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Victorian Reversal of Fortune #1
A Foolish Flirtation
At eighteen, Emmeline Ballentine’s father splashed out on one London season to introduce his daughter to polite society. Sadly, for Emmeline, polite society was not terribly receptive to a city trader’s daughter. She only ever caught one gentleman’s fancy, the dishonorable and gorgeous Jeremy Vance who made her head spin as he singled her out for attention at the balls and assemblies.
Her worldly chaperone warned her he was making a May game of her, but Emmeline had not listened to Mrs. Laverdale’s warnings, or the titters of her fellow debutantes. Consequently, her dreams were dashed into pieces, when at the close of the season, Jeremy announced his engagement to another.
Ten years later, their paths cross again in Bath. Emmeline is older and wiser, and a good deal poorer, and Jeremy is divorced. There is absolutely no chance of him making a fool of her again with his shocking offer of marriage. Is there?
Her worldly chaperone warned her he was making a May game of her, but Emmeline had not listened to Mrs. Laverdale’s warnings, or the titters of her fellow debutantes. Consequently, her dreams were dashed into pieces, when at the close of the season, Jeremy announced his engagement to another.
Ten years later, their paths cross again in Bath. Emmeline is older and wiser, and a good deal poorer, and Jeremy is divorced. There is absolutely no chance of him making a fool of her again with his shocking offer of marriage. Is there?
511 pages, ebook
First published September 14, 2024
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1012 people want to read
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September 17, 2024My bestie just pointed out to me that this hero’s name is J Vance. That’s unfortunate.
It’s out today! I don’t have time to read it and might wait for the audiobook but someone pls go read it!
Yay! Can’t wait for this. Even though there are no prizefighters another Victorian by Coldbreath is gonna make my September!
It’s out today! I don’t have time to read it and might wait for the audiobook but someone pls go read it!
Yay! Can’t wait for this. Even though there are no prizefighters another Victorian by Coldbreath is gonna make my September!
September 16, 2024
Note to self: if you don’t like second chance romance, don’t read it just because you like the author! 😂
I’m so sad about this one. The premise gave me the ick. Ten years ago, Emmeline and Jeremy are flirty and have feelings and one night he passionately kisses her…and then announces his engagement the same night to another woman.
She’s broken hearted, ten years pass…he’s now divorced. Yes he had a bad marriage, but he has a son, a title, etc. And poor Emmeline is now in a bad way money wise and has been engaged to a man for years without seeing him much and learns that he was married the whole time.
Ugh!! So Jeremy finagles a marriage to Emmeline in current day. But I was so upset she didn’t have a good decade in his absence. I wish she was at least married to a kind man who died or something!
Now we learn that Jeremy was promised to his ex wife when he was young and had no choice. He was basically selfish and didn’t think about Emma’s feelings but rather his own displeasure and how he was sad to leave her. He thought she’d move on and marry, so he tried not to think about her.
But it just didn’t sit right with me. Emmeline wants to avoid talk of it because it hurts her, so it takes way too long to clear the air. I wanted that to be addressed earlier!
The ex wife was terrible and had affairs and apparently Jeremy also slept with other people occasionally, which was another bleh moment for me. He does always say how he was awful back then. I guess the good thing is he didn’t know how much he hurt her.
For positives, I did like some of the side characters, and I always like the day to day life in these books. We also see glimpses of past characters!
I did like when Jeremy is finally honest, how he’s jealous when he never was with his ex, and some other little moments.
But overall I was just feeling sour about their long separation and the fact that he has a son with the ex wife, even though the son was quite likable. And I just felt like Emmeline sort of tried not to think about her heartbreak and then when she learns the truth, forgives him really fast? My petty self wanted more suffering, even though I suppose he was during that 10 years.
So basically, this was ok but even though I like AC books, I just will never like this trope. 🥲
I’m so sad about this one. The premise gave me the ick. Ten years ago, Emmeline and Jeremy are flirty and have feelings and one night he passionately kisses her…and then announces his engagement the same night to another woman.
She’s broken hearted, ten years pass…he’s now divorced. Yes he had a bad marriage, but he has a son, a title, etc. And poor Emmeline is now in a bad way money wise and has been engaged to a man for years without seeing him much and learns that he was married the whole time.
Ugh!! So Jeremy finagles a marriage to Emmeline in current day. But I was so upset she didn’t have a good decade in his absence. I wish she was at least married to a kind man who died or something!
Now we learn that Jeremy was promised to his ex wife when he was young and had no choice. He was basically selfish and didn’t think about Emma’s feelings but rather his own displeasure and how he was sad to leave her. He thought she’d move on and marry, so he tried not to think about her.
But it just didn’t sit right with me. Emmeline wants to avoid talk of it because it hurts her, so it takes way too long to clear the air. I wanted that to be addressed earlier!
The ex wife was terrible and had affairs and apparently Jeremy also slept with other people occasionally, which was another bleh moment for me. He does always say how he was awful back then. I guess the good thing is he didn’t know how much he hurt her.
For positives, I did like some of the side characters, and I always like the day to day life in these books. We also see glimpses of past characters!
I did like when Jeremy is finally honest, how he’s jealous when he never was with his ex, and some other little moments.
But overall I was just feeling sour about their long separation and the fact that he has a son with the ex wife, even though the son was quite likable. And I just felt like Emmeline sort of tried not to think about her heartbreak and then when she learns the truth, forgives him really fast? My petty self wanted more suffering, even though I suppose he was during that 10 years.
So basically, this was ok but even though I like AC books, I just will never like this trope. 🥲
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2025
Ms. Coldbreath has truly hit it out of the ballpark once again! As one of my favorite authors, she’s firmly on my auto-buy list, and I was eagerly counting down the days for this book’s release (I kept checking my email for her newsletter!). Her last publication was in 2023, so you can imagine the eagerness I felt while waiting for this book to drop.
In this novel, we reconnect with Jeremy Vance from A Bride for the Prizefighter. Although Jeremy was something of a rogue in that book, he redeemed himself by the end through his support of Mina and Nye. This new book represents his chance at a happily ever after, following his divorce from Amanda. I highly recommend reading A Bride for the Prizefighter first to fully appreciate the context and character development in this latest installment; otherwise, you might feel a bit lost.
This book is a must-read for Ms. Coldbreath's fans. It features all the elements that make her stories so endearing: the marriage of convenience trope, the hero and heroine's immediate togetherness, rich details about the characters' lives (which some readers might find tedious, but I personally find charming), and, of course, the emotionally charged and scorching love scenes.
I particularly appreciated how Ms. Coldbreath gave equal weight to both Jeremy and Emmeline. While I found Theodora to be the more compelling character compared to Clem in A Contracted Spouse for the Prizefighter, here both Jeremy and Emmeline are given equal time, which added depth to their second-chance romance. The way the events from ten years ago are re-evaluated by both characters provides a fresh and poignant perspective.
Ms. Coldbreath expertly captures the awkwardness of newlyweds who are still getting to know each other. The misunderstandings and emotional turmoil that arise are portrayed with such sensitivity that they genuinely tug at the heartstrings.
Children can be tricky to write, but Teddy is a delightful addition. Mischievous yet never annoying, he adds a wonderful dynamic to the story. It's also a pleasure to see Mina and Will again, especially with Will in a more respectable setting.
Kudos to Ms. Coldbreath for crafting another fantastic book. Her works are the kind that only get better with each read—I've never skipped a page upon re-reading her books. I’m already looking forward to many cozy moments with this latest release and can't wait for her next one. Ms. Coldbreath continues to outdo herself, and I’m excited to see what she brings us next!
In this novel, we reconnect with Jeremy Vance from A Bride for the Prizefighter. Although Jeremy was something of a rogue in that book, he redeemed himself by the end through his support of Mina and Nye. This new book represents his chance at a happily ever after, following his divorce from Amanda. I highly recommend reading A Bride for the Prizefighter first to fully appreciate the context and character development in this latest installment; otherwise, you might feel a bit lost.
This book is a must-read for Ms. Coldbreath's fans. It features all the elements that make her stories so endearing: the marriage of convenience trope, the hero and heroine's immediate togetherness, rich details about the characters' lives (which some readers might find tedious, but I personally find charming), and, of course, the emotionally charged and scorching love scenes.
I particularly appreciated how Ms. Coldbreath gave equal weight to both Jeremy and Emmeline. While I found Theodora to be the more compelling character compared to Clem in A Contracted Spouse for the Prizefighter, here both Jeremy and Emmeline are given equal time, which added depth to their second-chance romance. The way the events from ten years ago are re-evaluated by both characters provides a fresh and poignant perspective.
Ms. Coldbreath expertly captures the awkwardness of newlyweds who are still getting to know each other. The misunderstandings and emotional turmoil that arise are portrayed with such sensitivity that they genuinely tug at the heartstrings.
Children can be tricky to write, but Teddy is a delightful addition. Mischievous yet never annoying, he adds a wonderful dynamic to the story. It's also a pleasure to see Mina and Will again, especially with Will in a more respectable setting.
Kudos to Ms. Coldbreath for crafting another fantastic book. Her works are the kind that only get better with each read—I've never skipped a page upon re-reading her books. I’m already looking forward to many cozy moments with this latest release and can't wait for her next one. Ms. Coldbreath continues to outdo herself, and I’m excited to see what she brings us next!
