The Reluctant Countess

by Wendy Vella

[nitzan_schwarz]

Originally posted on my blog. I received a copy for review purposes through Netgalley.

My Rating: 2.5 stars

I find it hard, close to impossible, to write a review for this book. I simply don't have much to say about it. We didn't click, in a way that I don't even know to explain much why. I didn't hate it - I didn't love it. It was okay. It's more of an issue of... not having an opinion, really. 

At first, it was really hard for me to get into the book. Later on it got better, I got more interested, but I never really felt much toward it. I thought the main characters, Sophie and Patrick, were fine. I didn't overly like them, I didn't overly hate them. I didn't connect to them, on any form of level. Their romance was okay, though again - I found myself more inclined toward indifference when it came to this book. 

I also didn't quite understand all that they did to make Sophie countess... I felt like this should've been explained better, or I don't know what. I mean, I get part of it, but I was never really convinced with the explanation. It just felt... lacking, to me.

And I was not convinced by the villain. He was supposedly so horrible, but he didn't do anything to Sophie before? Wasn't she there for two years still? Or, he kidnapped a bunch of people but never left any guards on them? And with the fact he was so horrible and all that, the cops--they didn't notice him? I don't know. It just... smells. 

I thought the supportive characters were good, but could've been used better and to the fullest; they had a story of their own, and I thought the author could've written them a separate book or spent more time about their relationship in this book; the two or three snips I had into their lives didn't satisfy me, and then suddenly they were marrying. Personally, I might've been more interested in their story as a whole, even with only so little to go on in this book. 

I thought the writing was fine for the most part. I didn't like the way Vella wrote speech on certain parts ; all the ohhhhhhh and looovvee and stuff. Those kind of thing are cute when you're writing a blog or something, but they make me cringe in a book. But that's a very personal and subjective opinion.

For a first time author, though (or at least, so says Goodreads), I think this was a good job and she shows potential. I didn't connect with the story itself, but I have no problem with her writing style and the way she built their relationship.