What do you think?
Rate this book
Unmasked #1
Unforgivable
Listening Length: 10 hours and 12 minutes.
Gil Truman has eyes only for the beautiful Tilly - until he is forced to marry plain, sickly Rose Davenport to reclaim the lands his father foolishly gambled away. After a disastrous wedding night tainted with his bitterness, he deposits Rose at his remote, Northumbrian estate, soothing his guilt with the thought that she need never lay eyes on him again.
Five years after the mortifying wedding night that destroyed all her romantic fantasies, Rose is fed up with hearing second - and third - hand reports of Gil's philandering ways. She is no longer the shy, homely girl he left behind, but a strong, confident woman who knows how to run an estate. And knows what she wants - her husband, back in their marriage bed.
Gil doesn't recognize the bold, flirtatious woman he meets at a ball, with or without her mask. Yet he is bewitched and besotted, and their night together is the most passionate he has ever known. But when he confesses his sins to the beautiful stranger, the truth rips open the old wounds of their blighted history. Threatening any hope of a future together.
Gil Truman has eyes only for the beautiful Tilly - until he is forced to marry plain, sickly Rose Davenport to reclaim the lands his father foolishly gambled away. After a disastrous wedding night tainted with his bitterness, he deposits Rose at his remote, Northumbrian estate, soothing his guilt with the thought that she need never lay eyes on him again.
Five years after the mortifying wedding night that destroyed all her romantic fantasies, Rose is fed up with hearing second - and third - hand reports of Gil's philandering ways. She is no longer the shy, homely girl he left behind, but a strong, confident woman who knows how to run an estate. And knows what she wants - her husband, back in their marriage bed.
Gil doesn't recognize the bold, flirtatious woman he meets at a ball, with or without her mask. Yet he is bewitched and besotted, and their night together is the most passionate he has ever known. But when he confesses his sins to the beautiful stranger, the truth rips open the old wounds of their blighted history. Threatening any hope of a future together.
11 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 15, 2013
260 people are currently reading
2456 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Chambers
41 books1,221 followersJoanna Chambers' muse likes red wine, coffee and won't let Joanna clean the house or watch television.
If you came here looking for a copy of The Bequest you can get it here:
https://mybookcave.com/d/81d35cdf/
If you're looking for Seasons Pass, go here:
https://mybookcave.com/d/92fd26a0/
If you came here looking for a copy of The Bequest you can get it here:
https://mybookcave.com/d/81d35cdf/
If you're looking for Seasons Pass, go here:
https://mybookcave.com/d/92fd26a0/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 424 reviews
January 16, 2013
I have no tolerance for cheating heroes. It is almost impossible for me sympathize with a character who cheats, especially when they are married, (not to mention totally unrepentant about being unfaithful.) And Gil abandoned his wife, (after practically raping her after their wedding,) and went on to spend the next five years screwing anything that moved.
I felt bad for Rose, but Gil was a jerk through and through. He was a horrible, dishonorable man with no redeeming qualities who treated his wife despicably. He was angry at her over something that she was not responsible for and had no knowledge of. She gave him chance after chance to start over, and she kept forgiving him his mistakes, and every time he threw it back in her face. Basically, every time there is a decision to make in regards to his wife or his marriage, he makes the wrong one.
Unforgivable, is an apt title. He did not deserve her forgiveness.
I felt bad for Rose, but Gil was a jerk through and through. He was a horrible, dishonorable man with no redeeming qualities who treated his wife despicably. He was angry at her over something that she was not responsible for and had no knowledge of. She gave him chance after chance to start over, and she kept forgiving him his mistakes, and every time he threw it back in her face. Basically, every time there is a decision to make in regards to his wife or his marriage, he makes the wrong one.
Unforgivable, is an apt title. He did not deserve her forgiveness.
February 6, 2015
4.5 ANGSTY STARS
First off, how does this book have a low rating?! I can guess the possible reasons, but I LOVED IT. I cried so much, I'd say about 85% of the time I was either misty eyed or had tears running down my cheeks. It was a very emotional, heart wrenching, distressing yet lovely book. The characters were so well fleshed out, I felt every painful nuance and every emotion like it was coming off the pages.
Gilbert Truman is given the bleak choice of marrying the young and plain Rose Davenport or succumbing to financial ruin. Through some serious and compulsive mistakes his father commits, the family legacy is put at stake. Gil is in love with someone else, a promise he'd been excitedly looking forward too, but his dreams and ambitions are forfeited in the name of a forced betrothal.
Rose davenport, at 17 years of age, feels compelled to satisfy her father and marry the seemingly kind and striking Gilbert Truman. But soon after their marriage is set, rose realizes the whole thing to be one giant farce. Exiled at one of her husbands remote coastal properties, Rose grows tired of being cast aside. 5 years later, Rose determinably heads to confront her husband and demand he acknowledge his responsibilities. But upon seeing each other, Gil doesn't recognize Rose but finds her exquisite, and Rose is inexplicably drawn to the husband she longs to truly have. But the past comes crashing down and soon Rose and Gil must face a future either filled with love and forgiveness or despair and failure.
Did I mention how much I loved this?? From the first chapter I was in emotional turmoil. I felt Rose's pain and disillusionment so acutely my heart hurt. I won't spoil the circumstances surrounding her predicament, but she wasn't exactly what Gil wanted. I despaired for her, cried for her and ultimately cheered for her. I know why some people didn't like this that much, or Gil for that matter. He was an asshole blinded by pride and resentment (the wedding night scene was particularly traumatic). He blamed Rose and her father for a marriage he'd rather forget, and although I found him arrogant and unfair most of the time, I did understand the root of his feelings. His whole life changed and not for the better. He was unfaithful, distant and wholly uncaring towards Rose. But over the course of this book he was forced to see her for who she truly was and not just the beguiling beauty that he met at a masked ball.
I've read some people expected him to grovel a bit more and suffer for everything he had done to Rose. I'd have to agree, and that reason alone docks a half star, but I still consider this an exceptional story filled with angst, loss, despair, hope and ultimately love. I honestly believe Gil didn't know how to properly show his feelings for Rose. He'd never felt that way before and now all of a sudden the woman he felt was a big mistake is looking like a blessed miracle. I felt he redeemed himself even if not to the extent of my expectations but I still loved the way he changed, the way he righted his wrongs.
I don't know, but for me, this was beautiful, perfect even! A story that manages to move me, make me hate the hero but weep for him at the same time is an act of talent. Should I be harder on Gil? I don't think so, he was wronged as well. Did I think Rose was a doormat? No. This was the early 1800's. A woman didn't just leave her husband. Society was shrewd and hardly treated women fairly. Even divorce was abominable, practically unheard of. I believe Rose handled everything as well as she could have, therefore I loved her and what she accomplished. LOVED IT, LOVED IT. Even with a somewhat low rating, highly recommend it!
First off, how does this book have a low rating?! I can guess the possible reasons, but I LOVED IT. I cried so much, I'd say about 85% of the time I was either misty eyed or had tears running down my cheeks. It was a very emotional, heart wrenching, distressing yet lovely book. The characters were so well fleshed out, I felt every painful nuance and every emotion like it was coming off the pages.
Gilbert Truman is given the bleak choice of marrying the young and plain Rose Davenport or succumbing to financial ruin. Through some serious and compulsive mistakes his father commits, the family legacy is put at stake. Gil is in love with someone else, a promise he'd been excitedly looking forward too, but his dreams and ambitions are forfeited in the name of a forced betrothal.