May 1, 2025
3 stars. Well, this book finally came out on audiobook, so I decided to give it another chance. I just could not get past the backstory on this. Why my favorite author would choose to do this to *me*, is beyond me. Ms. Coldbreath, please don’t do me dirty like this again.
Where do I even begin?
The story itself was well-written and mostly enjoyable. I actually liked it a lot when the story wasn’t focused on the MC’s pasts together. Unfortunately, the ending of this book really left a bad taste in my mouth because it focused so heavily on the hero’s misdeeds. On top of that, the heroine forgave the hero way too easily all along the way. Not only did she jump right into his life and bed, but she also forgave him without much effort on his part. There seemed to be an attempt at a redemption arc, but it was pretty poorly executed.
Comparing how the hero and heroine spent their 10 years apart is absolutely painful.
->The poor heroine remained alone (while being engaged for 10 years to an already married man), a virgin who had only ever been desired or kissed by the hero, and ended up in dire financial straits.
->The hero got married, had a son, had plenty of money, had mistresses when his wife and him were on the outs. He didn’t even care that his wife cheated, so why should that be used as some kind of point in his favor? He was fine with her being with other men, and he wasn’t celibate at all.
->There was some allusion to him being lonely, maybe to gain some sympathy from the reader - but the heroine was as well. They both really only had one friend.
-> At the end when we are told that the heroine had another man interested in her, but the hero dissuaded him from asking her to dance? That pretty much killed the book for me. THAT IS SUCH FUCKING BULLSHIT WHEN HE KNEW HE WOULD BE MARRYING SOMEONE ELSE!!
Overall, the only way to have made the backstory of this book slightly more tolerable would have been to give the heroine a good life for those 10 years!! It’s bullshit and so fucking despicable that the heroine was written to have had nearly all the bad luck as a result of the hero’s shitty actions. Meanwhile, he lived a pretty good life without her.
I don’t care how he pined for her, I don’t care that he had been in love with her all along, I don’t care that he was a victim of his father’s whims and circumstance. He was never worthy of a second chance, not with this heroine. She deserved to find someone who had never betrayed her in such a callous way. Instead, we got an unbelievable “redemption arc” for a hero who never should have been called the word.
If any other author had written this, I have no doubt I would have rated this at 2 stars. The book is well written, the backstory is trashy trash kaka.
Safe with exceptions - let me know if you need details, I’m not currently in the mood to lay them all out.
Where do I even begin?
The story itself was well-written and mostly enjoyable. I actually liked it a lot when the story wasn’t focused on the MC’s pasts together. Unfortunately, the ending of this book really left a bad taste in my mouth because it focused so heavily on the hero’s misdeeds. On top of that, the heroine forgave the hero way too easily all along the way. Not only did she jump right into his life and bed, but she also forgave him without much effort on his part. There seemed to be an attempt at a redemption arc, but it was pretty poorly executed.
Comparing how the hero and heroine spent their 10 years apart is absolutely painful.
->The poor heroine remained alone (while being engaged for 10 years to an already married man), a virgin who had only ever been desired or kissed by the hero, and ended up in dire financial straits.
->The hero got married, had a son, had plenty of money, had mistresses when his wife and him were on the outs. He didn’t even care that his wife cheated, so why should that be used as some kind of point in his favor? He was fine with her being with other men, and he wasn’t celibate at all.
->There was some allusion to him being lonely, maybe to gain some sympathy from the reader - but the heroine was as well. They both really only had one friend.
-> At the end when we are told that the heroine had another man interested in her, but the hero dissuaded him from asking her to dance? That pretty much killed the book for me. THAT IS SUCH FUCKING BULLSHIT WHEN HE KNEW HE WOULD BE MARRYING SOMEONE ELSE!!
Overall, the only way to have made the backstory of this book slightly more tolerable would have been to give the heroine a good life for those 10 years!! It’s bullshit and so fucking despicable that the heroine was written to have had nearly all the bad luck as a result of the hero’s shitty actions. Meanwhile, he lived a pretty good life without her.
I don’t care how he pined for her, I don’t care that he had been in love with her all along, I don’t care that he was a victim of his father’s whims and circumstance. He was never worthy of a second chance, not with this heroine. She deserved to find someone who had never betrayed her in such a callous way. Instead, we got an unbelievable “redemption arc” for a hero who never should have been called the word.
If any other author had written this, I have no doubt I would have rated this at 2 stars. The book is well written, the backstory is trashy trash kaka.
Safe with exceptions - let me know if you need details, I’m not currently in the mood to lay them all out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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September 19, 2024I'm about 75% of the way through but I think I'm going to call it quits.
This reads a lot more like her medieval series than the Prizefighters and it has the same pitfalls: slice of life is very fun when you're meeting an unusual cast of characters at fairs and theaters. When it's pages upon pages about a new aristocrat redecorating her home it gets... tedious.
Jeremy Vance, the viscount, is a memorable side character in A Bride for the Prizefighter, a thoughtless cad who is also somehow a doting father. He gets divorced from his cruel wife in that book, and in A Foolish Flirtation he rekindles a romance with a penniless former heiress. The conflict of the book is supposed to be that ten years ago Jeremy cruelly flirted and flaunted poor Emmeline, only to turn around and marry someone else.
But Coldbreath, for some reason, is not really comfortable with the idea of Jeremy actually being cruel, and she consistently frames him as sympathetic and removes any possible tension. Emmeline is hurt by the memory of Jeremy toying with her but she also says she always knew it wasn't serious and didn't have any real expectations of him ten years ago. In Jeremy's point of view, he was in love with Emmeline and just wanted to be around her, even knowing they weren't going to marry. Coldbreath alludes to smirks and casually cutting behavior on Jeremy's part, but since this is not a dual timeline novel (bizarre choice for a second chance romance, by the way!), we never actually see any of that. There's no anguish, no drama, no reason to care.
I also didn't understand why Jeremy ever loved Emmeline, aside from the many asides that she has his ideal body type. Okay, that's wonderful! But maybe we could get a flashback scene or something of them falling in love?
This reads a lot more like her medieval series than the Prizefighters and it has the same pitfalls: slice of life is very fun when you're meeting an unusual cast of characters at fairs and theaters. When it's pages upon pages about a new aristocrat redecorating her home it gets... tedious.
Jeremy Vance, the viscount, is a memorable side character in A Bride for the Prizefighter, a thoughtless cad who is also somehow a doting father. He gets divorced from his cruel wife in that book, and in A Foolish Flirtation he rekindles a romance with a penniless former heiress. The conflict of the book is supposed to be that ten years ago Jeremy cruelly flirted and flaunted poor Emmeline, only to turn around and marry someone else.
But Coldbreath, for some reason, is not really comfortable with the idea of Jeremy actually being cruel, and she consistently frames him as sympathetic and removes any possible tension. Emmeline is hurt by the memory of Jeremy toying with her but she also says she always knew it wasn't serious and didn't have any real expectations of him ten years ago. In Jeremy's point of view, he was in love with Emmeline and just wanted to be around her, even knowing they weren't going to marry. Coldbreath alludes to smirks and casually cutting behavior on Jeremy's part, but since this is not a dual timeline novel (bizarre choice for a second chance romance, by the way!), we never actually see any of that. There's no anguish, no drama, no reason to care.
I also didn't understand why Jeremy ever loved Emmeline, aside from the many asides that she has his ideal body type. Okay, that's wonderful! But maybe we could get a flashback scene or something of them falling in love?
Want to read
September 15, 2024Scared for this because ten years later….but I love Alice so 🤭😋🤞🤞
Omggggggg it’s finally here!!!!
Omggggggg it’s finally here!!!!
September 21, 2024
After 10 years, he shows up, and she jumps right back in because who needs self-respect when you’ve got a plot this dumb?
September 21, 2024
Second chance romances are not my favorite. Typically, I’m unhappy revisiting why a relationship failed in the first place and there’s usually not enough change/growth for me. Alice Coldbreath though is a favorite historical author so I went in with tempered expectations but hoping for that character magic she usually brings.
This second chance is a little different since Jeremy (H) and Emmeline (h) were never truly able to be together, only dance and flirt at balls before both their hearts were broken. We get their history in bits and pieces as the book begins ten years later. Both are in the same part of England and when Jeremy seeks Emmie out, at the encouragement of his son, he finds her in a vulnerable position that gives him the opportunity to propose a marriage that could benefit them both, when really, he just wants the woman he’s always wanted. Whereas she has all sorts of concerns and misgivings because she felt she was foolish over him in their youth and doesn’t want to be made a mockery of. Their romance is character-driven with the focus remaining on the main characters to sort out their new marriage and the lingering ghosts of the past. I did enjoy several parts of this book, while others fell flat. I’m going to do a bullet point list for once because I don’t like how my written out thoughts are coalescing.
Written in third person, dual POV. No ow drama, some om drama since h starts the book with a fiancé (but ends that shortly in). H is experienced (he was married and had a couple affairs in between the 10 years they’ve been apart, though no mention of any recent relationships) and h is inexperienced. H's past love life isn't given much detail, just brief mentions. I wasn't as bothered by the fact that he'd been married and divorced while the h was stagnant basically because he was so miserable and couldn't even bear to find out what she was up to because he assumed she was happily married with children.
