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Love's Second Chance Complete Series #2
Cursed & Cherished: The Duke's Wilful Wife
One night, she stole his kiss.
Now, he is determined to steal it back.
Edmond Dunsworth, Duke of Cromwell, is bankrupt. The solution to his problem: a wife with a sizable dowry.
Not worried in the least, Edmond takes his pick. After all, what woman could resist his charms?
Anna Hanford, a merchant’s daughter, is faced with a difficult choice: allow her sister to marry the duke and see her happiness shattered…or marry the duke herself.
Determined to ensure her sister’s future, Anna makes her choice. After all, isn’t marriage just a minor inconvenience in life?
Now, he is determined to steal it back.
Edmond Dunsworth, Duke of Cromwell, is bankrupt. The solution to his problem: a wife with a sizable dowry.
Not worried in the least, Edmond takes his pick. After all, what woman could resist his charms?
Anna Hanford, a merchant’s daughter, is faced with a difficult choice: allow her sister to marry the duke and see her happiness shattered…or marry the duke herself.
Determined to ensure her sister’s future, Anna makes her choice. After all, isn’t marriage just a minor inconvenience in life?
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 22, 2016
2054 people are currently reading
1372 people want to read
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Bree Wolf
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Excited for my new series? The Flames of Winter Series:
An epic love story that spans across an entire series. Ensure that you have a good cup of tea, something to nibble on and perhaps a box of tissues at hand before you dive into this slow-burn Regency romance full of enchanting moments between Sarah and Keir, the little wisp and the highlander.
Excited for my new series? The Flames of Winter Series:
An epic love story that spans across an entire series. Ensure that you have a good cup of tea, something to nibble on and perhaps a box of tissues at hand before you dive into this slow-burn Regency romance full of enchanting moments between Sarah and Keir, the little wisp and the highlander.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
March 30, 2016
This is the second book in the series Love's Second Chance.
To begin with you learn that Edmond Dunsworth, the Duke of Cromwell has lost his family fortune. His steward has heard of a man with two daughters that have a sizable dowry. After a very unusual meeting he decides to offer for Anna. He sees something in Anna that makes him want unravel her mysterious behavior. I really enjoyed the dinner scene, it was pretty comical.
The marriage becomes a very rocky ground when Anna's friend reminds her that men are devious. So Anna makes a plan to make the Duke sorry he chose her. It is a battle, a game that threatens to ruin any chance for happiness for either one of them. There are so many little sub plots that keep this story rolling at a quick pace.
Graham and Rosabel are in this book and that made me very happy to see how they are doing after a period of time. They are such wonderful characters from Forgotten and Remembered, the first book of the series.
If you have not read this series, you should. It is wonderfully written and full of strong independent characters. I can not wait for book three.
To begin with you learn that Edmond Dunsworth, the Duke of Cromwell has lost his family fortune. His steward has heard of a man with two daughters that have a sizable dowry. After a very unusual meeting he decides to offer for Anna. He sees something in Anna that makes him want unravel her mysterious behavior. I really enjoyed the dinner scene, it was pretty comical.
The marriage becomes a very rocky ground when Anna's friend reminds her that men are devious. So Anna makes a plan to make the Duke sorry he chose her. It is a battle, a game that threatens to ruin any chance for happiness for either one of them. There are so many little sub plots that keep this story rolling at a quick pace.
Graham and Rosabel are in this book and that made me very happy to see how they are doing after a period of time. They are such wonderful characters from Forgotten and Remembered, the first book of the series.
If you have not read this series, you should. It is wonderfully written and full of strong independent characters. I can not wait for book three.
April 25, 2020
This one had a rough start as a young impressionable heroine consistently took horrible advice from her best friend.
I was worried that Anna was gonna ruin this book. Her best friend acted like a victim of male on female violence or even rape. She spoke negatively of all men and their motives, going on about how they would attack women and couldn't be trusted. She went so far as to encourage violence and arm Anna with a dagger to protect her self against her husband. A Duke!
