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The Rarest Blooms #2
Provocative in Pearls
The Earl of Hawkeswell has been living in limbo for two years, ever since his bride, heiress Verity Thompson, disappeared on their wedding day. As she hasn't been declared deceased, Hawkeswell cannot legally remarry and cannot access his wife's funds --- either of which would settle his dire financial crisis.
Coerced into marrying Hawkeswell by her duplicitous cousin, Verity fled London for the countryside. With no interest in the earl's title or status, she was willing to forfeit her inheritance in exchange for her freedom. Now that her ruse has been discovered, Verity is forced to return to a loveless marriage.
Hawkeswell strikes a bargain with Verity: In return for three kisses a day, he will not insist on his conjugal rights. But Verity discovers there are kisses ... and then there are kisses ... as she begins to learn the true meaning of seduction at the hands of a master.
Coerced into marrying Hawkeswell by her duplicitous cousin, Verity fled London for the countryside. With no interest in the earl's title or status, she was willing to forfeit her inheritance in exchange for her freedom. Now that her ruse has been discovered, Verity is forced to return to a loveless marriage.
Hawkeswell strikes a bargain with Verity: In return for three kisses a day, he will not insist on his conjugal rights. But Verity discovers there are kisses ... and then there are kisses ... as she begins to learn the true meaning of seduction at the hands of a master.
345 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 23, 2010
About the author
Madeline Hunter
51 books1,970 followersMadeline Hunter is a nationally bestselling author of historical romances who lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. Her books have won two RITA awards and seven nominations, and have had three starred reviews in Publishers Weekly. In a parallel existence to the one she enjoys as a novelist, Madeline has a Ph.D. in art history and teaches at an East Coast university.
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February 19, 2010
#2 in a four book "Rarest Blooms" series.
The first book in this series - Ravishing in Red - just came out last month in Jan. Both are stories of strangers in a marriage and it's a sign of Hunter's great skill that the two novels don't seem too similar when read back to back this soon.
I am not going to go into the plot because all you need to know is on the backblurb. I liked how Verity started out as a quiet, naive woman still clinging to the dreams of her childhood, Hawkeswell as a hot-tempered autocrat, and how both changed over the course of the book. Readers who like their heroes besotted, will like how Hawkeswell becomes quite lovesick in the last 50 pages.
I can write pages about the many touches I loved about this book but I will cite only a few:
I liked the moments of sly humor - Hawkeswell talking in metaphors about fishes and lures . . . and wives, Verity getting back at Hawkeswell after a less than satisfying wedding night, V & H negotiating on fellatio.
Hunter also takes a page from the Mary Balogh Handbook and uses the numerous love scenes to illustrate the deepening of the relationship.
Readers of the first book who liked that manslut, the Duke of Castleford (and I read that there are many!), will be happy to know that he continues with his skanky ways in this one. He is set to be paired with the steely Daphne in the fourth book - DANGEROUS IN DIAMONDS (Spring 2011) - and she just might be the only one who can whip him into shape. And, no, they don't meet in this novel.
Grade: A-
The first book in this series - Ravishing in Red - just came out last month in Jan. Both are stories of strangers in a marriage and it's a sign of Hunter's great skill that the two novels don't seem too similar when read back to back this soon.
I am not going to go into the plot because all you need to know is on the backblurb. I liked how Verity started out as a quiet, naive woman still clinging to the dreams of her childhood, Hawkeswell as a hot-tempered autocrat, and how both changed over the course of the book. Readers who like their heroes besotted, will like how Hawkeswell becomes quite lovesick in the last 50 pages.
I can write pages about the many touches I loved about this book but I will cite only a few:
I liked the moments of sly humor - Hawkeswell talking in metaphors about fishes and lures . . . and wives, Verity getting back at Hawkeswell after a less than satisfying wedding night, V & H negotiating on fellatio.
Hunter also takes a page from the Mary Balogh Handbook and uses the numerous love scenes to illustrate the deepening of the relationship.
Readers of the first book who liked that manslut, the Duke of Castleford (and I read that there are many!), will be happy to know that he continues with his skanky ways in this one. He is set to be paired with the steely Daphne in the fourth book - DANGEROUS IN DIAMONDS (Spring 2011) - and she just might be the only one who can whip him into shape. And, no, they don't meet in this novel.
Grade: A-
February 24, 2010
The blurb on the cover of this book from Publishers Weekly states that “Hunter’s books are so addicting they should come with a surgeon general warning.” This blurb is the farthest from the truth in regards to Provocative in Pearls. I gave this read until page two-hundred and had to put it down because it was incredibly slow moving and boring, in the sense there was no real action to further along the plot. What we have here is Grayson, the Earl of Hawkeswell who has barely a penny to rub together. He thought his money problems would be a thing of the past when he married Verity Thompson two years ago. Their marriage was arranged by her nasty social climbing cousin Bertram, who blackmailed her into marriage. To escape this farce of a marriage, Verity pretended to drown in the Thames, where she has been hiding out at a house run by a woman who helps underprivileged and other women in need, much like Verity. Now that Verity is twenty-one, she can come out of hiding, annul her marriage and claim her fortune. Verity will even make sure Grayson is paid for his woes.
Grayson feels he was played a fool and for some reason, doesn’t want their marriage to end. Since he’s her husband and “owns” Verity, he wants them to give their marriage a chance. He will ease her into the pleasures of the marriage bed and all he expects in the beginning are three kiss a day from Verity. Soon these two are sharing more than just three kisses a day, where they become husband and wife in truth. Verity loves the pleasure she receives from Grayson, but doesn’t want to be married because she enjoys her independence and isn’t too keen on the overall high handedness Grayson uses when it comes to her. Verity will continue to try and run away and hide from Grayson until he loses interest. But Verity is in for a surprise because after he has tasted her wonderful kisses, he will never let her go.