Rose davenport, at 17 years of age, feels compelled to satisfy her father and marry the seemingly kind and striking Gilbert Truman. But soon after their marriage is set, rose realizes the whole thing to be one giant farce. Exiled at one of her husbands remote coastal properties, Rose grows tired of being cast aside. 5 years later, Rose determinably heads to confront her husband and demand he acknowledge his responsibilities. But upon seeing each other, Gil doesn't recognize Rose but finds her exquisite, and Rose is inexplicably drawn to the husband she longs to truly have. But the past comes crashing down and soon Rose and Gil must face a future either filled with love and forgiveness or despair and failure.
Did I mention how much I loved this?? From the first chapter I was in emotional turmoil. I felt Rose's pain and disillusionment so acutely my heart hurt. I won't spoil the circumstances surrounding her predicament, but she wasn't exactly what Gil wanted. I despaired for her, cried for her and ultimately cheered for her. I know why some people didn't like this that much, or Gil for that matter. He was an asshole blinded by pride and resentment (the wedding night scene was particularly traumatic). He blamed Rose and her father for a marriage he'd rather forget, and although I found him arrogant and unfair most of the time, I did understand the root of his feelings. His whole life changed and not for the better. He was unfaithful, distant and wholly uncaring towards Rose. But over the course of this book he was forced to see her for who she truly was and not just the beguiling beauty that he met at a masked ball.
I've read some people expected him to grovel a bit more and suffer for everything he had done to Rose. I'd have to agree, and that reason alone docks a half star, but I still consider this an exceptional story filled with angst, loss, despair, hope and ultimately love. I honestly believe Gil didn't know how to properly show his feelings for Rose. He'd never felt that way before and now all of a sudden the woman he felt was a big mistake is looking like a blessed miracle. I felt he redeemed himself even if not to the extent of my expectations but I still loved the way he changed, the way he righted his wrongs.
I don't know, but for me, this was beautiful, perfect even! A story that manages to move me, make me hate the hero but weep for him at the same time is an act of talent. Should I be harder on Gil? I don't think so, he was wronged as well. Did I think Rose was a doormat? No. This was the early 1800's. A woman didn't just leave her husband. Society was shrewd and hardly treated women fairly. Even divorce was abominable, practically unheard of. I believe Rose handled everything as well as she could have, therefore I loved her and what she accomplished. LOVED IT, LOVED IT. Even with a somewhat low rating, highly recommend it!
November 30, 2017
Very well done Regency with a strong, smart heroine and a yellow-belly, weak, poor pitiful me hero.
An arranged marriage due to the H's father gambling away properties has the very sick heroine married to too full of himself hero. He drops her off at a remote property after consummating the marriage and goes back to London to sleep with too many women.
They end up back together (heroine is quite creative in getting in touch with her husband again) where he is smitten with his new wife but holds on to his bitterness and resentment. She, in turn, has to put up with the fact that everyone knows about her husband's numerous infidelities as well as the supposition she wasn't a worthy enough bride. The H is pathetic.
Despite his own unworthiness it is a well done book. He comes to his senses and at least tries to make amends.
An arranged marriage due to the H's father gambling away properties has the very sick heroine married to too full of himself hero. He drops her off at a remote property after consummating the marriage and goes back to London to sleep with too many women.
They end up back together (heroine is quite creative in getting in touch with her husband again) where he is smitten with his new wife but holds on to his bitterness and resentment. She, in turn, has to put up with the fact that everyone knows about her husband's numerous infidelities as well as the supposition she wasn't a worthy enough bride. The H is pathetic.
Despite his own unworthiness it is a well done book. He comes to his senses and at least tries to make amends.
August 17, 2021
4.25*
A well done ‘married for money and abandoned bride’ story.
If you love angst, you can wallow and loll in it here. The kind of angst that kindles a constant ache in the chest. Because all possible ways and means of pumping up angst in a romance/unrequited love, are paraded out here. And they work.
(ETA - Actually, one of my favorite angsty and abandoned-wife books. I wish the author would write more MF books.)
*With spoilers*
A well done ‘married for money and abandoned bride’ story.
If you love angst, you can wallow and loll in it here. The kind of angst that kindles a constant ache in the chest. Because all possible ways and means of pumping up angst in a romance/unrequited love, are paraded out here. And they work.
(ETA - Actually, one of my favorite angsty and abandoned-wife books. I wish the author would write more MF books.)
*With spoilers*
January 16, 2013
3 1/2 stars. It can be difficult for me to read a book or write a review objectively when I have a bias towards the author. Oddly enough, in this case, the bias might be working the other way. I like the author very much online, and I loved her first book, The Lady's Secret. I have to ask myself, if this had been a book written ten years ago, from an author I had fewer expectations from, would I have found it so disappointing?
First, the good. The story was riveting and I hated to put it down to go to bed. As far as my favorite romance gut-punch goes, it delivered in spades. Tears even prickled in my eyes a few times.
Basically, this was a classic old skool romance, but with a kindler, gentler asshole -- i.e. he punches the wall instead of her. (To be fair, only once -- he is not violent overall.) Gil has a grievance -- he felt forced to marry young, plain Rose, instead of the woman he wanted -- and he not only holds onto that grievance with both hands, he adds to it whenever possible. He's one of those frustrating Diana Palmer-ish heroes who turns any understanding of his own faults into anger at the person he wronged. And he does this and does it and does it... it's psychologically interesting and understandable, I suppose, but it sure made it hard to like him, or to believe he could ever truly change.
I felt that Rose was always the one who had to reach out, always the one who had to give. Although she did make some mistakes, she was largely, as another reviewer points out, an innocent bystander in her marriage. I enjoy vicarious suffering in romance, but I need more of a balance and a payoff than I got here. I was also disappointed that the story's dark moment comes from a very obvious, conventional place that punishes Rose even more than it punishes Gil. Perhaps most disappointing of all, although Gil also learns to appreciate Rose's fine character, he initially falls for her as the beautiful woman she grew into. Not enough balance, not enough payoff.
I want to reiterate that I was totally caught up and emotionally involved in the story, and that's why I'm giving it a relatively high rating. It might well work better for fans of angsty romance who didn't come in with high expectations, or with strong desires for originality.
First, the good. The story was riveting and I hated to put it down to go to bed. As far as my favorite romance gut-punch goes, it delivered in spades. Tears even prickled in my eyes a few times.
Basically, this was a classic old skool romance, but with a kindler, gentler asshole -- i.e. he punches the wall instead of her. (To be fair, only once -- he is not violent overall.) Gil has a grievance -- he felt forced to marry young, plain Rose, instead of the woman he wanted -- and he not only holds onto that grievance with both hands, he adds to it whenever possible. He's one of those frustrating Diana Palmer-ish heroes who turns any understanding of his own faults into anger at the person he wronged. And he does this and does it and does it... it's psychologically interesting and understandable, I suppose, but it sure made it hard to like him, or to believe he could ever truly change.
I felt that Rose was always the one who had to reach out, always the one who had to give. Although she did make some mistakes, she was largely, as another reviewer points out, an innocent bystander in her marriage. I enjoy vicarious suffering in romance, but I need more of a balance and a payoff than I got here. I was also disappointed that the story's dark moment comes from a very obvious, conventional place that punishes Rose even more than it punishes Gil. Perhaps most disappointing of all, although Gil also learns to appreciate Rose's fine character, he initially falls for her as the beautiful woman she grew into. Not enough balance, not enough payoff.
I want to reiterate that I was totally caught up and emotionally involved in the story, and that's why I'm giving it a relatively high rating. It might well work better for fans of angsty romance who didn't come in with high expectations, or with strong desires for originality.
June 29, 2021
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Why is every man in HR books either a rapist or a philandering bastard, or both? And why do I end up falling in love them despite their atrocious personalities?
There’s something about historical romance books that invokes all kind of warm and fuzzy and profound feelings in me. This book was no different. I hate that I loved it.
