Series: The Widows' Club, #4
Traits & Tropes: brother's best friend
Publication Date: 12.31.19
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; England, 1817
Rating: 2 stars
Lady Georgina Kirkpatrick earned her father's wrath years ago when she married a vicar's son for love rather than the odious earl her father had betrothed her to. But now her beloved husband has been killed and Georgie's options are limited for the next six years until she can claim her inheritance from her mother. Her father has agreed to take her back if she goes through now with the first marriage he originally arranged for her, so Georgie agrees and cherish the last few weeks of freedom she has. Until she and her lady's maid are kidnapped on the way to her father's house. They manage to escape and luckily encounter her brother's friend Robin Kerr, the Marquess of St. Just, in the coastal town of Portsmouth. St. Just knows he must help his friend's sister, even if she despises him, and soon he has them sailing away, though the lady is somewhat less than willing to accept his aide. Rob sails for his home with Georgie's family, kidnappers, and abominable betrothed in pursuit, but he and Georgie grow to form an unlikely bond and soon it seems they'll be strong enough together to take on anyone.
There may be spoilers ahead as we dip into rant territory.
Before I'd even made it to 20% on this book, Georgie had already firmly planted herself as one of the dumbest heroines I've read. She knew her kidnappers were dangerous and that her father couldn't care less about her and she still wanted to go "home" to said father. It amazed me that she'd even consider a place where she apparently suffered at the hands of a cruel father to be home. She displayed no autonomy, despite being a widow and having some options; even lacking money she could've easily secured a position as a paid companion. Her initial vitriol toward Rob also made no sense to me; it was definitely a case of the lady protesting too much, but I just didn't buy it or the obsession with propriety coming from a 24 year old widow. Her brother and maid were also ridiculous in their insistence on propriety and chaperonage and the maid spoke to Georgie in ways no maid would've dared speak to her mistress. This insistence also made Jemmy, Georgie's brother, quite the hypocrite from what I've learned of his and Elizabeth's story, though I haven't read it, and this made me dislike him enough that I really don't want to read it.
Beyond these rather technical issues I had, the storyline had so many pieces and different side characters telling things from their point of view that it became very farcical, rather than having a dramatic effect that actually held my attention. Georgie went from hating Rob (for no discernible reason), accusing him of kidnap after he rescued her and was trying to help her and keep her from running right back to her kidnappers, to her slightly liking him, to her suddenly being madly in love with him. Combined with a play by play of every ludicrous thought Georgie had, and there were many, I just didn't buy it and didn't feel any chemistry between her and Rob. Several phrases were also repeated ad nauseum, such as Georgie's plan to "ring a peal" over some man's head (this was made all the more ridiculous by her total lack of autonomy or gumption), and the many references to Rob as a pirate when it was made clear many times that he was nothing of the sort, ever. In fact, Rob is vilified by both Georgie and her brother, supposedly his best friend, for really no reason.
I found myself skimming this one because I had to DNF a book, especially for review, but I was disappointed. I hoped for improvement but as it wore on, the plot just grew even more far-fetched and nonsensical, with rushed love scenes and ridiculous behavior from Georgie's father, who is somehow magically forgiven in the end. Much of this was just a nonsensical farce to me and didn't really live up to my hopes for it.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
There may be spoilers ahead as we dip into rant territory.
Before I'd even made it to 20% on this book, Georgie had already firmly planted herself as one of the dumbest heroines I've read. She knew her kidnappers were dangerous and that her father couldn't care less about her and she still wanted to go "home" to said father. It amazed me that she'd even consider a place where she apparently suffered at the hands of a cruel father to be home. She displayed no autonomy, despite being a widow and having some options; even lacking money she could've easily secured a position as a paid companion. Her initial vitriol toward Rob also made no sense to me; it was definitely a case of the lady protesting too much, but I just didn't buy it or the obsession with propriety coming from a 24 year old widow. Her brother and maid were also ridiculous in their insistence on propriety and chaperonage and the maid spoke to Georgie in ways no maid would've dared speak to her mistress. This insistence also made Jemmy, Georgie's brother, quite the hypocrite from what I've learned of his and Elizabeth's story, though I haven't read it, and this made me dislike him enough that I really don't want to read it.
Beyond these rather technical issues I had, the storyline had so many pieces and different side characters telling things from their point of view that it became very farcical, rather than having a dramatic effect that actually held my attention. Georgie went from hating Rob (for no discernible reason), accusing him of kidnap after he rescued her and was trying to help her and keep her from running right back to her kidnappers, to her slightly liking him, to her suddenly being madly in love with him. Combined with a play by play of every ludicrous thought Georgie had, and there were many, I just didn't buy it and didn't feel any chemistry between her and Rob. Several phrases were also repeated ad nauseum, such as Georgie's plan to "ring a peal" over some man's head (this was made all the more ridiculous by her total lack of autonomy or gumption), and the many references to Rob as a pirate when it was made clear many times that he was nothing of the sort, ever. In fact, Rob is vilified by both Georgie and her brother, supposedly his best friend, for really no reason.
I found myself skimming this one because I had to DNF a book, especially for review, but I was disappointed. I hoped for improvement but as it wore on, the plot just grew even more far-fetched and nonsensical, with rushed love scenes and ridiculous behavior from Georgie's father, who is somehow magically forgiven in the end. Much of this was just a nonsensical farce to me and didn't really live up to my hopes for it.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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