This Wicked Gift (Carhart 0.5) by Courtney Milan

This Wicked Gift by Courtney Milan

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I loathed the main male character from beginning to end. LOATHED. He was described in such a way that in any other book he’d be a villain or a source of . . . satiric humor. Satire-ic. Bah.

The woman? The main quality about her that I disliked was . . . that she was interested in this jackass. Otherwise she was a great character. That’s a massive thing to overcome, though, liking this miserable piece of shit – that male lead character.

Right, so, this is a 100 something prequel to a series I’ve not read yet. It stars people that made me add a shelf – though I’d thought I already had that one. Instead of the normal ‘rich-rich’ that most English historical fiction feature (or, at least, ‘titled-titled’), this book actually featured two people who can be called poor (or working class; technically the lead male character talked about himself in such a way that he sounded like he had the worst lowest of the low jobs on earth and was in hell – except the job in actuality was more middle class – professional class, but whatever, didn’t pay a lot and didn’t require an advanced degree. Jackass McJackass (his name is not in the book description; it’s not, but it is something like ‘Jonathan Q. Smith’) works as a finance guy for a titled person – one of whom will feature in the series proper (Carhart).

Jackass fancies a particular woman – that woman is the female lead in this book. Figuring he’s a piece of shit, working a hell job, and has no future, he mostly ignores her when he’s in her store (she runs a bookstore/lending library for her ailing father). Also because of the aforementioned believe that he, himself, is shit, he decided to ‘take advantage’ of the woman because obviously she’d not want anything to do with him otherwise. So he blackmails her/coerces her. She . . . has lusted after him for a long time, finds his methods and actions pathetic, in a sad way, and . . . fucks him (not because of being blackmailed, but because she’s horny – this is part of what I meant in my status updates that the man was melodramatically doom and gloom and had a virgin fetish (more in the ‘oh god I’ve ruined her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’ way, than in a ‘must fuck all virgins’ way); while she’s all ‘I was horny, I wanted to fuck, fuck you and your virgin fetish/ruined what’s-so-call-it, I’m no lady looking to land a titled man; nor am I servant whose reputation can be blackened to the point of being unable to secure work; etc. etc.etc.’).

I fear I’ve gone too far down a particular path. I just found the lead male character so loathsome that he is overwhelming my ability to think in a rational and coherent manner. Not loathsome in a ‘bad boys are hot’ way, but loathsome in ‘I’m a shit, a large turd, I know this, my life will always be like this, so I’ll act like it . . . poorly’* way.

‘*’ – even when he tries to act poorly, he is loathsomely rotten at it. The guy is a massive loser . . . who is handsome . . . enough for the lead female character to become tongue tied around him. At least until he opened his mouth and revealed he’s a jackass mcjackass. Whereupon she handily handled him. Handily.

Right, so, horrible loathsome book.

Rating: oh. I did not remember I rated this 1.75 stars until just now. So, apparently that’s the rating I gave. 1.75 stars.

June 10 2018




View all my reviews

Unraveled (Turner #3) by Courtney Milan

Unraveled by Courtney Milan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a weird situation for me to be in for two reasons:
1) Smite was never the character I’d warmed to or wanted anything to do with;
2) This book here involve Smite in the lead male POV . . . and I liked this specific book best of all in the series.

Smite Turner, of no title, is the middle child – when his brother (Ash), at the tender age of 14, ran off to India to make his fortune, Smite took over as guardian to the youngest brother (Mark). This is not a young adult book nor is there much in the way of flashbacks to younsterdom. I’m not sure if Smite’s age is ever given, though I expect he’s somewhere in his thirties.

At some point between being the son of a mill owner (father), insane religious zealot (mother), and the start of this book, Smite both spent time on the streets of Bristol and time in high class schools (Eton and . . . I believe Oxford). Unlike his eldest brother, or for that matter his youngest, Smite never had a title added to the beginning of his name – neither from being born (you know, inherited titles), nor through other means. Other means include through the court (Ash got to become a Duke by having the children of the present Duke declared illegitimate, and he was the next in line); or there . . what’s the word used? Well, the Queen liked Mark’s book so much she Knighted him. Smite? Didn’t care about those things. He got a law degree and became a magistrate in Bristol.

The book opens with Smite on the bench hearing cases, though the book does not start from his point of view. No, it starts from the point of view of the female lead character. Miranda Darling (I forget her age, I had her in my mind as being 20, but she might be . . . closer to 24). She’s in a wig and dress that alters her appearance and has a fake name. She’s there to perjury herself. It’s not something she wants to do but has to do – as she has an agreement with the ‘Patron’ who is both the criminal head in the poor area of Bristol, and the giver of justice to that area.