‼️Minor Spoilers Ahead‼️
Rose, a 17 yo girl, recuperating from a severe case of chickenpox, is thin, gaunt, has shorn hair, and is basically an ugly duckling. Her father after winning a veritable king’s ransom is eager to marry her off and give her his winnings as dowry. The unfortunate man who lost his properties to Rose’s father happens to be Gil’s (22) father. To palm off his responsibility, Rose’s father decides to give the winnings back to Gil’s father, unconditionally, if he agrees to marry his son to his daughter. Gil is aggrieved and furious at having to abandon the girl he believes himself in love with—Tilly—but reluctantly agrees to marry Rose to save his family from ruination.
After Gil dispassionately and grudgingly consummates their marriage, he takes Rose to Weartham where he abandons her for 5 years; never once visiting or writing to her. Rose continues to write him a letter every year inviting him to Christmas, but he never bothers to show up. In these 5 years of exile, Rose turns into a beautiful woman (surprise, surprise) and impetuously decides to visit London to confront her estranged husband. In London, her stepmother advises her to attend a masquerade ball where she could meet him in disguise and flirt with him and seduce him with her beauty to make him listen to her (because he’s a manwhore and he appreciates beauty🥱). Unsurprisingly, Gil fails to recognize her at the ball, they make small talk about their lives and he divulges the secrets of his forced marriage to her and tells her he never intends to see his wife again. Shocked and hurt by the revelation, she withholds her true identity from him and says her name is Eve Adams. Long story short, she ends up sleeping with him and the next morning goes back to Wreatham. 4 months later she writes to him with the news of her pregnancy. Gil is affronted and betrayed to know the seductress he met at the ball was Rose the ugly duckling! He takes her back to London to let the town know they’ve reconciled.
Gil treats Rose indifferently in London but inevitably and unwittingly falls in love with her; never once letting her know how he truly feels. After a heated argument with Gil she miscarries the baby. With the baby no longer tethering them together, she goes back to Wreatham. Gil is devastated and blah blah and after Rose’s father tells him she loves him, he visits her and confesses his love for her, and they all live happily ever after.
What I disliked:
Gil was the biggest manwhore of manwhores. And the cherry on top was that he was super shallow. I hated how menacing and harsh he was to Rose when he married her just because she was physically unappealing while he almost confessed his love for Eve Adams—Rose—after banging her once all because she was ✨beautiful✨.
If he’d had the patience to wait for Rose to fully recover from her illness and go back to her former beautiful self, he wouldn’t have had to sleep his way around London for 5 years. After all she was still charming and kind and had a scintillating personality when her married her but he was just too stuck up and imperious to see the real her.
While the author did a good job of making us believe he fell in love with her personality it felt really contrived, shallow and absurd because would he have fallen in love if she’d been the same ugly duckling as when he first married her? I think not.
Another thing that didn’t sit well with me was the fact that Rose reached out to Gil after 5 years (despite knowing he was a cheating bastard), putting her hatred and resentment for him aside all in the name of honoring her marriage vows. Why didn’t she ask him for a divorce, knowing he didn’t give a hoot about their marriage? She certainly could have found a suitable partner back at Weartham. She could have married Will, the steward at Weartham manor and her kind of friend. But no she was an honorable, faithful wife, unlike her philandering husband. 🙄
Things I liked, maybe even loved:
Rose.
She was such a breath of fresh air. I loved how despite her crippling insecurities she knew her self-worth and didn’t let anyone walk all over her. After realizing that Gil wasn’t happy to marry her, she condemned him to never touch her again. I loved her kindness. And most of all I loved her letters to Gil.
Here’s a small glimpse of her humorous and sassy missive to Gil (which was answered by his personal secretary, Andrews, because His Highness deemed it unimportant to write back to her but he read all her letters. How romantic!)
While I despised Gil’s rude and indifferent behavior toward Rose, he literally melted my heart with how soft, gentle, wrecked and apologetic he was to Rose when she miscarried. He slept in the armchair all night looking over her while she slept. It was heartwarming and so so so precious, and undoubtedly my favorite part of the book.
And I cannot forget my second favorite part of the book:
Aw, he wanted to be invited for Christmas by his beautiful wife? After ignoring all her invitations for 5 years? The audacity of this infuriating, wickedly handsome man. Love.
Love.
Why is every man in HR books either a rapist or a philandering bastard, or both? And why do I end up falling in love them despite their atrocious personalities?
There’s something about historical romance books that invokes all kind of warm and fuzzy and profound feelings in me. This book was no different. I hate that I loved it.
‼️Minor Spoilers Ahead‼️
Rose, a 17 yo girl, recuperating from a severe case of chickenpox, is thin, gaunt, has shorn hair, and is basically an ugly duckling. Her father after winning a veritable king’s ransom is eager to marry her off and give her his winnings as dowry. The unfortunate man who lost his properties to Rose’s father happens to be Gil’s (22) father. To palm off his responsibility, Rose’s father decides to give the winnings back to Gil’s father, unconditionally, if he agrees to marry his son to his daughter. Gil is aggrieved and furious at having to abandon the girl he believes himself in love with—Tilly—but reluctantly agrees to marry Rose to save his family from ruination.
After Gil dispassionately and grudgingly consummates their marriage, he takes Rose to Weartham where he abandons her for 5 years; never once visiting or writing to her. Rose continues to write him a letter every year inviting him to Christmas, but he never bothers to show up. In these 5 years of exile, Rose turns into a beautiful woman (surprise, surprise) and impetuously decides to visit London to confront her estranged husband. In London, her stepmother advises her to attend a masquerade ball where she could meet him in disguise and flirt with him and seduce him with her beauty to make him listen to her (because he’s a manwhore and he appreciates beauty🥱). Unsurprisingly, Gil fails to recognize her at the ball, they make small talk about their lives and he divulges the secrets of his forced marriage to her and tells her he never intends to see his wife again. Shocked and hurt by the revelation, she withholds her true identity from him and says her name is Eve Adams. Long story short, she ends up sleeping with him and the next morning goes back to Wreatham. 4 months later she writes to him with the news of her pregnancy. Gil is affronted and betrayed to know the seductress he met at the ball was Rose the ugly duckling! He takes her back to London to let the town know they’ve reconciled.
Gil treats Rose indifferently in London but inevitably and unwittingly falls in love with her; never once letting her know how he truly feels. After a heated argument with Gil she miscarries the baby. With the baby no longer tethering them together, she goes back to Wreatham. Gil is devastated and blah blah and after Rose’s father tells him she loves him, he visits her and confesses his love for her, and they all live happily ever after.
What I disliked:
Gil was the biggest manwhore of manwhores. And the cherry on top was that he was super shallow. I hated how menacing and harsh he was to Rose when he married her just because she was physically unappealing while he almost confessed his love for Eve Adams—Rose—after banging her once all because she was ✨beautiful✨.
“They lay facing one another, and he gazed at her with uncomplicated pleasure. She was beautiful, and he felt like a boy, bowled over by her. He was infatuated by her, certainly. Maybe even in love with her.”
If he’d had the patience to wait for Rose to fully recover from her illness and go back to her former beautiful self, he wouldn’t have had to sleep his way around London for 5 years. After all she was still charming and kind and had a scintillating personality when her married her but he was just too stuck up and imperious to see the real her.
While the author did a good job of making us believe he fell in love with her personality it felt really contrived, shallow and absurd because would he have fallen in love if she’d been the same ugly duckling as when he first married her? I think not.
“She looked delightful when she laughed. She looked delightful when she did many things, of course: when she danced, when she looked up at him from her writing desk with a distracted expression, when she was kind to untalented would-be poets. But he did especially love the way she laughed. He loved the way she was hiding her laugh behind her hand as she listened to Gertie, her merry silver eyes sparkling above. Loved the beautiful quirk of her lips. Loved her—
Loved her.
He loved her.”
