DNF
Ugh. 20% in and have no interest. Too much tell and not enough show.

Neither MC was interesting enough in the first chapters for me to want to continue reading, even with the FOMO on possible tidbits regarding Lyon and Olivia (or anything regarding their parents’ past).

Skimmed to end. Upgraded to 1.5 in my mind after tackling Ian Eversea’s story, which is absolutely the worst. At least this story had a plot. ( )

I liked these two leads alright, but I wasn't as invested in them as I'd like to have been. It had some cuteness, and humor, and steam though, and I don't regret reading it at all. ( )

While this one was a 5-star novel for me, despite a slow start, I've got to start by pointing out that Julie Anne Long and her editor need to have a talk. I now read her books with a little checklist in my head. She's guaranteed to mention:

-opium/opium smoke/opium addiction
-bonhomie
-hosanna
-solar plexus (TWICE in this book. Jesus God. Please stop.)
-the "bands of muscle" in a hero's stomach are just always tightening. Why "bands of muscle?" Why? It's so weird.

Julie Anne Long is an excellent writer. Her character development is fantastic, and she finds new ways to say things that are familiar content in the romance novel genre book after book. But these unique/unusual words and phrases are out of place when they're used in every single one of her books. It is a detriment to excellent character development when every character is using the same unusual words in their thoughts. And, sadly, it pulls me out of the story every time because as I'm reading through this series (and her Palace of Rogues series, which suffered the SAME list of repetitive oddities), I can still remember exactly how and where these phrases were used in the previous titles. Please tell me I'm not alone in noticing this?!

This book starts slow and I was initially disappointed with the descriptions of Thomasina. I loved Jonathan in the previous Redmond books and was looking forward to his own story, so I panicked that he was getting shafted with an obnoxious and unrealistic heroine. I still don't understand how Thomasina became so confident, elegant, and seductive--any portion of her upbringing with the Countess that might have contributed to those traits was glossed over. But once I got into the story, I realized she is actually incredibly likable.

I loved that these two never fought, that they both realized they loved each other and acted on it. I loved that Jonathan, who can only be about 21-22 years old acts really young. He acts like a young man experiencing his first love. He makes love like a young man--all eagerness and excitement and unstoppable energy. It was especially well-done in contrast with Alexander's character in "What I Did for a Duke", who was at the opposite end of the romance novel age spectrum. Jonathan's clear youthfulness contributed to the story. I believed he would leap into a dangerous, illegal adventure for the excitement. I believed he could tumble into love with a very unlikely woman. I believed that he would feel like he had a lot to prove to his father and siblings and the world. It was great age-appropriate character development.

Thomasina's character was a little murkier, because, as I said, it was harder to understand how she had become the woman she was. It was also hard to see her as young; she seemed significantly older than Jonathan in some scenes and his age in others. Sadly, I think less of her love for children came through on the page; Jonathan was more affectionate and devoted to the kids than Thomasina, which made little sense. I was a little disappointed that Thomasina said, nearly or possibly exactly word-for-word, what Cynthia said in "Like No Other Lover." When speaking of their similar desire for wealth and security they both said, "Why shouldn't I have it?" It's an excellent sentiment. The first time it appeared in Like No Other Lover, it changed my thinking about Cynthia's character and the story itself. To see it used again here was yet another example of repetitive language that wasn't unique to a character's thoughts but to Miss Long's. I ended the book liking Thomasina and loving the pairing between Thomasina and Jonathan, but I do wish that Thomasina's character development had made it onto the page in greater detail.

I am so happy that Isaiah Redmond was finally told to shove it. He has long deserved to be told what a bastard he is and I'm really glad Jonathan was the man to do it. I have anticipated it was coming, but I thought it would be left until the last book so that Lyon could be the one to call his father out. I think it was great to see Jonathan take that role instead because he is the one who has been home and actually witnessed the cruelties Isaiah is willing to inflict on his children in order to control them.

I finished this book with a smile on my face. I'm only a little disappointed that the end of the series is drawing near and I won't get to read about Jonathan and Thomasina in several more books. ( )

I just reread this for a buddy read and it is still so good, even mere months later. So good, in fact, I'm bumping this up.
Please read Georgie-Sarah's review bc she captures my feelings perfectly
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/968019779?book_show_action=false&from_...
______________

Oh, uh, I have a bad crush on these here characters.

When characters are confident and they love each other and they know they love each other and they love loving each other?

That. ( )

This poor book,it didn't quite get a fair shake from me. This series started in 2008. This is the 8th book in the series and there is still no Olivia/Lyon book. At first I enjoyed the lead up with little tidbits here and there about O/L, however, I am quite honestly past anticipation and ambivalent until their book comes out. You can honestly only drag something out for so long, I've forgotten tidbits of their storyline that was thrown out and lost a lot of passion for their story. Now I just know Ian Eversea, Argosy, and Lavay will probably have books before O/L. I've given up being excited.

However, I did delightfully enjoy the fantastic word play and playfulness between this book's leads Jonathon and Tommy. The cheeky little devils were fun to read. The overall pace and actual storyline was, eh ok. Julie Anne Long can be very hit or miss for me. Anyway I'd give it a 3.5 stars if we were allowed to do such things on Goodreads. ( )