Smite, as those who have read the series up to know would have been informed before now, remembers everything. Miranda was in court before now – and Smite recognizes her despite the different name and appearance. He stops her from actually perjuring herself and warns her.

So, as I mentioned in another review for this series, this is a different type of series. The lead male is a law trained judge. He has the blood of titled people (somewhere back in the past), and is the brother of a Duke, though he wasn’t born into the branch that serves as the heir family. Gah, I’m wording that badly. He’s from the business/professional class. And the female lead is from the working class (daughter of actors).

There are no ballrooms visited, no dances, no young girls giggling over ‘the ton’, or watching the ‘dandies’ do stuff. No, there are instead people who work for a living going about their lives. Granted the prior book in this series also had this touch, though there the fella had a title. So this is a different type of historical fiction. At least for those set in Britain in the 19h century (this one takes place . . hmm, 1843 I believe).

Right, so. One thing leads to another and . . . shockingly Miranda becomes Smite’s mistress. That particular branch can get hinted at and/or feared in other books, but rarely actually gets used.

They learn to like each other and stuff. As expected when one of the characters I a mistress and the other is ‘putting her up’ as a mistress, graphic sex occurs.

Rating: 4.5

June 29 2018




View all my reviews

Unveiled (Turner #1) by Courtney Milan

Unveiled by Courtney Milan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


It is difficult to write a review for this book now for an important reason:
- immediately after completing it I started reading the short story that appeared between it and the second book in the series. There might have been minutes between the end of one and the start (I’m referring to reading, though the series does follow a chronological order).

So, some of the easy things I can mention:
1) this is the first book I’ve read by this author that was not part of Brothers Sinister series (or, in other words, this is the fifth book, and 8th overall work that I’ve read by this author, counting short stories (and not counting the book and short story I read after reading this one).
2) This book takes place roughly around 1837 and ends roughly around 1840.
3) Set in southern England. Which I say because part of the book is set in Somerset, which is in South West England; while part of the book is set in London, which is in South East England.
4) The book is sexually graphic.
5) The people involved, the main characters I mean, are in their 20s.

This is an odd book in its way. A good many historical fiction romances tend to involve titled people and/or people of that blood. This one does as well, don’t get me wrong. It has the heir to a Dukedom and the daughter of a Duke as the circling main characters. Except…

The lead female character works as and calls herself a nurse. And when asked, gives a name other than her own. As far as the future Duke knows, his love interest is a servant. A relatively high ranked one that appears to hold herself well, and be well respected by others in the household, but still a servant. There are reasons for this. I’ll get to them.

And the future Duke? It’s true that the blood in his veins, to put it bluntly, is of a ‘higher class’. His, hmm, which one was it? His grandfather was either a Duke or an Earl. I believe a Duke. That grandfather’s son (hmm, I think there might be more generations involved) married a wealthy but ‘common’ woman. Ash Turner grew up, partway, as the son of a mill owner (father), and a religious zealot who descended into madness mother). Partway because the father died, and the mother gave away their money – an ancestor married for money, but by the time Ash reached adulthood, that Turner money was gone. He had money, but he got it himself, made it himself, doing something in India. By being a businessman.

So, while he is – now – the heir to a Dukedom, he wasn’t always. Oh, he was somewhere in the line, but there were people in between him and being a Duke, a lot of people. Which he removed. The current Duke, you see (and all of this occurred before the start of the novel, and is known by the reader fairly soon afterwards, well the Dukedom part), married for love. His mistress. Of no special class or status. His parents, the Duke of the time, ejected her from the family, but couldn’t dissolve the marriage.

That Duke, still living, later remarried. He and his Duchess had three children – two boys and one girl. All of whom are adults, and living, at the start of this book. As is that current Duke. So how did Ash become the heir apparent? By going to court and pointing out that the Duke is a bigamist, that the children are illegitimate. He turned them into bastards (literally, in the ‘a person born of parents not legally married to each other’ way).

So – the book opens with Ash and his brother Mark riding horses toward the estate in Somerset that probably will become his (the current Duke’s children have been declared illegitimate, and another court (same court?) has allowed Ash to make an examination of the accounts, but Ash has not been formally named heir – that’s one of the main things in this book, one of the main conflict points, the illegitimate children fighting Mark’s attempt to be named heir to the Duke; and to pass a law legitimizing them – making them unbastardized).

