December 2023 audiobook read: I struggle with audiobooks, however this one was quite good for me. I really like the narrator's voices. Caveat: the narrator did take some large breaths at times that were distracting.

April 2023 read: Nardi de Saint Vallier makes an appearance! I’ve been obsessed with tracking character and place connections between Ivory/Cuevas’s novels. Motmarche, Graham or Submit (from Black Silk) appear most often. Anyway I screamed!

Very nice Edwardian romance. The hero, Charles, was quite different and most of the book was written from his POV. He was scarred and hyper aware of it but rather than secluding himself and brooding about it, he instead made himself confident (at least on the surface) and flamboyant and vain. He starts his incognito relationship with the heroine, his fiance whom he's never met, out of pricked pride.

The heroine, Louise, is 18 and for once was written as an 18 year old. She is polished and refined, after all she is very wealthy and was brought up to be a high society lady. But she is a bit adrift. She is not real kind and she knows it. She also is aware that she is drifting and lonely and not sure who she is or what she wants to do with her life. She falls hard for the mysterious man she meets. Generally this isn't a type of heroine that I like but JI totally made her work for me. I think probably because Louise was aware of her own faults.

They both change and grow through the course of the book. I liked the way that once he was in love, he was so in love. He was indulgent and mesmerized by her. When she wouldn't sleep with him after they married because to her he was a stranger, he dealt with it, didn't force her, but showed his unhappiness in a startling way but he didn't get on his high horse and leave or any nonsense like that. Throughout the first part of their marriage Louise kept being continually surprised by him, his kindness, his understanding and his whimsy. The scenes where he tries to get her into bed after their marriage were extremely hot.

Very well written with a good feel of the times. I loved picturing her dresses as they were described. I also learned quite a bit about ambergris. Too bad I'd have to kill a whale to smell it. I totally would except I live in the midwest and the ocean is a very long way away. ;-) ( )

The premise seemed interesting...but failed on so many levels

I might be ignorant on how society worked at the beginning of the 20th century...but why on earth would supposedly wealthy and high class parents write a letter saying basically "OMG youre so rich! You should totally marry our daughter!" Im paraphrasing of course but thats essentially what it says.

On to the rest of the review

So much was made of the heroines age (18)that it felt obscene,with the narrative harping on and on about her adolescent face and unspoiled beauty.

I didnt like her either she came across as a poor little rich girl instead of a rebellious young woman as the author might have intended.Shes intelligent though (or so we are told) and insanely beautiful. But its a CURSE. Er really? Seriously? I feel so bad for a heroine that has such serious problems *ironic*

Also she dont like homely people and is repulsed by ugly ones,not to mention she likes to the occasional lie to throw people off.Im sorry author but are you sure you wrote a heroine and not a villain? She also comes across as having no morals with the flippant way she mentions having kissed many men strike text:and more.

I dont propose the only worthy heroine is a virgin one...but this particular "heroines" attitude towards her previous relationships (?) just come across as shallow.

The supporting characters never emerge as anything but cut-outs,the wellmeaning but ambitious parents,the mistress character,the bubbling cousin and so on.

I think the heroine has more conversation with the husband to bes mistress than she has with her parents or her cousin..theyre just there. Like filler.

The heros obsession with perfume was somewhat interesting,but his need to get his hand on ambergris got to the point of ridicilious.

Not to mention the purple prose that abounds throughout the entirety of the book.


Not a recommend ( )

This author was recommended based on my preference for historical romances. It was ok but not great. Need to try one or two others before writing this author off. ( )

Ivory/Cuevas is always a treat, and always a challenge.

I did not mind the pace of this book, but I do not like identity deception. However, I did think Ivory made choices here that actually served the story, but because this is going to be a speed review, I will say that my main issue with the book is that I identified w/ the hero, and Ivory made me feel like he could adore anyone.

Still, typical Ivory, and I missed more than I picked up and it's a joy to read her writing.

Buddy read w/ Gaufre & Whiskey-Thanks! ( )