Review: Here's the thing....
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 05 8, 2014
For the record: I like spanking romances.  I'm not one of those people who reads one and doesn't know what she's getting into.This historic novel is what is called magical realism.  It is set in the real world but has magical elements.  I like magical realism.I went back and forth on liking this one.  I feel like a lot of these novels are really anti-women's rights.  I do not think that historic novels or DD (domestic discipline) romances have to disregard women as intelligent creatures so much.  I do not think that BDSM, DD and all of that has to disregard feminism.  In fact, in real life it rarely does and if it does it should be avoided.The fact that the main character is a strong woman who was born in the wrong time is fine.  It makes sense that she would be beaten every time she expressed an opinion.  It was awesome that she was so strong and capable but still feminine.  I liked that she was able to earn some respect.The things that bothered me about this book were these:-The men in it were unrealistic pigs.  They did not act like gentlemen would have acted at the time.  A man of that time would have acted like a gentleman in public and the fact that he was chastising a woman would not have been publicized like it is in this novel.-Her brothers were abusive monsters.-The men acted like the main character was some horrible brat when all they needed to do was reason with her.  Seriously, a polite explanation as to why she shouldn't do something would have gone a long way.  In fact, some politeness somewhere, anywhere in the book would have been appreciated.-When she proved herself they still refused to allow her some leeway.-All the men were bullies except one and he didn't get the girl.-The characters were all fairly unlikable.  If I'm going to read a cheap romance novel I want to like the characters.  The point of cheap romance novels is wish fulfillment.  Literary fiction is for disappointment.-The men in this story at some point just decided that they would be unreasonable for no reason.  The author was using those instances to get to the next spanking scene.  However, it made it really hard to like the male characters.-The main character was smart but acted like a moron.  At some point she needed to figure out how to act and how to get her way.-At one point the main male character lied to the heroine and tricked her.  Then acted like he was in the right.-The thing that bothered me the most was that at the end the heroine tried to implement a change that would have advanced women's rights.  She was beaten by her husband until she promised to recant that move.  Of all people her husband should have supported her.  What she was asking for was not unreasonable and the king was willing to grant it.Anyway, if all you read these for is the sex and the spanking scenes you will enjoy it.  If you actually want to read a decent story look elsewhere.