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Daughtry Family #1
How to Tempt a Duke
How to tempt a duke? By refusing to be tempted at all...
He'd returned from war a duke. Now Rafael Daughtry was battling a force more terrifying than Napoleon's army—his family. Thankfully, his childhood friend Charlotte Seavers had agreed—reluctantly—to a bargain. While Rafe would provide her with the home she'd lost, Charlotte would provide him with a chaperone for his unruly twin sisters.
But who would chaperone Rafe? For the feisty young girl he remembered had blossomed into a sensual woman—a woman whose haunting beauty and deeply kept secrets drew him like no other. Charlotte had good reason to mistrust men—yet could Rafe's sizzling seduction convince her to give in to temptation?
He'd returned from war a duke. Now Rafael Daughtry was battling a force more terrifying than Napoleon's army—his family. Thankfully, his childhood friend Charlotte Seavers had agreed—reluctantly—to a bargain. While Rafe would provide her with the home she'd lost, Charlotte would provide him with a chaperone for his unruly twin sisters.
But who would chaperone Rafe? For the feisty young girl he remembered had blossomed into a sensual woman—a woman whose haunting beauty and deeply kept secrets drew him like no other. Charlotte had good reason to mistrust men—yet could Rafe's sizzling seduction convince her to give in to temptation?
346 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 18, 2009
About the author
Kasey Michaels
276 books538 followersKasey Michaels is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 100 books (she doesn't count them). Kasey has received three coveted Starred Reviews from Publishers Weekly, two for the historical romances, THE SECRETS OF THE HEART and THE BUTLER DID IT, and a third for contemporary romance LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY (that shows diversity, you see). She is a recipient of the RITA, a Waldenbooks and Bookrak Bestseller award, and many awards from Romantic Times magazine, including a Career Achievement award for her Regency era historical romances. She is an Honor Roll author in Romance Writers of America, Inc. (RWA)
Kasey has appeared on the TODAY show, and was the subject of a Lifetime Cable TV show "A Better Way," in conjunction with Good Housekeeping magazine, a program devoted to women and how they have achieved career success in the midst of motherhood (short version: "with great difficulty").
A highly praised nonfiction book, written as Kathryn Seidick, "...OR YOU CAN LET HIM GO," details the story of Kasey and her family during the time of her eldest son's first kidney transplant.
Kasey has written Regency romances, Regency historicals, category books including novellas and continuities and a few series "launch" books, and single title contemporaries. She has coped with time travel, ghosts, trilogies, the dark side, the very light side, and just about everything in between. Hers is also the twisted mind behind her ongoing Maggie Kelly mystery series starring a former romance writer turned historical mystery writer whose gorgeous hunk of a fictional hero shows up, live and in color, in her Manhattan living room – to melt her knees, to help her solve murders, and to leave the top off her toothpaste. And, says Kasey, she's just getting started!
Series:
* His Chariot Awaits
* Lion On the Prowl
* Crown Family
* London Friends
* Chandlers Request
* The Trehan Brothers
* Maggie Kelly Mystery
* Romney Marsh
* Sunshine Girls
Kasey has appeared on the TODAY show, and was the subject of a Lifetime Cable TV show "A Better Way," in conjunction with Good Housekeeping magazine, a program devoted to women and how they have achieved career success in the midst of motherhood (short version: "with great difficulty").
A highly praised nonfiction book, written as Kathryn Seidick, "...OR YOU CAN LET HIM GO," details the story of Kasey and her family during the time of her eldest son's first kidney transplant.
Kasey has written Regency romances, Regency historicals, category books including novellas and continuities and a few series "launch" books, and single title contemporaries. She has coped with time travel, ghosts, trilogies, the dark side, the very light side, and just about everything in between. Hers is also the twisted mind behind her ongoing Maggie Kelly mystery series starring a former romance writer turned historical mystery writer whose gorgeous hunk of a fictional hero shows up, live and in color, in her Manhattan living room – to melt her knees, to help her solve murders, and to leave the top off her toothpaste. And, says Kasey, she's just getting started!
Series:
* His Chariot Awaits
* Lion On the Prowl
* Crown Family
* London Friends
* Chandlers Request
* The Trehan Brothers
* Maggie Kelly Mystery
* Romney Marsh
* Sunshine Girls
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
September 13, 2017
leído en mayo
Entretenida... se deja leer!!
