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Wallflower Weddings #1
Daring Miss Danvers
It's all fun and games . . . until someone falls in love.
Oliver Goswick, Viscount Rathburn, needs money—and soon. With time ticking away and his inheritance held hostage until he's properly wed, Rathburn's slim options point to a single solution: a faux engagement. In need of the perfect bride, he knows of only one candidate: his best friend's wallflower sister. The plan seems flawless, except for one problem . . . He can't help falling in love with her.
Poised, polished Emma Danvers knows nothing good can come of Rathburn's scheme. Spending the next two months engaged in a mock courtship is not what she'd imagined for her final season. Yet, charmed by his roguish ways and the inexplicable hammering he causes in her heart, she accepts his challenge.
For Emma, keeping the secret seemed easy when it was just a game . . . But as Rathburn begins to see past her reserved exterior to the passionate woman within, the risk of losing her heart becomes all too real.
Oliver Goswick, Viscount Rathburn, needs money—and soon. With time ticking away and his inheritance held hostage until he's properly wed, Rathburn's slim options point to a single solution: a faux engagement. In need of the perfect bride, he knows of only one candidate: his best friend's wallflower sister. The plan seems flawless, except for one problem . . . He can't help falling in love with her.
Poised, polished Emma Danvers knows nothing good can come of Rathburn's scheme. Spending the next two months engaged in a mock courtship is not what she'd imagined for her final season. Yet, charmed by his roguish ways and the inexplicable hammering he causes in her heart, she accepts his challenge.
For Emma, keeping the secret seemed easy when it was just a game . . . But as Rathburn begins to see past her reserved exterior to the passionate woman within, the risk of losing her heart becomes all too real.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2014
147 people are currently reading
1082 people want to read
About the author
Vivienne Lorret
37 books1,306 followersUSA Today bestselling author VIVIENNE LORRET writes fun and steamy Regency historical romances. She lives in the Midwest where she coaxes words out of giant mugs of tea and attempts to jot them down before they can escape. For her entire catalog of books, including the Liars’ Club, her latest series from Avon, please visit www.vivlorret.net
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
July 25, 2016
I always approach a book by a new author with a bit of trepidation, wondering whether they are going to possess that extra special something that’s going to make me sit up and think that yes, here’s a new writer with a strong voice and something slightly different to say. Or a different way of saying it, at least.
Sadly, finding obtrusive Americanisms on the first couple of pages is enough to make me think that the anticipation was fun while it lasted and want to give up. And then I get annoyed because an author who is going to write a 19th century historical set in England should, at the very least, have looked up the fact that “tarp” is an abbreviation (of tarpaulin) which wasn’t used until the 20th century, and is principally used in America, and to know that we don’t have “sidewalks”. Incidentally, a tarpaulin at that time was, according to Wikipedia “a tarred canvas pall used to cover objects on ships”. Given the presence of the tar, such a thing is unlikely to have been used in the parlour of a home to cover the furniture in order to prevent damage.
And then there are the names. The heroine of this book is named Emma, which is perfectly fine. As is the name of her friend, Penelope. But Merribeth, Delaney and Bree? Are, of course, all traditional, English names which abounded in the early part of the 19th century. *eyeroll*
Having got that off my chest, I can now address the book itself, which is a gentle, unassuming piece of romantic fluff in which the hero and heroine, long-term friends, enter into a fake engagement so that the hero can come into his inheritance, which, by rights, he should have had years ago. An odd clause in his grandfather’s will has meant that his grandmother has the final say over when he gets his money, and she has made it abundantly clear that that will only happen once he is appropriately settled with a woman of whom she approves.
Oliver Goswick, Viscount Rathbury, had a reputation as a bit of a wild young man until a fire killed his beloved father and destroyed a large part of the family home. After that, the young viscount determined to eschew his former rakish ways and to restore the house, which he has been doing gradually, using money from his own pocket. He has also – and secretly – founded a hospital in his father’s name, one which he hopes will be able to provide specialist treatments to help burn victims. The problem is that without his inheritance, he will be unable to continue to fund both the hospital and the repairs to his home – so he needs to find a way to obtain the money quickly. His grandmother is coming to stay for a couple of months, so Oliver reckons that the fastest way to ensure the release of his money will be to pretend to be “settled” with the only young woman he knows of whom his somewhat intimidating matriarch approves – Miss Emma Danvers.
Emma is the sister of one of Oliver’s closest friends. She is a very proper young lady who frequently despairs of the antics of her parents, who are both artists, and therefore not respectable in the eyes of society. As a result, she has supressed her own artistic inclinations, and feels she has to work twice as hard as anyone else to maintain her respectability and to find herself a suitable husband – and by suitable she means someone who is the complete opposite of Oliver, whose constant flirtatiousness she finds far too unsettling.
With time running out, Oliver outlines his plans to Emma and her parents, and Emma – against her better judgement – agrees to play her part. It doesn’t take long for Oliver to admit to himself that marrying Emma for real is not such a bad idea and sets about trying to make his intentions clear in small, but marked ways. The problem is that Emma has for so long regarded him as an unmitigated flirt whose attentions mean nothing that he doesn’t make much headway – and soon they’re at the altar and the explanations are going to have to wait.
The fake relationship is a plot line I usually like, but this one was too full of holes to be terribly convincing. Firstly, once Oliver has decided there’s nothing for it but to embark upon a faux-betrothal, he approaches Emma’s parents with the idea in order to gain their approval. I liked that he was open about it, but for her parents to allow – and even encourage – such a thing and play fast and loose with their daughter’s reputation was incredibly reckless and showed rather poor parenting skills! At that time, it wasn’t the done thing for a man to cry off an engagement so it was down to the woman; even so, her reputation would be badly damaged, and it would be very difficult after that for her to find a husband who was even remotely suitable. And then there was the idea that, if the inheritance wasn’t forthcoming in time, Emma and Oliver would get married and then get an annulment. The annulment is often used as a method of getting out of an unwanted and unconsummated marriage in fiction, but unfortunately, it wasn’t that simple and non-consummation alone was not sufficient grounds for an annulment to be granted.
On the positive side, the writing is good and I liked the verbal sparring between the two principals. Both are attractive, likeable characters who are a good match for each other, and there is a nice smattering of romantic and sexual tension between them. But they spent too long faffing around, and worrying about admitting their true feelings for each other for no real reason that I could discern. I would also like to have explored Emma’s feelings about her art a little more. Mention was made of the fact that she had supressed many things about herself when she’d set aside her love of painting, but her reasons for doing that were barely touched on as were her motives when she started painting again.