Another thing that didn’t sit well with me was the fact that Rose reached out to Gil after 5 years (despite knowing he was a cheating bastard), putting her hatred and resentment for him aside all in the name of honoring her marriage vows. Why didn’t she ask him for a divorce, knowing he didn’t give a hoot about their marriage? She certainly could have found a suitable partner back at Weartham. She could have married Will, the steward at Weartham manor and her kind of friend. But no she was an honorable, faithful wife, unlike her philandering husband. 🙄
Things I liked, maybe even loved:
Rose.
She was such a breath of fresh air. I loved how despite her crippling insecurities she knew her self-worth and didn’t let anyone walk all over her. After realizing that Gil wasn’t happy to marry her, she condemned him to never touch her again. I loved her kindness. And most of all I loved her letters to Gil.
Here’s a small glimpse of her humorous and sassy missive to Gil (which was answered by his personal secretary, Andrews, because His Highness deemed it unimportant to write back to her but he read all her letters. How romantic!)
“21st December, 1812
Dear Mr. Andrews,
Thank you for your letter of 2nd December. I enclose, by way of a Christmas gift, a lambswool scarf. I beg that you will wear this to keep off draughts. It will not do for you to neglect your health. My letters to my husband must not go unanswered.
In fulfilment of my wifely duties, I will send another invitation next year. You may wish to draft your reply now to save time.
Kind Regards
Rose Truman,
Countess of Stanhope.”
While I despised Gil’s rude and indifferent behavior toward Rose, he literally melted my heart with how soft, gentle, wrecked and apologetic he was to Rose when she miscarried. He slept in the armchair all night looking over her while she slept. It was heartwarming and so so so precious, and undoubtedly my favorite part of the book.
And I cannot forget my second favorite part of the book:
“Suddenly, I find I don’t know what to say,” he said with a humorless laugh. “After coming three hundred miles to see you.”
She stared at him, not knowing what to say either. She couldn’t imagine why he was here. After a moment, he closed the distance that separated them. It took him two long strides. She had to tip her head to look into his face then, and when she did, it was to see that he appeared deeply troubled.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“You didn’t invite me for Christmas,” he said at last, and she wondered if she’d misheard him. His words were so unexpected, so at odds with his unhappy expression. “Every year, you invite me for Christmas,” he added. “Except this one.”
Aw, he wanted to be invited for Christmas by his beautiful wife? After ignoring all her invitations for 5 years? The audacity of this infuriating, wickedly handsome man. Love.
Love.
November 20, 2025
4 emotional ⭐️
This was an emotional and real story, about difficult subject matter like forgiveness and hanging on to anger to the point of self destruction, I couldn’t put it down and I had a lot feelings about this story.
I am pretty sure purity readers won’t like this one, because boy, is Rose wronged by the men in her life. There is cheating, neglect, and being taunted by society with his cheating!
I enjoy a real story, with complex layers, something that will sit with me after I close the book. But I am not going to lie, I had a hard time here. This book is historical fiction and not necessarily a romance. There have been many Rose’s before us in a different time before us and I enjoyed to see how we have progressed since 1800.
Also do love a good transformation story. It’s the Cinderella effect I guess. Is it shallow, yes totally 😂
Rose’s father wins an earl’s estates in a game of cards, her father is eager to travel and to leave his responsibilities behind, so he has a proposition for the Earl.
Rose, 17, has been very ill, near death, very frail, lost her hair. Her father thinks him the winning the properties is a win/win. If the Earl’s son marries his daughter, he will return the properties to the Earl. And he is free to travel the world.
Gil is the oldest son of the Earl, and he doesn’t want the marriage, he loves Tilly who he is secretly or almost betrothed to.
Rose however is young and naive and immediately falls for Gil, who is older, more sophisticated than she. Therefore she agrees to the match, not knowing it’s by shake down, she thinks it’s mutual.
She enter the marriage so full of hope for the future, infatuated with the idea of Gil. Well that stops real fast. Gil consummates the marriage in a less than sensitive manner and leaves her in the countryside for 5 years. He is angry and resents Rose for the marriage and the loss of Tilly who is now married to his friend.
He flaunts mistresses all over London and completely disrespects his marriage to Rose. She however starts to make a life for herself in the countryside. One thing troubles her, she really wants a child.
So off she goes to London to seduce the Earl. (his father has passed) HE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE HER! From the frail being, to now a stunning beauty. The have a heated night, where she wants to disclose who she really is but can’t, because he confides how he was forced to marry his wife. ( her) so she sneaks out before dawn.
Well sweet Rose happens to get pregnant and when Gil finally comes to the estate, he finds out who she is! That she is woman he has been looking for since their rendezvous,
and he is not happy!
Their journey to happiness was deeply emotional, and I was very exasperated by Gil’s lack of vulnerability at times, and what she had to endure from him was not insignificant.
Not big over the top cruelties but the little cruelties in daily life that just adds up. Death by a thousand cuts. ❤️🩹 it was a very realistic portrayal of a relationship.
Why not 5 ⭐️ well Gil felt very wronged a lot of times and I wanted him to be a tad more emotional mature. And describing Tilly as a goddess at the very end of the book pissed me off beyond belief. She is pretty insignificant in the story but if my husband called his ex a goddess!🔪🔪
Should you read it? YES ❤️
This was an emotional and real story, about difficult subject matter like forgiveness and hanging on to anger to the point of self destruction, I couldn’t put it down and I had a lot feelings about this story.
I am pretty sure purity readers won’t like this one, because boy, is Rose wronged by the men in her life. There is cheating, neglect, and being taunted by society with his cheating!
I enjoy a real story, with complex layers, something that will sit with me after I close the book. But I am not going to lie, I had a hard time here. This book is historical fiction and not necessarily a romance. There have been many Rose’s before us in a different time before us and I enjoyed to see how we have progressed since 1800.
Also do love a good transformation story. It’s the Cinderella effect I guess. Is it shallow, yes totally 😂
Rose’s father wins an earl’s estates in a game of cards, her father is eager to travel and to leave his responsibilities behind, so he has a proposition for the Earl.
Rose, 17, has been very ill, near death, very frail, lost her hair. Her father thinks him the winning the properties is a win/win. If the Earl’s son marries his daughter, he will return the properties to the Earl. And he is free to travel the world.
Gil is the oldest son of the Earl, and he doesn’t want the marriage, he loves Tilly who he is secretly or almost betrothed to.
Rose however is young and naive and immediately falls for Gil, who is older, more sophisticated than she. Therefore she agrees to the match, not knowing it’s by shake down, she thinks it’s mutual.
She enter the marriage so full of hope for the future, infatuated with the idea of Gil. Well that stops real fast. Gil consummates the marriage in a less than sensitive manner and leaves her in the countryside for 5 years. He is angry and resents Rose for the marriage and the loss of Tilly who is now married to his friend.
He flaunts mistresses all over London and completely disrespects his marriage to Rose. She however starts to make a life for herself in the countryside. One thing troubles her, she really wants a child.
So off she goes to London to seduce the Earl. (his father has passed) HE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE HER! From the frail being, to now a stunning beauty. The have a heated night, where she wants to disclose who she really is but can’t, because he confides how he was forced to marry his wife. ( her) so she sneaks out before dawn.
Well sweet Rose happens to get pregnant and when Gil finally comes to the estate, he finds out who she is! That she is woman he has been looking for since their rendezvous,
and he is not happy!
Their journey to happiness was deeply emotional, and I was very exasperated by Gil’s lack of vulnerability at times, and what she had to endure from him was not insignificant.
Not big over the top cruelties but the little cruelties in daily life that just adds up. Death by a thousand cuts. ❤️🩹 it was a very realistic portrayal of a relationship.