Entretenida... se deja leer!!
January 19, 2021
Rafe is suddenly a Duke when his uncle and cousins die, and good riddance. Charlotte has been in love with Rafe since they were children, but now has a devastating secret that could ruin any chance of happiness.
Besides he only sees her as a friend.
And then he’s interested, but it’s not particularly hot or emotionally satisfying.
Someone is trying to kill Rafe?
He has problems managing his servants?
His twin sisters are nearly season ready and one is furtively doing stuff just to be weird?
This is a bad book with lazy plotting. It is deeply unsatisfactory and the tone is off.
What broke me even before the halfway mark was Rafe taking time to notice Charlotte’s rain-soaked camel toe while her house was falling down in a howling storm. Pick a better moment.
Besides he only sees her as a friend.
And then he’s interested, but it’s not particularly hot or emotionally satisfying.
Someone is trying to kill Rafe?
He has problems managing his servants?
His twin sisters are nearly season ready and one is furtively doing stuff just to be weird?
This is a bad book with lazy plotting. It is deeply unsatisfactory and the tone is off.
What broke me even before the halfway mark was Rafe taking time to notice Charlotte’s rain-soaked camel toe while her house was falling down in a howling storm. Pick a better moment.
January 21, 2019
Sımsıcak (Daughtry Family #1)
Kasey Michaels,
Ben bu kitaptan bir şey anlamadım. Oldukça eğlenceli bir kitap sanmıştım oysa ki başlarda güzel başladı çünkü sonra anlamsız karışık bir hal aldı özelikle ikili arasında ki durum. Sıkıcıydı adı ile hiç alakası yoktu ve nasıl söyleyim belki çeviriden karışık geldi. 😴 sevmedim
Kasey Michaels,
Ben bu kitaptan bir şey anlamadım. Oldukça eğlenceli bir kitap sanmıştım oysa ki başlarda güzel başladı çünkü sonra anlamsız karışık bir hal aldı özelikle ikili arasında ki durum. Sıkıcıydı adı ile hiç alakası yoktu ve nasıl söyleyim belki çeviriden karışık geldi. 😴 sevmedim
January 11, 2010
one of the best Regency Romances I've read in a long time. The end has a twist I definitely never saw coming. The next book is about one of the Duke's sisters, and I didn't want to read it...until she grew up a bit at the end. But Rafe and Charlotte were a great pairing, and a cute romance.
Rafe comes back from war to a new dukedom that shouldn't have been his. He says rather grimly at one point, "And I only had to step over 3 bodies to get it." But Charlotte helps him gain his footing and deal with his 17 yr old younger twin sisters Nicole and Lydia. They fall in love, but charlotte has a big secret that prevents them from getting close. And it's a biggie. I liked this book alot more than I thought I would. It was a pleasant surprise.
Rafe comes back from war to a new dukedom that shouldn't have been his. He says rather grimly at one point, "And I only had to step over 3 bodies to get it." But Charlotte helps him gain his footing and deal with his 17 yr old younger twin sisters Nicole and Lydia. They fall in love, but charlotte has a big secret that prevents them from getting close. And it's a biggie. I liked this book alot more than I thought I would. It was a pleasant surprise.
February 25, 2012
Sımsıcak-Kasey Michaels
Pek begendigim bir kitap olamadi ne yazık ki. Dört kitaplık bir seri serinin diğer kitapları nasıl olur bilemem ama bu ilk kitap fazla durağan ve sakin geldi bana..
Askı pek hissedemedim.
Yazar ask ve tutkuya ek olarak,dostluk,arkadaslıgida isliyordu. Ama maalesef heyecan yoktu. Hikaye Napoleon savası zamaninda geciyor...
Savastan Amcasi ve kuzenlerinin bir deniz kazasinda ölmesi ile bir dük olarak dönen Rafael Daughtry Düklügü ogrenmek ve ikiz kızkardeşlerine göz kulak olmasi icin cocukluk arkadasi Charlotte'den yardim görür.