I’ve given the book a C grade/3 stars in spite of my reservations, because I think the author writes well, has shown that she can create attractive and interesting characters and that she is capable of penning a romance that feels “romantic” rather than pages and pages of mental lusting. It’s a pleasant way of spending a few hours and very readable, but I would have liked a little more depth to the characterisation and I wish Ms Lorret – or her editor – had done a bit more background research.
Sadly, finding obtrusive Americanisms on the first couple of pages is enough to make me think that the anticipation was fun while it lasted and want to give up. And then I get annoyed because an author who is going to write a 19th century historical set in England should, at the very least, have looked up the fact that “tarp” is an abbreviation (of tarpaulin) which wasn’t used until the 20th century, and is principally used in America, and to know that we don’t have “sidewalks”. Incidentally, a tarpaulin at that time was, according to Wikipedia “a tarred canvas pall used to cover objects on ships”. Given the presence of the tar, such a thing is unlikely to have been used in the parlour of a home to cover the furniture in order to prevent damage.
And then there are the names. The heroine of this book is named Emma, which is perfectly fine. As is the name of her friend, Penelope. But Merribeth, Delaney and Bree? Are, of course, all traditional, English names which abounded in the early part of the 19th century. *eyeroll*
Having got that off my chest, I can now address the book itself, which is a gentle, unassuming piece of romantic fluff in which the hero and heroine, long-term friends, enter into a fake engagement so that the hero can come into his inheritance, which, by rights, he should have had years ago. An odd clause in his grandfather’s will has meant that his grandmother has the final say over when he gets his money, and she has made it abundantly clear that that will only happen once he is appropriately settled with a woman of whom she approves.
Oliver Goswick, Viscount Rathbury, had a reputation as a bit of a wild young man until a fire killed his beloved father and destroyed a large part of the family home. After that, the young viscount determined to eschew his former rakish ways and to restore the house, which he has been doing gradually, using money from his own pocket. He has also – and secretly – founded a hospital in his father’s name, one which he hopes will be able to provide specialist treatments to help burn victims. The problem is that without his inheritance, he will be unable to continue to fund both the hospital and the repairs to his home – so he needs to find a way to obtain the money quickly. His grandmother is coming to stay for a couple of months, so Oliver reckons that the fastest way to ensure the release of his money will be to pretend to be “settled” with the only young woman he knows of whom his somewhat intimidating matriarch approves – Miss Emma Danvers.
Emma is the sister of one of Oliver’s closest friends. She is a very proper young lady who frequently despairs of the antics of her parents, who are both artists, and therefore not respectable in the eyes of society. As a result, she has supressed her own artistic inclinations, and feels she has to work twice as hard as anyone else to maintain her respectability and to find herself a suitable husband – and by suitable she means someone who is the complete opposite of Oliver, whose constant flirtatiousness she finds far too unsettling.
With time running out, Oliver outlines his plans to Emma and her parents, and Emma – against her better judgement – agrees to play her part. It doesn’t take long for Oliver to admit to himself that marrying Emma for real is not such a bad idea and sets about trying to make his intentions clear in small, but marked ways. The problem is that Emma has for so long regarded him as an unmitigated flirt whose attentions mean nothing that he doesn’t make much headway – and soon they’re at the altar and the explanations are going to have to wait.
The fake relationship is a plot line I usually like, but this one was too full of holes to be terribly convincing. Firstly, once Oliver has decided there’s nothing for it but to embark upon a faux-betrothal, he approaches Emma’s parents with the idea in order to gain their approval. I liked that he was open about it, but for her parents to allow – and even encourage – such a thing and play fast and loose with their daughter’s reputation was incredibly reckless and showed rather poor parenting skills! At that time, it wasn’t the done thing for a man to cry off an engagement so it was down to the woman; even so, her reputation would be badly damaged, and it would be very difficult after that for her to find a husband who was even remotely suitable. And then there was the idea that, if the inheritance wasn’t forthcoming in time, Emma and Oliver would get married and then get an annulment. The annulment is often used as a method of getting out of an unwanted and unconsummated marriage in fiction, but unfortunately, it wasn’t that simple and non-consummation alone was not sufficient grounds for an annulment to be granted.
On the positive side, the writing is good and I liked the verbal sparring between the two principals. Both are attractive, likeable characters who are a good match for each other, and there is a nice smattering of romantic and sexual tension between them. But they spent too long faffing around, and worrying about admitting their true feelings for each other for no real reason that I could discern. I would also like to have explored Emma’s feelings about her art a little more. Mention was made of the fact that she had supressed many things about herself when she’d set aside her love of painting, but her reasons for doing that were barely touched on as were her motives when she started painting again.
I’ve given the book a C grade/3 stars in spite of my reservations, because I think the author writes well, has shown that she can create attractive and interesting characters and that she is capable of penning a romance that feels “romantic” rather than pages and pages of mental lusting. It’s a pleasant way of spending a few hours and very readable, but I would have liked a little more depth to the characterisation and I wish Ms Lorret – or her editor – had done a bit more background research.
October 20, 2016
Not my favorite book by Vivienne Lorret. I actually quite liked the premise that for once, the guy having to marry to become "respectable" and receive his inheritance was upfront about it and told the girl (his best friend's sister whom he genuinely likes) from the beginning that he just needed a proper fiancé, and would allow her to get an annulment or a divorce (although that really is too far fetched historically, but whatever) if they really had to marry. But honestly, all their problems could've been solved with just one honest conversation. Which was my main problem with the rest of the story as well. No one ever talks, and just whines and complains about how bad they feel for keeping stuff from the other one. But if you're in the mood for sweet and fluffy, this is a good place to look. But after just having finished When a Marquess Loves a Woman, I guess I just expected more from this book.
January 16, 2020
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
Daring Miss Danvers is the first book in the Wallflower Weddings series and a fun cute read and if you are looking for something charming and sweet and light....then this is definitely a book for you. I will admit that this book I struggled with at times, mostly due to not being fully invested in these characters, Honestly, I just wasn't in the feels with this story, especially the first half. The latter half was much better in how it was written and really pulls in the reader more into the story. The actual story was pretty well solid, its a sweet romance, and I really liked the friends to lovers and fake relationship and unrequited love tropes that were delved into this story. The dynamics were pretty fun to read. I do think the unrequited love trope I struggled with, to be honest, they were dancing around each other in some ways that did drive me crazy at times. It's not a horrible story or anything, but just a fun sweet interlude of a romance. The relationship that we see form is a very interesting one. We have two characters that have known each other for years, there is a strong level of trust between them and they come to an agreement so that the hero can gain his inheritance to build the hospital to honor his father's memory. There is an unrequited love aspect but mostly this is built due to lack of honest communication, there are hints here and there, but really if they just sat down and had an open conversation, they would realize the real truth that is happening between them.
