I've definitely read worse books, but I didn't enjoy this one at all. If it weren't the first of a series, (and that I've liked previous books by this author so I hate to just write off an entire series out of hand), I wouldn't have bothered finishing it. Some of the stuff is personal preference, I'm not a fan of a hero kissing the heroine as a manipulation just to shut her up, or distract her. He actually thinks to himself that kissing her is a weapon. The heroine also really suffers from Body Betraying Me. All the time she's angry at him for something and he starts kissing her and she loses every thought in her head. She's just powerless to resist. I feel kind of eye roll about that, but some people really go for it. This was written over 20 years ago, and some of this was just pretty common for the novels at the time. Other things, the characters go straight from opposition and bickering to love and needing the other desperately. It made the heroine, especially, seem super naive. And the hero is dishonest about so much! I just didn't buy any of it. And I didn't find either character very likable. A big ol' miss from me. ( )

Great angst. Loved the characters. I wish there had been a bit more focus of the angst on Rosalind's supposed plainness, but she was vulnerable and insecure on that front so it played nicely into one of my favorite tropes. On to the next in the series!

Update: I can't believe it took so long for me to circle back to this! Adding it to the chubby heroine shelf because there are a couple of references to Rosalind's insecurity about her figure that lead me to believe she is plus-sized. (4.5 stars) ( )

Great angst. Loved the characters. I wish there had been a bit more focus of the angst on Rosalind's supposed plainness, but she was vulnerable and insecure on that front so it played nicely into one of my favorite tropes. On to the next in the series! ( )

A Dangerous Love
3 Stars

While slow to start, the story picks up speed 1/3 of the way in and is entertaining overall despite the secret keeping and runaway heroine tropes that often rub me the wrong way.

Griff and Rosalind are likable enough and their sex scenes are well-written and steamy. Nevertheless, it is actually Helena and Daniel's opposites attract chemistry that is most intriguing. Looking forward to reading their story. ( )

Never have I ever more deservedly given a book 3 stars. Let’s do this pro/con style.

PRO:
Lovely, lively, intelligent, robust, loyal, protective, self-sufficient heroine.
CON:
Total asshole, deceitful, easy to anger, belligerent hero.

PRO:
Use of the word cock!
CON:
Use of the word honeypot! :(((

PRO:
Wonderful side characters. Hell, I cared more about the hinted at romance for the second book than I did this one.
CON:
The sex was WAY too dubiously consensual and always seemed to be the hero’s way of shutting up the heroine. And it worked. :(

PRO:
DANIELLLLLLLLL.
CON:
Daniel’s not the hero. Sigh.



Marsden Griffin “Griff” Knighton runs Knighton Trading, only second in success to the East India Company. He’s also (falsely) labeled a bastard by society (and the law?). You see, his uncle stole his parents’ marriage certificate after the chapel in Gretna Green burned down and denied him his birthright. For the majority of the book you don’t know why, and it doesn’t really make a huge difference in the end. But there ya have it.

Only now the, not so rightful, Earl of Swanlea has offered Griff proof of his legitimacy … if he’ll marry one of his daughters, The Swanlea Spinsters. (Though one of them is 17, so really, poor girl don’t deserve the label.) Griff, in no hurry to do anything to please the Earl, devises a plan that involves his right hand man, Daniel, posing as him and charming the girls while Griff searches high and low for the marriage certificate in secret.

Rosalind is the middle daughter of the Earl of Swanlea, elder sister to Juliet, and younger sister to Helena. Clearly, their father is a huge fan of Shakespeare and passed that passion onto Rosalind herself. Much of the banter between Griff and Rosalind involves quoting Mr. Shakespeare. Though, at one point, Griff notes that it wouldn’t kill Rosalind to branch out a little bit.

Rosalind and Griff have a meet cute that involves her brandishing a sword and shield and mistaking him for a gypsy (author’s words) thief. It’s actually a nice meet cute, but to say they get off on the wrong foot is an understatement. Rosalind doesn’t for one moment believe that Griff’s intentions are innocent in snooping about the estate, and Griff constantly underestimates how intelligent Rosalind is.

It is a lovely book. I just have as many quibbles with it as I have enjoyable aspects. I really cannot forgive the dubious nature of the sex scenes. Just one sex scene that wasn’t the result of trying to end and argument would’ve been so very, very nice. And one sex scene that he didn’t drag her into it by undressing her as she protested ALSO would’ve been really appreciated. Also, please never use the word honeypot for a vagina. Just. Don’t. Ever. Do. It.

But when they weren’t having sex, I enjoyed their banter and I really did love Rosalind and her sisters and Daniel. I just have never wished for a better hero quite so hard as I did with this one. ( )