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A Notorious Countess Confesses (Pennyroyal Green, #7)

Julie Anne Long

Start date: April 5, 2021

Finish date: June 30, 2021

Discussion: Completed Buddy Reads

Discussion leader: Sam I AMNreader

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Completed Buddy Reads

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What Members Thought

Jun 19, 2019 Sam I AMNreader rated it liked it

Shelves: so-fine, historical, really-just-ok, best-heroine, series, read-in-2019, romance, read-in-2021

I've been on a run of Histrom on courtesans, I guess.

This one was ok. I enjoyed the social stuff and the tenuous friendships more than the romance. Adam was the most annoying type of hero to me, the kind that can really gut a person. Hot then cold, grand gestures followed by an arms length. No thanks.

Evie, though, gets all the stars. ...more

36 likes · Like · see review

Apr 29, 2022 Missy rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 1-libby-ebook, heroine-widow, sexy-time-out-of-bed, heroine-mistress-courtesan, 1-libby-audio, 2022-series-challenge

2.5 stars (2 stars for the romance and 3 stars for the heroine)

The romance was too slow burn for me but I liked the heroine and how she struggled, but didn’t give up, on trying to be accepted by the residents of Pennyroyal Green. She was a strong heroine who met each challenge one or two residents sent her way. That grand gesture of love and friendship at the end was beautiful and heartwarming that I couldn’t help but shed a few tears of joy for her. She deserves a happily ever after!

Steam leve ...more

23 likes · Like · see review

Feb 15, 2013 Lover of Romance rated it it was amazing

Shelves: genre-historical-romance, time-england-regency-1811-1820

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

I have been wanting to read this book ever since it came out last year. So when it became available at my local library, I knew I had to pick it up. There have been some books of this series I have loved and other that ended up being averagely enjoyable, A Notorious Countess Confesses is up there on the top of my list of favorites from this author. This one is a bit different than most regency's, I loved the unique setting that the characte ...more

15 likes · Like · see review

Mar 15, 2012 WhiskeyintheJar rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical, series, regency

What the F?!? I thought this was finally going to be about Lyon and Olivia! Ugh. 7 books in now, it's time Ms. Long ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

May 22, 2021 T. Rosado rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2021, fave-heroine, top-reads, romance, witty, historical, fave-hero, buddy-read-book-club

4.5 Stars
(rounded up, because I loved the main characters so much)

I was really curious going into this one. A Vicar and a courtesan? How would this play out while staying authentic to the hero and his role as a man of faith. Could or would Long pull it off or would it make a mockery of a vicar's position, ethics, and beliefs.

This being secular romantic fiction, I will grant it the liberties given most and will say that I think JAL did a wonderful job. I was drawn into the story immediately and t
4.5 Stars
(rounded up, because I loved the main characters so much)

I was really curious going into this one. A Vicar and a courtesan? How would this play out while staying authentic to the hero and his role as a man of faith. Could or would Long pull it off or would it make a mockery of a vicar's position, ethics, and beliefs.

This being secular romantic fiction, I will grant it the liberties given most and will say that I think JAL did a wonderful job. I was drawn into the story immediately and the author's use of imagery and metaphors was again, as always, staggering. Her use of those literary devices are the reason I love to read her books slowly. Not wanting to overlook a thing.

As much as I was surprised by his match with a courtesan, I was also excited to get Adam's story. Prior to this book and throughout this one, Adam was honorable, compassionate, and most importantly human. When he eventually reacted over a situation with Evie, he may have sounded just as judgmental and accusing as the community she entered, but I saw this as a transgression that pointed to his fallibility as a human. Lashing out when he was most angry with himself. I loved the characterization, since perfection was what many expected from clergy, but undeniably impossible for them to have achieved.

Evie was just as wonderfully characterized and I loved how some of the Pennyroyal Green community was developed and integrated into her storyline. There was some definite angst in this book, but JAL tempered it with some poignant and fun moments where Evie proves her mettle with against a judgmental parish. Also, Evie's lady's maid, Henny was a fabulous addition who was funny in a delightfully unapologetic way.

Ultimately, Adam's transformation and grasp of empathy as the the story progressed was a strong theme in the book and extended to the community as they had to learn the same lesson with Evie's entrance into their world. As the empathetic tide turned, so did judgment to acceptance, which all tied into a delicious opposites attract romance between Adam and Evie.

Surprisingly, after going into this one with some seriously raised eyebrows, it ended up being one of my favorites. ...more

7 likes · Like · see review