Despite my issues with the story, I found it heartwarming and full of warm promise and sweet delights that will endear the reader in a beautiful way!!!
Daring Miss Danvers is the first book in the Wallflower Weddings series and a fun cute read and if you are looking for something charming and sweet and light....then this is definitely a book for you. I will admit that this book I struggled with at times, mostly due to not being fully invested in these characters, Honestly, I just wasn't in the feels with this story, especially the first half. The latter half was much better in how it was written and really pulls in the reader more into the story. The actual story was pretty well solid, its a sweet romance, and I really liked the friends to lovers and fake relationship and unrequited love tropes that were delved into this story. The dynamics were pretty fun to read. I do think the unrequited love trope I struggled with, to be honest, they were dancing around each other in some ways that did drive me crazy at times. It's not a horrible story or anything, but just a fun sweet interlude of a romance. The relationship that we see form is a very interesting one. We have two characters that have known each other for years, there is a strong level of trust between them and they come to an agreement so that the hero can gain his inheritance to build the hospital to honor his father's memory. There is an unrequited love aspect but mostly this is built due to lack of honest communication, there are hints here and there, but really if they just sat down and had an open conversation, they would realize the real truth that is happening between them.
Despite my issues with the story, I found it heartwarming and full of warm promise and sweet delights that will endear the reader in a beautiful way!!!
September 10, 2016
The ladies of the Wallflower Weddings Series by Vivienne Lorret are showing a hint of what I loved about Lisa Kleypas' Wallflowers Series, a group of ladies helping each other through the journey of "Finding" a husband...or at least not embarrassing yourself around the ton when at a ball!
I haven't read the story of Penelope, from FIVE GOLDEN RINGS Anthology, but I was able to jump right into Emma's story, which involves the straight-laced girl, from a family of free-spirits and the best friend of her older brother, Oliver, Viscount Rathburn.
I so enjoyed the back and forth banter between these two, who you can tell off the bat that they are crazy about one another, and everyone else seems to sense it, but the two themselves. Oliver needs to "pretend" to be betrothed to Emma for the sake of his grand mother who is holding his inheritance, which he needs to open the Hospital for Burn Victims, since he lost his father to a fire not long ago.
Emma agrees to the farce, but her feelings for him grow stronger everyday, and with an old mistress coming into conversation and a "secret" that Emma feels she needs to share with Oliver before they are married...oh, and the fact that Oliver has truly fallen in love with Emma...yep...lets just say that these two should have a long chat to clear the air before they say "I Do"!
Vivienne Lorret writes a historical with a Contemporary Vibe. Which for me is great, as I am not a huge reader of Historical Romance, but I will be reading the rest of this series, as I need to see the rest of the Wallflowers, who I have come to consider friends, get their HEA!
I haven't read the story of Penelope, from FIVE GOLDEN RINGS Anthology, but I was able to jump right into Emma's story, which involves the straight-laced girl, from a family of free-spirits and the best friend of her older brother, Oliver, Viscount Rathburn.
I so enjoyed the back and forth banter between these two, who you can tell off the bat that they are crazy about one another, and everyone else seems to sense it, but the two themselves. Oliver needs to "pretend" to be betrothed to Emma for the sake of his grand mother who is holding his inheritance, which he needs to open the Hospital for Burn Victims, since he lost his father to a fire not long ago.
Emma agrees to the farce, but her feelings for him grow stronger everyday, and with an old mistress coming into conversation and a "secret" that Emma feels she needs to share with Oliver before they are married...oh, and the fact that Oliver has truly fallen in love with Emma...yep...lets just say that these two should have a long chat to clear the air before they say "I Do"!
Vivienne Lorret writes a historical with a Contemporary Vibe. Which for me is great, as I am not a huge reader of Historical Romance, but I will be reading the rest of this series, as I need to see the rest of the Wallflowers, who I have come to consider friends, get their HEA!
May 16, 2025
3.5
Viscount Rathburn had the perfect plan: ask his friend's sister for a pretend engagement so he can finally get his hands on his inheritance. But why did he have to seal the deal with a kiss ? Now he can't stop thinking about her and how she doesn't respond to him like the little miss proper she's all the time.
Maybe the fact she have excentric parents is the reason why Emma Danvers still haven't found a husband after two seasons and now beggining her third and final season? Maybe it made it easier to accept Rathburn odd proposition? Or maybe it's just because she can't resist his flirty manners. No matter how pretend their relationship began, the attraction is very real and soon Emma and Oliver won't be able to fake what they really feels.
Maybe because of the shorter format (254 pages instead of the usual 360 to 380), I wasn't hook on this book as I've been by the others I read from the author. Not to say that I didn't like it nor that I don't intend to read the next ones in the series, just that the MC's feelings for each other felt more like suddenly-insta-love to me and I needed more time to get on board with that. But I adored the hero's teasing humor and his chemistry with Emma.
Viscount Rathburn had the perfect plan: ask his friend's sister for a pretend engagement so he can finally get his hands on his inheritance. But why did he have to seal the deal with a kiss ? Now he can't stop thinking about her and how she doesn't respond to him like the little miss proper she's all the time.
Maybe the fact she have excentric parents is the reason why Emma Danvers still haven't found a husband after two seasons and now beggining her third and final season? Maybe it made it easier to accept Rathburn odd proposition? Or maybe it's just because she can't resist his flirty manners. No matter how pretend their relationship began, the attraction is very real and soon Emma and Oliver won't be able to fake what they really feels.
Maybe because of the shorter format (254 pages instead of the usual 360 to 380), I wasn't hook on this book as I've been by the others I read from the author. Not to say that I didn't like it nor that I don't intend to read the next ones in the series, just that the MC's feelings for each other felt more like suddenly-insta-love to me and I needed more time to get on board with that. But I adored the hero's teasing humor and his chemistry with Emma.
June 6, 2015
3 1/2 stars (rounded down to 3 stars, because Oliver and Emma spent too much time keeping their secrets for no reason)
July 8, 2018
Amazon Bargain Bin / BookBub Ebook Bargain
(Tropes: Fake Relationship, Best Friend’s Sister, Unrequited love, Wallflower/Spinster)
*****
“You seem to think that I agreed to this because I imagined myself half in love with you. I know better. Only a fool would lose her head over you.”
*****
Plot: Oliver Goswick’s (Vicsount Rathburn) money is held “hostage” until he arranges to wed someone suitable. So he talks his best friend’s sister into faking an engagement with him, as Emma Danvers seems to be the only one his grandmother approves of. But how fake is it?
Talking Emma into a sham engagement is a bit of an uphill battle for Oliver, for not only does he have a bit of a reputation, but Emma’s family are known to be eccentric artists, and Emma just wants some normalness.
