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willa's review against another edition
5.0
One of those books that makes me think, this is what romance is. This is what romance can do. In many ways, this era of vintage romance was much more daring than the era we’re in now. And Anne! What an incredible, wounded, resilient woman. The chapters from her diary POV added so much depth of feeling and personality.
fainting_couch's review against another edition
YUH I love this trilogy and I also love pining and also? Religion talk even if it does end in Christianity conversion. Also love a woman with self loathing issues that are dealt with in a way that isn’t annoying and trite. Anyways. Gaffney is v good at what she does
faith_hirschi's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
htbaumtree's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The writing itself is lovely, but the plot can be very slow, which isn't a bad thing per se. Love scences are actually very infrequent and mild, with the focus being on the yearning and longing between Christy and Anne. The end is perfectly paced, which I was surprised by given the nature of certain plot points, and is often a critique of mine in other books, so it was pleasant to see Patricia Gaffney side-step that pet peeve of mine so neatly. A good first foray into the classic romance genre.
kgroberts13's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I loved the interplay of Anglican religious belief and romance between the h/H.
The 3rd act felt like a dramatic bum-rush through the major impediment that developed between the h/H. Otherwise a lovely, refreshing Victorian historical romance that takes place in pastoral England.
I loved the interplay of Anglican religious belief and romance between the h/H.
The 3rd act felt like a dramatic bum-rush through the major impediment that developed between the h/H. Otherwise a lovely, refreshing Victorian historical romance that takes place in pastoral England.
neha_s's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars
It started out so well...I loved the beginning of Christy and Anne's relationship. How they met and how their friendship evolved into more. But it did not last with the second half of the book. The book dragged a lot and was slow in many places, still I was making my way through it. Then that rape scene with Geoffrey before ending happened. And the way that was brushed off and how Anne forgave that...I just cannot...it left a bitter taste in my mouth, and I cannot fathom how that was an 'act of love'. Why was that even important for the story? My whole experience with the second half kind of ruined this book for me
It started out so well...I loved the beginning of Christy and Anne's relationship. How they met and how their friendship evolved into more. But it did not last with the second half of the book. The book dragged a lot and was slow in many places, still I was making my way through it. Then that rape scene with Geoffrey before ending happened. And the way that was brushed off and how Anne forgave that...I just cannot...it left a bitter taste in my mouth, and I cannot fathom how that was an 'act of love'. Why was that even important for the story? My whole experience with the second half kind of ruined this book for me
shannonleighd's review against another edition
1.0
Everything I hate about the romance genre all rolled into one book. Mind-numbingly boring and eye-roll worthy at the best of times.
Full review to come, possibly.
Spoiler?
Geoffrey had the right idea.
Full review to come, possibly.
Spoiler?
Geoffrey had the right idea.
ked_03's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
melissad75's review against another edition
4.0
It's a rare author who can make a truly good, selfless, godly and religious man into an interesting and sexy hero -- one whose beliefs don't make him insufferable when you don't necessarily share them as a reader. Who can create the perfect foil for this kind of hero in a woman who is a cynical, bitter, depressed atheist yearning, whether she knows it or not, for friendship, love, and community. Who is capable of writing a villain who isn't just a roadblock to the hero and heroine's happily ever after, but a believable, nuanced, and even heartbreaking character in his own right, in spite of the unlikeable and even wicked things he does. Who can bring an entire village of secondary characters to life, giving all the people we meet personalities and lives of their own, even if we're only seeing those lives in brief snatches. Patricia Gaffney is good. Very, very good. I love her lyrical, evocative writing style and found myself highlighting passage after passage in my Kindle.
There were things I wasn't crazy about. The middle of the novel loses a little steam as the conflict veers into a moral conundrum for the hero that might be a little difficult for most modern readers to relate to. There's also a big plot twist about 3/4 of the way through the book that seemed much too convenient, plot-wise, in terms of the timing -- though I forgave it when it led to an increase in the angst and tension of the story and to some of my favorite sections of the book. Some of the things that happened toward the end of the novel were gut-wrenching and so emotional. I teared up several times before the story reached its conclusion.
I feel like I'm being super vague. Here, read this for more details, it says a lot of the things I didn't. I can see why this book is considered a historical romance classic -- it's pretty wonderful. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the Wyckerley trilogy.
There were things I wasn't crazy about. The middle of the novel loses a little steam as the conflict veers into a moral conundrum for the hero that might be a little difficult for most modern readers to relate to. There's also a big plot twist about 3/4 of the way through the book that seemed much too convenient, plot-wise, in terms of the timing -- though I forgave it when it led to an increase in the angst and tension of the story and to some of my favorite sections of the book. Some of the things that happened toward the end of the novel were gut-wrenching and so emotional. I teared up several times before the story reached its conclusion.
I feel like I'm being super vague. Here, read this for more details, it says a lot of the things I didn't. I can see why this book is considered a historical romance classic -- it's pretty wonderful. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the Wyckerley trilogy.
lucyhargrave's review against another edition
2.0
I brought this book because I had enjoyed the previous Patricia Gaffney novel I read, whose name escape me, but it was a Tarzan/Jane style romance.
Unfortunately I didn’t find To Love and To Cherish quite as enjoyable. I couldn’t connect with the hero Christy or the heroine Anne, and honestly the slow pace of their romance was boring. Normally I like a slow burn romance, but this slow burn romance resolved around the couples differences in religion. I always get wary when reading romances with religious elements as I dislike preachy characters or storylines. I actually don’t think either of the characters where preachy, but with Christy being a vicar religious discourse and the concept of right and wrong came up. A lot.
Honestly I found it boring and towards the end found myself skim reading large chunks of the book. The first 50 and last 50 pages where interesting, but the middle section was just dull for me.
It isn’t a badly written novel and the idyllic rural setting will really work for some people. Just not me, I prefer my romances with a bit more grit and less religious discourse.
Unfortunately I didn’t find To Love and To Cherish quite as enjoyable. I couldn’t connect with the hero Christy or the heroine Anne, and honestly the slow pace of their romance was boring. Normally I like a slow burn romance, but this slow burn romance resolved around the couples differences in religion. I always get wary when reading romances with religious elements as I dislike preachy characters or storylines. I actually don’t think either of the characters where preachy, but with Christy being a vicar religious discourse and the concept of right and wrong came up. A lot.
Honestly I found it boring and towards the end found myself skim reading large chunks of the book. The first 50 and last 50 pages where interesting, but the middle section was just dull for me.
It isn’t a badly written novel and the idyllic rural setting will really work for some people. Just not me, I prefer my romances with a bit more grit and less religious discourse.