She eventually incited Anna to commit violence against her husband for trying to kiss her...as if he had attacked her. He was just trying to love on his feral wife.
Thank goodness Edmund was patient and kind, and willing to call her out on her prejudice behavior. He supported her and showed her that his motives were pure and that he genuinely cared for her. It was nice seeing Anna embrace the love she desired but was afraid to accept.
I was worried that Anna was gonna ruin this book. Her best friend acted like a victim of male on female violence or even rape. She spoke negatively of all men and their motives, going on about how they would attack women and couldn't be trusted. She went so far as to encourage violence and arm Anna with a dagger to protect her self against her husband. A Duke!
She eventually incited Anna to commit violence against her husband for trying to kiss her...as if he had attacked her. He was just trying to love on his feral wife.
Thank goodness Edmund was patient and kind, and willing to call her out on her prejudice behavior. He supported her and showed her that his motives were pure and that he genuinely cared for her. It was nice seeing Anna embrace the love she desired but was afraid to accept.
July 12, 2018
England, 1805
So the weirdest thing happened, I use my Kindle app most times to read and when I clicked on this title for some reason it jumped way into the story. Silly me, I didn't notice and just started reading and after a little while I finally realized I had missed a good majority of the book. *oops* By time I noticed I was already invested and at a part where all these secrets were coming out and decided to just go ahead and finish the book. I missed all the fun of how our H/h meet, marry and obstacles they clearly had to overcome and picked up basically it seems where they've accepted each other and their feelings are growing into love but still have a few obstacles to overcome. I'll really need to go back eventually and read this from the start, but I did enjoy what I read and it seems like I missed quite a bit of excitement!
Content: The parts I read were clean. There is closed door intimacy with a morning after (them waking up together basically, nothing happens). No language or violence in the later part of the book. Book Two in Love's Second Chance, but stands on its own.
So the weirdest thing happened, I use my Kindle app most times to read and when I clicked on this title for some reason it jumped way into the story. Silly me, I didn't notice and just started reading and after a little while I finally realized I had missed a good majority of the book. *oops* By time I noticed I was already invested and at a part where all these secrets were coming out and decided to just go ahead and finish the book. I missed all the fun of how our H/h meet, marry and obstacles they clearly had to overcome and picked up basically it seems where they've accepted each other and their feelings are growing into love but still have a few obstacles to overcome. I'll really need to go back eventually and read this from the start, but I did enjoy what I read and it seems like I missed quite a bit of excitement!
Content: The parts I read were clean. There is closed door intimacy with a morning after (them waking up together basically, nothing happens). No language or violence in the later part of the book. Book Two in Love's Second Chance, but stands on its own.
October 7, 2021
Twisty but good
Loved the strong heroine and the hero. The secret twist at the end really surprised me and upped the rating for me too. I loved when she stood up to her Father so her sister could marry the man she loved. I knew right then she was going to be good. I did dislike how much she fought her husband at the beginning. At me point I was like enough already and then she started letting him in. The epilogue was cute too. I also loved the twist so much and was glad to see that. Also I liked that he told her he loved her first. He was a good man.
Loved the strong heroine and the hero. The secret twist at the end really surprised me and upped the rating for me too. I loved when she stood up to her Father so her sister could marry the man she loved. I knew right then she was going to be good. I did dislike how much she fought her husband at the beginning. At me point I was like enough already and then she started letting him in. The epilogue was cute too. I also loved the twist so much and was glad to see that. Also I liked that he told her he loved her first. He was a good man.
