I read a ton of books (87 this year so far, and I have slowed down, but will still likely make my goal of 100), thus I am mindful of cost and often grab freebies on Amazon Prime (free only if you forget that you're paying $140/year for a Prime membership). Once in a while, though, I do actually shell out cash for a book, which is what I did for The Prince's Bride (purchased with Amazon credits, which counts as cash). Sadly, I am here to testify that you don't get what you pay for: this romance novel is worse than many of the free ones I've discarded before finishing. But I am determined to finish TPB, or at least skim to the end, because I paid for it, dammit.
I don't mean to be mean, but this book is so cringe. Most romance novels draw out every moment to the nth degree, and a touch on the hand can take a page to get through; I accept that’s a feature of the genre, but TPB goes beyond the beyond with this. The hero may be a Prince, but he is not Charming, and I am really tired of the grumpy hunk trope. Why can't we have a grouchy heroine with RBF? No, because a rugged, masculine guy can still be appealing even if he has a miserable personality, while heroines have to be smiling and accommodating. Bleh. Not only that, but this heroine is 24 years old, head of her household of an ailing father and two younger sisters, and caretaker of an entire estate, yet she doesn't know how babies are made. Yeah, yeah, the story takes place around 1800, and many young women likely didn't know, but I don't care. If we’re supposed to believe that folks who were betrothed as children happen to bump into each other in the middle of a dark forest, then she can know how babies are made. These books aren't historically accurate in any case.
I’m 34% finished with TPB, and we’ve just gotten through the first night. Why is this book called a "slow burn?" They've already had sexual relations within hours of meeting each other! That sounds like a pretty fast burn to me. Sure, the reading is slow and slushy, like trying to walk uphill through squelchy mud. Ugh. But the romance is fast, imo. The book has 93% four and five star reviews, a few three, and no ones or twos. Well. That's because I haven't starred it yet. Evil smile. It's OK; Charis has lots of fans and many more titles for sale. My dislike of TPB won't make any difference.
Please remind me not to judge books by their clever titles ever again.
Evil smile. One lump or two? Nat
ReplyDeleteRomances are not my cup of tea. But I did buy a book on my vacation: The first book by Knut Hamsun, Nobel in Literature winner and a nazi (which has pained Norwegians). I'm told he was a real wordsmith so I'll be reading about a poor farmer's family from around 100 or so years ago. Not my cup of tea but I think it's about time I read Norway's answer to John Steinbeck, politics notwithstanding.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a conversation I had with E a week or so ago, about why rom-coms always have a serious guy who is brought to appreciate fun, romance and adventure by a Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Why can't it be about an crazy, ditzy girl who is brought to take responsibility for her life by a Serious Methodical Logical Guy? (This came about because I'm the serious one in our relationship who makes sure the bills are paid, whereas E takes me on adventures, or I'm Bert to E's Ernie, as she puts it.)
ReplyDeleteNat, right now, it's one, but I'm only halfway through. It's possible she could get two lumps. LOL
ReplyDeleteKeera, sometimes I try to read books I think I "should" read, but mostly I grab mind-candy.
Daniel, that's a great point! I feel I need to write a series of anti-trope romances...