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First Comes Scandal
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Chapters 11-15 talk......................................................................................“Are you going to attack and ravish me?”
“Of course not!”
“Then I’m sure.”
“Jesus, Georgie,” Nicholas said under his breath.
I don't know if I'm just being a cranky butt now, I don't really feel invested in the story and that makes nitpicking easier for me, but this is another instance of the dialogue feeling "relaxed" or informal. Nicholas' "Jesus, Georgie." felt off beat in this moment and thus made it feel more modern to me. Not the verbiage necessarily but the beat of the conversation when he says it.
“There was something very attractive about it,” she mumbled.
“About practicing medicine?” he asked, and she couldn’t quite tell if he was dubious or amused.
“You knew what you were doing,” she said with a helpless shrug.
“You like a man who knows what he’s doing?”
“Apparently I do.”
His eyes settled on hers, and she could not look away. She didn’t want to look away.
Ok, so here is a crumb of what I like between my leads and I felt like I got a hint of their chemistry. It's so buried though in insignificant scenes though and while I got a flash from the couple because of it, not saving the story for me.
And that was that. There was nothing romantic about the moment, nothing to make his breath catch or heart leap or any of that nonsense. Until she smiled. His breath caught. His heart leapt. And he felt all the nonsense.
As opposed to this moment where it felt forced. I'm trying to remember the last Quinn I read but does she always write in short sentences like this? It makes it choppy to me. The "breath caught" and "heart leapt" came off forced and big time telling and not showing Nicholas' feelings for Georgiana.
So I guess we skipped any scenes of the wedding for the cat being a butt in the carriage? Ok.
She looked down at their hands, then back up at his face. She had known him forever, but suddenly the whole world was strange and new. He was holding her hand, and she was suddenly full of emotion and confusion and something she couldn’t quite define.
I feel like the author is finally getting around to trying to drum up so emotion for their relationship but it's still weak and I kind of find myself not caring since I am 60-freaking-percent in by now.
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I mean. I know the wedding doesn't mean anything at this time, but seriously, all we get is "it was lovely"????
And what is with the name "Cat-Head"? Now that they all talk to the cat, is seems even worse.
I started skimming. The cat nonsense is too much for me. I honestly don't blame him for asking if the nuisance is dead. But then, I have equally low patience (or an equally black humor? I mean, I often mutter the same question under my breath when the calamity over at my neighbor's house suddenly dies down and non of the kids are screeching and/or yelling at each other and/or the parents are not yelling at each other and/or their children. So. Yeah). Especially with this book right now.
I find it very hard to care about anyone. Or any feline.
WhiskeyintheJar/Kyraryker wrote: "So I guess we skipped any scenes of the wedding for the cat being a butt in the carriage? Ok."*lol* Yes we did!
WhiskeyintheJar/Kyraryker wrote: "I'm trying to remember the last Quinn I read but does she always write in short sentences like this? It makes it choppy to me. The "breath caught" and "heart leapt" came off forced and big time telling and not showing Nicholas' feelings for Georgiana."
That is probably were I got this "screenplay" feeling.
Andrea wrote: "And what is with the name "Cat-Head"? Now that th..."
Oh - you did not get to the Cat-Head name explanation? *sarcasm on* You are in for a treat *sarcasm off*
Again - this story is just limbering along, there is not peak, no goal. Any other romance may be predictable, but the way how the two get together to their HEA has a story. Here - nothing. There is just nothing happening. And I do not even care as both are boring people. I should like Georgie because she stays put when asked and does not try heroic stuff (like at the inn). But where is the tension? I guess I rather hate the female for stupidity than not feeling for her at all.
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(view spoiler) I mean. Who says that??? This is such a letdown :((( I was hoping it would get better once they're married and spend quality time together, but I still don't believe their connection.
Also, (view spoiler)
And how do we feel about Nicholas being (view spoiler)
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The Cat-Head thing is annoying/absurd to me that I didn't even have the energy to comment on the name. It's not cutesy to me and when it is repeated so much, it becomes annoying. The cat nonsense has my eyes glazing over. I'm a gallows humor person too but it just didn't fit the tone and characters for me and I kept thinking cat people would be really turned off. Maybe if we had gotten a scene with Nicholas loving on, god help me, Cat-Head, it would have went over better for me. I find it very hard to care about anyone. Or any feline.