January 30, 2019
I hated Anna, that will be the gist of this review. Both her and Edmond are incredibly childish, but especially Anna. He's constatly needling and harrasssing her to the point of a damn temper tantrum. And she never disappoints. A physically violent outburst on her part always follows. Or she's needling and belittling him in the childish hope that he'll give her a real reason to be angry with him or hate him. She's so violent. And let us be frank, if the roles were reversed the behavior would in absolutely no way be accepted. She throws his gift in the fire, smashes his property, slaps him, slices his face purposefully with a foil, and pulls a dagger on him. And he just accepts it! Because oh, she's just so passionate! Her behavior is completely unacceptable and she behaves like a petulant child the remainder of the time. This 100% starts out an abusive relationship. He tries to make things work, she allows him to a point and then she attacks, blaming him for some believed slight. And he always questions whether or not he may have done something to provoke her behavior. Horrible realtionship, wasn't rooting for them to stay together. Didn't care at all about Anna winding up happe in the end. I was invested in Edmond's happiness, however, because I liked him from the first book. But he was portrayed in a completely different manner? And there was no explaination for his change in demeanor.
The book is well written, I really do enjoy her writing style, and Anna does improve for the last third of the book. But I was quite disappointed by this one. I will be contiuing on to the third in the series since I do like her writing style so much and I truly think it was just Anna that ruined this one for me. Hoping for the best from the next one!
The book is well written, I really do enjoy her writing style, and Anna does improve for the last third of the book. But I was quite disappointed by this one. I will be contiuing on to the third in the series since I do like her writing style so much and I truly think it was just Anna that ruined this one for me. Hoping for the best from the next one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2020
Disappointing
This story tells of a duke who agrees to marry the daughter of a merchant as her dowry is needed to get him out of debt. Although he is willing to try to make this marriage workable, his wife decides to hate him and keep him away from her. Not all is what it appears as they eventually discovered secrets together.
It was sad that the villain, the brides “father,” was not made to suffer significant consequences for being such a nasty man. That lowered the rating on this book for me.
In my view the bride appeared to be very abusive both verbally and physically with her husband when he tried to make their marriage amicable. To me that made her extremely unlikeable. I gave a low rating as I do not find vengeful or abusive people (man or woman) good reading material
This story tells of a duke who agrees to marry the daughter of a merchant as her dowry is needed to get him out of debt. Although he is willing to try to make this marriage workable, his wife decides to hate him and keep him away from her. Not all is what it appears as they eventually discovered secrets together.
It was sad that the villain, the brides “father,” was not made to suffer significant consequences for being such a nasty man. That lowered the rating on this book for me.
In my view the bride appeared to be very abusive both verbally and physically with her husband when he tried to make their marriage amicable. To me that made her extremely unlikeable. I gave a low rating as I do not find vengeful or abusive people (man or woman) good reading material
October 9, 2020
Audiobook Review:
This the 2nd story in the series by Bree Wolf would have been a better read for me if the heroine was not such a disgruntle person that annoyed me much as compared to the hero who was more apologetic but had more of a loss than she did. I also think it took way too long in the story to have the heroine start to change her notions that her husband was not as terrible as thought. She listened way too much to a friend that clearly wanted to see her relationship demised. Slow in the turnaround of emotions in the relationship..I think which came around the latter chapters.
Narration was done by Anna Parker-Naples, a first for this reader also. Also some of the narration were done in places that seemed okay, I truly did not like the voice for the heroine. Narration rating for me was just good and could have been better.
3 Stars (2.5 modestly rounded)
This the 2nd story in the series by Bree Wolf would have been a better read for me if the heroine was not such a disgruntle person that annoyed me much as compared to the hero who was more apologetic but had more of a loss than she did. I also think it took way too long in the story to have the heroine start to change her notions that her husband was not as terrible as thought. She listened way too much to a friend that clearly wanted to see her relationship demised. Slow in the turnaround of emotions in the relationship..I think which came around the latter chapters.
Narration was done by Anna Parker-Naples, a first for this reader also. Also some of the narration were done in places that seemed okay, I truly did not like the voice for the heroine. Narration rating for me was just good and could have been better.
