Posted on by Maureen

A Night Like This by Julia Quinn

51eukz2qhmlI have always loved historical romance novels, but in recent years, I haven’t had as much time for them. Julia Quinn was always my favorite author, and I’ve been catching up on some of the books that I missed. I had listened to the Audible version of Just Like Heaven, which is the first book in Quinn’s Smythe-Smith quartet. After that, I started listening to When He Was Wicked, which is part of her Bridgerton series… but I had to find out what happened next in the Smythe-Smith series.   I had a paperback copy of A Night Like This, and I found myself unable to resist bumping it to the top of my reading queue.

A Night Like This begins during the events at the end of Just Like Heaven. Daniel Smythe-Smith, the Earl of Winstead, has returned to England after a few years abroad. It’s a long story, but the prologue covers the reason for his departure. But now he’s back, and the one of the first things he notices is that there is a strange woman participating in his family’s annual musicale. She isn’t one of his cousins, and he is intrigued by her identity. Read more

Posted on by Maureen · 1 Comment

Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn

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I have always loved Julia Quinn’s books. She is, without a doubt, my favorite historical romance author. I used to eagerly await her newest book every year, starting when I was in college. My family grew quicker than I anticipated (twins will do that to you), and there was a period of time when I didn’t have as much time for personal reading. As a result, I missed out on some of Julia Quinn’s books. I have been enjoying rediscovering old favorites, as well as introducing myself to some of the books I have missed out on.

I honestly can’t remember if I read Just Like Heaven when it originally came out in 2011.  At that point,  I had two 1 year olds and a 3 year old- I don’t remember much of anything! I have a paperback copy, but I purchased the Audible edition when it was on sale. I’ve been listening to it when I go on walks around the neighborhood. It took me a month to get through; we’ve had some unseasonably warm days, but we’ve also had a couple of snowstorms.

Just Like Heaven is the first book in the Smythe-Smith quartet. Fans of Julia Quinn might recognize the Smythe-Smiths as the family who hosts annual musicales featuring infamously dreadful girls doing great injustice to classical music. The makeup of the performers has changed over the last twenty years, as members get married and resign their place on stage in favor of a younger sister or cousin. Read more

Posted on by Maureen · 2 Comments

What A Gentleman Wants by Caroline Linden

51vlwvocmplI received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t read nearly as much historical romance novels as I used to, but this is still a genre that I enjoy.  When I received the opportunity to read Caroline Linden’s What A Gentlemen Wants, I was excited about being able to return to the world of 19th century England and its aristocracy.

Hannah is the widow of the vicar in a small village halfway between London and Brighton.  One day, a gentleman crashes his rig near her house, and because she is a kind and gentle soul, Hannah agrees that David can recuperate at her house.  David is charmed by Hannah’s gentle nature, and asks for her hand in marriage.  At the last minute, he panics at the thought of having to give up his “rake card” and signs his twin brother Marcus’ name in the parish register.

Marcus is a duke, and is livid at his brother’s prank.  Due to circumstances beyond his control, he is unable to send Hannah and her daughter back to their village.  He asks Hannah if she will perpetuate the story that David has spread, and pretend to be his (Marcus’) wife.  Initially, Hannah is not thrilled about having to play the role of duchess, but she realizes that there are certain advantages.  Marcus’ stepmother and stepsister are kind to her, and she enjoys spending time in his house.  Marcus and Hannah do not see each other often, but every time that they do, their connection is becoming harder to deny. Read more

Posted on by Maureen

It’s In His Kiss by Julia Quinn

51nkmep4ttlI have been a big fan of Julia Quinn’s historical romance novels for almost fifteen years. I own paperback copies of every single one of her books, but if a Kindle deal comes along, I will always buy it. Because why not? In addition to making my collection portable, this also often gives me the option to purchase the Audible edition at a reduced price. I’ve been trying to walk 10,000 steps a day, so having audiobooks to listen to helps me meet my goal while I walk around the neighborhood.

I recently listened to It’s In His Kiss. This is the 7th entry in her Bridgerton series, which features eight alphabetically named Regency era aristocratic siblings. It’s In His Kiss is Hyacinth Bridgerton’s story. Hyacinth agrees to help Gareth St. Clair translate his late grandmother’s diary from Italian into English, but she had no idea that the diary might contain secrets. When the diary insinuates that there might be a valuable treasure hidden in the St. Clair London home, Hyacinth sees an opportunity to a grand adventure. Read more

Posted on by Maureen

The Spinster’s Guide to Scandalous Behavior by Jennifer McQuiston

514z8rcwvmlThe Spinster’s Guide to Scandalous Behavior was an impulse purchase. I have some of author Jennifer McQuiston’s other books on my Kindle, but I haven’t had a chance to read them yet. I also enjoy following her on Facebook. I was at the grocery store- of all places- when I spied The Spinster’s Guide to Scandalous Behavior on an endcap with some other new release books. Well, much to my surprise, the book just hopped right into the cart!

This is the second entry in the Seduction Diaries series, and features Lucy, the younger sister of the protagonist from Diary of an Accidental Wallflower. As the story begins in 1853, Lucy receives her late Aunt E’s diary. But wait, there’s more- she also receives the key to Aunt E’s home. Lucy’s first season is approaching, and she wants no part of the endless social obligations. She sees the cottage as an opportunity to live the life that she wants to live; one that does not revolve around finding a husband with a title.

Lord Thomas Branston is prepared to buy the cottage from Lucy. Her father assures Thomas that there will not be any problems, and that there will be a quick and uncomplicated sale. There’s one unexpected catch: Lucy was not consulted about this, and insists on seeing the house for herself before agreeing to sell it. Read more

Posted on by Maureen

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

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It’s probably not mandatory to read Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl before reading Carry On, but it certainly helps. Fangirl’s protagonist Cath struggled with going away to college, being separated from her twin for the first time, and the role that Simon Snow fanfiction played in her new reality. Fangirl featured excerpts of both “canon” Simon Snow, and Cath’s fanfic spin on the global literary phenomenon.

Carry On is a full length Simon Snow novel. Simon Snow is similar to another series with a famous boy wizard, but that is where the similarities end. Simon Snow’s world is wholly original. Carry On takes place during Simon’s eighth year at Watford, a school for magical children. Simon plays a unique role in the World of Mages; he is seen as the Chosen One, who will deliver them from evil. Namely, the Insidious Humdrum, who takes on the form of Simon as an eleven-year-old boy. Read more

Posted on by Maureen

Heart of Ice by Sibelle Stone

I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was not familiar with Sibelle Stone, but when I had the opportunity to read her novel Heart of Ice, I was intrigued by the premise and the combination of several genres. The story is set in 1910- in Iceland, which is rather unique. Lucinda Stafford is a young woman who is not ready to return to her home in New York. She applies for the position of governess. She has never worked as a governess before, but she had one growing up, and that’s pretty much the same thing, isn’t it? Read more