- “I like brown. It matches my hair and my eyes, and when I wear it I feel . . .” Normal. The only sane person living in an asylum.
- “There she is.”
Emma swallowed. “Yes. Here I am.”
“Playing in the shadows as usual,” her father said with a chuckle.
She preferred the shadows. The light made her feel lacking in the eyes of her flamboyant parents, especially with Rathburn here.
But even Emma can’t deny the attraction Oliver has on her, and it doesn’t take long for the lines of the sham engagement to blur.
- The fireflies vanished from his eyes as his dark pupils expanded. The fingers that were curled beneath her chin spread out and stole around to the base of her neck. He lowered his head again, but this time he did not simply brush his lips over hers. Instead, he tasted her, flicking his tongue over the same path hers had taken.
So they decide to take advantage of their fake engagement to do some “exploring”, having agreed that Emma will end the engagement before it ends in matrimony.
- “This will have to be our secret. After all, what would happen if my grandmother discovered that beneath a façade of modesty and decorum lived a warm-blooded temptress with the taste of sweet jasmine on her lips?”
The air felt alive in this small space, flaring around them like sparks shooting from a fire. Tiny embers cascaded down his skin, making him long to do more than caress her shoulders. He wanted to feel her against him. Feel his body pressing into hers. Watch her eyes as they darkened with desire
- “Why is it that whenever we’re kissing, there’s a knock at the door?”
She released a sigh, not bothering to hide her regret. “We weren’t kissing. Not exactly.”
“Not exactly,” he said with a chuckle. “Believe me, Emma, in some part of my mind we are always kissing.”
*****
3.5 stars
(Tropes: Fake Relationship, Best Friend’s Sister, Unrequited love, Wallflower/Spinster)
*****
“You seem to think that I agreed to this because I imagined myself half in love with you. I know better. Only a fool would lose her head over you.”
*****
Plot: Oliver Goswick’s (Vicsount Rathburn) money is held “hostage” until he arranges to wed someone suitable. So he talks his best friend’s sister into faking an engagement with him, as Emma Danvers seems to be the only one his grandmother approves of. But how fake is it?
Talking Emma into a sham engagement is a bit of an uphill battle for Oliver, for not only does he have a bit of a reputation, but Emma’s family are known to be eccentric artists, and Emma just wants some normalness.
- “I like brown. It matches my hair and my eyes, and when I wear it I feel . . .” Normal. The only sane person living in an asylum.
- “There she is.”
Emma swallowed. “Yes. Here I am.”
“Playing in the shadows as usual,” her father said with a chuckle.
She preferred the shadows. The light made her feel lacking in the eyes of her flamboyant parents, especially with Rathburn here.
But even Emma can’t deny the attraction Oliver has on her, and it doesn’t take long for the lines of the sham engagement to blur.
- The fireflies vanished from his eyes as his dark pupils expanded. The fingers that were curled beneath her chin spread out and stole around to the base of her neck. He lowered his head again, but this time he did not simply brush his lips over hers. Instead, he tasted her, flicking his tongue over the same path hers had taken.
So they decide to take advantage of their fake engagement to do some “exploring”, having agreed that Emma will end the engagement before it ends in matrimony.
- “This will have to be our secret. After all, what would happen if my grandmother discovered that beneath a façade of modesty and decorum lived a warm-blooded temptress with the taste of sweet jasmine on her lips?”
The air felt alive in this small space, flaring around them like sparks shooting from a fire. Tiny embers cascaded down his skin, making him long to do more than caress her shoulders. He wanted to feel her against him. Feel his body pressing into hers. Watch her eyes as they darkened with desire
- “Why is it that whenever we’re kissing, there’s a knock at the door?”
She released a sigh, not bothering to hide her regret. “We weren’t kissing. Not exactly.”
“Not exactly,” he said with a chuckle. “Believe me, Emma, in some part of my mind we are always kissing.”
*****
3.5 stars
March 3, 2016
I read this book a while ago. The story is short and sweet but is not exactly memorable. A comfortable fluffy read.
February 6, 2017
Starts out good, but begins to drag about 50% in. It's one of those books where communication between the H/h sucks - so while it starts fun and flirty it ends with a lot of needless drama.
May 28, 2018
3.75 stars
This was a very sweet book, and I loved the dynamic between Emma and Oliver. My big criticism is that, as others have noted, SO MUCH would have been cleared up with one simple conversation. Granted, that would have shortened the book to a novella, or maybe even less, but so something else should have been added in order to create more of a story.
Would I recommend it? Yes. Will I be reading it again? No. The novella that starts this series was terrific and Book 2 is also great, so overall it's a strong series, but so far, this is the weakest entry for me.
This was a very sweet book, and I loved the dynamic between Emma and Oliver. My big criticism is that, as others have noted, SO MUCH would have been cleared up with one simple conversation. Granted, that would have shortened the book to a novella, or maybe even less, but so something else should have been added in order to create more of a story.
Would I recommend it? Yes. Will I be reading it again? No. The novella that starts this series was terrific and Book 2 is also great, so overall it's a strong series, but so far, this is the weakest entry for me.
June 28, 2014
This is my new favorite series! If you are a fan of Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn, Sarah MacLean, then you will ADORE Vivienne Lorret's Wallflower Weddings series.
I saw that this book was available on Kindle for $0.99. Since it was so cheap, I thought I'd give it a try and after I read this, I immediately purchased the second in the series, and pre-ordered the third book. Believe me, you will not regret reading this. If it's not on sale, buy it anyway--it's worth paying full price for!
I loved both the Hero and the Heroine in here equally. Emma is just awesome, and Oliver is sweet and sexy. Oliver has to marry to gain his inheritance, and Emma (sister of his best friend) fits the bill perfectly--since his grandmother is the one holding his money and the only girl she has approved of is Emma.
I know, this is a common Regency romance trope, and it's really not that unique of a plot, but the characters in this story really make it worthwhile. Emma's parents are both artists--her father was a famous portrait painter until he got the cold shoulder from the Ton. Her mother is also an artist and frequently turns various rooms into her studio, at the last minute, and much to the dismay of Emma--who considers herself the only sensible one in the family. She has an older brother, who seems to have an interesting backstory--he was jilted at the alter a few years ago.
Much like Lisa Kleypa's Wallflower series, Emma has a small group of friends who have banded together. One of them is already happily married (apparently this is a novella that was published in an anthology--I've not read it yet) and the rest of the girls each have their own trials to deal with.