Charlotte'nin cocuklugun dan beri asık oldugu Rafael ile tekrar karsilasmak onu mutlu etsede Charlotte'ye göre köprünün altından cok sular gecmistir.
Ama onun dostlugunu arkadaslıgini özlemistir. Rafael'in ele avuca sıgmayan ikiz kız kardeslerine o ve annesi yokken gözkulak olmus malikane de onlarla birlikte kalmistir. Rafael yokken sürpriz bir sekilde olen kuzenlerinden biri ile nisanlanmistir. Bunu duyan Rafael'in bu haber hic hosuna da gitmemistir.
Amcasi ve kuzenlerinin ölümü, Charlotte'nin nisani ve annesinin hastaligi derken cok seydeki sırrin gercek nedenini Rafael ögrendikce yeni olaylar sayesinde Charlotte ile araşindaki dostluk ve arkadaslik, ask da gelismeye baslar öyleki evlenmek icin baska bir kadinı düsünemez bile.
Savastan evine silah arkadasi Fitz ile dönen çicegi burnundaki dükümüzün kiz kardesi Lydia ile Fitz arasinda romantik rüzgarlar esmeye baslar. Ani bir emir ile Fitz cepheye tekrar donmek durumundadir.
Konu kisaca böyle.
Kesinlikle tekrar okuyacagim kitaplardan degil.. Askin yavas yavas gelismesini seviyorsaniz zevk ile okuyabilirsiniz.Serinin diğer kitaplarını da bakarsak:)) Diğer kitaplar daha iyi olabilir..Ama bu ilk kitap çok sakindi:))
Daughtry Family
1. How To Tempt A Duke (2009)(Sımsıcak)
1. How to Woo a Spinster (2009)
2. How To Tame a Lady (2009)
3. How to Beguile a Beauty (2010)
4. How to Wed a Baron (2010)
Pek begendigim bir kitap olamadi ne yazık ki. Dört kitaplık bir seri serinin diğer kitapları nasıl olur bilemem ama bu ilk kitap fazla durağan ve sakin geldi bana..
Askı pek hissedemedim.
Yazar ask ve tutkuya ek olarak,dostluk,arkadaslıgida isliyordu. Ama maalesef heyecan yoktu. Hikaye Napoleon savası zamaninda geciyor...
Savastan Amcasi ve kuzenlerinin bir deniz kazasinda ölmesi ile bir dük olarak dönen Rafael Daughtry Düklügü ogrenmek ve ikiz kızkardeşlerine göz kulak olmasi icin cocukluk arkadasi Charlotte'den yardim görür.
Charlotte'nin cocuklugun dan beri asık oldugu Rafael ile tekrar karsilasmak onu mutlu etsede Charlotte'ye göre köprünün altından cok sular gecmistir.
Ama onun dostlugunu arkadaslıgini özlemistir. Rafael'in ele avuca sıgmayan ikiz kız kardeslerine o ve annesi yokken gözkulak olmus malikane de onlarla birlikte kalmistir. Rafael yokken sürpriz bir sekilde olen kuzenlerinden biri ile nisanlanmistir. Bunu duyan Rafael'in bu haber hic hosuna da gitmemistir.
Amcasi ve kuzenlerinin ölümü, Charlotte'nin nisani ve annesinin hastaligi derken cok seydeki sırrin gercek nedenini Rafael ögrendikce yeni olaylar sayesinde Charlotte ile araşindaki dostluk ve arkadaslik, ask da gelismeye baslar öyleki evlenmek icin baska bir kadinı düsünemez bile.
Savastan evine silah arkadasi Fitz ile dönen çicegi burnundaki dükümüzün kiz kardesi Lydia ile Fitz arasinda romantik rüzgarlar esmeye baslar. Ani bir emir ile Fitz cepheye tekrar donmek durumundadir.
Konu kisaca böyle.
