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yourbookishbff's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
This was a book-slump-inducing-book that I wanted to start from the beginning immediately after finishing. I am NOT typically sold on Beauty and the Beast retellings, but this just worked so beautifully for me. I appreciated the progressive interpersonal conflict - first aiming to resolve her lack of confidence in herself and then aiming to resolve their power imbalance and childhood trauma to achieve the happily-ever-after. The push-pull between love and protection was well-done, and neither our Beauty nor our Beast ever felt one-dimensional. The opening scene was a riot, the brothel innuendo had me giddy (while also peeking around a corner for exceedingly-thorough-Nelson), the post-coital conflict had me shrieking with stress and the {redacted} mast scene had me fist pumping and crying in equal measure. This is a HIGH-HEAT MacLean where the intimacy is essential to relational development. I just loved it. The final act was perfect and delivered some of my all-time favorite historical romance beats - sickbed confessions, caretaking, protective women - I just? New favorite MacLean.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder, Death of parent, and Child abuse
kyeruhh's review
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
4.0
Hattie was a super fun character and Whit was the perfect amount of sad without it being annoying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Child abuse
livruther's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
this was INCREDIBLE
she👏saves👏him👏right👏back
nik + nora = <3333
i LOVE whit. he is SO. PRECIOUS.
this is easily my fav sarah maclean so far
one thing i love SO. MUCH. is long emotional speeches & conversations, and this FREAKING DELIVERED !!!!!!!
also the shoutout to jen in the acknowledgments🥺🥺🥺
she👏saves👏him👏right👏back
nik + nora = <3333
i LOVE whit. he is SO. PRECIOUS.
this is easily my fav sarah maclean so far
one thing i love SO. MUCH. is long emotional speeches & conversations, and this FREAKING DELIVERED !!!!!!!
also the shoutout to jen in the acknowledgments🥺🥺🥺
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse
thatfabchick's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was a fun book, I liked it. There were times that things did not make sense which made the book go down to four stars. I did like the heroine and the hero.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent and Child abuse
hermithebs's review
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Child abuse, and Violence
onlyonebookshelf's review
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Child abuse
mcmizzie's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I thought I couldn’t love the second Bareknuckle Bastard book more than the first … I was wrong. This was sublime. I loved Hattie and her girl boss energy. And I loved how fat positive this book is! So steamy and so beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Violence
weelasswithabook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I'm not gonna lie, I didn't love this as much as I thought I was going to. Honestly, Hattie carried pretty much the whole story for me. Yet another badass heroine who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go get it, no matter what "polite society" might think.
I felt the pacing was weird in this one. One minute things were moving a smidge too fast then there were sections I felt dragged a little. I don't feel like we got enough of the hero's character/personality (or it could just be how I've read it).
I felt the pacing was weird in this one. One minute things were moving a smidge too fast then there were sections I felt dragged a little. I don't feel like we got enough of the hero's character/personality (or it could just be how I've read it).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence
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