This was kind of on the low end of 3 stars for me. I didn't dislike it, but it didn't give me a whole lot either. Nothing crazy, it just felt slow and the hero was more arrogant than I find attractive (and not just over things that his title effects, I'm willing to allow additional leeway on that sort.) And his, extreme empath ability or whatever it was felt a bit wobbly as well. Overall a little 'meh'. ( )

According to the reviews I should have read #1 and especially #3 in the series. Book was OK on its own. Christian/Edmund was very much full of himself with his "I am Easterbrook" attitude so maybe the other books in the series would make me understand that attitude better. Liked how his problems were described from his ability to understand emotions to his solutions to opium addiction. Interesting that a Chinese book was used for inspiration on the sexual scenes yet it was still described tastefully. Glad that overall Leona tried to stay as a strong female for that time period. ( )

When I started reading Madeline Hunter's fourth installment of the Rothwell Family series, I immediately didn't like it. That dislike marginal improved once I finished, though I think it was more from relief than anything else.

This book is so flat and shallow. Shallow in a sense that the dialogues, the characters, the STORY - are poorly developed. And there was so much potential to this plot: a brooding hero tortured with clairsentience and an exotic heroine who grew up in the East, determined to save her family's trade business.

Instead, you get Christian, Marquess of Easterbrook, whose insufferable conceit is all that he has going for him. I find the arrogance in a hero endearing most of the time, but only if he has other redeeming qualities. And what about Leona Montgomery? Well, I'd love to say more but there just isn't anything to say. Her character is boring and one-dimensional. She's just...there.

Some of the dialogues made me cringe: "I should thank you for your restraint. I am still officially a virgin." No one in the 21st-century would talk like this, let alone in conservative 19th-century England.

From the first page to the last, I felt like I was reading someone else's account of Christian and Leona's story. I was constantly being told they felt this way and that way but was never really shown how or why. How do you show this? Through better dialogues and an even better character development.

The only sin happening with this book was the waste of my time. ( )

Amazon preorder,Amazon received

I really liked this book. It flowed well and kept my interest. It was humorous at times as well. A delightful read. ( )