Just Awful!!! *********SPOILERS**********
922000
The writing was wooden. I couldn't get into the characters at all. Towards the end of the book I found myself hoping they ALL died. The setting was just so ridiculous. No-one puts up with the harassment Cooper's characters went through & does nothing about it. Utterly unrealistic. I thought it was a murder mystery - not fantasy!

The amount of times the author kept mentioning Belle Epoque & Auntie Rose's Victorian Teahouse was annoying. Worst of all was the town name - Cooper wrote 'Gracious Grove' 136 times (yes, I was that bored I started counting!). Honestly, get this woman an editor & some synonyms for TOWN... or just write the word 'town'. it's much less irritating than saying the town name over & over & OVER again.

Also, killing off a dog as an afterthought? Just to deus ex machina the poison theory? It didn't push the storyline along at all & made every character look stupid. 'Oh right, the dog died of poison a few weeks ago *facepalm*.'

We should be able to get refunds on crappy books.
2753499
(I preface this with the note that my review not only contains many spoilers but is EXTREMELY sarcastic by nature.)

Oh it is soooo vile.

It wasn't even that they ruined a great story with zombies. I already knew that there were zombies, and since I like the RE series and The Walking Dead show, I thought I'd like it.

But first off, the zombies didn't just magically appear on the scene at some point in the story like I expected. Upon reading the story you find out this "plague" of "unmentionables" (as the zombies are called) has been going on 55+ years. Ok, I'll suspend my belief for 317 pages that anyone would even still be alive or that all zombies couldn't have been killed some 50+ years sooner since they already know to behead and burn them and dig up the dead to behead and burn them. Ok. I can suspend belief because, well it is a zombie story after all which inherently means suspend your belief.

None of this was the problem. The problem was that he decimated the characters I've come to know and love. Mary isn't the homely, bookworm. She's a warrior (though still spouts her same crappy lines). Lydia, Kitty, Jane and Elizabeth are also warriors. As if this isn't bad enough, the writer made Elizabeth our to be some psychopath that rips hearts from people and eats them (literally he had her do this in the book and reference that it was far from the first time). He frequently talked about her cutting herself with the "7 cuts of shame". Um ok. He never stopped babbling about Shaolin temples, warriors, Master Liu and other ninja, kungfu, swords, muskets, etc.

If it was just zombies and they ran into them and killed them or needed to be saved from them, it would have been fine. But at every turn "quickly girls...Chinese death star!" or some other stupid exhibition designed to give excitement to some pimply faced, comic loving, dateless kid no doubt trying to recover from some childhood torment.

Oh and the best of the worst came when Charlotte was written to be "stricken" by the plague (zombie bit her leg) so for MONTHS (nay a year) no one noticed her turning into a drooling fool with puss filled sores popping on her face, pale and gray pallor, and increasingly affinity for 'flesh'.

Oh and when she finally is "found out" and needs to be "beheaded," Mr. Collins supposedly does it? The buffoon from the book I know wouldn't have the stomach. On top of that, instead of him writing the letter to Longborn to announce that he is coming to visit them after Lydia elopes, it is now written by Col. Fitzwilliam because shortly before Mr. Collins wrote to tell them Charlotte was dead and that he wouldn't need Longburn upon Mr. Bennett's death because by the time the letter reached them he'd be dead. He would hang himself from Charlotte's favorite tree???? WHAT???

And Lady Catherine as a warrior?  Now that just took the cake.

Oh I could go on, but I'm rambling I'm so irritated.

I really expected to like this, but instead if it was my copy I'd burn it. Since it's a friend's copy I better not.

Ugh. Parting in this case (w/the book) is NOT sweet sorrow...It's going to be bliss.

Oh, and there is typo on page 279.  Yes I noticed!
4920559
When I first read the reviews on this book I was so encouraged I went out to buy the book the same day. Boy was i disappointed!!! For starters the hero was a mean-hearted beast with no feelings and certainly no heart. And the heroin was a spineless twit. I can't imagine how could she have stayed in love with Gray - the same man who treated her (and her family) like dirt. No matter what anyone says - there was no excuse for him to say the things he said to a fouteen year old child - and she kept on loving him???????? There really was no reason for her to feel that way unless she was a total numb skull.... Also it still puzzles me how he fell for her too - it seemed all he had for her was lust then boom bang he wanted to marry her???? Common now, my intelligence was a little bit insulted by that. Lastly lets touch on the love scenes (and I used the word loosely here) -they were sleazy and tacky without a pinch of romance in them - they only managed to make me feel like I've just read a dirty magazine. It's certainly mind boggling how no one could see the that this book is an insult to any woman's intelligence and good judgement! Women like Faith should be shot for their asininity and men like Gray are the kind we should spend the rest of our lives seeking vengeance from!!!!!!
3340568
I am giving this 2 stars only bc I had to force myself to at least finish the first one. If I were rating it on the first book it would be getting a negative rating. SPOILERS...The mother interacts with this woman online in trying to find a partner for her business and becomes sure that she will be the perfect partner for her son. That is just ridiculous and it just continues to get worse. There is no court in the land that will determine parentage before birth and no court would risk the life of the mother or the child by forcing an amnio test. This whole scenario was just stupid. It was not well written and trust me when I say that no lawyer I know would side with an a-hole like the bio dad with all that touchy feely crap. I'm not even going to get into the timing issue as re to the Viet nam war. Just completely off.
944316
I hated the ending of this book....this "wonderful" character gives up her child to a poor family that offers "less opportunity because of their class?" When she has a husband? And has an offer to live in a castle for free? These characters are not admirable in any way. This penniless idiot of a girl has a secret marriage with a soldier in an era of no birth control? What a fool. And a boring fool at that.

