- meme from That Artsy Reader Girl
Merry meets the Duke outside on a balcony during a party. She doesn't know his true identity and from his clothing, he's not a stuffed peacock. She lets her guard down and shows her American ways.My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I loved how different Merry was from the other women of society. I loved that she wasn't perfect, that she fell in love easily. I felt bad that she fell for terrible men. I loved the banter and the honest moments between Trent and Merry. I love how protective Merry felt for her aunt and uncle. I love how she battled society when they tried to take her down. I loved Trent. I felt terrible for him and for his family drama. I love that Merry didn't hide her differences including her intelligence. Of course the pineapple scene was amazingly clever. I do like how that turned out.
The Duke can't helped but be charmed by her. Even if she's already broken off two engagements and came to England to find a husband. Before he can think about courting her, the news hits him. She's the girl his brother asked to marry this morning.
His twin brother. The brother he hates. The brother who doesn't appreciate Merry. Trent isn't about to let him win...
Lady Amelia dislikes all the rules of society. She hates being told where to go and what to say. If she has to deal with on more thing, she'll scream. After a family squabble, she retires to her room. Leaning out the window, she hears a man singing. And decides to follow him.My Thoughts: I loved the first book and devoured the second. I'm longing for the third book and so hoping for a fourth book. I love how this book overlapped with the first story, we had bits and pieces from the first book simultaneously. I enjoyed Amelia's desire for escaping society.I adored the part where she stepped out of her painful shoes at the ball and the scandal that caused. With all the rules she must learn and follow, I can sympathize with her need for escape. I liked how her family was in part responsible for her escape. I love how she played tourist for a few days - knowing exactly where she wanted to go and what she wanted to do. I loved her time with Alastair. I felt badly for the hero and how he lost his family and had to deal with his uncle who despised him. I like how his uncle's demand played out. I liked how Amelia didn't tell her family about her perfect days, how she was heartbroken to discover the truth about Alastair, and how it all turned out. I can't wait for Lady Claire's story next.
She escapes her house, escapes her family, and escapes society. She meets the man singing. He's stunned to learn her identity the next morning. He's even more stunned upon learning that she has no desire to return. Instead, she creates a story and he plays along.
They hide from the world and live in the moment. But they must hide their tracks because if anyone discovers them, she will be ruined.
Lovely Lily shines brighter than any woman, but she's also lonely. Her guardian never sees her, in truth he doesn't even know of her existence. With no family or friends, she's desperate for someone to notice her. So when the artists turns her head, she believes herself in love with him - which is why she sits for a nude painting. She believes him when he says the painting is just for him.My Thoughts: I adored this book! I loved how Lily's life lead her to this point and how at first she was ashamed of her behavior, but how eventually she came to own it. I love the beauty and the beast trope. I loved Lily falling into friendship with the Talbot sisters. I loved learning more about the reluctant Duke and his past and how he didn't fit into society. I love his Scottish pride and how he wears kilts, showing off his legs. I loved the banter between the Lily and the Duke. She held her ground remarkably well. I love seeing characters from other books/series appear. I can't wait for book 3!
But he betrays her.
And she hears about it in front of the whole ton, causing a huge scandal.
Now her guardian hears about her for the first time and he comes to London to help. But he makes everything worse and sometimes better. He comes up with a plan to weather the storm ahead, but she vows she will only marry for love. But she doesn't have much time to fall in love...
My first post at the BookBub Blog is up and I'm talking about what to read while you're waiting for the new Julia Quinn. The list of thirteen books includes some of my favorite historical romances.
