Rouge bluestocking = true love.

Likeable characters, some steamy love scenes. good beach read. ( )

Why does this cover not feature a women wearing regency style glasses? Those glasses drove me crazy because everytime they were mentioned, all I could picture was this


Not Sexy. ( )

I tried so hard to like this book. I love the trope of nerdy girls falling in love with scoundrels, but this one was so over the top and yet so simple that I was honestly bored. Yes, bored. This book fell victim to not having enough plot, so the characters rehashed the same problems over and over again until I wanted to tear my hair out.

Throughout the entire book, Cross complains about how he's all darkness and Pippa's all lightness and innocence. He was so full of his own self-importance that he never listened to Pippa. He didn't treat her as an equal but a child to be protected. Even when she told him she knew what was best for her happiness, he proceeded to tell her she was wrong. Then, when he finally goes after her, it's not because he's had an epiphany but for dramatic effect. In fact, he ruined the ending of the book for me with his behavior. I swear he's a masochist, because he just seems to get off to his own pain.

As for Pippa, I only liked her at the end. I tried to like her earlier in the book. I read her as an autistic character due to her habit of naming bones and muscles in social situations. I only liked her when she was honest with herself, but she was so often not that I found her annoying. I just couldn't warm to her, try as I might.

I know these characters were struggling with insecurity, but to read their same excuses for everything over and over again for almost 400 pages was driving me insane. The last third of the book suddenly decided to have a plot while I was confused for the first 2/3 how Pippa kept getting around London by herself in the middle of the day with no one noticing.

If you like books with almost zero description and masochistic men (I refuse to call him brooding), then this is the book for you. ( )

ehh. ( )

I can't quite remember the first one but I'm pretty sure this was better. In any case I'd put this at a 3.5 stars.

I liked Phillipa and Cross. They were both intelligent and I liked how their conversations referenced random facts and knowledge. They both seemed to have a lot in common and the romance was mostly enjoyable. The drama was a little bit over the top and I think I remember feeling the same way about the first - maybe it's just how the author writes. Even so, it's a well written story with enjoyable characters and a mostly believable plot, even if a slightly ridiculous one. And I very much enjoyed that Phillipa was the one to save the day. ( )