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ppchili93's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
FMC (Elise): 3.75 (I really liked Elise - although I wanted to see more of her supposed skills in action. She doesn’t really ever protect Noah…he protects her)
MMC (Noah): 4 (how is he so hot and so respectful? He was just so proud of Elise being able to outdo him at anything)
💕: 4 (they were so cute together 😭 would an absent duke be able to marry a commoner and actress from the colonies? No way)
Plot: 3 (a fun romp but the vibes didn’t match the story - scarred war veteran and child involuntarily committed to Bedlam for 5 years does not equal lighthearted hijinks to me. Plus everything was wrapped up way too easily)
🌶️: 3.5
Writing: 3.5
MMC (Noah): 4 (how is he so hot and so respectful? He was just so proud of Elise being able to outdo him at anything)
💕: 4 (they were so cute together 😭 would an absent duke be able to marry a commoner and actress from the colonies? No way)
Plot: 3 (a fun romp but the vibes didn’t match the story - scarred war veteran and child involuntarily committed to Bedlam for 5 years does not equal lighthearted hijinks to me. Plus everything was wrapped up way too easily)
🌶️: 3.5
Writing: 3.5
maggiemaggio's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? Yes
3.5
alwaysbooking's review against another edition
5.0
more reviews at alwaysbooking.wordpress.com
I love discovering new authors that can make me sigh with happiness while reading their books. This book had everything and more! I cannot believe how much was packed into this book yet it didn't feel overdone. Also, can we talk about how gorgeous this cover is??? The colors are perfect and that dress *sigh* gorgeous!! The character on the cover actually looks like Elise would! Okay onto the book itself!!
I went into this book very hesitantly. I was unsure what to expect from the characters. Elise is my kind of heroine, strong, determined, loveable, and kind. Elise is a part time actor in a theater. When she is not working at the theater she works with her brother at Chegarre & Associates. This is the an elite company that handles scandalous things very discreetly. The fact that Elise can blend into any character so flawlessly makes her invaluable to the company. Elise is sent to find the real Duke of Ashland. His evil cousin has tossed the Duke's mother into an insane asylum where she is being tortured. This cousin also won't let his sister anywhere near the estate. I love how Elise is so forgiving and patient with the Duke. She understands his reasons for not going back but won't leave him without protection. Might I also say that I loved how she met him in the beginning. It was such a vivid scene in my mind with the boys and etc.
The Duke of Ashland has been in hiding for years. His name is Noah, he ran away from the horrible place his family stowed him away. Noah's father felt that he could change the quiet bumbling young man into a man worthy of Ashland. This backfires on his father when Noah flees to the country side. Only his sister Abigail know's he's alive. Then he runs into Elise and she eventually reveals why she actually came to town. I knew he had to go back in order for this book to work but honestly for a while I wasn't sure if Noah would. I really enjoyed how he flat out admitted his faults to Elise and she admitted her's right back. Noah's character is strong and loving... He is so funny while he is trying to figure Elise out. She is such a contradiction this woman who is so beautiful yet knows how to creep through the forest like a ghost.
I have to say both of these characters got under my skin (in a good way). I also thoroughly enjoyed the side characters in this book. The characters banter throughout the book especially the main characters was very enjoyable. I wasn't bored or skimming any paragraphs, I was hooked from the beginning. Even though it is the second book I didn't feel left out at all, this could be read as a standalone. Here's a little tidbit...
"Good." She was smiling at him again. "I'll happily lose at a lot of things if it's required, but shooting cannot be one of them. I have some pride, you know."
"You are..." He trailed off, unable to choose the right word. Incredible, Incomparable.
With me.
Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for sending me this egalley for my honest review off of Netgalley. I honestly loved it!
I love discovering new authors that can make me sigh with happiness while reading their books. This book had everything and more! I cannot believe how much was packed into this book yet it didn't feel overdone. Also, can we talk about how gorgeous this cover is??? The colors are perfect and that dress *sigh* gorgeous!! The character on the cover actually looks like Elise would! Okay onto the book itself!!