What I liked:
- Jeremy was significantly better than I thought he was going to be. He was a side character in the first book of Ms. Coldbreath’s Prizefighter series and thankfully, he’s grown a lot since the events of that book. He’s a solid father, he’s trying to have a relationship with his half-siblings, and he acknowledges that his past behaviors were not always right. He’s sober, but still slyly charming, and he’s so down bad for Emmie. He would do anything for her and he does a lot.
- Jeremy’s young son, Teddy, was precocious and adorable. I was totally charmed by him and so was Emmie. I liked their budding relationship, as well as the relationship that Teddy formed with Emmie’s companion, Pinky.
- Side characters in general - this is one of Ms. Coldbreath’s strengths as a writer, she builds a supporting cast that truly stand out in her works. I also liked that there was a bit of a blossoming side romance that seemed oddly paired but was also sweet. Jeremy’s best friend was a nice inclusion too and how he tried to put a bug in Emmie’s ear regarding Jeremy’s true motivations.
- Specific side characters of Mina and Will Nye (plus baby) - Mina’s only in one scene and Nye in two, but it was so good to see them again!
- The day to day activities are once again a highlight, though some of these were less interesting than in some of her past books.
- The steam is good and there were a couple of interesting scenes that really sparkled and were unique to Jeremy and Emmie I felt. He worships her figure and enjoys watching her care for herself (not an euphemism).
- The epilogue is so sweet, it’s a few months out and they’re in their HEA and embracing their relationship, past and all.
What worked less for me:
- I’m sorry, but Emmie was a harder character for me to get behind because she tended to be so passive in terms of how she ended up in her current circumstances (not a good place). She came across as kinda ridiculous and her motivations were just more difficult for me to understand. Then it took time for her to get her footing in her new married life to be able to speak up for herself more, which made sense, however she also seemed to lack insight into the nuances around her still.
- How long it took these two to address their past and move forward completely. Emmie didn’t want to discuss it since it was so painful for her and Jeremy saw their past interactions from a completely different perspective and was trying to treat it as more of a jumping off point into their new marriage. They circle around it, have many, many internal thoughts regarding the past and the present, and genuinely needed to hash everything out far earlier than they did. It reached painful levels for me honestly. Sometimes they’d tiptoe to the edge and get a small amount of the festering out, then it’d be backwards but with new sensitivities lying between them too.
- Jeremy not realizing why Emmie was as upset as she was until a particularly emotional scene. It should have dawned on him earlier given how he was obsessed with her and how her life turned out.
- I did wish that Emmie’s ex-fiance had gotten a bit more punishment. The man was awful and he and his partner didn’t truly suffer any consequences. There is a scene where he gets a little of what he deserved and it’s a great scene that also leads to Jeremy and Emmie laying all their cards on the table. I’m just more vindictive.
I know some other friends have also rated this similarly and have great reviews up. I do think this is a harder one to pin down whether other friends will love it or be frustrated by some of the same plot points and characterizations. Of course, I still loved Coldbreath’s writing style and the details she inserts. Plus, even though this has a titled H, the setting is in Cornwall on their estate vs London society. Still, lots of money being tossed around. There’s a possible hint maybe at what the next pairing could be between Jeremy’s best friend and a local woman but it wasn’t clear. I’m curious about both of their individual situations that are mentioned in this book.
This second chance is a little different since Jeremy (H) and Emmeline (h) were never truly able to be together, only dance and flirt at balls before both their hearts were broken. We get their history in bits and pieces as the book begins ten years later. Both are in the same part of England and when Jeremy seeks Emmie out, at the encouragement of his son, he finds her in a vulnerable position that gives him the opportunity to propose a marriage that could benefit them both, when really, he just wants the woman he’s always wanted. Whereas she has all sorts of concerns and misgivings because she felt she was foolish over him in their youth and doesn’t want to be made a mockery of. Their romance is character-driven with the focus remaining on the main characters to sort out their new marriage and the lingering ghosts of the past. I did enjoy several parts of this book, while others fell flat. I’m going to do a bullet point list for once because I don’t like how my written out thoughts are coalescing.
Written in third person, dual POV. No ow drama, some om drama since h starts the book with a fiancé (but ends that shortly in). H is experienced (he was married and had a couple affairs in between the 10 years they’ve been apart, though no mention of any recent relationships) and h is inexperienced. H's past love life isn't given much detail, just brief mentions. I wasn't as bothered by the fact that he'd been married and divorced while the h was stagnant basically because he was so miserable and couldn't even bear to find out what she was up to because he assumed she was happily married with children.
What I liked:
- Jeremy was significantly better than I thought he was going to be. He was a side character in the first book of Ms. Coldbreath’s Prizefighter series and thankfully, he’s grown a lot since the events of that book. He’s a solid father, he’s trying to have a relationship with his half-siblings, and he acknowledges that his past behaviors were not always right. He’s sober, but still slyly charming, and he’s so down bad for Emmie. He would do anything for her and he does a lot.
- Jeremy’s young son, Teddy, was precocious and adorable. I was totally charmed by him and so was Emmie. I liked their budding relationship, as well as the relationship that Teddy formed with Emmie’s companion, Pinky.
- Side characters in general - this is one of Ms. Coldbreath’s strengths as a writer, she builds a supporting cast that truly stand out in her works. I also liked that there was a bit of a blossoming side romance that seemed oddly paired but was also sweet. Jeremy’s best friend was a nice inclusion too and how he tried to put a bug in Emmie’s ear regarding Jeremy’s true motivations.
- Specific side characters of Mina and Will Nye (plus baby) - Mina’s only in one scene and Nye in two, but it was so good to see them again!
- The day to day activities are once again a highlight, though some of these were less interesting than in some of her past books.
- The steam is good and there were a couple of interesting scenes that really sparkled and were unique to Jeremy and Emmie I felt. He worships her figure and enjoys watching her care for herself (not an euphemism).
- The epilogue is so sweet, it’s a few months out and they’re in their HEA and embracing their relationship, past and all.
What worked less for me:
- I’m sorry, but Emmie was a harder character for me to get behind because she tended to be so passive in terms of how she ended up in her current circumstances (not a good place). She came across as kinda ridiculous and her motivations were just more difficult for me to understand. Then it took time for her to get her footing in her new married life to be able to speak up for herself more, which made sense, however she also seemed to lack insight into the nuances around her still.
- How long it took these two to address their past and move forward completely. Emmie didn’t want to discuss it since it was so painful for her and Jeremy saw their past interactions from a completely different perspective and was trying to treat it as more of a jumping off point into their new marriage. They circle around it, have many, many internal thoughts regarding the past and the present, and genuinely needed to hash everything out far earlier than they did. It reached painful levels for me honestly. Sometimes they’d tiptoe to the edge and get a small amount of the festering out, then it’d be backwards but with new sensitivities lying between them too.
- Jeremy not realizing why Emmie was as upset as she was until a particularly emotional scene. It should have dawned on him earlier given how he was obsessed with her and how her life turned out.
- I did wish that Emmie’s ex-fiance had gotten a bit more punishment. The man was awful and he and his partner didn’t truly suffer any consequences. There is a scene where he gets a little of what he deserved and it’s a great scene that also leads to Jeremy and Emmie laying all their cards on the table. I’m just more vindictive.
I know some other friends have also rated this similarly and have great reviews up. I do think this is a harder one to pin down whether other friends will love it or be frustrated by some of the same plot points and characterizations. Of course, I still loved Coldbreath’s writing style and the details she inserts. Plus, even though this has a titled H, the setting is in Cornwall on their estate vs London society. Still, lots of money being tossed around. There’s a possible hint maybe at what the next pairing could be between Jeremy’s best friend and a local woman but it wasn’t clear. I’m curious about both of their individual situations that are mentioned in this book.
September 28, 2024
I’ve been waiting for Jeremy’s book since the first Prizefighter book came out. And finally it arrived.
And thankfully he didn’t have change of character just because it’s his book. He was still his usually double dealing, not plainly speaking fun and sad man.
Emmie, his love interest, was soft on the outside of her character but had a hard core and could stand up for herself when needed.
I liked the slow pace of the book. The MCs world was like a companion to me and when I finished the book I was sad I could not go back and spend more time in their world. However with that said, it did feel slow. There were many detailed moments that felt unnecessary and uninteresting (sorry AC).
What I really liked though was the theme of this love story which I felt it was about polite relationships that stem from respect and how they can lead to killing of fire of passion.
I enjoyed watching these two come together but I would love to see more “impolite” sexy scenes between them :)
We get one really good sex scene at the breakfast table of all places. Never read anything like that before.
So just for that everyone should read it.
And thankfully he didn’t have change of character just because it’s his book. He was still his usually double dealing, not plainly speaking fun and sad man.
Emmie, his love interest, was soft on the outside of her character but had a hard core and could stand up for herself when needed.
I liked the slow pace of the book. The MCs world was like a companion to me and when I finished the book I was sad I could not go back and spend more time in their world. However with that said, it did feel slow. There were many detailed moments that felt unnecessary and uninteresting (sorry AC).
