Cover Image: The Viscount Made Me Do It

The Viscount Made Me Do It

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Member Reviews

This follow-up to Her Night With the Duke was another fun historical romance, but it didn't quite live up to its predecessor. The heroine was absolutely wonderful, but I didn't vibe as much with this hero. I'm interested to see what happens in the next one, though!

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The Viscount Made Me Do It by Diana Quincy is a five star read for me. This Regency based romance takes the reader to a different part of London that most readers are unaware of and into the lives of the Arab communities of those times. It also brings to light a mystery that has darkened the life of our hero for most of his life. Our heroine, Hanna Zaydan, and our hero, Viscount Griffin, would never have met under normal circumstances. This book proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that circumstances aren’t always what they seem.

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This was decidedly meh. I was especially confused by Selina, who was apparently a huge figure in Griffin's life but got dropped like a bomb midway through. I also thought that it was obvious to the point of absurdity that the doctor/guardian guy was the murderer although I thought maybe he was in line for the viscounty and actually he was selling corpses.

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I loved this one! Plenty of pining and a fascinating occupation for a heroine. Quincy always manages to write a swoonworthy romance infused with her culture, history, and some delicious scenes.

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Hanna's family are Arabic foreign merchants. Her deceased father was a bonesetter. She apprenticed with him most of her life. Now that he is gone she wants to continue in the profession. She faces opposition from her family and society. A woman having a profession is bad enough, but many think bonesetters are charlatans. Griff is one of these people. His shoulder is giving him agony for the last two years since falling off a horse while in the military. No doctor can cure him, not even his guardian. He is melancholy and considering amputation when he sees Hanna wearing a necklace his mother was wearing on the night she was murdered along with his father 14 years ago. He goes to see Hanna using his shoulder as an excuse, shocked when her treatment works. They try to fight their attraction to each other, he being a Viscount and she an Arabic bonesetter. How could this work? There is a not too mysterious mystery of solving the murder of Griff's parents. Things pick up in the last third of the book. I think what took away from the story was the narrator's voice for Griff. He sounds like a nasal octogenarian, not a young, handsome hero. In this case I would suggest reading rather listening to the book.

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I usually pick up new-to-me authors with exceedingly low expectations, but when I sampled this I couldn't put it down. Hanna is a great heroine - she's dedicated to her career as a bonesetter (a profession considered sheer quackery in Regency England) - and the plot makes use of her passion and skill rather than just using it as set dressing. This book had a fair bit of plot but it didn't feel overstuffed, and the various strands worked together pleasingly. If anything, my one complaint is that I would have loved to see more of Hanna's family and community, though I recognize how hard it might be to find research materials about the cultural lives of Levantine immigrants to London.

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This book was so much fun. I loved that the FMC was a bonesetter and that she does a great job. I loved that her family opposes her getting married to an English Viscount. I really loved this book.

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Hanna Zaydan is a bonesetter (like a chiropractor today), trying to make her way in London as a respected practitioner which is difficult enough but especially because she is a woman and a Levant (Arab descent). Griff (Lord Griffin, a viscount) notices her or rather notices the unique sapphire necklace she is wearing, which is the exact necklace his mother was wearing when she was murdered. Since he has been suffering from awful shoulder and arm pain since he left the army, he decides to pay a visit to Mrs. Zaydan (she uses a married name for propriety) and see if he can learn more about how she came to have the necklace. Also, he’s sure she won’t be able to help his arm so he can denounce her as a fraud as well.

There’s an intriguing mystery throughout the book of who did kill Griff’s parents as their murder has not been solved and everyone suspects Griff did it himself. The author also provides a very vivid picture of Levantine life in England and how it is impossible for Hanna and Griff to end up together, not because he is a nobleman and she is a commoner but because he is not Arab and therefore would never be accepted in her family. Also, the food descriptions made me so hungry that I had to go to a Lebanese restaurant in the middle of the book!

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I enjoyed the book. It was nice to see a woman in the medical field push through boundaries related to her gender and culture. There were some nice details about her background but I would have loved even more regarding the culture clash and how that could affect a romantic journey.

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This series really finds its footing in the second book. The first was enjoyable but didn't quite work for me -- I found some plot points pretty tenuous. This installment seems like Quincy has hit her stride, and it's well-plotted and well-paced. Griff is a sweet sunshine child who can't see what's right in front of his nose, and Hanna is a strong, intriguing character who's not afraid to defend herself and her career.

