Fun and frolic

I had some confusion as to the hero's guilt and the heroine's anger but it all came together in the end.

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Another great narration in a refreshing HR series

This was a reread (or rather ‘listen’, because Alex Wyndham’s narration finally came out!) but it simply confirmed to me, again, that Bliss Bennet is a desperately needed Bright Star in the historical romance genre.

I have read the criticisms of this book (and Bennet as a whole), and have to say I strongly disagree. I don't quuiiitteee see how one can pick apart this and not also see the rampant flaws in many of the bestsellers dominating the sub-genre…ahem works by Julia Quinn, Sarah MacLean, Kerrigan Byrne etc. Annnnd just to reiterate, I read these writers and quite like them!) Also! This isn't to denigrate other reader's opinions but I wonder if, when certain author's don't meet market expectations, we reject them because we are used to a particular execution of Regency romances and what with humans generally not enjoying the unexpected… well… you get it. Suffice to say I advocate for the quality and relevancy of this novel and all of Bennet's works.

ANYWAYS!

Sure, Peregrine and Sibilla could be perceived as inconsistent but I think they are consistent in their moments of inconsistency. I don't know if this makes sense or is possible… but that's my personal view on it. My boy Per is wicked smart and Sib even more so. She can be harsh, sensitive, spiteful, compassionate, and selfish all at once--a multi-dimensional heroine that I adored. Some might not be tickled by Sibilla's behaviour at times but I loved it. All of it.

The moment I think people could hate is actually the ultimate reason I love this book though:

Right near the end where Per finally admits to his rather reprehensible feelings about the whole Mary Catherine debacle. Sib consequently admits to feeling hatred for her father even while loving and grieving him. The shared shame in their admittedly objectionable feelings was incredibly, incredibly human; the gentle admittance of not being immune to human failings. And this unpleasant truth is perhaps what feels unfamiliar in historical romance and warrants a rejection of Bennet. Writers tend to use brokenness, damage, trauma etc. in characters as plot devices so they have arcs. This wasn’t really a part of the arc, and so it might come off as not serving a purpose… but it’s these sort of moments in real life that actually bind us to people: shared grief, shared shame, liking because and loving despite. I get we want to suspend disbelief and bask in the fantasy of perfect people… but this moment while unpleasant and bitter, was soooooo refreshing to read (or in this case, listen to) in a genre largely touted as being nothing more than vapid, sex-filled gambols. Sibilla and Peregrine have a really great dynamic and arc so I’m pro-Per and Sib.

In this re-read/listen, I genuinely looked for problems. I even listened to it with my husband (who is a curmudgeon who hates everything and picks apart everything with NO REMORSE), asking if he found issues in the story development, the characters, the content and we were of the same mind: no, this is well characterized and delivered and culminates into something lovely and entertaining. Despite the context of navigating prostitution in the 1820s, the moments of lightness and humor meant A Man Without A Mistress wasn't mired by the seriousness of the first or last books in the series, for instance (and just to reiterate, I love this entire series and can't actually choose a favourite). The MCs were refreshing and the repartee between the MCs and ancillary characters, like the wonderfully irreverent Lord Dulcie (who get's his HEA with the second eldest Pennington in XX), make this sharp and intelligent. Combine this with the prose, steam, the break from prescribed historical romance formulas, and I think this is an elevated take on various romance tropes as well as the Regency period in general.

Alex Wyndham’s narration is obviously perfect. There were notes of Gabriel Brandon and Duke of Rockliffe (characters from work by Stella Riley, voice by Wyndham) in the voice given to Peregrine and it was great. Sibilla's dulcet tones went nicely with what she, and everyone else, calls "the sharp edge of her tongue." Sinclair Dulcie is flamboyant and irreverant in voice, just as he is on the page. In summary, the audiobook is a wonder, this story remains delightful. I highly recommend Bennet's work but advise setting aside any sort of HR canon induced expectations; just go with the flow and soak up all the Penningtons have to offer.

I eagerly await the next installment to be released in audio format from Wyndham, and more from Bennet in the future.

5 Stars.

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4 people found this helpful

Not enough romance in this romance

A historical romance that goes big on fascinating aspects of history should be right up my alley, but I just didn’t care about any of the characters. The romantic plot takes a backseat to the... drama? Mystery? I don’t know how to label the main story because it was pretty disjointed.

Wouldn’t have minded that if I were smitten with the heroes, but neither was especially likeable. Good romances make you feel as desperate for the main characters to get together as they are themselves, but I was too bored to have any emotional reaction whatsoever.

Alex Wyndham was a great narrator, though, so I’ll try other reads by him.

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