What I really liked though was the theme of this love story which I felt it was about polite relationships that stem from respect and how they can lead to killing of fire of passion.
I enjoyed watching these two come together but I would love to see more “impolite” sexy scenes between them :)
We get one really good sex scene at the breakfast table of all places. Never read anything like that before.
So just for that everyone should read it.
September 18, 2024
I was very excited for the release of this book. I have enjoyed all of AC books so far. I loved Jeremy's character after seeing him in Bride for the Prizefighter.
I did like the relationship between Emmie and Jeremy. I liked that they both just adored each other, though they didn't make it known to the other one right away. Emmie didn't really fight Jeremy on the marriage at all or even going to the country with him. I liked that there was no bickering but they did have a lot of miscommunication to work through. I do wish that wasn't so drawn out.
There were several things that didn't work for me in this book. I thought several scenes with side characters were too long winded. I wish those were more concise and to the point. I was getting bored in some of them. While this story did have domestic elements that AC does so well in her other books, this story of Emmie redecorating wasn't very interesting. AC also writes very good spice. We were robbed in this story. I thought the few scenes that we got early on in the book were ok. But we never got anything after they declared their love. It was skipped over. We also did not get the reenactment scene in the conservatory. I was so looking forward to that because it would have been so sweet.
While we got to see more of Jeremy being a good dad, we did miss out on some of his sass that he had in Bride for the Prizefighter.
I did like learning more about Colfax and seeing him find love.
Overall, I will still be reading more from AC. Just a bit bummed by this one.
I did like the relationship between Emmie and Jeremy. I liked that they both just adored each other, though they didn't make it known to the other one right away. Emmie didn't really fight Jeremy on the marriage at all or even going to the country with him. I liked that there was no bickering but they did have a lot of miscommunication to work through. I do wish that wasn't so drawn out.
There were several things that didn't work for me in this book. I thought several scenes with side characters were too long winded. I wish those were more concise and to the point. I was getting bored in some of them. While this story did have domestic elements that AC does so well in her other books, this story of Emmie redecorating wasn't very interesting. AC also writes very good spice. We were robbed in this story. I thought the few scenes that we got early on in the book were ok. But we never got anything after they declared their love. It was skipped over. We also did not get the reenactment scene in the conservatory. I was so looking forward to that because it would have been so sweet.
While we got to see more of Jeremy being a good dad, we did miss out on some of his sass that he had in Bride for the Prizefighter.
I did like learning more about Colfax and seeing him find love.
Overall, I will still be reading more from AC. Just a bit bummed by this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2024
I really liked this! Not quite the way I loved the Prizefighters books, which are set in the same universe, but those books are so unique, whereas this is well-trodden territory for the genre.
Victorian era. Divorced aristocrat - Mina's cad brother, Jeremy, if you are a Prizefighters fan - marries long lost love who he abandoned years ago. Coldbreath writes domestic marriage of convenience books so absurdly well, but I didn't warm to either MMC or FMC quite as much as I have with some of her other characters.
That being said, I would still read literally anything Coldbreath publishes.
Victorian era. Divorced aristocrat - Mina's cad brother, Jeremy, if you are a Prizefighters fan - marries long lost love who he abandoned years ago. Coldbreath writes domestic marriage of convenience books so absurdly well, but I didn't warm to either MMC or FMC quite as much as I have with some of her other characters.
That being said, I would still read literally anything Coldbreath publishes.
November 9, 2025
its more like 3.75
second chance with 10 year separation oh boy,,,
book starts with well after divorce of our mmc and his wife, now don't mistake this as a good marriage she continuously cheated on him and humiliated him (to me that's karma you will also see it) and MMC son while on a playdate learns about our FMC and how good they were during that time 10 years ago and tells MMC he wants her as his new mom (i did love Teddy a lot during the book and he was so cute)
now during their 10-year apart he was not celibate because he thought FMC was so amazing she would have been married happily by now.... but after learning her 10-year-long fiancée was already married and bankrupted her dads job he married her by kinda manipulating her (which i am all here for)
his yearning was top notch, i loved their relationship, and smut lol
now he made me mad for tad bit too many times during, accusing her for not caring about him, kinda making FMC think he only wanted her for his image etc.
onto thing he made me so mad for, HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO BE MARRIED EVEN BEGINNING OF SEASON WHEN HE FLIRTED WITH HER AND KISSED HER!! HE GAVE HER HOPE AND RUINED HER REPUTATION, he even says at one point he was gonna ask her to be his mistress girl.......
safety,
no ow, to me he did not have many mistresses, and they were only in London not Cornwall where they live fortunately,
Jeremy had instead followed his own inclinations, which had included an opera singer or two. They had lived largely separate lives whilst residing under the same London roof. They had carried on this way until six months later when, shortly after Teddy’s birth, his father’s unexpected death meant Jeremy had succeeded to the title. He had then made it plain that he would not tolerate her bringing “London ways” to Cornwall. At Vance Park, he expected them both to present a respectable front..
small om, MMC is diseased with jealousy (this was amazing) but nothing happened even when they were engaged
quotes to see his yearning and my madness
Jeremy felt an unpleasant sensation that he had to examine a moment to even identify. Jealousy. How strange. It was not an affliction he had ever suffered from before, and Amanda had taken several lovers in the collapsing days of their marriage. He was jealous of a dowdy spinster companion. “She must have been in your employ for some years.”.
girl 11 percent in,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
He smiled at her. “And yet I thought only of you, Emmeline,” he admitted in a low voice, making her blush.
“My God, Emmeline,” he started shakily, “I knew it would be good between us but this. It surpasses everything. I can’t wait, forgive me, my darling.”
“Yes,” she murmured. Yes, she forgave him for his haste? His thoughts were scattered and lust-filled as he gazed down searchingly at the blissful expression on her face. Her eyes were half shut and her lips parted. Christ, she was exquisite. He had known this at nineteen, so why had it taken him a decade to rediscover her?
At this point Teddy sat up with an exclamation. “The key!” he said, pointing at the door which led to Jeremy’s suite. “It’s this side now!” He looked around the table with wondering eyes. “Papa always keeps it locked and on his side of the door!”
Hated himself. He could barely stand to be inside his own skin this morning. What the fuck had he done?
She had not even come into his room to get those fucking letters, he realized now, too late. She had come to seek him out. The first time she had ever ventured his side of the door, and how had he reacted? By being a nasty, jealous prick, that was how.
He had seen fit to judge her feelings for her father, and had jibed at her, despite hearing at least a couple of things previously that had made him suspect her father was a nasty bastard too. Remembering how pretty and nervous she had looked in her new nightgown, her toes peeping out beneath the hem, he felt a fresh wave of scalding shame wash over him.
Well, she would never trust him like that again. She had locked the connecting door, and if there was any justice in this world, it would remain locked against him forevermore. He, Jeremy, had hugely fucked things up and not for the first time. Not by a long shot. He could almost cry, he realized, dragging a forearm over his tired eyes.
Great. Now he was sniveling, like the craven worm he was. How could he have spoken to her like that, and ruined everything with a few careless, unguarded words? So fucking stupid, he would never forgive himself. Everything had been perfect all day, and then like a fucking idiot, he had wantonly destroyed the progress he had made with her.
this was after their big fight of him accusing her never caring about their past relationship and her father, which again made me furious
“I must say, even though I believe in perfect truth between husband and wife, I think that was a misstep.”
Jeremy frowned at her. “What are you talking about?”
“Do you mean to tell me,” Nye interrupted them, “that with all your fancy schooling, Faris, you told a woman you were marrying her purely because you wanted her in your bed?”
“No! Not that… Well, maybe socially,” Jeremy admitted wretchedly. “I spoiled her marriage prospects and made a disaster of her London season. I courted her, quite openly, then turned around and married Amanda. I exposed her to public ridicule and private condemnation. I was incredibly selfish. I hurt her. Beyond forgiveness. Beyond repair.”
It makes me fear that once again, this is all just a grand jest to you, and that I am once more the butt of the joke. That you, my lord, are not remotely in earnest.
this is emmies inner thoughts, like how can i not be in love with her.
“Then”— he paused—“ will you wait for me to… to put on your face cream and brush your hair?” He spoke the words lightly but the way he avoided her eyes and colored faintly clued her in to the fact he was earnest in his request.
Emmie reflected on the odd thing he had said about “settling for whatever intimacy she would afford him.”
“All the more reason for us to choose a book before she departs, so she can take a copy with her. Did I tell you I bought them in sets of three?”
Emmie’s eyes widened. “You bought three copies of every book?”
“Certainly, I did. I told you, did I not, that I wanted to start our own book club just for the three of us.”
HE IS AMAZING AT TIMES ALSO LIKE STOP PLAYING WITH MY HEART.
“You are very observant.”
“Not really,” he answered with a shrug. “Only when it comes to you.”
The trouble was, he did not think she had ever trusted him much in the first place. How could she? He had never given her cause.
