Historical romances hold a very special place in my heart. They are what got me started on my romance novel journey. I started with Loretta Chase's Lord of Scoundrels and the next read Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale. So, I think maybe the bar for what is good, for me, is very high. But along the way, I have discovered some really fantastic writers. From the Grand Dames of the genre or OGs, as I like to call them, Mary Balogh, Julia Quinn, Tessa Dare, Eloisa James and Lisa Kleypas. I also love Suzanne Enoch, Julie Garwood, Grace Burrowes, Elizabeth Hoyt, Sarah MacLean, Christi Caldwell, Jennifer McQuinston, Julie Anne-Long, and Courtney Milan. I could go on and on. I recommend this genre to anyone who likes to read. If you have never read a romance novel, I think they are a great place to start. Historical fiction is hard to get right, you have to research and cannot rely on your knowledge of contemporary language or behavior. So, when authors can do this and make the story an escape while still allowing the reader to relate to the character emotionally- the results are really exhilirating and make for GREAT reading! So, really really hate giving a bad review. So, rather than a review, I want to explain why this book fell flat and why I couldn't finish it. This was first time reading Elizabeth Boyle and it might be a while before I attempt to revisit her writing again.
This is my point of view: From the publisher's summary:
"When Charlotte Wilmont, an awkward and all–too proper spinster, inherits an old ring, she hasn't any idea of the power that she now wears on her finger. The ancient ring grants each bearer one wish, and unwittingly, Charlotte wishes that the man of her dreams, Sebastian Marlowe, Viscount Trent, loved her. The next morning she awakens to finds herself in a bed, naked, with none other than Sebastian.
She's gotten her wish, for she is the woman he loves, but there's one small hitch, she's his mistress. Adding to her shock, Charlotte finds that the world she once knew is all turned around and now she's the most sought after courtesan in London. As she discovers her "Lottie" alter–ego, she also finds that Sebastian's love can come at a high price. If she keeps her wish, she'll ruin his chance to make a good marriage and save his family from financial ruin, but if she disavows it, she'll lose the only man she'll ever love."
I don't know...if you like character's living in alternate realities where their personalities are a total departure from who they normally are, then you will love this book. I just did not like who "Lottie"was in either of her realities. I thought that the premise was just ridiculous. And there was a scene in there that, in my opinion, crossed the line to being non-consensual. I usually try very hard to finish books I review- to be fair to the author and to those reading the review. This time, I just COULD. NOT. But, I felt compelled to write this review more of an explanation than a true review ...what do you think?