Hanging on by my fingernails.
I've only read a handful of screen plays in my life, not counting Shakespeare that I haven't read in years, but overlaying you comment about that with my choppy sentences comment and yeah, it does fit.
The Cat-Head explanation was eye-glazing and made me feel like a stone with no sense of humor because I didn't crack a smile at it (maybe even frowned).
Any other romance may be predictable, but the way how the two get together to their HEA has a story. Here - nothing. There is just nothing happening. And I do not even care as both are boring people.
This is interesting, because I can be found complaining about formula, trope heavy, or paint-by-numbers romance and this does follow a different beat but, like we've all been saying, it's jumbled, directionless, and boring. The marriage of convenience should have been the journey to the HEA and we're not getting any of that. The replacement is Cat-Head in a hammock????
There's still no bonding. No real conversation that makes me feel like I know them or care.
Yep, I feel like these two could be good together but I'm not getting it!
Your first spoiler, Andrea, lazy simplistic writing is what says that; no depth or specifics to this couple. I know! I was holding out hope, even though how deep I was in percentage wise, that once they were married, we'd get quality time together with them. So far, disappointing.
Your last spoiler (view spoiler)
Chapters 15-18 talk.......................................................................................
If he had let her help the night before he wouldn’t be so tired. This wasn’t, however, the time to be petty.
Did I miss something, would Georgiana KNOW what to do or help enough to not be a hindrance?? I don't understand why she think she is so needed in a something that she has no or very little understanding of? If she spent time around a midwife or even some mention of her pouring over medical books/journals, this would make more sense. She comes off more spoiled and oblivious than helpful to me here.
Yeah, I feel like this story turns to everything but the romance, like Andrea said, I thought once they were married, we'd get to it. Instead we get Cat-Head in a hammock and a servant boys burnt arm. :/
Piece by piece she popped the food into his mouth so that he could keep his hands free to work on Boy-Georgie.
Was this a shout-out to the '80s? It put Karma Chameleon in my head for two hours. Lol.
I have still don't really have a sense of Georgiana and Nicholas outside of the specific moments they are in, who they are as characters is barely even penciled in for me. There just haven't been enough deep scenes.
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RIGHT?????? I mean, earlier on, she showed some interest in his job, but it was never mentioned that she read up on it, or anything. Billie at least reads tracts on land management and crop rotation and whatnot, so we know where her knowledge comes from, and she only gives advice when she knows she's right.
And yes, the whole boy-Georgie/ girl-Georgie thing was so annoying. I didn't think of that, though :D Thanks for that song in my head…
I don't think there's any depth at all. It's so sad.
And yes, I also think that earlier on, Nicholas did say something about other women. I didn't even remember that by the time we came to the wedding night. I mean, the kiss was awkward, so. But you're right, it feels like he said something. We should go back and check :D
We should go back and check :DI am reading an arc copy, so I could chalk it up to an uncorrected copy mistake but ugh, probably not worth it because of all the cat nonsense you could lost in.
I know authors want their heroines to be courageous and show they can do anything but it comes off butt-in ignorant and dangerous when there is no knowledge/know-how and the only reasoning is because the heroine wants to.
WhiskeyintheJar/Kyraryker wrote: "We should go back and check :DAre we still hung up at the virgin thing? ;) He did say he was with other women, but never explicit that he slept with them. Just enough to make him an experienced kisser *yay*
WhiskeyintheJar/Kyraryker wrote: "Piece by piece she popped the food into his mouth so that he could keep his hands free to work on Boy-Georgie.
Was this a shout-out to the '80s? It put Karma Chameleon in my head for two hours. Lol."
At least you got a kick out of this. I just could not picture a doctor treating a patient while his wife is feeding him. How ridiculous is that?
WhiskeyintheJar/Kyraryker wrote: "The marriage of convenience should have been the journey to the HEA and we're not getting any of that. The replacement is Cat-Head in a hammock????"
