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Loading... Fool for Loveby Eloisa James
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. I found this overly weighted down by very contrived drama, which is not my thing at all. Eloisa James can write well, but sometimes reason seems to fall by the wayside. I gave this book 3 stars, it would have gotten an extra star had I not had to read so much about Esme. I didn't like her character in the first book, and I found that her story took away from Henrietta and Simon's. I was enjoying their chemistry and looking forward to the next chapter but it would be interrupted by a chapter about Esme. Perhaps my dislike of her is just me, perhaps others will enjoy her and the story will move along great. But unfortunately for me she just made the story drag along. I will give this author one more chance... but not from this series as I have a feeling Esme will pop up again... no reviews | add a review
Belongs to SeriesDuchess Quartet (2)
The Woman Lady Henrietta Maclellan longs for the romantic swirl of a London season. But as a rusticating country maiden, she has always kept her sensuous nature firmly under wraps -- until she meets Simon Darby. Simon makes her want to whisper promises late at night, exchange kisses on a balcony, receive illicit love notes. So Henrietta lets her imagination soar and writes... The Letter A very steamy love letter that becomes shockingly public. Everyone supposes that he has written it to her, but the truth hardly matters in the face of the scandal to come if they don't marry at once. But nothing has quite prepared Henrietta for the pure sensuality of... The Man Simon has vowed he will never turn himself into a fool over a woman. So, while debutantes swoon as he disdainfully strides past the lovely ladies of the ton, he ignores them all...until Henrietta. Could it be possible that he has been the foolish one all along? No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.54Literature English (North America) American fiction 20th Century 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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Henrietta Maclellan has a bad leg that causes her to limp, which makes her an unusual heroine, and I was immediately drawn to her. However, the more I got to know her, the more I found her prudish, idiotic, and even dangerous. When we first meet her, she pours water onto little Josie's because the four year old was having a tantrum. I know we've all wanted to do this to children when they're being ludicrous, but that doesn't mean you actually do it! I was actually quite frustrated by the way James thought it was "endearing" when women burst into violent bouts of rage by throwing things at men or dousing children with water. Just because these women are "desirable" and "petite", doesn't mean they should be excused for exhibitions of violence.
The only saving grace in this book was the hero, Simon Darby. He's a certified dandy, and consequently unnerves every country gentleman of his acquaintance by his discussion of lace and waistcoats. I found him quite refreshing and fun. His adoration of Henrietta carried the book, seeing as she never reciprocated. The man was turned on despite the fact that she rarely kissed him back. Henrietta is described, multiple times, as keeping her lips shut or not touching him, but this still manages to drive Darby wild. Most people would be put off by someone so uninterested, but to each his own, I guess.
The big conflict comes in regards to Henrietta's hip condition. She's been told all her life that her disability will not only prevent her from having children but that she will die likely in the process. Naturally, this just makes her long for a child all the more. Honestly, while I personally want children of my own one day, I was looking forward to reading about a heroine who didn't fit the traditional mold. Darby is very uninterested in having children, being content with raising his two step-sisters (even when he does have his own child, he's quite clear he's only excited about it because his wife wants the kid). This promised to be a modern family in a historical romance novel, and I was excited for that. Alas, that was not to be.
Throughout the novel, Henrietta insists that having a child made her complete as a woman. Without a natural child, she as a woman was a failure. This message is pretty persistent, and I didn't care for it at all. Darby makes it crystal clear that he loves her for her and that they are still a family, even if it's unconventional. Yet, she can't grow from her obsession to be a "real woman". I think this message is pretty damaging, and I could not enjoy the book due to this.
Esme and Judge Frollo - excuse me, Sebastian - reappear in this novel, and they're just as infuriating in this book. Sebastian is even bigger of a hypocrite, if you can believe it. Not only does he admit he would've happily killed Esme's ex-husband to be with her, he also declares that anyone who couldn't appreciate Esme is a boar, despite the fact that he was planning on doing the very same thing to his fiancé, who is also his beloved's best friend, might I add. Truly, they're the worst couple in regency romance, and I wish they would just move to Italy together so I never have to read about them again.
Between the extremely damaging message about what makes a "woman" and the hypocritical relationship between Esme and Sebastian, there was very little to like about this book. The reasons I rated it two starts instead of one is because the children in this book were actually pretty well-written and not at all precocious plot devices. Additionally, the book itself is well-written, if the pacing is off due to the balancing of the two "romances". Unfortunately, that's not enough to save it, the way it saved the first book in this series. ( )