by Jennifer Haymore
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: Aug 1, 2011
Source: ARC sent by publisher
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Summary from goodreads.com:
Serena Donovan left London six years ago, her heart broken and her reputation ruined by devilishly handsome Jonathan Dane. Now, with her family's future in peril, she reluctantly agrees to return to England and assume her late twin's identity. The price? Marry a man she doesn't love and spend the rest of her days living a lie.
Jonathan Dane, Earl of Stratford, has become an incorrigible rake, drinking, gambling-and trying to forget Serena Donovan. Yet the moment he's introduced to the prim and proper "Meg", he recognizes the sensual young woman who captured his heart. Haunted by his past mistakes, he refuses to lose Serena again. But convincing her to trust him is no easy task. Claiming his lost love means exposing the truth and destroying the life Serena has sacrificed everything to rebuild. With the future of all the Donovans at stake, and their undying passion capable of triggering yet another scandal, how much will Jonathan and Serena risk for a chance at true love?
My Review:
My favorite thing about Jennifer Haymore is that she really knows how to write about overwhelming, all-consuming love. Her characters are always over the moon for each other, which is exactly what I want in a historical romance. At the same time, her writing is never sappy and the love story always feel real.
The plot was new and different for me. I liked the tangled web created by Serena masquerading as her sister. The almost love triangle or even love square was intriguing.But it was so sad that Serena's sister Meg had been lost at sea which was what set the whole plot in motion. I liked the situation with Meg/Serena's fiance, Will, and I thought it was tied up well in the end without being too easy.
Jonathan did some very bad things but I can honestly say he redeemed himself in my opinion. I don't say that often about romance heroes, I'm not so fast to forgive them But Jonathan really showed Serena he was sorry and that he had changed, instead of just telling her.
I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in this series. I sincerely hope we get to see more of Serena and Jonathan as the older and wiser couple in her sisters' stories. And I hope Meg gets to have her own story somehow.
Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Bottom Line: Two strong leads, a captivating romance, and a great start to a new series!
GIVEAWAY RULES:
Hachette books has generously provided three copies of this historical romance for readers of my blog!
All you have to do is follow my blog publicly and leave a comment on this review with your email address! Please follow publicly or I can't tell that you are following :) Also, if you aren't comfortable leaving your email here, go ahead and leave a comment and then send me an email with your email addyExtra Entries:
+1 Tweet this contest (leave link in comment)
+1 Post link in sidebar of your blog (leave link in comment)
Rules:
- US and Canada only
- No PO Boxes please
- Must be a follower to enter
- Extra entries are optional and can all be left in the same comment
- Leave a comment with your email address
- Books will be mailed out by Hachette, it is the publisher's responsibility to mail out the prizes. Please allow up to 8 weeks for delivery.
- Must be 18 or over
Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!
- Ends Thurs August 18
I really like the blurb for this book and have it on my TBR list - sounds like a really good read.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
kacbooks(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks for the great giveaway! I'm a GFC follower as audreyclair.
ReplyDeletetwigerina[at]hotmail[dot]com
Poor Meg, she must be alive!
ReplyDeleteBut yes the whole Will situation, I can't see him for her, cos then I'd get upset
It sounds like a really interesting book. How did the sister end up lost at sea? Now was Jonathan the one she was supposed to marry after all?
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway. Tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/jdonnelly14/status/99420967696207872
jennlovesed14 at gmail
enjoying the reviews on this book...can not wait to read
ReplyDeleteGFC Follower seachele71
seachele71@hotmail.com
I'm so glad you liked it!!
ReplyDeleteI do love the sound of this book and I hope I can like it when I get my paws on it - because I read one of her earlier books and I wasn't too impressed.
Also, love the cover, it's very Romance Novel but in the best of ways.
This book sounds great. Thanks for the giveaway!
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jenalang(at)live(dot)com
I would really love to read this book! It sounds so good! Thanks for a chance to win a copy:)
ReplyDeletejwitt33 at live dot com
GFC follower
Thanks for your views on this book! I am really liking the sound of it and would love to read it to see how this second chance at love plays out! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteGFC follower
chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com
I enjoyed reading your review. Confessions of an improper Bride sounds fantastic and I'm looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteBarbed1951 at aol dot com
Great review and I'm glad the hero redeemed himself. thanks for the giveaway
ReplyDeletemarlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
looks like a fun book! thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletekatie_tp(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would love to win this book. It sounds like a great story. From what I have read about the story so far, I too hope that her sister Meg gets a story in the future.
ReplyDeleteGFC follower: June M
manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com
Tweet link: http://twitter.com/#!/JuneAnnM/status/99651437021241344
Wow! I've been seeing a ton of great reviews for this one. I think I may have to give it a shot. I was quite a bit turned off by the title and cover but I guess I shouldn't let that stop me from reading it! Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeletebooks[a]muggle-born.net
I'm a GFC follower. :)
This books looks and sounds so good. I'd love to read it. Thanks for the interview!
ReplyDeletelvsgund at gmail.com
Great review.Everyone who's been reviewing this book loves it.I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeletetweet
http://twitter.com/elaing8/status/100246575653195776
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
I tweeted your giveaway
ReplyDeletepumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
Thanks for the opportunity to win. I love Jennifer's books and look forward to the start of her new series. GFC follower under Lucky47.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
Thank you for the giveaway! Please count me in. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI follow: nfmgirl
Blogged:
http://cerebralgirl.blogspot.com/2011/08/book-giveaways-in-blogworld-08-07-11.html
Tweet:
http://twitter.com/#!/nfmgirl/status/102028645966688256
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
Great review of an interesting book. Please enter me in the giveaway. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteo2oole(at)verizon(dot)net
Thanks for the giveaway!! smithlinda60(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeletegfc follower
ReplyDeleteI would love to win!
felecia@twinoaksfl.org
Sounds like a good one! Count me in!
ReplyDeleteMargaret
singitm@hotmail.com
I love the cover of this book. It strikes a cord for me.
ReplyDeleteThe story line is interesting. Ms Haymore's stories always offer interesting characters and plots that have enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. I look forward to this series.
I am a GFC Follower, librarypat.
librarytpat AT comcast DOT net
Thanks so much for this giveaway!! This books sounds awesome! Great review!
ReplyDeleteteddybrgrrl@sbcglobal.net
I am a GFC follower! Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeletemmafsmith at gmail dot com
I really enjoyed this one too :)
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