Kesinlikle tekrar okuyacagim kitaplardan degil.. Askin yavas yavas gelismesini seviyorsaniz zevk ile okuyabilirsiniz.Serinin diğer kitaplarını da bakarsak:)) Diğer kitaplar daha iyi olabilir..Ama bu ilk kitap çok sakindi:))
Daughtry Family
1. How To Tempt A Duke (2009)(Sımsıcak)
1. How to Woo a Spinster (2009)
2. How To Tame a Lady (2009)
3. How to Beguile a Beauty (2010)
4. How to Wed a Baron (2010)
September 29, 2009
I don't think I've read a Kasey Michaels book before and I really really liked this one. There was a little bit f violence towards women which I really hate reading about (seeing on tv, movies, etc.). I got caught up into this story quickly and I loved the strength, friendship and diaglog between Rafe and Charlie. Fitz was also a great character and played a key role in a tear wrenching part of this book. The next book is Nichole's story and I hope there will be a third about Lydia.
August 12, 2017
very nice. Pleasant story, nice romance and heroes to like.
March 3, 2012
Düşük beklentiler içinde okumaya başladığım ama okudukça beni saran okumaktan zevk aldığım bir kitap oldu.Historical olarak hafif kalıyor ama içinde bir çok duyguyu barındırıyor sevdim ben..
Özellikle Tanner ve Lydia'yı merakla bekliyorum şimdiden:)
Özellikle Tanner ve Lydia'yı merakla bekliyorum şimdiden:)
August 30, 2009
I loved this book. It had the humorous moments to the ones that caused me to tear up. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in Kasey Micheal's Daughtry Family series.
March 10, 2021
Ayant aimé une autre série de l’auteure, c’est avec confiance que je me suis plongé dans cette nouvelle aventure.
Dans ce premier tome nous suivons Charlotte et Rafael qui se retrouve dans des circonstances particulières six ans après le départ de celui-ci dans l’armée Britannique. Alors que notre protagoniste qui ne se fait toujours pas à son nouveau statut piétine un peu. Notre héroïne tente de l’aider mais aussi de museler ses sentiments. On fait également la connaissance de Nicole et Lydia, les sœurs jumelles de Rafael et Fitz, l’ami soldat de Rafe.
Concernant l’histoire, j’ai aimé que la romance soit au second plan, qu’elle ne prenne pas trop de place pour se concentrer sur l’intrigue et l’époque avec les batailles contre Bonaparte. On est immergé dans la vie d’un domaine, sa régence, les devoirs qui incombent au propriétaire mais aussi la politique. Il y a tout de même un petit bémol dans cette lecture, un choix scénaristique de l’auteure qui a brisé mon cœur en mille morceaux, on ne s’y attend pas et la douleur est vive car je m’étais imaginé quelque chose pour ces personnages et au final cela ne se fera pas.
Pour finir, j’ai beaucoup aimé cette histoire sauf l’élément cité ci-dessus, cela change des romances historiques que j’ai l’habitude de lire. C’est avec plaisir que je lirai le deuxième opus portant sur Nicole et le troisième sur Lydia. Quant au quatrième tome, il ne m’intéresse pas.
https://la-bibliotheque-du-labyrinthe...
Dans ce premier tome nous suivons Charlotte et Rafael qui se retrouve dans des circonstances particulières six ans après le départ de celui-ci dans l’armée Britannique. Alors que notre protagoniste qui ne se fait toujours pas à son nouveau statut piétine un peu. Notre héroïne tente de l’aider mais aussi de museler ses sentiments. On fait également la connaissance de Nicole et Lydia, les sœurs jumelles de Rafael et Fitz, l’ami soldat de Rafe.
Concernant l’histoire, j’ai aimé que la romance soit au second plan, qu’elle ne prenne pas trop de place pour se concentrer sur l’intrigue et l’époque avec les batailles contre Bonaparte. On est immergé dans la vie d’un domaine, sa régence, les devoirs qui incombent au propriétaire mais aussi la politique. Il y a tout de même un petit bémol dans cette lecture, un choix scénaristique de l’auteure qui a brisé mon cœur en mille morceaux, on ne s’y attend pas et la douleur est vive car je m’étais imaginé quelque chose pour ces personnages et au final cela ne se fera pas.
Pour finir, j’ai beaucoup aimé cette histoire sauf l’élément cité ci-dessus, cela change des romances historiques que j’ai l’habitude de lire. C’est avec plaisir que je lirai le deuxième opus portant sur Nicole et le troisième sur Lydia. Quant au quatrième tome, il ne m’intéresse pas.
https://la-bibliotheque-du-labyrinthe...
