Reviews

Courting Julia by Mary Balogh

amlibera's review

3.0

Pretty sure that I read this when it first came out (perhaps borrowed from the library), good early Balogh with more than a whiff of Heyer in its premise.

littlemisscass's review against another edition

2.0

Overall, I enjoyed this book. But Daniel's insistence for the entire first half (if not more?) of the novel that Julia was being inappropriate and basically giving herself up to men in her behaviour just was not okay. In a book where basically no one else cared what she did, it was not only wrong (she flouted convention but she wasn't very inappropriate in her behaviour) but it seemed incongruous. Later explanations for his beliefs, while fair, did not justify his treatment of Julia in the first half and it made it hard to truly enjoy this book.

crystald14's review

4.0

I loved the concept of this book. A woman has to be vied for by 5 men and has to choose one, so she isnt sent to her relatives. Its like the "Modern Bachelorette" only a million times better. Julia has a month to choose among her 5 cousins ( Daniel, Frederick, Lesley, Malcolm and Augustus.) Each different in their own way. However, sparks flew the most when she sparred with Daniel.

Daniel annoyed me and intrigued me. To someone who has no idea what is on his mind, (like Julia), he comes across as a stuffy, supercilious man who I dearly want to slap.

Spoiler

He has carried a torch for Julia since the past 6 years, and blames her for his attraction. What an idiot. She goes out of her way to avoid him, but he is besotted and obsessed by her. And he hates himself for that.

I enjoyed the way Julia talked to each and every one of her suitors and got to know them (or not). I didnt even find Freddie that distasteful this book as I do in [b:Dancing with Clara|969587|Dancing with Clara (Sullivan, #2)|Mary Balogh|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390228649s/969587.jpg|954484]. But I still felt that there was something missing between Daniel and Julia. Sure, they were passionate, but I think till they had the "talk in the tree", I didnt really want to see these two together. More so, for Daniel being an absolute ass. But he redeems himself and lets lose his emotions and I like how Julia is still herself and Daniel wants her for that.

Takeaway: Love is about accepting the other as they are.

reading_historical_romance's review

emotional funny hopeful relaxing sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

haewilya's review

3.0

It was ok. Dancing with Clara is still my favorite from the series though. I think I like the second couple better than the main one. I liked Julia here though (I sorta hated her in dancing with clara).

ctsquirrel's review against another edition

5.0

Wonderful chemistry with a fair amount of heat (no sex but some heavy petting). And finally a hoyden I don't want to punch in the teeth.

nelsonseye's review against another edition

3.0

I think I read [b:Courting Julia|690071|Courting Julia (Sullivan, #1)|Mary Balogh|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1387744494s/690071.jpg|676420] back in the 90s. It was a good reread, but I think I'm most looking forward to the third book of the trilogy which my library back then did not have. Anyway, Julia and Daniel had a good chemistry, and I liked the rest of the family. I also quite enjoyed reading about the secondary couple; they were quite sweet.