What do you think?
Rate this book
The Penhallow Dynasty #1
You May Kiss the Bride
In an unforgettable debut, Lisa Berne introduces you to the Penhallow Dynasty—men destined to marry, but hesitant to love.
Wealthy and arrogant, Gabriel Penhallow knows it’s time to fulfill his dynastic duty. All he must do is follow “The Penhallow way”—find a biddable bride, produce an heir and a spare, and then live separate lives. It’s worked so well for generations, certainly one kiss with the delectable Livia Stuart isn’t going to change things. Society dictates he marry her, and one chit is as good as another, as long as she’s from a decent family.
But Livia’s transformation from an original to a mundane diamond of the first water makes Gabriel realize he desperately wants the woman who somehow provoked him into that kiss. And for all the ladies who’ve thrown themselves at him, it’s the one who wants to flee whom he now wants. But how will he keep this independent miss from flying away?
Wealthy and arrogant, Gabriel Penhallow knows it’s time to fulfill his dynastic duty. All he must do is follow “The Penhallow way”—find a biddable bride, produce an heir and a spare, and then live separate lives. It’s worked so well for generations, certainly one kiss with the delectable Livia Stuart isn’t going to change things. Society dictates he marry her, and one chit is as good as another, as long as she’s from a decent family.
But Livia’s transformation from an original to a mundane diamond of the first water makes Gabriel realize he desperately wants the woman who somehow provoked him into that kiss. And for all the ladies who’ve thrown themselves at him, it’s the one who wants to flee whom he now wants. But how will he keep this independent miss from flying away?
389 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2017
174 people are currently reading
2365 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Berne
7 books968 followersLisa Berne is a bestselling author of historical romance whose witty, heartfelt, beautifully written books are published by Avon/HarperCollins, Pan Macmillan and in translation throughout the world. Says BRIDGERTON author Julia Quinn: Lisa is “one of the most exciting new historical writers in a long time.” To learn more about Lisa and her delight in all things bookish (as revealed in her blog), you are cordially invited to visit her website, www.LisaBerne.com, and to sign up for her newsletter, too, so that you’ll never miss a new release or giveaway!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews
February 18, 2017
I received this book via a Goodreads Giveaway.
Gabriel Penhallow needs a wife and when he finds himself kissing Livia Stuart in the garden--quite unexpectedly, OBVIOUSLY--he figures she's as good as the blonde one he was supposed to wed. Except then makeovers happen and Livia learns to be a Proper Lady from his Grandmama. This is antithetical to all his boners. And thus follows the longest engagement of your life.
1. I LIKED THIS. The writing was so very good and instead of putting it down to eat, go to sleep, exist as an adult human being, I just...kept reading. And was amused! And while the writing was excellent enough to hold things together while I was reading it, the more I look back upon it...
2. It's kind of a piecemeal quilt of a book. It's a series of trials rather than the traditional "conflict / climax / resolution" arc, so it was with some confusion I discovered that what currently plagued Gabriel and Livia would be overridden by the Next Plot Point. Early, Livia decides she will not have Gabriel. Then she decides she will have him, and enjoy it, too. (This bit leads me to #3 on this list, so.) Then it's about Gabriel being a butthead, and then Cecily shows up to ruin lives. Then Grandmama falls ill. Then they move to the Hall, which is in disrepair. Then Hugo shows up. Then--and only then, as we read the final 10th of the book--Hugo's presence jumpstarts the resolution of the romance.
Which is just--I invested some concern into each of those scenarios listed above! I kept wondering how they'd fold together and create an escalating conflict! But that didn't happen. Instead of being invested in the underpinning (Gabriel and Livia falling for one another via the 'bumps in the road' of their relationship), I was tossed from Event to Event and left a bit...foundering.
This also kept the relationship from having any true development, because so much time is spent on each Event that there isn't enough page time to focus on the emotional reactions and repercussions of said Events. Why does Livia being to fall for Gabriel? Same question, Gabriel? What links them together? There are the briefest of glimpses of how they'll work together, but they're few and far between. So instead of feeling them sink into ~~feelings, instead I'm told that they like one another because reasons.
3. I JUST NEED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CALL OUT GABRIEL'S GROSS IDIOCY: Once Livia has decided to marry him (very much under duress), she announces--ANNOUNCES--that she will in fact marry him and enjoy using him for all the dresses and clothes and lessons and what-have-you. That she will TRY to be like his original shallow blonde. Any human who has ever spent any time in any proximity to another adult human would recognize this behavior as what it is: a big-ass tantrum.
EXCEPT GABRIEL TAKES IT AT STRAIGHT FACE-VALUE. He acknowledges his "shock" as a "jolt of sorrow" rushes through him as he "realizes" that she was just like ALL THOSE OTHER WOMEN (WTFFFFFF THIS FUCKING LINE) who only want to USE HIM and he CANNOT BELIEVE SHE'S LIKE THAT.
....I mean, kind of a leap there, bro. You are literally confronting her in the kitchen of an INN, where she has FLED TO ESCAPE YOU and then she agrees to your marriage demands and exercises the ONLY AVENUE TO POWER LEFT OPEN TO HER and YOU DON'T LIKE IT???? BLOW IT OUT YOUR ASSSSSSS.
4. Luckily, that idiocy does not stand for very long (as it is overwritten by Other Events), but it definitely made warming to Gabriel difficult because WHAT THE HELL MAN.
5. There is that minor plot point where Livia runs away to become a scullery maid at the nearest Inn rather than marry Gabriel but I'm just going to gloss it over because it's a single chapter and then *poof* gone, forgotten.
5.5 There's also the list of Shit that Happened to them Before they Meet which includes Livia moving to England from India as an orphan, growing up with her neglectful Aunt & Uncle and the near-constant abuse by one of her "neighbors" for no reason other than every story needs a Mean Girl, I guess? Meanwhile, Gabriel was orphaned at 7 but this Did Not Move Him, then he went to school and joined the Diplomatic Corps which led to several assassination attempts on his life (this also Did Not Move Him) and now he's back, looking for a wife. THIS IS TOO MUCH STUFF OMG AND NONE OF IT HAS ANY RELEVANCY TO THE ACTUAL STORY BEING TOLD.
6. MAKING LOVE IN A LEAN-TO!!! IN THE MIDDLE OF A RIDING PARTY!! The scandal and the mud.
7. I'm not entirely certain what Livia's dreams had to do with anything? They're just...another thing.
8. So at the end, Livia flees because Gabriel flexes his Douche Muscles and breaks their engagement because obviously she's in love with his dumb cousin Hugo. Except Hugo's like 'DUDE NO' so Gabriel talks to the village psychic and is sent to Bristol and the Golden Trident. Where he finds Livia stricken with an ague and nurses her back to health so they can be married and live HAPPY EVER AFTER.
FIRST, HINGING YOUR HERO FINDING YOUR HEROINE ON VILLAGE FORTUNE-TELLERS IS ONE THING. SECOND, THAT IS JUST ... A LOT. ON THIS CAKE WHICH ALREADY HAS TOO MUCH GOING ON, IT IS LIKE A THIRD LAYER OF FROSTING FLOWERS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET DIABETES.
9. Overall, I will be reading more by this author (PUMPED FOR FIONA). I just hope some of the Events get honed down, allowing for more space between the characters, more time for relationship development, and less time prepping the Next Disaster or Backstory Note.
Gabriel Penhallow needs a wife and when he finds himself kissing Livia Stuart in the garden--quite unexpectedly, OBVIOUSLY--he figures she's as good as the blonde one he was supposed to wed. Except then makeovers happen and Livia learns to be a Proper Lady from his Grandmama. This is antithetical to all his boners. And thus follows the longest engagement of your life.
1. I LIKED THIS. The writing was so very good and instead of putting it down to eat, go to sleep, exist as an adult human being, I just...kept reading. And was amused! And while the writing was excellent enough to hold things together while I was reading it, the more I look back upon it...
2. It's kind of a piecemeal quilt of a book. It's a series of trials rather than the traditional "conflict / climax / resolution" arc, so it was with some confusion I discovered that what currently plagued Gabriel and Livia would be overridden by the Next Plot Point. Early, Livia decides she will not have Gabriel. Then she decides she will have him, and enjoy it, too. (This bit leads me to #3 on this list, so.) Then it's about Gabriel being a butthead, and then Cecily shows up to ruin lives. Then Grandmama falls ill. Then they move to the Hall, which is in disrepair. Then Hugo shows up. Then--and only then, as we read the final 10th of the book--Hugo's presence jumpstarts the resolution of the romance.
Which is just--I invested some concern into each of those scenarios listed above! I kept wondering how they'd fold together and create an escalating conflict! But that didn't happen. Instead of being invested in the underpinning (Gabriel and Livia falling for one another via the 'bumps in the road' of their relationship), I was tossed from Event to Event and left a bit...foundering.
This also kept the relationship from having any true development, because so much time is spent on each Event that there isn't enough page time to focus on the emotional reactions and repercussions of said Events. Why does Livia being to fall for Gabriel? Same question, Gabriel? What links them together? There are the briefest of glimpses of how they'll work together, but they're few and far between. So instead of feeling them sink into ~~feelings, instead I'm told that they like one another because reasons.
3. I JUST NEED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CALL OUT GABRIEL'S GROSS IDIOCY: Once Livia has decided to marry him (very much under duress), she announces--ANNOUNCES--that she will in fact marry him and enjoy using him for all the dresses and clothes and lessons and what-have-you. That she will TRY to be like his original shallow blonde. Any human who has ever spent any time in any proximity to another adult human would recognize this behavior as what it is: a big-ass tantrum.
EXCEPT GABRIEL TAKES IT AT STRAIGHT FACE-VALUE. He acknowledges his "shock" as a "jolt of sorrow" rushes through him as he "realizes" that she was just like ALL THOSE OTHER WOMEN (WTFFFFFF THIS FUCKING LINE) who only want to USE HIM and he CANNOT BELIEVE SHE'S LIKE THAT.
....I mean, kind of a leap there, bro. You are literally confronting her in the kitchen of an INN, where she has FLED TO ESCAPE YOU and then she agrees to your marriage demands and exercises the ONLY AVENUE TO POWER LEFT OPEN TO HER and YOU DON'T LIKE IT???? BLOW IT OUT YOUR ASSSSSSS.
4. Luckily, that idiocy does not stand for very long (as it is overwritten by Other Events), but it definitely made warming to Gabriel difficult because WHAT THE HELL MAN.
5. There is that minor plot point where Livia runs away to become a scullery maid at the nearest Inn rather than marry Gabriel but I'm just going to gloss it over because it's a single chapter and then *poof* gone, forgotten.
5.5 There's also the list of Shit that Happened to them Before they Meet which includes Livia moving to England from India as an orphan, growing up with her neglectful Aunt & Uncle and the near-constant abuse by one of her "neighbors" for no reason other than every story needs a Mean Girl, I guess? Meanwhile, Gabriel was orphaned at 7 but this Did Not Move Him, then he went to school and joined the Diplomatic Corps which led to several assassination attempts on his life (this also Did Not Move Him) and now he's back, looking for a wife. THIS IS TOO MUCH STUFF OMG AND NONE OF IT HAS ANY RELEVANCY TO THE ACTUAL STORY BEING TOLD.
6. MAKING LOVE IN A LEAN-TO!!! IN THE MIDDLE OF A RIDING PARTY!! The scandal and the mud.
7. I'm not entirely certain what Livia's dreams had to do with anything? They're just...another thing.
8. So at the end, Livia flees because Gabriel flexes his Douche Muscles and breaks their engagement because obviously she's in love with his dumb cousin Hugo. Except Hugo's like 'DUDE NO' so Gabriel talks to the village psychic and is sent to Bristol and the Golden Trident. Where he finds Livia stricken with an ague and nurses her back to health so they can be married and live HAPPY EVER AFTER.
