Amanda
Thought the beginning with the recovery from injury was a little bit long, but that's also not really a trope that I really care much for. I really liked Gillie and her independence and determination (and also that the identity of her parents wasn't an issue at all). This is also one of the few (maybe the only) versions of the secret baby trope that I've actually liked, so there is that. I'm reviewing all of these out of order and/or a couple of weeks after reading them, so my memory isn't the freshest, but this is a fun series.
Considered DNF-ing this one because I really didn't care for the flashbacks at the beginning, though I did think it was an odd choice to have them stop before Finn supposedly abandons her, which is only discussed, not shown on page. This picked up considerably after the reveal of Lavinia's backstory and I'm very glad that Robin didn't turn out to be their son, because I saw that coming from a mile away and I'm happy I was wrong. I wanted a bit more development of the MCs, especially of Finn, but this was better than I expected from the first third.
This somehow felt like the middle book of a series but apparently it's the first? (All the talk about how Blackwood and Alice were married and there was some weird tension felt like it was supposed to be a callback to an earlier book but maybe it'll be a subsequent one, but anyway.) Maybe this is 3.5, rounding up - there were a lot more references to the male lead's dick than I usually care for. (I realize these are romance novels at all that, but meh.) I liked the road trip in the beginning leading into the friendship/banter and the wonderful trope of the leads locked together in an out-of-the-way guesthouse in a thunderstorm, which I unironically love for some reason. I hadn't read any Loretta Chase before this, but my library has quite a few of hers on ebook, so I'll have to check them out.
Good: Could really tell how much research went into this, and I feel like it was pretty educational! Enjoyed the cast of characters, especially Sylvie and the boarders. The MC was great and I loved her journey and settling into the town. I haven't read any historicals set in this period before, and this was a good introduction.
Bad: Natalie is basically a cardboard villain, and the writing was pretty stilted at some points, without much banter/wordplay/flirtation. A lot of exposition via dialogue. It seemed like a lot of the plot was crammed into the last 40-50 pages, and it felt a little rushed. I also wanted there to be more sex, or at least longer/more detailed sex scenes? What was there was good, but barely over a page each, I think.
Overall: Eh. Didn't love it, certainly didn't hate it, definitely want to read more diverse romances.
(Bookriot Read Harder 2016 Challenge: #15 Read a book of historical fiction set before 1900)
Cute and pure fluff, like all of Meg Cabot. That's not an insult or complaint at all - I love her stuff! Nice moving of the Princess Diaries series into adulthood (though this is still pretty PG). Some plot lines were a little convenient, but still really liked this.
Finished the second half of this in basically one sitting, I was so caught up in the plot and had to know what would happen next. Love Stevenson's style of art and the Blackheart/Goldenloin and Blackheart/Nimona relationships. The epilogue was the perfect capper to the story and made me so happy.
(Bookriot Read Harder 2016 Challenge: #17 Read a non-superhero comic that debuted in the last three years)
Super quick and fluffy read. Love this series so much that I really liked this one, but not sure how well it'd stand on its own. Wanted a bit more backstory, but still worth it.
Betsy and the Great World is probably my least favorite of these. But Betsy and Joe is so wonderful.
“Did anyone ever tell you that you're a good dancer? - Joe”
SWOON.
Also the line that's something like “You think Les Miserables is the best book ever. I think it's Vanity Fair. Let's fight.”
SWOON? Or something. Basically, I have a crush on Joe Willard. Touchy as he is.
Boring boring boring. I don't know why I read this. At least Matched had some plot. Glad this was a fast read, so I didn't waste a lot of time.
Liked the world building, didn't so much care for the last quarter or so. And this is another book that just ends, instead of having an ending.
Devoured this in just over a day and really enjoyed it. Was never in doubt about where it was going, but it's a romance, so that's not unusual. Loved the fairytale retelling aspect and how the book was at least a bit more realistic about the class differences than some other historicals I've read (and enjoyed). Plot takes a little bit too long to wrap up, but I can't complain when the resolution is so satisfying.
Loooooove this. Hadn't been much of a Natasha fan, but that was because I was dumb. Great story and wonderful art.
I've been avoiding this entry on the Read Harder challenge because horror really isn't my thing, but then I found a copy of this book on my shelves at home, took it to my parents' for Christmas, and devoured it in an afternoon. The sense of place and atmosphere are so great here, and everything just builds to an unexpected but perfectly apt conclusion. Most of what I want to talk about is spoilery, but holy shit, this book is incredible.
(Bookriot Read Harder 2016 Challenge: #1 Read a horror book)
Would've probably enjoyed this more if I'd read the Vampire Academy series first. As it is, though, pretty good.
Meh. Didn't hate it, certainly didn't love it. Mostly I was just bored. Took me forever to finish.
Holy hell, this book is a mindfuck. And not really the best thing to read when you're four months away from getting married, but too late now!
(Probably 4.5, rounding up.) Loved the heroine, probably one of my favorite romance heroines. Mostly liked the hero, deducting a half-star here for how violent he was sometimes, particularly almost killing the countess and pulling Lillian off her horse, which seems really dangerous?. Still love the relationships between the Wallflowers most of all. Really enjoying this series!
Loved this - I really want to read her earlier memoirs now! The book has some recipes interspersed throughout. If you think you may want to use them, buy the Kindle or print version. It's hard to cook from an audio recipe. Otherwise, the unabridged audio is excellent and well worth listening to. Loved all the different characters she became and how they informed the restaurant reviews.
(Bookriot Read Harder 2016 Challenge: #22 Read a food memoir)
Reread October 2022, trade paperback I picked up from a library used book sale. Still extremely fun and readable.
Looooooooooooooved this book. Jed is a total dreamboat. And “I just don't think about you” is such an awesome brushoff, and no less than Don deserves.
“Did anyone ever tell you that you're a good dancer? - Joe”
swoon, always, forever
(Read Harder 2017: #7 Read a book published between 1900 and 1950.)