3 Stars (2.5 modestly rounded)
August 26, 2022
Sadly, I was so disappointed in this book. Anna was downright abusive to Edmund for the majority of the book. Not until 70% mark was there really a story. I kept reading, hoping it would get better and it didn’t by very much! 70% of the book was all Anna’s internal and external rage against men and against her husband. She never blamed her father until much later in the book Probably at the 90% mark (I didn’t check, but it was at the very end) about her not having a choice in the marriage nor did she blame her sister or mother. She had to marry him because her sister was in love and was unofficially engaged to someone else though the sister could have jilted the guy and married Edmund if she wanted to or if Edmund chose her (they made it so he chose Anna through manipulative measures). Her mother backed them up with the plan, knowing Anna wasn’t going to be happy being married to him, but she wanted the other daughter to be happy. But Anna never blames them for their roles in the decision to marry Edmund. Nor does Anna ever blame herself!!!! She didn’t have to offer herself to marry Edmund. She knew he would prefer Judith when they first met, but SHE offered to be the one to marry him! Yet she blames her husband for needing a dowry to save his estate (which he believed to be due to his father’s bad investments). According to her, it was all his fault she was forced to marry him and lose her freedom. Though, she never has much freedom under her father and Edmund always gives her freedom to do whatever she wants!🤦🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
Her animosity was all directed at her husband. This was fueled by her friend, Henrietta’s hatred of men. She pretty much brain washed Anna to her way of thinking. Anna smashed a vase over Edmund’s head and even slowly sliced his face with a fencing sword (he let her to prove a point but WHO FREAKING DOES THAT?!!!!! She also puts a knife to his throat!That is all physical abuse!!!!!
And, of course, Edmund falls in love with her just because she is “spirited”. He doesn’t even get to know her as a person and they both fall in love???!!!They never spend any time together getting to know each other!!! Also, there were some errors in verb tense, word usage, and sentence structure that was jarring and took me out of the story.
Her animosity was all directed at her husband. This was fueled by her friend, Henrietta’s hatred of men. She pretty much brain washed Anna to her way of thinking. Anna smashed a vase over Edmund’s head and even slowly sliced his face with a fencing sword (he let her to prove a point but WHO FREAKING DOES THAT?!!!!! She also puts a knife to his throat!That is all physical abuse!!!!!
And, of course, Edmund falls in love with her just because she is “spirited”. He doesn’t even get to know her as a person and they both fall in love???!!!They never spend any time together getting to know each other!!! Also, there were some errors in verb tense, word usage, and sentence structure that was jarring and took me out of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2018
This was a very frustrating read for me. Like it's predecessor, it is well written and the characters are well developed. But the main characters is where I found my frustration.
They are both self-centred, conceited brats. Their pigheadedness is almost their downfall, and it took way too long for one character to realise the council they were receiving was ill-advised. I did not care for the violent aggression from one character and the deadly reactions of the other.
This author can and has done much better.
Note: I received a free eBook copy of this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
They are both self-centred, conceited brats. Their pigheadedness is almost their downfall, and it took way too long for one character to realise the council they were receiving was ill-advised. I did not care for the violent aggression from one character and the deadly reactions of the other.
This author can and has done much better.
Note: I received a free eBook copy of this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
November 23, 2023
Ugh and yuck. DNF after reading 80%. This book is so shallow. It tries to be feminist yet with Gone With the Wind man handling, and how the couple “gets to know each other” is through kissing and yelling insipid insults. When the male protagonist started spewing some nonsense about how his wife had made him want to change to be less selfish (I’m a man and you’re beautiful and sexy so please fix me *gag*), I finally had enough.
October 24, 2017
Frustrating
This is about two people who are thinking only of themselves and take the long hard road thru bad advice, deception and misunderstanding to find love. I did not like his violent and aggressive push to make her angry nor her violent and deadly responses.