FIRST, HINGING YOUR HERO FINDING YOUR HEROINE ON VILLAGE FORTUNE-TELLERS IS ONE THING. SECOND, THAT IS JUST ... A LOT. ON THIS CAKE WHICH ALREADY HAS TOO MUCH GOING ON, IT IS LIKE A THIRD LAYER OF FROSTING FLOWERS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET DIABETES.
9. Overall, I will be reading more by this author (PUMPED FOR FIONA). I just hope some of the Events get honed down, allowing for more space between the characters, more time for relationship development, and less time prepping the Next Disaster or Backstory Note.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2016
Amazing! So fabulous...one of my top reads of 2016 - if not the TOP read! I'm certain I'm going to wither away in longing until I get the next book.
March 30, 2017
Slow long story. FANTASTIC SUPERB WONDERFUL NARRATION BY Carolyn Morris! (audible review)
This was a very long slow story. Sigh... I felt so sorry for Livia all the time. She just got dumped on constantly. I waited and waited for her backbone to show up tell some of these people to go hang. She got close a couple times but never really did. Gabriel Penhallow was sort of a jerk to be honest and had his head up his grandmama's butt. "The Penhallow way" Whatever, I was so over them and their propriety all the time, every second of the book.
There was a lot of inner dialogue going on throughout the whole book started to become annoying, and sometimes repetitive. There was also a lot of descriptions of everything too. These two things could have been minimized quite a bit.
The story line and plot was not that great, it had potential for sure. But the way the author wrote these characters it was hard to like them. At one point I was hoping Livia would meet someone else and the story would get better. I didn't hate this story, but I didn't like a lot of it either. Sorry Lisa Berne, this story and characters need work.
As for the narration, well that is the only thing that kept me listening. I am a huge fan of Carolyn Morris, she has one of the best voices ever. I love listening to her. She can make a book 10 times better. And she did make this book better. I can't say I recommend this book but I do highly recommend the narrator!
This was a very long slow story. Sigh... I felt so sorry for Livia all the time. She just got dumped on constantly. I waited and waited for her backbone to show up tell some of these people to go hang. She got close a couple times but never really did. Gabriel Penhallow was sort of a jerk to be honest and had his head up his grandmama's butt. "The Penhallow way" Whatever, I was so over them and their propriety all the time, every second of the book.
There was a lot of inner dialogue going on throughout the whole book started to become annoying, and sometimes repetitive. There was also a lot of descriptions of everything too. These two things could have been minimized quite a bit.
The story line and plot was not that great, it had potential for sure. But the way the author wrote these characters it was hard to like them. At one point I was hoping Livia would meet someone else and the story would get better. I didn't hate this story, but I didn't like a lot of it either. Sorry Lisa Berne, this story and characters need work.
As for the narration, well that is the only thing that kept me listening. I am a huge fan of Carolyn Morris, she has one of the best voices ever. I love listening to her. She can make a book 10 times better. And she did make this book better. I can't say I recommend this book but I do highly recommend the narrator!
March 27, 2017
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
Summary
Gabriel Penhallow, is part of a long and noble blood line and knows that it is time to marry and have an heir. It is his responsibility and he never shirks in his responsibilities. He has been raised knowing what his future would be. His bride has already been picked out for him...Lady Cecilia. A woman of good birth and standing in society. But there is another that draws his eye, and while at a ball he finds himself embroiled in a scandal of his own making....being caught kissing this stranger out on the balcony a woman who has put him on a merry chase and the last woman he ever thought he would marry. But he always does the expected and right thing and agrees to marry her. Livia, has had to work for her own cousin, with her parents gone, she has no other means to support herself. She never imagined that she would end up the future bride of Gabriel Penhallow or enter a world she has no wish to enter. She fears losing the very core of herself in all the rank and duties of being a member of high society. Livia and Gabriel learn their way to desire and love even if there are some stumbling blocks along their path...
The Hero
Gabriel Penhallow, is wealthy and arrogant. He has been raised to know his station and exceed expectations. But Gabriel isn't all that he appears to be in many ways. He craves the freedom he once had serving in the military and traveling the world. He would rather face the French and stray bullets, than dealing with his picky grandmother and the responsibilities that he was born with. I will say that I never really truly loved Gabriel as our hero. He was a alright likable character but was way too high handed and arrogant for my liking. I really struggled with his character because of how he treats Livia in many ways. Even though he does have some redeeming qualities, I couldn't quite love him like I wanted to.
The Heroine
Livia, was raised for the first part of her life in India. Her parents loved each other and detached themselves from society to be together. But then her parents died, and she had to return to England to her only remaining relatives who treated her like a servant. Livia, despite her treatment, still is good natured and patient, and resilient. I think what I really struggled with was how her character just slides during her "training" with Gabriel's grandmother. All of her fire and personality practically dies and although it comes back it takes a while. It just didn't really fit with the Livia we see in the beginning and later half of the story.
Plot and Story Line
You May Kiss The Bride is the debut novel of Lisa Berne through Avon. Now honestly, I was really drawn to the cover which is why I was so relieved to get an opportunity to review this for Avon. I don't try new historical authors as much as I would like and even though this wasn't what I was expecting I did enjoy this book for the most part, I just had a few things I struggled with especially in the first half. Now the second half really does improve the story, so I would recommend sticking with it, it proves to get better the more you read it. The first interactions between Gabriel and Livia were awkward. It felt a bit too off for the story, the angst was a bit too dramatic at times and this is where I really struggled. But for some reason I didn't want to put it down, because even though I couldn't stand the writing in the beginning, there was something about this couple that drew me in. I am so glad that I stuck with it because it did prove to be a wonderful story in the end and I enjoyed what evolves in the story.
Perhaps, at last, those long, lonely years could be swept away from her memory, from her spirit, like a cobweb brushed away, making space for---
For something new, something better.
Something to last a lifetime and beyond.
Love, laughter, family, home.
With Gabriel, ever and always, at the center of it all
And not just our couple here, but also the grandmother. Now the grandmother, she could be blunt and mean at times, especially in the beginning. But she was so funny to read, like really, she had me laughing so much in this book. And even though her character is pretty rigid in the beginning, she softens through the later part of the story which I loved seeing another side to her. This book though left me with a smile on my face for quite some time. And we get a lovely teaser for the hero for book two which I can't wait to get my hands on because he was delicious and a Scot too, so yeah super thrilled to see what this new author has up for us next!!
I do love him, with all my heart and soul
The Cover
What a gorgeous cover, I just LOVE the blue in this. Her dress is so so pretty, and I love the pose here, very gentle yet sexy, and the backdrop is a beautiful touch.
Overall View
You May Kiss The Bride is a journey of ansty lovers that don't know which way is up or down when it comes to love....intense, dramatic and sensual!!
Click To Buy On Amazon
[foogallery id="27088"]
Summary
Gabriel Penhallow, is part of a long and noble blood line and knows that it is time to marry and have an heir. It is his responsibility and he never shirks in his responsibilities. He has been raised knowing what his future would be. His bride has already been picked out for him...Lady Cecilia. A woman of good birth and standing in society. But there is another that draws his eye, and while at a ball he finds himself embroiled in a scandal of his own making....being caught kissing this stranger out on the balcony a woman who has put him on a merry chase and the last woman he ever thought he would marry. But he always does the expected and right thing and agrees to marry her. Livia, has had to work for her own cousin, with her parents gone, she has no other means to support herself. She never imagined that she would end up the future bride of Gabriel Penhallow or enter a world she has no wish to enter. She fears losing the very core of herself in all the rank and duties of being a member of high society. Livia and Gabriel learn their way to desire and love even if there are some stumbling blocks along their path...
The Hero
Gabriel Penhallow, is wealthy and arrogant. He has been raised to know his station and exceed expectations. But Gabriel isn't all that he appears to be in many ways. He craves the freedom he once had serving in the military and traveling the world. He would rather face the French and stray bullets, than dealing with his picky grandmother and the responsibilities that he was born with. I will say that I never really truly loved Gabriel as our hero. He was a alright likable character but was way too high handed and arrogant for my liking. I really struggled with his character because of how he treats Livia in many ways. Even though he does have some redeeming qualities, I couldn't quite love him like I wanted to.
The Heroine
Livia, was raised for the first part of her life in India. Her parents loved each other and detached themselves from society to be together. But then her parents died, and she had to return to England to her only remaining relatives who treated her like a servant. Livia, despite her treatment, still is good natured and patient, and resilient. I think what I really struggled with was how her character just slides during her "training" with Gabriel's grandmother. All of her fire and personality practically dies and although it comes back it takes a while. It just didn't really fit with the Livia we see in the beginning and later half of the story.
Plot and Story Line
You May Kiss The Bride is the debut novel of Lisa Berne through Avon. Now honestly, I was really drawn to the cover which is why I was so relieved to get an opportunity to review this for Avon. I don't try new historical authors as much as I would like and even though this wasn't what I was expecting I did enjoy this book for the most part, I just had a few things I struggled with especially in the first half. Now the second half really does improve the story, so I would recommend sticking with it, it proves to get better the more you read it. The first interactions between Gabriel and Livia were awkward. It felt a bit too off for the story, the angst was a bit too dramatic at times and this is where I really struggled. But for some reason I didn't want to put it down, because even though I couldn't stand the writing in the beginning, there was something about this couple that drew me in. I am so glad that I stuck with it because it did prove to be a wonderful story in the end and I enjoyed what evolves in the story.
Perhaps, at last, those long, lonely years could be swept away from her memory, from her spirit, like a cobweb brushed away, making space for---
For something new, something better.
Something to last a lifetime and beyond.
Love, laughter, family, home.
With Gabriel, ever and always, at the center of it all
And not just our couple here, but also the grandmother. Now the grandmother, she could be blunt and mean at times, especially in the beginning. But she was so funny to read, like really, she had me laughing so much in this book. And even though her character is pretty rigid in the beginning, she softens through the later part of the story which I loved seeing another side to her. This book though left me with a smile on my face for quite some time. And we get a lovely teaser for the hero for book two which I can't wait to get my hands on because he was delicious and a Scot too, so yeah super thrilled to see what this new author has up for us next!!
I do love him, with all my heart and soul
The Cover
What a gorgeous cover, I just LOVE the blue in this. Her dress is so so pretty, and I love the pose here, very gentle yet sexy, and the backdrop is a beautiful touch.
Overall View
You May Kiss The Bride is a journey of ansty lovers that don't know which way is up or down when it comes to love....intense, dramatic and sensual!!
Click To Buy On Amazon
[foogallery id="27088"]
March 24, 2022
The beginning and the very end of this book was super entertaining and I had great expectations because of the beginning, but the rest of the book was rubbish. And I say that with relish. If I may describe the hero it would be as spineless. Yes, indeed if I may describe the whole book it would be spineless. Nobody lifts their finger to do anything. I liked the heroine and the grandma, but the hero was so weak. And when he called his cousin a fool towards the end I started laughing hysterically. He can clearly see when someone is being a fool except when it is himself.
But I am still congratulating myself for not sleeping while reading this story. So yay for me! The end gave me a wrong sense that I enjoyed this book more than I did and that it deserves a better rating than what it actually is worth. Maybe I am being rash, but spineless people are very annoying imo.
But I am still congratulating myself for not sleeping while reading this story. So yay for me! The end gave me a wrong sense that I enjoyed this book more than I did and that it deserves a better rating than what it actually is worth. Maybe I am being rash, but spineless people are very annoying imo.
August 19, 2017
I honestly I really wanted to love this one, and there was a lot that I liked, but I couldn't. Gabriel was just too much of a dick and an idiot for me to enjoy this. I never really felt his commitment to the relationship, and he didn't work hard enough for it. I think part of the problem is that the vast majority of the book was from Livia's point of view, so I didn't really get a good sense of who Gabriel was. His problems also seemed so much smaller than Livia's, and she typically dealt with her issues in a more constructive manner.
