3.80 stars.

I was really looking forward to reading this book. I saw recommendations for this book everywhere and had to get my hands on it. I'm glad I did, it was an overall great book, and I live for Beauty and the Beast retellings (Howard mad sure you KNEW this was a BatB retelling.).

VERY LIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD

The book started out so strong. The stakes were there, and felt very real. The tension between Astrid and Thane was palpable. When thane finally professed his love for her I LOVED that he used her new last name. It really sealed in that they were a unit. I enjoyed the idea that Thane wasn't completely over is issues, even with them happily married. It shows that you don't have to be perfect to be deserving of love. And by the epilogue, you could tell he got over a lot of his issues.

Towards the middleish-end it was getting a bit repetitive. Thane pulling back, Astrid getting hurt, Thane apologizing (half-assedly), them having sex, rinse and repeat. I think the characters had a lot of potential for growth if they talked out how they truly felt during pillow talk or something. But I understand how hard it can be to be vulnerable with others, even those you are married to. And the last two chapters was just of her throwing it back a few more times (which I guess isn't the worst to read about ;D).

I get what Howard was doing in showing the parallels between them when it came to how society is quick to throw someone to the wayside for, in the grand scheme of things, fickle reasons. I wish, however, Astrid got a bit more beat up (figuratively) while out in society. While women had it really bad during those times, and all they had was their virginity and their word, in this book Thane had it worse. While out in high society, Astrid was worried about what people would think, but not many mentioned it. Thane couldn't go ANYWHERE without someone dogging him out. I feel like if a bit more time was spent ridiculing her past (while we know it was fake) with Beaumont, I would have felt better comparing their situations.

I would definitely recommend this to others, especially those who are new to the historical romance genre.

Also, Dear lovely Amalie Howard, I ask that you consider making at least a novella for Aunt Mabel. She was a lovely character, and I think it would be very cute to see her fall in love.

yours truly,
me.

P.S. I kinda want to see if Beaumont is avengeable... let's maybe get a book with him... I mean the setup is kinda there, disgraced member of the tonne is sent away, experiences something that leads to a huge change of heart, and is redeemed... or not. I live for books where someone falls for a villain as well.