Provocative in Pearls is a pretty ho hum read that if I were to have continued reading, it would have been for the sex scenes, Madeline Hunter excels at that, but otherwise this romance didn’t have enough substance to move the story along. And, I almost lost it when Grayson remembers giving up all his orgies and debaucheries he used to enjoy as a young man and certainly can’t do with his wife. And Verity has no shame in asking about his past and all these fun time orgies he went to. Perhaps if these two went to a few, then maybe this would have become a more interesting read.
After this mention about Grayson’s past sex fun, that was where I closed Provocative in Pearls and didn’t care either way if Grayson and Verity’s passion led to them working on their marriage.
Grayson feels he was played a fool and for some reason, doesn’t want their marriage to end. Since he’s her husband and “owns” Verity, he wants them to give their marriage a chance. He will ease her into the pleasures of the marriage bed and all he expects in the beginning are three kiss a day from Verity. Soon these two are sharing more than just three kisses a day, where they become husband and wife in truth. Verity loves the pleasure she receives from Grayson, but doesn’t want to be married because she enjoys her independence and isn’t too keen on the overall high handedness Grayson uses when it comes to her. Verity will continue to try and run away and hide from Grayson until he loses interest. But Verity is in for a surprise because after he has tasted her wonderful kisses, he will never let her go.
Provocative in Pearls is a pretty ho hum read that if I were to have continued reading, it would have been for the sex scenes, Madeline Hunter excels at that, but otherwise this romance didn’t have enough substance to move the story along. And, I almost lost it when Grayson remembers giving up all his orgies and debaucheries he used to enjoy as a young man and certainly can’t do with his wife. And Verity has no shame in asking about his past and all these fun time orgies he went to. Perhaps if these two went to a few, then maybe this would have become a more interesting read.
After this mention about Grayson’s past sex fun, that was where I closed Provocative in Pearls and didn’t care either way if Grayson and Verity’s passion led to them working on their marriage.
February 17, 2022
SPOILERS.
It was a weird relationship to say the least. I hated the fact that every time the heroine wanted something, she seduced the hero out of it. And even more, I hated the fact that she thought she had to. Almost like a prostitute in my opinion, to get what you want you have to offer something in return. It felt extremely uncomfortable. Specially because the hero was a nice one. He simply didn't know her two years previous and was more worried about helping his tenants and all the people working for him with her fortune.
I just thought the relationship was very dry with a mechanical passion.
But the brotherhood and sisterhood were the great part about the book.
It was a weird relationship to say the least. I hated the fact that every time the heroine wanted something, she seduced the hero out of it. And even more, I hated the fact that she thought she had to. Almost like a prostitute in my opinion, to get what you want you have to offer something in return. It felt extremely uncomfortable. Specially because the hero was a nice one. He simply didn't know her two years previous and was more worried about helping his tenants and all the people working for him with her fortune.
I just thought the relationship was very dry with a mechanical passion.
But the brotherhood and sisterhood were the great part about the book.
April 4, 2017
I originally had my rating at a 3 star but I've brought it to a 2 stars because I didn't like this as much as Ravishing in Red. I am struggling to recall this book because it did not leave a lasting impression on me. I thought Verity was very tenacious and very logical but almost too much. Same with Hawkeswell. They both had the same qualities but sometimes their words were so austere that I was frozen sometimes. The heat was there occasionally but there was always a bit of a breeze, if you know what I mean.
The overall plot for this story was definitely more complicated then what transpired in the previous book and I felt it had more substance. What I mean by that is when it comes to the reason as to why the woman in this quartet reside at The Rarest Blooms with Daphne, Verity has a better reason for doing so than Audrianna. The interesting thing about this book is that we spend a lot of time with Hawkeswell, Summerhays and Castleford. Probably more time with them then we do with Verity and the other blooms. I thought this was kind of interesting because we usually don't spend much time with the male MC and his friends and hear their musings and find out about their shenanigans. I actually found Castleford in this book to be quite funny and a lot of fun. I really do want to see if he gets a book and the woman who is going to wrangle that guy in. LOL
In the end I was lukewarm about this book but it is not stopping me from continuing on with the series especially since I am listening to them all in the audiobook format. I hope Sinful in Satin is better and I hope it is a quick read so I can hopefully read a book about Castleford.
Happy Reading peeps
Jo
The overall plot for this story was definitely more complicated then what transpired in the previous book and I felt it had more substance. What I mean by that is when it comes to the reason as to why the woman in this quartet reside at The Rarest Blooms with Daphne, Verity has a better reason for doing so than Audrianna. The interesting thing about this book is that we spend a lot of time with Hawkeswell, Summerhays and Castleford. Probably more time with them then we do with Verity and the other blooms. I thought this was kind of interesting because we usually don't spend much time with the male MC and his friends and hear their musings and find out about their shenanigans. I actually found Castleford in this book to be quite funny and a lot of fun. I really do want to see if he gets a book and the woman who is going to wrangle that guy in. LOL
In the end I was lukewarm about this book but it is not stopping me from continuing on with the series especially since I am listening to them all in the audiobook format. I hope Sinful in Satin is better and I hope it is a quick read so I can hopefully read a book about Castleford.
Happy Reading peeps
Jo
Shelved as 'dnf'
April 7, 2017DNFed @9%
I hate when women in historical romance act like they are modern women. So this heroine fakes her own death because she says she was "tricked" into the marriage? And then leaves her bridegroom in limbo for two years, destroying him his finances and his reputation and then acts like she's in the wrong? WTH??