Once Ash and Mark arrive, they find the servants standing around outside to be reviewed. Ash catches sight of one of them in particular and tells Mark that she’s his (or words to that effect). That’d be . . . I forget the name she used, Miss Lowell?, but she is also Lady Margaret, or was until Ash made her a bastard.

Going back to the current Duke’s children attempting to fight to pass a law (which apparently is possible) legitimizing them – Margaret is there as her father’s nurse under an assumed name to act as a spy – to find something, anything, to use against Ash. To fight against him being officially named the heir.

And so the two circle each other. One is the daughter of the highest ranking hereditary title in the British Isles (outranking Marquess, Earl, Viscount and Baron); the other is attempting to become named heir to that same dukedom. These are not commoners, though one comes more from the business class background, and the other is holding herself out as being a servant . . . and if she and her brothers fail to get a particular law passed she’ll remain what Ash made her – illegitimate, a bastard, someone who would have to find work as a servant or the like.

This is where having read this book, a short story, and another book before writing a review becomes problematic. I know I liked the book. I know that I, mostly, enjoyed the book. But it is difficult, now, to give a more detailed listing of my feelings/emotions/thoughts on the book.

Rating: 3.75

June 28 2018



View all my reviews

Unlocked (Turner #1.5) by Courtney Milan

Unlocked by Courtney Milan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Except for cameo’s there are no actual Turner’s involved in this story. The story includes two people who appeared in the previous book - Lady Elaine Warren and . . . I forget her name, Lady Cosgove? The one in the prior book who had a reputation as being bitchy/catty/etc. Lady Elaine, in turn, is the one known for her loud laugh.

This is a short story, which I wasn’t 100% sure about when I started reading. I should probably mention that I’ve been reading this series in the omnibus edition, so one book/short story follows the next without my ability to carefully mark how far I am in the book, or . . . other stuff. Not a huge issue.

This specific book stars, as in POV character stars, Lady Elaine Warren (of a very good family), and Evan Carlton, Earl of Westfield.

Of the three works in this series I’ve read so far: this one has the people with the highest pedigree. It’s true that the prior one involved the Duke heir and an offspring of a Duke (with Duke being the highest hereditary title in the British Isles), but the heir wasn’t Duke yet, in that book, and had a business-class background (though his grandfather or further back had titled blood) and the Lady, the Duke offspring, was illegitimate. In the second book in the series – the lead female, while a Vicar’s daughter, is also a courtesan/sex-worker, and the lead male is a knight (albeit second in line to a Dukedom – his brother still, by that point, hadn’t fathered a child).

Lady Elaine, despite being ‘of a very good family’ has spent, what is it now, something like 11 seasons in London. At this point she’s basically a spinster, though her mother keeps bringing her out for all to see at balls and the like.

Earl Westfied, for his part, has spent the last 11 (10?) years wandering Europe and climbing mountains.

They knew each other, though, when Elaine was in her first season, and Westfield was 19. Westfield, you see, was quite taken with Elaine – her massive bosoms (what, he mentioned it repeatedly), and her laugh that showed her strong passion and vitality. Being 19 and stuff he wanted to make sure Elaine noticed him. So he teased her. To the point that he killed her vitality – she made her the laughingstock of society because of her laugh.

He knew what he had done and couldn’t fix it. So he fled to Europe.

Elaine, for her part, would have cut herself off from society but her mother loved going to balls and the like and . . . Elaine is there for her mother. Especially since the second most laughed at person in society is her mother, who doesn’t seem to realize she’s the butt of everyone’s jokes (she’s laughed at because she ‘apes’ men by being quite scholarly and spending lots of time researching and talking about astronomy).

So – the Earl is back now and wants to, at the very least, apologize to Elaine, and if possible court her. Elaine, naturally, figures he just wants to laugh at her more. The Earl’s attempts are undermined by his childhood friend, previously briefly mentioned, Lady Cosgrove (whatever her name is, it is something like that).

Interesting enough story. Short. Kind of . . . bland.

Rating: 3.50

June 28 2018




View all my reviews

Talk Sweetly to Me (Brothers Sinister, #4.5) by Courtney Milan

Talk Sweetly to Me by Courtney Milan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Stephen Shaughnessy, who appeared in the prior Brothers Sinister work as someone needing to be saved (though somewhat barely making an appearance in the story), stars in this shorter work. With him in the starring role is Rose Sweetly. I’m fairly certain Rose hasn’t appeared in this series up to now. Both have POV’s.

