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annkniggendorf's review against another edition
2.0
This book was most difficult to rate. The plot touches atypically somber topics not usually found in a romance novel (child abuse) and handles them admirably with respect and care. However, the book seems to suffer from what feels like "lack of space" - as in not enough text space for the setup to be brought to life. Most of the background is told by what feels like an off site narrator instead of being shown and especially the background of the heroine suffers from that, making a lot of the book dull to read despite the amount of story behind it. Imho., this book would have done much better as a two-parter, allowing as much attention being given to the current affairs of the leading couple as to their coming to terms with the past. As it is, the latter is done flat out superb, the former... is disappointing and feels shallow and rushed in comparison.
vicrine's review against another edition
4.0
many references to other stories not exactly a stand alone 7/10
desiree_mcl's review against another edition
3.0
3-3.5 stars. First Liz Carlyle I've read.
I really enjoyed the first 200 pages. It was a solid 4 stars up until then. After the two got married I lost interest in the story. It was still ok but I wasn't as invested as I was with the first half.
One thing that bugged me was that there was a good amount of characters and information from previous books that wasn't explained in this one. There were relationships between people and why they react to them the way they do that wasn't explained in a easy to digest way. Things were eluded to but I felt like I was missing pieces and I hate that.
It's been said that it's best to read all the books by LC in a certain order or else you won't get the full experience and they are right. I kept getting introduced to characters that weren't fully explained and it was frustrating.
Overall it's a good book but as many have mentioned to me before start with the first book LC wrote and work your way through in the correct order or else you'll be confused or get spoiled on things seen in an earlier book.
I really enjoyed the first 200 pages. It was a solid 4 stars up until then. After the two got married I lost interest in the story. It was still ok but I wasn't as invested as I was with the first half.
One thing that bugged me was that there was a good amount of characters and information from previous books that wasn't explained in this one. There were relationships between people and why they react to them the way they do that wasn't explained in a easy to digest way. Things were eluded to but I felt like I was missing pieces and I hate that.
It's been said that it's best to read all the books by LC in a certain order or else you won't get the full experience and they are right. I kept getting introduced to characters that weren't fully explained and it was frustrating.
Overall it's a good book but as many have mentioned to me before start with the first book LC wrote and work your way through in the correct order or else you'll be confused or get spoiled on things seen in an earlier book.
gaderianne's review against another edition
3.0
Well the fact that I didn't like this book was partly my fault...I read it first when it is really third in a series. Therefore, I spent most of the book thinking I was missing something...and I was! Even so, this book was very dark. Darker than I was expecting for a historical romance and I just wasn't quite prepared for it. It was graver than a typical "beach read."
alisonb's review against another edition
4.0
****SPOILER AHEAD****
*************************
I really enjoyed this story. It mainly focuses on Bentley Rutledge and his coming to terms with a dark past.
A dissolute rake, Bentley has a devil may care kind of attitude towards life. Frederica’s character acts as the catalyst that helps break down Bentley’s walls so that he can begin to heal.
The tension of the story kept me intrigued. I would have liked more for Frederica. She was 18 years old, pregnant, and inexperienced in many ways. There is a lot of pressure for her to make a marriage work and for her to help Bentley. He is a twenty-seven year old man with a dark history of almost everything under the sun.
I would have liked to see a bit more focus on her by Bentley. At the same time, I understand that his abuse stands in the way of his being emotionally available to her until he breaks free.
Reading previous books in this series will help you to understand the secondary characters and past events, otherwise you might find yourself a bit lost.
TW: sexual abuse
*************************
I really enjoyed this story. It mainly focuses on Bentley Rutledge and his coming to terms with a dark past.
A dissolute rake, Bentley has a devil may care kind of attitude towards life. Frederica’s character acts as the catalyst that helps break down Bentley’s walls so that he can begin to heal.
The tension of the story kept me intrigued. I would have liked more for Frederica. She was 18 years old, pregnant, and inexperienced in many ways. There is a lot of pressure for her to make a marriage work and for her to help Bentley. He is a twenty-seven year old man with a dark history of almost everything under the sun.
I would have liked to see a bit more focus on her by Bentley. At the same time, I understand that his abuse stands in the way of his being emotionally available to her until he breaks free.
Reading previous books in this series will help you to understand the secondary characters and past events, otherwise you might find yourself a bit lost.
TW: sexual abuse
smithrachaelynn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Wow. This was such an incredible read! I’m completely surprised.
What I liked:
What I liked:
- Bentley! I loved that we got to know him in layers. First we see the unserious rake, then the boy that doesn’t belong, then the dangerous gamester, then the soft-hearted family man. He was so beautifully written and by the end my heart could hardly take anymore.
- The romance, this is probably the best I’ve seen lust to love before. It was done so well that I could see the moments things started shifting in their relationship.
- Which leads me to the writing! It seemed so effortless while I was reading. But there were so many choices the author made to endear you to characters and pull your heart into the story. Just done so so well.
What I didn’t like:
- More of the pregnancy, that’s the whole reason I found this book actually! I was looking for pregnancy in romance and had this recommended. We see into Freddie’s fourth-ish month of pregnancy I think. I found myself wishing that the ending hadn’t skipped so much between the last chapter and the epilogue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Vomit, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Rape, and Sexual content
One of the characters was repeatedly sexually abused as a child and it becomes a big part of their development to face the effects of that.lucy_qhuay's review against another edition
3.0
Well, this book would sure have more stars if it weren't for some things that I found absolutely ridiculous.
First, I cannot possibly believe that a woman, even a 18-year-old gently bred lady, would have no idea that by having sex she could get pregnant! o.O
Frederica was a young, respectful lady and then she decided to have sex with rogue Bentley "Hell-Bent" Rutledge and then when she knew she was pregnant she was all "How would I know that I would get pregnant? I couldn't possibly know that this was going to happen!".
This is incredibly ridiculous! -.-
In the first place, I have some difficulty to believe that such gentle, respectful lady would risk ruin and humiliation for one night of "debauchery" in the arms of a man that she knows is almost the king of rogues.
This is a lot to take in!
Then, and though I was horrified with Bentley's past, I found it so annoying that he was all "It was my fault! I'm wicked! I'm depraved! Huh, I'm the devil!".
Dammit!! Since when a child that is abused is the responsible for the abuses? o.O
And all that "Oh, I hated it but my body liked it! I knew what I was doing!" Bull!!
We all know that faced with certain situations our body has certain responses but that doesn't mean that we like what is being done to us or that we are willing. For God's sake!
First, I cannot possibly believe that a woman, even a 18-year-old gently bred lady, would have no idea that by having sex she could get pregnant! o.O
Frederica was a young, respectful lady and then she decided to have sex with rogue Bentley "Hell-Bent" Rutledge and then when she knew she was pregnant she was all "How would I know that I would get pregnant? I couldn't possibly know that this was going to happen!".
This is incredibly ridiculous! -.-
In the first place, I have some difficulty to believe that such gentle, respectful lady would risk ruin and humiliation for one night of "debauchery" in the arms of a man that she knows is almost the king of rogues.
This is a lot to take in!
Then, and though I was horrified with Bentley's past, I found it so annoying that he was all "It was my fault! I'm wicked! I'm depraved! Huh, I'm the devil!".
Dammit!! Since when a child that is abused is the responsible for the abuses? o.O
And all that "Oh, I hated it but my body liked it! I knew what I was doing!" Bull!!
We all know that faced with certain situations our body has certain responses but that doesn't mean that we like what is being done to us or that we are willing. For God's sake!
bloom37's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.0