Adaptation – World of Bai

Synopsis

Pro hockey star Shane Hollander isn’t just crazy talented, he’s got a spotless reputation. Hockey is his life. Now that he’s captain of the Montreal Voyageurs, he won’t let anything jeopardize that, especially the sexy Russian whose hard body keeps him awake at night.

Boston Bears captain Ilya Rozanov is everything Shane’s not. The self-proclaimed king of the ice, he’s as cocky as he is talented. No one can beat him—except Shane. They’ve made a career on their legendary rivalry, but when the skates come off, the heat between them is undeniable. When Ilya realizes he wants more than a few secret hookups, he knows he must walk away. The risk is too great.

As their attraction intensifies, they struggle to keep their relationship out of the public eye. If the truth comes out, it could ruin them both. But when their need for each other rivals their ambition on the ice, secrecy is no longer an option.

Synopsis from GoodReads

“Fuck you and your loon!” Ilya said. “Stupid Canadian wolf bird.”

Rachel Reid, Heated Rivalry

Review

I feel like giving this book a 4 star rating is a bit controversial. Most everyone who I have talked to about this book gave it a raving 5 stars. Maybe I would have as well if I hadn’t watched the TV Series first.

The TV Series in my opinion was a near perfect adaptation of the book which is rare to find. But the actors is what really made it perfect in my eyes. They really made this story come to life. And because I felt like it was a near perfect adaptation, while I was reading the book I just found myself wishing I was watching it instead of reading it.

The other thing going against this book for me is that I have just not been in a romance mood lately. I found myself skimming the spicy scenes more often than not so that I could get to the dialogue. This feels like a bookish Sin so I apologize for my behavior, but it just felt like their was a spicy scene every few pages and I was struggling to want to pick this book up at times because of it so skimming felt like a pretty good option to me. I probably read this at the wrong time for me to truly appreciate the book but I really did enjoy the dialogue and growth that these characters had outside of the spicy scenes.

Anytime Ilya spoke I was enraptured! Whenever her opened his mouth you didn’t know if you were going to get some kind of witty come back, a surprisingly sweet compliment or a shockingly deep revelation. He is for sure my favorite character in this series this far so getting to read his book felt like getting to know him on a personal level. I really adored how Ilya professed his sincerest thoughts in Russian to Shane so he could get those feelings out in the open without the risk of rejection or judgement. Ilya just has the purest soul and I am so glad that his character came into my life.

As for Shane’s character, I enjoyed how he seemed so opposite of Ilya. He is more soft spoken and cautious. Having this character dynamic at first was a bit jarring to me but it ultimately grew on me as the characters developed.

I may not have been drawn to Shane’s character as much as Ilya’s but I wouldn’t have wished for anyone else to be in his place. These two make an unlikely pair which made this story that much more enjoyable.

Ultimately I fell in love with them as a couple and I can’t wait to see where their story goes.

“Does it…does it feel like agony for you too?’
Ilya started to nod, then stopped. He shook his head slowly instead.
‘Not anymore.”

Rachel Reid, Heated Rivalry

QOTD: If you are a hockey fan, who is your favorite team?

I am not a historical reader at all but all the hype over the TV show got me really excited over the idea of reading historical romances. I ended up finishing the first two books while I was on vacation and spoiler alert, I loved them! This honestly surprised me haha.

“Men are sheep. Where one goes, the rest will soon follow.
-Lady Whistledown”
― Julia Quinn, The Duke and I

About The Book

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon Books

Published Date: January 5th, 2000

Page Count: 384 Pages

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical Fiction

GoodReads Rating: 3.8

Format: Physical

“And if you say that’s because you lot barged into her home like a herd of mentally deficient sheep, I’m disowning all three of you.”
― Julia Quinn, The Duke and I

Synopsis

In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince—while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable… but not too amiable.

Daphne Bridgerton has always failed at the latter. The fourth of eight siblings in her close-knit family, she has formed friendships with the most eligible young men in London. Everyone likes Daphne for her kindness and wit. But no one truly desires her. She is simply too deuced honest for that, too unwilling to play the romantic games that captivate gentlemen.

Amiability is not a characteristic shared by Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. Recently returned to England from abroad, he intends to shun both marriage and society—just as his callous father shunned Simon throughout his painful childhood. Yet an encounter with his best friend’s sister offers another option. If Daphne agrees to a fake courtship, Simon can deter the mamas who parade their daughters before him. Daphne, meanwhile, will see her prospects and her reputation soar.

The plan works like a charm—at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London’s elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule…

Synopsis From GoodReads

Book Rating

Season One TV Rating

Review

First thing I want to talk about is that this book has a trigger warning near the end of the book that I was not ready for. It was a rape scene that truly took me by surprise and left me feeling uneasy, I wish that I would have looked up any possible triggers before reading it as this book probably could have been 5 stars if I knew to expect that trigger. Take care of your self when reading books and look up triggers before you pick one up.

I really loved Daphne and Simon, I felt like the fake dating in the book played out really well and had me rooting for them from the start. Where as season one of the TV show I actually didn’t care for the couple at all, I didn’t really feel them falling in love in the show and I think that was based on some of the changes they made for the adaptation. I also think its super hard to really grow a connection with characters in only 8 Episodes. Lets start a petition to bring back longer TV Seasons!

Now this isn’t me saying I didn’t like the first season of the TV show but I really have to think of them as separate things as I liked the book and I liked the show but I don’t like them when I compare them against one another. I feel like the TV show really helped expand on the other characters in the book rather than only focusing on the lead couple which I truly enjoyed. The book just left the side characters with hardly any story and I guess that’s because each sibling gets their own book but I would have loved to hear more from Eloise and the Featheringtons in the first book.

I really enjoyed the overall character arch’s for these main characters. Daphne wants to be loved and have a big family while Simon doesn’t want any of that all out of spite for his father. At first neither could give one another what they wanted but overtime as their love grew you could see their walls come crumbling down and overall help one another in their struggles. This is why I loved the book, Julia really made you feel their love and desire for one another and showed that if you love someone your entire life can change.

Lastly, I love Lady Whistledown! I think having this Mysterious Author is such a fun bit of gossip to keep you on your toes. I love that the books keep her identity a secret. I was not expecting the show to tell us so early on who Lady Whistledown was and that kind of upset me if I am being honest with you but this opinion may change as I continue with the books.

I do recommend reading the books before watching the TV show as I would with any other adaptation but at the same time it may leave you feeling conflicted as both are good in their own ways.

“There were rules among friends, commandments, really, and the most important one was Thou Shalt Not Lust After Thy Friend’s Sister.”
― Julia Quinn, The Duke and I

QOTD: Who is your Favorite Bridgerton Character?

Tag Archives: Adaptation

Book Review: “Heated Rivalry” By Rachel Reid

Synopsis

Rating

Review

Book Review: “Bridgerton: The Duke & I” By Julia Quinn

About The Book

Synopsis

Book Rating

Season One TV Rating

Review