Helpful Score: 4
Although I am a Layton fan (and sad to learn of her death last summer), I do not understand the high marks being given to this book.
SPOILER ALERT...!
If asked for a one-word description, in my opinion, that word would be T-E-D-I-O-U-S. It was tiresome that our heroine was traipsing all over England--and then France--after her missing fiance. Even after it became apparent that he was not hurt or injured, she relentlessly followed his trail. At one point, the heroine was asking herself the same question I had, "Why am I continuing to search for him if I no longer care?"
The relationship between Hero and Heroine was also tedious as every "forbidden" kiss was interrupted by her very strange mother and then his out-of-nowhere brother. (Who I speculate was introduced in order to justify a companion book that will never be written?) Sadly, I stopped feeling any building anticipation regarding their romance long before page 300 when I closed the book briefly and wondered if I even cared enough to finish reading it.
I rarely give low marks and scathing reviews, but here is my evaluation:
Story: 2 stars
Romance: 2 stars
Overall score: 2 stars
SPOILER ALERT...!
If asked for a one-word description, in my opinion, that word would be T-E-D-I-O-U-S. It was tiresome that our heroine was traipsing all over England--and then France--after her missing fiance. Even after it became apparent that he was not hurt or injured, she relentlessly followed his trail. At one point, the heroine was asking herself the same question I had, "Why am I continuing to search for him if I no longer care?"
The relationship between Hero and Heroine was also tedious as every "forbidden" kiss was interrupted by her very strange mother and then his out-of-nowhere brother. (Who I speculate was introduced in order to justify a companion book that will never be written?) Sadly, I stopped feeling any building anticipation regarding their romance long before page 300 when I closed the book briefly and wondered if I even cared enough to finish reading it.
I rarely give low marks and scathing reviews, but here is my evaluation:
Story: 2 stars
Romance: 2 stars
Overall score: 2 stars
Helpful Score: 2
This was my first Edith Layton book and I was not impressed. I am an avid historical romance novel reader, but I will not be reading this one again. In the beginning I found it very hard to get into the characters, but as I kept reading I actually started to like them and found myself enjoying the book. Then I realized it was going nowhere. It was slightly repetitive and slightly boring. There was no love scenes other than a few kisses and the main characters didn't get toghter until the last couple pages of the book. I also thought a few storylines should have been elaborated on and by the end of the book I felt slightly jilted like I had just read the whole book and it ended abrubtly with all these loose ends and characters I didn't get to know enough. Overall it wasn't a bad book just not my style historical romance. There was basically no adventure, no steamy scenes, not much fun. I won't be reading this one again.
