Disclaimer: I think this will be the third time I have attempted participating in the Cannonball Read. My failures in the past are so frustrating to me because I easily read at least 50 books each year. It’s the reviews that are my stumbling block.
I know it’s because I am intimidated, both by the intelligence of the Pajiba community and by my minimal skills with technology. This year, I’m trying to let that anxiety go. If my reviews sound like they were written by a fourth grader, then so be it.
Happy Cannonball Read everyone!
Format in which I consumed this book: ebook read on my kindle
Did I like it/love it/hate it? Liked it
What’s it about? Archie, the Earl of Harcourt, is really looking forward to the annual trip to the countryside he takes with his two best friends. His mom is having some health troubles and Archie needs the mental health break the trip will provide.
But, lo, just before they leave, a letter arrives from one of his late father’s friends. The letter begs Archie to discreetly intercept the man’s two daughters: Olive, who has run off with her sister’s fiance, and Clemetine, who has gone to stop them. That sounds really shitty of Olive, but it turns out Clementine didn’t really want to marry the guy anyway.
Archie and his friends find the women, and for the sake of keeping this scandal under wraps, the sisters join the men on their trip. Romance between Archie and Clementine ensues.
My thoughts: While the story takes place in the 1820s, it is not a typical romance from that period. The characters have very 21st century values. Clementine is outdoorsy and does not want to ever get married. There are strong hints that one of Archie’s friends is gay and the main characters are perfectly ok with that.
Would I recommend this to my sister? Yes, probably. The writing is modern and if the characters did not often mention they were earls, I would almost forget this was taking place in the 1800s. If I had to describe it in one word, I would say: cute. And sometimes you just want a cute romance.
So that’s review #2 in the bag. Fingers crossed I can keep this up!
