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Enjoyed it

Revisado: 04-25-24

Mary Jane Wells is, as ever, phenomenal. The story itself was good, but I agree with other reviews I've seen that Helen and Rhys really steal the show. Lisa Kleypas eventually got me to buy in on these two, but I think they're my least favorite couple that she's written.

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I mostly enjoyed it

Revisado: 03-26-24

...but the harping on about revenge, then the sermon Penelope gives about choosing love over revenge was a bit much. I also hate when the hero waxes poetic about how he's just not good enough for the heroine, which Bourne does an awful lot, so that wasn't great. There were other things that I think made it difficult to stay immersed in the story, but overall, I did enjoy it.

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I adored this book!

Revisado: 10-23-23

If this book had been written more recently, I think Erienne would have explicitly enjoyed verbally sparring with Christopher instead of seeming to actually hate him for the first half or more of the book. And she would have been drawn toward Stuart in spite of herself rather than continually rebuffing him because she's so genuinely horrified at the mere thought of his scars. Beyond those critiques, there are very few issues in this book that are common in its contemporaries. And, of course, Rosalyn Landor gives a flawless performance! I found this book incredibly enjoyable, and stayed up listening until 5am because I just wanted to listen to "one more chapter."

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I loved this conclusion

Revisado: 09-04-23

That said, manage your expectations. Bierce is clearly a world builder. Part of that includes robust back stories for minor tertiary characters. If he only cared about having a tight story, 2/3 of this book could easily have been cut. But there's so much more that he's doing and, frankly, I love it. Every once in a while, things get a little too meta, but that's been true from book one. Over all, I loved the way we got to see characters grow, and I loved how messy and human they all were.

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I loved this story

Revisado: 07-29-23

For me, the most frustrating thing was that the story was happening around the heroine, but there's definitely a point where she begins to exercise more agency and play a more active roll in what's going on.
Aside from that, I loved just about everything. In particular, I loved how the characters are so human. There is so much messy-ness in how the characters interact with each other and the decisions that they make.
Something to point out as something that I personally enjoyed but not everyone will, is that the format of the story itself is definitely not western. Or, not strictly western. I love that the story deviates from the structure and tempo that so many books stick to, but it's an aspect that is extremely subjective to personal taste.

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Loved this book!

Revisado: 07-16-23

I won't say it's a "happy" book, but I loved it. It's obvious that the author read pride and prejudice, not just closely, but critically. She shows Mrs. Bennett, Lydia and Mary so much more grace than any adaptation I've ever encountered and makes more human other characters who are usually depicted as near-saints. She took single lines from Austin's book and contextualized them for the modern reader. What exactly does it mean when Austin says that the weather was so bad that "the very shoe-roses for Netherfield were got by proxy?" What is the deeper social context of a flogging in town, or having the militia nearby in the first place? How did Bingley's father amass his fortune? Baker peels back the veneer of Austin's book and shows us a potential reality of the lives of those who made the lives of people like the Bennetts, Bingleys, and Darcys possible. For some, this telling may be too depressing, vulgar or dark in comparison to pride and prejudice. The ending will likely disappoint readers who expect villains to be punished and heroes rewarded with an explicit happily ever after. We get neither of those things. But for those who love Austin critically, and love the messy and complicated nature of humanity, and who understand that usually the most the average real person can ask for in life is a HOPE for a happily ever after, this book is for you. Real life is full of heartache and hope, and Baker doesn't look away from that.

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I loved this book!

Revisado: 05-15-23

That said, I'm a complete stranger to Indian culture and have seen exactly one Bollywood film (Bride and Prejudice) so the complaints I've seen that have to do with not enough culture, or overused Bollywood tropes definitely won't apply to me. I loved looking up different foods, clothes, and unfamiliar words.
For me, the story was gut wrenching and beautiful. Sonali Dev has a way of writing that makes the heartache of her characters visceral. I didn't find the story to be predictable at all and found myself agonizing over how impossible an HEA seemed with only an hour and a half left to go.

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My favorite

Revisado: 04-27-23

This was definitely my favorite book in the series. I adored Daisy, Flynn, and Lady Bea from their first appearances way back in the first book, and I feel like all three of them got their hea here.

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It wasn't bad...

Revisado: 04-26-23

It just wasn't great. I mostly enjoyed it, and I can't get enough of Lady Bea. And the story was engaging.

I definitely didn't enjoy the use of the word g*psy nor the general representation of Romani people. And based on when this book was published, I don't think there's a good justification for it. I also didn't enjoy the sermon about how love is as important in marriage as money and that there's more to a person than their looks. Like, a literal sermon. It wasn't necessary at all and took me completely out of the story. To top it off, the only spicy scene happened at the very end, after the wedding and after the conflict had been resolved. I'm a huge fan of spicy books - the spicier the better, generally - but each spicy encounter should move the story along in some way. The one in this book didn't do anything at all.

I liked the story of Jane and Zachary, their development individually and as a couple. And I may listen again. But this is definitely my least favorite book in the series.

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Loved it!

Revisado: 03-03-23

This story was just amazing! I love how Dana intertwined the historical with the fantastical. Without giving any spoilers it's impossible to explain what I loved the most about how things resolve. I loved the characters, old and new, and I especially liked Simon.
Overall, I highly recommend this sequel!

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