October 25, 2023
Isn’t it surprising how you like a random book. This book has no obvious chemistry or toe curling romance or sexual tension but I liked reading this book. It was simple story with something. It wasn’t boring. It was just a simple read.
I liked Kasey Michael’s “everything comes up rosy” book. I read that years back and was looking for books but never managed to find any. I found this one in a library which was surprising and even more surprising was that I still liked this book. Guess I like older books than the new writing. Especially romances.
I liked Kasey Michael’s “everything comes up rosy” book. I read that years back and was looking for books but never managed to find any. I found this one in a library which was surprising and even more surprising was that I still liked this book. Guess I like older books than the new writing. Especially romances.
August 16, 2020
"En résumé, une RH qui sort des sentiers battus. Ici, les clichés n'existent pas, bien au contraire. La femme est forte, ne se laisse pas faire et l'homme est perdu avec ses nouvelles priorités. Il ne sait pas comment se comporter et Charlotte est là pour le guider. Bref, j'ai passé un excellent moment et je me suis beaucoup attachée à ce couple atypique."
http://lire-une-passion.weebly.com/ro...
http://lire-une-passion.weebly.com/ro...
February 27, 2022
Además de que fue una lectura adictiva, (lo inicie ayer y ve justo casi 24 horas después lo termine). Los cliches son la mejor cura cuando uno tiene bloqueo lector. Confirmado!!!
Me encantó que fuera diferente que no fuera una historia de una damisela en apuros sino con mujeres fuertes. Además que el tema de la trama pudo ser mejor explotado pero me conformo.
Y creo que el tema delicado por el que pasó el libro fue un buen gancho.
Me encantó que fuera diferente que no fuera una historia de una damisela en apuros sino con mujeres fuertes. Además que el tema de la trama pudo ser mejor explotado pero me conformo.
Y creo que el tema delicado por el que pasó el libro fue un buen gancho.
September 11, 2020
This is some straightforward friends-to-lovers story with a bit of idiots-to-lovers (which is really cute). But the story seems underdeveloped, there are some parts, imo, that make scratch my head and go "huh?"
September 12, 2020
This story. Just...my heart. Just read it honey. It's so worth it. Wonderful characters. Fitz ❤️❤️❤️. I think my only qualm is with the romance. I never really felt it bloom. It's like it was there but not as the center of the story. I didn't really like that but it was a good read😉.
March 5, 2023
Fluffy! Also very modern - unchaperoned singles walking around kissing each other with no feelings of guilt. If you want to set it in the Regency, give the characters all the crippling social neuroses that go along with that.
April 14, 2018
Fun to read the first book of this series. I was remembering my mum and how she loved these books❤️
January 17, 2020
Cute. Likeable main characters. I was interested in the twins, and their future stories. Unfortunately, accordingly to the poor, reviews, they books are underdeveloped.
January 22, 2020
More graphic than I enjoy reading.
October 20, 2020
Good series
February 12, 2021
Çok sevemedim ama diğer kızların hikayesini de merak ediyorum
January 9, 2022
First book I read from Kasey Michaels and it was a very good historical romance. The only thing I missed was showing the marriage of the Duch and Duchesse but I can't wait to read the second book :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2022
Meh
Not bad
Mas já li melhor
Not bad
Mas já li melhor
August 10, 2023
I know I’ve read this before, within the last couple of years, but I still enjoyed the re-read.
April 18, 2024
Ósea me gusto,pero no sé si tiene mucho romance, q haya matado a Fitz me molestó
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2012
Senhora de prémios e honrarias, Kasey Michaels é autora de mais de cem livros bestsellers com direito ao RITA Award e a constar no Romance Writers of America. Esta romancista brilha no romance contemporâneo mas também dá cartadas no romance histórico, como é exemplo, a série Daughtry Family.
Dos dias de hoje para o confronto entre os dois maiores generais da História, Kasey leva-nos a Londres após o regresso a casa dos oficiais ingleses e a uma história de amor que nos faz esquecer uma época sangrenta.