Stephen, as those who might remember from the prior book, is a newspaper columnist with a column titled ‘Ask a Man’. This story here adds 4 novels to his writing career. To add to his relatively disreputable reputation, gained, I mean, from being ‘the man’ columnist for a women’s newspaper, is the part where he’s Irish, Catholic, and known to be something of a ladies man. The player reputation (aka Rake), is probably the easiest for him to ‘handle’, normally. Irish? Catholic? Writes for a women’s paper? In 1882, London, those three things are negatives.

“My father was a stable master,” he told her. “My mother was a seamstress. I’ve done very well for myself, but don’t imagine that I’m one of those gentlemen who look down on you.”

Stephen meets Rose through the odd little accident of living next to her. About two doors down. Actually, to be exact, he lives two doors down from Patricia, Rose’s pregnant married sister. This is why Rose is there – to ‘take care of’ Patricia while her husband, a Naval Doctor, is on assignment.

Stephen, from the first, is intrigued by Rose. Rose, for her part, is flustered by Stephen. Also, there are certain reasons for not wanting his attention. Which I’ll get to later.

In addition to being a helper for her sister, 20 year old Rose actually has a job, a paying job. She’s a computer. A term I’d first heard when I read that nonfiction book that later became a movie I still haven’t seen (referring here to Hidden Figures). A computer is someone hired to do the mathematical calculations for a scientist. They are the kind who tends to be able to do advanced math in their heads. Rose works as a computer for an astronomer.

Right, so, the reasons why Rose doesn’t really wish to receive Stephen’s attention. Many reasons, like how Stephen has that rake reputation and the like. Mostly, though, there’s the part where Stephen, in addition to being Irish, Catholic, etc. etc., is white. Rose, you see, is not. White. She has dark skin, you see, black skin. As does her sister and her sister’s doctor husband (the author notes at the end make mention of things like this – one of the interesting tidbits, to me, was how, by 1882, ‘Britain had probably trained at least as many black doctors as there were dukes.’ And yet, so many historical fiction romances works seem fixated on matching up people with dukes – and yet I almost never see black doctors in historical romances – almost as in never, except here where the husband of a main character’s sister is one, though he makes only a very brief appearance in this novel).

Right, so – much of the book involves a growing attraction between the two main characters, mixed with Rose’s awareness of her position and what the result might be of a union with Stephen (Black, Irish, Catholic children running around).

I liked the story, for the most part. I liked the characters. Story was kind of short, though.

Rating: 3.77

June 17 2018



View all my reviews

The Suffragette Scandal by Courtney Milan

The Suffragette Scandal by Courtney Milan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book is both the sixth work I’ve read in this ‘Brothers Sinister’ series, and the sixth work I’ve read by this author. The book is listed as being 4th in the series – I didn’t read the series out of order, the other two works were short stories.

This book stars Frederica ‘Free’ Marshall’ and Edward Clark. Both of whom have points of view in the book. Free has previously appeared in the series and is the daughter of the main characters in the prequel short story (‘The Governess Affair’), and the sister (half-sister, they have different fathers) of Oliver Marshall, the lead male character in ‘The Heiress Effect’. Clark, nor any relative of Clark, has not previously appeared in the series.

There were aspects of this book, from the description and from mentions here or there, which lead me to be somewhat reluctant to read this book. Yet, when I finally did, I found it quite enjoyable. Riveting even. I rather enjoyed both main characters, Free and Edward Clark, though it really seems to be more of a Edward story, though Free both has a point of view, and seems to ‘come out on top’ in most situations with Clark.

‘For reasons’, Edward Clark, not the name he was born with – that’d be Edward Delacey, has spent a good portion of his adult life living . . . elsewhere. To the point that Edward Delacey is about to be declared legally dead, due to . . . um, being missing? For about 7 years. There are reasons for that being important – Edward Delacey, see, is supposed to be the new Viscount Claridge, his father having died about nine months before the start of the story. With Edward being declared dead, his brother James would take over the estate and title.

Edward’s back in England now, though, but not to reclaim his life, nor claim the title. His brother can have that. No, he’s back because he’s been informed by an old friend, Patrick Shaughnessy, that Stephen Shaughnessy (Patrick’s brother) is being targeted and is in trouble. Edward is back to try to help Stephen.

Stephen Shaughnessy writes a column called ‘Ask a Man’ in a newspaper that has the motto of ‘By Women, For Women, and About Women’. That specific newspaper is owned by the other main character in this book, Free Marshall.

Edward works out what’s going on, and decides that the best method of ‘dealing with’ the issue is to insert himself into the newspaper organization. Though, admittedly, he came to that conclusion after having spotted Free and finding her intriguing. So there’s that added bonus of being able to be near her, while also attempting to help Stephen.