If I'd been the groom, I'd sue her to kingdom come and take all her money.
I hate when women in historical romance act like they are modern women. So this heroine fakes her own death because she says she was "tricked" into the marriage? And then leaves her bridegroom in limbo for two years, destroying him his finances and his reputation and then acts like she's in the wrong? WTH??
If I'd been the groom, I'd sue her to kingdom come and take all her money.
February 4, 2017
This is the second in a series and I'd really suggest reading the first before this one. The backstory is more thoroughly explained there and the main characters of the first are frequently on stage in this one as well. Plus, the first is a better story.
The sentimentality I discussed in my review of the first book is present in this one as well, but not nearly as powerful or interesting. I think that's because of this: "Of course, it also wouldn't have worked if the characters hadn't been engaging and the story interesting and the pacing excellent." In this one, the characters weren't nearly so engaging and the story was only kind of interesting and that made the open sentimentality more of a neutral "style" than the advantage it was in the first book.
The thing is, Verity is a pill. I didn't like her and rather resented Hawkeswell's indulgence of her outbursts and general misbehavior. Nowhere is that more evident than in her immature and idiotic attempts to run away. The thing is, her "plans" are all hope and zero understanding. Which means that all the sentiment behind her actions is empty, unreasoning, and ultimately self-destructive. Further, there are a couple times where she makes promises that she goes on to completely disregard (and I don't mean just the marriage vows she had apparently made two years prior). So for most of the book I saw her as a faithless idiot with an immature understanding of her own circumstances and an obstinance that was impervious to reason or reality check.
Hawkeswell was way more engaging, but he had moments I disliked as well. He puts up with a lot and I liked his willingness to work with Verity even at her most unreasonable. I didn't like his underlying faith in sex as a cure all or using sex to get around Verity or allowing, even encouraging, Verity to use sex to get around him. But he was at heart a kind man and willing to go quite far to protect and sustain those in his care and I particularly liked how he was completing the journey out of irresponsibility that had him really taking the reins of his future into his own hands in ways he'd neglected before.
I also didn't like how much of the plot felt like a polemic on the evils of the British class system and the abuses made possible there. It didn't help, of course, that the most self-righteous bits were spouted by the reality-challenged Verity or that the actual plot behind her inheritance and the people in her district served as a discourse on some of the worst-case abuses possible. Not to mention the hypocrisy of a story that resolves satisfactorily only because Hawkeswell and his buddies pull aristocratic rank to pierce the original plot and bring the abusers to "justice"—essentially saying that the class system is open to abuse that is best solved by people using the class system to right its wrongs.
And yeah, that's a lot of griping for a three-star review. The thing is, I did care about Hawkeswell and through him the rest of the story fell into place (including, grudgingly, Verity). I liked his character arc and his falling in love and the ending was simply outstanding. Yeah, I'm still a sentimental fool at heart and while some of it irked me mightily, I was still eager to see Hawkeswell's growth in a story I knew in advance would have a happy ending. Since that happy ending was truly magnificent, I have to put this one in the "win" column. And yeah, I look forward to reading the next and seeing if it is closer to my enchantment with the first book or more like the (minor) disappointment of this one.
A note about Steamy: This one had three or four explicit sex scenes and that puts it edging higher in the middle of my steam tolerance. It was interesting that the main characters had been married (though separated) for two years before the novel starts and I first started attaching to Hawkeswell with his intimate care of Verity (who was still a virgin). As I said above, Hawkeswell's belief in seduction as a cure for reticence grated a bit, but I rather enjoyed seeing him be hoist by his own petard on that little hook, as well.
The sentimentality I discussed in my review of the first book is present in this one as well, but not nearly as powerful or interesting. I think that's because of this: "Of course, it also wouldn't have worked if the characters hadn't been engaging and the story interesting and the pacing excellent." In this one, the characters weren't nearly so engaging and the story was only kind of interesting and that made the open sentimentality more of a neutral "style" than the advantage it was in the first book.
The thing is, Verity is a pill. I didn't like her and rather resented Hawkeswell's indulgence of her outbursts and general misbehavior. Nowhere is that more evident than in her immature and idiotic attempts to run away. The thing is, her "plans" are all hope and zero understanding. Which means that all the sentiment behind her actions is empty, unreasoning, and ultimately self-destructive. Further, there are a couple times where she makes promises that she goes on to completely disregard (and I don't mean just the marriage vows she had apparently made two years prior). So for most of the book I saw her as a faithless idiot with an immature understanding of her own circumstances and an obstinance that was impervious to reason or reality check.
Hawkeswell was way more engaging, but he had moments I disliked as well. He puts up with a lot and I liked his willingness to work with Verity even at her most unreasonable. I didn't like his underlying faith in sex as a cure all or using sex to get around Verity or allowing, even encouraging, Verity to use sex to get around him. But he was at heart a kind man and willing to go quite far to protect and sustain those in his care and I particularly liked how he was completing the journey out of irresponsibility that had him really taking the reins of his future into his own hands in ways he'd neglected before.
I also didn't like how much of the plot felt like a polemic on the evils of the British class system and the abuses made possible there. It didn't help, of course, that the most self-righteous bits were spouted by the reality-challenged Verity or that the actual plot behind her inheritance and the people in her district served as a discourse on some of the worst-case abuses possible. Not to mention the hypocrisy of a story that resolves satisfactorily only because Hawkeswell and his buddies pull aristocratic rank to pierce the original plot and bring the abusers to "justice"—essentially saying that the class system is open to abuse that is best solved by people using the class system to right its wrongs.
