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What Members Thought
This was my first Sarah MacLean, and it was alright. I enjoyed reading it. I found Penelope to be rather frustrating at the beginning, and was very happy when she started to actually speak her mind. Regency romances aren't my favorite, but I would read another one by MacLean.
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Fantastic! MacLean perfectly maintains the tension through almost the entire story. Bourne and Penelope grew up together, so their deep connection is completely believable. Both Bourne and Penelope have been massively let down by others in the past (Bourne much more than Penelope) so their mistrust and general obfuscation is believable too. I absolutely LOVED the yearning, the desire, the tension, the doubt and the confidence! Perfect.
Many romances set up the hero as a "rogue" but he ends up be ...more
Many romances set up the hero as a "rogue" but he ends up be ...more
Jun 12, 2014
Jennifer
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction,
historical-fiction
Yes. I read a romance novel.
No, I did not read it ironically.
I subscribed to a quarterly box from Book Riot. So every three months (until I stop paying, I suppose), I'm going to get a box of surprise book-y goodness. This time (among other things), there was a romance novel, an sf novel, and a YA novel.
I had a romance novel phase, back in the day. I can't tell you how many I read. Those trashy cream-colored Harlequin romance novels with the author's name in a colorful bold font on the spine. I ...more
No, I did not read it ironically.
I subscribed to a quarterly box from Book Riot. So every three months (until I stop paying, I suppose), I'm going to get a box of surprise book-y goodness. This time (among other things), there was a romance novel, an sf novel, and a YA novel.
I had a romance novel phase, back in the day. I can't tell you how many I read. Those trashy cream-colored Harlequin romance novels with the author's name in a colorful bold font on the spine. I ...more
Was feeling shy about boldly reading and reviewing romance, but then realized that I was being part of the problem but pretending I never read it, or that it was not literature worth reviewing. Dear Romance genre, I am sorry. These books are fun, exciting and so worth the hours at night I spent reading and not sleeping. I am a total sucker for bad boys who are really good, and these mens are perfect: bad reputations, honorable actions.
This is the romance genre done very, very well -- decent backstory and side plots, no cringe-worthy euphemisms like "manroot," kind of sweet love story despite the tropes (bad boy, unwilling-at-first-but-easily-overcome sex goddess, childhood connection, etc.). The hetero vanilla sex scenes were juicy and focused on the woman's pleasure. This is the kind of book for post-feminists with a secret (or even not-so-secret) love of bodice rippers.
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Don't like the kidnapping and ruination premise at the beginning, but otherwise it's a good match. I like that they were friends and pen pals growing up.
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Great historical romance. I'll be reading more by this author.
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Got this book in my book riot quarterly box and at first I was a little concerned cause this is not the kind of book I'd normally pick up. I set it aside for awhile and then finally decided to give it a chance and I'm so glad I did! Totally entertaining and enjoyable! Can't wait to read the rest in the series.
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Fun and I enjoyed the wit here, but how could it really take this couple the entire book to realize they loved each other as children? The gaming hell was by far the most fun aspect. Yet still entertaining, and good sexy times, so four stars.
It has been a while since I read an author who has the ability to write well, develop fantastic characters, and write good romance! I was so excited to discover that this is a series (trilogy I assume). Can't wait for more!
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Oct 10, 2014
Cristella
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
regency,
historical-rom
Jun 26, 2019
fenchurch
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
epistolary
Nov 22, 2019
Jeanne Bufkin
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-in-2019,
rcpl-2019