Antes que perguntem, eu comprei o livro pela capa. Acho que não há rapariga romântica que resista a este vestido, é tão bonito! Obviamente que também li a sinopse, claro, e pareceu-me ser um livro bastante fofo e essa foi a outra razão por ter vindo para casa. Infelizmente, este é um daqueles livros que nos apaixonámos pelas capas e o interior acaba por ser muito menor do que o exterior. Neste género, acaba por existir uma fórmula base que a maioria das autoras segue e dentro dessa fórmula há um estilo em que cada leitora se identifica mais. Este faz parte do estilo que não tem nada a ver comigo.
A escrita da autora é fluida e agradável de se ler mas a sua construção de personagens não é das mais apelativas nem a história que criou. Lê-se bem e rapidamente mas não é um livro que apegue ou incentive a seguir o resto da série. A história está bem situada e tem umas quantas situações interessantes mas não senti um apelo especial, pelo menos pelo casal principal. Posso pensar seguir o resto da série por causa das irmãs do protagonista mas o entusiasmo, sinceramente, não é muito.
O casal principal é a grande razão para isso. Rafe e Charlie pareceram-me “sem sal”, não senti o grande sentimento da parte deles antes uma grande falta de ligação entre ambos, o que contribuiu para a falta de química entre casal e com que as cenas protagonizadas pelos dois me parecessem muito forçadas. Para além disso, a autora não jogou bem com as suas personalidades, que não me atraíram e saem muito do estilo a que estou habituada e de que gosto.
A personagem mais interessante acabou por ter um final triste, o que fez com que a minha falta de vontade para com o livro aumentasse. Contudo, as irmãs de Rafe mostraram ser umas protagonistas mais à altura, com duas personalidades distintas e interessante que me parecem ir causar uma grande diferença nos próximos livros. Veremos se estarei com vontade para os seguir.
Quanto ao enredo em si, os pormenores históricos estão bem delineados e coerentes mas faltou ritmo e emoção à narrativa. Se calhar não achei tão interessante por causa dos protagonistas e quero dar um desconto a esta parte do livro por causa disso porque a forma como a autora nos apresenta o romance diz-nos que é um amor dedicado, de muitos anos e algo tímido, o que faz com que Kasey a conte de forma delicada e doce mas que acaba por não convencer.
Torna-se mais um daqueles livros que se lê mas não tem nada de especial para agarrar o leitor. Um daqueles com uma linda capa cuja leitura não corresponde às expectativas.
http://girlinchaiselongue.blogspot.pt...
Dos dias de hoje para o confronto entre os dois maiores generais da História, Kasey leva-nos a Londres após o regresso a casa dos oficiais ingleses e a uma história de amor que nos faz esquecer uma época sangrenta.
Antes que perguntem, eu comprei o livro pela capa. Acho que não há rapariga romântica que resista a este vestido, é tão bonito! Obviamente que também li a sinopse, claro, e pareceu-me ser um livro bastante fofo e essa foi a outra razão por ter vindo para casa. Infelizmente, este é um daqueles livros que nos apaixonámos pelas capas e o interior acaba por ser muito menor do que o exterior. Neste género, acaba por existir uma fórmula base que a maioria das autoras segue e dentro dessa fórmula há um estilo em que cada leitora se identifica mais. Este faz parte do estilo que não tem nada a ver comigo.
A escrita da autora é fluida e agradável de se ler mas a sua construção de personagens não é das mais apelativas nem a história que criou. Lê-se bem e rapidamente mas não é um livro que apegue ou incentive a seguir o resto da série. A história está bem situada e tem umas quantas situações interessantes mas não senti um apelo especial, pelo menos pelo casal principal. Posso pensar seguir o resto da série por causa das irmãs do protagonista mas o entusiasmo, sinceramente, não é muito.
O casal principal é a grande razão para isso. Rafe e Charlie pareceram-me “sem sal”, não senti o grande sentimento da parte deles antes uma grande falta de ligação entre ambos, o que contribuiu para a falta de química entre casal e com que as cenas protagonizadas pelos dois me parecessem muito forçadas. Para além disso, a autora não jogou bem com as suas personalidades, que não me atraíram e saem muito do estilo a que estou habituada e de que gosto.
A personagem mais interessante acabou por ter um final triste, o que fez com que a minha falta de vontade para com o livro aumentasse. Contudo, as irmãs de Rafe mostraram ser umas protagonistas mais à altura, com duas personalidades distintas e interessante que me parecem ir causar uma grande diferença nos próximos livros. Veremos se estarei com vontade para os seguir.
