Helpful Score: 3
HER NOTORIOUS VISCOUNT leans heavily on the two main characters' chemistry, leaving the plot rather wanting. Once again, we have the relatively plain female character unable to resist the allure of the titled and muscled bad boy, and the man falling for the woman because her no-nonsense dealings with him make her different from all the other women that have thrown themselves at him in the past. Nothing too special, thankfully saved by the likeability of the two, despite cliches.
As I said, the plot is pushed to the wayside for the characters, and while I'm hardly a romance snob, in that I don't read these things for a scintillating plot (yeah right), the way that Jane's etiquette lessons for Nicholas were simply passed over was a bit too unrealistic to be believed. I didn't see any discernible transformation of Nicholas from street-mean to polished society member: Nicholas making a move on Jane almost immediately ended lessons whenever they popped up. As the plot is pretty much the only thing that makes this story stand out from the next historical romance, I have to admit that that was a disappointment. Still, a generously steamy read, and not too bad if you're not picky.
As I said, the plot is pushed to the wayside for the characters, and while I'm hardly a romance snob, in that I don't read these things for a scintillating plot (yeah right), the way that Jane's etiquette lessons for Nicholas were simply passed over was a bit too unrealistic to be believed. I didn't see any discernible transformation of Nicholas from street-mean to polished society member: Nicholas making a move on Jane almost immediately ended lessons whenever they popped up. As the plot is pretty much the only thing that makes this story stand out from the next historical romance, I have to admit that that was a disappointment. Still, a generously steamy read, and not too bad if you're not picky.
The cost of books these days and the waste when you end up disappointed or frustrated is getting costly.
That's why it is *SO* nice after spending as much as I do on new books every month and as much as I read, to finally get a 5* book! And actually, I've been very lucky recently as I've had two out of the past two or three dozen I've read that were 5* 1-nighter's for me! (The other is "Some Like It Wild" by Teresa Medeiros if you're wondering)
I only hope Ms. Peterson will follow up with a happy ending for Patrick and "Rage." Enjoy! =)
That's why it is *SO* nice after spending as much as I do on new books every month and as much as I read, to finally get a 5* book! And actually, I've been very lucky recently as I've had two out of the past two or three dozen I've read that were 5* 1-nighter's for me! (The other is "Some Like It Wild" by Teresa Medeiros if you're wondering)
I only hope Ms. Peterson will follow up with a happy ending for Patrick and "Rage." Enjoy! =)
Helpful Score: 1
HER NOTORIOUS VISCOUNT is my first historical romance by Petersen and I greatly enjoyed it. Starting a new HR author is always loaded with risk (IMO), but I was extremely relieved to see that Petersen doesn't employ any of those annoying story ploys that drive me crazy: NO major misunderstandings, NO ridiculous fights and obstacles that only exist to make the book longer, NO saboteurs who are in love with either the H/H and do everything they can to keep them apart (and of course, always almost succeed).
MAIN CHARACTERS, Miss Jane Fenton and Viscount Nicholas Stoneworth:
Jane and Nicholas were wonderful leading characters and there were some really humorous interactions between them, since Jane is Miss Prim and Proper and Nicholas has basically been shunning society and cast out of the ton for ~10 years. Another plus is the chemistry between them, which is very well written and sizzles off the pages.
*Super priceless* was when the Jane saves the Nicholas - such a nice change! She doesn't literally save him, but usually you have the hero who ends up facing down her bullies and yelling at them and then all of us female readers understandably sigh dreamily (probably don't need to add gender, since I think the size of the male audience is negligible - if it even exists). HERE, however, we have the heroine who sticks up for the hero and it was a total "you go girl" moment ;-).
OTHER COMMENTS:
I loved Nicholas' best friend, "Rage," and think he would be great as a hero in another book. I was also surprised to find that I really liked Viscount Patrick Fenton, Jane's cousin, and hope that he gets his own book. It was such a nice change to have another character who is in love with the heroine yet isn't manipulative, is an actual decent and honorable human being, acknowledges that the heroine doesn't like him in that way (also nice, because I hate when an author creates divided loyalties like that) and so goes out of his way to help the hero.
Although there was a mystery subplot, the way it played out was very interesting and it was a nice change to not have some crazed murderous greedy villain confusing things and somewhat unnecessarily. In some ways it kind of stretched plausibility, but we read these books for enjoyment, not reality, so it wasn't enough of a stretch to truly bother me.
BOTTOM LINE:
HER NOTORIOUS VISCOUNT was a light and enjoyable read that I would definitely recommend for a lazy weekend afternoon. As an author, Petersen lines up with other historical romance writers like Julia Quinn and Karen Hawkins.
MAIN CHARACTERS, Miss Jane Fenton and Viscount Nicholas Stoneworth:
Jane and Nicholas were wonderful leading characters and there were some really humorous interactions between them, since Jane is Miss Prim and Proper and Nicholas has basically been shunning society and cast out of the ton for ~10 years. Another plus is the chemistry between them, which is very well written and sizzles off the pages.
*Super priceless* was when the Jane saves the Nicholas - such a nice change! She doesn't literally save him, but usually you have the hero who ends up facing down her bullies and yelling at them and then all of us female readers understandably sigh dreamily (probably don't need to add gender, since I think the size of the male audience is negligible - if it even exists). HERE, however, we have the heroine who sticks up for the hero and it was a total "you go girl" moment ;-).
OTHER COMMENTS:
I loved Nicholas' best friend, "Rage," and think he would be great as a hero in another book. I was also surprised to find that I really liked Viscount Patrick Fenton, Jane's cousin, and hope that he gets his own book. It was such a nice change to have another character who is in love with the heroine yet isn't manipulative, is an actual decent and honorable human being, acknowledges that the heroine doesn't like him in that way (also nice, because I hate when an author creates divided loyalties like that) and so goes out of his way to help the hero.
Although there was a mystery subplot, the way it played out was very interesting and it was a nice change to not have some crazed murderous greedy villain confusing things and somewhat unnecessarily. In some ways it kind of stretched plausibility, but we read these books for enjoyment, not reality, so it wasn't enough of a stretch to truly bother me.
BOTTOM LINE:
HER NOTORIOUS VISCOUNT was a light and enjoyable read that I would definitely recommend for a lazy weekend afternoon. As an author, Petersen lines up with other historical romance writers like Julia Quinn and Karen Hawkins.
