Loved the Characters, Not the Plot
I have read books by this author for some time, and I seem to go back and forth about what I think about her books. While I enjoyed the last one that I read, I had some issues with this one. I actually liked the hero and heroine very well. I thought they were excellent characters, both decent people who were shamed or looked down upon because of their outward appearance (though neither seemed too hideous!). But they quickly found acceptance in each other, brightening their worlds. As always, it is a pleasure to see two good, underappreciated people find each other.
But, unfortunately, their happiness was super short lived. In fact, they seem to spend most of the book apart, which I never like, and the blackmail subplot overshadowed the romance. Great characters, as were created here, deserved a better plot where we could really see and appreciate them without the overwhelming distraction of the cookie-cutter, no-shades-of-grey villain. The plot just infuriated me. I also thought that the language felt stilted and awkward in most places, and there were a few anachronisms thrown in here and there that made it seem odd as well. The other bright spot, aside from the H & h, was the best friend of the hero, Lord Renington. He was a bit of comic relief and the perfect kind of support for the hero. Again, I just thought this plot was unworthy of these incredible characters. I would have loved to have seen them in a different story that would have played to their strengths and explored their vulnerabilities instead of focusing on a vile person outside the couple.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.