Zoë Archer

Ugh. In brief, a whole lot of "White Man's Burden," and the narrative keeps helping the main characters avoid any hard decisions through convenient coincidences. Notes from reading:

1. Oh look, our white hero rides and wrestles better than the native Mongols, even though he's never been to Mongolia before. He's also so super hot that even the Mongol women stop to ogle him-- as though their men don't have muscles, and they wouldn't find him kind of weird-looking?
2. The Blades protect magical show more Sources from being stolen and misused for the expansion of the Empire-- unless taking the Source back would mean the death of British soldiers, says Thalia. Record scratch, what? So they protect the Sources unless the Sources are actually helping England, then they don't?
3. Our British soldier hero, who has been to many continents in the service (and I assume this is not just to make friends) is totally not racist or Imperialistic at all. I guess he's just boyishly into the challenge of shooting locals, it's not personal?
4. Two examples of how the narrative helps the hero and heroine avoid hard choices: At one point during the climactic battle, Thalia sees the hero (Graham? Gregory? Goyle? Let's call him G) in danger and wants to go to him. She is currently acting as a sniper and a vital part of the group's protection. But just as she is faced with the dilemma, part of the ceiling of the hall falls in, trapping her in the room. And second, the Mongol tribe that has been carrying the Magical Macguffin agrees to give it up to our hero and heroine, even though the MM is the cause of the year-long presence of red flowers that they use to feed their livestock. This is pretty implausible (sure, white people we just met, have our livelihood because you say it needs protecting, we'll just... feed our cattle some other way in the winter?). At the end of the book, we learn that because the MM was with the tribe for hundreds of years, its magic has suffused them and the red flowers continue to follow them anyway. Easy peasy lemon-squeezy.

Also the heroine has a bad case of "not like other girls"-itis, as in: She loves adventure, not like other girls who just want to embroider pillows. The other girls who like to embroider pillows get mentioned a lot.

Just basically lazy writing. I have the other three books in the series but will not be reading them. show less

This is the type of book that I usually love: a scholarly hero pretending to be a rake and an independent heroine on the outskirts of society because of her learning who thinks she likes a different man.
I liked how the author used inclusion in a historical regency book. It seemed very natural to include intelligent women while discussing some of the obstacles they faced (and still face). People from different cultures were also included organically, which is nice to see in historical show more romance. Ms. Leigh's descriptions of botany etc. were incorporated without adding too much for the non-scientific person.
Where the story failed was in the romance department. Grace and Seb are perfectly nice people, but I never really felt any chemistry between them. She was so intent on the other man, and he wasn't especially enamored with Grace until they both fell suddenly into lust. Then it combusted in a very unlikely manner that still didn't feel romantic. The push by Grace's parents for her to marry also felt implausible; I shook my head when her mother pushed that aside with a very practical solution near the end of the book.
So, it's an okay read, but I'm hoping that Rotherby's story in the next book is better. show less

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#1 The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes - ★★★★
#2 How the Wallflower was Won - TBR

I am so thrilled to be joining the blog tour for The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes by Eva Leigh. Huge thanks to the team at Mills & Boon, for sending me a copy of the book. The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes is the first book in the Last Chance Scoundrels series.

Synopsis:

When Kieran Ransome’s latest antics result in a massive scandal, his father issues an show more ultimatum: find a respectable wife or inherit nothing. But as one of London’s most inveterate scoundrels, Kieran doesn’t know any ladies who fit the bill. Or does he?

Celeste Kilburn is a society darling, beloved by influential members of the ton. But keeping a spotless reputation leaves little room for adventure and she longs to escape her gilded cage, especially with her impending engagement to a stuffy earl. When Kieran—her older brother’s best friend and an irresistibly attractive rogue—begs for her help, Celeste makes a deal: she’ll introduce him to the right social circles if he’ll show her the scandalous side of London.

In between proper teas and garden parties, Kieran escorts Celeste—disguised as “Salome”—to rowdy gaming hells, wild fêtes, and sensual art salons. As they spend more time together, their initial attraction builds to a desperate desire that neither can ignore. But when someone discovers their midnight exploits, Celeste’s freedom and reputation are endangered, and Kieran must save the woman he loves… respectable or not.

My Thoughts:

The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes is the second book I’ve read by Eva Leigh, the first one being “Would I Lie to the Duke”. Eva has a wonderful way of inviting you into the Regency period and keeping you hooked. I read this book very fast and enjoyed every chapter. I managed to avoid the hype that is Bridgerton for a very long time, haven’t watched a single episode, but after reading this book I binge watched the whole first season. In two days. I even started to say things like “I shall like a coffee very much.”

Back to our book, I loved Kieran and Celeste’s romance and passion so much! It’s one of those stories of slow-burn romance, where we all know these two people have feelings for each other, but they are the last ones to realize it. And by not telling each other what they feel, they are hurting themselves too. The tension is there throughout the whole book. Kieran appears to be a rake, but has a soft spot. And Celeste appears to be a respectable lady in society, but has a wild heart.

“Some men loved breasts, others were enthralled by arses or legs. But Kieran could write stanza after stanza on the allure of a woman’s neck.”

We get a lot of adventures in the book as well. Celeste gets to ecplore the scandalous side of London and I loved her wild spirit. It was nice to meet a character in that time thatis not afraid to speak her mind, share her hopes, dreams and passions. And it was nice to meet a man that listened to a woman and actually respected her choices and cared for her freedom of speech.

“So long as no one’s harmed in its getting,” he said, his voice low, “we ought to be free to find our joy where we can. God knows that in this life, none of it’s guaranteed.”

The story intrigued me and the romance kept me going. It’s a lovely book to dive into and escape reality for a second. Even if you’re not a regency novel fan, if you love sexy and fun slow-burn romances, I warmly recommend checking “The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes” out. show less

This story swept me away with its mix of pirates, forbidden magic, and slow-burn romance. Alys Tanner, condemned as a witch, escapes New England and takes command of an all-female sorceress crew. Watching her lead with courage while defying the British navy was thrilling, and I loved the feminist edge, as she protected women, freed the oppressed, and fought for independence. The enemies-to-lovers romance between Alys and Ben, a captured naval officer, had great tension, though I sometimes show more wished for more chemistry and deeper angst. The worldbuilding was fantastic, especially the blend of magic, sea monsters, and colonial politics. Chanté McCormick’s narration brought it vividly to life. Her performance captured Alys Tanner’s fierce determination and gave each woman a distinct voice, making the found-family dynamic shine. The enemies-to-lovers tension between Alys and Ben Priestley, the buttoned-up naval officer she captures, was conveyed with great nuance, a mix of mistrust and reluctant desire. The mix of swashbuckling adventure, forbidden magic, and political rebellion kept me hooked. While pacing slowed a little in the middle, the action, sea monsters, and feminist themes more than made up for it. Fantastic start to the duology. show less