I went into this book very hesitantly. I was unsure what to expect from the characters. Elise is my kind of heroine, strong, determined, loveable, and kind. Elise is a part time actor in a theater. When she is not working at the theater she works with her brother at Chegarre & Associates. This is the an elite company that handles scandalous things very discreetly. The fact that Elise can blend into any character so flawlessly makes her invaluable to the company. Elise is sent to find the real Duke of Ashland. His evil cousin has tossed the Duke's mother into an insane asylum where she is being tortured. This cousin also won't let his sister anywhere near the estate. I love how Elise is so forgiving and patient with the Duke. She understands his reasons for not going back but won't leave him without protection. Might I also say that I loved how she met him in the beginning. It was such a vivid scene in my mind with the boys and etc.
The Duke of Ashland has been in hiding for years. His name is Noah, he ran away from the horrible place his family stowed him away. Noah's father felt that he could change the quiet bumbling young man into a man worthy of Ashland. This backfires on his father when Noah flees to the country side. Only his sister Abigail know's he's alive. Then he runs into Elise and she eventually reveals why she actually came to town. I knew he had to go back in order for this book to work but honestly for a while I wasn't sure if Noah would. I really enjoyed how he flat out admitted his faults to Elise and she admitted her's right back. Noah's character is strong and loving... He is so funny while he is trying to figure Elise out. She is such a contradiction this woman who is so beautiful yet knows how to creep through the forest like a ghost.
I have to say both of these characters got under my skin (in a good way). I also thoroughly enjoyed the side characters in this book. The characters banter throughout the book especially the main characters was very enjoyable. I wasn't bored or skimming any paragraphs, I was hooked from the beginning. Even though it is the second book I didn't feel left out at all, this could be read as a standalone. Here's a little tidbit...
"Good." She was smiling at him again. "I'll happily lose at a lot of things if it's required, but shooting cannot be one of them. I have some pride, you know."
"You are..." He trailed off, unable to choose the right word. Incredible, Incomparable.
With me.
Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for sending me this egalley for my honest review off of Netgalley. I honestly loved it!
hollyjbates's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
5.0
nellesnightstand1's review against another edition
4.0
Elise is the definition of courage and strength. Noah is such an unusual Duke. He's been missing for over 15 years. The connection between them was instantaneous and profound. I admired Elise's commitment to honesty. I quite enjoyed the whole aspect of this novel. I do wish we got an epilogue tjough, because I rather liked John and Sarah Barr! I wonder who is next on the agenda, Alex or King!
winterreader40's review against another edition
4.0
Elise has been hired to find Noah the lost duke of Ashland, and she happens to stumble across him in the first place she looks, she even thinks to herself that the odds of that happening are super low which was amusing.
Noah was exiled from his family at age 10 for having a speech impediment and has been in hiding since he was approx 15, but he didn't go far because he wanted to keep an eye on his sister once she was also exiled from the family, parents are real winners in this story.
Elise is an expert tracker after her time in the Canadian army, and her time on stage also allows her to be a chameleon, she's extremely smart and an ace shooter on top of all that as well.
I really enjoy how the men in this series immediately fall for how smart, strong or courageous the woman are, while they are attracted to them physically it definitely comes across that these characteristics make them even more attractive than what's on the outside.
My only peeve with this series is the excessive use of "mmm" as a response from several of the characters, though this book had the fewest occurrences of said peeve.
Noah was exiled from his family at age 10 for having a speech impediment and has been in hiding since he was approx 15, but he didn't go far because he wanted to keep an eye on his sister once she was also exiled from the family, parents are real winners in this story.
Elise is an expert tracker after her time in the Canadian army, and her time on stage also allows her to be a chameleon, she's extremely smart and an ace shooter on top of all that as well.
I really enjoy how the men in this series immediately fall for how smart, strong or courageous the woman are, while they are attracted to them physically it definitely comes across that these characteristics make them even more attractive than what's on the outside.
My only peeve with this series is the excessive use of "mmm" as a response from several of the characters, though this book had the fewest occurrences of said peeve.
nellesnightstand's review against another edition
4.0
Elise is the definition of courage and strength. Noah is such an unusual Duke. He's been missing for over 15 years. The connection between them was instantaneous and profound. I admired Elise's commitment to honesty. I quite enjoyed the whole aspect of this novel. I do wish we got an epilogue tjough, because I rather liked John and Sarah Barr! I wonder who is next on the agenda, Alex or King!
lali02's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed Elise and Noah's story in the context of another Chegarre & Associates job. I love how much of a badass tracker she is (okay, let's suspend belief even more here) and how he learns to trust her. They truly compliment each other and help each other grow while Noah comes out of hiding and steps into his shoes as Duke. Confession: I kinda wish they would have moved back to the country.