And yeah, that's a lot of griping for a three-star review. The thing is, I did care about Hawkeswell and through him the rest of the story fell into place (including, grudgingly, Verity). I liked his character arc and his falling in love and the ending was simply outstanding. Yeah, I'm still a sentimental fool at heart and while some of it irked me mightily, I was still eager to see Hawkeswell's growth in a story I knew in advance would have a happy ending. Since that happy ending was truly magnificent, I have to put this one in the "win" column. And yeah, I look forward to reading the next and seeing if it is closer to my enchantment with the first book or more like the (minor) disappointment of this one.
A note about Steamy: This one had three or four explicit sex scenes and that puts it edging higher in the middle of my steam tolerance. It was interesting that the main characters had been married (though separated) for two years before the novel starts and I first started attaching to Hawkeswell with his intimate care of Verity (who was still a virgin). As I said above, Hawkeswell's belief in seduction as a cure for reticence grated a bit, but I rather enjoyed seeing him be hoist by his own petard on that little hook, as well.
February 20, 2018
This is book two in M. Hunter's Regency quartet, The Rarest Blooms, following RAVISHING IN RED. You can read this one as a stand alone book but there will be recurring characters in all four and it's nice to meet them in order. This one showcases the romance of Grayson, Earl of Hawkeswell (friend of the hero from book one) and Verity Thompson (friend of the heroine from book one). Grayson's an impoverished earl and Verity a rich heiress not of the peerage and their marriage had been arranged when Verity was still a minor and was powerless to avoid it. So she becomes a runaway bride the day of the wedding and isn't found until two years later and is forced to return to Grayson's control. The story has two central plotlines: 1) the marriage of convenience developing into a real marriage of love, and 2) some mysterious happenings in Verity's ironworks, her source of income which she inherited from her late father. Getting to the bottom of the problems in the ironworks is also important to the improvement of the relationship of hero and heroine and the story takes off well for me in the second half of the book. There are interesting issues of class showcased in the marriage of a peer and non-peer and social issues involving the working class in the ironworks and, to me, the story rings true in historical authenticity. Also, as is usual with M. Hunter male protagonists, Grayson is quite autocratic, this in keeping with the time period when men were the "deciders" and women considered not much more than chattel. It is always interesting to watch the Hunter male start out so autocratic and chauvinist and end up developing a "softer" side as he falls in love with the heroine and the two become equals in an emotional partnership.
If I have a criticism of this book it is that, in the first half of the book, Verity and Grayson become intimate before any of the issues and conflicts between them had been aired sufficiently. I would not have expected Verity, who held some mistaken ideas about Grayson's involvement in some dealings which hurt people dear to her, to feel such a strong attraction to him until these issues had been dealt with.
If I have a criticism of this book it is that, in the first half of the book, Verity and Grayson become intimate before any of the issues and conflicts between them had been aired sufficiently. I would not have expected Verity, who held some mistaken ideas about Grayson's involvement in some dealings which hurt people dear to her, to feel such a strong attraction to him until these issues had been dealt with.
October 20, 2014
Originally posted
HERE
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I am genuinely perplexed by the mixed reviews for this series. Apart from the sometimes cringeworthy uses of American words and expressions (fishing poles?), it is one of the most engaging historical romance series I have come across.
But therein, I suspect, lies the problem. In a genre currently populated by Disney-style fluff pieces with an abundance of often pointless explicit sex, Madeline Hunter’s more realistic depictions of Regency-era characters and attitudes just aren’t cutting it. It’s disappointing, because the modernised Disney fluff is the very reason I don’t read anywhere near as much in the historical genre as I do contemporary.
Provocative in Pearls is the second book in the Rarest Blooms series, and I loved every moment of it. In fact, I liked this one even more than the first in the series, for the gradual, believable development of a desperate man and a beaten woman forced into a marriage, into two characters in a deep, deep love. I loved the humour between the men. I loved the gestures the characters made that spoke a lot more about how they felt than any words could do.
Perhaps what I love most is that the characters are bringing a genuine Regency-era mentality to their lives, to their marriages. I’m about as much of a feminist as you can get, but when I pick up a book in the historical romance genre, I expect women to be up against the challenges and restrictions of their times. Misplaced feminism that is accepted by the other characters makes me cringe. After all, what is the point in the historical setting if things are going to be as they are in the twenty-first century, only with fancier dresses?
There was angst aplenty in Provocative in Pearls, and our hero had more than one opportunity to prove himself his wife’s greatest champion. I loved the well-constructed scenes from start to finish, showing our Regency aristocrat – despite himself – finding himself in love with his errant wife.
But, oh if only US publishers took more care with language! I am so, so, so, so tired of being yanked out of the story by American English! This is also the first historical romance I remember reading where arse was misspelt as ass – more than once. There’s no excuse for the use of such blatant American terminology in an allegedly English setting. If the rest of us can recognise these terms as American, American editors should be able to recognise what is British!
Even so, this was one of my better historical romance reads… ever. I love this series.
I am genuinely perplexed by the mixed reviews for this series. Apart from the sometimes cringeworthy uses of American words and expressions (fishing poles?), it is one of the most engaging historical romance series I have come across.
But therein, I suspect, lies the problem. In a genre currently populated by Disney-style fluff pieces with an abundance of often pointless explicit sex, Madeline Hunter’s more realistic depictions of Regency-era characters and attitudes just aren’t cutting it. It’s disappointing, because the modernised Disney fluff is the very reason I don’t read anywhere near as much in the historical genre as I do contemporary.
