Romantic comedy full of slapstick humor. I generally prefer drama and steer clear of chick-lit-y type stuff, but this has a super insecure, chubby heroine with mean cousins, so of course I love it. ( )

I was not a fan of this book AT ALL. I initially picked it up because the heroine was fat, and that sort of representation is so rare in romance I am inclined to pounce on it when it appears. However, the whole reading experience just ended up being disappointing. Sands' dialogue was forced and fake, reading more like the stuff bad Renaissance Faire actors would come up with than like actual people. Avelyn never really takes action on her own, mostly reacting to the actions of others, and her survival is based on happenstance rather than anything she does. Paen was poorly developed, because they never actually talk to each other (this is addressed in the book, but hanging a lampshade on it does not rectify the problem, in my opinion), and as a result he is simply not a character with any emotions invested in him and his actions fall flat as a result. I was also somewhat annoyed that 1) Avelyn is described as quite large, but apparently is just 20 lbs overweight (not much at all in the scheme of things, and isn't the sort of representation for which I was hoping/expecting) and 2) that her redemption in Paen's eyes comes from her huswifery.

There were certainly funny moments, but the sex scenes were bad and I left this book just feeling annoyed. ( )

Romantic comedy full of slapstick humor. I generally prefer drama and steer clear of chick-lit-y type stuff, but this has a super insecure, chubby heroine with mean cousins, so of course I love it. ( )

It's been years since I've read a Lynsay Sands historical, but I recall enjoying them. I don't know if my taste in books changed or if it's just this book, but this was barely okay.
The humor fell flat for me - what there was of it - and I don't believe in a relationship between the protagonists at all. Most of their interaction takes place when accidents happen. In the second half of the book we are told they spend more time together, but we don't witness it but on one - short - occasion. It just didn't work for me.
Rating: 4/10 ( )

A knight back from the crusades marries his childhood arranged betrothed, who thinks she's fat, ugly - and after the wedding very accident prone. Only they weren't accidents - someone is trying to kill her. ( )