Amita4ever's manga / #3 star(173)

The art was good, but the plot itself wasn't woven as tightly as it could have been. Ended well, but left a few strings flapping in the air.

Rather meh. Stubborn, arrogant, thick headed patriarchal men are not uncommon in this genre, nor is a total lack of communication causing all sorts of heartache, and this story is no exception. That said, it was a solid story that flowed well and had, of course, a happy ending. Sadly, the plot's foundation is based on an out-of-wedlock pregnancy with the hero's brother.

1 chap - It was well written, making you smile at one point and pulling on your heartstrings the next. The only thing I didn’t like was the bed before vows. The plot didn’t require it and strengthening the emotional and saving the physical for after the marriage is much more intimate. It builds a stronger marriage. Real life statistics support it.

Loved the art, but the story was average. It's sad that he never just showed up and demanded a face to face and sadly I don't agree with his generous explanation for her sister's behavior. Just how long was the test supposed to last? But he gets points for being gracious.

It's based on my least favorite plot, a bed before vows baby, but as stories go, it throws out a few twists and a bit of roller coster action. And even better than the story is the art.

I'd love to give this 4 stars, or even 5! I think the story deserves it, but it's hard to say for sure as there are several double page spreads missing . There is enough left to get the gist of the story, but not enough to truly enjoy it. Love the art, though!

I loved the art, but the story would have been better, imo, if they hadn't jumped in bed. It just cheapened a good story, especially with the heroine KNOWING it was a one night stand, but she loves him, so one night to remember him by is okay, right? *rolls eyes*. No, one night to potentially ruin your life (possible pregnancy, STDs... oh, right, those don't exist in the Harlequin universe) and potentially taint a future relationship ('I just cant forget that one night. Why can't my husband be more like him?'). Oh, but it's a Harlequin, so it won't be a one night stand after all. If only real life were so convenient.

SPOILER WARNING: The plot is minorly disbelivable in that it hard to believe any army would give Captain status to a 14 year old boy (because that is what our fresh faced heroine looks like) and that his men would just fall in line and respect him just because the Tsar said so. We know that's not human nature. There'd be some men who'd let actions speak, but we know there would likely be more that would accusing him of being the Tsar's pet, or of his family of buying his rank, and they' be disrespectful and trying to discredit him, at least when no one was looking. It just wouldn't be so perfect. That said, it's easy to set that pesky little detail aside and enjoy the story for the most part. I say for the most part, because next I'm left wondering how does a man (as that's what the heroine conducts herself as and has had virtually no training to be a lady) manage to attend a ball and not trip over her heels and skirt and pull off acting like a lady? It should have been nearly impossible unless prior to the first foray 'he` underwent extensive training, and if he did, it wasn't mentioned. It was little things that threw it off for me, but I still enjoyed it... for the most part. And the art itself is worth enjoying.

SPOILERS: I found it strange at the end. He didn't want anyone else to marry her, but he said he never wanted to see her a little again and had no problem walking out of her life completely? Just knowing he had 'ownership' was enough to made him happy? Even though he'd grown fond enough of her to become possessive? That didn't make sense to me. And the lawyer was convinced she was a gold digger because in four years time he had never noticed, even once, the money was being paid back into the account HE controled??? I thought it was a decent story until those hitches got thrown in, and then it just didn't make sense. Enjoyed the art, though.

(Brides of L'Amour I) - It was nicely illustrated, but not my favorite sort of story. I can understand emotional hurt, but not irrational anger. Maybe that's because I've never lost something so dear in such a manner, but I'd like to think I wouldn't push the blame where it didn't belong. I'm not fond of BBV ( bed before vows) stories, but this one was rather integral to the story. It's a shame it took a child to put things right that should have never gone wrong to begin with.