Why not 5 ⭐️ well Gil felt very wronged a lot of times and I wanted him to be a tad more emotional mature. And describing Tilly as a goddess at the very end of the book pissed me off beyond belief. She is pretty insignificant in the story but if my husband called his ex a goddess!🔪🔪
Should you read it? YES ❤️
March 27, 2020
5 STARS
Ok... so wow. This book has literally chewed me up and spit me out. I feel completely wrung out. What a sad situation this was. A marriage that was hopeless from the beginning. A young couple whose hopes for love and happiness were completely stolen away, by the carelessness and selfish mistakes of their parents. And how did they handle this... not well, as. expected. Gil was a selfish resentful bastard, blaming everyone else and mostly punishing HER for all the wrongs he felt he was dealt. When all she had ever wanted was for someone to love her, and never feeling worthy of it. She had her pride though, which she clung to like a life line. I absolutely loved Rose's character.
What an emotional rollercoaster this was. Extremely well written, in my opinion. The emotions were so real. It was a tragic tale to tell, and one that I really thought would end badly. At one point, I could not see her working a HEA into this scenario in any way. But that seed of hope is a powerful thing...
“Would it have made a difference, if you’d known?” he asked, his voice husky, his hazel eyes pleading.
And in that instant, something quickened deep inside her, a seed of hope germinating when she’d thought she was done with hope forever.
“Yes,” she whispered, gazing into his eyes. “It would have made all the difference in the world.”
Ok... so wow. This book has literally chewed me up and spit me out. I feel completely wrung out. What a sad situation this was. A marriage that was hopeless from the beginning. A young couple whose hopes for love and happiness were completely stolen away, by the carelessness and selfish mistakes of their parents. And how did they handle this... not well, as. expected. Gil was a selfish resentful bastard, blaming everyone else and mostly punishing HER for all the wrongs he felt he was dealt. When all she had ever wanted was for someone to love her, and never feeling worthy of it. She had her pride though, which she clung to like a life line. I absolutely loved Rose's character.
What an emotional rollercoaster this was. Extremely well written, in my opinion. The emotions were so real. It was a tragic tale to tell, and one that I really thought would end badly. At one point, I could not see her working a HEA into this scenario in any way. But that seed of hope is a powerful thing...
April 20, 2022
Read 8/18
I've read many times, but I always skip the sad beginning. The H is a dick through most of the book but the h is resilient. I love how she puts her destiny into her own hands.
I've read many times, but I always skip the sad beginning. The H is a dick through most of the book but the h is resilient. I love how she puts her destiny into her own hands.
September 26, 2024
I love Joanna Chambers's mm historical romances, so I obviously had high hopes for this mf historical romance.
Knowing beforehand that the MMC Gil would leave the FMC Rose shortly after their nuptials and live apart from her for 5 years, while being unfaithful, made me wary, though.
Nevertheless, I love Joanna Chambers's writing and hoped for the best. I'm a sucker for a believable second chance romance and a well done redemption arc, after all.
How to say this... the writing was compelling, so there's that. I was not a fan of the storyline, though.
There was too little character development on Gil's side for me. Until 95% of the book he didn't truly acknowledge how much his many, many mistakes had hurt Rose. He just kept making new mistakes.
I hated him, was even disgusted by his behaviour up until the (too short) last part of the book.
I needed much more introspection and obviously much more groveling from Gil.
For way too long he was a selfish, whiny coward, blaming others for his fate. Rose may have made a mistake, too, but it was nowhere near to what he had done (truthfully I was thinking "you go girl!" during her deception, lol, he had had it coming after all).
Rose was sorry for what she had done and tried to leave the past behind for both their sakes, though. She did her best, she kept giving him again and again new chances, only Gil wasn't able to start being decent (for too long anyway).
Subsequently there was next to no development of an emotional connection between Rose and Gil. In her mm historical romances I adore Joanna Chambers's ability to make me believe in the slowly growing attachment between the MCs, but here sadly I found it lacking.
Tldr: Rose deserved better.
TW cheating (not on page), miscarriage of a child in the 5th month of the pregnancy (on page).
Knowing beforehand that the MMC Gil would leave the FMC Rose shortly after their nuptials and live apart from her for 5 years, while being unfaithful, made me wary, though.
Nevertheless, I love Joanna Chambers's writing and hoped for the best. I'm a sucker for a believable second chance romance and a well done redemption arc, after all.
How to say this... the writing was compelling, so there's that. I was not a fan of the storyline, though.
There was too little character development on Gil's side for me. Until 95% of the book he didn't truly acknowledge how much his many, many mistakes had hurt Rose. He just kept making new mistakes.
I hated him, was even disgusted by his behaviour up until the (too short) last part of the book.
I needed much more introspection and obviously much more groveling from Gil.
For way too long he was a selfish, whiny coward, blaming others for his fate. Rose may have made a mistake, too, but it was nowhere near to what he had done (truthfully I was thinking "you go girl!" during her deception, lol, he had had it coming after all).
Rose was sorry for what she had done and tried to leave the past behind for both their sakes, though. She did her best, she kept giving him again and again new chances, only Gil wasn't able to start being decent (for too long anyway).
Subsequently there was next to no development of an emotional connection between Rose and Gil. In her mm historical romances I adore Joanna Chambers's ability to make me believe in the slowly growing attachment between the MCs, but here sadly I found it lacking.
Tldr: Rose deserved better.
TW cheating (not on page), miscarriage of a child in the 5th month of the pregnancy (on page).
October 4, 2021
Honest emotions and reactions done in a way that sets this book apart for me. Well worth the read. Finally read it after years of it languishing on my TBR list! Might add more later.
March 12, 2022
Not sure why my review of this book vanished but I absolutely adored it.
Old school historical romance which follows all the necessary beats for a compelling storyline
Did I want to punch Gil at times, Hell yes I did. Did I delight in their eventual reconciliation, 100% yes.
I know Joanna's currently in the process of revising this book in preparation for a relaunch with an additional third book coming and I'm dying to see what changes!
Old school historical romance which follows all the necessary beats for a compelling storyline
Did I want to punch Gil at times, Hell yes I did. Did I delight in their eventual reconciliation, 100% yes.
I know Joanna's currently in the process of revising this book in preparation for a relaunch with an additional third book coming and I'm dying to see what changes!
July 9, 2022
3 Stars to Unforgivable
Rose & Gil's Story
I can't believe I gave up my beauty sleep last night for this. What an utter disappointment it was. The characters were insufferable fools! It's well-written, no argument there, but dear lord, there is nothing appealing about a martyr-heroine! And yet, some authors have a talent for writing one. Like this one. Unforgivable, my ass.
"Isn't that the point of forgiveness" she asked. "Isn't forgiveness about grace? Mercy? Letting past hurst go?"
Oh, please. Where's the fun in that? Better question yet, is: Where is your dignity? Lose it along with your spine, did you? (yes, I talk to fictional characters)
"My forgiveness isn’t something for you to earn. You’ve asked for it. So, very well. I give it to you.”
“I don’t deserve that, Rose. I don’t deserve to be let off so easily...You’re too kind-hearted,” he murmured. “You should have let me suffer longer.”
YOU SHOULD HAVE LET ME SUFFER LONGER.
Well, look at that. The hero and I finally agree on one thing. Clearly, the author decided to go a different direction--make the heroine suffer endlessly, and the hero forgiven swiftly. You know, sometimes I think authors hate their own heroines.
And Gil. What a shallow, dull character. He was just as weak as Rose, maybe even more. An alpha hero, he was NOT. A coward--definitely. Always deciding not to speak out loud about what he felt for Rose. Or even show her. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why, other than selfishness and cowardice. The few times he tried explaining himself to Rose, he only made things worse. He was never there for her when she needed him . Even when he realized he loved her, he walked away from her. Again. Because he didn't want to see her hurt anymore. And guess what? She was left devastated. Again.