Provocative in Pearls is the second book in the Rarest Blooms series, and I loved every moment of it. In fact, I liked this one even more than the first in the series, for the gradual, believable development of a desperate man and a beaten woman forced into a marriage, into two characters in a deep, deep love. I loved the humour between the men. I loved the gestures the characters made that spoke a lot more about how they felt than any words could do.
Perhaps what I love most is that the characters are bringing a genuine Regency-era mentality to their lives, to their marriages. I’m about as much of a feminist as you can get, but when I pick up a book in the historical romance genre, I expect women to be up against the challenges and restrictions of their times. Misplaced feminism that is accepted by the other characters makes me cringe. After all, what is the point in the historical setting if things are going to be as they are in the twenty-first century, only with fancier dresses?
There was angst aplenty in Provocative in Pearls, and our hero had more than one opportunity to prove himself his wife’s greatest champion. I loved the well-constructed scenes from start to finish, showing our Regency aristocrat – despite himself – finding himself in love with his errant wife.
But, oh if only US publishers took more care with language! I am so, so, so, so tired of being yanked out of the story by American English! This is also the first historical romance I remember reading where arse was misspelt as ass – more than once. There’s no excuse for the use of such blatant American terminology in an allegedly English setting. If the rest of us can recognise these terms as American, American editors should be able to recognise what is British!
Even so, this was one of my better historical romance reads… ever. I love this series.
July 12, 2013
2 Stars (for good prose style)
Ugh.
Spoilers ahead.
This book made me cringe so much I couldn't finish it. It hits my least favorite romance trope: If I just keep seducing her, no matter how many times she says "just a kiss" or asks for her freedom, I'll convince her that she likes to be my marital property! (And I generally love Historical Romance, tropes and all, but No.)
Unlike Hunter's last book in the series, this book lacked the underlying mystery that kept the story rolling in the last one. The "mystery" in this is revealed by the heroine early on, and then it's a romp through misunderstandings, assumptions, and misguided male lust (and greed, he did marry her for money in the first place!) from there forward.
Moral of the story: If Hawkeswell was really so noble, he would've let the poor girl have her annulment without scraping at his male pride to force her to have no other choice, and THEN tried to convince her to change her mind because he actually LIKED her. If he'd been unattractive, he would've been the villain of this story.
Sorry, M. Hunter. I will check out the rest of the series, but I am not much pleased with this one.
Ugh.
Spoilers ahead.
This book made me cringe so much I couldn't finish it. It hits my least favorite romance trope: If I just keep seducing her, no matter how many times she says "just a kiss" or asks for her freedom, I'll convince her that she likes to be my marital property! (And I generally love Historical Romance, tropes and all, but No.)
Unlike Hunter's last book in the series, this book lacked the underlying mystery that kept the story rolling in the last one. The "mystery" in this is revealed by the heroine early on, and then it's a romp through misunderstandings, assumptions, and misguided male lust (and greed, he did marry her for money in the first place!) from there forward.
Moral of the story: If Hawkeswell was really so noble, he would've let the poor girl have her annulment without scraping at his male pride to force her to have no other choice, and THEN tried to convince her to change her mind because he actually LIKED her. If he'd been unattractive, he would've been the villain of this story.
Sorry, M. Hunter. I will check out the rest of the series, but I am not much pleased with this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2011
I was about halfway through this book when I realized I didn’t have the faintest idea what the hero’s first name is. It’s possible that I just missed a mention -- it is mentioned two or three times in the second half --but it seems indicative of the general lack of intimacy or emotional resonance I felt.
All the women who work for “the Rarest Blooms” have secrets. When Lizzie’s friend Audrianna got involved with Lord Summerhayes, she knew hers would inevitably soon be revealed: that “Lizzie” is really Verity, the missing wife of Lord Hawkeswell. Discovered by her husband, Verity is forced to resume a marriage she had never wanted and still hopes to escape.
Well written as always, with many witty passages, this romance still failed to touch me. It was very reminiscent of both the first in the series and some of Hunter’s other books, so it felt like a retread. But I was bothered more by not really having a sense of... I’m not sure how to describe it. Events happened in the book yet I had no sense of what happened between those events. Hawkeswell and Verity’s marriage took a long time to seem real to me; there wasn’t enough detail of their daily lives. Other details failed to convince me as well: . It was like a draft, with everything between the high points marked “fill in later.” Perhaps this is why I felt no emotional connection to the characters.
November 13, 2010
This was the 2nd in the Rarest Blooms series and I liked it better then the first. I connected much better to the characters because the writing seemed a bit more looser. The love scenes were well done and heart felt.
I liked that Verity wasn't a pushover and she didn't mind telling Grayson where to stick his title. Even though she didn't have all the information quite right on the Earl of Hawkeswell. Yes he needed a monied bride and he was under the impression that he had a willing one. But once he found out the truth, he was fully capable of setting things right...or was he? Grayson knew that once his virgin bride had a taste of his man essence and passion she would beg to stay his wife.
Yeah...it worked out just like that..or did it? Somebody was willing to be a slave, you will have to read it for yourself who slaved over who. Sweet and awesome read and I can't wait to pick up Celia's story. But I am on pins and needles for Tristan and Daphne's story. Gosh he is such a man-whore...I already love him. :-)
I liked that Verity wasn't a pushover and she didn't mind telling Grayson where to stick his title. Even though she didn't have all the information quite right on the Earl of Hawkeswell. Yes he needed a monied bride and he was under the impression that he had a willing one. But once he found out the truth, he was fully capable of setting things right...or was he? Grayson knew that once his virgin bride had a taste of his man essence and passion she would beg to stay his wife.