Quanto ao enredo em si, os pormenores históricos estão bem delineados e coerentes mas faltou ritmo e emoção à narrativa. Se calhar não achei tão interessante por causa dos protagonistas e quero dar um desconto a esta parte do livro por causa disso porque a forma como a autora nos apresenta o romance diz-nos que é um amor dedicado, de muitos anos e algo tímido, o que faz com que Kasey a conte de forma delicada e doce mas que acaba por não convencer.
Torna-se mais um daqueles livros que se lê mas não tem nada de especial para agarrar o leitor. Um daqueles com uma linda capa cuja leitura não corresponde às expectativas.
http://girlinchaiselongue.blogspot.pt...
August 6, 2012
I don't give half-stars, but I'm sorely tempted to change my rules for this one. It's mostly very good, with a vivid, engaging cast of characters and a romance I readily bought into; on a story level, I want to give it a four. However, there were some weaknesses in the writing that I couldn't ignore. The story is rich and we're given plenty of time to get to know the characters, but the passage of time - especially, but not only in the jump from part one to part two - is patchy enough to detract from the flow of the story. Or, rather, it doesn't really have a flow; Michaels shows us some important passages of the leads' relationship, but it doesn't unroll as a story. I enjoyed that, but it makes the work feel oddly unpolished so I can't say it's a plus. Also, because of the odd non-narrative narrative, sometimes the characters' behaviour was unnecessarily repetitive. Definitely I failed to understand or sympathize with the heroine's self-sacrificing reluctance to get involved with the hero when it persisted into the last third of the book. And then when they do finally get together, it's all at once and in my opinion, all too fast (even with the hero's grief at losing his friend as a mitigating factor). The epilogue drops some important exposition in a noticeably clumsy way. And, Michaels' misuse of modes of address keeps me from being able to really buy into the world of her story - a duke's mother doesn't become 'dowager duchess' if she was never married to a duke herself; a duke's sisters don't get the courtesy 'lady' with their first names if their father was never the duke; there might've been others besides, but those were major and recurring enough to keep me from being able to drop this nitpick. So, although the story's enthralling and the book's a good read, it could have been better and only gets three stars.
******************spoilers*****************************
I'm a bit confused as to how Rafe turned out to be such a good man given his complete lack of responsible and respect-worthy parental figures. Also, I was almost too upset to continue when I realized that Fitz would be Lydia's 'lost love' by book 3; he's such fun and I was rooting for their sweet romance. Michaels won me 'round by the end, though, so while I miss Fitz I'm willing to give Tanner his chance. And, at first I made many allowances for Nicole and told myself I should like her for what she is; then her obliviousness and selfish immaturity got too much and I was thinking I wouldn't bother with the rest of the series because I couldn't stand her enough for a whole book (and I didn't want to see Lydia without Fitz); but, again, by the end, Michaels won me 'round, and I find myself again able to be in sympathy with Nicole even while being exasperated by her brattiness. I guess it's impressive that Michaels creates characters it's possible to get so invested in :) 6 Aug/12
******************spoilers*****************************
I'm a bit confused as to how Rafe turned out to be such a good man given his complete lack of responsible and respect-worthy parental figures. Also, I was almost too upset to continue when I realized that Fitz would be Lydia's 'lost love' by book 3; he's such fun and I was rooting for their sweet romance. Michaels won me 'round by the end, though, so while I miss Fitz I'm willing to give Tanner his chance. And, at first I made many allowances for Nicole and told myself I should like her for what she is; then her obliviousness and selfish immaturity got too much and I was thinking I wouldn't bother with the rest of the series because I couldn't stand her enough for a whole book (and I didn't want to see Lydia without Fitz); but, again, by the end, Michaels won me 'round, and I find myself again able to be in sympathy with Nicole even while being exasperated by her brattiness. I guess it's impressive that Michaels creates characters it's possible to get so invested in :) 6 Aug/12
November 17, 2009
The book was rather disappointing. It lacked pace and I found the lead charcters unappealing.