Oliver's father died in a house fire that destroyed nearly half his estate. Oliver is haunted by the death, and he is working both to restore his home and wants to build a hospital that specializes in burns. A lot of servants were injured in the fire and Oliver is trying to hire an expensive doctor to be in charge of the hospital and help the injured. Oliver might have once been your typical Regency rake with all the usual vices (gambling, womanizing, drinking) but since the fire, he really has turned himself around. All he needs is his inheritance, which his grandmother is holding in trust for him until he proves himself "worthy" of it.
Oliver and Emma have some real chemistry, and some amazing scenes together. Apparently everyone but them noticed that they make a great match, and half-way through the book, both of them realize it as well--but don't know how to tell the other.
This was a great read, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series. I'm so glad I took a chance on a new author.
I saw that this book was available on Kindle for $0.99. Since it was so cheap, I thought I'd give it a try and after I read this, I immediately purchased the second in the series, and pre-ordered the third book. Believe me, you will not regret reading this. If it's not on sale, buy it anyway--it's worth paying full price for!
I loved both the Hero and the Heroine in here equally. Emma is just awesome, and Oliver is sweet and sexy. Oliver has to marry to gain his inheritance, and Emma (sister of his best friend) fits the bill perfectly--since his grandmother is the one holding his money and the only girl she has approved of is Emma.
I know, this is a common Regency romance trope, and it's really not that unique of a plot, but the characters in this story really make it worthwhile. Emma's parents are both artists--her father was a famous portrait painter until he got the cold shoulder from the Ton. Her mother is also an artist and frequently turns various rooms into her studio, at the last minute, and much to the dismay of Emma--who considers herself the only sensible one in the family. She has an older brother, who seems to have an interesting backstory--he was jilted at the alter a few years ago.
Much like Lisa Kleypa's Wallflower series, Emma has a small group of friends who have banded together. One of them is already happily married (apparently this is a novella that was published in an anthology--I've not read it yet) and the rest of the girls each have their own trials to deal with.
Oliver's father died in a house fire that destroyed nearly half his estate. Oliver is haunted by the death, and he is working both to restore his home and wants to build a hospital that specializes in burns. A lot of servants were injured in the fire and Oliver is trying to hire an expensive doctor to be in charge of the hospital and help the injured. Oliver might have once been your typical Regency rake with all the usual vices (gambling, womanizing, drinking) but since the fire, he really has turned himself around. All he needs is his inheritance, which his grandmother is holding in trust for him until he proves himself "worthy" of it.
Oliver and Emma have some real chemistry, and some amazing scenes together. Apparently everyone but them noticed that they make a great match, and half-way through the book, both of them realize it as well--but don't know how to tell the other.
This was a great read, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series. I'm so glad I took a chance on a new author.
January 2, 2017
My first book by this author, and the idea behind this story (the heroine with her brothers BFF) is one of my absolute favorite themes. Along with the awesome theme, it was an easy, fluffy romance. It should have been perfect for me!! But it all fell apart for some sad reason.
At first I thought it was my fault... I started to read it during the chaotic Christmas break and I thought maybe I wasn't focusing correctly while reading and that that was why I seemed lost in the beginning. It could still be true. But .... I honestly felt like I did not truly know the characters thru out the whole story, the heroine was inconsistent with trying to be the utmost proper and then suddenly instigating a kiss. Which by the way didn't start happening until the last few chapters! I was seriously wondering if this was a Christian-based romance due to the lack of passion or romance for so long into the book. (Even the sexy scenes were written not as descriptive as I am used to)
Most of any emotion or feelings going on in the story were narrated or told to you, not shown to you (if that makes sense). Scenes moved from one to another way too quickly I thought. I was constantly thinking, wait a second... it's already the next week? How did the last scene/conflict end? The wedding took place on 1-2 pages and then it was already starting a new chapter moving on to something else...
Lastly, I feel like 80% of the story was their inner thoughts of being overly dramatic about stressing how the other person might be feeling. If they could have had a good conversation in one of the short-lived scenes and cleared the air, this story would have made a great novella.
and PS: the whole drama over the heroine being scared about people seeing her oil painting OF A GARDEN was absolutely ridiculous!
At first I thought it was my fault... I started to read it during the chaotic Christmas break and I thought maybe I wasn't focusing correctly while reading and that that was why I seemed lost in the beginning. It could still be true. But .... I honestly felt like I did not truly know the characters thru out the whole story, the heroine was inconsistent with trying to be the utmost proper and then suddenly instigating a kiss. Which by the way didn't start happening until the last few chapters! I was seriously wondering if this was a Christian-based romance due to the lack of passion or romance for so long into the book. (Even the sexy scenes were written not as descriptive as I am used to)
Most of any emotion or feelings going on in the story were narrated or told to you, not shown to you (if that makes sense). Scenes moved from one to another way too quickly I thought. I was constantly thinking, wait a second... it's already the next week? How did the last scene/conflict end? The wedding took place on 1-2 pages and then it was already starting a new chapter moving on to something else...
Lastly, I feel like 80% of the story was their inner thoughts of being overly dramatic about stressing how the other person might be feeling. If they could have had a good conversation in one of the short-lived scenes and cleared the air, this story would have made a great novella.
and PS: the whole drama over the heroine being scared about people seeing her oil painting OF A GARDEN was absolutely ridiculous!
September 15, 2016
I have said time and time again. I am a sucker for a spinster or wallflower romance. This time the proper wallflower Emma Danvers find that she willing gives herself over to a faux engagement to the roguish ways of Viscount Rathburn. Her brother’s friend. All this of course was to gain the inheritance that pinned the future on a marriage.
I was swept into the read with the characters and the ups and downs of Oliver and Emma’s adventure of faux engagement. Then to watch them fall in love was entertaining. Emma wanted nothing to do with falling in love because she would be left hurt at the end of all this but things change. Oliver saw the sensual creature that lay beneath the proper exterior that she showed the ton.
The banter was charming. The blooming relationship was taking place before all but neither could truly see it. I just felt from the beginning of it all that this was a sweet, yet delightful road to romance that they both will cherish for life.
Through it all I was always comparing things to my favorite wallflowers (from Eloisa James and Lisa Kleypas) and the reason that I love them so much. The storyline was good. The characters I loved. The off color remarks or more so the off continent verbiage and out of context references did not change the way that I enjoyed the story.
I was swept into the read with the characters and the ups and downs of Oliver and Emma’s adventure of faux engagement. Then to watch them fall in love was entertaining. Emma wanted nothing to do with falling in love because she would be left hurt at the end of all this but things change. Oliver saw the sensual creature that lay beneath the proper exterior that she showed the ton.
The banter was charming. The blooming relationship was taking place before all but neither could truly see it. I just felt from the beginning of it all that this was a sweet, yet delightful road to romance that they both will cherish for life.