I really loved Livia though, and I felt bad for her most of the time. I wanted her to have her happy ending but wish it had been with someone more deserving. Honestly, the few chapters she had with Theo were more enjoyable than her relationship with Gabriel.
One of my issues was also how the sex was handled. So, after an argument Gabriel declares that they'll never consummate their marriage which is stupid because 1) he's getting married solely because he needs to have kids to shore up the line of succession, like when he was planning on getting married to Celicy he literally chants to himself 'offspring, offspring, offspring' in order to convince himself to go through with it, and 2) their relationship is based entirely on his physical attraction to Livia; they only get engaged because he makes out with her and gets caught before they even know who they are. Despite this resolution, Gabriel throws it away pretty quickly to bang her in a lean-to in the rain. I can kind of understand why Livia did it (because she's just so lonely and just wanted a connection to someone, but also she was planning on running away that night so sleeping with him seemed like a weird choice). But after that, Gabriel is happy because they can bang and confused why Livia doesn't seem happy about the fact that he views her solely as a warm vessel. Regardless, Livia sleeps with him again pretty quickly, and I don't know, it just felt like more discussion or thought needed to go into the decision to have sex.
There were also a couple of plot points that didn't go anywhere. It seemed like there was some connection between Mrs. Penhallow and Livia's grandfather, but aside from one brief, weird conversation about him, he's never brought up again. Livia also had some weird dreams that seemed to contribute nothing to the plot, and I thought Sir Edward would have a bigger impact on Livia's story, but he didn't, same with the unnamed spinster Livia talked to at the ball.
I did like Mrs. Penhallow, Miss Cott, and the relationship they developed with Livia, and I liked Theo. I thought the prose was nice as well.
I think Berne has potential, and I'll probably read another book by her. This one was let down by some poor plotting, and, worst of all, a bad hero.
I really loved Livia though, and I felt bad for her most of the time. I wanted her to have her happy ending but wish it had been with someone more deserving. Honestly, the few chapters she had with Theo were more enjoyable than her relationship with Gabriel.
One of my issues was also how the sex was handled. So, after an argument Gabriel declares that they'll never consummate their marriage which is stupid because 1) he's getting married solely because he needs to have kids to shore up the line of succession, like when he was planning on getting married to Celicy he literally chants to himself 'offspring, offspring, offspring' in order to convince himself to go through with it, and 2) their relationship is based entirely on his physical attraction to Livia; they only get engaged because he makes out with her and gets caught before they even know who they are. Despite this resolution, Gabriel throws it away pretty quickly to bang her in a lean-to in the rain. I can kind of understand why Livia did it (because she's just so lonely and just wanted a connection to someone, but also she was planning on running away that night so sleeping with him seemed like a weird choice). But after that, Gabriel is happy because they can bang and confused why Livia doesn't seem happy about the fact that he views her solely as a warm vessel. Regardless, Livia sleeps with him again pretty quickly, and I don't know, it just felt like more discussion or thought needed to go into the decision to have sex.
There were also a couple of plot points that didn't go anywhere. It seemed like there was some connection between Mrs. Penhallow and Livia's grandfather, but aside from one brief, weird conversation about him, he's never brought up again. Livia also had some weird dreams that seemed to contribute nothing to the plot, and I thought Sir Edward would have a bigger impact on Livia's story, but he didn't, same with the unnamed spinster Livia talked to at the ball.
I did like Mrs. Penhallow, Miss Cott, and the relationship they developed with Livia, and I liked Theo. I thought the prose was nice as well.
I think Berne has potential, and I'll probably read another book by her. This one was let down by some poor plotting, and, worst of all, a bad hero.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2024
Review from 2017
I've given this an A- for narration and a D+ for the content at AudioGals. The narration grade should bump the grade up, but I'm leaving at 2 stars because the story really is poor.
I admit that I picked up You May Kiss the Bride for review solely because of Carolyn Morris. Reviews for this début historical romance, the first in Lisa Berne’s Penhallow Dynasty series have been mixed, but I knew I’d at the very least enjoy the narration, so I decided it give it a go. In the end, my opinions about the story are pretty much along the same lines as the less than glowing reviews; it’s nothing I haven’t read before and the author’s inexperience shows clearly in terms of the storytelling and characterisation.
Livia Stuart hasn’t had an easy life. Orphaned in India when she was a child, she was sent back to England and resides with her listless aunt and drunken uncle, who never really wanted her and who wouldn’t miss her if she disappeared. She is constantly patronised by her neighbour and local mean girl, the Honourable Cecily Orr, who pretends friendship but in reality does everything she can to make “dear Livia” aware of her inferior situation, insisting on giving her her cast off gowns and never missing an opportunity to point out Livia’s status as a poor relation.
Gabriel Penhallow, by contrast, has it all – money, social standing, dark good looks – and as a member of one of the oldest families in the country, is well aware of his consequence. He knows it’s time for him to do his duty, get married and start filling his nursery, and even though he’s not wild about the idea of taking a bride chosen for him by his formidable grandmother, he goes along with it, because ultimately, he’s marrying in order to secure the succession, so as long as she’s suitable – well-bred, demure, able to fulfil her position in society as his wife – that’s all that matters.
He agrees to travel to Wiltshire to meet the lady his grandmother has selected, Cecily Orr, the daughter of Viscount Glanville. She’s beautiful, accomplished… and as empty-headed as every other society debutante Gabriel has ever met. But she’s most definitely suitable, and, as he keeps reminding himself, he’s getting married in order to beget an heir and intends to keep to “The Penhallow Way” wherein husbands and wives live separate lives without emotional entanglements.
Out riding one afternoon, Gabriel realises he’s lost his way and stops to ask directions of a young woman he guesses is a servant or estate worker. Resenting his high-handed manner, Livia plays up to his expectations and gives him directions that will mean his journey back to the Glanville’s will take him at least twice as long as it should. Having already worked out that this haughty gentleman must be none other than the visiting Gabriel Penhallow, Livia decides on the spot that she despises him – even though his assumption that she’s a servant seemed perfectly plausible to me, given she is shabbily dressed and unaccompanied. I suppose the author had to find some reason to set up the animosity between them, but I wish it hadn’t been such a flimsy one.
Next night at the Glanville ball, Gabriel is astonished to see the servant girl from the day before and angrily realises he’s been played for a fool. But his anger can’t quell the realisation that Livia Stuart is a beauty or quash the sudden heated attraction that flares between them and leads to a passionate kiss in the darkness of the terrace. Unfortunately, however, the kiss does not go unobserved and Gabriel immediately does the right thing and proposes. Upset and annoyed, Livia makes clear her displeasure, vows she won’t marry him and runs away. Gabriel finds her and furiously insists that she will marry him, but that theirs will be a marriage in name only. Wait – what? We’re told the only reason Gabriel is getting married is to father an heir, but now he’s prepared to marry a woman he (supposedly) doesn’t want and not sleep with her? *facepalm*
Livia then decides that she’ll marry him but that she’ll make him miserable by turning herself into the sort of woman he thinks he wants – someone insipid and spiteful like Cecily Orr. So she puts her best foot forward and travels to Bath with Gabriel’s formidable grandmother in order to embark on her education as a bride fit for a Penhallow. During this time, she somehow realises that Gabriel is a wonderful man and falls in love with him, although quite honestly, I don’t know how or why she came to that realisation; and I don’t know why, when or how he fell in love with her, either.
You May Kiss the Bride is a very run-of-the-mill historical romance that doesn’t transcend its tropes and quickly becomes a very stodgy listen. Gabriel and Livia are bland and unmemorable, there is practically zero chemistry between them and they spend too much time apart for the romance to be properly developed (Livia spends more time with Gabriel’s grandmother than with him). The ubiquitous “we’re-caught-in-a-storm-oh-look-there’s-a-hut-in-the-forest” sex scene is thrown in, seemingly at random, in spite of Gabriel’s “no sex” rule. The story is episodic rather than progressive – Gabriel and Livia move from one plot point to another without there being any link between them or any sense of a developing storyline. There’s a lot of telling and not much showing throughout, and the entirety of the final section, in which Gabriel wakes up to the fact that he has neglected his estates, makes no sense whatsoever, given that a landowner of his status would have had an army of stewards and men of business to run them during his absence. It’s just another device used in order to try to push some eleventh-hour conflict into a dull story and I think any long-time reader/listener of historical romance would, quite frankly, be justified in feeling insulted at the author’s trying to offload such a lot of old flannel.
I said at the outset that I picked up this audiobook on the strength of Carolyn Morris, and at least there, I wasn’t disappointed. It’s largely due to her convincing and engaging performance that I was able to get to the end of this audiobook without screaming in frustration or dying of boredom – and I take my hat off to her for managing to keep me invested in the listen for as long as it took me to realise the story was going nowhere. The narrative is well-paced and Ms. Morris’ character differentiation is excellent, particularly when it comes to voicing the secondary characters such as the odious Cecily – whose unpleasantness is masked beneath a slightly simpering tone – and Miss Cott, Mrs. Penhallow’s softly spoken, long-suffering companion. The grande dame herself sounds perfectly austere and proper, although there are hints of vulnerability beneath, and I particularly liked the portrayal of Gabriel’s cousin Hugo, who pops up in the last part of the story. He’s a congenial, good-hearted young man and sounds it – plus there’s no confusing him with Gabriel, whose speech is considered, with just the slightest hint of an aristocratic drawl. As is always the case, Ms. Morris imbues the heroes she narrates with just the right amount of hauteur and attractiveness – and has, I suspect, made Gabriel somewhat more appealing than he was on the page.
I’ve been fortunate over the past year to read and listen to a number of books by first-time authors whose work is so accomplished, you’d never have known they were débuts. You May Kiss the Bride isn’t one of them, however. The book is poorly conceived and executed and it’ll be a while before I try another by this author.
I've given this an A- for narration and a D+ for the content at AudioGals. The narration grade should bump the grade up, but I'm leaving at 2 stars because the story really is poor.
I admit that I picked up You May Kiss the Bride for review solely because of Carolyn Morris. Reviews for this début historical romance, the first in Lisa Berne’s Penhallow Dynasty series have been mixed, but I knew I’d at the very least enjoy the narration, so I decided it give it a go. In the end, my opinions about the story are pretty much along the same lines as the less than glowing reviews; it’s nothing I haven’t read before and the author’s inexperience shows clearly in terms of the storytelling and characterisation.
Livia Stuart hasn’t had an easy life. Orphaned in India when she was a child, she was sent back to England and resides with her listless aunt and drunken uncle, who never really wanted her and who wouldn’t miss her if she disappeared. She is constantly patronised by her neighbour and local mean girl, the Honourable Cecily Orr, who pretends friendship but in reality does everything she can to make “dear Livia” aware of her inferior situation, insisting on giving her her cast off gowns and never missing an opportunity to point out Livia’s status as a poor relation.
Gabriel Penhallow, by contrast, has it all – money, social standing, dark good looks – and as a member of one of the oldest families in the country, is well aware of his consequence. He knows it’s time for him to do his duty, get married and start filling his nursery, and even though he’s not wild about the idea of taking a bride chosen for him by his formidable grandmother, he goes along with it, because ultimately, he’s marrying in order to secure the succession, so as long as she’s suitable – well-bred, demure, able to fulfil her position in society as his wife – that’s all that matters.
He agrees to travel to Wiltshire to meet the lady his grandmother has selected, Cecily Orr, the daughter of Viscount Glanville. She’s beautiful, accomplished… and as empty-headed as every other society debutante Gabriel has ever met. But she’s most definitely suitable, and, as he keeps reminding himself, he’s getting married in order to beget an heir and intends to keep to “The Penhallow Way” wherein husbands and wives live separate lives without emotional entanglements.