The characters and story were so boring that I don't even care if one of the main characters does eventually figure out she's having a sexual relationship with her distant cousin.
I will not read anything by this author again. Attention, everyone out there in internet-land....do NOT buy or read this book. It is dreadful.

I would be so angry if I'd paid full price for this book. Because it is clearly not worth it!
720756
This review contain some "SPOLIERS"  This book was utter crap!!!!!One reason was when I started reading the book I did not know the time period the book was supposed to be in,and where they were located. It would have helped if the author would have said the year. I found out it was "modern London" I don't know how modern if they are still using hacks(that is the horse and buggy which they stopped using in the early 20th century)or using a bucket for flushing the toilet.  Another thing was that the so called hero was stalking the heroine for a year while she was caring for her dying sister when he could have saved her a fact she NEVER brought up and the whole thing about getting her addected to his seman(DUMB) after I read it I deleted from My kindle just skip it!!!!!!!!!!
1845112
Wow, was this book awful! I found the first novel in this series wonderful with a great strong, witty, interesting new character. Book two was also excellent. While book 3 was predictable at least it was good. But this book was horrible. Poorly written, predictable, cliche, and so full of sticky sweet romance as to be a complete bore. This character went from independent, intelligent, clever, and revolutionary to a typical simpering, whimpering, swooning female. And the end! Oh please! Like you couldn't see that a mile away. What a ridiculous solution to an obvious problem.
4523987
This review is not about the storyline as other reviewers provided a good summary. Instead it's just about why I hated the book and me ranting.

It's was a lovely story and I enjoyed reading about how the two feel in love ... until the Windhams made their appearance! Then it was downhill and I hated the book, the heroine and the Windhams!!!!! I raged, and raged on how UNBELIEVABLY stupid the storyline got ... cursing the author and the editors involved. I skimmed the rest of the book to see if it was redeemable, and sadly it wasn't for me.

I finished the Windham series a while back (all the books on the brothers and sisters). I had a special connection to the Windhams and their part in this book ruined it for me. I thought the Duke of Moreland was a complete ass and GB even made me hate Victor, urgggh!

I hated how at the end Gwen had a 'too stupid to live moment'. Honestly, by then she should've realized how much her family and Douglas loved and supported her. They kept saying they will weather anything together. But no, stupid woman had to make a freaking stupid sacrifice. WTF??!!!! And Gayle, what a nob! There was a point when I thought Victor would save the day, but his action wasn't known until AFTER the drama and it was pointless.

I know some will say this is fiction and these aren't real people. But when I read I invest time and emotions to the story and the characters are real to me. I can tolerate some stupidity on the h and H'a parts, but the to taint past characters I fell in love with is an enormous let down!!!

Maybe if one didn't read the Windham series this book would be acceptable.

I know GB wrote all these books in the past and is revising them for publication, but the timing of when they are released and the order to read them is poorly thought out. I agree with one reviewer that the appearance of Douglas, Gwen & Rose was confusing in The Heir and only now with this book did I get closure. And if you read Ethan when it was published you see Gareth and Andrew married with kids, but their stories are published later on.

I've never encountered a series so intertwined and I can't say that I like it. Some books end up being prequels, and I like to read development in order. I will read David's story cause I LOVE him. But his may be the last book I'll read of GB's.
1908919
The two point of views was annoying as hell. It made Four come across as weak and indecisive. The GD & GP was so repetitive. The  whole big brother was just brushed over. As soon as they found out they were being watched, they should have went back to the city and told everybody. "hey guys, yall are all part of an experiment, yeah, your whole life is being filmed for the gov't to test y'alls genes. This conflict you all are having is just a joke" Then to end the war all Four had to do was ask his mommy to stop. Couldn't he have done that on page 1?
I've seen other reviews saying that Ms. Roth is very brave to have Tris die. Uh no! That was some bs! We all grew to love Tris and to have her die in that way, just suck. It was already a bad book with an awful ending. Just a waste of time and I am sorry to all those I recommend this series too.
4808145
This was the most frustrating book- ever.
It started so likable - and then started slowly going downhill- to a total and complete train wreck on ridiculousness.
The final straw for me was **spoilers** when Abby drove when she knew she was drunk, endangering others as well as herself. Ends badly and THEN he realizes he loves her???  I quit then and there.
I can't believe someone actually wrote a drunk driver as the h on a romance novel!! And we are supposed to care about either one of them??  I have pretty much zero faith this couple will last a month- then again, they are both so completely dysfunctional, it just might work.
There is no way this many 5 stars should be there.
4408346
First, let me begin by saying what a huge fan I used to be of this series.  I always looked forward to each new book and would purchase it just as soon as it was released.  I so enjoyed getting to know all the characters and how they evolved.  They all became like friends and it was fun to get to know them.