This is about two people who are thinking only of themselves and take the long hard road thru bad advice, deception and misunderstanding to find love. I did not like his violent and aggressive push to make her angry nor her violent and deadly responses.
April 4, 2017
Just love this series; please keep it going as long as possible. Thanks
January 19, 2019
Sold, battled and won.
Beautiful story about a very strong young woman, who sacrifices her own happiness for that of her sister. A wife who battles the husband who 'bought' her. Until she discovers who her true enemy is.
A surprising twist near the end. I really didn't see that coming!
I received a copy and chose to review it.
Beautiful story about a very strong young woman, who sacrifices her own happiness for that of her sister. A wife who battles the husband who 'bought' her. Until she discovers who her true enemy is.
A surprising twist near the end. I really didn't see that coming!
I received a copy and chose to review it.
June 23, 2017
I would like to thank the author for providing a free copy of the book.
February 10, 2018
Oh I loved this second book of the second change series!
Anna is such a passionate and smart person who cares so much for her family!
Anna is such a passionate and smart person who cares so much for her family!
May 26, 2017
A fun read with lots of twists and turns in the plot.
April 24, 2017
Short review. This is a well written story that flowed from one page to the next, good chemistry between Anna and Edmond, I liked when they started fencing together every morning. For the first half of the book I didn't like Anna and wanted someone to set her straight so that she could see that her friend was leading her down the path to having a unhappy marriage/life. But by the second half when she began to trust her own mind and feelings about her marriage she became likable, I admired Edmond for attempting to win her over even at times which he felt like giving up. The dowry plot point was easy to figure out but there was one plot point I didn't see coming.
April 26, 2017
Could hardly put the book down
Love the way the author holds my attention. Also like the way she writes in short chapters. Made it easy to pick up and stop reading when necessary.
Love the way the author holds my attention. Also like the way she writes in short chapters. Made it easy to pick up and stop reading when necessary.
June 4, 2017
This story is a bit of a tangle, but I enjoyed watching it all unfold! I really liked Edmond from the first story and was glad to see him work for his and Anna's happily ever after.
May 15, 2017
Another winner!
This was such a great story! I love Bree Wolfs books! She captivates me with the stories and the characters. I enjoy the witty banter, with love and romance. I can't wait to read the rest of this series!!
This was such a great story! I love Bree Wolfs books! She captivates me with the stories and the characters. I enjoy the witty banter, with love and romance. I can't wait to read the rest of this series!!
July 7, 2017
Cursed & Cherished: The Duke's Wilful Wife (Love's Second Chance Book 2) by Bree Wolf
1st of all I would like to thank the author for providing a free copy of the book ... i voluntarily review it ...
The heroine Anna is head strong ,stubborn, determined but has a character flaw can be influenced easily ....she is a
feminist but her understanding of true emotions is less...whereas Edmond with his care, undestanding patience, open feelings comes
out strong ,dependable ,endearing....I really liked Edmond from the first story .... overall a good story ...holds ur interest...the author
brings out d emotions in her characters beautifully on paper...dis was my honest review in Exchange for a free book...
1st of all I would like to thank the author for providing a free copy of the book ... i voluntarily review it ...
The heroine Anna is head strong ,stubborn, determined but has a character flaw can be influenced easily ....she is a
feminist but her understanding of true emotions is less...whereas Edmond with his care, undestanding patience, open feelings comes
out strong ,dependable ,endearing....I really liked Edmond from the first story .... overall a good story ...holds ur interest...the author
brings out d emotions in her characters beautifully on paper...dis was my honest review in Exchange for a free book...
March 28, 2016
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story is well written and enchant you until the last page.
The characters are strong, witty.
Edmond, the duke of Cromwell, you must marry to avoid bankruptcy and decides to marry Anna, the daughter of a city, on the advice of his steward Mr. Lloyd.
Anna agrees to marry the Duke to allow his sister to marry her lover and decides to make the Edmond life hell.