Through it all I was always comparing things to my favorite wallflowers (from Eloisa James and Lisa Kleypas) and the reason that I love them so much. The storyline was good. The characters I loved. The off color remarks or more so the off continent verbiage and out of context references did not change the way that I enjoyed the story.
dnf
June 15, 2023DNF.
Note to self: Not safe. Hero had a year-long mistress Lily who he tried to learn more about. That too, after/while he had been acquainted with the heroine. He left her only when his grandma demanded so. Later, hero and heroine watch a play with Lily as actress and both are uneasy.
Note to self: Not safe. Hero had a year-long mistress Lily who he tried to learn more about. That too, after/while he had been acquainted with the heroine. He left her only when his grandma demanded so. Later, hero and heroine watch a play with Lily as actress and both are uneasy.
April 11, 2014
A sweet, charming, delight of a read, Daring Miss Danvers was a wonderful historical romance. I absolutely loved this sweet book. It was a truly lovely read.
Emma was a wonderful heroine. She was a kind-hearted, likable character that was strong willed in a quieter way. She could be a bit misguided at times, but only ever with good intentions. I thought she was a lovely character.
Oliver was also great. When he wanted something, heaven help the person who got in his way. He was a very determined type of man. But, he was also a real sweetie. He was genuinely kind and utterly adorable. I thought he was perfect.
The romance was lovely. Emma and Oliver were wonderful together. I liked that they didn't bother to deny their feelings, though they had some trouble communicating them. And the chemistry between them was hot. They were an absolutely perfect couple.
The plot was fast-paced and I was hooked the entire way through. I really enjoyed this sweet story and the ending was lovely.
Daring Miss Danvers was a delightful historical romance. I really loved this sweet charmer of a book. Romance lovers, this is a book you'll definitely want to read.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Emma was a wonderful heroine. She was a kind-hearted, likable character that was strong willed in a quieter way. She could be a bit misguided at times, but only ever with good intentions. I thought she was a lovely character.
Oliver was also great. When he wanted something, heaven help the person who got in his way. He was a very determined type of man. But, he was also a real sweetie. He was genuinely kind and utterly adorable. I thought he was perfect.
The romance was lovely. Emma and Oliver were wonderful together. I liked that they didn't bother to deny their feelings, though they had some trouble communicating them. And the chemistry between them was hot. They were an absolutely perfect couple.
The plot was fast-paced and I was hooked the entire way through. I really enjoyed this sweet story and the ending was lovely.
Daring Miss Danvers was a delightful historical romance. I really loved this sweet charmer of a book. Romance lovers, this is a book you'll definitely want to read.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
May 6, 2016
Awhile back I read this collection of short stories, Five Golden Rings, and I liked the story Vivienne Lorret wrote, so I was looking forward to this story.
I wasn’t surprised to find it one of the sweetest stories I’ve read. Everyone in it was interesting and likable, especially our hero and heroine.
Emma was such a sweetheart! No wonder Oliver picked her for his pretend betrothed. His grandmother was sure to love her!
He was such a rascal and a wonderful man. I loved the way he approached a problem, and the obstacles to his plans.
I also enjoyed their romance and the chemistry was undeniable. It fairly jumped off the pages.
I highly recommend this fast-paced, well written and charming romance.
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher
I wasn’t surprised to find it one of the sweetest stories I’ve read. Everyone in it was interesting and likable, especially our hero and heroine.
Emma was such a sweetheart! No wonder Oliver picked her for his pretend betrothed. His grandmother was sure to love her!
He was such a rascal and a wonderful man. I loved the way he approached a problem, and the obstacles to his plans.
I also enjoyed their romance and the chemistry was undeniable. It fairly jumped off the pages.
I highly recommend this fast-paced, well written and charming romance.
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher
August 26, 2016
This book was lazy and nonsensical and repetitive and it's a miracle I finished it.
June 23, 2021
Refreshing Take on a Trope
The entire conflict is based on two people who are bad at communicating with, well, pretty much everyone, including each other and themselves. If they just talked things out, all the problems would go away. I kept expecting something dramatic to happen, and was so grateful when it never did. Basically, it’s a story about coming to terms with your own feelings and finding out that maybe your fears about how other people see you are actually unfounded thanks to your own anxiety. It was easy to identify with both Oliver and Emma.
The entire conflict is based on two people who are bad at communicating with, well, pretty much everyone, including each other and themselves. If they just talked things out, all the problems would go away. I kept expecting something dramatic to happen, and was so grateful when it never did. Basically, it’s a story about coming to terms with your own feelings and finding out that maybe your fears about how other people see you are actually unfounded thanks to your own anxiety. It was easy to identify with both Oliver and Emma.
January 13, 2020
Meh. It was fun for a bit, but nothing was really moving the story along and there really wasn’t much conflict.
July 28, 2015
Back when I was part of Avon Addicts (in late 2012/early 2013) one of the books I reviewed as part of the holiday season was "Five Golden Rings", an anthology of Christmas short stories. Part of the collection included the precursor to Lorret's new series "Wallflower Weddings" called "Tempting Mr. Featherstone" it was my favorite story of the set in fact. We return now to watch as Penelope's three friends--Delaney, Emma and Merribeth--find their own true loves in adventures of their own.
Emma is, both in her opinion and the general opinion of everyone else (friend, family or otherwise), a decorous, modest young woman interested in propriety. She has to be else she will never find a suitable husband; not with her "artiste" parents disgracing her and her older brother Rafe's best friend Oliver Rathburn glaring all eligible young men away during balls. Which is perfect for Oliver since she also happens to be not only the only young lady that his severe grandmother approves of (thus helping him gain his inheritance finally), but also the only woman he can think of as a perfect match for him.
This begins more or less how you'd expect a romance of its kind to--Emma and Oliver are constantly at swords point with each other. Oliver flirts outrageously with her, getting away with it mostly because Emma has the most lackadaisical parents and chaperone I have ever read in a historical romance. Meanwhile Emma silently laments never hearing her parents say "We're so proud of you", they finally say as much because they believe she's running head first into catastrophe! Its not that they're neglectful or cruel or unloving; at some point they said FU to the ton and became happier for it so they want their daughter to find that same level of happiness.
In no time at all Oliver realizes that the bumble broth he's found himself in is not causing him anxiety at all, in fact he is vastly excited about the prospect and wants Emma to feel the same way. Which good luck to that since Emma is certain he is not serious and besides she wants someone who grounds her, not encourages her to make out in public with him causing scandal.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable book, but as much as I liked the characters I found myself wincing any time Emma's parents appeared. Their acceptance of Oliver's faux engagement plan was just too easy. Neither so much as batted an eyelash at what could, at the very worst, destroy their daughter's chances at marriage to anyone even partially acceptable.