Out riding one afternoon, Gabriel realises he’s lost his way and stops to ask directions of a young woman he guesses is a servant or estate worker. Resenting his high-handed manner, Livia plays up to his expectations and gives him directions that will mean his journey back to the Glanville’s will take him at least twice as long as it should. Having already worked out that this haughty gentleman must be none other than the visiting Gabriel Penhallow, Livia decides on the spot that she despises him – even though his assumption that she’s a servant seemed perfectly plausible to me, given she is shabbily dressed and unaccompanied. I suppose the author had to find some reason to set up the animosity between them, but I wish it hadn’t been such a flimsy one.
Next night at the Glanville ball, Gabriel is astonished to see the servant girl from the day before and angrily realises he’s been played for a fool. But his anger can’t quell the realisation that Livia Stuart is a beauty or quash the sudden heated attraction that flares between them and leads to a passionate kiss in the darkness of the terrace. Unfortunately, however, the kiss does not go unobserved and Gabriel immediately does the right thing and proposes. Upset and annoyed, Livia makes clear her displeasure, vows she won’t marry him and runs away. Gabriel finds her and furiously insists that she will marry him, but that theirs will be a marriage in name only. Wait – what? We’re told the only reason Gabriel is getting married is to father an heir, but now he’s prepared to marry a woman he (supposedly) doesn’t want and not sleep with her? *facepalm*
Livia then decides that she’ll marry him but that she’ll make him miserable by turning herself into the sort of woman he thinks he wants – someone insipid and spiteful like Cecily Orr. So she puts her best foot forward and travels to Bath with Gabriel’s formidable grandmother in order to embark on her education as a bride fit for a Penhallow. During this time, she somehow realises that Gabriel is a wonderful man and falls in love with him, although quite honestly, I don’t know how or why she came to that realisation; and I don’t know why, when or how he fell in love with her, either.
You May Kiss the Bride is a very run-of-the-mill historical romance that doesn’t transcend its tropes and quickly becomes a very stodgy listen. Gabriel and Livia are bland and unmemorable, there is practically zero chemistry between them and they spend too much time apart for the romance to be properly developed (Livia spends more time with Gabriel’s grandmother than with him). The ubiquitous “we’re-caught-in-a-storm-oh-look-there’s-a-hut-in-the-forest” sex scene is thrown in, seemingly at random, in spite of Gabriel’s “no sex” rule. The story is episodic rather than progressive – Gabriel and Livia move from one plot point to another without there being any link between them or any sense of a developing storyline. There’s a lot of telling and not much showing throughout, and the entirety of the final section, in which Gabriel wakes up to the fact that he has neglected his estates, makes no sense whatsoever, given that a landowner of his status would have had an army of stewards and men of business to run them during his absence. It’s just another device used in order to try to push some eleventh-hour conflict into a dull story and I think any long-time reader/listener of historical romance would, quite frankly, be justified in feeling insulted at the author’s trying to offload such a lot of old flannel.
I said at the outset that I picked up this audiobook on the strength of Carolyn Morris, and at least there, I wasn’t disappointed. It’s largely due to her convincing and engaging performance that I was able to get to the end of this audiobook without screaming in frustration or dying of boredom – and I take my hat off to her for managing to keep me invested in the listen for as long as it took me to realise the story was going nowhere. The narrative is well-paced and Ms. Morris’ character differentiation is excellent, particularly when it comes to voicing the secondary characters such as the odious Cecily – whose unpleasantness is masked beneath a slightly simpering tone – and Miss Cott, Mrs. Penhallow’s softly spoken, long-suffering companion. The grande dame herself sounds perfectly austere and proper, although there are hints of vulnerability beneath, and I particularly liked the portrayal of Gabriel’s cousin Hugo, who pops up in the last part of the story. He’s a congenial, good-hearted young man and sounds it – plus there’s no confusing him with Gabriel, whose speech is considered, with just the slightest hint of an aristocratic drawl. As is always the case, Ms. Morris imbues the heroes she narrates with just the right amount of hauteur and attractiveness – and has, I suspect, made Gabriel somewhat more appealing than he was on the page.
I’ve been fortunate over the past year to read and listen to a number of books by first-time authors whose work is so accomplished, you’d never have known they were débuts. You May Kiss the Bride isn’t one of them, however. The book is poorly conceived and executed and it’ll be a while before I try another by this author.
March 30, 2024
Oh my goodness, I am so glad that I decided to pick this book up and read it despite the odd 3.55 GR rating. I really do not understand why it would be so low...
This book was written soooo well. I felt like it challenged me intellectually as a reader, the author has a great vocabulary that she pulls from to tell this great story. This book was not a fluffy, over-the-top steamy raunch fest.... But it was filled to the top with feels.
The heroine Livia had a rough start on life with unfortunate circumstances, rotten family members, despicable neighbors... and I felt as a reader I could feel her pain, her frustration, her humiliation, the works. All side characters were written perfectly too. The high society arrogance, the disdain... I literally felt I was watching a movie and could hear and imagine as each character spoke. The book really came to life. I can't wait to check out Lisa Berne's other stories :)
This book was written soooo well. I felt like it challenged me intellectually as a reader, the author has a great vocabulary that she pulls from to tell this great story. This book was not a fluffy, over-the-top steamy raunch fest.... But it was filled to the top with feels.
The heroine Livia had a rough start on life with unfortunate circumstances, rotten family members, despicable neighbors... and I felt as a reader I could feel her pain, her frustration, her humiliation, the works. All side characters were written perfectly too. The high society arrogance, the disdain... I literally felt I was watching a movie and could hear and imagine as each character spoke. The book really came to life. I can't wait to check out Lisa Berne's other stories :)
April 16, 2017
Author Lisa Berne had a great idea creating a series revolving around a wealthy and influential family without a peer in the mix. Her début ,You May Kiss the Bride is a throwback to the classics where characters like Mr. Darcy were a catch without a title in front of their names. Unfortunately the author’s inexperience shines through more than her unique ideas, with poorly rendered characters and a rather juvenile storyline.
Livia Stuart is constantly making the best of the circumstances she’s been dealt in life. When her parents died in India she was shuffled off to her aunt and uncle’s home in Wiltshire but their care has been anything but attentive. Their neighbor Lady Glanville’s daughter Cecily is a constant thorn in her side, parading her wealth and beauty in front of Livia at any social gathering and gifting Livia with her old dresses in the name of Christian charity. Livia has tried to remain above Cecily’s pettiness but it’s becoming harder to swallow her envy when the girl and her mother are always visiting her home to share news of their good fortune.
Their latest visit brings news that the esteemed Mrs. Penhallow has chosen Cecily as the perfect bride for her grandson, Gabriel. The Penhallow family is one of the wealthiest in England and an association with them will bring prestige to any young woman lucky enough to marry the heir. Lady Glanville brags that Mrs. Penhallow and her grandson are visiting their estate so that Cecily can be presented to Gabriel and their betrothal made official. Livia finds herself a little jealous of Cecily’s betrothal but is happier that the neighborhood mean girl will be off to marry and will leave Wiltshire behind.
Please read the full review at Romantic Historical Reviews
Livia Stuart is constantly making the best of the circumstances she’s been dealt in life. When her parents died in India she was shuffled off to her aunt and uncle’s home in Wiltshire but their care has been anything but attentive. Their neighbor Lady Glanville’s daughter Cecily is a constant thorn in her side, parading her wealth and beauty in front of Livia at any social gathering and gifting Livia with her old dresses in the name of Christian charity. Livia has tried to remain above Cecily’s pettiness but it’s becoming harder to swallow her envy when the girl and her mother are always visiting her home to share news of their good fortune.
Their latest visit brings news that the esteemed Mrs. Penhallow has chosen Cecily as the perfect bride for her grandson, Gabriel. The Penhallow family is one of the wealthiest in England and an association with them will bring prestige to any young woman lucky enough to marry the heir. Lady Glanville brags that Mrs. Penhallow and her grandson are visiting their estate so that Cecily can be presented to Gabriel and their betrothal made official. Livia finds herself a little jealous of Cecily’s betrothal but is happier that the neighborhood mean girl will be off to marry and will leave Wiltshire behind.
Please read the full review at Romantic Historical Reviews
March 17, 2022
Bonito, bien escrito , ella me ha gustado, el demasiado estirado y no en plan "los duques me gustan estirados" jajaja este es simple , el final no me ha compensado el resto.
La estructura es rara, la abuela enferma, se pone mal parece que va a pasar algo y pasan a otra cosa , después se van de Bath y en la mansión otra vez la misma sensación como pegotes que desentonan para después todo precipitado
Es un sí pero no. Entre 2.5 y 3*
La estructura es rara, la abuela enferma, se pone mal parece que va a pasar algo y pasan a otra cosa , después se van de Bath y en la mansión otra vez la misma sensación como pegotes que desentonan para después todo precipitado
Es un sí pero no. Entre 2.5 y 3*
April 5, 2022
Era muy optimista con este libro, me encanta la romántica histórica y la sinopsis me gustaba bastante, pero esta lectura ha resultado un sufrimiento desde el primer momento. De verdad, me ha resultado aburrida, frustrante y engorrosa.
Gabriel, el protagonista, es el típico aristócrata para el que ha llegado el momento de cumplir con sus “obligaciones familiares”. Debe casarse y tener un heredero y planea hacerlo al estilo “Penhallow”, que básicamente es el mismo de todos los demás: buscar a la señorita de buena familia más aceptable, casarse con ella, tener un hijo y cada uno a su rollo. Su abuela hace su búsqueda e investigación y decide que la chica más insoportable que hayáis conocido jamás es la candidata perfecta. Gabriel dice que vale, pero luego acaba besando a Livia en el jardín y les pillan, por lo que evidentemente tiene que casarse con ella. Personalmente, le encuentro estirado, hipócrita y bastante estúpido. Según él tiene que casarse para tener hijos, pero luego se enfada y dice que se casará con Livia, pero no serán un matrimonio real jamás… supongo que pretende tener a esos importantísimos herederos por osmosis.
En fin, como ya he mencionado, la otra parte es Livia. ¿Qué puedo decir sobre ella? Pues esto fue rechazo casi a primera vista. Al principio solo ves a una chica que ha tenido una vida bastante miserable sin tener culpa de nada. Tiene una familia espantosa que jamás ha cuidado de ella y le han dado una educación bastante precaria, pero es difícil seguir empatizando con ella cuando actúa de formas tan absurdas y ridículas. En su primer encuentro con el prota lleva un vestido que parece que tiene unos 500 años de lo viejo que es, está sucia, despeinada y va por mitad del bosque bajo la lluvia, pero se pilla un cabreo tremendo porque él la confunde con una criada, debe pensar que se parece a la reina de Inglaterra, porque si no que me lo expliquen. Y no olvidemos que les pillan besándose y ella se pasa media hora pensando que toda la conversación sobre responsabilidades y matrimonio es un chiste, porque por supuesto, ¿en 1811 a quien le importaba que te pillaran con un señor metiéndote mano en el jardín?
Todo esto pueden parecer tonterías a simple vista, pero para mí ya fue empezar con mal pie. No pido que los personajes sean perfectos, pero leñe, un poco de sentido común estaría bien. Si ya me falta ese mínimo requisito, pues la verdad es que se me atraviesa todo. El libro continua en esa línea, pasan mil cosas una detrás de otra, unas se quedan en nada, otras se arreglan de una página a otra, los personajes razonan de formas absurdas… de verdad, lo siento mucho, pero se me hizo larguísimo.
Soy consciente de que este libro fue el debut de la autora y ahora ya ha publicado unos cuantos más, así que es muy posible que haya depurado su técnica, pero no me planteo la posibilidad de probar con el siguiente ahora mismo. Me siento bastante bloqueada y necesito ir a lo seguro, porque de verdad que este libro lo he terminado por la reseña, si no, seguramente lo habría dejado abandonadisimo de pura desesperación.
