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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I forgot to update I finished this days ago lol oops
I'm still enjoying the mysteries and Georgie's step-to-it-ness, but this book really brought home how much of this series (to be fair, the same could be said for many other series) feels like a repeat in book after book—not so much the actual murder plot, but the situation. Or, I guess more accurately, the characters and their interactions. One can expect the character introductions to go something like this:
Georgie: Impoverished put plucky, still a virgin (more on that below)
Belinda: Scandalises Georgie with her bed-hopping habits (here Georgie notes that she's afraid B will end up like G's mother; B says that that wouldn't be too bad because at least G's mother has had an interesting life); might get Georgie into whatever situation but otherwise doesn't do much
Queenie: worse than useless as a maid, as she seems hell-bent on destroying as much of Georgie's limited wardrobe as possible; prone to sleeping late and spreading crumbs on Georgie's bed, but otherwise doesn't do much
Darcy: Slightly mysterious; routinely ducks in to save the day and kiss Georgie but is never around long enough to seal the deal
Fig: complains about how Georgie isn't married and off her (and Binky's) hands yet, complains about the expense, slathers more jam on her toast
Georgie's grandfather: pops in just long enough to help out and drop some rhyming slang into the conversation
Etc., etc. The repetition's okay to a point, but it felt particularly extraneous in Naughty in Nice because so few of the recurring characters had significant roles. We'd have lost very little in terms of plot that mattered if, say, Georgie's mother had simply invited her to come stay and the queen had been, like, 'oh, and while you're there...' Except the book would have lost a quarter of its length, and I suppose that wouldn't do. Meanwhile, Georgie's virginity remains a major point of every book. I wish it weren't—I don't care one way or the other whether she loses it, so long as it's her choice, but the emphasis on will-she-won't-she reads to me as a sort of...false titillation? I'm not sure. I've seen this done in other series, and it's never worked for me.
And yet I keep reading them! The library inexplicably put the next book into storage while leaving the rest of the series on the shelves (maybe not so inexplicable; the next one has a holiday title and I suppose the lib just pulled everything with the word 'Christmas' in the title and will put them back out come winter), but it's still requestable, so...
Georgie: Impoverished put plucky, still a virgin (more on that below)
Belinda: Scandalises Georgie with her bed-hopping habits (here Georgie notes that she's afraid B will end up like G's mother; B says that that wouldn't be too bad because at least G's mother has had an interesting life); might get Georgie into whatever situation but otherwise doesn't do much
Queenie: worse than useless as a maid, as she seems hell-bent on destroying as much of Georgie's limited wardrobe as possible; prone to sleeping late and spreading crumbs on Georgie's bed, but otherwise doesn't do much
Darcy: Slightly mysterious; routinely ducks in to save the day and kiss Georgie but is never around long enough to seal the deal
Fig: complains about how Georgie isn't married and off her (and Binky's) hands yet, complains about the expense, slathers more jam on her toast
Georgie's grandfather: pops in just long enough to help out and drop some rhyming slang into the conversation
Etc., etc. The repetition's okay to a point, but it felt particularly extraneous in Naughty in Nice because so few of the recurring characters had significant roles. We'd have lost very little in terms of plot that mattered if, say, Georgie's mother had simply invited her to come stay and the queen had been, like, 'oh, and while you're there...' Except the book would have lost a quarter of its length, and I suppose that wouldn't do. Meanwhile, Georgie's virginity remains a major point of every book. I wish it weren't—I don't care one way or the other whether she loses it, so long as it's her choice, but the emphasis on will-she-won't-she reads to me as a sort of...false titillation? I'm not sure. I've seen this done in other series, and it's never worked for me.
And yet I keep reading them! The library inexplicably put the next book into storage while leaving the rest of the series on the shelves (maybe not so inexplicable; the next one has a holiday title and I suppose the lib just pulled everything with the word 'Christmas' in the title and will put them back out come winter), but it's still requestable, so...
I’ve enjoyed all the royal spyness books thus far and this book is no exception despite finding Georgie much too naive and dimwitted this time around, though I understand that the main sequence of events stems from her lack of sense. Still, the degree of contrivement and predictability somewhat diminished my enjoyment. Overall, it was a fun read - you get Coco Chanel, murders, thieves and yachts - what a fun time in Nice!
I love Rhys Bowen. I love her leading lady in this series, Lady Georgiana Rannoch 35th in line for the British throne. Set in the 1930's, this book finds our illustrious heroine is in France on a mission for the Queen and bumps into Coco Channel, the Duke of Windsor, and Wallis Simpson in a story that begs the antiquated descriptor such as "a mad-cap romp". Suspend reality and get ready to read this award winning author with smiles, giggles, and laughs.
It's a good story.
It's a good story.
https://jenninsf.wordpress.com/2016/12/12/naughty-in-nice-by-rhys-bowen/
I really enjoyed the French setting for this read! The mystery was enjoyable and interesting. Liked this one!
I just like cozy mysteries. This one set in the 1930's on the French Rivera is fun.
Eh. This one just annoyed me. I'm trying to catch up on some of these series I've been reading and the library has a few.
Oh, Georgie. Yes, you shouldn't HAVE to be afraid if you're on a boat with a man, especially if he's got a bunch of crew actually driving the boat. But there's also reality. And the reality as that you know nothing about this man personally. You met him the night before. And he has a HORRIBLE reputation. You know he cheats on his wife and you observed his mistress splitting up with him. So why the hell would you take a boat ride with him? Gah!
Other than that, the mystery was fine, but nothing special.
Oh, Georgie. Yes, you shouldn't HAVE to be afraid if you're on a boat with a man, especially if he's got a bunch of crew actually driving the boat. But there's also reality. And the reality as that you know nothing about this man personally. You met him the night before. And he has a HORRIBLE reputation. You know he cheats on his wife and you observed his mistress splitting up with him. So why the hell would you take a boat ride with him? Gah!
Other than that, the mystery was fine, but nothing special.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I can't get enough of these books, and I really enjoyed this one. It was nice to see Georgie spend some time with her mother, and it was fun to have Coco Chanel included.