It was love at first sight, but Polly's mother's marriage ensures that Polly's gets off to a rocky start. A little slow starting for me, but I enjoyed Polly's empowerment. More like a 3.5.

Oh I quite enjoyed this! This is not the typical HR I have read so far and I am glad my current explorations of HR authors have come up with some interesting reads.

First off, this is the first book I have read in the series. Didn’t start with the first one. Second, the style of writing reminds me of Georgette Heyer, with a bit more steaminess, but not too much like some of the more raunchier HR out there. The humor is good, I laughed so hard at some parts (the Duke of Villiers….).

Both the Duke and Duchess of Fletcher are quite sweet actually. They sound like a very young couple recently married with a level of uncertainty and insecurity about themselves and what they expect from the marriage. I like that this book explores the relationship after marriage and the struggles of a newly wed.

I was a bit confused about some of the side stories and not sure how they contribute to the overall plot. I believe they are introductions of stories to be focused on later in the series but it can be a bit confusing to follow.

I am glad I didn’t read some of the reviews and am quite disappointed at the very negative reviews (especially the more popular reviews) and criticism that I believe is totally unrelated to the premise of the book. I do say though the blurb is a bit misleading as most of the so-called seduction occurred towards about the last third of the book.

Having read the likes of Mary Balogh, Julia Quinn, and Lisa Kleypas, I would say this author, or maybe it’s the series, is unlike them and really more like Georgette Heyer.

I am interested in moving on to read about the Duke and Duchess of Beaumont’s story as there is some interesting tension and perhaps lots of misunderstandings that lingered on for too long.

Since I started the series I feel compelled to continue.

"I'm just going to read for an hour, then I'll get to the other items on my task list" 4.5 hours later and I've finished the novel.

Eloisa James has got my number. I could be held for questioning and all the detectives would have to do to get me to squeal is leave me alone for three hours with Eloisa James' latest novel, then rush in and snatch the book out of my hands. I would say ANYTHING to get that book back! Sell out my family? Done! Be a key witness against my husband? You betcha! Agree to wear a wire and head into a hostile drug deal? Anything to end the agony of not knowing how the book ends!

Really? Really now? THAT's what the problem was?

Also, I really dislike books with characters who are just SO horribly malicious but no one calls them out on it.

things that bugged me.
1) there were large gaps between every paragraph, and the same size gap is used no matter the break between paragraph, character switch, or time jump. it was jarring and confusing.
multiple pov changes in chapters between characters.
and tonight is always spelled in two words.

2) there are tons of side characters, and because ( this is my bad) I read book two first, I was really confused about who everyone was.

3) there isn't as much love in this / series as I would prefer.

4) Georgian fashion. again, my bad, but I just has a terribly hard time trying to get behind a hero that wears high heels.

5) this annoying lack of basic communication between a couple married for four years, and who supposedly loved each other from day one. glad it worked out. but still.

things I liked.
1) the hero. John flech.

2) the secondary story between villiers and fettlock.

3) the friendship between the women in this book. poppy and jemma specifically.

Wow! This author doesn't disappoint. She's known for writing 'not your average' romance, and this is no exception - in the beginning the hero and heroine are madly in love and get married right off, but it becomes clear our poor heroine is, what we would call today - frigid. Happy yet believable resolution.

I couldn't even finish this book. The characters were terrible while the plot was just ridiculous!

Not as good as the first one in the series but had a couple good moments.