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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
sydapel's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
3.75
my favorite MacLean so far??? Idk this was fun and this series in general feels very comforting to me for some reason. Yes, the pacing in the third act is a little off, and I wish we'd been a little more direct about Hattie and Whit's individual vulnerabilities, BUT I'm okay with it overall.
If I had a nickel for everytime MacLean used the word "pleasure" though...
If I had a nickel for everytime MacLean used the word "pleasure" though...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Death of parent
sarah_thebooknerd's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
4.25
I enjoyed this historical romance a lot. There was my first Sarah Maclean book and it will not be my last.
The FMC is strong and wants to determine her own fate and sets up to have the Year of Hattie where she loses her virginity, runs her family shipyard and becomes her own powerhouse.
Beast is one of the Barenuckle Bastards and agrees to help Hattie with her virginity. Beast is a dirty talker!
4.25 ⭐️
2.5 🌶
TW: fire, violence, sexual content, injury
The FMC is strong and wants to determine her own fate and sets up to have the Year of Hattie where she loses her virginity, runs her family shipyard and becomes her own powerhouse.
Beast is one of the Barenuckle Bastards and agrees to help Hattie with her virginity. Beast is a dirty talker!
4.25 ⭐️
2.5 🌶
TW: fire, violence, sexual content, injury
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Violence, and Medical content
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