Rafe - a man of war - inherits a title and has no idea how to go about managing it. In comes heroine, whose-name-I've-forgotten-because-I-did-not-really-like-her, a childhood friend and neighbour. She helps him "take care" of his twin sisters, which is something like what the blurb says but I thought the sisters' role in the story was quite pointless besides the fact that our heroine needed a reason to live at their house, with Rafe. They had nothing else to do there! And they were boring.
I hated the fact that mademoiselle la heroine was some poor chit - or that's the impression I got - whose parents and their say over her were sort of tossed into the background. Oh, did I mention her mother was mad? Yeah, loony mom. And heroine madame thinks it's all her fault because she was nearly raped by Rafe's "pervy" cousins, who tried to cover up the incident by making it seem like she's the one who wanted to get all naked. Her mother lost her mind. Now, bite me! But I don't really think discovering your daughter's a nympho is a strong enough shocker for someone to actually (literally) lose their mind, do you?
More dislike: It felt like Rafe sort of woke up one morning and decided he likes this girl, kisses her and wants more. Now, madame goes around behaving as though she actually was raped, instead of nearly being.... which gives the book reason for more useless pages and boring interaction between the two lead characters. I did not see their relationship grow! They're childhood friends, meeting after years of growth spurt. We get that. I've been in a similar situation. The author should have had the heroine/hero discovering things about each other that changed or hadn't. There was nothing of that.
And then, there was the whole thing of description. Somehow I don't remember reading any that described the characters. I can't even picture them in my mind. Being a girl, I'm thinking, "What did Rafe look like again?" and I'm drawing blanks. That's not good. If you picture a character, you can decide whether you like him or not. His actions/reactions and personality come afterwards as you get to know him. I personally thought he was such a twat! I mean, I'm so used to reading other novels about Dukes who are born into the title; their aristocratic ways are unnerving to the female character but in the end it's appealling, gallant, what-ever-you-want-to-call-it. Rafe had none of that. He was a soldier for crying out loud!
The more I think about this book, the more I dislike it. I wish I hadn't bought it... really! If you disagree with me on any of the above, by all means go read this book. I'm not stopping you.
Rafe - a man of war - inherits a title and has no idea how to go about managing it. In comes heroine, whose-name-I've-forgotten-because-I-did-not-really-like-her, a childhood friend and neighbour. She helps him "take care" of his twin sisters, which is something like what the blurb says but I thought the sisters' role in the story was quite pointless besides the fact that our heroine needed a reason to live at their house, with Rafe. They had nothing else to do there! And they were boring.
I hated the fact that mademoiselle la heroine was some poor chit - or that's the impression I got - whose parents and their say over her were sort of tossed into the background. Oh, did I mention her mother was mad? Yeah, loony mom. And heroine madame thinks it's all her fault because she was nearly raped by Rafe's "pervy" cousins, who tried to cover up the incident by making it seem like she's the one who wanted to get all naked. Her mother lost her mind. Now, bite me! But I don't really think discovering your daughter's a nympho is a strong enough shocker for someone to actually (literally) lose their mind, do you?
More dislike: It felt like Rafe sort of woke up one morning and decided he likes this girl, kisses her and wants more. Now, madame goes around behaving as though she actually was raped, instead of nearly being.... which gives the book reason for more useless pages and boring interaction between the two lead characters. I did not see their relationship grow! They're childhood friends, meeting after years of growth spurt. We get that. I've been in a similar situation. The author should have had the heroine/hero discovering things about each other that changed or hadn't. There was nothing of that.
And then, there was the whole thing of description. Somehow I don't remember reading any that described the characters. I can't even picture them in my mind. Being a girl, I'm thinking, "What did Rafe look like again?" and I'm drawing blanks. That's not good. If you picture a character, you can decide whether you like him or not. His actions/reactions and personality come afterwards as you get to know him. I personally thought he was such a twat! I mean, I'm so used to reading other novels about Dukes who are born into the title; their aristocratic ways are unnerving to the female character but in the end it's appealling, gallant, what-ever-you-want-to-call-it. Rafe had none of that. He was a soldier for crying out loud!
The more I think about this book, the more I dislike it. I wish I hadn't bought it... really! If you disagree with me on any of the above, by all means go read this book. I'm not stopping you.
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