And honestly the dancing around their emotions thing seemed to go on forever. Don't get me wrong, Oliver realizes much quicker then Emma his feelings, but neither was in a hurry to vocalize said feelings even as they both fretted over various disasters (not the least of which was Emma's brother, who I'm pretty sure would have gotten over it if he had seen how openly in love the two were with each other).
I found Emma (and Oliver by proxy)'s battle of wills with Oliver's grandmother, the dowager duchess, to be far more entertaining. On the one hand the dowager was everything Emma hoped to one day be--upright, seen as a beacon of propriety despite her family's eccentricities and a formidable hostess. However the lady terrifies her and really she doesn't want to inspire that feeling in people.
The set up for both Delaney and Merribeth's romances (of which Merribeth is next, with "Winning Miss Wakefield") are present, but don't distract. Neither does the continuation of Penelope's romance (and aren't they just the cutest pair ever?). Really if Oliver and Emma had just admitted things a little sooner I would have been perfectly happy to watch them join forces to beat the dowager at her own game for the rest of the novel!
Emma is, both in her opinion and the general opinion of everyone else (friend, family or otherwise), a decorous, modest young woman interested in propriety. She has to be else she will never find a suitable husband; not with her "artiste" parents disgracing her and her older brother Rafe's best friend Oliver Rathburn glaring all eligible young men away during balls. Which is perfect for Oliver since she also happens to be not only the only young lady that his severe grandmother approves of (thus helping him gain his inheritance finally), but also the only woman he can think of as a perfect match for him.
This begins more or less how you'd expect a romance of its kind to--Emma and Oliver are constantly at swords point with each other. Oliver flirts outrageously with her, getting away with it mostly because Emma has the most lackadaisical parents and chaperone I have ever read in a historical romance. Meanwhile Emma silently laments never hearing her parents say "We're so proud of you", they finally say as much because they believe she's running head first into catastrophe! Its not that they're neglectful or cruel or unloving; at some point they said FU to the ton and became happier for it so they want their daughter to find that same level of happiness.
In no time at all Oliver realizes that the bumble broth he's found himself in is not causing him anxiety at all, in fact he is vastly excited about the prospect and wants Emma to feel the same way. Which good luck to that since Emma is certain he is not serious and besides she wants someone who grounds her, not encourages her to make out in public with him causing scandal.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable book, but as much as I liked the characters I found myself wincing any time Emma's parents appeared. Their acceptance of Oliver's faux engagement plan was just too easy. Neither so much as batted an eyelash at what could, at the very worst, destroy their daughter's chances at marriage to anyone even partially acceptable.
And honestly the dancing around their emotions thing seemed to go on forever. Don't get me wrong, Oliver realizes much quicker then Emma his feelings, but neither was in a hurry to vocalize said feelings even as they both fretted over various disasters (not the least of which was Emma's brother, who I'm pretty sure would have gotten over it if he had seen how openly in love the two were with each other).
I found Emma (and Oliver by proxy)'s battle of wills with Oliver's grandmother, the dowager duchess, to be far more entertaining. On the one hand the dowager was everything Emma hoped to one day be--upright, seen as a beacon of propriety despite her family's eccentricities and a formidable hostess. However the lady terrifies her and really she doesn't want to inspire that feeling in people.
The set up for both Delaney and Merribeth's romances (of which Merribeth is next, with "Winning Miss Wakefield") are present, but don't distract. Neither does the continuation of Penelope's romance (and aren't they just the cutest pair ever?). Really if Oliver and Emma had just admitted things a little sooner I would have been perfectly happy to watch them join forces to beat the dowager at her own game for the rest of the novel!
June 23, 2014
Viscount Rathburn wants nothing more than to claim his inheritance. It’s not for the reasons most young men would want the money, though. He wants to build a burn hospital in honor of the father he lost to a fire. But his grandmother is keeping a tight leash on the funds. She’ll only give him the money if he marries a suitable young woman.
Emma is Rathburn’s best friend’s sister. She is proper and poised, almost to the point of being uptight. In other words, she is exactly the kind of woman his grandmother would approve of. So he approaches her parents to help him convince her to play the part of his betrothed.
Emma has always considered Rathburn a bit of a thorn in her side, a flirtatious and irritating annoyance. She is shocked when he enlists her parents to convince her to set up a faux engagement to pacify his grandmother. Convince is really a nice way of saying they steamrolled her. But she goes along with the ruse because she wants to make her parents happy.
What neither she nor Rathburn seem to realize, is that their prickly relationship was really a front for a mutual attraction. While it’s obvious to all of their family and friends, it takes these two a bit longer to figure it out. In fact, it’s a little frustrating at times to see these two floundering around when what they both want is so clearly right in front of them. The story follows their pretend romance as it slowly reveals itself to be all too real.
I liked the story fairly well. I appreciate that Rathburn realizes Emma’s worth pretty fast and makes a decision early on to pursue her in truth. She’s a bit slower on the uptake, but not so clueless as to make her unlikable. She’s just… insecure. I wish she would have been more accepting of herself. It would have made things so much easier. That being said, there really wasn’t much of a hindrance to the romance, beyond the main characters’ insecurities and need for validation. There was no external conflict at all. And the internal one was pretty weak. The story progresses pretty much exactly as you would expect, but it is pleasant and comfortable.
It doesn’t really tread any new ground or have any surprises, but it makes for a fairly nice afternoon read, with a satisfying conclusion.
Rating: B-
*ARC Provided by Avon
Emma is Rathburn’s best friend’s sister. She is proper and poised, almost to the point of being uptight. In other words, she is exactly the kind of woman his grandmother would approve of. So he approaches her parents to help him convince her to play the part of his betrothed.
Emma has always considered Rathburn a bit of a thorn in her side, a flirtatious and irritating annoyance. She is shocked when he enlists her parents to convince her to set up a faux engagement to pacify his grandmother. Convince is really a nice way of saying they steamrolled her. But she goes along with the ruse because she wants to make her parents happy.
What neither she nor Rathburn seem to realize, is that their prickly relationship was really a front for a mutual attraction. While it’s obvious to all of their family and friends, it takes these two a bit longer to figure it out. In fact, it’s a little frustrating at times to see these two floundering around when what they both want is so clearly right in front of them. The story follows their pretend romance as it slowly reveals itself to be all too real.
I liked the story fairly well. I appreciate that Rathburn realizes Emma’s worth pretty fast and makes a decision early on to pursue her in truth. She’s a bit slower on the uptake, but not so clueless as to make her unlikable. She’s just… insecure. I wish she would have been more accepting of herself. It would have made things so much easier. That being said, there really wasn’t much of a hindrance to the romance, beyond the main characters’ insecurities and need for validation. There was no external conflict at all. And the internal one was pretty weak. The story progresses pretty much exactly as you would expect, but it is pleasant and comfortable.
