Wow. This was intense. I don't even know where to start. So much happened. It was just blow after blow after blow. The author has a lot of talent. Her characters felt so utterly real that I was heartbroken by this book.

Grace was amazing. She reminded me a lot of Jane Eyre. I just wish she had been in a different book, with a man that actually deserved her. Because Diccan, most definitely did not. It started out forgivable - but by the end it had turned into unforgivable. So unforgivable. She did have some moments of self respect - like the bit where she shoots his hat off - I loved that bit. But his reasons for what he does are just not good enough. At all. And I don't feel that he tries to redeem himself either. He only had to be distant. He didn't have to cut her down the way he does. He could've told her the truth even. But he doesn't and it is appalling the way he treats her. I wanted to kill all the men in this Drake's Rakes club because they're all total assholes. I did like that all the household staff back Grace rather than Diccan.

But even though the author has a lot of talent - I can't bring myself to read any more of this series. It's just too much for me. ( )

Hmmmm. I debated the review for this one a bit. I waffled between one star and five. I ended up going with one star since that is more unusual for me when it comes to rating books.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love me an insecure, unattractive, self-deprecating heroine (hence the notion of giving it five stars). The plainer the better (none of this "I wear glasses but am otherwise traditionally attractive" crap). While Grace is an amazing, brilliant, smart, courageous, inspired lady, she took the utter lack of self-respect too far in my opinion. I like a somewhat broken heroine who benefits from the hero showing her how amazing and desirable she is. But I am too much a feminist not to bristle at Grace being a pathetic doormat. I love angst and mis-matched pairs and drama, but Grace just tolerates no end of inexcusable (based on her knowledge) behavior from Diccan. It was embarrassing really. It made me almost put the book down despite the amount of tropes I love that it catered to. So while there was so much that I loved about this book, and the characters, the inexcusable douchebaggery makes me mark this down from an almost-favorite to a cringe-worthy shame. And makes me dislike men a bit. Why are so many allergic to honesty??

Upon re-read, I had to go the other route and bump up the rating. While I still maintain that Grace desperately needed more self-respect - especially since she wasn’t privy to Diccan’s inner monologue - I just cannot hate on the sweet, delicious angst. My heart broke over and over. Too relatable. Still, it is really, really hard for me to forgive that Diccan full-on cheats on Grace. Sure, it’s for King and country or whatever, but he bones a woman repeatedly and even disparages Grace as he does it. He really should have had to grovel so much more. Also, Grace almost lost me with her complete lack of self-respect when she gets turned on by watching Diccan fuck someone else while he talks shit about her. Instead of being hurt or outraged, she’s titillated and wishes to experience the same, no matter Diccan’s supposed lack of regard for her. COME ON GIRL ( )

One of my favorites, a keeper.

Grace Fairchild, beautiful on the inside, plain on the outside, daughter of the regiment finds herself caught in a scandal. Not an accident, but calculated to smear the reputation of

Diccan Hilliard. He's a spy and Grace has been added to his life. Despite their accidental meeting, they form a passion for each other.

Lots of twists and turns in the plot, Grace is a terrific character, full of pluck.

Inspirational. ( )

I agree with the critiques of Never a Gentleman. Cheating in a book is something I don't like to see, much less have it witnessed in the written pages. The author has done such a good job with the story, that I ended up really liking the book anyway. I do have a problem with the fact that the hero, Diccan, does not grovel and make it up to the heroine, Grace. Grace made it too easy for him, even having relations with him during the time he was doing it with the other woman. I don't care if it is for your country, it's still cheating! I was hoping somehow the hero was going to stop seeing the mistress, but that didn't happen until the end, and the reader's don't witness any ending there. This could've been a five star read for me, if the cheating/make up had been handled a little differently. Still was a great read for me. 4/5 ( )

Hmmmm. I debated the review for this one a bit. I waffled between one star and five. I ended up going with one star since that is more unusual for me when it comes to rating books.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love me an insecure, unattractive, self-deprecating heroine (hence the notion of giving it five stars). The plainer the better (none of this "I wear glasses but am otherwise traditionally attractive" crap). While Grace is an amazing, brilliant, smart, courageous, inspired lady, she took the utter lack of self-respect too far in my opinion. I like a somewhat broken heroine who benefits from the hero showing her how amazing and desirable she is. But I am too much a feminist not to bristle at Grace being a pathetic doormat. I love angst and mis-matched pairs and drama, but Grace just tolerates no end of inexcusable (based on her knowledge) behavior from Diccan. It was embarrassing really. It made me almost put the book down despite the amount of tropes I love that it catered to. So while there was so much that I loved about this book, and the characters, the inexcusable douchebaggery makes me mark this down from an almost-favorite to a cringe-worthy shame. And makes me dislike men a bit. Why are so many allergic to honesty?? ( )