Quincy's writing can lean fairly Old School at some points ("fleshy mounds" and "womanly bounty," anyone?), which is not to my taste. Additionally, Hanna gets fairly exoticized by some side characters which, like, checks out for the people and the time, but is still fairly jarring at points. Finally, I do think that the subplot with Dorcas wrapped up oddly. I didn't find her shift from calling her an unsuitable bride to "warmly welcoming her" to the family convincing. People certainly grow and accept their siblings' spouses, but that wasn't demonstrated on the page.

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Diana Quincy is on my auto buy list. But for whatever reason, this book was did no draw my attention right away. Maybe it's the over saturation of diversity lately. I received an early copy of this work from NetGalley

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Hanna was a bonesetter, just as her father was before her. Viscount Griffin was a man of title with a past he'd rather forget. Both had big shoes to fill, while discovering their own journey's in life, and while separate ways has its advantage, togetherness has much to be said for itself as well.

I really REALLY loved this one!
The characters were memorable, the story original, the backstory unique, and the way everything played out SUPERB! Comeuppance was received, just desserts served, and happily ever afters found. The leading lady (Hanna) was a strong character and while she'd love another to share her life's journey with, she didn't see it in the cards, and that was still okay! Given the times, it wasn't acceptable to the ton, but she was content to do what she felt was her calling and serve the people as opposed to host parties and attend teas. Our leading man (Griff) was strong himself, both physical strength was certainly not all that was needed what with his family history, and all the secrets about the come to light. While his position allowed him to be doted on my the debutantes and their mothers, he wanted something more if he was to partake of it at all. When Griff was faced with Hanna's true nature, he was gobsmacked despite not wanting to be. He had set out on a mission to solve a mystery from his past, and unwittingly discovered his potential future...the same being said for her. As with many love stories, this one had its fair share (and then some!) of obstacles, and many times it didn't look like things would come to an agreeable end, but I have to say the final scenes were well worth waiting for, and no, I won't ruin them for you...you'll have to discover this fabulous pair yourself!

If you're a Historical Romance fan, you won't want to miss this one! It's got all the humor, all the drama, all the suspense, and all the heart you could hope for and then some! You'll laugh as a young dandy is taught a lesson about wasting a lady's time, and when the title of the book comes into play in the story! You'll cry at the outrage of how family can treat family. You'll blush at a few encounters, while still knowing in your heart of hearts that they are meant to be. You'll gasp as certain realizations are reached, hold you breath as things take a sharp turn towards danger, and ponder the eventual outcome of it all while you turn the pages. A great read with a great leading pair that you won't soon forget!

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Hanna's unusual for her time profession of bonesetting was very interesting to me. I love historicals that show a little known side to the time. Griff had the perfect mix of ignorance and open-mindedness. Griff's history was tragic and a bit of a mystery which is solved by the end of the book. Hanna's family was humorous at times but very loving and close. Story was steady paced. I would read more by this author.

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I thought that this was a really good book. I felt the writing was solid and the storyline entertaining. I really liked Hanna. She was smart, strong, capable and caring. Griff kind of grew on me. To start he didn't impress me much and honestly, even though I felt for him, I didn't like him. This did improve as the story unfolded and this couple's relationship grew. I liked it.

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Hero with a troubled past and wounded shoulder, Griff wants to be free from his painful memories and ailments. A tip about his parents murders brings him a local bonesetter. Hanna is not your typical bonesetter, she is a female but also of Arab decent, Griff of course assumes shes a fraud (as did most people about bonesetters at this time). As he uses his injury to try and gather information about her he actually learns more about himself and who he wants to be.
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Hanna just wants to continue and grow her business, with the goal of opening her own dispensary. She has no time for high society or viscounts yet she is pulled towards Griff, inexplicably.
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I adored Hanna. She is strong, fierce, and independent. I loved the interactions with her family and how the author used Arabic words and phrases along with different foods to really immerse the reader into her home. I think it was really interesting (and important) the role Hanna's culture played for the character throughout the book.
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Griff was a great hero, so wounded physically and emotionally. He is forced to discover some unsavory truths but his love for Hanna is 🔥🔥. Their story was a tumultuous ride but so worth it!
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I need to know what happens to the rest of Hanna's family 👀❤🔥.
If you are into a multi layered story with good strong characters, passion (think desks), and a bit of mystery 100% recommend this one!!

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The beginning of this romance was incredibly captivating. I was immediately fascinated by Hanna's character.

