Top positive review
4.0 out of 5 starsAddress to the 1&2 Star Reviews
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2018
There are several 1&2-star reviews that almost prevented me from reading this book. Below I address some of their main points to help other readers know what to expect if they read this book.
Reading other reviews, one has no idea if this is a lame attempt at a Gothic or if it is way to dark and creepy to be romantic. Hopefully my review helps you determine the answer.
There is a difference between Gothic and Horror. This is a Gothic, and a Romance Gothic at that. It reminded me a bit of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey which is a satire on the Gothic Penny Dreadfuls coming out at the time. This book like Austen’s is over the top. The heroine is constantly gasping, and her breasts are always heaving. But, that is part of what makes this a Gothic. The almost nonsensical fear and vivid imagination of a slightly vapid heroine. The reviewers who claim this isn’t a Gothic don’t know what a classic Gothic is. Personally, I thought it was sufficiently dark to be classified a Gothic Romance.
Readers also appear to be upset that despite having feelings for Damien Darcie suspects him of being the murderer. But, this also is a classically Gothic theme. The heroine almost always naively suspects the hero of something while at the same time falling in love with him. I’m afraid those are the rules.
This book is a great reminder of why most romance authors tell the story from the perspectives of both the H&h. It would have made a world of difference to get Damien’s perspective every once and awhile. Darcie tends to repeat herself and she thinks herself into circles several times. Damien’s perspective would have given the reader a nice break and a little insight into his view of Darcie and himself. This is my one real complaint and what kept it from being a 5-star book.
The love scenes were a bit mild. Sorry to ruin anyone’s innocence but they are not “graphic” as some reviews claim. Also, PLEASE stop reading books with “steamy” in the description and then giving them a bad rating because there is sex! I don’t read books with “YA” in the description and then give it 1-star because there is no sex. It is unfair to the author that you didn’t do your due diligence. It took me literally 30 seconds to determine there was going to be love scenes.
For me, this book did an excellent job of using the classic Gothic motifs and themes. It was it dark and creepy while still being a light and whimsically romantic read.
Romance-5/5 Steaminess-3/5 Explicitness-2/5
