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geekxgirl's review against another edition
1.0
Good grief! This book was so bad. In the worst overly dramatic, bad movie sort of way. Nothing like the Mistress Triogly that came before. I found myself skimming alot of it once I reached halfway.
The book blurb was interesting enough. I've read a few books with a similar storyline, but never like this one. The book gets points for beginning decently. It opened during the wedding, thus throwing us right into the fray. So no slow build up, thank God.
However, the drawn out details and inner monologues by our heroine Violet grew more and more tiresome throughout the whole book. I don't even feel like she deserves the title of "heroine" as she wasn't the least bit strong or inspiring. She was a shy, insecure young woman who allowed her twin sister to manipulate her for her own selfish purposes. She claimed to have loved Adrian since she met him but truthfully that sounded more like she had a crush or infatuation with him. Especially since we learn as the book goes on from both Violet and Adrian's thoughts that she was far too shy to ever speak to him without stuttering or going silent the times they were around one another. She hardly made much of an impression on our hero, aside from some pathetic memory he had of coming upon her crying over a bag of drowned kittens and trying to breathe life back into one of them. It was hardly romantic.
Adrian for the most part was your average hero. Nothing special really stood out about him, and he didn't exude any special personality trait to remark upon. He kind of felt dull, really. And especially going nearly 70% in the book without figuring out the woman he married isn't he one he courted! Personally it was easy to lose a little respect for him for not catching on sooner. Sure, he noticed how she reacted differently than her sister Jeanette did, and even when she found a way to excuse the use of her spectacles he let it slide. He chose not to question it, thinking he had the good fortune of a happy marriage. He was pleased with whatever change marriage had brought on to his wife and chose to ignore the obvious signs.
But Violet was the worst of the two. As I said above she allowed her sister to manipulate her, and abuse her love. To put her in an unthinkable position of having to pretend to be someone she wasn't, but more importantly forced to pretend to be a sister who had always made her feel second best and fed her insecurities along with her terrible family. She wasn't perfect, I'll give her that, but what she did was weak. She also claimed it was because she loved him and how this was the only way she'd ever have him. Hah! What a load of crap. Lying to the man you love for the rest of your life and bear his children as your sister...Yeah isn't that just the very definition of love? Nope! And on top of that she acted cowardly through most of the book. After that scene I lost all of what little respect I had for her. Ick.
Worse yet, and yes it gets worse! Her sister Jeanette!! Ugh what a low down, selfish, immature, self involved little tramp! As if your opinion of her couldn't get worse, it can. Toward the end when she shows back up
Blah blah blah. Adrian finds her, teaches her a small lesson. Explains he could tell and that she has to give a man a little time to figure it out, them being indentical and all but that he knew the woman he loved. Cue her pregnancy announcement, and then him announcing it to the whole party on top of the honest truth of who he married, because yes! Little pathetic Violet thought they should continue the charade even after they got remarried, even though Adrian wanted to tell the truth. Instead she was supposed to remain parading around as her sister in public! Supposedly to keep the Ton from gossiping and shunning her or them, and naturally from shaming her family. I don't understand her reasoning at all.
S I G H. This book was just a mess. A weak heroine who never really found redemption, not enough for me to bother really liking her. Hardly any growth in character for her. Adrian was normal and maybe boring. His younger brother Kit was a little fun. But Jeanette!! Noooooo buddy. And the author has the second book written about her?! No way you could redeem that immature selfish creature for me. PASS!
The book blurb was interesting enough. I've read a few books with a similar storyline, but never like this one. The book gets points for beginning decently. It opened during the wedding, thus throwing us right into the fray. So no slow build up, thank God.
However, the drawn out details and inner monologues by our heroine Violet grew more and more tiresome throughout the whole book. I don't even feel like she deserves the title of "heroine" as she wasn't the least bit strong or inspiring. She was a shy, insecure young woman who allowed her twin sister to manipulate her for her own selfish purposes. She claimed to have loved Adrian since she met him but truthfully that sounded more like she had a crush or infatuation with him. Especially since we learn as the book goes on from both Violet and Adrian's thoughts that she was far too shy to ever speak to him without stuttering or going silent the times they were around one another. She hardly made much of an impression on our hero, aside from some pathetic memory he had of coming upon her crying over a bag of drowned kittens and trying to breathe life back into one of them. It was hardly romantic.
Adrian for the most part was your average hero. Nothing special really stood out about him, and he didn't exude any special personality trait to remark upon. He kind of felt dull, really. And especially going nearly 70% in the book without figuring out the woman he married isn't he one he courted! Personally it was easy to lose a little respect for him for not catching on sooner. Sure, he noticed how she reacted differently than her sister Jeanette did, and even when she found a way to excuse the use of her spectacles he let it slide. He chose not to question it, thinking he had the good fortune of a happy marriage. He was pleased with whatever change marriage had brought on to his wife and chose to ignore the obvious signs.
But Violet was the worst of the two. As I said above she allowed her sister to manipulate her, and abuse her love. To put her in an unthinkable position of having to pretend to be someone she wasn't, but more importantly forced to pretend to be a sister who had always made her feel second best and fed her insecurities along with her terrible family. She wasn't perfect, I'll give her that, but what she did was weak. She also claimed it was because she loved him and how this was the only way she'd ever have him. Hah! What a load of crap. Lying to the man you love for the rest of your life and bear his children as your sister...Yeah isn't that just the very definition of love? Nope! And on top of that she acted cowardly through most of the book.