Gabriel, el protagonista, es el típico aristócrata para el que ha llegado el momento de cumplir con sus “obligaciones familiares”. Debe casarse y tener un heredero y planea hacerlo al estilo “Penhallow”, que básicamente es el mismo de todos los demás: buscar a la señorita de buena familia más aceptable, casarse con ella, tener un hijo y cada uno a su rollo. Su abuela hace su búsqueda e investigación y decide que la chica más insoportable que hayáis conocido jamás es la candidata perfecta. Gabriel dice que vale, pero luego acaba besando a Livia en el jardín y les pillan, por lo que evidentemente tiene que casarse con ella. Personalmente, le encuentro estirado, hipócrita y bastante estúpido. Según él tiene que casarse para tener hijos, pero luego se enfada y dice que se casará con Livia, pero no serán un matrimonio real jamás… supongo que pretende tener a esos importantísimos herederos por osmosis.
En fin, como ya he mencionado, la otra parte es Livia. ¿Qué puedo decir sobre ella? Pues esto fue rechazo casi a primera vista. Al principio solo ves a una chica que ha tenido una vida bastante miserable sin tener culpa de nada. Tiene una familia espantosa que jamás ha cuidado de ella y le han dado una educación bastante precaria, pero es difícil seguir empatizando con ella cuando actúa de formas tan absurdas y ridículas. En su primer encuentro con el prota lleva un vestido que parece que tiene unos 500 años de lo viejo que es, está sucia, despeinada y va por mitad del bosque bajo la lluvia, pero se pilla un cabreo tremendo porque él la confunde con una criada, debe pensar que se parece a la reina de Inglaterra, porque si no que me lo expliquen. Y no olvidemos que les pillan besándose y ella se pasa media hora pensando que toda la conversación sobre responsabilidades y matrimonio es un chiste, porque por supuesto, ¿en 1811 a quien le importaba que te pillaran con un señor metiéndote mano en el jardín?
Todo esto pueden parecer tonterías a simple vista, pero para mí ya fue empezar con mal pie. No pido que los personajes sean perfectos, pero leñe, un poco de sentido común estaría bien. Si ya me falta ese mínimo requisito, pues la verdad es que se me atraviesa todo. El libro continua en esa línea, pasan mil cosas una detrás de otra, unas se quedan en nada, otras se arreglan de una página a otra, los personajes razonan de formas absurdas… de verdad, lo siento mucho, pero se me hizo larguísimo.
Soy consciente de que este libro fue el debut de la autora y ahora ya ha publicado unos cuantos más, así que es muy posible que haya depurado su técnica, pero no me planteo la posibilidad de probar con el siguiente ahora mismo. Me siento bastante bloqueada y necesito ir a lo seguro, porque de verdad que este libro lo he terminado por la reseña, si no, seguramente lo habría dejado abandonadisimo de pura desesperación.
October 8, 2023
Simplemente se deja leer, no fue lo que esperaba según la sinopsis.
La trama se desarrolló de una manera extraña. En algunos momentos en los que debía detenerse y contar era un corre que te corre. Sin embargo, en otros que no tenía importancia era todo desarrollo.
Después el comportamiento de Gabriel, arrogante como el solo, me pareció bastante ridículo. Entiendo que había que crear historia pero no me pareció adulta.
Los personajes tampoco me conquistaron. Livia empieza con carácter pero se desinfla. Gabriel era bastante arrogante y no me cautivó. La abuela igual era una arpía que mejoraba, pero dos páginas después volvía a ser arpía, pero sin sentido.
En resumen puedo decir que positivo tiene que lo he acabado y que se lee rápido, pero si quieres una historia bien desarrollada y con sentido… este no es tu libro.
La trama se desarrolló de una manera extraña. En algunos momentos en los que debía detenerse y contar era un corre que te corre. Sin embargo, en otros que no tenía importancia era todo desarrollo.
Después el comportamiento de Gabriel, arrogante como el solo, me pareció bastante ridículo. Entiendo que había que crear historia pero no me pareció adulta.
Los personajes tampoco me conquistaron. Livia empieza con carácter pero se desinfla. Gabriel era bastante arrogante y no me cautivó. La abuela igual era una arpía que mejoraba, pero dos páginas después volvía a ser arpía, pero sin sentido.
En resumen puedo decir que positivo tiene que lo he acabado y que se lee rápido, pero si quieres una historia bien desarrollada y con sentido… este no es tu libro.
December 12, 2017
Eh. This book didn’t do much for me one way or another. I didn’t dislike it necessarily, but I found it pretty superficial. It didn’t make me feel anything…though I did roll my eyes a few times.
Livia is an orphan who was raised on the charity of an aunt and uncle who never really cared about her. No one has ever really cared about her. For some reason, her snotty, beautiful neighbor has made her into a charity case, but she uses every opportunity to remind her of her low social station. Anyway, the snotty girl is set to marry a rich, handsome catch of the ton, but Gabriel is taken by Livia’s beauty and kisses her in the garden during a ball…and gets busted. From there, he has to propose in order to maintain his honor and reputation.
The entire story follows his grandmother’s efforts to turn Livia into a lady fit to be his wife. This, as Gabriel keeps reminding himself it’s supposed to a marriage in name only, and he shouldn’t like his new bride.
One of my biggest problems with the book is that it begins so many threads and then lets them fade off into nothing. Like Livia’s childhood in India. Like her mean aunt and uncle. Her plot to run away (twice.) Grandmother’s recognition of Livia’s father.
Another is the developments that happen out of nowhere. Like the state of the family home. Like the instant rekindling of a romance for Grandmother’s companion. Like the loss of Livia’s virginity (!) and the circumstances surrounding it. And a random psychic who saves the day out of nowhere. (!!) Nothing felt connected. It was just one thing strung together with another, after another.
And Good Gravy was Livia kicked around. Literally everyone in her life has dumped her or dumped on her. Including the family she’s marrying into. They didn’t deserve her. It made it hard to root for Gabriel when he was such a dick. He starts the book terribly conceited; he’s dense, completely oblivious to what’s really going on with Livia; and he’s self-involved, really all the way to the very end. Still, I couldn’t muster enough feeling to hate him. I just recognized his faults in a detached way.
It was just one of those books where I was aware I was reading the whole time. I never fell into the story.
Rating: C
*ARC provided by publisher
Livia is an orphan who was raised on the charity of an aunt and uncle who never really cared about her. No one has ever really cared about her. For some reason, her snotty, beautiful neighbor has made her into a charity case, but she uses every opportunity to remind her of her low social station. Anyway, the snotty girl is set to marry a rich, handsome catch of the ton, but Gabriel is taken by Livia’s beauty and kisses her in the garden during a ball…and gets busted. From there, he has to propose in order to maintain his honor and reputation.
The entire story follows his grandmother’s efforts to turn Livia into a lady fit to be his wife. This, as Gabriel keeps reminding himself it’s supposed to a marriage in name only, and he shouldn’t like his new bride.
One of my biggest problems with the book is that it begins so many threads and then lets them fade off into nothing. Like Livia’s childhood in India. Like her mean aunt and uncle. Her plot to run away (twice.) Grandmother’s recognition of Livia’s father.
Another is the developments that happen out of nowhere. Like the state of the family home. Like the instant rekindling of a romance for Grandmother’s companion. Like the loss of Livia’s virginity (!) and the circumstances surrounding it. And a random psychic who saves the day out of nowhere. (!!) Nothing felt connected. It was just one thing strung together with another, after another.
And Good Gravy was Livia kicked around. Literally everyone in her life has dumped her or dumped on her. Including the family she’s marrying into. They didn’t deserve her. It made it hard to root for Gabriel when he was such a dick. He starts the book terribly conceited; he’s dense, completely oblivious to what’s really going on with Livia; and he’s self-involved, really all the way to the very end. Still, I couldn’t muster enough feeling to hate him. I just recognized his faults in a detached way.
It was just one of those books where I was aware I was reading the whole time. I never fell into the story.
Rating: C
*ARC provided by publisher
April 1, 2022
Llevaba muchos años esperando a leer a Lisa Berne, y gracias a Vergara, ¡hemos conseguido tenerla en España!
Empecemos por el principio: Livia Estuardo, una huérfana nacida en la India vive con su tía Bella y su tío Charles en el condado de Wilshire.
Está cansada de recibir las continuas visitas de lady Glanville y su hija, Cecily, y de ser el objeto de su caridad. Una tarde, donde se ha sentido especialmente humillada, se marcha de casa por el bosque y se encuentra a un caballero, especialmente apuesto, con el que empieza una serie de malentendidos (muy graciosos).
Gabriel Penhallow y su abuela han decidido que tiene que casarse para continuar su descendencia, y se encuentra en Londres para elegir a la siguiente mujer que engendrará a su heredero.
Me he reído mucho. De verdad, el libro tiene una serie de enredos y momentos hilarantes que le han dado esa chispa especial a esta historia. Tengo que decir que la trama me ha flojeado un poco en algunos momentos; Gabriel era un poco duro y frío, y me ponía nerviosa que los malentendidos eran ridículos porque hablando lo habrían solucionado mucho antes. Livia ha sido la leche y me he enamorado de ella. Al igual que me he enamorado de los personajes secundarios.
Me han encantado las sesiones de aprendizaje con la abuela; parecía muy dura y al final tenía su corazoncito.
Una novela que va de más a menos y de menos a más, pero que os recomiendo mucho. ¡La histórica nunca falla!
Gran trabajo de traducción, ¡mis felicitaciones a las traductoras!
¡Necesito más de esos personajes! ¡Estoy deseando leer «Sí, quiero, milord» que sale el 12 de mayo! Y espero que continúe con la historia de Hugo Penhallow, la señorita Cott o Cecily.
Empecemos por el principio: Livia Estuardo, una huérfana nacida en la India vive con su tía Bella y su tío Charles en el condado de Wilshire.
Está cansada de recibir las continuas visitas de lady Glanville y su hija, Cecily, y de ser el objeto de su caridad. Una tarde, donde se ha sentido especialmente humillada, se marcha de casa por el bosque y se encuentra a un caballero, especialmente apuesto, con el que empieza una serie de malentendidos (muy graciosos).
Gabriel Penhallow y su abuela han decidido que tiene que casarse para continuar su descendencia, y se encuentra en Londres para elegir a la siguiente mujer que engendrará a su heredero.
Me he reído mucho. De verdad, el libro tiene una serie de enredos y momentos hilarantes que le han dado esa chispa especial a esta historia. Tengo que decir que la trama me ha flojeado un poco en algunos momentos; Gabriel era un poco duro y frío, y me ponía nerviosa que los malentendidos eran ridículos porque hablando lo habrían solucionado mucho antes. Livia ha sido la leche y me he enamorado de ella. Al igual que me he enamorado de los personajes secundarios.
Me han encantado las sesiones de aprendizaje con la abuela; parecía muy dura y al final tenía su corazoncito.
Una novela que va de más a menos y de menos a más, pero que os recomiendo mucho. ¡La histórica nunca falla!
Gran trabajo de traducción, ¡mis felicitaciones a las traductoras!
¡Necesito más de esos personajes! ¡Estoy deseando leer «Sí, quiero, milord» que sale el 12 de mayo! Y espero que continúe con la historia de Hugo Penhallow, la señorita Cott o Cecily.
February 6, 2022
“El universo es fundamentalmente perfecto y todos deberíamos aceptar nuestro lugar en él”.
Si tuviera que resumir este libro en una sola palabra esa, sin duda, sería diversión. Desde Los Bridgerton no disfrutaba tanto con una novela de este estilo. Tiene todo lo necesario para resultar un éxito rotundo. Y, además, es el primer libro de una saga así que la cosa promete.
La autora nos sabe llevar en todo momento por donde ella quiere, nos hace participes de la historia desde el primer momento y consigue que les cojamos cariño a los personajes desde el minuto uno. Y que odiemos profundamente a otros, eso también.