He would never, ever forget the way she had broken down that night. Clenching his fist, he vowed he must never allow himself
“You’re right,” he agreed quite readily. “My actions were not those of an honorable man. Over the years they very rarely have been. But all the same, at that time the choice of bride was not mine to make. If I could have avoided it, I would never have announced it that night. I would never have married her at all. You must know that, Emmeline.”
“How would I know that? You never told me anything. You just kissed me senseless, and then left me at the bottom of the stairs, while you stood at the top of them and announced you were to be wed. It was the most painful night of my life!” Tears sprang to her eyes. “So very, very painful, and you will never understand how I felt! Standing at the foot of those stairs while you— while you—”
“You think I do not understand a broken heart?” he interrupted her incredulously. “How do you think I felt having to make that bloody announcement? I had been dreading it since the day I met you. It had not bothered me particularly in the beginning. Marriage was just a duty, like many others that were incumbent on my position. And then I met you, at the Wallingfords’ tea party in Cavendish Square.”
“If you imagine you were the only one who suffered then you are wrong,” he said unsteadily. “Knowing the announcement was drawing closer and closer with each day, and that we would have to part… I had to drink like a demon even to get through it. If I had not…” His words trailed
“I never should have imposed on you like I did but I could never regret that time, how could I? It was the only time I have ever—” He could not continue for a minute. “Been truly happy,” he concluded after a heavy pause. “It was wrong of me,” he said again, his voice hoarse, “but, I have never, ever forgotten a single moment I spent in your company, and that kiss we shared is my most precious memory of all.” His voice shook.
I’m going to build that bloody conservatory and that ridiculous amphitheater and whatever the hell else takes my fancy in my stupid, hopeless quest to try and win your heart.
“I kept bringing it up, because to me, that kiss in the conservatory was my most treasured memory. I was trying to— to reconnect us to our past.”
“Over the years, I tried to push you out of my thoughts altogether. The last thing I wanted to know was that you were blissfully married to some solid man of business and a happy mother of five children.” He gave her an uneasy glance. “I’m unspeakably selfish like that.”
“I see,” she murmured. “And then I found out that life had treated you so unfairly, Ballentine. And instead of being appalled by the hand you had been dealt, I was gleeful.” The arm about her waist tightened perceptibly. “Because that meant I still had a chance to get you up the aisle. If Stockton had not confessed all to you that morning, I still would have found some way of outing him from your affections.”
second chance with 10 year separation oh boy,,,
book starts with well after divorce of our mmc and his wife, now don't mistake this as a good marriage she continuously cheated on him and humiliated him (to me that's karma you will also see it) and MMC son while on a playdate learns about our FMC and how good they were during that time 10 years ago and tells MMC he wants her as his new mom (i did love Teddy a lot during the book and he was so cute)
now during their 10-year apart he was not celibate because he thought FMC was so amazing she would have been married happily by now.... but after learning her 10-year-long fiancée was already married and bankrupted her dads job he married her by kinda manipulating her (which i am all here for)
his yearning was top notch, i loved their relationship, and smut lol
now he made me mad for tad bit too many times during, accusing her for not caring about him, kinda making FMC think he only wanted her for his image etc.
onto thing he made me so mad for, HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO BE MARRIED EVEN BEGINNING OF SEASON WHEN HE FLIRTED WITH HER AND KISSED HER!! HE GAVE HER HOPE AND RUINED HER REPUTATION, he even says at one point he was gonna ask her to be his mistress girl.......
safety,
no ow, to me he did not have many mistresses, and they were only in London not Cornwall where they live fortunately,
Jeremy had instead followed his own inclinations, which had included an opera singer or two. They had lived largely separate lives whilst residing under the same London roof. They had carried on this way until six months later when, shortly after Teddy’s birth, his father’s unexpected death meant Jeremy had succeeded to the title. He had then made it plain that he would not tolerate her bringing “London ways” to Cornwall. At Vance Park, he expected them both to present a respectable front..
small om, MMC is diseased with jealousy (this was amazing) but nothing happened even when they were engaged
quotes to see his yearning and my madness
Jeremy felt an unpleasant sensation that he had to examine a moment to even identify. Jealousy. How strange. It was not an affliction he had ever suffered from before, and Amanda had taken several lovers in the collapsing days of their marriage. He was jealous of a dowdy spinster companion. “She must have been in your employ for some years.”.
girl 11 percent in,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
He smiled at her. “And yet I thought only of you, Emmeline,” he admitted in a low voice, making her blush.
“My God, Emmeline,” he started shakily, “I knew it would be good between us but this. It surpasses everything. I can’t wait, forgive me, my darling.”
“Yes,” she murmured. Yes, she forgave him for his haste? His thoughts were scattered and lust-filled as he gazed down searchingly at the blissful expression on her face. Her eyes were half shut and her lips parted. Christ, she was exquisite. He had known this at nineteen, so why had it taken him a decade to rediscover her?
At this point Teddy sat up with an exclamation. “The key!” he said, pointing at the door which led to Jeremy’s suite. “It’s this side now!” He looked around the table with wondering eyes. “Papa always keeps it locked and on his side of the door!”
Hated himself. He could barely stand to be inside his own skin this morning. What the fuck had he done?
She had not even come into his room to get those fucking letters, he realized now, too late. She had come to seek him out. The first time she had ever ventured his side of the door, and how had he reacted? By being a nasty, jealous prick, that was how.
He had seen fit to judge her feelings for her father, and had jibed at her, despite hearing at least a couple of things previously that had made him suspect her father was a nasty bastard too. Remembering how pretty and nervous she had looked in her new nightgown, her toes peeping out beneath the hem, he felt a fresh wave of scalding shame wash over him.
Well, she would never trust him like that again. She had locked the connecting door, and if there was any justice in this world, it would remain locked against him forevermore. He, Jeremy, had hugely fucked things up and not for the first time. Not by a long shot. He could almost cry, he realized, dragging a forearm over his tired eyes.
Great. Now he was sniveling, like the craven worm he was. How could he have spoken to her like that, and ruined everything with a few careless, unguarded words? So fucking stupid, he would never forgive himself. Everything had been perfect all day, and then like a fucking idiot, he had wantonly destroyed the progress he had made with her.
this was after their big fight of him accusing her never caring about their past relationship and her father, which again made me furious
“I must say, even though I believe in perfect truth between husband and wife, I think that was a misstep.”
Jeremy frowned at her. “What are you talking about?”
“Do you mean to tell me,” Nye interrupted them, “that with all your fancy schooling, Faris, you told a woman you were marrying her purely because you wanted her in your bed?”
“No! Not that… Well, maybe socially,” Jeremy admitted wretchedly. “I spoiled her marriage prospects and made a disaster of her London season. I courted her, quite openly, then turned around and married Amanda. I exposed her to public ridicule and private condemnation. I was incredibly selfish. I hurt her. Beyond forgiveness. Beyond repair.”
It makes me fear that once again, this is all just a grand jest to you, and that I am once more the butt of the joke. That you, my lord, are not remotely in earnest.
this is emmies inner thoughts, like how can i not be in love with her.
“Then”— he paused—“ will you wait for me to… to put on your face cream and brush your hair?” He spoke the words lightly but the way he avoided her eyes and colored faintly clued her in to the fact he was earnest in his request.
Emmie reflected on the odd thing he had said about “settling for whatever intimacy she would afford him.”
“All the more reason for us to choose a book before she departs, so she can take a copy with her. Did I tell you I bought them in sets of three?”
Emmie’s eyes widened. “You bought three copies of every book?”
“Certainly, I did. I told you, did I not, that I wanted to start our own book club just for the three of us.”
HE IS AMAZING AT TIMES ALSO LIKE STOP PLAYING WITH MY HEART.
“You are very observant.”
“Not really,” he answered with a shrug. “Only when it comes to you.”
The trouble was, he did not think she had ever trusted him much in the first place. How could she? He had never given her cause.
He would never, ever forget the way she had broken down that night. Clenching his fist, he vowed he must never allow himself
“You’re right,” he agreed quite readily. “My actions were not those of an honorable man. Over the years they very rarely have been. But all the same, at that time the choice of bride was not mine to make. If I could have avoided it, I would never have announced it that night. I would never have married her at all. You must know that, Emmeline.”
“How would I know that? You never told me anything. You just kissed me senseless, and then left me at the bottom of the stairs, while you stood at the top of them and announced you were to be wed. It was the most painful night of my life!” Tears sprang to her eyes. “So very, very painful, and you will never understand how I felt! Standing at the foot of those stairs while you— while you—”
“You think I do not understand a broken heart?” he interrupted her incredulously. “How do you think I felt having to make that bloody announcement? I had been dreading it since the day I met you. It had not bothered me particularly in the beginning. Marriage was just a duty, like many others that were incumbent on my position. And then I met you, at the Wallingfords’ tea party in Cavendish Square.”
“If you imagine you were the only one who suffered then you are wrong,” he said unsteadily. “Knowing the announcement was drawing closer and closer with each day, and that we would have to part… I had to drink like a demon even to get through it. If I had not…” His words trailed
“I never should have imposed on you like I did but I could never regret that time, how could I? It was the only time I have ever—” He could not continue for a minute. “Been truly happy,” he concluded after a heavy pause. “It was wrong of me,” he said again, his voice hoarse, “but, I have never, ever forgotten a single moment I spent in your company, and that kiss we shared is my most precious memory of all.” His voice shook.