Gil...
Goest and
Fucketh
Thyself
I'm giving this 3 Stars because it really did have lots of potential. *sighs sadly* It had the beginnings of a 5-Star read. The angst kept me reading all night. Until the very last part of the book, when I felt extremely frustrated with the characters, disappointed, and started skimming through their HEA. Needless to say, this didn't work for me. And it has nothing to do with the themes in the book. It simply failed to sell me on these characters.
Rose & Gil's Story
I can't believe I gave up my beauty sleep last night for this. What an utter disappointment it was. The characters were insufferable fools! It's well-written, no argument there, but dear lord, there is nothing appealing about a martyr-heroine! And yet, some authors have a talent for writing one. Like this one. Unforgivable, my ass.
"Isn't that the point of forgiveness" she asked. "Isn't forgiveness about grace? Mercy? Letting past hurst go?"
Oh, please. Where's the fun in that? Better question yet, is: Where is your dignity? Lose it along with your spine, did you? (yes, I talk to fictional characters)
"My forgiveness isn’t something for you to earn. You’ve asked for it. So, very well. I give it to you.”
“I don’t deserve that, Rose. I don’t deserve to be let off so easily...You’re too kind-hearted,” he murmured. “You should have let me suffer longer.”
YOU SHOULD HAVE LET ME SUFFER LONGER.
Well, look at that. The hero and I finally agree on one thing. Clearly, the author decided to go a different direction--make the heroine suffer endlessly, and the hero forgiven swiftly. You know, sometimes I think authors hate their own heroines.
And Gil. What a shallow, dull character. He was just as weak as Rose, maybe even more. An alpha hero, he was NOT. A coward--definitely. Always deciding not to speak out loud about what he felt for Rose. Or even show her. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why, other than selfishness and cowardice. The few times he tried explaining himself to Rose, he only made things worse. He was never there for her when she needed him . Even when he realized he loved her, he walked away from her. Again. Because he didn't want to see her hurt anymore. And guess what? She was left devastated. Again.
Gil...
Goest and
Fucketh
Thyself
I'm giving this 3 Stars because it really did have lots of potential. *sighs sadly* It had the beginnings of a 5-Star read. The angst kept me reading all night. Until the very last part of the book, when I felt extremely frustrated with the characters, disappointed, and started skimming through their HEA. Needless to say, this didn't work for me. And it has nothing to do with the themes in the book. It simply failed to sell me on these characters.
January 28, 2018
I'm the odd one out - but I liked this one. H's father lost the money-making estates while gambling. h's father was the winner. h's father wanted a secure marriage for his daughter and returned the estates in a deal with H's father - H would marry h. H is in love with a debutante and is mad - he did have a choice and he chose to marry h for the return of the unentailed property. He is distant and rather superior to the h. h doesn't know about the estates and thinks H is agreeable to the arranged marriage. H drops h off at his smallest estate after the marriage and hurt feelings prevail during a 5-year separation. H is immature/hurtful/uncaring in ignoring h for years. He enjoys his free lifestyle back in London as described in the scandal newspapers.
We do get a perspective from the H and know what he is thinking/feeling from time to time. I read straight through and couldn't put it down. When he finally grew up, he realized his behavior and h's worth. If I re-read, I'll bump my rating. 4 stars
We do get a perspective from the H and know what he is thinking/feeling from time to time. I read straight through and couldn't put it down. When he finally grew up, he realized his behavior and h's worth. If I re-read, I'll bump my rating. 4 stars
August 29, 2020
Everything I love in a book, wonderfully written with great insight into the characters' emotions . Gil was forced to marry Rose to save his family from ruination. After fulfilling his husbandly obligations, he promptly abandoned his young bride in a rural estate and took himself back to London, where he proceeded to enjoy life's pleasures for the next 5 years. In the meantime , Rose blossomed as roses do, and wanted a more attentive husband, so she sought him out in London. Gil was very much an ass for most of the book, but his feelings for her felt heartbreakingly real in the end and his remorse rather genuine. Love a good grovel. Lots of angst and ache before their HEA. I read it with a tissue box to keep me company.
March 30, 2020
Really? All it takes to be forgiven after being unfaithful, irresponsible, damn selfish and self obsessed is I love u
October 10, 2025
The decade I turned pretty.
After existing on an exclusive diet of MM romance for two years, I decided it might be time for a break when I was watching an actual real life football game and I was wondering when the players would start kissing. (Spoiler:they didn't).
Since I love Joanna Chambers MM books, I thought I would try here.
After surviving an almost fatal illness Rose is not looking her best. Due to this and that (and completely outside of our MC’s control) she becomes wed to the dashing Gilbert. Unfortunately Gil was planning on proposing to his GF and is super pissed off (rightly so) and takes it all out on Rose (not rightly so), being a cold, distant arsehole and banishing her to his country home for 10 years and basically forgetting about her.
Good goodness, how I adored Rose. Gilbert was punching above his weight being married to this utter babe. Sure, circumstances were unfair towards him at the beginning but he was repeatedly a complete prick. Move aside idiot. The dickhead did very little to redeem himself.
I had a good time. I just wish our hero was a bit more deserving.
I had many a LOL at the vocab, particularly “pip” (clitoris?), “quim” (genitals?) and the fact that when going down on Rose he told her she tasted like a mermaid??? Hahaha.
After existing on an exclusive diet of MM romance for two years, I decided it might be time for a break when I was watching an actual real life football game and I was wondering when the players would start kissing. (Spoiler:they didn't).
Since I love Joanna Chambers MM books, I thought I would try here.
After surviving an almost fatal illness Rose is not looking her best. Due to this and that (and completely outside of our MC’s control) she becomes wed to the dashing Gilbert. Unfortunately Gil was planning on proposing to his GF and is super pissed off (rightly so) and takes it all out on Rose (not rightly so), being a cold, distant arsehole and banishing her to his country home for 10 years and basically forgetting about her.
Good goodness, how I adored Rose. Gilbert was punching above his weight being married to this utter babe. Sure, circumstances were unfair towards him at the beginning but he was repeatedly a complete prick. Move aside idiot. The dickhead did very little to redeem himself.
I had a good time. I just wish our hero was a bit more deserving.
I had many a LOL at the vocab, particularly “pip” (clitoris?), “quim” (genitals?) and the fact that when going down on Rose he told her she tasted like a mermaid??? Hahaha.
January 19, 2013
I'm vacillating between thinking this book is wonderful and that it is absolute tosh. Rather than making a decision I'm going to play it safe and rate it 3 stars.
Things that made me think it was wonderful
Rose. I really like the ugly duckling to swan storyline and this one is very well done. When we first meet her, Rose is recovering from a very nasty case of chickenpox. She's skinny, with a shorn head and still has the remains of spots/scars. As the book progresses she regains weight, hair and the scars have faded. She's not a "diamond of the first water" but she is a good looking woman. She handles herself with grace and dignity in the face of some pretty terrible treatment - and not just from her husband.
The story itself was well crafted and I had tears in my eyes more than once. I was drawn into the book and read it in one afternoon.
Things that made me think it was tosh
Gil. What a complete and utter horror of man this one is. He started off treating Rose badly and just continued to do so through the entire book. I found his "redemption" implausible at best.
Secondary characters. There were a lot of secondary characters that briefly appeared and interacted with the primary characters in such a way as to make me think I'd missed something or that they were going to play a larger part in the story, only to disappear without further mention.
The ending. Oh my goodness, what an insipid way to end the book. He comes back, says he's sorry, they fall into bed. The end.
Having written this review I think my initial 3 stars is correct as I didn't actually love it or hate it.
Excuse me while I pull the splinters out of my backside from sitting on the fence.
