I am so sad, I really, really thought I was going to love this book! Grumpy damaged Baron, irritated at the girl next door and then they fall in love, etc. Well, by the time I got to about page 80, the hero and heroine had only spoken to each other 2, maybe 3, times very briefly. The other 95% was of the heroine talking about music and music instruments with her two new girlfriends. They went on and on about music. Out of frustration, I jumped onto Goodreads to see if I was crazy and there are others that disliked this book for the same reason. And warning, this author writes very non-steamy books. I think you are lucky if the characters get one smooch in and that's it. (just in case it matters to you). In order to maintain the respect I have for this author, I have no choice but to stop reading her future books and make this my last review in regards to her work.My favorite book by this author is “A Taste Of Scandal” which is the book that Charity initially appears. I was truly hoping that “The Baron Next Door” would have some of the same emotional heart tugging moments that A.T.O.S. had. I was hoping that I would be able to not only connect with the characters but to remember their love story forever as I did Lord Raleigh and Jane (A.T.O.S.) Now with that being said here is my last and honest review of “The Baron Next Door”…• In “A Taste Of Scandal” I thought Charity was a little young minded…too young minded for Richard (Lord Raleigh) so when I heard about Charity’s story, I was hoping she would have matured and become more of a woman. I see regrettably that she is indeed still young minded. I wish the author could have made her more mature…not too feisty and head strong like some heroines, but not so childish that I feel like I’m reading a book for adolescents. The hero and heroine might as well have been in high school…• There was way too much girly chatting between Charity and her friends…IMO it took away from the bonding and romance with the hero…especially in the beginning. And it annoyed me to no end that Charity has the habit of CONSTANTLY asking herself questions…it’s like STOP ASKING YOURSELF and ASK HIM DIRECTLY…sheesh half the time the hero was standing right in front of her…so just ask him…it seemed like she had more conversation with herself then with the hero…so annoying and then the hero started with the self-questions…It was driving me MAAAAAD.• I thought the hero Hugh was very funny. I loved when he gets annoyed with Charity…or any other person for that matter. I know the author made the hero have physical wounds due to the war and I felt for the hero. I kind of wish he had his own story with another leading lady honestly. He wasn’t the best hero I’ve read about, but he had some good qualities for this kind of writing and I enjoyed every moment he was featured in this book. • Depending upon your personal taste in romance novels, IMO it seems to me that the author is losing her touch on romance…meaning that in the book “A Taste Of Scandal” there was so much pure, natural, heartwarming, chemistry and believable romance between the hero and heroine. Unfortunately, no other books from this author that came after A.T.O.S. hasn’t matched up to that. I want to root for the characters, fall in love with them while watching them fall in love with each other. I can only HOPE that if the author continues with this series, that she can go back and see what worked for A.T.O.S and back that kind of writing. She is currently working on Sophia’s story to debut in 2015….I wish her luck.
What do You think about The Baron Next Door (2014)?
The characters were so likeable and the story line kept me invested.
—rmah_jennifer
Not half so steamy as the cover implies. Nice set up for the series.
—eminem1122