Edward openly admits, to Free, that he’s a scoundrel, a forger, a . . well, a bunch of stuff. He admits this as he’s talking with Free about joining together in a partnership of sorts to help defeat the forces against Free. Edward is interested in doing so more for the revenge possible to him in doing this – and doesn’t otherwise give a damn about Free – at least that’s what he tells Free.

They slowly begin to work together, with certain reluctance on Free’s part. They both develop unexpected feelings for the other.

Stuff happens. Graphic sex occurs. The world is saved for another day, so to speak.

Gah. At some point I was going to make mention of the fact that this story takes place in 1877. I forgot, I did. Mmphs.

Rating: 4.76

June 17 2018




View all my reviews

The Rogue Not Taken (Scandal & Scoundrel, #1) by Sarah MacLean

The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A fun, exciting, arousing, humorous book set in 1833 about the daughter of an Earl falling for the heir to a dukedom. That seems to sound right, dukedom? Eh, whatever.

Complications, though:
1) The daughter of the Earl, Sophie Talbot, despises aristocrats, the ton, nobs, the top-tier – for many reasons;
2) That Duke heir, currently going by Marquess of Eversley, or more specifically ‘King’, has vowed to never marry;
3) The Talbot daughters, Sophie being one, are the ones society mocks, makes fun of, and finds great fun being snide to. Again, for reasons;
4) King has a very bad rake reputation – the kind that involves ‘ruining’ (a very popular word in the book, well more ‘ruination’) those about to marry.

The book is hilarious from beginning to end. The romance is great – it’s an odd kind of enemies to lovers. Odd because, as noted, Sophie wants nothing to do with those with titles; and King wants nothing to do with respectable relationships and love. Which isn’t why the start off as enemies, but lays the foundation – King is like the model and reason why Sophie hates the aristocrats, vain, pushy, thinking only men count and women have just one path, and they are expected to be happy about it (looking for, securing a husband, pushing out babies) – actually scratch that last part, since King never plans to marry; in turn, King has this delusion that Sophie is trying to trap him into marriage – just like her older sister did – trapping a different Duke.

I’m being weirdly vague. Let’s get more detail.

The Talbot’s have spent a lot of time and energy over the ages being miners (at least the Talbot’s father and grandfather). And have become fabulously rich from it – to the point that papa Talbot ended up being created a brand new Earl. Thrusting the family into the titled class. So they enter the marriage market (when they reach the right age) beautiful, rich, titled (well from a titled family), and . . . not blue-bloods, not ‘one of us’ (hence my comments earlier about the Talbot daughters and how they are seen in society – scandals -> luckily for everyone involved, the daughters just love their new place – and popping up in the scandal sheets, the gossip columns. At least all of them but for Sophie. Who hates it. Everything about it. She was ten when she was thrust from being the daughter of a rich man, but without the responsibilities of titles, into the responsibility of having to live up to society).

The book opens with Sophie at a party. It’s a theme party – the hostess has some Japanese fish that she just loves, so is hosting a . . . Chinese dress up party (‘no one knows what the Japanese are like, but China is so close, they are the same!’). Sophie hates it. The hostess, Lady something or other (it’s not important) spots Sophie and invites her to wander out and look at the fish. Sophie leaps at the chance to wander away from the party. Whereupon she finds well the book description says what happens (that description, by the way, isn’t the best I’ve seen). Sophie, the ‘quiet’ Talbot daughter makes a scene with all eyes on her, mocks the upper crust, which turn their backs on her.

So Sophie decides to leave – and doesn’t want to have to deal with her relatives, so wanders outside, thinking about how to leave. And is almost hit in the head by shoes. Then a man climbs down the outside of the mansion and lands next to her. That would be King. Escaping a woman’s room. And an Earl who is yelling at him. And so Sophie and King meet. And this is kind of where the enemies thing starts – Sophie has one of King’s shoes and holds it hostage, wanting King’s help in leaving. King refuses and walks away without his shoe.

Sophie, through various means, ends up pretending to be a footman (yes, dressed up in livery and pretending to be a boy), hanging off the back of a carriage. Heading to Mayfair (where her family lives). Only the trip seems longer than expected. And . . oops, the carriage wasn’t actually going that direction.

Somewhere along the way Sophie and King bump into each other again. Sophie keeps attempting to either leave on her own, or get King’s help. King keeps thinking Sophie is trying to trap him into marriage. And keeps helping her even though he initially had decided not to – though that actually causes Sophie problems in certain situations, but let’s move on, eh?