*lol* Yes! :) One would hope the cat lovers get sucked in, at least. I am a crazy cat woman and I hate everything about the cat!
Andrea wrote: "I think I figured I why this isn't working for me. It's mostly just internal dialogue, anything interesting happens off-page [... ], and there's very little actual conversation. Thoughts?"
No thoughts. They are thinking enough for me ;)
Andrea wrote: "And how do we feel about Nicholas being [a virgin? I think it's not well done, because a) I don't buy it, and b) saying "oh I could've, but things kept happening" is just lazy. I can respect a clear "I don't want to unless I'm in love" or sth like that, but this is just. It rubs me the wrong way somehow."
Yeah, right! Idiot.
Chapters 15-THE END! talk ............................................................................................Yes, I made it to the end. I just wanted it to be over.
Chapter 15: Cat talk.
Chapter 16: The cat in the hammock. The whole inn watching a woman build a hammock for a cat. My gosh - she didn't even take her clothes off. Who cares about a hammock for a cat? She is so smart. *sigh*
Chapter 17: The never-to-be-forgotten scene where she offers her help to treat a burned kid and he says "Feed me." She is such a lifesaver!
Chapter 18: Was this about the kid or the cat? The kid, I think. ;)
Chapter 19/20/21: (view spoiler)
Other than that they don't interact much, she lives in the country, he in town. *yawn* - that was the planned and known setup from the beginning, so why is she complaining about it and acting clingy?
I do agree that her husband should look into renting a town house, but after missing his exams she can not even give him a week to get his studies straightened out?
(view spoiler) Is this book ever going to end?
Chapter 22: I sure like that he is so progressive when it comes to women rights (or his wife's independence, at least). But it doesn't help. So many character building possibilities are wasted because they don't touch my feelings, they come out so dry, not heart felt. Did Julia Quinn even write this book?
Chapter 23/Epilogue: (view spoiler)
So - did you guys make it to the end? ;) I'd be proud of you!
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:D:D:D:D:D:D:D THIS :D:D:D:D:D
I'm somewhere in chapter 20, I think.
Andrea wrote: "I'm somewhere in chapter 20, I think. "Poor you ... ;)
Chapter 15: Cat talk.Lol, I love this synopsis.
Ch. 16
I was baffled about this too. How could they really even see what was going on. It's another instance where it feels like I'm supposed to be laughing but it feels pointless to me.
Chapter 19/20/21:Your spoiler (view spoiler)
I really felt like Georgiana turned into a petulant brat during this part. It was only going to be a couple weeks and she gets all up in arms within the first week. I think the author was trying to show her independent streak or bravery/can do it-ness in taking charge of the situation but it was a fairly unnecessary take charge moment. I guess Nicholas liked it because then he didn't have to deal with it, but it put Georgiana in a bad light for me.
Chapter 22:
I think this is the exact Ch. I had that thought too but like you, I'm too far into "don't care" mode. Dry and pointless for me because of the previous 70% of story that didn't do that building you talk about.
Chapter 23/Epilogue
I was baffled again when this scene started up and saw I was at 90%, things should be wrapping up not a thrown in scene where I guess it is to show Nicholas loves and trusts her. But I felt we already got that with the house hunting/leasing acceptance he showed and saying I love you already.
Mod
Asking the cat person, would your cats go for that? Or even let you do that to them? And would the movement help? :D
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Chapters 19-end talk.....................................................................................If he made love to a woman it should mean something. It didn’t have to mean they were married. It didn’t even have to mean he was in love. But it ought to mean more than the ticking of a box.
Nicholas' internal monologue for why he was a virgin felt unnecessary and slightly judgy at times. I think it would have been understandable and super easy to have him remain so because he feared diseases, he noted syphilis. I didn't even feel I needed an explanation but from his doctor point of view, would have been understandable. He seemed a bit judgy when he talked about friends sleeping around.
“When I touch you like this, you grow softer. And wetter. It means you’re getting ready for me.”
Lines like this during their sex scene were why I agreed with Andrea about not feeling it. It felt to explanation and educational lecture. I think in contemporary this can work better for me in hotter, even BDSM, sub-genres with a dominate theme. This vibe from their talking didn't hit me right.
