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iskanderjonesiv's review against another edition
4.0
Welcome to a world of reckless sensuality and glittering sophistication . . . of dangerously handsome gentlemen and young ladies longing to gain a title . . . of games played for high stakes, including—on occasion—a lady's virtue.
A marquess's sheltered only daughter, Lady Roberta St. Giles falls in love with a man she glimpses across a crowded ballroom: a duke, a game player of consummate skill, a notorious rakehell who shows no interest in marriage—until he lays eyes on Roberta.
Yet the Earl of Gryffyn knows too well that the price required to gain a coronet is often too high. Damon Reeve, the earl, is determined to protect the exquisite Roberta from chasing after the wrong destiny.
Can Damon entice her into a high-stakes game of his own, even if his heart is likely to be lost in the venture?
**
lectorliber04's review against another edition
4.0
mariamistry's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't hate this book but I didn't like it either. There were so many characters with confusing motivations and I hate not being able to tell who I should be rooting for, which was the case while reading this HR. To summarise, although there were some very cute moments, I just couldn't bring myself to care about any of the characters or their plot lines.
chandlerainsley's review against another edition
2.0
this is definitely the most unique historical i've ever read so it kind of pains me to rate it low... but i just don't think it accomplished what it set out to do.
the story is told from multiple POVs and has sort of a Gossip Girl meets Pride and Prejudice feel. you've got a wise duchess who has been neglected by her husband, taking in a distant cousin who is looking to marry a sensible man. and then you've got the many men in their lives: the brother, the husband, the fiancé, the lover. set in the 1700s with LOTS of chess playing and overall machinations, the story sets itself up to be interesting. and in some ways it was... it just wasn't successful as a romance.
really my biggest complaint was the lack of payoff. you've got 2 separate relationships you think are going to happen. one never does and is never suitably resolved. and the other... was lame? there was lots of lackluster canoodling and sex but never anything to get us invested in the relationship.
ultimately i just don't think this book knew what it wanted to be. i appreciate what eloisa james does in the historical space. i think she focuses on time periods that aren't usually focused upon and i think she writes pretty sophisticated non rom-com stuff. this just didn't hit the mark.
balletbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Lots of literary references. Roberta's father does declaim terrible poetry. The one serious drawback is that there were almost too many characters in this book so it pulled attention from the central story of Roberta and Damon.
I am wondering how many books it will take before Gemma and Elijah get their reconciliation.
sleepgoblin's review against another edition
4.0
pattydsf's review against another edition
3.0