Yeah...it worked out just like that..or did it? Somebody was willing to be a slave, you will have to read it for yourself who slaved over who. Sweet and awesome read and I can't wait to pick up Celia's story. But I am on pins and needles for Tristan and Daphne's story. Gosh he is such a man-whore...I already love him. :-)
April 21, 2010
I had...problems...with this book. Quite unexpectedly too, because I had so enjoyed Ravishing in Red, the first in the series.
First (and most insignificant), I never got over the fact that the heroine was actually named Verity.
Second, the hero comes off as petulant. Who wants to read a story about whose character seems to be there just for the sake of being pitiful, no matter how handsome he may be?
Third, I was a little disturbed by the initial seduction of heroine in the garden of the hero's estate. It seemed like the same kind of "seduction" that would happen in a dark alley. It created a weird feeling around the rest of their relationship for me.
Although I may not just be a fan of the trope, I feel that this has been handled better elsewhere.
First (and most insignificant), I never got over the fact that the heroine was actually named Verity.
Second, the hero comes off as petulant. Who wants to read a story about whose character seems to be there just for the sake of being pitiful, no matter how handsome he may be?
Third, I was a little disturbed by the initial seduction of heroine in the garden of the hero's estate. It seemed like the same kind of "seduction" that would happen in a dark alley. It created a weird feeling around the rest of their relationship for me.
Although I may not just be a fan of the trope, I feel that this has been handled better elsewhere.
Read
November 26, 2022I really liked this book...much more than I did the first book and yet it has the lowest ratings of the four "Rarest Blooms" books. I'm glad I didn't skip it based on the lower ratings. I liked how Hawkeswell (I wish she would have called him Grayson) consistently showed himself to be a good guy and how could she not eventually come to love him? I liked the fact that her background, although very wealthy, was industrial and not aristocratic. I've spent enough time in silly ballrooms. Only my second book by Madeline Hunter but I will be reading the rest of the series and other books as well.
update Sept 2018: upon re-read I would still give this book a five. I always feel good when I can do that, something I loved three years ago held up upon reading again.
update Sept 2018: upon re-read I would still give this book a five. I always feel good when I can do that, something I loved three years ago held up upon reading again.
May 8, 2011
Hawkeswell has found himself in a bit of a muddle. Two years ago he married a heiress so that he could replenish his empty coffers. Unfortunately the bride dissaperead on her wedding day. Now he can't get her fortune, and he can't marry another woman. And then, while visiting the Rarest Blooms with his friend Sebastian (hero of Ravishing in Red) he sees her again - his wife Verity.
Verity has been blackmailed into marrying Hawkeswell by her cousin. When she found out that he didn't stick to his part of the deal she ran away. She spent the last two years hiding, waiting for her 21st birthday and her majority. And then she sees her husband again. And he refuses to allow her an annulment, but insist on continuing their marriage. And then he decides to seduce her with kisses.
Their roots are very different. He is an earl born and bred to take over the title, and she is a daughter of a mine owner (or something like that). Verity especially is aware of the difference of their status, particularly when she goes to her hometown and when she notices that everyone treats her differently - she's not one of them anymore, but a countess.
My main problem with the book is that wit was really slow and boring, mostly in the beginning. But when I passed that it picked up in the second half.
Castleford as always is great. :-)
Rating:
3.5 stars.
Verity has been blackmailed into marrying Hawkeswell by her cousin. When she found out that he didn't stick to his part of the deal she ran away. She spent the last two years hiding, waiting for her 21st birthday and her majority. And then she sees her husband again. And he refuses to allow her an annulment, but insist on continuing their marriage. And then he decides to seduce her with kisses.
Their roots are very different. He is an earl born and bred to take over the title, and she is a daughter of a mine owner (or something like that). Verity especially is aware of the difference of their status, particularly when she goes to her hometown and when she notices that everyone treats her differently - she's not one of them anymore, but a countess.
My main problem with the book is that wit was really slow and boring, mostly in the beginning. But when I passed that it picked up in the second half.
Castleford as always is great. :-)
Rating:
3.5 stars.
March 8, 2014
ehhhhh. plenty of gross gender ickiness -- sexual assault did up as He Was So Turned On He Couldn't Hep Hissef and She Got Hot, Too, So, See? It's Not Gross! He Knew Better Than She Did All Along and Thank God He DIDN'T Stop When She Told Him To, or She Wouldna Got Some! she's constantly angry and turned on. he's constantly assaulting her and turned on. ugh. i HATE those tropes.
plus, her passel of friends are The Types -- the fiery, independent one, the feminist-intellectual one, the demure, society-queen one, etc., etc. i don't know about you, but my lady friends and i don't carefully parcel out the personality like that. we're all a wild melange of many things and overlap a lot in characteristics and interests. and our men are way, WAAAAAAAAY less rapist.
so, yeah, while the prose didn't make me sad, i guess the rest of it did.
plus, her passel of friends are The Types -- the fiery, independent one, the feminist-intellectual one, the demure, society-queen one, etc., etc. i don't know about you, but my lady friends and i don't carefully parcel out the personality like that. we're all a wild melange of many things and overlap a lot in characteristics and interests. and our men are way, WAAAAAAAAY less rapist.
so, yeah, while the prose didn't make me sad, i guess the rest of it did.
January 29, 2016
2.5 stars
This book was ok. I expected more from it though. It took me a long time to get into it. I liked the characters but I found the heroine frustrating (she had so little understanding of her situation and what was possible). I was very interested in the storyline but it was just so very slow moving and I kept getting bored. It picked up at the very end a little bit. I liked it enough though that I will be reading the 3rd installment in this series.
