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celiapowell's review against another edition
3.0
Mariah invents a pretend husband to put off an annoyingly persistent suitor, then is conveniently presented with Adam, who washes up on the shore with amnesia - voila! She tells him he's her husband, and he believes her. I liked Mariah and Adam as a couple - perhaps I don't read enough romance to be bothered by the lack of chemistry that annoyed other readers - but I do think Adam was not bothered enough about being lied to. Like oh! You presented me with an entirely false picture of my life when I was at my most vulnerable, but I guess you had your reasons.
migema's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
rega1234's review against another edition
3.0
It was pretty good. The storyline felt somewhat original but there wasn't much tension between the characters which is odd.
trish33's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
librarianinperiwinkle's review against another edition
3.0
Mary Jo Putney is one of my favorite romance authors, but this is not one of her best books. It has great potential, despite the gag-inducing cover (WHY do publishers do that?!), but the end really felt a little too rushed, and the survival rate of the characters was improbably high. Still, I'll probably read the rest of the series as it comes out, and I'd give the first 80% or so of the book 3 1/2 to 4 stars if I could.
The premise of the book is that Mariah Clarke's father won an estate in a card game, and after he sets off for London to visit his estranged family, the former owner returns to persuade Mariah to marry him, telling her that her father has been killed. He is persistent, and she tells him she already has a husband who is off fighting in the Peninsula. Not long afterward, Mariah rescues a nearly drowned man with amnesia. On impulse, she tells him he's her husband, which does get her unwanted suitor to leave, but proves a complicated lie to maintain.
For reader's advisors: story and character doorways.
The premise of the book is that Mariah Clarke's father won an estate in a card game, and after he sets off for London to visit his estranged family, the former owner returns to persuade Mariah to marry him, telling her that her father has been killed. He is persistent, and she tells him she already has a husband who is off fighting in the Peninsula. Not long afterward, Mariah rescues a nearly drowned man with amnesia. On impulse, she tells him he's her husband, which does get her unwanted suitor to leave, but proves a complicated lie to maintain.
For reader's advisors: story and character doorways.
hebberelle's review against another edition
2.0
Not the worst thing I've read, but I skipped from 40% to 76% and didn't miss anything.
brobison's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
lululovesbooks77's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Its been awhile since I’ve listened to or read a historical romance, and now I remember why i loved this sub genre so much when i first discovered them.
It’s just a different type of love story with slightly different troupes and time frame but all still a great and lovely story. I really enjoyed listening to this one with the amnesia troupe, and finding their way to each other.
My favourite parts where when even though Adam’s friends were doubting Mariah’s intentions, he always knew she had a special place in his heart ♥️
𝗧𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗲𝘀:
💜Amnesia
💜Fake Fiancé/Marriage
💜Touch her and die
💜Rags to Riches
💜Scandal
💜Always involves a Duke
lakeh's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I loved this book wow - a random find on Libby while perusing their romance selection (something I really shouldn't be doing considering my TBR list), and I hadn't heard of Mary Jo Putney.
It had almost all of my favorite tropes.
I loved Adam and Mariah, I thought they were very fun leads and not too bogged down in stuffiness and society, but enough rule-following to make the setting convincing. The plot was a fun mystery with several different POV changes, and answers that I could figure out and stuff that caught me completely by surprise!
I did also very much enjoy Putney's writing and will be continuing with this series and checking out her other work!
It had almost all of my favorite tropes.
I loved Adam and Mariah, I thought they were very fun leads and not too bogged down in stuffiness and society, but enough rule-following to make the setting convincing. The plot was a fun mystery with several different POV changes, and answers that I could figure out and stuff that caught me completely by surprise!
I did also very much enjoy Putney's writing and will be continuing with this series and checking out her other work!