Only with great patience to Edmund, they create a bond based on affection and love, and thanks to the intelligence of Anna uncover the deception by people you trust, and to finding a solution in order to live happily.
The story is well written and enchant you until the last page.
The characters are strong, witty.
Edmond, the duke of Cromwell, you must marry to avoid bankruptcy and decides to marry Anna, the daughter of a city, on the advice of his steward Mr. Lloyd.
Anna agrees to marry the Duke to allow his sister to marry her lover and decides to make the Edmond life hell.
Only with great patience to Edmund, they create a bond based on affection and love, and thanks to the intelligence of Anna uncover the deception by people you trust, and to finding a solution in order to live happily.
April 13, 2018
Bree is a very talented writer and even in this book the plot is well built. I didn't like Anna very much for the first half of the book, she was so mean and never gave Edmond a chance, I really wanted someone to set her straight and make her understand that her best friend Henrietta was giving her wrong advice and in this way was going to make her have an unhappy marriage. With such great patience from Edmond they finally create a bond based on affection and love. I liked to find Graham and Rosabel in this story it was a nice surprise.
March 5, 2016
Loved it! Loved it! Loved it! It has it all! For the lovers of romance and mystery is a "had to read" book! Drama, agony ... a love story taking part before the Regency Era in England era. I was also enthusiastic by the way the author merge the previous book "Forgotten & Remembered: The Duke's Late Wife (Love's Second Chance, #1)" without having the need to read it first! I now know that Bree Wolf is a new author to add to my list of must read!
March 22, 2016
Cursed and cherished
This is the second book in a three book series. I gave this a five star rating also. It had a great mix of humor, and conflict that the marriage of convenience books have that are always favorites of mine. This did not have any scenes that brought about tears from me, but it did have laugh out loud moments. It was also good to revisit Graham and Rosabel from the first book.
This is the second book in a three book series. I gave this a five star rating also. It had a great mix of humor, and conflict that the marriage of convenience books have that are always favorites of mine. This did not have any scenes that brought about tears from me, but it did have laugh out loud moments. It was also good to revisit Graham and Rosabel from the first book.
September 25, 2020
CURSED AND CHERISHED: is the third book by this author that I’ve read. There are a lot of angles and false starts to this tale. I enjoy the complexities of the story, however, it takes forever for the hero and heroine to join forces. The love doesn’t begin for half the book.....and in this tale HE does all the work.
April 11, 2017
I'm thinking Bree is one of my new favorite Regency authors.
This was my favorite so far. Mostly because I am the main character!
I so thoroughly enjoyed this book and will share it with everyone.
This was my favorite so far. Mostly because I am the main character!
I so thoroughly enjoyed this book and will share it with everyone.
March 12, 2016
This was a very intriguing plot and kept me guessing to the end. It was also well resolved and believable. Bree Wolf is a very talented and creative writer. And she keeps getting better!!
November 18, 2025
I give this book 3.5. I hated the first half of the book, mainly because of how much I disliked the main girl, freaking piss me off! kinda ruined it for me. It did have a cute ending though.
January 18, 2025
A story with the most crazy, hypocritical, rebellious, stupid female lead I've ever known. She's a moron, a young buffalo. She can only live because she has a patient husband.