Nuestra protagonista, Livia, es maravillosa. Una mujer fuerte y valiente, aunque ella no se lo crea y con unos valores y principios maravilloso. Cariñosa, de buen corazón, inteligente, lista y avispada y con un sentido del humor maravilloso. Las mayores carcajadas las he soltado con ella.
Gabriel, nuestro otro protagonista, es el perfecto anti-héroe. En un principio él y Livia parecen polos opuestos, pero a lo largo del libro nos iremos dando cuenta de que son mucho más parecidos de lo que ellos creen. Alma gemelas.
Hay secundarios que son oro, como la abuela Penhallow y la autora nos da leve pinceladas del protagonista del próximo libro de la saga, que creo que sale en mayo, y ya os digo que pinta muy, muy bien.
Una historia tierna, romántica, con un toque picante fantástico, con humor, mucho humor y con unos personajes maravillosos. Me ha encantado y lo de disfrutado muchísimo, de principio a fin. A favoritos, de cabeza.
Si tuviera que resumir este libro en una sola palabra esa, sin duda, sería diversión. Desde Los Bridgerton no disfrutaba tanto con una novela de este estilo. Tiene todo lo necesario para resultar un éxito rotundo. Y, además, es el primer libro de una saga así que la cosa promete.
La autora nos sabe llevar en todo momento por donde ella quiere, nos hace participes de la historia desde el primer momento y consigue que les cojamos cariño a los personajes desde el minuto uno. Y que odiemos profundamente a otros, eso también.
Nuestra protagonista, Livia, es maravillosa. Una mujer fuerte y valiente, aunque ella no se lo crea y con unos valores y principios maravilloso. Cariñosa, de buen corazón, inteligente, lista y avispada y con un sentido del humor maravilloso. Las mayores carcajadas las he soltado con ella.
Gabriel, nuestro otro protagonista, es el perfecto anti-héroe. En un principio él y Livia parecen polos opuestos, pero a lo largo del libro nos iremos dando cuenta de que son mucho más parecidos de lo que ellos creen. Alma gemelas.
Hay secundarios que son oro, como la abuela Penhallow y la autora nos da leve pinceladas del protagonista del próximo libro de la saga, que creo que sale en mayo, y ya os digo que pinta muy, muy bien.
Una historia tierna, romántica, con un toque picante fantástico, con humor, mucho humor y con unos personajes maravillosos. Me ha encantado y lo de disfrutado muchísimo, de principio a fin. A favoritos, de cabeza.
April 11, 2022
Vengo un un poco de tristeza a escribir esta reseña. El romance histórico es uno de mis subgéneros de romántica preferidos, y desde que el número de publicaciones de este tipo se redujeron drásticamente en España, consumo básicamente todo lo que se publica ansiando encontrar buen contenido. Por lo tanto las expectativas eran altas, había oído hablar de Lisa Berne entre lectoras extranjeras y siendo una autora novedosa en España estaba bastante expectante.
El inicio de la historia de Gabriel y Livia es atractivo y prometedor, pero esto no dura mucho, y la acción de la novela cae, sin volver a remontar hasta casi al final, algo que por desgracia no me ha acabado de compensar lo aburrido que se me ha hecho todo el desarrollo central. He encontrado también poco trabajo de documentación por parte de la autora, así como unos personajes excesivamente edulcorados, hasta rozar lo absurdo. Les faltan matices, es todo un poco infantil, con personajes que o son santos/martires o son villanos nivel Disney, malos malisimos y buenos buenisimos sin más profundidad.
Algunas partes han tenido su encanto, se lo concedo, sobretodo el inicio y el final, pero no estoy segura de si seguiré leyendo a esta autora. Puede que le dé la segunda y última oportunidad con el tercer libro de esta saga, que es del que más he oído hablar bien, y también es posible que esta novela carece de algunas cosas debido a que es la primera novela que Berne publicó. Así que le daré el beneficio de la duda, pero sin duda me pensaré bastante el leer otra novela de ella.
El inicio de la historia de Gabriel y Livia es atractivo y prometedor, pero esto no dura mucho, y la acción de la novela cae, sin volver a remontar hasta casi al final, algo que por desgracia no me ha acabado de compensar lo aburrido que se me ha hecho todo el desarrollo central. He encontrado también poco trabajo de documentación por parte de la autora, así como unos personajes excesivamente edulcorados, hasta rozar lo absurdo. Les faltan matices, es todo un poco infantil, con personajes que o son santos/martires o son villanos nivel Disney, malos malisimos y buenos buenisimos sin más profundidad.
Algunas partes han tenido su encanto, se lo concedo, sobretodo el inicio y el final, pero no estoy segura de si seguiré leyendo a esta autora. Puede que le dé la segunda y última oportunidad con el tercer libro de esta saga, que es del que más he oído hablar bien, y también es posible que esta novela carece de algunas cosas debido a que es la primera novela que Berne publicó. Así que le daré el beneficio de la duda, pero sin duda me pensaré bastante el leer otra novela de ella.
January 31, 2022
DNF
A good friend recommended the third book in Berne’s Penhallow Dynasty series, The Bride Takes a Groom, to me. Since I’m anal about reading series in order, I decided to instead start with this, book one.
The plot concerns a forced marriage between Gabriel Penhallow, an heir to a fortune and the scion of a long-lasting dynasty, and Livia Stuart, a sweet and spirited girl trapped in her indifferent aunt and uncle’s house.
Gabriel’s grandmother has picked out a bride for him, but before he can get engaged, he is caught in a compromising position—kissing Livia—after an earlier interaction with her gets under his skin. His grandmother won’t tolerate any kind of stain on the Penhallow name so the next step is for Gabriel and Livia to get engaged. The next after that is to turn Livia into a bride worthy (in his grandmother’s eyes) of Gabriel.
Berne has a Heyeresque style of language I like. Here’s an example of what I mean:
I caught two factual errors. The first was a reference to Beau Brummell’s horrible pink coats, when in fact it was Brummell who popularized a less-gaudy style and played a significant part in the transition to the trend of men wearing subdued colors. The second was a mention that the first Penhallow arrived in England with William the Conqueror.
Penhallow is a Cornish surname (as are most English surnames beginning with “Pen—”). Cornish people are, to quote from Wikipedia “a recognised national minority in the United Kingdom which can trace its roots to the ancient Britons who inhabited southern and central Great Britain before the Roman conquest”. The first Penhallow, therefore, would not have arrived in England at all–he would have originated from it.
I spotted a few verbal anachronisms but not many. The book had a lot of humor and charm and that’s part of why it gripped me in the first third. But the plot turned out to be episodic rather than cohesive. Conflicts crop up one after the other to keep the couple apart and because there isn’t much of an overarching conflict that carries through the whole novel the series of smaller conflicts starts to feel like a construction.
The book was too fluffy and cute my taste. The characters are *too* appealing if that makes sense–their interactions are cute to a point where it becomes obvious that they are constructed to be adorable. The author’s hand is felt here, too.
The episodic aspect of the plot made the middle sag, and by the time I quit (two-thirds through) I realized that while the main characters were charming, that was close to all they were. They didn’t have much in the way of contradictory characteristics to give them depth. Most of the other characters in the book were either good or bad, without much in between, except perhaps for the grandmother (she reminded me a bit of the wonderful grandmother in Judith McNaught’s book Something Wonderful). The female villain was particularly shallow.
After I put down the book, a second friend recommended book three in the series so it’s possible I’ll give it a try sometime. You May Kiss the Bride is a DNF, though.
A good friend recommended the third book in Berne’s Penhallow Dynasty series, The Bride Takes a Groom, to me. Since I’m anal about reading series in order, I decided to instead start with this, book one.
The plot concerns a forced marriage between Gabriel Penhallow, an heir to a fortune and the scion of a long-lasting dynasty, and Livia Stuart, a sweet and spirited girl trapped in her indifferent aunt and uncle’s house.
Gabriel’s grandmother has picked out a bride for him, but before he can get engaged, he is caught in a compromising position—kissing Livia—after an earlier interaction with her gets under his skin. His grandmother won’t tolerate any kind of stain on the Penhallow name so the next step is for Gabriel and Livia to get engaged. The next after that is to turn Livia into a bride worthy (in his grandmother’s eyes) of Gabriel.
Berne has a Heyeresque style of language I like. Here’s an example of what I mean:
But for this pleasure she had to wait. Two, then three weeks went by, and still he absented himself from his grandmother’s home. Mrs. Penhallow grumbled about his undutiful attitude, then in the very next breath added that it was just as well, for she would, she announced, forbid his presence anyway, until Miss Stuart was no longer a half-savage, unlettered, ill-spoken, maladroit, freckled tatterdemalion.
I caught two factual errors. The first was a reference to Beau Brummell’s horrible pink coats, when in fact it was Brummell who popularized a less-gaudy style and played a significant part in the transition to the trend of men wearing subdued colors. The second was a mention that the first Penhallow arrived in England with William the Conqueror.
Penhallow is a Cornish surname (as are most English surnames beginning with “Pen—”). Cornish people are, to quote from Wikipedia “a recognised national minority in the United Kingdom which can trace its roots to the ancient Britons who inhabited southern and central Great Britain before the Roman conquest”. The first Penhallow, therefore, would not have arrived in England at all–he would have originated from it.
I spotted a few verbal anachronisms but not many. The book had a lot of humor and charm and that’s part of why it gripped me in the first third. But the plot turned out to be episodic rather than cohesive. Conflicts crop up one after the other to keep the couple apart and because there isn’t much of an overarching conflict that carries through the whole novel the series of smaller conflicts starts to feel like a construction.
The book was too fluffy and cute my taste. The characters are *too* appealing if that makes sense–their interactions are cute to a point where it becomes obvious that they are constructed to be adorable. The author’s hand is felt here, too.
The episodic aspect of the plot made the middle sag, and by the time I quit (two-thirds through) I realized that while the main characters were charming, that was close to all they were. They didn’t have much in the way of contradictory characteristics to give them depth. Most of the other characters in the book were either good or bad, without much in between, except perhaps for the grandmother (she reminded me a bit of the wonderful grandmother in Judith McNaught’s book Something Wonderful). The female villain was particularly shallow.
After I put down the book, a second friend recommended book three in the series so it’s possible I’ll give it a try sometime. You May Kiss the Bride is a DNF, though.
April 1, 2017
A really good historical romance that I enjoyed reading!Gabriel isn't interested in marrying, but he will do it since that is what is expected of him and though his grandmother has chosen the Lady Cecilia for him, there is just something about Livia that makes him kiss her.And obviously they're caught and now have to marry.
Livia's parents died when she was young, so her uncle is more than happy to wash his hands off her.Livia isn't that interested in marrying this arrogant cad, especially one who mistook her for a servant just the day before.But society dictates that they must and now she has to listen to his grandmother.
Will love bloom along the way or will they be destined for an unhappy marriage?
Gabriel and Livia were interesting main characters, but too stubborn and hardheaded at times.The way the connection between them developed from a simple attraction to a beautiful relationship was amazing.Livia undergoes many transformations and learns a lot.She was intelligent,feisty but a bit naive in the beginning of the book.But that changes.
The way they fell in love with each other was good, but there is also a lot of push and pull.There are many conflicts and misunderstandings which could have been solved by proper communication, but eh, we wouldn't have a book then would we?
I loved Gabriel's grandmother and his cousin Hugo!They were amazing secondary characters.
I loved the fact that the author mixed in humor too, as it breaks off the monotony in a HR book.
I can't wait to read Hugo's story in the next book!
Livia's parents died when she was young, so her uncle is more than happy to wash his hands off her.Livia isn't that interested in marrying this arrogant cad, especially one who mistook her for a servant just the day before.But society dictates that they must and now she has to listen to his grandmother.
Will love bloom along the way or will they be destined for an unhappy marriage?
Gabriel and Livia were interesting main characters, but too stubborn and hardheaded at times.The way the connection between them developed from a simple attraction to a beautiful relationship was amazing.Livia undergoes many transformations and learns a lot.She was intelligent,feisty but a bit naive in the beginning of the book.But that changes.