This book was ok. I expected more from it though. It took me a long time to get into it. I liked the characters but I found the heroine frustrating (she had so little understanding of her situation and what was possible). I was very interested in the storyline but it was just so very slow moving and I kept getting bored. It picked up at the very end a little bit. I liked it enough though that I will be reading the 3rd installment in this series.
July 1, 2020
Романът е много романтичен, дързък, забавен, ��зпълнен със сладострастие и не малко моменти, които ще ви накарат да се почувствате сякаш сте пред инфарктно състояние.
June 3, 2017
Why in the name of all that is Holy, was I reading this?!
I mean, there weren't even good reviews left by my friends serving as a recommendation and the avg rating wasn't that compelling either so, What.The.Hell.
Where was the romance, the chemistry, the zing, dude?!
The entire time reading this, I wasn't laughing.
I stomach didn't fill with butterflies.
My heart didn't flutter.
Never shed a tear.
Didn't visit LaLa-Land either.
For God's sake I didn't even sigh or aww.
Not. Even. Once.
This was so. . . so. . . wooden.
If it weren't for that ending (.5 stars) I'd have called this the Bella Swan of books.
Flat. Lifeless.
2.5 stars.
June 15, 2017
Ho preferito il precedente.
Questo sì è carino, c'è un mistero da risolvere, però è un po' tirato per le lunghe con infinite scene di sesso. Verity e il conte sono un po' opachi come personaggi.
Bonus: le varie apparizioni del duca libertino mi fanno morire!
Lo adoro già e non vedo l'ora di leggere il quarto volume.
Questo sì è carino, c'è un mistero da risolvere, però è un po' tirato per le lunghe con infinite scene di sesso. Verity e il conte sono un po' opachi come personaggi.
Bonus: le varie apparizioni del duca libertino mi fanno morire!
Lo adoro già e non vedo l'ora di leggere il quarto volume.
February 23, 2018
This was the second book by Madeline Hunter that I’ve read and will probably be the last. Her constant misuse of inanimate objects showing possession drove me to distraction. Classic example of an author expecting an editor to catch their mistakes and they don’t. I think everyone will agree that saying: the table’s top, house’s finances, stew’s broth, roof’s hole, hut’s door, shawl’s wool sound really awkward. Grade school grammar should have taught her that inanimate objects cannot show possession so you would say: the top of the table, the hole in the roof, etc.
My other issue with this story is the behavior of the hero (and I use that term lightly when referring to Hawkeswell). He was likeable enough in the first book of the series, but I disliked him in this book. His fond memories of orgies and debaucheries he used to enjoy as a young man were just tasteless. He was constantly reminding his wife that she was his property. Even though wives were considered their husbands' property, the constant reminders were definitely not a way to make a woman get warm, fuzzy feelings. I almost had to DNF this one when he takes his wife’s virginity out in the overgrown garden. Then they sort of laugh it off and remark about the woman-shaped mashed down plants the next day. Just gross and not romantic or sexy in the slightest.
The heroine was a little too modern feeling for my tastes. She gets all mad and upset when she feels she was tricked into an arranged marriage by her cousin. Yes, the cousin and his wife were slimy characters, but arranged marriages were a common fact in those days.
The sex was uninspiring and so boring that I started flipping through the pages until the dialogue picked back up. There was no chemistry between these two characters. Save yourself the time and money and skip this poorly written sad tale.
My other issue with this story is the behavior of the hero (and I use that term lightly when referring to Hawkeswell). He was likeable enough in the first book of the series, but I disliked him in this book. His fond memories of orgies and debaucheries he used to enjoy as a young man were just tasteless. He was constantly reminding his wife that she was his property. Even though wives were considered their husbands' property, the constant reminders were definitely not a way to make a woman get warm, fuzzy feelings. I almost had to DNF this one when he takes his wife’s virginity out in the overgrown garden. Then they sort of laugh it off and remark about the woman-shaped mashed down plants the next day. Just gross and not romantic or sexy in the slightest.
The heroine was a little too modern feeling for my tastes. She gets all mad and upset when she feels she was tricked into an arranged marriage by her cousin. Yes, the cousin and his wife were slimy characters, but arranged marriages were a common fact in those days.
The sex was uninspiring and so boring that I started flipping through the pages until the dialogue picked back up. There was no chemistry between these two characters. Save yourself the time and money and skip this poorly written sad tale.
February 7, 2011
This book would have a higher rating if the heroine wasn't so completely stupid for at least half of the book. She ran away directly after becoming married because her aunt and uncle had coerced into the marriage with the promise of protecting her old family friends and then informing her after the ceremony that they lied. So, what does that have to do with the groom? She doesn't give him a chance to prove whether he's a villain or not. She escapes for 2 years until she reaches majority but doesn't seem to get that she's married still. When her husband finally finds her, she's horrible to him. She's mean and cold and he keeps trying to prove to her that she doesn't need to fear him not knowing why she's acting this way. Like I said, it takes her about half the book to realize he's not the one she needs to be angry with. The ending was sweet, but the torture was too much.
May 6, 2016
O primeiro livro desta serie Deslumbrante não conseguiu conquistar-me achei muito fraco em relação aos outros livros que já li de Madeline Hunter que sempre adorei.Pensei seriamente em desistir de ler a continuação mas ainda bem que resolvi dar uma chance a autora e este sim aproxima-se do que eu conheço da autora.
Provocadora é um romance bem conseguido, Hawkeswell e Verity são um casal que conseguiu prender-me a leitura deste livro, todo o mistério a volta da fuga da Verity no dia do seu casamento também, assim como as personagens deste livro que irão ter continuação e que deixaram-me intrigada.