As noted – hilarious book. And there was a quite interesting and even riveting sex scene. I have a tendency to skim those parts – especially like here when we are talking about a heterosexual book, but I found myself reading every word. Weird, eh?

I’ve never read a book by this author before. I plan to immediately acquire the next book in this series (maybe all of the books in his series . . nah, just the next book).

Rating: 5.5

May 11 2018



View all my reviews

A Night Like This (Smythe-Smith Quartet #2) by Julia Quinn

A Night Like This by Julia Quinn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I'll be quick, just a little note. Possibly more later. Possibly.

I spent the entire time reading this book, at least if you look at my status updates, noting to myself and others that I wanted to DNF the book after every page (or every other page). Then I end up rating this book 3 stars. Am I overly generous? Do I never give ratings worse than 3 stars? Of course not. No, the things I despised were relatively minor, but seen in both main characters (the man, Daniel, was overly pushing and demanding, kept grabbing people by their arms/wrists, and kept forcing himself onto a woman (who was 'beneath him', marriage wise, as in she wasn't the type to be acceptable for marriage); the woman, Anne, kept repeating to herself how unacceptable she was (that wasn't the issue I had), while, at the same time continuously melting into Daniel (that was the issue, though, oddly enough, that 'redeemed' the man to a certain extent, as there is every indication that Daniel would have pulled back and not continued his advances if he hadn't seen/heard 'something' from the woman (she did say please kiss me, and the like) - as an aside, it's good she did say stuff, there are way too many evil assholes out there who 'see something in their eyes' or body language or whatever that screams that the woman wants it - even if what they are seeing is their own imagination)).

Right. So. I had issues with both main characters. I had issues with Daniel in the prior book, and had issues with him here. He is a full on Earl, not heir, or in line, but an Earl. He spent 3 years in exile because of a series of stupid events likely to not have occurred if he wasn't drunk, and he injured his friend in a duel . . . and he still seems very immature no that he is back in England. At least he seemed that way to me. That's another reason I was having trouble continuing to read this book.

Still, I saw these things and the made it harder to read the book, but not impossible. Basically, what I'm saying, is that neither main character were characters I really wanted to spend time with. Yet I did. Then somewhere around 55% things morphed a little and my thoughts started to change. Then the final section of the book was this mad dash action type thing that was thrilling and edge of the seat type stuff, so . . . the book didn't redeem itself so much as the issues I had with it were reevaluated. And so . . . gave it 3 stars on Goodreads.

Rating: 3.33

May 6 2018



View all my reviews

Just Like Heaven (Smythe-Smith, #1) by Julia Quinn

Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I’m quite tempted to rate this book higher than I have. Though it’s a question of rating it 0.25 stars more than I have, or not – but that raises the rating on Goodreads from 4 stars to 5 (since I’m thinking of rating this either 4.50 or 4.75).

Right, so. I’ve now dipped into three series by this author. All of which are connected to each other. The first series I dipped into, oddly enough, is also one that I’ve only read one book by – both because there were no other books in the series when I started; and because, when more books (1 more) appeared, I . . . wasn’t feeling happy with the author and the book itself didn’t look that interesting. I mean, the concept from the beginning – the underlying theme, is lying (reminder: I’m not talking about the book this review appears on, I’m referring to the second book in the Rokesbys series).

Right, that’s a muddle, let’s try that again.

I’ve dipped into three series by Quinn. First series I tried was the Rokesbys series, a prequel series to the Bridgertons series. Loved the first book, but haven’t read any other Rokesbys book. Then I read . . . most of the Bridgertons books – all 8 of them. Most because I had to DNF one of them. Bridgertons being about, unless I confused myself, the generation of marriageable adults that came after the generation in Rokesbys.

This book here, the book this review is supposed to be about but hasn’t been yet, is a side series instead of a prequel or sequel series. As in, the events in this series takes place during the same time period as the events in the Bridgertons series. Barely, but still. This specific book here, chronologically, slides in-between book 7 and book 8 of the Bridgertons series. About three years, if I were to base this on the age of Gregory instead of dates since I don’t remember the actual dates, prior to book 8 (Gregory’s book).