Spoiler
Even goes as far as throwing herself (quite literally) at Adrian when he confronted to after finding out who she really was and begging him to let her stay. That she could remain pretending to be her sister or whomever he wanted if she could just be his wife and that she loved him.Worse yet, and yes it gets worse! Her sister Jeanette!! Ugh what a low down, selfish, immature, self involved little tramp! As if your opinion of her couldn't get worse, it can. Toward the end when she shows back up
Spoiler
she decides she ready to relieve her sister of the burden of being her and take her rightful place as duchess. Yes, she did actually say this. Because her lover dumped her when he realized there was no money to be had from marrying her, and she found traveling the Continent dreadfully dull and missed London. So basically she wanted what was rightfully hers in the first place. When Violet refuses, and even explains that it would never work and that Adrian knows about it all anyway. That they remarried because the first marriage wasn't legal due to the switch, and that he loves HER well naturally Jeanette gets spiteful. With a scowl on her face she gleefully sprinkles cause for doubt all over poor susceptible Violet. Making carefully placed remarks about "are you sure he loves you? He seemed awfully happy while he thought he was married to me." Thus making Violet second guess her marriage to Adrian, thinking he couldn't pick her out from the two, that he wouldn't be able to KNOW her enough to make the correct choice. So after much inner turmoil she gives in to Jeanette's childish plot of switching again to put Adrian to the test. Well it backfires, but not soon enough for Violet not to assume Jeanette was right.Blah blah blah. Adrian finds her, teaches her a small lesson. Explains he could tell and that she has to give a man a little time to figure it out, them being indentical and all but that he knew the woman he loved. Cue her pregnancy announcement, and then him announcing it to the whole party on top of the honest truth of who he married, because yes! Little pathetic Violet thought they should continue the charade even after they got remarried, even though Adrian wanted to tell the truth. Instead she was supposed to remain parading around as her sister in public! Supposedly to keep the Ton from gossiping and shunning her or them, and naturally from shaming her family. I don't understand her reasoning at all.
S I G H. This book was just a mess. A weak heroine who never really found redemption, not enough for me to bother really liking her. Hardly any growth in character for her. Adrian was normal and maybe boring. His younger brother Kit was a little fun. But Jeanette!! Noooooo buddy. And the author has the second book written about her?! No way you could redeem that immature selfish creature for me. PASS!
kirillsashas's review against another edition
5.0
So this story is about a girl named Jeanette switched places with her twin sister Violet on her wedding day because she decided she didn't want to marry her betrothed which was Adrian. And so Violet who was currently in love with Adrian agreed and she's the one who end up joining him at the altar. What I like about this story is that Adrian even though he didn't believe in love, he still cares for "Jeanette" and treated her like he loves her and for Violet, even though she lied to Adrian, she still tried her best to become a better wife for him. I love this story very much and I will give it 5/5. I can't wait to read about Jeanette's story in the next book which is The Wife Trap n she's going to meet a guy who is not easy to be won. You know that hard to get type of person. I forgot to mention that Violet is a dull smart yet kind of person while Jeanette is a spoiled witty n seductive kinda person
crazyyummy1209's review against another edition
5.0
So this story is about a girl named Jeanette switched places with her twin sister Violet on her wedding day because she decided she didn't want to marry her betrothed which was Adrian. And so Violet who was currently in love with Adrian agreed and she's the one who end up joining him at the altar. What I like about this story is that Adrian even though he didn't believe in love, he still cares for "Jeanette" and treated her like he loves her and for Violet, even though she lied to Adrian, she still tried her best to become a better wife for him. I love this story very much and I will give it 5/5. I can't wait to read about Jeanette's story in the next book which is The Wife Trap n she's going to meet a guy who is not easy to be won. You know that hard to get type of person. I forgot to mention that Violet is a dull smart yet kind of person while Jeanette is a spoiled witty n seductive kinda person
ar13's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
klippy's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book -- it was so different than any others I have read!!!
anotherstoryreader's review against another edition
3.0
Today I was yelling at a fictional character for being an idiot.
He JUST forgave you for deceiving him, then you do it again.
Spoiler
He JUST forgave you for deceiving him, then you do it again.
labwa_0712's review against another edition
3.0
Really enjoyed this book. The writing was good, the plot and the pacing was nice, the characters were good, no unnecessary drama or anything.
mariamistry's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars
Had to lower my rating for this one. Cute at times, but Adrian was beastly to her at others. Loved the heroine for the most part; she deserved better.
Had to lower my rating for this one. Cute at times, but Adrian was beastly to her at others. Loved the heroine for the most part; she deserved better.
nighteyes82's review against another edition
5.0
why do I like this book? because for once the story as a relative long span-time (a whole year and that's a change from the 10 days-they-meet-she falls in love-they marry-there's a twist-and oh in the end he is in love too-usual stories). the is no injured Waterloo Hero or super nasty french spy (they really get on my nerves!)
It's just a story of a duke falling in love with his wife. And that is refreshing. although the wife is not the one I think he is married to. Violet switch places with her twin before the wedding.
It's just a story of a duke falling in love with his wife. And that is refreshing. although the wife is not the one I think he is married to. Violet switch places with her twin before the wedding.