First: I really liked this book.
Second: I’m really disappointed I didn’t five star love it.
Third: I invented a word to describe my disappointment. That word is ‘swooners,’ and it is to be used in the context of things that make you swoon (obv). As in, unfortunately as much I as I liked this book, it didn’t hit me in my swooners. I’m not exactly sure what part of the body the swooners are in . . . maybe the back of the throat? That would make sense. Maybe swooners are why you sometimes want to make this sound:
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
and then run around until you calm down.
I feel like this book hit everyone in their swooners except for me.
BUT, and I want to make this clear, THIS IS STILL A REALLY GOOD BOOK.
It’s got two extremely likable heroes who sass each other a lot, scheming and plotting, a sub-plot involving a really cute lesbian romance (I don’t think I’ve ever seen lesbians in a mainstream romance novel before???), and it actually puts the “history” in “historical.”
Frederica “Free” Marshall came into an inheritance as a teenager, and always a bit wild and inconventional, used it to get herself an education and start a newspaper produced, written, and for women. This has not made her life easy, in fact at times it’s turned her into a target. When she turns down a marriage proposal from a complete arsehole, the arsehole begins a campaign to make her pay, ruining her and her newspaper. Enter Edward Clark (nee Edward Delacey, Viscount of Claridge), brother of said arsehole, long believed dead. He and Free enter into an uneasy partnership to thwart his brother’s plans. Only, Free doesn’t know he’s the guy’s brother, and she certainly doesn’t know he’s a lord. She just thinks he’s a scoundrel.
Of course they fall in love and it’s totally perfect.
So why didn’t I lurrrrrve it? I honestly don’t know. Would it make me a perve to admit that I wished Courtney Milan’s books had more sex in them? They’re very cerebral and socially aware, which I love! My thing is, why can’t we be cerebral and socially aware AND have lots of steamy sex? (I don’t think this was my problem with not lurrrrving it, but it’s definitely a thing that I am thinking.)
Anyway, these books are great, I think even if you DON’T like romance novels. And more people definitely need to be reading Courtney Milan. How is she not a bestseller???
I get what you’re saying (though I did give it 5 stars). Her romances are more cerebral, which doesn’t mean you have to be smart to appreciate them, just that she doesn’t always hook into the feels.
Yeah, she definitely scratches a different kind of itch than I’m used to when reading romance novels.
I’m so glad you put into words the reason why Milan is not a 5-star for me either. I’m not sure if it’s lacking sex, smolder, or swoon but they lack the emotional gut-punch of a really great romance. That being said they ARE great and I love how she plays with classic romance tropes and feminism. They’re fresh and unpredictable. I just feel that I’m sometimes reading them a bit more cerebrally, which is not typically what I’m going for in romance.
(Still a huge fan though, please do not tar, feather, or boycott me from future Cannonballs due to this admission.)
Well, it’s definitely lacking sex (and when there is sex, it’s usually not that naughty–it’s more along the lines of sweet and loving). In contrast, I just read a scene in a Tessa Dare book where the dude totally does the lady from behind while they are on top of a castle in broad daylight.
I enjoy what I’ve read of Milan, a lot, but I tend to agree. Violet was by far and away my favourite of the Brothers Sinister heroines. Free didn’t really do it for me. Although the secondary romance was adorable.
Violet was my favorite, too, followed closely by Minnie.
Minnie is my favorite, although I haven’t read this one yet. Its coming up in the queue soon-ish.
Swooners are in the gut of the beholder, and we have different gut stuffs, but this is still a fantastic and thoughtful review! (The puppy cannon was a swooner moment, though, right!?!?)
Oh, yes, that was definitely a swooner moment.
I love the word swooners and shall endeavour to use it in future reviews. Unlike fetch, this word should happen.
Your review is great, as always, and I’m sorry you didn’t love the book as much as many of us did. It hit me in all the swooners I have, and I’m not entirely sure I can explain why. I get your point about Milan being very cerebral. I wouldn’t mind at all if she put more sex in too. :)
We should write her a campaign of emails asking for more sex. Really, it’s in her best interest. Sex=$$$$$. She cannot fail to see that logic. :D