Gregory and Colin make cameos in this book. Oddly, and I only really recalled it now – but Gregory got talked about a lot – invited to a party, was a member of that party, was talked about as a potential husband material . . . but didn’t really appear in this book. Colin, on the other hand, was never talked about – at all – yet had an important scene in the book. There might have been another Bridgertons pop up in this book, but I don’t recall any. The very old woman who feels free to say whatever she wants, but whose name now escapes me (Lady . . . Ddd . . d . . D something), also plays a somewhat important role in one (or two, but it’s connected) scenes.
The story is about … I hate when book descriptions fail to include the main character’s names in them. Bah. Honoria Smythe-Smith is the lead female character (and yes there are two points of views in this book). Honoria comes from a large family, just like the Bridgertons (I do not recall if an exact number was mentioned for Honoria’s family), but Honoria is like Gregory and Hynacith – near the end of the line (or the end), but unlike those two, she doesn’t have anyone nearish her own age. So she both experiences a large family and . . . being lonely in a large home – what with her older siblings off doing their own thing. She does ‘pester’ on of her siblings, though – mostly because he’s close enough in age, roughly 5 years, that she can try to do stuff with him. Unfortunately Daniel wants nothing to do with ‘Bug’. And would have nothing to do with her but for her persistence and the empathy of Marcus, Daniel’s friend from Eton.

Marcus, Earl . . . something or other, comes from a very small family. There’s him and . . . . there’s him. His father got his mother with child (don’t worry, they were married at the time), and when the mother died when Marcus was . . . 5? some suggested the father marry again to increase the number of potential heirs. Father, though, gazed upon his son and found him intelligent enough and stuff. And had no desire to reenter the marriage market and heaven forbid actually deal with another wife. He was content with just the one child. Not that he talked much him until the kid was about 12, whereupon the kid was mostly off at Eton anyway – so father and son rarely saw each other. Mother and son, while mother was alive, were also in favor of the stand-offish parenting style.

The book begins with Marcus meeting Honoria and her family, through brother Daniel – and being, basically, made a member of their family. That’s the prologue.

The actual story starts off with Honoria caught out in the rain in Cambridge, and being helped, temporarily, by an Earl – Marcus. They are still . . . friendly-ish, but they haven’t spent much time near each other for the last three years – ever since ‘that thing with Daniel’ occurred.

Marcus and Honoria reconnect. Etc. Etc. Honoria is in her third season and is determined to find a husband before the end (well, during it, the season hasn’t started yet). Her mother isn’t much help, though, because she’s become withdrawn these last three years – though there’s every indication that she was like Violet Bridgertons for her other children.

Those who have read the Bridgertons series will recall that the Smythe-Smith put on music recitals – and that plays an important role in this book as well. Well, it would have to since Honoria is a member of the performing quartet.

Marcus is strong, muscular, ‘with money’, and ‘highly titled, plus he doesn’t appear to be beast like (though no one seems to call him handsome, just not beast like). Oh, and he’s shy-ish and doesn’t like parties, crowds, London, or the ‘season’. He spends the book near Honoria . . . for reasons.

I rather enjoyed this book from, mostly, beginning to end. I was a little concerned, though, when the beginning didn’t see that humorous to me. Since the reviews seemed to indicate that this was more of a comedy than a romance book ()+––––––+

Dang it. My word processor just died. mmphs. Now I have to actually write in the box here on Goodreads. Though I was able to get the review up to now. mmphs.

Where was I? Book was said to be funny. I didn't see it at first. But was funny, eventually. There's a medical issue that crops up - I liked how that was described and even found humor there. As is somewhat normal, I kind of just skimmed along when the sex turned up - I do not, in general, enjoy reading the really long sex scenes this author writes, though there might occasionally be funny moments - more often there are . . . potential moments of me wishing to not continue reading due to the . . . stuff . . . let's move on.

I liked the side characters, for the most part, especially Iris and Sarah from the Quartet. Though I had trouble telling the parents apart - Honoria's, Iris's and Sarah's (were all of them there? I'm not even sure, though I know . . . um . . at least two mothers were involved in the story).

Rating: 4.50

May 3 2018



View all my reviews

On the Way to the Wedding (Bridgertons, #8) by Julia Quinn

On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I mentioned in the previous review I did for a Quinn book that there were reasons for why it took me two years to get around to reading the last two books in this series. Well, I’ll mention specifically for this review the part where I haven’t exactly ‘loved’ the Bridgerton male leads. And Gregory hadn’t exactly impressed me in prior books (I believe he is a ‘kid’ in all prior Bridgerton books but for his nearest sister’s book, the previous book in this series, and the first book in the Smythe-Smith series where Gregory is still in college but is same age as lead female in that book).

Then the prologue, which I think I read two years ago, didn’t exactly lead me to scream ‘MUST READ NOW!’ No, it screamed ‘back away and flee’. Several reasons, I’ll just note: I do not like reading ‘prologues’ that take place in the future, and the rest of the book leads up to it (then moves past it . . . eventually). I do not like it in books, on television or in films.