It doesn’t really tread any new ground or have any surprises, but it makes for a fairly nice afternoon read, with a satisfying conclusion.
Rating: B-
*ARC Provided by Avon
May 28, 2016
This book mostly deals with a couple of knuckleheads who won't just have a conversation. There is no Big Misunderstanding but when their feelings change they neither of them will communicate what has changed. In fact, they only come clean in the last few pages. And so this book gets 3 stars from me and I am left unsatisfied.
September 26, 2016
3.5 stars. Enjoyable novel with good and fun ideas, but something kept it from 4 solid stars like the first two books in the author's current Original series. loved the heroine though and some of the details like jasmine. The group of friends was cute, too. Will read more.
November 26, 2016
I enjoyed the book, but found the premise a bit hard to swallow. Broken engagements caused ruin to women at the time. I'm not a stickler for historical accuracy most of the time, but this just grated.
November 22, 2015
Very cute friends to lovers/brother's best friend story, with a twist of arranged marriage!
November 14, 2014
3.5 stars.
November 1, 2016
Fun start to a fun series...
May 21, 2023
This was a light-hearted, fluffy read. A romance with not a lot of substance to it. Oliver, the viscount Rathburn, needed to have his formidable grandmother release his inheritance that should have been his upon his father's death. But she insists that he must show himself worthy first. Well, I am not sure how that is legally correct, but she is insistent. So no, drinking, whoring or gambling and he does well abstaining. He is desperate for money because he wants to rebuild his estate that burned in the fire that killed his father. Also, he wants to create a hospital that specializes in treating burn victims, hoping to help some of the injured servants. But, he does not tell his mother or grandmother. Why? What is the big secret? After all, if the grandmother knew what the money was for, it stands to reason she would have given it to him without all these conditions. But after all that he has sacrificed, she is still not satisfied. She wants to seem him settled and wed.
Emma Danvers is the younger sister of one his best friends and Oliver has always enjoyed teasing her. He goes to her unconventional parents with the idea that Emma can help him get the money sooner with a fake engagement/wedding. That's a new one. Usually, the parents are kept in the dark. Here, they are weirdly giddy with the idea of it. It does not make sense. However, it is made clear that Emma's artist parents are very improper and not accepted by society. So what do they know?
Obviously, these two like each other more than they initially let on to the other. Practically everybody is 100% for the match (except maybe her brother). Their only real problem is expressing their actual feelings to each other. There is not any other conflict. They do not even fight or argue or spend time apart. It was kind of lame. Oh wait, Emma had a crazy big secret too. She was attempting to be prim and proper and hide in the background, so that society would not judge her harshly due to her parents. However, secretly she loved painting too! Not watercolors though. Oil painting! Egads. Yawn. But I did not hate this book, it was just boring. The characters would have been better in a different book - against a stronger love interest.
Emma Danvers is the younger sister of one his best friends and Oliver has always enjoyed teasing her. He goes to her unconventional parents with the idea that Emma can help him get the money sooner with a fake engagement/wedding. That's a new one. Usually, the parents are kept in the dark. Here, they are weirdly giddy with the idea of it. It does not make sense. However, it is made clear that Emma's artist parents are very improper and not accepted by society. So what do they know?
Obviously, these two like each other more than they initially let on to the other. Practically everybody is 100% for the match (except maybe her brother). Their only real problem is expressing their actual feelings to each other. There is not any other conflict. They do not even fight or argue or spend time apart. It was kind of lame. Oh wait, Emma had a crazy big secret too. She was attempting to be prim and proper and hide in the background, so that society would not judge her harshly due to her parents. However, secretly she loved painting too! Not watercolors though. Oil painting! Egads. Yawn. But I did not hate this book, it was just boring. The characters would have been better in a different book - against a stronger love interest.
March 2, 2017
Sukaaa... temanya tu temenan lama, trs jadi suka deh.. mungkin ude suka lama, tp gak sadar aja kali ya.. sampai neneknya si mas campur tangan XD
Spoileeeeeeeerrrrrrrrr............
Mo baca buku 2 atau mau baca CR kali yahhhh........... liat ntr deh, pgn baca this is Reckless XD
Spoileeeeeeeerrrrrrrrr............
Mo baca buku 2 atau mau baca CR kali yahhhh........... liat ntr deh, pgn baca this is Reckless XD
November 12, 2020
2.5 stars. Silly and uneven. Romantic dialogue was so corny a few times that I literally laughed. There is only one full sex scene 75% of the way through the book that is quick, vague, clothed and missionary. It's a common problem I find in a lot of historical romance books nowadays: too much sex for the prim audience but not enough/really vague/weak sex scenes that don't satisfy the smutty audience. Pick a lane.
Constant miscommunication to keep ANY interest going. Everyone is keeping piles of secrets, but whoops! No one ever cares for a second when they are revealed. "Oh, you didn't know? You don't care? Okay, moving on..."
No one really cares what the heroine thinks (except her married friend Penelope, but Pen is a newlywed and wants everyone to share her bliss), heroine's parents and brother almost completely ruin her chance at marriage at all and seem horrible. Like they don't approve of her at all and dismiss her feelings completely. Treat the HERO more like their child than their own daughter... but at the end they are all the suddenly the most supportive family ever. Yay, everyone loves everyone and everyone is the BEST!
Hero does that thing where he's all, "I'm NOT going to tell her that I love her, but I TOTALLY need her to say it, and I'll be pissed if she doesn't!" Heroine is described as a coward for not sharing her feelings, but the Hero CONSTANTLY avoids having important conversations with her, and he's totally awesome.
Fluffy and forgetable. Something to read in a doctor's office, or on a train, and then put in the donation bin.
Constant miscommunication to keep ANY interest going. Everyone is keeping piles of secrets, but whoops! No one ever cares for a second when they are revealed. "Oh, you didn't know? You don't care? Okay, moving on..."
No one really cares what the heroine thinks (except her married friend Penelope, but Pen is a newlywed and wants everyone to share her bliss), heroine's parents and brother almost completely ruin her chance at marriage at all and seem horrible. Like they don't approve of her at all and dismiss her feelings completely. Treat the HERO more like their child than their own daughter... but at the end they are all the suddenly the most supportive family ever. Yay, everyone loves everyone and everyone is the BEST!
Hero does that thing where he's all, "I'm NOT going to tell her that I love her, but I TOTALLY need her to say it, and I'll be pissed if she doesn't!" Heroine is described as a coward for not sharing her feelings, but the Hero CONSTANTLY avoids having important conversations with her, and he's totally awesome.
Fluffy and forgetable. Something to read in a doctor's office, or on a train, and then put in the donation bin.
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