don’t want to spoil who the third party is but, it felt a bit embarrassing, like he were grooming or manipulating her with good intentions somehow. I didn’t see the point of adding that to the plot. We have spies, we have adventures, we have freeing slaves from plantations, the drama with her little sister… we had more than enough for a great story.
Finally I must say that despite everything I enjoyed the book because it’s Vanessa Riley, it’s her beautiful writing and her characters from previous books, which I loved so much, have important roles in the second half of this book. It just lacks in comparison with the other two, that’s all.
With a series of flashbacks we learn that Felton Lance, Lord Gentry, who is the heir of a duke and a spy under Lord Liverpool meets Miss Cecilia Thomas, the daughter of a wealthy man in Demerara, in the Caribbean. He was on a mission and she saved his life literally by flirting with him. So he asks for her hand in marriage and she says yes. At the beginning everything goes well, there’s a lot of passion, Cecilia gets along with his daughters from a previous marriage, but soon enough Felton has to go away on missions which take months for him to solve. Cecilia, an incredibly talented painter, feels more and more rejected by his jealous sister and doesn’t feel respected by the servants. Also being a blackamoor makes her stand out so life is anything but easy for her. Eventually she leaves him and the drama is served.
This is my least favorite book of the series. There was something quite right about the writing, the style was great as usual in Vanessa Riley but sometimes I got the feeling that she repeats many of the conversations like if the two main characters were caught in a loop every so often. I did find many of the conversations interesting because of the subjects that are explained in the novel, things like being a woman, being different, cultural shocks, slaverism, family, loyalties and morality. Still, their personal conversations, when the subject was their relationship, they felt frustrating, and they were indeed frustrating for the characters, but they never talk properly, even at the end when Cilia wants to confess something he shuts her with his kisses, twice. I felt passion but not chemistry, so the passion felt momentaneous instead of progressive. And the love triangle was, I mean, what was the point? I don’t want to spoil who the third party is but, it felt a bit embarrassing, like he were grooming or manipulating her with good intentions somehow. I didn’t see the point of adding that to the plot. We have spies, we have adventures, we have freeing slaves from plantations, the drama with her little sister… we had more than enough for a great story.
Finally I must say that despite everything I enjoyed the book because it’s Vanessa Riley, it’s her beautiful writing and her characters from previous books, which I loved so much, have important roles in the second half of this book. It just lacks in comparison with the other two, that’s all.
teesbookjourney's review against another edition
5.0
Yasss! I absolutely loved this story. I loved the usual things from a Vanessa Riley romance. The incorporation of a black man, also that slavery is a part of the story in some way. This angle is not usually written in romances and I am glad to read it.
I loved that Cecilia is a thick woman who pants and wants adventure. She married Felton for the adventure and what he can contribute to her life. She was disillusioned to find that what she got is an absent husband and a family who hated her.
Felton is in love with his wife, he's just realized the way too late. He's left her for work on to many times
This is a second chance romance. A beautiful story that I couldn't put down
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
I loved that Cecilia is a thick woman who pants and wants adventure. She married Felton for the adventure and what he can contribute to her life. She was disillusioned to find that what she got is an absent husband and a family who hated her.
Felton is in love with his wife, he's just realized the way too late. He's left her for work on to many times
This is a second chance romance. A beautiful story that I couldn't put down
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
robynrambles's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
A fun read, though it felt unnecessarily long at times. One of those plots where most of the conflict could have been solved by a single conversation but still enjoyable. Loved the narrator, Bahni Turpin.
ksanders013's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sarz's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0