Book Review Genre: Historical Romance

Disclaimer: Reading is all about exploring new worlds, but this Book Review does not shy away from spoiling specific scenes as this is more of a look inside the good and bad of a book.

The Analysis:

This book choice was off my long TBR list. My goal is not to buy any new books until I’ve finished 80% of it. This book is the hate-to-love trope, and I am not a fan of that trope. Unfortunately, I didn’t know about it going into the story before I started reading it. Please, keep that in mind when reading my opinion. So, let’s book review it. But first, follow me on Goodreads.

Here’s The Blurb:

She gave him her innocence . . .

Lady Aline Marsden was brought up to marry a man of her own class, but from the moment she meets John McKenna, she risks everything to be with him.

He gave her his heart

Although their love is forbidden, McKenna’s passion for the beautiful Aline is too compelling to deny.

When their secret is discovered, their world is shattered. McKenna is forced to leave forever, unaware that the only reason Aline has given him up is to save him.

Now McKenna has returned, a powerful man determined to take revenge against the woman who broke his heart. But the magic between them burns as fiercely as ever . . . and as McKenna uncovers Aline’s deepest secret, together they discover a love that will defy Fate itself.

Cover Critique:

I like this cover. The one I read from was the original. This is an improvement in the colors and draws the eye much better.

Now The Story:

Book Info:
Pages: 416
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Available: Google Play

This couple reads like a fairytale almost from the beginning. We’re thrown into the middle of their affair as they meet in the shadows a young aristocrat and her stable boy. At times, it sounds like the pair has nothing, but butterflies in their heads. The only time I thought it went too far was when the heroine said she wasn’t upset about him possibly sleeping with other women, just jealous because she was a virgin.

But reality sets in when her father learns the truth. This opens up more questions. She’s instantly fearful that her father will crush the hero and ruin his life, but she was also planning on running away with the boy. Her father would have been equally as powerful then. It made me wonder just what the plan was to get around that and how it’s ruined now with this discovery, but the story doesn’t go that far.

Their departing leaves the woman distraught. She stops eating and instead decides to waste away. Everything I would expect from a woman of her status during that time period. However, as you get older that sounds less and less romantic and sounds more silly.

Then there is a surprising turn of events and the story jumps 12 years. But the results of that event are somewhat a mystery to the reader and the hero. It will definitely have you on the edge of your seat. However, the reveal will disappoint. It’s serious for that time period, but not serious enough for ours.

Speaking of the hero, I can’t say I was too interested in his plight. He wanted revenge. He kept telling his friend and business partner that it wasn’t that just lust. Well, neither is great for your character, sir. Especially it being a whole 12 years in the age of no telephones that must’ve made 12 years feel like 100. After that much time, it’s either love or obsession, and he was dancing on the line. A perfect quote for their tumultuous romance:

“He owned her, by virtue of his need and the bitter-washed memories of their past together.”

One must know the father doesn’t play a prominent role even if he has the most impact. The heroine’s brother takes up a significant portion of the book and I’m instantly impressed with him. His invaluable support of his sister and ability to see the game for what it is had me rooting for the guy.

Gideon, the hero’s friend, and business partner, also offered up a few candles as well. The man knew how to put his friend in his place without breaking a sweat. The only one in the book allowed to do so.

There is a hint of the sister’s relationship with Mr. Shaw and it was adorable. Dare I say, I loved it much more because it lacked revenge lol. Plus, on some level, identified with the sister’s grief and wanted someone the complete opposite of what she lost.

The heroine eventually gets into a disagreement with her brother over the hero. While the heroine did a good job turning the brother’s own logic against him. I still found myself siding with the brother, knowing that the hero’s intentions weren’t honorable. He also throws in a surprise and decides to take some decisive action to straighten things out. It was harsh, but I got it. Reputation is everything and these women are just content to open their legs whenever without any marriage prospects and just allow their brother to take care of them for the rest of his life. I would agree that it was his love that allowed them to believe they could take such action in the first place without consequences. The whole argument and calling him no better than their father left me confused. Like, come on guys, this isn’t 2022. I thought it was the olden days.

The hero began to win me as he completed the heroine’s seduction requests. The first of which was to be serenaded. Maybe because I recognized those moments as when she began to win him away from his plot without even knowing it. Plus, they were downright cute. He was downright mean in other portions, but nothing left me more satisfied to hear how stupid he felt for treating the heroine the way he had.

Overall, I’m not a fan of Hate to Love and for me, revenge to love is not much better. But I still could totally see myself recommending this book to others that love the trope. But for me, it wasn’t able to make it past three stars.

I took a point off because none of the arguments made sense within the context of the time period. They were all a little to 2022. And there were other annoyances that kept cropping up that was rubbing me the wrong way. I don’t know if it’s me or the story, but I took another point off.

But I quite enjoyed the book despite my misgivings and would recommend it to lovers of the trope.

Book Review At A Glance:

Recommendation:  3 out of 5

Book Cover Appeal:

🍓🍓🍓🍓

Story & Narration:

🍓🍓🍓

Romance:

🍓🍓🍓

Character/(s) Personality:

🍓🍓🍓

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