Man I wish the story was as thrilling as the cover. :( This was very up and down. I really should be giving this a lower rating honestly. First 40% I Man I wish the story was as thrilling as the cover. :( This was very up and down. I really should be giving this a lower rating honestly. First 40% I wanted to strangle the bratty childish heroine Maggie who couldn't see past her own nose. Then I started to enjoy it once she acknowledged what a screw up she was and how spoiled and naive she is. Then I started to get bored again and just wanted to finish it. And this author has a serious attachment to the word "powerful". It's used in every context. It's a choice. He wanted her powerfully bad, the rain poured down in a powerful force, he makes her powerfully frustrated, homesickness swept through her so powerfully, etc. A thesaurus is really needed here, it should be Sharon Cullen's new friend. The use of modern language was less in this one but still it had problems. The hero's penis goes from being called "penis" to "cock" half way in for reasons that still aren't clear, the grammar needs help and like stated above Cullen tends to get stuck on phrasing things a certain way and doesn't want to let it go. The English are awful to the Scots but does everybody need to put the "damned" epithet in front of it every time they are mentioned? It's too much. There's no other adjective we can use? Maggie can't stop calling anything English-related as "the damn English" "she's damn English!" "thedamnedEnglish". She already sounded like a teenager, this kind of dialogue certainly didn't help.
As for Colin MacLean, he was quite pathetic for a hero I have to say. He bailed on his entire clan for years to run his smuggling business instead and was in no hurry to get back home and take his position as chieftain ever since his father and brothers died. Gee...what a guy. The fact that all he did was mope over his dead relatives being ashamed of him and kept dragging his feet to get home through a majority of this was facepalm worthy. Dude, suck it up and go home. He acted like a complete useless bampot trying to figure out a way to infiltrate his own castle that was under English siege. Maggie literally had to give him and his men the plan and force his hand not to turn around and give up. Like seriously? This is only my second read by SC and one of the biggest issues aside from her writing issues is her heroes are barely fleshed out and not really memorable. Her writing just lacks something overall. Maggie was very hot and cold for me but I found her more fleshed out than Colin. Bratty, slap-worthy moments aside, you felt for her. But Colin not so much. I don't know, if I had more faith in Cullen's writing ability I would give Iain's book a try next but it's just...not there for me. :/...more
This was such a delight. A charming, funny, angsty, endearing, adorable delight. I adored th
The bane of his life and the balm to his soul.
This was such a delight. A charming, funny, angsty, endearing, adorable delight. I adored this so much and adored the leads Max and Effie even more. Two incredibly lonely souls finding acceptance and happiness in each other. For fans of Amanda Quick's Ravished I think you'll love this one. This had a very similar set up with a scarred "beast" recluse hero and a sweet eccentric bluestocking heroine who loves her archeology. Although I found this one much stronger with more depth and emotion on top of the humor. I loved Effie's combination of confidence in her intelligence yet vulnerability and insecurity of wanting a family and to be loved just as she is. Max was the perfect gruff, brooding, grouchy "beast" to her smiling personality and open heart. Max just dissolves into a big teddy bear around her and it was so great to see. Their meet cute happens when he finds her on his land digging up holes trying to extract an old ancient pot. He first mistakes her for a boy since she's covered in mud and wearing breeches and weird goggles. The hilarity and fun ensues from there. What I loved most about this was that while we got to see this couple slowly fall for each other we also got to see them become friends first. I found that very significant and so dear considering Effie never had a real friend before this. Her "big brain" and tendency to ramble out whatever comes to her mind and debate topics always scared people off and society labels her as odd. Her scholarly father died so that left her completely alone in the world with nothing but her and her passion for antiquity to distract her. I just found her so endearing and sweet. Both hero and heroine are recluses for different reasons but need distractions from the whirling questions and thoughts plaguing them in their loneliness. They both needed unconditional love and that's exactly what they found in each other.
"Can I ask you a question, Max?" "You can always ask me anything, Effie. In fact, I insist upon it. I find your honesty and your undisguised curiosity refreshing." "Then that is a first. Most people loathe it." "Then most people are daft. What’s the question?" "Are we friends now? I feel as though we are, but I am never entirely sure. And experience has taught me that if I assume, then I am doomed to be disappointed when my perceived friend starts to avoid me." She said it so matter of factly, but his heart wept for her. It was so ill deserved. Effie was a breath of fresh air, not an irritation. "I suppose we must be." Her delighted smile was like a balm to his soul. "That’s nice. And you don’t mind all the questions?" "I don’t want you to ever think you shouldn’t ask questions, Effie. You can always ask me anything..."
Ugh. Just so adorable. ❤️ This scene honestly made me want to cry I found it so touching and vulnerable. I loved how patient and kind Max was with Effie. Her intelligence and how quick her mind works fascinates him. And him going from grumbly put-out neighbor to intrigued assistant helping her dig up treasures and artifacts on his land was really cute and hilarious. Their banter is the greatest thing. I loved the endless nicknames he came up for her when he was angry or wanted to tease her. Miss Naive, Miss None-of-your-business, Miss Ninnyhammer, etc. ...more
My original post was taken down. So I will just let my shelf do the talking and leave you with this, and this is not just directed at the author and hMy original post was taken down. So I will just let my shelf do the talking and leave you with this, and this is not just directed at the author and her fans, but Goodreads as well....
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ETA: Posting gifs is just RUDE.
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Merged review:
My original post was taken down. So I will just let my shelf do the talking and leave you with this, and this is not just directed at the author and her fans, but Goodreads as well....
[image]
ETA: Posting gifs is just RUDE.
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...more
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