I’m going to build that bloody conservatory and that ridiculous amphitheater and whatever the hell else takes my fancy in my stupid, hopeless quest to try and win your heart.
“I kept bringing it up, because to me, that kiss in the conservatory was my most treasured memory. I was trying to— to reconnect us to our past.”
“Over the years, I tried to push you out of my thoughts altogether. The last thing I wanted to know was that you were blissfully married to some solid man of business and a happy mother of five children.” He gave her an uneasy glance. “I’m unspeakably selfish like that.”
“I see,” she murmured. “And then I found out that life had treated you so unfairly, Ballentine. And instead of being appalled by the hand you had been dealt, I was gleeful.” The arm about her waist tightened perceptibly. “Because that meant I still had a chance to get you up the aisle. If Stockton had not confessed all to you that morning, I still would have found some way of outing him from your affections.”
September 23, 2024
3 ⭐️
Review to come eventually.
Just know that I’m not the biggest fan of second chance romances. My favorite part of books is the meet cute and the initial development of a relationship. I want to watch the characters fall in love, I don’t like being there in the aftermath.
Original post:
OMG WE FINALLY HAVE A COVER AND RELEASE DATE!!!!!
I'm subscribed to Coldbreath's newsletter and I was beyond excited when she shared the approximate release date for Jeremy's story. The second this baby goes up I'm calling in sick to work and reading it.
Review to come eventually.
Just know that I’m not the biggest fan of second chance romances. My favorite part of books is the meet cute and the initial development of a relationship. I want to watch the characters fall in love, I don’t like being there in the aftermath.
Original post:
OMG WE FINALLY HAVE A COVER AND RELEASE DATE!!!!!
I'm subscribed to Coldbreath's newsletter and I was beyond excited when she shared the approximate release date for Jeremy's story. The second this baby goes up I'm calling in sick to work and reading it.
October 7, 2024
4.5 stars
My very first Alice Coldbreath! And not my last one 😍!
This book was not perfect but was close to. AC's pen had a very delicate and riveting quality to it that transported me into the story from the very first chapter. I loved all the characters, both the leads and the supporting cast (Teddy ❤) - they had wit, were charming and had many layers. The middle part was a bit slow, but I still enjoyed how AC carefully enriched the family life into which Emmie fell (e.g. her interactions with Jeremy).
The angst happened in the painful past of Emmeline and Jeremy but the writing still managed to make their hurt vibrant and wrenched a few tears from me. I loved, loved that trope of the h having the heartbreak to watch the H get engaged to another. (Of course, greedy me would have loved even more if their past drama had been unveiled as it happened.)
Though Jeremy was said to be a very selfish cad when he first met Emmeline, older Jeremy was just love (and his obsession with Venuses because of Emmeline was *chef's kiss* 🥰!). His deep regrets came across as palpable and sincere. So angst worthy! And his careful and thoughtful mending of all his sins against Emmeline was wonderfully done. His every considerate actions for her were not only heart melting but also so sweet and sigh-worthy. (I guess it would technically qualify as grovelling, but for me, I prefer to say he was mending what he broke, which somehow felt truer and sweeter). I would have loved reading even more of his inner turmoil (esp. what went through his mind when he realised Emmeline was free and in need of saving) but as it was, I was already in tears.
I expect I will be re-reading choice parts often in the future 😊!
P.S. I did not realise until late in the book, that this book was a direct sequel to often recommended A Bride for the Prizefighter! I really must read that one soon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2024
3.5. RTC!
A lot of GR mutuals have come to similar conclusions as to why this book is good but not great. I wish the author had not pulled back on the hero being a dick. The heroine, a merchant’s daughter, is enthralled by the confident aristocrat who was likely just toying with her to amuse himself and his friends at her expense. They meet a decade later and he proposes a marriage of convenience with her.
I would have wanted to see the hero be that dissipated aristocrat who later turned it around. Instead, the truth of it was… he was actually sincere the entire time.
As for why they are attracted to each other, I felt the hero constantly loved how she responded to him. He loved that she was always happy to see him, and that he liked her figure, but what do they have to bond about? It’s not that that is bad but it is empty when we don’t see how their conversations were particularly special or full of chemistry.
It’s hard because the hero was a lout in the author’s previous book, and now he’s changed his character. However, I just didn’t connect with it the way I hoped. I also felt the middle part didn’t interest me enough. I usually like how Alice Coldbreath writes her slice of life, but the whole redecorating the family estate didn’t hook me in, either.
Unfortunately, the last two books I read by this author had heroes who don’t have the same bite or charisma, and it leaves the stories feeling too safe and flat. I prefer her books where there is more angst and passion.
A lot of GR mutuals have come to similar conclusions as to why this book is good but not great. I wish the author had not pulled back on the hero being a dick. The heroine, a merchant’s daughter, is enthralled by the confident aristocrat who was likely just toying with her to amuse himself and his friends at her expense. They meet a decade later and he proposes a marriage of convenience with her.
I would have wanted to see the hero be that dissipated aristocrat who later turned it around. Instead, the truth of it was… he was actually sincere the entire time.
As for why they are attracted to each other, I felt the hero constantly loved how she responded to him. He loved that she was always happy to see him, and that he liked her figure, but what do they have to bond about? It’s not that that is bad but it is empty when we don’t see how their conversations were particularly special or full of chemistry.
It’s hard because the hero was a lout in the author’s previous book, and now he’s changed his character. However, I just didn’t connect with it the way I hoped. I also felt the middle part didn’t interest me enough. I usually like how Alice Coldbreath writes her slice of life, but the whole redecorating the family estate didn’t hook me in, either.
Unfortunately, the last two books I read by this author had heroes who don’t have the same bite or charisma, and it leaves the stories feeling too safe and flat. I prefer her books where there is more angst and passion.
Read
September 17, 2024Sadly, this one is a DNF.
The characters were bland, the story was a bit unfair. The H marries and has a child with his first wife. The h is “engaged” for 10 years but said man is already married to someone else 🤦🏻♀️.
After the h finds out the truth, she wants nothing to do with her ex-fiancé and the H proposes to her then. (She is also in debt and has no money. Jeremy, the H, proposes to solve that problem for her).
When they get together, it was anything but romantic. It’s hinted that 10 years ago, they both had a big crush on each other. I didn’t see this at all. Overall, this book evoked nothing but boredom.
The characters were bland, the story was a bit unfair. The H marries and has a child with his first wife. The h is “engaged” for 10 years but said man is already married to someone else 🤦🏻♀️.
After the h finds out the truth, she wants nothing to do with her ex-fiancé and the H proposes to her then. (She is also in debt and has no money. Jeremy, the H, proposes to solve that problem for her).
When they get together, it was anything but romantic. It’s hinted that 10 years ago, they both had a big crush on each other. I didn’t see this at all. Overall, this book evoked nothing but boredom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2025
this is typical Coldbreath, hero is obsessed and possessive, heroine is sweet and docile but somehow not annoying, she speaks her mind.
I wish he was a little more… gruff or conflicted?
My favorite thing about Jeremy is he was dry and sarcastic in the previous book but we don’t get to see that here, he’s outwardly vulnerable, which is fine but at small expense of his personality.
I do love how Jeremy craved companionship with her, he even bought three copies of each book in their library to start a book club with her and her friend, we definitely the usual Coldbreath hero with big feelings he doesn’t know what to do with. And he does spoil her. He’s protective, the usual.
the second chance aspect didn’t work so well because there weren’t any flashbacks to their courtship, so the angst never felt real. And we know Coldbreath is low plot, so it could’ve used that angstiness. And it’s like, if you’re gonna make it this long why didn’t you include flashbacks to their courtship? that would’ve been a great prologue AT LEAST.
the romance is still sweet and I liked all the characters and wanted them to be happy, I wish there was more palpable friction between the leads but I’m an angst lover, I like to be stressed.
I wish he was a little more… gruff or conflicted?
My favorite thing about Jeremy is he was dry and sarcastic in the previous book but we don’t get to see that here, he’s outwardly vulnerable, which is fine but at small expense of his personality.
I do love how Jeremy craved companionship with her, he even bought three copies of each book in their library to start a book club with her and her friend, we definitely the usual Coldbreath hero with big feelings he doesn’t know what to do with. And he does spoil her. He’s protective, the usual.
the second chance aspect didn’t work so well because there weren’t any flashbacks to their courtship, so the angst never felt real. And we know Coldbreath is low plot, so it could’ve used that angstiness. And it’s like, if you’re gonna make it this long why didn’t you include flashbacks to their courtship? that would’ve been a great prologue AT LEAST.
the romance is still sweet and I liked all the characters and wanted them to be happy, I wish there was more palpable friction between the leads but I’m an angst lover, I like to be stressed.
September 16, 2024
I look forward with great anticipation every time another Coldbreath book is due to be released, and I am never disappointed! Alice masterfully brings her characters to life on the page in a way that few authors can. Each story grabs my attention and has me eagerly turning its pages for hours on end.
Emmie was the perfect heroine, she was kind and sweet but could still hold her own against her love interest. I enjoyed Jeremy’s redemption and the way he took to setting the past to rights. I love the way the second chance romance played out between them. And I greatly enjoyed reading to their happily ever after!
