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My Review:Title: The Sultan's Bought Bride
Author: Jane Porter
Series: Princess Brides #1
Published by: Harlequin Presents
Release Date: April 1, 2008
Format: ebook
Pages: 192
Genres: Romance, Contemporary
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon
My rating:
Blurb:Princess Nicolette Ducasse refused to let her sister marry Sultan Malik Roman Nuri of Baraka. So she traveled to his faraway kingdom to tell him the wedding was off, never expecting that Malik would be one seriously sexy sultan! Resisting him would be hard. But Malik made it clear that if they shared a bed the wedding was on. He was a modern monarch in many ways—except when it came to his bride!
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
3.5 stars — I saw Malik and Nicolette mentioned in one of Ms. Porter’s more recent books, and had to dig around in my kindle so I could reread this. It didn’t disappoint. I LOVED the chemistry and banter between Nic and Malik…some of their conversations had me cracking up! And I enjoyed the pace of how they fell in love…almost believable (which is rare for Presents books). I even enjoyed the twist and how that played out…didn’t see it coming the first time, and forgot most of it by this second time around. I guess my problem lay in Nic…I didn’t always get her. I got some of her, but she had so much going on that sometimes it seemed she was inconsistent. I think I see where Ms. Porter was trying to go, but I just couldn’t get behind her most of the time…well, maybe not most, but if you read it, you’ll understand.
ON REREAD:
2.5 stars — 8+ years later, and the Sultan stuff kinda makes me cringe. It wasn’t as bad as I was expecting, which is kudos to Ms. Porter. But at the same time, it was hard to read about Malik thinking about wedding customs in his culture where they verify virginity of the woman. I get it. This happens in places in this world. But it’s horrific, and I guess I wanted Malik to actually think about wanting to change that. I don’t know. I’m fussy now.
There were still lots of enjoyable moments, but I *still* don’t get Nic or her motivations. And I don’t really like her much as a result…or at least I find it hard to connect with her. And I yet again forgot about the twist, and I couldn’t decide how I felt about how it all played out. It was interesting and different, but it’s just on the edge of what I enjoy I guess… I’ll still give the rest of the Ducasse sisters a chance, I have a feeling I’ll like them more than Nic. And at least there’s no more Sultans. *rolls eyes* I’m not even marking this one as a diverse read, b/c I don’t trust any sense of accuracy.
My Review:Title: The Greek's Royal Mistress
Author: Jane Porter
Series: Princess Brides #2
Published by: Harlequin Presents
Release Date: April 1, 2008
Format: ebook
Pages: 192
Genres: Romance, Contemporary
Potential Triggers: View Spoiler »
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2021 Backlist Reader Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon
My rating:
Blurb:The disobedient princess…
The royal plane is about to crash! Princess Chantal Thibaudet is rescued from the wreckage by Demetrius Mantheakis, a renowned international security expert, with wealth and a reputation to match. He insists that Chantal go with him to his private Greek island, where he can protect her. But even princesses can become pregnant when they allow themselves to be swept away by a commoner—especially one as arrogant and sexy as Demetrius…. And a right royal scandal is about to break loose!
1.5 stars — Well, I’m in an inordinately bad mood now. I had to skim most of this book. GOD. I couldn’t take the repetitiveness. NOTHING HAPPENED. Like, Chantal had the same thoughts OVER AND OVER AND OVER and it was so boring!! I don’t even know if the growth was believable, b/c I just couldn’t take it anymore. I just wanted to know how they were going to make it work in the end. And the resolution was meh — not bad, not great.
Seriously though, for Chantal to have gone through an abusive first marriage, and then have her new beau be cold, unemotional, harsh…like, serious bummer. Honestly, I was uncomfortable with how much of an asshole Demetrius was. He had moments where he basically derided her for not getting out of her abusive marriage, and for not getting on with her life. Chantal needed help, no doubt, but come on! He also cornered her, manhandled her, pressured her…all the things that I don’t find appealing in a guy, but a new hero for an abuse victim? Cold Ms. Porter, cold.
And was she afraid of him? It was hard to tell…it almost seemed like she could be, but really she was just afraid of all her lustful feelings. Ugh. It was all she thought about!
I don’t know. I’m feeling ranty. I just can’t take these Presents books anymore. God, this book treaded right to the line on a few other issues — like trying to be woke, but missing the mark in general. I can’t explain. I can’t even tell if it really was, but it just made me feel wrong.
Whatever. I wanted to read the whole bundle, but this mess of a book has me not even caring about Joelle. Maybe I’ll give it a try, but my DNF finger will be on a hair trigger, that’s for sure.
My Review:Title: The Italian's Virgin Princess
Author: Jane Porter
Series: Princess Brides #3
Published by: Harlequin Presents
Release Date: April 1, 2008
Format: ebook
Pages: 192
Genres: Romance, Contemporary
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon
My rating:
Blurb:Princess Joelle Ducasse must marry the man who has been chosen for her. Joelle knows her marriage will be one of duty, not love. So in an act of defiance she decides to spend one hot, steamy night with a gorgeous stranger. But unbeknownst to Joelle that stranger is actually Prince Leo Borgarde--her future husband! Leo is furious that his future wife could behave in such a reckless way. He demands that Joelle must be punished, and he knows just the right way... by marriage!
DNF barely into chapter 1 — I think I got to the description of the hero (which was something like cold, remote, basically a dick), and I was like “I’m out.” It’s never my fave, but I just couldn’t take another one.
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