The way they fell in love with each other was good, but there is also a lot of push and pull.There are many conflicts and misunderstandings which could have been solved by proper communication, but eh, we wouldn't have a book then would we?
I loved Gabriel's grandmother and his cousin Hugo!They were amazing secondary characters.
I loved the fact that the author mixed in humor too, as it breaks off the monotony in a HR book.
I can't wait to read Hugo's story in the next book!
June 14, 2021
Yikes. You know those books where you dislike every single character? And there isn’t a single redeeming quality to them, the plot, the ~drama~, or the resolution? Yeah.
February 20, 2022
[2'25/5]
Puedes besar a la novia está catalogado como un libro de romance de época, diría que tiene hasta un pequeño cliché enemies to lovers, que ya sabéis que amo. Tanto este libro como las siguientes entregas de la serie están catalogadas dentro de este género que tanto disfruto y que tanto me apasiona.
Tengo que reconocer que no es de ese tipo de obras donde se explota el romance desde el principio, es decir, claramente nos vamos a encontrar con un romance entre los protagonistas pero de estos que se cuecen a fuego lento y que se va dando paso a paso. Es decir, si estáis buscando escenas súper románticas y apasionadas desde el principio, este no es vuestro libro. El hecho de que el romance sea la linea conductora de la historia pero no la principal, la cual creo que es la evolución de los personajes y la presentación de la ambientación, no significa que el libro sea mejor o peor, a mi por ejemplo me he encantado que se vaya dando poco a poco.
Por otro lado, tengo que reconocer que me apasiona ver otras épocas reflejadas en este tipo de historias tan ligeras y amenas y ver cómo se movía y relacionaba la sociedad de aquella época. Así que, debido a esto, la historia se lleva un plus por mi parte porque me ha encantado la ambientación.
En lo que respecta a la pluma de la autora, solo puedo decir que me leí el libro en menos de cuatro horas y creo que eso lo dice todo. Es una historia súper sencilla, con una narración muy rápida y sin ningún tipo de complicación, es decir, no hay nada que conlleve a que no puedas leer esta historia en un ratito.
Es de esos libros que se disfrutan gracias a su sencillez y, además, sus capítulos son muy cortos, narrados por los dos protagonistas y con un muy buen ritmo, por lo que todo esto incentiva que leas muy pero que muy rápido.
En cuanto a la trama tengo que reconocer que no me he encontrado con lo que esperaba, con esto quiero decir que sí, la he disfrutado pero no me ha apasionado. El romance me ha gustado en muchas partes y la evolución de la protagonista y el protagonista me ha parecido interesante, pero se me ha quedado un poco plano todo. Esto se debe a que hay muchos cambios en los protagonistas secundarios o, en general, situaciones que no se llegan a comprender de donde vienen sin contexto y te quedas como ¿de dónde viene esto?
En lineas generales es una historia que apunta maneras pero que se queda, en muchas partes, en intentos fallidos por empatizar con los protagonistas y sus situaciones. Esto no quiere decir que no lo haya disfrutado, es más, estoy deseando leer la siguiente entrega para ver cómo va madurando la pluma de la autora.
Por último, en lo que respecta a los personajes, como he dicho anteriormente, reconozco que me ha costado empatizar con ellos en muchos aspectos porque no comprendía de donde venían esas actitudes u opiniones pero, también debo decir, que de la mitad en adelante he disfrutado mucho más de sus interacciones, de la presencia de los personajes secundarios y, en general, del ambiente que se respiraba con ellos.
En conclusión, es una historia que viene genial para intercalar con libros más densos, un libro para leer en tan solo unas horitas y disfrutar de un enemies to lovers en un romance de época. Sin duda, os recomiendo que le echéis un vistazo sí o sí.
Puedes besar a la novia está catalogado como un libro de romance de época, diría que tiene hasta un pequeño cliché enemies to lovers, que ya sabéis que amo. Tanto este libro como las siguientes entregas de la serie están catalogadas dentro de este género que tanto disfruto y que tanto me apasiona.
Tengo que reconocer que no es de ese tipo de obras donde se explota el romance desde el principio, es decir, claramente nos vamos a encontrar con un romance entre los protagonistas pero de estos que se cuecen a fuego lento y que se va dando paso a paso. Es decir, si estáis buscando escenas súper románticas y apasionadas desde el principio, este no es vuestro libro. El hecho de que el romance sea la linea conductora de la historia pero no la principal, la cual creo que es la evolución de los personajes y la presentación de la ambientación, no significa que el libro sea mejor o peor, a mi por ejemplo me he encantado que se vaya dando poco a poco.
Por otro lado, tengo que reconocer que me apasiona ver otras épocas reflejadas en este tipo de historias tan ligeras y amenas y ver cómo se movía y relacionaba la sociedad de aquella época. Así que, debido a esto, la historia se lleva un plus por mi parte porque me ha encantado la ambientación.
En lo que respecta a la pluma de la autora, solo puedo decir que me leí el libro en menos de cuatro horas y creo que eso lo dice todo. Es una historia súper sencilla, con una narración muy rápida y sin ningún tipo de complicación, es decir, no hay nada que conlleve a que no puedas leer esta historia en un ratito.
Es de esos libros que se disfrutan gracias a su sencillez y, además, sus capítulos son muy cortos, narrados por los dos protagonistas y con un muy buen ritmo, por lo que todo esto incentiva que leas muy pero que muy rápido.
En cuanto a la trama tengo que reconocer que no me he encontrado con lo que esperaba, con esto quiero decir que sí, la he disfrutado pero no me ha apasionado. El romance me ha gustado en muchas partes y la evolución de la protagonista y el protagonista me ha parecido interesante, pero se me ha quedado un poco plano todo. Esto se debe a que hay muchos cambios en los protagonistas secundarios o, en general, situaciones que no se llegan a comprender de donde vienen sin contexto y te quedas como ¿de dónde viene esto?
En lineas generales es una historia que apunta maneras pero que se queda, en muchas partes, en intentos fallidos por empatizar con los protagonistas y sus situaciones. Esto no quiere decir que no lo haya disfrutado, es más, estoy deseando leer la siguiente entrega para ver cómo va madurando la pluma de la autora.
Por último, en lo que respecta a los personajes, como he dicho anteriormente, reconozco que me ha costado empatizar con ellos en muchos aspectos porque no comprendía de donde venían esas actitudes u opiniones pero, también debo decir, que de la mitad en adelante he disfrutado mucho más de sus interacciones, de la presencia de los personajes secundarios y, en general, del ambiente que se respiraba con ellos.
En conclusión, es una historia que viene genial para intercalar con libros más densos, un libro para leer en tan solo unas horitas y disfrutar de un enemies to lovers en un romance de época. Sin duda, os recomiendo que le echéis un vistazo sí o sí.
April 25, 2017
Fue una historia un poco lenta (me tardé, pero lo logre) y con cambios de humor de los personajes muy notables que no lograba entender del todo. La que mas me llamó la atención fue Livia, la protagonista que comenzó siendo una mujer con mucho resentimiento y sarcasmo (comprensible). Después se vuelve mas abierta al amor, pero aun así a la pobre la siguen rechazando. En cuanto a Gabriel, muchos de los protagonistas en las novelas románticas tienen a "ser" como él, por eso no me sorprendió tanto.
Hubo muchas partes que no llegue a leer simplemente me las salté y seguía con la historia. Es entendible que no sea un libro muy bueno debido a que la autora es nueva, pero tiene mucho potencial. A pesar de esto, fue una historia dulce y tranquila.
Estoy segura que la autora irá mejorando conforme desarolla más historias :)
Hubo muchas partes que no llegue a leer simplemente me las salté y seguía con la historia. Es entendible que no sea un libro muy bueno debido a que la autora es nueva, pero tiene mucho potencial. A pesar de esto, fue una historia dulce y tranquila.
Estoy segura que la autora irá mejorando conforme desarolla más historias :)
September 17, 2022
¿Estás buscando un romance de época encantador, vivaracho y apasionado? Tú y yo estamos de suerte porque esta autora es un descubrimiento ideal.
Soy presa fácil para este tipo de lecturas. ¡Me ha encantado! Tiene personajes temperamentales, un argumento pegadizo, una ambientación rebosante de detalles de la época y una narración de lo más vivaz.
Estoy convencida ya de leer más libros de Lisa Berne. No sólo me lo he pasado bien, sino que me ha transmitido emociones de toda clase. A la huérfana Livia, acogida en la frialdad del hogar de sus tíos, le cae fatal el altanero caballero que le pide direcciones en medio del bosque lluvioso. Cuando vuelven a toparse de frente en un baile donde él pretende anunciar su compromiso por conveniencia con la rival egoísta y cruel de Livia, surgen chispas como cuando chocan yesca y pedernal. Con un estilo simpático y elaborado, la historia brinca entre malentendidos, honor llevado al límite, una misión de transformar a la chiquilla salvaje en dama de alcurnia al estilo Pigmalión, la búsqueda del amor por encima del deber y la redención de una familia demasiado arraigada en sus adustas costumbres.
Me ha parecido muy divertida porque la pareja de Gabriel y Livia está constantemente cruzando diatribas ingeniosas. El contraste entre el espíritu de ella, libre y sincero, con la rigidez de la familia Penhallow crea un marco de humor constante, aderezado por el latente ardor que va creciendo entre ellos. Por otro lado, la abuela se erige en un personaje ambivalente que no sabes si detestar o adorar, aunque probablemente acabes haciendo ambas cosas durante toda la novela.
El argumento se desarrolla en diversas etapas. Mientras Livia aprende etiqueta, conversación decorosa, bailes o moda adecuada, Gabriel Penhallow trata de mantenerse frío ante su naturaleza estimulante y su belleza poco ortodoxa. De verdad que no hay momento en que falte entretenimiento, sonrisas, pasión o evolución de las relaciones entre todos los personajes.
Nos movemos entre la sociedad más exquisita de una ciudad inglesa popular donde se codean las costumbres de la época, las insidiosas reglas sociales y los bailes suntuosos, aunque viajamos a otros lugares donde Livia y la familia Penhallow vivirán los momentos más álgidos y convulsos. Me ha encantado la última etapa porque Livia brilla en todo su bondadoso e inteligente esplendor. La nueva localización da lugar a interesantes situaciones y me ha gustado mucho su potencial. En cambio, a Gabriel, que se comporta como un alcornoque, le habría azotado en sus anchas espaldas por su zoquetería, pero es verdad que no se cambian las convicciones de los arrogantes nobles de un día para otro.
En esta parte final aparece un personaje maravilloso, Hugo, a quien deseo fervientemente ver en la siguiente novela. Con ese dramón que parece acicatear los desenlaces de todo romance que se precie, esta historia por fin reúne a los desdichados amantes y reconcilia su fe en el amor.
Creo que disfruta de suficientes epílogos para satisfacer nuestra necesidad de dicha romántica y futuro conyugal. Facilísima de leer por su fluidez y encanto. ¡Qué placer!
Soy presa fácil para este tipo de lecturas. ¡Me ha encantado! Tiene personajes temperamentales, un argumento pegadizo, una ambientación rebosante de detalles de la época y una narración de lo más vivaz.
Estoy convencida ya de leer más libros de Lisa Berne. No sólo me lo he pasado bien, sino que me ha transmitido emociones de toda clase. A la huérfana Livia, acogida en la frialdad del hogar de sus tíos, le cae fatal el altanero caballero que le pide direcciones en medio del bosque lluvioso. Cuando vuelven a toparse de frente en un baile donde él pretende anunciar su compromiso por conveniencia con la rival egoísta y cruel de Livia, surgen chispas como cuando chocan yesca y pedernal. Con un estilo simpático y elaborado, la historia brinca entre malentendidos, honor llevado al límite, una misión de transformar a la chiquilla salvaje en dama de alcurnia al estilo Pigmalión, la búsqueda del amor por encima del deber y la redención de una familia demasiado arraigada en sus adustas costumbres.