The female protagonist of this story really annoys me because she has such a stubborn, rude, and foolish personality. She hated Edmond because he took away her free life just because of a mistake he made. She despised him because he only wanted her father's money. Throughout the whole story, she lived like a superior person, the only time she lowers herself to apologize is at the end of the story. Worse, she always listens to the nonsense advice from her equally rude best friend - Henrietta. These are probably the two characters I hate the most in the story, even more than the villainous father Hanford. Henrietta instills in Anna's head hatred for her husband, negative concepts about love and even gives her a... knife, for self-defense? It's ridiculous, maybe she wants to marry and live a virgin life like a nun in a convent. And what was the knife for, to stab Edmond in case he touched her, but not to kill him, but only to injure him and shut him up in public because they knew that for men honor was above all, what a snake's thinking! What did Edmond do? He married her for the dowry, yes, but he always treat her with respect and cannot hide his interest in her in his mischievous eyes. When Edmond is about to kiss Anna, he receive a blow to the head from a vase, knocking him unconscious, and that knockout was from his duchess wife. Anna was hitting and caressing him, and right after hitting him, she takes care of him by the bed (out of duty) and then stole a kiss, something she also wanted but did not dare to face earlier? What is this all about? She is always unreasonably angry every time she sees Edmond, break his antiques, insults him,... she lives with the mindset of someone from above who had bestowed the privilege of a dowry on Edmond, which means she can behave rudely in a legitimate way.
At first, she acted like a hero when she helped her sister successfully marry John, then she regretted looking back at her empty wedding, which she had voluntarily chosen. What's going on? Better not do it, if you do it, don't regret it, regret it and then take it out on your husband. When her husband gave her diamonds, she threw them into the fire, when her husband wanted to kiss her, she knocked him unconscious, when her husband wanted to be intimate, she threatened him with a knife, badmouthed him to her best friend, even cut her husband's face with a sword... Oh my god! Is this the worst female lead of books I read in 2024? She's both bad and immature, not worthy of a duchess, let alone a nouveau riche. Throughout the story, even though she had a little crush on Edmond, she stubbornly showed hatred for no reason at all. What she was loyal to was that damned feminist ideology that she and Henrietta worshiped.
As for Edmond Dunsworth, he was much better than Anna. I also had to admire his patience. There were times when Edmond admitted that he wanted to give up, even divorce if Anna wanted, but he still slowly won her over with his gentle care. Edmond was a good man, responsible for his wife, compared to the average playboy aristocratic gentleman, he was a rarity. He did not mind having a stubborn wife, he was not angry when Anna beat him, on the contrary, he taught her how to use a sword. Edmond sincerely apologized to Anna at least three times for marrying her, because he had taken her life, he was willing to return it. The scene where Edmond gave Anna the sword to kill him at will was quite touching. However, her heart was made of iron and she was still clouded by her hatred. Edmond straightforwardly taught his wife who her real enemy was, and to live for her own opinions, not Henrietta's negative advice. Indeed, a negative friend is a bad friend. Who in this world would advise their friend to stab her husband with a knife? That was the advice, but Edmond was still denied and cursed by Anna for a long time. The accountant Lloyd saw the right person, because only a patient man like Edmond could tame her. If it were another man, their marriage would have been ruined long ago. A man who is too tough needs a gentle person to calm him down. But I wonder, if Anna hadn't discovered the secret at the end of the story, she probably wouldn't have humbly apologized, but would have continued to climb up and down her husband's neck.
The ending of the story made me quite… satisfied when Anna finally realized in shame that the large dowry that came with her on the wedding day was actually Edmond's money. So, the twist was quite surprising. But more importantly, Anna was humiliated when she realized that she was not that valuable. She fell, all her confidence and arrogance disappeared, sobbing and apologizing to Edmond at the end of the story, even wanting to free him. I felt more ridiculous than sympathetic. Even though she wanted him to be freed, she didn't really want a divorce? It reeked of bullshit.
This story would be much better if it weren't for the female lead Anna. The male lead Edmond carried the whole story. Honestly, if it weren't for him, I would have left the story long ago because I was fed up with Anna's rebellious nature. This is ultimately a meaningful story about marriage, about how to behave in a family, and how husband and wife overcome their egos to get along.