Once again Alice crafts the most versatile and interesting side characters who help bring the story to life. I loved that wily Teddy and poor sweet Pinky. And I’m glad Colfax’s story was finally explained! Such a wonderful cast of characters as usual.
I loved everything about this book, and my only complaint is that now I have to wait for Alice’s next masterpiece! But in the meantime, I’ll head back to Mina’s story and our first introduction to this world.
Emmie was the perfect heroine, she was kind and sweet but could still hold her own against her love interest. I enjoyed Jeremy’s redemption and the way he took to setting the past to rights. I love the way the second chance romance played out between them. And I greatly enjoyed reading to their happily ever after!
Once again Alice crafts the most versatile and interesting side characters who help bring the story to life. I loved that wily Teddy and poor sweet Pinky. And I’m glad Colfax’s story was finally explained! Such a wonderful cast of characters as usual.
I loved everything about this book, and my only complaint is that now I have to wait for Alice’s next masterpiece! But in the meantime, I’ll head back to Mina’s story and our first introduction to this world.
September 16, 2024
Her best yet
This is head-and-shoulders the best book Alice Coldbreath has published and has leapt to the top of my list of favorites. The pining! The groveling! The self-torture! I was not sure how she was going to make me like Lord Faris after the what he did in A Bride For the Prizefighter, and I certainly did not expect it would happen by showing him to have been even more of a jerk than we knew before. But his struggle to be honest with himself and with Emmeline felt real, as did their fights and miscommunications. Emmeline didn’t let him skate by without facing up to what he’d done, and to his credit, he did it.
It was nice to see a bit of the Nyes again. I have always enjoyed her side characters and these are no exception. I am sorry the book is over, and that’s about as high praise as I can get.
This is head-and-shoulders the best book Alice Coldbreath has published and has leapt to the top of my list of favorites. The pining! The groveling! The self-torture! I was not sure how she was going to make me like Lord Faris after the what he did in A Bride For the Prizefighter, and I certainly did not expect it would happen by showing him to have been even more of a jerk than we knew before. But his struggle to be honest with himself and with Emmeline felt real, as did their fights and miscommunications. Emmeline didn’t let him skate by without facing up to what he’d done, and to his credit, he did it.
It was nice to see a bit of the Nyes again. I have always enjoyed her side characters and these are no exception. I am sorry the book is over, and that’s about as high praise as I can get.
November 5, 2024
Alas, despite labeling this as a “convinced no” and staunchly staying away from it, I caved and bought the book. Now I won’t be able to get a refund. I did NOT like it!
First, Ms Coldbreath writes Heroes a particular way and she’s good at it. With Jeremy Vance, tho, she ventured off the beaten path. He’s still very jealous, but he’s not big, tall, strong, and shows the woman he loves with all kinds of small actions so that the reader also falls in love with him.
Here, Jeremy is average height, good looking in a “metro sexual” sort of way, snappy dresser, golden. He’s somewhat witty, he’s wonderful with his son, but I just never really fell for him. Didn’t hate him or anything, even what he did to Emmie in the past, but I don’t love him.
Then there’s Emmie. She was so stuck on how he broke her heart. Understandably she didn’t trust his motivations. And BTW, how he found her (bc his son HAPPENS to mention her and conceives the outlandish request to make him do right by her) is ridiculous. If this is the one thing that triggered him, then give some context to it before we get there!
Emmie agrees to marriage him almost like a biz arrangement. She should have realized (if she had any intelligence) that he didn’t have to MARRY her to have her and still discharge her debts. That he MUST have had other reasons. Why didn’t they just TALK about it all through the entire novel?????
Thirdly, it was boring. BORING! I felt like all the Greek stuff and Aphrodite stuff were fillers. Pinky is a mousy, nervous, irritating woman. Undeserving of strapping, capable Colfax! I wanted Colfax to get a woman (a “lady”) worthy of him!
Ugh!
Even Teddy got tiresome after a while.
It was just a mess of a book. Maybe many years later if I forget it and read it again I will feel differently. But right now I want my $$ back.
First, Ms Coldbreath writes Heroes a particular way and she’s good at it. With Jeremy Vance, tho, she ventured off the beaten path. He’s still very jealous, but he’s not big, tall, strong, and shows the woman he loves with all kinds of small actions so that the reader also falls in love with him.
Here, Jeremy is average height, good looking in a “metro sexual” sort of way, snappy dresser, golden. He’s somewhat witty, he’s wonderful with his son, but I just never really fell for him. Didn’t hate him or anything, even what he did to Emmie in the past, but I don’t love him.
Then there’s Emmie. She was so stuck on how he broke her heart. Understandably she didn’t trust his motivations. And BTW, how he found her (bc his son HAPPENS to mention her and conceives the outlandish request to make him do right by her) is ridiculous. If this is the one thing that triggered him, then give some context to it before we get there!
Emmie agrees to marriage him almost like a biz arrangement. She should have realized (if she had any intelligence) that he didn’t have to MARRY her to have her and still discharge her debts. That he MUST have had other reasons. Why didn’t they just TALK about it all through the entire novel?????
Thirdly, it was boring. BORING! I felt like all the Greek stuff and Aphrodite stuff were fillers. Pinky is a mousy, nervous, irritating woman. Undeserving of strapping, capable Colfax! I wanted Colfax to get a woman (a “lady”) worthy of him!
Ugh!
Even Teddy got tiresome after a while.
It was just a mess of a book. Maybe many years later if I forget it and read it again I will feel differently. But right now I want my $$ back.
September 17, 2024
Well-written but oh, so boring.
September 18, 2024
Redeemed Hero
I didn’t like too many years of separation and while h was so sweet, H was too tamed for my taste but it was good story!
I didn’t like too many years of separation and while h was so sweet, H was too tamed for my taste but it was good story!
Read
December 31, 2024girl please stand up 😭😭😭
October 2, 2024
as an alice coldbreath enjoyer, i have to give her her 10s for how far she's come in the world of self-publishing. some of her earliest books are so thinly wrought in execution that they might as well be tropes tied together with a length of rope (non-derogatory because i love her character writing). this latest romance romp feels so divorced from those early days; the history, the setting/the world-building, the side characters and romantic subplots not central to the main characters....all so good!!!!! and i loved the idea of emmeline! having said that......not my favorite coldbreath couple. wasn't truly invested or compelled by the love story here, and i think that's partly because second chance romance is low on my list of preferred romance tropes.
3.5/5!!!!!! very fun in spite of how little i connected to the main couple (and the little kids coldbreath writes into her worlds are as always delightful)
3.5/5!!!!!! very fun in spite of how little i connected to the main couple (and the little kids coldbreath writes into her worlds are as always delightful)
June 28, 2025
I really enjoyed this one. It had that classic Coldbreath setup: an MMC who’s totally obsessed with the FMC.
Emmeline is practical, guarded, and in a very tricky situation. Jeremy is the viscount who jilted her years ago and suddenly reappears wanting a second chance. He’s takes advantage of her situation and convinces her to marry him.
I liked their dynamic a lot. Emmeline doesn’t let him off easy, and watching him try (and fail) to be smooth was great.
I usually don’t like kids in books, but I loved Teddy. He was funny and sweet without being annoying. I was also really looking forward to seeing more of Colfax after meeting him in the Prizefighter books, but I wish he had more page time.
This will become a comfort read for me.
Emmeline is practical, guarded, and in a very tricky situation. Jeremy is the viscount who jilted her years ago and suddenly reappears wanting a second chance. He’s takes advantage of her situation and convinces her to marry him.
I liked their dynamic a lot. Emmeline doesn’t let him off easy, and watching him try (and fail) to be smooth was great.
I usually don’t like kids in books, but I loved Teddy. He was funny and sweet without being annoying. I was also really looking forward to seeing more of Colfax after meeting him in the Prizefighter books, but I wish he had more page time.
This will become a comfort read for me.
October 22, 2024
A Foolish Flirtation was exquisitely brilliant and satisfying new series by Alice Colbreath. When I saw this was to be Jeremy’s book I had all kinds of churning emotions, not to mention that second chance, ten year separation, and main characters having children with other people are my most disliked romance tropes. However, Alice Coldbreath is such a master storyteller that my concerns were quelled and I became enthralled with theredemption of Jeremy from callous youth, trapped in an unhappy toxic marriage, and estranged from his illegitimate sibling.
I felt so deeply for the heroine, Emmeline. She was terribly mistreated for her plump and unconventional looks, first by her late father, stung along by her lying-ass fiancé, then during her first London season where she was made the butt of jokes, namely by Jeremy and his friends.
The secondary romance was so unexpected but very sweet. I hope there will be a novella with Colfax and Pinky. It was wonderful to see Mina, Nye, and baby James again and do heartwarming seeing Jeremy, Mina, and Nye acting like loving siblings. I also adored young Teddy, that kid had me howling out loud at times. I can’t wait for adorable Teddy to be able to play with his new cousin and yet to be born sibling.
I hope that ne’er do well, Atherton will be next in this new series. Jeremy’s friend also had much work to do to redeem his youthful callousness.
