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arielkirst's review
2.0
I really didn't much care for this book. The characters just didn't draw me in. Their relationship seemed unbelievable, as did their actions. While I am all for a good sex scene, Jafe seemed to throw them in without care for the building relationship or plot.
I loved her other books, but not this one.
I loved her other books, but not this one.
shy_fairy's review
5.0
I freaking loved this book! I have reread it multiple times. A funny, sexy, historical mystery, what's not to love!
princesstiramisu's review
emotional
funny
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture
baberuga's review
5.0
Read on a whim, as most of my reads are nowadays.
I am still confused about the title and how it could ever relate to the plot.
The constant back and forth is quite tiring to read, though the saucy makeup session is not.
I have a problem with Ian's innate sexism and Bianca's wont to have her dignity trampled by a male's ego. I have to remind myself that I was reading from a privileged white man'a POV.
I won't say whether I had known who the culprit that was the cause of the entire mystery the surrounds the premise, because I find that trying to guess who the killer is on any TV or literature kind of ruin the surprise for me. You might say I was reading mindlessly, but that's just the way I am.
But I digress, despite all its fault I enjoyed myself whilst reading. It was quite the sexy book hidden behind an artistic cover, lord knows I would never so much as touch the novel had a man's torso been on the front cover.
This is historical fiction, and I had never read a book from that specific genre. I enjoy a good Showtime historical original but on text I hadn't thought I would enjoy it as much. I was pleasantly surprised. I was almost certain I would DNF before I hit page 50, how wrong was I.
4.5 stars
I am still confused about the title and how it could ever relate to the plot.
The constant back and forth is quite tiring to read, though the saucy makeup session is not.
I have a problem with Ian's innate sexism and Bianca's wont to have her dignity trampled by a male's ego. I have to remind myself that I was reading from a privileged white man'a POV.
I won't say whether I had known who the culprit that was the cause of the entire mystery the surrounds the premise, because I find that trying to guess who the killer is on any TV or literature kind of ruin the surprise for me. You might say I was reading mindlessly, but that's just the way I am.
But I digress, despite all its fault I enjoyed myself whilst reading. It was quite the sexy book hidden behind an artistic cover, lord knows I would never so much as touch the novel had a man's torso been on the front cover.
This is historical fiction, and I had never read a book from that specific genre. I enjoy a good Showtime historical original but on text I hadn't thought I would enjoy it as much. I was pleasantly surprised. I was almost certain I would DNF before I hit page 50, how wrong was I.
4.5 stars
duplica123's review
2.0
I read this years ago as a teen. Something stuck out to me to make me remember it all these years later, but I was unable to figure out what had caught in my memory, unless it was just me remembering the absurdity of the story. This book was so confused. The main characters doubted themselves, each other, and the world WAY too much. I can understand a little uncertainty, but a 180 twice in two paragraphs is a little excessive. Why are they both so sure the other one is the murderer? How does that even make sense?
Why does an Italian man have a very English name? That's poorly explained.
I liked that Bianca is interested in medicine -but this did not seem to be astonishing or even unique, the way I thought it should be for this time period and setting. Ian is a head of a huge trading empire, but he seems to have quite a lot of time to meddle in Bianca's life rather than focus on his financial dealings.
The entire premise was spindly and, like a flimsy footstool, did not hold up when I truly wanted to relax with a good book.
Why does an Italian man have a very English name? That's poorly explained.
I liked that Bianca is interested in medicine -but this did not seem to be astonishing or even unique, the way I thought it should be for this time period and setting. Ian is a head of a huge trading empire, but he seems to have quite a lot of time to meddle in Bianca's life rather than focus on his financial dealings.
The entire premise was spindly and, like a flimsy footstool, did not hold up when I truly wanted to relax with a good book.
aimee70807's review
3.0
This book felt like Three Musketeers erotica with a murder mystery thrown in. Endless sex scenes and romance-novel-style character stupidity bogged down the plot. On the other hand, our main character was likable, and it's possible the setting is moderately realistic since the author has a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature of the Renaissance.
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