The female protagonist of this story really annoys me because she has such a stubborn, rude, and foolish personality. She hated Edmond because he took away her free life just because of a mistake he made. She despised him because he only wanted her father's money. Throughout the whole story, she lived like a superior person, the only time she lowers herself to apologize is at the end of the story. Worse, she always listens to the nonsense advice from her equally rude best friend - Henrietta. These are probably the two characters I hate the most in the story, even more than the villainous father Hanford. Henrietta instills in Anna's head hatred for her husband, negative concepts about love and even gives her a... knife, for self-defense? It's ridiculous, maybe she wants to marry and live a virgin life like a nun in a convent. And what was the knife for, to stab Edmond in case he touched her, but not to kill him, but only to injure him and shut him up in public because they knew that for men honor was above all, what a snake's thinking! What did Edmond do? He married her for the dowry, yes, but he always treat her with respect and cannot hide his interest in her in his mischievous eyes. When Edmond is about to kiss Anna, he receive a blow to the head from a vase, knocking him unconscious, and that knockout was from his duchess wife. Anna was hitting and caressing him, and right after hitting him, she takes care of him by the bed (out of duty) and then stole a kiss, something she also wanted but did not dare to face earlier? What is this all about? She is always unreasonably angry every time she sees Edmond, break his antiques, insults him,... she lives with the mindset of someone from above who had bestowed the privilege of a dowry on Edmond, which means she can behave rudely in a legitimate way.
At first, she acted like a hero when she helped her sister successfully marry John, then she regretted looking back at her empty wedding, which she had voluntarily chosen. What's going on? Better not do it, if you do it, don't regret it, regret it and then take it out on your husband. When her husband gave her diamonds, she threw them into the fire, when her husband wanted to kiss her, she knocked him unconscious, when her husband wanted to be intimate, she threatened him with a knife, badmouthed him to her best friend, even cut her husband's face with a sword... Oh my god! Is this the worst female lead of books I read in 2024? She's both bad and immature, not worthy of a duchess, let alone a nouveau riche. Throughout the story, even though she had a little crush on Edmond, she stubbornly showed hatred for no reason at all. What she was loyal to was that damned feminist ideology that she and Henrietta worshiped.
As for Edmond Dunsworth, he was much better than Anna. I also had to admire his patience. There were times when Edmond admitted that he wanted to give up, even divorce if Anna wanted, but he still slowly won her over with his gentle care. Edmond was a good man, responsible for his wife, compared to the average playboy aristocratic gentleman, he was a rarity. He did not mind having a stubborn wife, he was not angry when Anna beat him, on the contrary, he taught her how to use a sword. Edmond sincerely apologized to Anna at least three times for marrying her, because he had taken her life, he was willing to return it. The scene where Edmond gave Anna the sword to kill him at will was quite touching. However, her heart was made of iron and she was still clouded by her hatred. Edmond straightforwardly taught his wife who her real enemy was, and to live for her own opinions, not Henrietta's negative advice. Indeed, a negative friend is a bad friend. Who in this world would advise their friend to stab her husband with a knife? That was the advice, but Edmond was still denied and cursed by Anna for a long time. The accountant Lloyd saw the right person, because only a patient man like Edmond could tame her. If it were another man, their marriage would have been ruined long ago. A man who is too tough needs a gentle person to calm him down. But I wonder, if Anna hadn't discovered the secret at the end of the story, she probably wouldn't have humbly apologized, but would have continued to climb up and down her husband's neck.
The ending of the story made me quite… satisfied when Anna finally realized in shame that the large dowry that came with her on the wedding day was actually Edmond's money. So, the twist was quite surprising. But more importantly, Anna was humiliated when she realized that she was not that valuable. She fell, all her confidence and arrogance disappeared, sobbing and apologizing to Edmond at the end of the story, even wanting to free him. I felt more ridiculous than sympathetic. Even though she wanted him to be freed, she didn't really want a divorce? It reeked of bullshit.
This story would be much better if it weren't for the female lead Anna. The male lead Edmond carried the whole story. Honestly, if it weren't for him, I would have left the story long ago because I was fed up with Anna's rebellious nature. This is ultimately a meaningful story about marriage, about how to behave in a family, and how husband and wife overcome their egos to get along.
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