So we finally were getting them talking and then we just jump to three weeks??? The pointlessness of the first 70% only to jump and rush the ending had me irritated.
“I missed you,” she said. “And I was bored. And all I wanted was to hear that I would be able to move to Edinburgh so I could be with you.”
I don't mind characters that need some growth in the beginning but at 80% Georgiana came off super bratty and entitled about the whole having to wait a couple weeks to move to Edinburgh. I already talked about it in my responses to Heike but ugh, I think the author trying to show Georgiana with strength but instead making me annoyed with her.
What in the world was with the fairly short but completely unnecessary time taken to explain how the medical text was organized by Georgiana????? There was like 10-15% left at this point and THIS is what the author decided to take time with???
Then boom, our epilogue jumps to a few years later and it focuses on a male patient not wanting Georgiana to stitch him up. WHY??? But also a perfect way to end this unromantic book :/
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Well, I'm convinced now…
Andrea wrote: "Asking the cat person, would your cats go for that? Or even let you do that to them? And would the movement help? :D"No, no, and no.
But then you told me earlier in this thread that I should not be so technical and give some leeway for a romance novel.
How do you feel about that, now? ;)
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Well, I'm convinced now…Lol. Right?!
I find if I'm absorbed into the story, I will let technicalities slide but in case like this, they become glaringly obvious and becomes something else for me to not like.
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Well, that was dull. So DULL...
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I'm going to give it two stars, because nostalgia, but. Yeah. I did not really like this. I'm trying to even remember the beginning, to be honest. This is so sad!
I need to go on a JQ re-read-binge and remind myself why I love her books
Dull is hitting the nail on the head for me. I gave it 1.5 stars, rounded up to 2 stars because the writing was technically sound. The story and characters would have had me skimming or even dnfing if I hadn't been buddy reading or it wasn't an arc. 2 stars means "ok" for me and I most of this story struggled to get there for me. I'll still read Quinn, the first books of the series are on my tbr but I won't be expecting a whole lot. I'm fine with low angst and character driven but this really felt like pointless scene after pointless scene.
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It will be awhile before I get to the first in the series, after this, I'm not really jumping to read another Quinn. When I do get to it, I'll message you, though and see if the timing works for you to buddy read :)
If I get my hands on the book before you start reading I am in too! I trust Andrea that the first in the series is worth the read :)
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So no pressure on me, then :D:D:D
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Yay :) Just let me know when :D
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Books mentioned in this topic
Because of Miss Bridgerton (other topics)The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband (other topics)
The Other Miss Bridgerton (other topics)
so many insignificance things are stretched out and have an extreme slapstick vibe
Oh my god, this!! It's not working for me either, granted I'm not a fan of slapstick but the insignificant stuff is draining my will to read this story.
Apparently they "dislike" each other because she thinks he's too stuffy, and he thinks she's reckless.
I'm a total and complete sucker for byplay like this. I'm going to keep that book on my tbr even though this one isn't really doing it for me. Thanks for the heads-up on that.
Ch. 10
Right?? I thought that about the knowing which window was Georgiana's. Another example of sloppiness in this story.
Ch. 11
I do like Georgiana's forthrightness but I still don't feel like I know her or Nicholas. I wouldn't call them wooden or inflexible, just walled off from me because time getting to know them is used up on inconsequential stuff.
Ch12
There has been more romance books and series picked up for tv, so I can see a desire to write "for" that now. I'd have to go back and read this part with that in mind because I don't think I sensed that when I was reading it. I'm just in the mindset of being annoyed that the author is wasting time and thinking "This isn't important!".
Ch 13
I'd team dog person but even I balked at how Nicholas came right out and was like "Is it dead?" Wtf???? The callous way he talked about her cats was not endearing at all, to say the least. I thought that too, how unattractive Nicholas must seem to readers and especially cat people during that whole scene.
Ch14
The buddy read and since it's an arc for me, I make myself finish and write reviews for all arcs I accept, is keeping me in. I would have started skimming at 50% otherwise.
Andrea, right?? They are in their late 20s, seems off character that the parents would act and dictate to them like this.