Now I'm all for putting twists and turns in to a story, by why kill off a central character for no good reason other than shock value???????  There was no good reason for this.  What did it add to the plot?  Absolutely Nothing.  I know this is the last book of this series, but why couldn't you end it on a better note?  If I could give this book a lower rating, I most definitely would.

You should be ashamed of yourself!!!!!!!!!
3862132
It won't let me give zero stars so I have to go with one.  Did not like any of the characters in this story, especially not the couple that, apparently, the reader should have been routing for.  I found the plot and characters to be completely unbelievable and just depressing.  So many holes in this story!  I just could not find anything to like about it, and I really hoped, somehow, it would improve by the end of the book.
3765874
This book was a huge disappointment, and not just for the reasons everyone is saying.  The plot, the writing, the failure of the two narrators, and yes, the ending -- they all made this book horrible.  I am very disappointed and wish I had stopped at the second book.  I hope the movie changes not only the ending but the entire story because this revelation about genetic experiments is just plain stupid.  Epic fail times ten.
20036
I borrowed this book from a friend, she's a fan of James Patterson, and I've read two books from him, Now you see her; and 10th anniversary; and loved them.  But this book I really hate.  I didn't like the reading, and really , SPOILER----------------------the husbands frame them of murder because of infidelity! I mean they're not faithful either!! END OF SPOILER-----------------------. The story is absurd, and it doesn't make sense.
1799824
This was so bad I can't even give it one star but I had no choice. What happened to these characters? I really, really hated what she did with Lucy. She was so irritating like nails on a chalk board. Should I love Jude, should I leave him, blah blah blah. And was Jude even in this book. I would have loved to find out more about his family and his life. This was all just a stupid childish plot. The whole Adrianna thing has just been done before, can we get a better story than some stupid slut trying to do what exactly. Here is an idea if you are upset about some whore being around your boyfriend why don't you just talk to him about it instead of acting like a stupid whore yourself by degrading yourself and handing him your panties at a frat party. Oh but hey they lived happily ever after, again blah, blah, blah
4409485
Where do I even begin with this movie? First of course with the trailers we were made to think this would be a seriously scary horror film with a touch of paranormal....and it was but the ending makes this movie horrible and why I rated it with two stars.  So the action kind of starts immediately and continues thruout...storyline was ok but then we start seeing changes in how it goes from paranormal to downright dumb.  2 sisters born of the same mother who is killed in the beginning but are watched over by this paranormal mother ( who is not infant their biological mother).... She's starts trying to take the girls with her over a cliff she jumped from years. Earlier with her own baby....well the uncles girlfriend brings the paranormal moms baby and she flings the bones all over the damn place....(way to treat your own kid...lady) then tries to continuously to kill the two little girls that she watched over....succeeding to get one to follow but as they fall to their weird and paranormal deaths....these idiots turn into moths or butterflies....HORRIBLE HORRIBLE ENDING......Now I didn't know how this works when one sister stays and the other dies with a mom who wasn't even their own but god lord this movie sucks....the ending ruined my opinion of how good it could have been.
659593
(spoiler alert)
Why I hate this book:
1) The synopsis on the back cover is inaccurate, and I chose this book after reading the back cover in a Banes and Noble.
2) EXACTLY what you think will happen happens
3) There are no twists, just convenient information thrown at you to make the story work.  Example: Antonia fakes the DNA test by excusing herself to the restroom before the test is administered and completes the test on her own using a used tissue.  WTF? No professional would let you take a police ordered DNA test into the restroom with you to be completed.  You don't go to the loo and then come out and say 'by the way when I tinkled I completed the mouth swab DNA too....' just awful....
4) The book doesn't really end.  She gets her kid back and 10 pages later the book is over.  What happens to the rest of her life? The author spends a lot of time talking about her past life and current struggles, but you know absolutely nothing about what happens to Emma and Richie-other than her summer job is ending and she wants the social worker to find her a bigger flat. Her suspected 'boyfriend' is a floater and her savings is drying up, what happens?
5) Perhaps foreign investigations are different then American, but she identifies her child in a surveillance tape, the police find the child, the 'parents' of that child say it is their child, so the police come back to Emma and say sorry but they say its their child...THAT is the investigation
6) The first half of the book spends a lot of time building the character of the dad, Oliver.  But Oliver disappears in the second half of the book.  He calls and offers to fly home to be with her when the baby goes missing, but is just MIA when they find him and the story goes viral? odd
7) What the hell is the point of JoAnna???? She adds absolutely nothing to the story but the author insists on outlining her whole life.