I felt so deeply for the heroine, Emmeline. She was terribly mistreated for her plump and unconventional looks, first by her late father, stung along by her lying-ass fiancé, then during her first London season where she was made the butt of jokes, namely by Jeremy and his friends.
The secondary romance was so unexpected but very sweet. I hope there will be a novella with Colfax and Pinky. It was wonderful to see Mina, Nye, and baby James again and do heartwarming seeing Jeremy, Mina, and Nye acting like loving siblings. I also adored young Teddy, that kid had me howling out loud at times. I can’t wait for adorable Teddy to be able to play with his new cousin and yet to be born sibling.
I hope that ne’er do well, Atherton will be next in this new series. Jeremy’s friend also had much work to do to redeem his youthful callousness.
October 26, 2024
I liked the book but just couldn't make up my mind about it.....I will try to re-read it within a month to decide if it deserves 4 or....not
dnf
December 18, 2024DNF at 65%
This just isn't working for me. I don't feel the chemistry between the characters, and worst of all, I am bored. I thought this would cure my reading slump, but alas.
This just isn't working for me. I don't feel the chemistry between the characters, and worst of all, I am bored. I thought this would cure my reading slump, but alas.
August 12, 2025
A Foolish Flirtation by Alice Coldbreath is a second-chance romance set against a Victorian backdrop. Ten years ago, Emmeline Ballentine was a wide-eyed debutante, dazzled by the charm of Jeremy Vance during her single London season. Her dreams were crushed when, after a flurry of stolen attentions, he announced his engagement to another. Now at twenty-eight, Emmeline is older, wiser, and engaged to a respectable man when fate throws Jeremy back into her life in Bath, this time as a divorced father with a rather shocking proposal.
Jeremy is not the rake-hell villain of her youthful memories but a man shaped by his own disappointments and a surprising sweetness beneath it all. His single-minded interest in Emmeline, even after a decade apart hints at the depth of his fascination. Emmeline though cautious, finds herself drawn to the man who once broke her heart and the story leans heavily into the will-they-won’t-they tension as they navigate old wounds and present realities.
There is humor threaded through the narrative, several moments which made me burst out in laughter, especially in Jeremy’s interactions with both Emmeline and his son Teddy. The story also offers insightful glimpses into their shared past, particularly through the eyes of Jeremy’s friend, which adds dimension to his feelings and motivations. However, the romance’s momentum often feels bogged down by extended conversations, whether it be between the leads or with side characters and that diluted the tension and urgency of their journey toward each other.
While Emmeline’s innocence and Jeremy’s sly charm create some wonderfully funny and even erotic moments, the pacing left me wishing for sharper focus. The leads have chemistry, but it’s buried under so much verbal back-and-forth that the story loses its spark and momentum every now and then. Teddy though, was a delight, adding warmth to Jeremy’s character.
What worked best for me was the mix of humor and tenderness in key scenes, especially when Emmeline takes the reins in seducing Jeremy; a reversal that was both entertaining and telling of how far she has come since their first meeting. Still, I never fully fell in love with either character, and I found myself wishing for a stronger emotional pull for me to be wholly invested in the story.
Recommended for: readers who enjoy Victorian settings, marriage-of-convenience plots, and romances with more dialogue than drama.
Final Verdict: Charming in parts but overlong, A Foolish Flirtation offers humor and warmth yet struggles to sustain the romantic tension.
Rating = 4/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
Jeremy is not the rake-hell villain of her youthful memories but a man shaped by his own disappointments and a surprising sweetness beneath it all. His single-minded interest in Emmeline, even after a decade apart hints at the depth of his fascination. Emmeline though cautious, finds herself drawn to the man who once broke her heart and the story leans heavily into the will-they-won’t-they tension as they navigate old wounds and present realities.
There is humor threaded through the narrative, several moments which made me burst out in laughter, especially in Jeremy’s interactions with both Emmeline and his son Teddy. The story also offers insightful glimpses into their shared past, particularly through the eyes of Jeremy’s friend, which adds dimension to his feelings and motivations. However, the romance’s momentum often feels bogged down by extended conversations, whether it be between the leads or with side characters and that diluted the tension and urgency of their journey toward each other.
While Emmeline’s innocence and Jeremy’s sly charm create some wonderfully funny and even erotic moments, the pacing left me wishing for sharper focus. The leads have chemistry, but it’s buried under so much verbal back-and-forth that the story loses its spark and momentum every now and then. Teddy though, was a delight, adding warmth to Jeremy’s character.
What worked best for me was the mix of humor and tenderness in key scenes, especially when Emmeline takes the reins in seducing Jeremy; a reversal that was both entertaining and telling of how far she has come since their first meeting. Still, I never fully fell in love with either character, and I found myself wishing for a stronger emotional pull for me to be wholly invested in the story.
Recommended for: readers who enjoy Victorian settings, marriage-of-convenience plots, and romances with more dialogue than drama.
Final Verdict: Charming in parts but overlong, A Foolish Flirtation offers humor and warmth yet struggles to sustain the romantic tension.
Rating = 4/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
September 17, 2024
The way I screamed in the middle of the night when I saw this book was out! Alice Coldbreath is one of my all time favourite authors as well as one of my most re-read authors. I ADORED the character development Jeremy received by the end of ‘A Bride for the Prizefighter’. When I heard he was getting his own book, I could hardly contain my excitement.
As of right now I’m 65% into the book and I’m lovingg it!! This is a second chance, single parent romance with a sweetheart heroine and a scoundrel hero (a charming scoundrel who happens to be one of the best fathers I’ve ever read in a romance novel, but a scoundrel nevertheless lol).
This story just feels right to me. The characters are so beautifully written, all with their own little flaws and quirks and lovable characteristics. Jeremy and Emmeline have great chemistry, and the plus-size heroine and middling-height hero representation are much appreciated! I also like the relationship Emmeline has with her step-son Teddy, though it doesn’t compare to Jeremy and Teddy’s bond. Teddy is still one of favourite characters and seeing Mina and Nye again nearly brought me to tears as I ADORE their book so much. The storyline has a relaxed pacing yet it’s so interesting and a bit more angsty than some other Alice Coldbreath books.
Jeremy badly wronged Emmeline in the past by courting her famously in her debut season, and then abruptly throwing her aside in favor of another (his now ex-wife). That definitely calls for a good grovel, and I just read the chapter which I’m assuming will finally lead to it. Being a huge fan of grovelling romances in general, this set-up was bound to peak my interest. So far it’s panning out perfectly. Fingers crossed it may turn out to be one of my top favourite reads of the year!
*
EDIT: So I finished the book and do still really like it but I must say there is a marked lack of grovelling on Jeremy’s part, which is so sad because I was really looking forward to it. The heroine forgave Jeremy very quickly and with very little effort. And while I really enjoyed the scenes of Jeremy and Emmeline, Teddy, Mina and Nye, there were still parts of the story which did not entirely hold my interest. All in all, it’s not a 5 star read but more like 4.25 stars. Still do highly recommend.
*
If you like flawed yet heartwarming characters, beautiful realistic relationships, some angst, second chances, pining, single fathers, adorable chatty children, fun interior decorations and hilariously butchered mythology, you will not be disappointed by this story.
Thank you dearest author Alice Coldbreath for never letting me down!
As of right now I’m 65% into the book and I’m lovingg it!! This is a second chance, single parent romance with a sweetheart heroine and a scoundrel hero (a charming scoundrel who happens to be one of the best fathers I’ve ever read in a romance novel, but a scoundrel nevertheless lol).
This story just feels right to me. The characters are so beautifully written, all with their own little flaws and quirks and lovable characteristics. Jeremy and Emmeline have great chemistry, and the plus-size heroine and middling-height hero representation are much appreciated! I also like the relationship Emmeline has with her step-son Teddy, though it doesn’t compare to Jeremy and Teddy’s bond. Teddy is still one of favourite characters and seeing Mina and Nye again nearly brought me to tears as I ADORE their book so much. The storyline has a relaxed pacing yet it’s so interesting and a bit more angsty than some other Alice Coldbreath books.
Jeremy badly wronged Emmeline in the past by courting her famously in her debut season, and then abruptly throwing her aside in favor of another (his now ex-wife). That definitely calls for a good grovel, and I just read the chapter which I’m assuming will finally lead to it. Being a huge fan of grovelling romances in general, this set-up was bound to peak my interest. So far it’s panning out perfectly. Fingers crossed it may turn out to be one of my top favourite reads of the year!
*
EDIT: So I finished the book and do still really like it but I must say there is a marked lack of grovelling on Jeremy’s part, which is so sad because I was really looking forward to it. The heroine forgave Jeremy very quickly and with very little effort. And while I really enjoyed the scenes of Jeremy and Emmeline, Teddy, Mina and Nye, there were still parts of the story which did not entirely hold my interest. All in all, it’s not a 5 star read but more like 4.25 stars. Still do highly recommend.
*
If you like flawed yet heartwarming characters, beautiful realistic relationships, some angst, second chances, pining, single fathers, adorable chatty children, fun interior decorations and hilariously butchered mythology, you will not be disappointed by this story.
Thank you dearest author Alice Coldbreath for never letting me down!
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