I adored this. Which doesn't really surprise me because I LOVED [book:Don't Tempt Me|5307483]. Clara was amazing. She was intelligent, witty and funny. She was just perfect. She was practical and straightforward and she manipulated the situations magnificently. Oliver was rather delightful too. I loved that he didn't humour her he just accepted that she would be helpful. There were a bunch of hysterical lines that had me chuckling to myself. It was also clear to see that they were really well suited. The romance was slow burn and only towards the end did they really discuss their feelings. Prior to this the relationship just develops and evolves as they get to know each other. This was just perfect. ( )

Uh, that synopsis is so wrong. The wedlock is hardly looming, the proposal doesn't even happen until 50% into the book. Thanks for ruining the surprise (it's hardly a surprise, it's a romance novel, but in every scene that Radford and Clara were alone together, I was expecting witnesses to be falling out out the woodwork shrieking "scandal!" and that is not even a little bit how it happened).

Anyway, trademark Chase witty AF banter between the dude and lady, so so good. In tone, it's reminiscent of [b: Lord of Scoundrels|425377|Lord of Scoundrels (Scoundrels, #3)|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1381766823s/425377.jpg|414437] and also [b: The Last Hellion|958521|The Last Hellion (Scoundrels, #4)|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1367199242s/958521.jpg|943431] and also [b: Last Night's Scandal|6957680|Last Night's Scandal (Carsington Brothers #5)|Loretta Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1322608301s/6957680.jpg|7193896], so I think that if you liked Chase's style in those, you'll like this. I mean, it's also trademark Chase "constrained by the times but super independent and sassy" lady and "thinks he's an emotionless machine, but is actually very sensitive" dude. I do wish that there had been a little less fat-hating because, for real, that got old real quick, but otherwise love, love, love! especially the bit where Radford and Clara are getting down to naked business and she makes a joke about not being a virgin and his response is basically "cool, we can get right to it, then" because he doesn't give a shit if she's slept with someone before. It's a very small moment, but such a great one because with not even two whole sentences, we get the whole" "ladies virginity is a prize" turned on its head.

( )

Heel lekker ontspannen boekje zo na Sartre. Leuke personen met een sparkel ( )

The first and third books in this series I quite liked. The second one was just so-so for me, partly because it went on and on about how dumb the male lead was. This book had the reverse problem. It goes on and on and on about what a genius the male lead is but wasn't that great at actually showing it. But worse by far, he's kind of a prick. Does he become slightly less sexist, condescending and insulting by the end? Yeah, but only at the very end. You can make a case that the many insults he commonly hurls at the female lead are all some sort of wry teasing, but they're mostly not shown to be that way. Mentioning, at least occasionally, that he had a twinkle in his eye when he said it, or that she laughed and was all 'oh you rascal' in response, or *something* would have helped clarify if that had been the intent. Even after he has feelings for her, (that are shown to us in his thoughts), he retains his outward pompous, dismissive nature. It's honestly in the last few chapters before he gives her a true, non-begrudging compliment! It's a far cry from the other romances in the series. And the female lead is missing most of the qualities that made the dressmakers appealing. I suppose she has some pluck, but she's more often shown to be childish and spoiled. As romantic leads, I found them frustrating and disappointing. None of the other characters particularly shone for me, (very little from the previous leads in the series, unfortunately), and the plot was just so-so without that character interest. ( )

I didn't mind this... Raven and Clara's romance made for a quick escapist read. I think this is my first Loretta Chase, as I'm new to the historical romance, but not all are equal. I will read this author again. I found Raven's constant self congratulations to be overdone, but to make him acceptable, it made one's imagination work overtime to create an imposing and charismatic presence sufficient to attract Clara's interest. Chase writes well, and moved the story along quickly. ( )