Desta vez sim um livro bem a ao género da autora.
Provocadora é um romance bem conseguido, Hawkeswell e Verity são um casal que conseguiu prender-me a leitura deste livro, todo o mistério a volta da fuga da Verity no dia do seu casamento também, assim como as personagens deste livro que irão ter continuação e que deixaram-me intrigada.
Desta vez sim um livro bem a ao género da autora.
February 28, 2017
Eu juro que adorava gostar desta autora, juro, mas simplesmente odeio o desenvolvimento que a autora dá aos seus livros. Começam sempre todos com muito entusiasmo, muito intrigantes, com todos os elementos necessários para um bom romance histórico mas depois não sabe dar o desenvolvimento necessário ao que inicialmente apresentou. O mesmo aconteceu em Deslumbrante e o mesmo aconteceu aqui neste 2º volume da série - As flores mais raras.
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February 4, 2017
I'm giving myself credit for this at 60%. He just took her virginity in a flowerbed against her wishes "because he couldn't help himself."
I don't care if he wants to marry her. He knows she doesn't want to be married to him, was tricked into it, and now he's forcing the issue by taking his marital rights or some shit and making it impossible for her to get an annulment. I guess I'm supposed to like him but i reeeeeally don't.
The first was good, the second awful, not going to continue the series.
I don't care if he wants to marry her. He knows she doesn't want to be married to him, was tricked into it, and now he's forcing the issue by taking his marital rights or some shit and making it impossible for her to get an annulment. I guess I'm supposed to like him but i reeeeeally don't.
The first was good, the second awful, not going to continue the series.
August 8, 2011
Ah, I am so pleased that Hunter did not disappoint! Sometimes, I pick up a new romance author, like one of her works, and then find the rest to be drivel. Gladly, this is not so. :) Hunter writes deep and believable characters. Her love scenes are good, of course, but I find myself skipping them in order to get to the good parts - you know, plot and characterization! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the only reason I didn't give it four stars is because that is something I rarely give out. :)
Read
December 23, 2021I only read the first 75 pages, but it was such an utter slog i gave up. When I am reading other sorts of books I give them time to build, but i want to be pulled into romance pretty early on. This story was so dull, and the hero so unappealing in every respect there was no way it was going to get anywhere I wanted to go with it. Also, I don't like Hunter's writing at all. I am not saying she is a bad writer, just that she appears to not be the writer for me.
December 14, 2015
This book took me a little bit to get into. I thought the first half was slow. It definitely got better in the second part though. At first I found Hawkeswell and Verity annoying, but I found myself liking them better by the end, especially Hawkeswell.
June 20, 2015
I almost put this book down many times. It was a frustrating read and when the action was skipped I couldn't help but feel deflated. The ending was sweet, which made up for some of it. It wasn't enough to make me glad that I read it all the way through, however.
August 26, 2022
DNF at 40% through — had to put it down because it was pissing me off so much. I want to hit the love interest, and every other man in this book, over the head with a wood plank. Blegh.
November 1, 2017
Hawkeswell menemukan kembali istrinya yang dulu pernah meninggalkannya di altar. Setelah 2 tahun dianggap meninggal dan hilang tanpa jejak, Verity muncul kembali tak jauh dari London. Verity dinikahi oleh Earl of Hawkeswell karena warisannya yang mampu membiayai seluruh properti milik Hawkeswell yang hampir bangkrut.
Meski sakit hati atas perlakuan Verity dahulu, Hawkeswell tetap ingin agar pernikahan mereka terus berlangsung. Verity sendiri yang sejak awal memang tidak ingin menikah karena perjodohan, mengulur-ulur waktu dengan memberikan beberapa tawaran bagi Hawkeswell. Hawkeswell sendiri hanya meminta 3 ciuman per hari.
Penolakan Varity tidak berlangsung lama. Segera setelah Hawkeswell meresmikan pernikahan mereka, Varity menemukan bahwa pernikahan itu bisa dibangun atas harta dan kenikmatan. Varity memiliki hartanya, dan tugas Hawkeswell menyediakan kenikmatannya. Varity pun mulai menemukan bahwa Hawkeswell sebenarnya bukanlah sekadar mengincar warisannya saja, tapi dia memperhatikan sekian banyak orang yang menggantungkan hidup di tanahnya.
Interaksi Hawkeswell dan Varity ini menarik untuk diikuti. Ada latar belakang sejarah revolusi induatri di Inggris juga.
Meski sakit hati atas perlakuan Verity dahulu, Hawkeswell tetap ingin agar pernikahan mereka terus berlangsung. Verity sendiri yang sejak awal memang tidak ingin menikah karena perjodohan, mengulur-ulur waktu dengan memberikan beberapa tawaran bagi Hawkeswell. Hawkeswell sendiri hanya meminta 3 ciuman per hari.
Penolakan Varity tidak berlangsung lama. Segera setelah Hawkeswell meresmikan pernikahan mereka, Varity menemukan bahwa pernikahan itu bisa dibangun atas harta dan kenikmatan. Varity memiliki hartanya, dan tugas Hawkeswell menyediakan kenikmatannya. Varity pun mulai menemukan bahwa Hawkeswell sebenarnya bukanlah sekadar mengincar warisannya saja, tapi dia memperhatikan sekian banyak orang yang menggantungkan hidup di tanahnya.
Interaksi Hawkeswell dan Varity ini menarik untuk diikuti. Ada latar belakang sejarah revolusi induatri di Inggris juga.
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