readclever's reviews
337 reviews

The book is fun. Some of the plot points are a bit meh, but it's a great Christmas read. Storyline of hero with his dad was really well done. Showed a maturing of personal responsibility. Romance was so-so. I would have loved to see more friendship between the women.

I wanted to like this book. I love when a heroine isn't so easily cowed and rather unlikeable in some ways. But the plot was too contrived and the love story felt rushed thanks to the sex. I did like the author's voice, however. Will pick up another book to see if the lack of solid plot is limited to this book.

I really liked Emma. I found her to be entirely relateable. Didn't even mind the gauzy metaphysical elements that made her a little too perfect. I wasn't entirely convinced of Edison, however. He felt a bit too much everything. The Vanza elements worked in a whodunit way but I wanted more character building between Edison and his grandmother, for example. Too many plot elements for a book under 400 pages well.

Solid writing. Emma's clear ethical lines definitely worked pretty consistently.

Mayhem and manners

Prodigy Stevie knows her panic attacks aren't good. That's why she takes meds. But in this story learn a lot more about theMacKilligan mind and body. The world is more sketched out and there's a lot of fave cameos, including the Jean Louis Parkers. And well prodigies can really get along.

You also learn more about panda shifters. Solid read. Devoured in under 24 hours. Funny, violent, no effs given. Very honey badger. Shen Li's family provides a lot more balance to the extended family, too.

Mythology done right

I've been keeping an eye on the book since it premiered in September. Flash sale had me buying, keeping tucked away when I needed a space opera. Mandanna builds a solid cast of characters, with flaws and beauty. A lot of treachery. Goddesses and Gods flow in an out of lives, a wake havoc and honeyed words. Esmae is an exiled princess, a young woman looking to make her mark in a world that tried to remove that planted mark. Intrigue and plans. Forgotten plots and long buried secrets bloom behind that wake. Great option for readers who want a strong mythology with well-crafted plots and characters.

I received a copy of When A Rogue Meets His Match through NetGalley for an honest review.

Messalina is amazing. She's a top contender for heroines I've read in 2020. Independent, intelligent, self-assured, and introspective. Several scenes made me cheer out loud at her ingenuity. Even stopping long enough to chat about it with my husband.

Gideon Hawthorne was a great counter to her struggles. Both caged into a marriage but willing to work towards a better future. Born in St. Giles, Gideon grew up with everything Messalina didn't have. Yet they both could empathize at what the other went through.

I don't want to give away spoilers since I think everyone should read the book. That means the review will point at times but not the situations.

In my podcast episode, I read several scenes aloud. One of my favorite was when Messalina had enough and flatly told the men to stop treating her as a dog bone. And her relationship with other women wasn't dependent on men. While some conversations concerned Gideon and her brothers, the bulk was about solidarity. Can't go wrong with a support network. One of the best reoccurring scenes for Messalina includes examining how class structures can make or break a person's mobility. Something you don't always find in historical romances.

And the romance between Gideon and Messalina works. It's solid. Moves at an organic pace and offers insight into each other. You feel the heartbreak and love, the pain and struggle as they adapt to each other's expectations. They also work as a team, a very important part of a forced marriage romance, I think.

I would love to talk about the bonus story by Kelly Bowen, but honestly, I'd like to review it separately because it felt like a standalone. I do appreciate where the overlaps seemed to connect between the two worlds, however. Night of the Scoundrel will be it's own episode for the podcast for that reason. The heroine and hero have so much to build together and to learn how to move beyond unforgivable hurts.

Highly, highly recommend the book. Beauty is not in just the words, but the actions of Messalina and Gideon together.