Friday, 1 January 2010

Review: Not quite a husband - Sherry Thomas


Not quite a husband by Sherry Thomas

Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 352
Published:  May 2009


Their marriage lasted only slightly longer than the honeymoon—to no one’s surprise, not even Bryony Asquith's. A man as talented, handsome, and sought after by society as Leo Marsden couldn't possibly want to spend his entire life with a woman who rebelled against propriety by becoming a doctor. Why, then, three years after their annulment and half a world away, does he track her down at her clinic in the remotest corner of India?

Leo has no reason to think Bryony could ever forgive him for the way he treated her, but he won't rest until he’s delivered an urgent message from her sister—and fulfilled his duty by escorting her safely back to England. But as they risk their lives for each other on the journey home, will the biggest danger be the treacherous war around them—or their rekindling passion?



Here we go my first review for 2010, with a book I finished last year ;)

I like this Sherry Thomas book, it was different. A strong heroine who has always followed her own road and has become a surgeon. A man who has always been in love with her and who just wanted a glance. You would think that would end in a beautiful HEA but it didn't.

Bryony was of course attracted by Leo, he was gorgeous and accomplished, even though he was younger than her. She proposed because she thought they would fit well together, love, well who knows about that. She was rather cold and he tried everything to warm her up, but he had doubts too, mostly because of how she was. This was a story that could only end one way, a divorce.

The story begins 3 years later when Leo finds her in India with a mission to bring her back to England to see her father. He is not happy because she broke his heart and he sees her as cold and frigid. She does nto want to be anywhere near him.

But we all know they are meant to be, but they sure have a long road ahead. They must overcome those doubts and hurts, and she most open her heart for the first time since she was a little girl. This while walking straight into a rebellion.

I did have problem, a certain sort of sex scene that showed up over and over, and it just made me go WTF?! Not sexy at all for me, just really, really creepy.

But hey, it sure has a lot of passion, a sexy guy who really loves her, and as the story unfolds (with flashbacks going back even to their childhood) I really grow to like him. By that print at the back I thought I should dislike him, but this is really a story where both are at fault. She is so strict and unfriendly in a way, and he is so vulnerable. Like the roles were the other way around. And that is what I enjoyed about this book, that the characters were different and they already had had a chance at love with each other.

I read that others found the last part of the book a bit lacking, and yes it was in a way Everything up to that was always moving forward and then it dropped and shimmered there for awhile. but it did not ruin the book, I guess it was needed to bring an ending around.

Even if Leo had a deep fault, I still really liked him, oh yes, trust me. This was a nice historical romance, with some passion, and even war.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: truly red-hot, but yes I am a girl who likes to see the heads, but I knowthat is out of fashion.
Reading for reading. My own book
Final thoughts: Different take, nice flow.

17 comments:

  1. great review. Thanks! I'm going to be adding this to my 2010 Book Wish List.

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  2. Hi Dorthy
    Nice to see you here.
    It was a nice read, and it was nice to read about India

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  3. Another brilliant review and I'll be sure to take a look at this one if only to keep up with the competition. Thanks for sharing.
    Warm regards,
    Simone.

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  4. You really got me curious about the WTF sex scene, you tease ;)
    Great review, hon!

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  5. Great review - another author I've heard good things about, but haven't read yet.

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  6. Creepy sex scenes are a turn off!!!! But it sounds like you enjoyed it overall and that is a good thing!

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  7. I think romances are a perfect read for this time of year. Sounds like this is a good one!

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  8. Simone,
    It is always good to do that, know what people like and more ;)

    Janna,
    Haha, I am to please, but mostly tease. But hey you know I'll tell ya if you ask ;)

    Yvonne,
    It was a first time for me, but I got the impression that she writes like this, strong women and such.

    Staci,
    Yup I did, the sex was just not for me, too weird.

    DC
    It sure is, especially when it is so very very cold outside

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  9. Okay, I'll bite :) Please tell me about the WTF scene! *grin*

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  10. Huh?
    LOL, maybe I'll just have to read it myself ;)

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  11. LOL! I know now that the eagle has landed at MY place, heheh! Thanks, sweetie! :D

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  12. Janna
    Had to be cryptic ;) But you got it

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  13. A certain sort of sex that made you go WTF?

    My mind is in the gutter right now and I'm all the more intrigued now. I have all Sherry Thomas' novels but only read private Arrangements where the ending was a bit rushed too. Still i love the womans prose, sense of time period and characters.

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  14. Leontine
    Haha oh you will never guess it ;) Just take that mind out of the gutter now girl.
    She does well with the womens prose, and era, i really enjoyed those parts

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  15. I too liked it. Somewhat a different kind of romance.

    Here is my review;

    Not Quite A Husband

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  16. Gautami,
    I have to go and have a look at your review then. And yes it was really different

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