Things that made me think it was wonderful
Rose. I really like the ugly duckling to swan storyline and this one is very well done. When we first meet her, Rose is recovering from a very nasty case of chickenpox. She's skinny, with a shorn head and still has the remains of spots/scars. As the book progresses she regains weight, hair and the scars have faded. She's not a "diamond of the first water" but she is a good looking woman. She handles herself with grace and dignity in the face of some pretty terrible treatment - and not just from her husband.
The story itself was well crafted and I had tears in my eyes more than once. I was drawn into the book and read it in one afternoon.
Things that made me think it was tosh
Gil. What a complete and utter horror of man this one is. He started off treating Rose badly and just continued to do so through the entire book. I found his "redemption" implausible at best.
Secondary characters. There were a lot of secondary characters that briefly appeared and interacted with the primary characters in such a way as to make me think I'd missed something or that they were going to play a larger part in the story, only to disappear without further mention.
The ending. Oh my goodness, what an insipid way to end the book. He comes back, says he's sorry, they fall into bed. The end.
Having written this review I think my initial 3 stars is correct as I didn't actually love it or hate it.
Excuse me while I pull the splinters out of my backside from sitting on the fence.
August 2, 2020
Gil and Rose. I have been looking at this book for ages, and rejecting it. I am surprised how much I enjoyed it! Super angsty (which I am not a fan of!) and despite thinking the worst of Gil for the first half, I was very satisfied with their HEA.
Gil's idiot father loses most of his dukedom to a 'nobody' over cards and the nobody, Rose's father, says, just marry my daughter and we are quits. Poor Rose and Gil. Gil thought himself in love with his childhood neighbour Tilly and is even more resentful than he might have been. Rose is only 17 and has just recovered from a near death bout of chicken pox. So she is not looking her best but her absolute worst.
A wedding night from hell and a few nights thereafter, and Gil ensconces her in one of the family manors and takes off for London for the next 5 years.
All the while Gil knows he is being a heel, but can't seem to help himself. He IS only 22 at the time. For the next 5 years he boinks every easy mean spirited lady in town. Finally Rose has had enough (it's not like they don't get the 'grocery store check out mags' where she lives too). She doesn't mean too, but ends up tricking him at a masquerade party that she is a stranger named "Eve Adams' (what a maroon that he falls for that one!). He actually falls in love with her, not recognizing her in the slightest. When she learns the truth of their marriage from his POV, she freaks and runs off.
But it turns out she is pregnant, and so she writes him. When he gets there, he finds the surprise of his life; that Rose and 'Eve' are one and the same.
Over all, Gil is the turd of the story. Five years older, he could still learn a thing or two from Rose. But he is remorseful and he does grovel quite well. But not before tragedy strikes . This trauma really brings home to him how selfish he has been, but is it too late??? Rose is nobody's fool. I think what makes this book work for me is that Rose never turns the other cheek. She point out his hypocritical BS. Maybe not at first, but when the last straw is drawn she lets him have it. He can no longer turn a blind eye and go on thinking he is being magnanimous. And he does grovel. I do wish there had been an epilogue of them in London but it was still sweet. OW's
Gil's idiot father loses most of his dukedom to a 'nobody' over cards and the nobody, Rose's father, says, just marry my daughter and we are quits. Poor Rose and Gil. Gil thought himself in love with his childhood neighbour Tilly and is even more resentful than he might have been. Rose is only 17 and has just recovered from a near death bout of chicken pox. So she is not looking her best but her absolute worst.
A wedding night from hell and a few nights thereafter, and Gil ensconces her in one of the family manors and takes off for London for the next 5 years.
All the while Gil knows he is being a heel, but can't seem to help himself. He IS only 22 at the time. For the next 5 years he boinks every easy mean spirited lady in town. Finally Rose has had enough (it's not like they don't get the 'grocery store check out mags' where she lives too). She doesn't mean too, but ends up tricking him at a masquerade party that she is a stranger named "Eve Adams' (what a maroon that he falls for that one!). He actually falls in love with her, not recognizing her in the slightest. When she learns the truth of their marriage from his POV, she freaks and runs off.
But it turns out she is pregnant, and so she writes him. When he gets there, he finds the surprise of his life; that Rose and 'Eve' are one and the same.
Over all, Gil is the turd of the story. Five years older, he could still learn a thing or two from Rose. But he is remorseful and he does grovel quite well. But not before tragedy strikes . This trauma really brings home to him how selfish he has been, but is it too late??? Rose is nobody's fool. I think what makes this book work for me is that Rose never turns the other cheek. She point out his hypocritical BS. Maybe not at first, but when the last straw is drawn she lets him have it. He can no longer turn a blind eye and go on thinking he is being magnanimous. And he does grovel. I do wish there had been an epilogue of them in London but it was still sweet. OW's
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2024
Definitely unforgivable H with pitiful grovel at the end. She should have kicked his ass but angst in the last third of the book was soo delicious, it deserved 4 stars!
February 24, 2018
The book is a perfect description of regrets. My biggest regretwas reading this. I try to be as diplomatic as possible when it comes to reviewing books but this book drove me to the edge. Gil was such a hypocritical a$$****. Rose, a spineless woman who has no self respect. This is basically a love story where Gil destroys her morality and dignity. But hey in the end it was a "Happily ever after" So there goes the one star that the book deserves
December 21, 2022
Angsty, slightly contrived, with a male main character who was a bit of an idiot - obviously everything I needed it to be.
July 6, 2020
Angsty romance that makes you really think about the relationship between the hero and the heroine, tongue-in-cheek moments and tension you can cut with a knife. Unforgivable is an absolutely amazing read. It's an enjoyably tortured journey to be on. Rose and Gil have some of the *best* argument showdowns that are honestly cathartic for the reader suffering silently on behalf of Rose who is way better than the hypocritical and stubborn Gil deserves. I want Will to have his own HEA :(
Gil is forced to marry Rose after his father admits he sold a crucial land deed to Rose's father. Gil met Rose once and was kind to her, and Rose was, understandably so, hopeful the marriage would be a good one. However, it is not. Gil decides to abandon Rose in a country estate and live his life the way he had been living in the city before he was married. Rose soon makes her home and life at Weartham, where she is well-loved by her household and neighbours. However, she decides to visit Gil in London to let him know she wishes to be in the city too. Unfortunately, Gil mistakes her for someone else and they spend a night together...
Unforgivable really made me feel for and think about the obstacles separating Rose and Gil. Yes, Gil held on to his grudge - and I would not be surprised if he was a Scorpio - but I never felt his stubbornness was to pad the word count. Meanwhile Rose, god bless her heart. She knew how unfair of a position Gil put her in but she always tried to make it work. The estranged couple trope works well when the lack of communication feels insurmountable to the reader and Joanna Chambers does such a superb job with the story.
Gil is forced to marry Rose after his father admits he sold a crucial land deed to Rose's father. Gil met Rose once and was kind to her, and Rose was, understandably so, hopeful the marriage would be a good one. However, it is not. Gil decides to abandon Rose in a country estate and live his life the way he had been living in the city before he was married. Rose soon makes her home and life at Weartham, where she is well-loved by her household and neighbours. However, she decides to visit Gil in London to let him know she wishes to be in the city too. Unfortunately, Gil mistakes her for someone else and they spend a night together...
Unforgivable really made me feel for and think about the obstacles separating Rose and Gil. Yes, Gil held on to his grudge - and I would not be surprised if he was a Scorpio - but I never felt his stubbornness was to pad the word count. Meanwhile Rose, god bless her heart. She knew how unfair of a position Gil put her in but she always tried to make it work. The estranged couple trope works well when the lack of communication feels insurmountable to the reader and Joanna Chambers does such a superb job with the story.
March 7, 2018
***FOUR STARS***
Historicals aren't something I usually enjoy reading, but I do dig forced marriage stories. Especially when the hero is super pissed about being forced to marry, and this one fit that bill to a "T". Gil was a douche supreme, and my heart broke for poor Rose and everything she went through. This story had all the angsty feels I could possibly want. I wasn't real thrilled with the ending though. Gil needed to grovel a shitload more, and even though I loved all the sad and angsty feelings in this story, the insta-love at the end was kind of hard to swallow. This story sucked me in from the beginning until the end though, so I was a pretty happy camper despite my issues with the ending.
January 2, 2015
My eyes are still swollen from crying overnight! But this isn't a case of a good cry... I spent tears out of pity for the often spineless heroine, and more tears out of anger for the hero who frankly doesn't deserve such an easy redemption. I like groveling in my books but god, I've never wanted to read a hero crawl and beg on his knees as much as this rake. The title speaks for itself - he is too damn unforgivable.
November 28, 2023
2023: I still feel the same on this second time around.
2017: A fast read for me. I expected it to be more angsty. Bummer. His feelings of love was not believable. She forgave him too easily. I had high expectations based on the reviews and was disappointed. :(
2017: A fast read for me. I expected it to be more angsty. Bummer. His feelings of love was not believable. She forgave him too easily. I had high expectations based on the reviews and was disappointed. :(
March 29, 2022
Solid read with a dramarama plot that promised loads of angst.
And it did have angst. An arranged marriage that the H didn’t want. He planned to marry someone else. The rejected ugly duckling wife turns into a swan and goes to claim her philandering husband after he abandoned her in the country for 5 years. He doesn’t recognize her, and falls in love at first sight.
I mean… I like all that. 🤷🏼♀️
The h is suitably pathetic but plucky. The H is an asshat.
I wish I had felt more of the angst rather than just observing it. The drama was watered down. The H wasn’t likable. He never showed enough emotion to win me over. He was self-centered and incredibly passive. Things just happen to him. I wish the H had to experience a little more jealousy. I wanted him to defend the h to his asshole “friends”.
Bottom Line? This was an enjoyable read. I wished I liked the H more and the angst was more intense. But I read every word and immediately rec’d it to a friend. 🤷🏼♀️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- cheating - the H consummates the marriage and abandons the h after a fight. He publicly whores his way through London during their separation.
- no sharing
- no dubcon
- OW drama - H was In love with someone else he was forced to marry the h - the OW is still friends with the H, but they haven’t had sex - the H’s other conquests are rubbed in the h’s face by gossips
- OM drama - the h has an estate manager that she’s friends with - the H gets jealous
- h is a 17 yr old v when the book begins - she is celibate during the 5 year separation
- the H is experienced and manwhores during the 5-year separation.
And it did have angst. An arranged marriage that the H didn’t want. He planned to marry someone else. The rejected ugly duckling wife turns into a swan and goes to claim her philandering husband after he abandoned her in the country for 5 years. He doesn’t recognize her, and falls in love at first sight.
I mean… I like all that. 🤷🏼♀️
The h is suitably pathetic but plucky. The H is an asshat.
I wish I had felt more of the angst rather than just observing it. The drama was watered down. The H wasn’t likable. He never showed enough emotion to win me over. He was self-centered and incredibly passive. Things just happen to him. I wish the H had to experience a little more jealousy. I wanted him to defend the h to his asshole “friends”.
Bottom Line? This was an enjoyable read. I wished I liked the H more and the angst was more intense. But I read every word and immediately rec’d it to a friend. 🤷🏼♀️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- cheating - the H consummates the marriage and abandons the h after a fight. He publicly whores his way through London during their separation.
- no sharing
- no dubcon
- OW drama - H was In love with someone else he was forced to marry the h - the OW is still friends with the H, but they haven’t had sex - the H’s other conquests are rubbed in the h’s face by gossips
- OM drama - the h has an estate manager that she’s friends with - the H gets jealous
- h is a 17 yr old v when the book begins - she is celibate during the 5 year separation
- the H is experienced and manwhores during the 5-year separation.
January 23, 2013
really loved the writing style. but the hero? seriously? what a douche!
July 18, 2013
Please see status updates below for earlier thoughts.
Bottom line: I could kinda sorta maybe see why he loved her, but I'll be damned if I can see why she loved him. ALL her interaction with him, except when he was weaving his magical schlong spell in her enchanting vagina (which I couldn't figure out why she participated in so eagerly) (which was a HUGE problem), was spent with him being an ass. And they hadn't spent a lot of time together. It's explained that she fell in love with him when they first met (a whole 20 minutes), but that was 5 years before and he'd treated her with nothing but disdain and contempt when he deigned to treat her any way at all. The author just kept piling up his offenses, so his enlightenment and subsequent groveling at the very end of the book were inadequate to the offenses. If you have an asshole hero, the grovel must be greater than the offense. This would have worked if the characterizations hadn't been so flat and utterly predictable.
That said, the ambiance and descriptions of the countryside were lovely. All of the words and sentences were strung together in a very lovely way. But the sum of the parts was nowhere near the whole, and worse, it was nowhere near what it should have been, given the ample opportunities the author gave herself and the lack of space limitations in ebooks.
2 stars because, in GR vernacular, it was okay.
Bottom line: I could kinda sorta maybe see why he loved her, but I'll be damned if I can see why she loved him. ALL her interaction with him, except when he was weaving his magical schlong spell in her enchanting vagina (which I couldn't figure out why she participated in so eagerly) (which was a HUGE problem), was spent with him being an ass. And they hadn't spent a lot of time together. It's explained that she fell in love with him when they first met (a whole 20 minutes), but that was 5 years before and he'd treated her with nothing but disdain and contempt when he deigned to treat her any way at all. The author just kept piling up his offenses, so his enlightenment and subsequent groveling at the very end of the book were inadequate to the offenses. If you have an asshole hero, the grovel must be greater than the offense. This would have worked if the characterizations hadn't been so flat and utterly predictable.
That said, the ambiance and descriptions of the countryside were lovely. All of the words and sentences were strung together in a very lovely way. But the sum of the parts was nowhere near the whole, and worse, it was nowhere near what it should have been, given the ample opportunities the author gave herself and the lack of space limitations in ebooks.
2 stars because, in GR vernacular, it was okay.
January 31, 2021
*** Book Q & A***
* How did the book make you feel?: I loved the angst fest! Gil was really horrible to Rose. It took him a long time to pull his head out of his a$$.
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: It’s told from both perspectives and both of the characters’ feelings are relatable.
* What did you think about the main characters?: Rose is a strong h. Her strength and composure are remarkable. Gil is very self-righteous about how wronged he is by his marriage to Rose and it takes him way too long to appreciate his wife—especially after how he abandoned her and philandered for years!
* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: I loved Rose’s letters.
* What themes/tropes did you detect in the story?: MOC, abandoned wife
* What did you think about the ending?: I enjoyed it but I wish we would have gotten more groveling and more of their reconciliation. I wish there had been an epilogue.
* What is your impression of the author?: I’m a fan!
* How did the book make you feel?: I loved the angst fest! Gil was really horrible to Rose. It took him a long time to pull his head out of his a$$.
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: It’s told from both perspectives and both of the characters’ feelings are relatable.
* What did you think about the main characters?: Rose is a strong h. Her strength and composure are remarkable. Gil is very self-righteous about how wronged he is by his marriage to Rose and it takes him way too long to appreciate his wife—especially after how he abandoned her and philandered for years!
* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: I loved Rose’s letters.
* What themes/tropes did you detect in the story?: MOC, abandoned wife
* What did you think about the ending?: I enjoyed it but I wish we would have gotten more groveling and more of their reconciliation. I wish there had been an epilogue.
* What is your impression of the author?: I’m a fan!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 424 reviews