ŷ������

I wanted to enjoy this book so badly, the premiss set up in the previous book & the letter writing was a different way in to the story, leaving the London Scene was also refreshing. I liked Eloise's appearances in the earlier instalments and will admit to much of my curiosity for this series stemming from her appearances in the YouTube clips I've seen of the show - what a firecracker...but this was not it! She hardly seemed like the character we saw glimpses of in previous books and in any case...

Sir Phillip ruined this read!
WTH is up with the tempers & tendency towards violence for the men of this world? Perhaps a product of the time & it is becoming increasingly apparent that these are the kind of men this author writes but they are such hard passes...I cannot with them! 🤬 Their overbearing reactions are not romantic and should not be glorified as such 🤢

Poor Marina, my heart broke every time she was mentioned. Not solely because of the circumstances under which we met her but the life she led 💔
She deserved so much better, I know the mental health awareness we have gleaned since this was based and indeed probably since this was first published absolutely colours my opinion but it is what it is and I cannot get over it 😖

The twins, Eloise (for the most part) & super surprisingly to me considering how much I've bemoaned the Bridger'bois when they are the MCs - their more entertaining appearances as side characters in this stopped me breaking my phone in anger over Phillips macho-man antics & thoughts 🤦‍♀️��
I was also slightly saddened not to see the interaction between Eloise & Hyacinth from the second epilogue of the previous book + the reaction to the reveal therein ... but I guess that was possibly written after this books publication 🤔 so 🤷‍♀��

One other thing I liked was the snippets of Eloise's correspondence at the start of each chapter - but even that touching glimpse into her past was not enough to pull my disappointment away from almost every action of Phillips 🙄

Seeing as the first book & *THAT* scene got a 2.5* rating...Phillips shenanigans in this and the mistreatment (imho) of Marina prob put my "enjoyment" of this read on a par with that one despite the twins adorable antics in attempting to be beastly (an aside but I need to work that word more into my vernacular teehee) & the bro'vention scenes were a reminder why I like reading about this fam despite the male love interests carry on.

Francesca is next and seeing as she has barely appeared in any of the books so far I will admit to being more than a little curious to learn more about her & honestly at this point am not holding out much hope for her love interest but will try to "measure my expectations" (soz YouTube drahmz ref) and limit any propensity I may have towards ranting 🤐 *whispers* but I make no promises some things may be beyond my self control 🤗😅