No matter. Eventually I got around to reading this one, and, oddly, found it to be near the top of the Bridgertons books. Eh, don’t go by me though, I do not think other readers feel same way.

Right so. Gregory starts off the book . . . let’s skip the prologue. The book starts off with Gregory being told that he needs to do something with his life. Get a job, settle down. Something. Be serious about his life. Gregory promises to do so and has a vague feeling that he will, in fact, find his match – he’s a romantic, see, and expects to find ‘his love’ – who he’ll immediately recognize at first appearance, and both of them will feel it, feel the love. Well, he did have 6 older siblings (and 1 younger) make love matches, so . . . he’s been trained to be a romantic.

Naturally Gregory finally finds love at a party immediately after being told he needs to ‘grow up’. Gregory is beyond happy. He’s found his one. She . . . barely acknowledges him. ‘She’ being Hermione Watson. The woman with Watson, Lady Lucinda Abernathy, lets Gregory in on some secrets and tries to help him. Doesn’t seem to work.

Meanwhile the female lead of the book is . . Lady Lucinda Abernathy. She rather loves her best friend Hermione, but she’s spent her life in her shadow. Everyone wanders up and instantly falls in love with Hermione and only pays attention to Lucinda if they remember that friends might help ‘get’ Hermione.

There’s humor, blackmail, love, mistakes, etc. etc. throughout the book. And some rotten guardians (and siblings, Lucinda’s brother, who she appears to rather like, is a complete asshole to her – okay, maybe not that, but he’s a spineless fuck who doesn’t give a fuck if his sister actually has a season and stuff – just goes along with the guardian’s plan to marry off his sister, despite brother now being the titled person and the head of the family, but fuck responsibility, right? Pft. Guardian is their uncle, to just round things off.

Right, so, where was I? I liked the book. It good.

Rating: 4.75

May 3 2018




View all my reviews

It's In His Kiss (Bridgertons #7) by Julia Quinn

It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


There are two reasons it took me roughly two years to read this book despite already owning it for those two years: 1) my ratings for the Bridgertons series kept going down to the point I’d DNF’d the previous book; 2) Hyacinth didn’t really look like a character I wanted to read.

Strange what happens, eh? I rather enjoyed Hyacinth. And her friendship with . . . again I’m bad with names, but the really old woman who speaks her mind in this series: Lady . . . Dangerfield or whatever.

Hyacinth has been around for a while – season wise, without getting married. She’s had proposals, less and less as the years went by, but she’s had some. None, though, were from anyone she fancied. Hyacinth is generally . . . liked well enough by the rest of the ‘season’ people, but also described, mostly behind her back, as . . . well, the word isn’t used, but basically a shrew. Or, a young version of that woman I labeled ‘Lady Dangerfield’ above because I can’t recall her name. She’s attractive enough, but not a beauty, is intelligent . . . and knows it. Has something of a hyper-need to know everyone’s business. Etc. etc.

Because of reasons I won’t get into, Gareth St. Clair, the male point of view, is something of an outsider. He’s heir to a title, I don’t mean that, I mean he kept himself apart from others. He’s the kind who is, at least rumored, to prefer spending time with Opera singers instead of ‘the ton’. There’s reasons for that. Okay, I’ll mention: Gareth’s father loathes him, and when Gareth learned why, he rebelled.

Gareth and Hyacinth (gah that’s going to be annoying to keep typing that name I can’t remember how to spell) meet not because Gareth wants to reform himself, or because he decided to crash a ball and seduce one of the ton (‘ton’ – the upper class people who go through ‘seasons’ coming out and looking for husbands/wives through balls/parties/etc.) – because he doesn’t do that, he doesn’t seduce ‘proper’ young women, he goes for improper (not marriageable). No, the two meet because Gareth is related to that old woman whose name I can’t remember, who is also friends with Hyancith. They meet when Gareth goes to his grandmother (great?) on a visit and finds Hy there (I do not recall Hy getting any nicknames in the book). One thing leads to another and . . . no a romance does not bloom, no a friendship erupts. Kinda. They are friendly with each other (also, they first meet at one of those Smythe-Smith music things, I forgot that; though Gareth did, accidentally, bump into Hy when she was reading to Lady D), but not romantically interested in the other. Until . . . they are.

I liked the book. I liked how it broke down. I can’t remember if this is the book where the male lead did something detestable, which made me lower the rating, or if that occurred in a different book. Mmphs. That’s what I get for taking so long to write review, and reading so many Quinn books in a row.

Rating: 3.75

May 3 2018




View all my reviews