One of my favorite scenes is Griff seeking treatment from Hanna as a ploy to find out more about his mother's necklace. He thinks she is a charlatan and possibly using her bone-setting business as a front for illicit activities. As she examines his injury, he gets turned on and is convinced that she is coming onto him. In his mind she is deliberately seducing him with her touch and that must mean this is the real aim of her bone-setting business.... prostitution.

It's so comical because he couldn't control his attraction to her, but was so blinded by his guardian's lack of respect for bone-setters that he never thought Hanna could actually help him. I was grinning ear to ear when her treatment brought a dramatic improvement to his range of motion and reduced his pain significantly.

But, the pacing felt stagnant about halfway through. It was obvious who the true villain of the story was, so I was just biding my time until the characters caught up. There was no real conflict besides the mystery of Griff's parents' murder. It felt like such a slow reveal and the third act conflict felt underwhelming.

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I absolutely love this author! Her sexy, diverse stories are life! I loved the dynamic of our main characters. Hanna is a bone setter, passionate about helping people, strong, & smart. She’s also Arab and believes she must marry an Arab man. *I seriously love this character! Strong women are the best!* People from this time we’re weary of bone setters, especially women. Griff is a Viscount who was in the war. He lost his parents a few years ago when someone murdered them. Griff wants to find the person who did, so when he sees Hanna wearing his mother’s necklace from the day she died, Griff has Hanna check his arm that hurts since war. Upon meeting Hanna, Griff wants to get to know Hanna. He likes her. So when Griff tells Hanna about his parents and the necklace, she offers to help him. It was so wonderful to watch these two! They had amazing chemistry with a side of the mystery murderer! This story was a slow burn but oh so swoony read! I adored the balance of romance and event! Along with the culture and family! This book had everything I wanted in a historical romance! I can’t wait to see what’s next! I can’t recommend this enough!

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I was so excited to read Diana Quincy’s new book. I thoroughly loved her 1st book of the series. I found that I enjoyed this book but at times I struggled with the connection between Hanna and Griff. I felt that they left many things unsaid until it became an issue. The dialogue was also slow in some points. Overall, it was enjoyable.

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3.5 Stars

This is my first time reading Diana Quincy and I picked this up (out of order) because I’ve seen great reviews for her previous book. And I have to say I’m both pleasantly surprised and just a tad disappointed. Did I think it was going to wow me? Yes. Did it? Not quite. That doesn’t mean, I didn’t enjoy the book. I did. But I definitely had higher expectations going in from what I have heard. Could just be me and my mood.

The one thing I absolutely loved is how this book gives us a character that I haven’t seen in historical romance before. As the blurb says, our heroine, Hanna, is of Arab descent and she is a bonesetter. Her profession is not seen with any regard by London society and certainly not by the male dominated medical field. Even the hero, who goes to her under the guise of needing treatment, believes her to be a fraud.

The hero, Griff, is a Viscount with a bad reputation. Rumors are that he killed his parents. But in reality he’s been looking for the real killer ever since. And the necklace around Hanna’s neck is a clue she, or someone she knows, was somehow involved.

THE VISCOUNT MADE ME DO IT started off incredibly strong for me. I was loving how fierce Hanna was. She was the star of this book. Her profession, her sacrifices to succeed in the world at the time, her determination. But somewhere along the line it lost the intensity for me. It still delivered a good story and I will read another book by this author.

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Overall, an enjoyable read. I really enjoyed the backstory of the H. The backstory of the h was ok.
Inserting cousin Leela (I assume she was in the previous book) seemed forced and awkward. Leela was only there for one brief unnecessary scene. Turn out, she has a brother. The brother just so happens to be an influential Lord! What are the odds?!
Having Hanna come from an Arab family was very unique. However, I did find the foreign words to be a bit distracting. I was also surprised that religious conflict was not mentioned. (I'm glad it wasn't mentioned, because it would not be my cup of tea. It would also be too heavy of a subject to be tackled in a romance novel.)
I didn't really like the character Ravi. Authorarian brothers are extremely annoying. The fact that he secretly has a budding romance with an English lady is very hypocritical.
The h's bonesetter career is annoying in that she values it above the idea of having a good life with a husband. As a career woman myself, I would gladly give it up for marriage. She would still be able to use her skills, just not full time working in a clinic.
I thought her relationship with her business partner was unneeded. She could have been working with an older female or someone instead. I also thought that the great success she had as a bonesetter was over rated. All of her patients were able to experience miraculous recoveries. Surely someone would require ongoing treatment and not be completely cured.
The murder mystery was predictable but still interesting. I think it made the book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free book!

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