Me ha parecido muy divertida porque la pareja de Gabriel y Livia está constantemente cruzando diatribas ingeniosas. El contraste entre el espíritu de ella, libre y sincero, con la rigidez de la familia Penhallow crea un marco de humor constante, aderezado por el latente ardor que va creciendo entre ellos. Por otro lado, la abuela se erige en un personaje ambivalente que no sabes si detestar o adorar, aunque probablemente acabes haciendo ambas cosas durante toda la novela.
El argumento se desarrolla en diversas etapas. Mientras Livia aprende etiqueta, conversación decorosa, bailes o moda adecuada, Gabriel Penhallow trata de mantenerse frío ante su naturaleza estimulante y su belleza poco ortodoxa. De verdad que no hay momento en que falte entretenimiento, sonrisas, pasión o evolución de las relaciones entre todos los personajes.
Nos movemos entre la sociedad más exquisita de una ciudad inglesa popular donde se codean las costumbres de la época, las insidiosas reglas sociales y los bailes suntuosos, aunque viajamos a otros lugares donde Livia y la familia Penhallow vivirán los momentos más álgidos y convulsos. Me ha encantado la última etapa porque Livia brilla en todo su bondadoso e inteligente esplendor. La nueva localización da lugar a interesantes situaciones y me ha gustado mucho su potencial. En cambio, a Gabriel, que se comporta como un alcornoque, le habría azotado en sus anchas espaldas por su zoquetería, pero es verdad que no se cambian las convicciones de los arrogantes nobles de un día para otro.
En esta parte final aparece un personaje maravilloso, Hugo, a quien deseo fervientemente ver en la siguiente novela. Con ese dramón que parece acicatear los desenlaces de todo romance que se precie, esta historia por fin reúne a los desdichados amantes y reconcilia su fe en el amor.
Creo que disfruta de suficientes epílogos para satisfacer nuestra necesidad de dicha romántica y futuro conyugal. Facilísima de leer por su fluidez y encanto. ¡Qué placer!
February 24, 2022
“𝓔𝓷 𝓵𝓪𝓼 𝓸𝓬𝓪𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓮𝓼 𝓺𝓾𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓫í𝓪 𝓿𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓸 𝓬𝓪𝓮𝓻 𝓭𝓲𝓬𝓱𝓪 𝓶á𝓼𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓪, 𝓱𝓪𝓫í𝓪 𝓿𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓸 𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓼𝓫𝓸𝓼 𝓭𝓮 𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓸𝓼 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓸..., 𝓮𝓷 𝓯𝓲𝓷, 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓸 𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓼 𝓱𝓾𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓸𝓼, 𝓪𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓫𝓾𝓵𝓪𝓭𝓸𝓼 𝓹𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓫𝓾𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓼 𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓬𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓮𝓼, 𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓸𝓼 𝓭𝓮 𝓱𝓾𝓶𝓸𝓻, 𝓯𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓫𝓵𝓮𝓼, 𝓲𝓶𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓯𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓸𝓼, 𝓶𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓿𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓸𝓼𝓸𝓼 𝔂 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓮𝓼. "
Aquí les dejo mi opinión sobre “Puedes besar a la novia” de Lisa Berne, primera vez que leo a la autora y, aunque lo he disfrutado no ha sido todo lo que yo esperaba. Se nota que es la primera novela que escribió, si no me equivoco.
En primer lugar, me ha gustado mucho la pluma de la autora, su manera de describir y expresarse, se nota que ha investigado las costumbres de la época y ha sido maravilloso la ambientación en Bath.
Otro de los puntos a favor es la protagonista, Livia, es espontánea, decidida, apasionada e imperfecta, con su falta de educación, sus celos y sus comentarios, a veces, inapropiados.
No obstante, me ha fallado el modo en que está llevado el romance. Comienza muy bien, de manera divertida, con un tira y afloja que te mantiene enganchada. Pero llegado a cierto punto, éste se desinfla demasiado, centrándose en volver a Livia una señorita educada de la alta sociedad y las interacciones entre los protas son bastante sosas y condicionadas por el hecho de que apenas sabemos sobre lo que piensa Gabriel.
Por lo que este libro se me ha quedado a medio gas, en un quiero y no puedo. Creo que la autora tiene potencial y espero darle otra oportunidad para ver como evoluciona como escritora.
Aquí les dejo mi opinión sobre “Puedes besar a la novia” de Lisa Berne, primera vez que leo a la autora y, aunque lo he disfrutado no ha sido todo lo que yo esperaba. Se nota que es la primera novela que escribió, si no me equivoco.
En primer lugar, me ha gustado mucho la pluma de la autora, su manera de describir y expresarse, se nota que ha investigado las costumbres de la época y ha sido maravilloso la ambientación en Bath.
Otro de los puntos a favor es la protagonista, Livia, es espontánea, decidida, apasionada e imperfecta, con su falta de educación, sus celos y sus comentarios, a veces, inapropiados.
No obstante, me ha fallado el modo en que está llevado el romance. Comienza muy bien, de manera divertida, con un tira y afloja que te mantiene enganchada. Pero llegado a cierto punto, éste se desinfla demasiado, centrándose en volver a Livia una señorita educada de la alta sociedad y las interacciones entre los protas son bastante sosas y condicionadas por el hecho de que apenas sabemos sobre lo que piensa Gabriel.
Por lo que este libro se me ha quedado a medio gas, en un quiero y no puedo. Creo que la autora tiene potencial y espero darle otra oportunidad para ver como evoluciona como escritora.
April 9, 2017
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book.**
How much bad news can one person take?
Livia isn't your typical lady. She doesn't wear the finest gowns or have the best mannerisms. In fact, she'd rather be a scullery maid than become permanently attached to a stuffy gentleman. Yet, that's exactly what's about to happen. When found in a compromising situation with Gabriel, the two are forced to turn their moment of lust into a full-blown engagement. Yikes.
This book started off so well. Our hero cannot help but feel inexplicably drawn to our heroine and a moment of weakness leads to scandal and consequences. Livia is determined not to go along with the farce, even willing to perform hard labor to escape it. I was on the edge of my seat at that point, loving the sassy Livia. I was developing respect for the determined Gabriel, who knew Livia wasn't a proper lady to be interested in but he couldn't help feeling attracted to her.
But after that, it was a series of one depressing event after another. Even the few steamy kisses planted here and there couldn't save the story for me. I felt terrible for Livia and wanted to encourage her to just take off and leave them all in her dust. They didn't deserve her, to be honest.
Our couple had no real chemistry, evident by the fact that they literally spent no time together that wasn't stealing kisses or insulting one another. Livia spent far more time being whipped around by Gabriel's grandmother than was necessary. Poor girl couldn't seem to catch a break. And Gabriel was aloof and unfeeling for the vast majority of the book. I was disappointed in his character the most.
I wanted to see some growth as a couple but just didn't find much. Sure, each of our main characters matures in some way, however, it happens on their own. The romance is almost always a subplot, rather than the main focal point. I thought that there was more emphasis on secondary characters, the transformation of Livia, and fixing estate problems than real, adequate romantic development.
In closing...
This fell short for me in many ways. While I want to give this series another chance, I'm not sure I can handle another depressing story, such as this. Two gloomy suns!
Full review on blog: http://uptildawnbookblog.blogspot.com/2017/04/review-you-may-kiss-bride-by-lisa-berne.html
March 31, 2017
When I go into a romance novel, I'm fully prepared to suspend my disbelief. It's one of the things I really enjoy about reading them: true love forms quickly and it's always pure. However, I struggle to believe in that love when the protagonists don't spend sufficient time together.
I had heard great things about this novel, and went in with my hopes up. But I left feeling as though the reader was deprived of some of the moments where the hero and heroine got to know each other. The author gave plenty of sweet scenes, but she also glossed over moments by saying the two went to a play or to dinner together, without giving us that scene. The resulting effect was that the reader was being left out of part of the story, and I didn't enjoy that.
There were also times that the novel felt overstuffed. Between learning to be a proper lady, the state of the Hall, and scenes with side characters, there wasn't as much time devoted to the romance itself as I would have liked.
I wouldn't actively recommend this book to other readers. However, plenty of romance readers really fell for these characters and this story. So take my opinion with a grain of salt and trust your own judgement!
I had heard great things about this novel, and went in with my hopes up. But I left feeling as though the reader was deprived of some of the moments where the hero and heroine got to know each other. The author gave plenty of sweet scenes, but she also glossed over moments by saying the two went to a play or to dinner together, without giving us that scene. The resulting effect was that the reader was being left out of part of the story, and I didn't enjoy that.
There were also times that the novel felt overstuffed. Between learning to be a proper lady, the state of the Hall, and scenes with side characters, there wasn't as much time devoted to the romance itself as I would have liked.
I wouldn't actively recommend this book to other readers. However, plenty of romance readers really fell for these characters and this story. So take my opinion with a grain of salt and trust your own judgement!
March 30, 2017
This was indeed a great debut novel, but still could've used some improvements.
I loved Livia, but didn't get much of a chance to know Gabriel. Honestly, neither did she. They spent very little time together throughout the entire story and it was hard to tell what they liked about each other other than the physical.
I didn't feel like there was much of a plot here and so I found myself skimming at the end of the story (I skipped at least one chapter and didn't feel like I missed anything). Still, the beginning with Livia's attitude and transformation was entertaining.
I thought the beginning was a lot of fun and thought we were being set up for Gabriel and Livia to butt heads but they didn't do that for long. The beginning is why I feel this book deserves three stars. Given that this was a debut novel, I think Ms. Berne shows lots of potential and I already have her next book preordered.
I loved Livia, but didn't get much of a chance to know Gabriel. Honestly, neither did she. They spent very little time together throughout the entire story and it was hard to tell what they liked about each other other than the physical.
I didn't feel like there was much of a plot here and so I found myself skimming at the end of the story (I skipped at least one chapter and didn't feel like I missed anything). Still, the beginning with Livia's attitude and transformation was entertaining.
I thought the beginning was a lot of fun and thought we were being set up for Gabriel and Livia to butt heads but they didn't do that for long. The beginning is why I feel this book deserves three stars. Given that this was a debut novel, I think Ms. Berne shows lots of potential and I already have her next book preordered.
January 22, 2018
Eh.
It was just okay.
The chemistry between Gabriel and Lisa didn't click with me and almost everyone they interacted with was insufferable and mostly inconsequential. There were so many characters, many of which seemed very one-dimensional. The only character I really liked was cousin Hugo and he was there only briefly.
I realized that with about 100 pages left, the black moment was coming, but I felt no dread, because I really didn't care about these characters. As a matter of fact, I had about 20 pages left and just set the book down and left to go do something else. The resolution of Gabriel's stupidity was too quick and too easy.
The author did a lot of telling instead of showing - at one point, Gabriel tells someone off in a rather spectacular manner, but we're just told about it. We don't even know what he said. yawn.
It was just okay.
The chemistry between Gabriel and Lisa didn't click with me and almost everyone they interacted with was insufferable and mostly inconsequential. There were so many characters, many of which seemed very one-dimensional. The only character I really liked was cousin Hugo and he was there only briefly.
I realized that with about 100 pages left, the black moment was coming, but I felt no dread, because I really didn't care about these characters. As a matter of fact, I had about 20 pages left and just set the book down and left to go do something else. The resolution of Gabriel's stupidity was too quick and too easy.
The author did a lot of telling instead of showing - at one point, Gabriel tells someone off in a rather spectacular manner, but we're just told about it. We don't even know what he said. yawn.
December 15, 2023
The self absorbed H is very judgmental. The h is barely tolerated and also very resourceful. They fall in love over some time but when things escalate the H forgets her. He didn't grovel nearly enough but I still liked this book.
May 9, 2018
yeah this author is not for me. The biggest and best moments were anticlimactic and meh. Seriously.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews