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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
-- A Romantic Book Affairs Quickie Review
Another cute and funny romance from Miz Quinn. The Smythe-Smith's are an eccentric lot and it makes for really funny dialogue that kept me smiling. Miss Wynter's charges, and Daniel’s cousins, Frances, Harriet, and Elizabeth, were scene stealers. I mean, who can resist a little girl who pretends she's a unicorn? Simply adorable.
And Daniel might be the most perfect gentleman in an HR that I have ever read. He cares so much for all the ladies in his life and is completely respectful of them. And it didn't come off as facetious or fake, as he is an only son in an extended family of nearly all females. He is a hero worth falling for.
This is the first book by Miz Quinn, that I've read, where there is actually a truly villainous villain. It added a bit of darkness to an otherwise light story, and gave great depth to Anne and her personal plight.
I love me some JQ and, while this won't make my Top 5 Favorite Julia Quinn books - it was still a great summer read.
Favorite Quote:
"I wish to kiss you. That is what I wanted you to know. Because if I'm not going to do it, and it appears that I am not, because it isn't what you want, at least not right now...but if I'm not going to do it, you need to know that I wanted." He paused, staring at her mouth, at her lips, full and trembling. "I still want it."
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Another cute and funny romance from Miz Quinn. The Smythe-Smith's are an eccentric lot and it makes for really funny dialogue that kept me smiling. Miss Wynter's charges, and Daniel’s cousins, Frances, Harriet, and Elizabeth, were scene stealers. I mean, who can resist a little girl who pretends she's a unicorn? Simply adorable.
And Daniel might be the most perfect gentleman in an HR that I have ever read. He cares so much for all the ladies in his life and is completely respectful of them. And it didn't come off as facetious or fake, as he is an only son in an extended family of nearly all females. He is a hero worth falling for.
This is the first book by Miz Quinn, that I've read, where there is actually a truly villainous villain. It added a bit of darkness to an otherwise light story, and gave great depth to Anne and her personal plight.
I love me some JQ and, while this won't make my Top 5 Favorite Julia Quinn books - it was still a great summer read.
Favorite Quote:
"I wish to kiss you. That is what I wanted you to know. Because if I'm not going to do it, and it appears that I am not, because it isn't what you want, at least not right now...but if I'm not going to do it, you need to know that I wanted." He paused, staring at her mouth, at her lips, full and trembling. "I still want it."
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4 Stars
This is definitely one of JQ’s best, in my opinion. I love Daniel and Anne - and the plot is fun if a little dramatic. It’s a classic historical romance with kidnapping, attempted murder and stolen kisses. Good time all around.
This is definitely one of JQ’s best, in my opinion. I love Daniel and Anne - and the plot is fun if a little dramatic. It’s a classic historical romance with kidnapping, attempted murder and stolen kisses. Good time all around.
«Το κρεσέντο της βασίλισσας» είναι το δεύτερο βιβλίο του κουαρτέτου «Σμάιθι Σμιθ» στο οποίο προχωρήσαμε άμεσα μετά την ανάγνωση του πρώτου βιβλίου. Αυτή τη φορά πρωταγωνιστής είναι ο Ντάνιελ Σμάιθι-Σμιθ, αδερφός της Ονόρια που γνωρίσαμε στο πρώτο βιβλίο και που επιτέλους επιστρέφει στην πατρίδα στη μέση μιας μουσικής βραδιάς όπου και γνωρίζει και ερωτεύεται μια κοπέλα που δεν ανήκει στην αριστοκρατία.
Η Ανν, η γκουβερνάντα των τριών κοριτσιών της οικογένειας Πλέινσγουορθ δε μιλάει πολύ για το παρελθόν της, αλλά έχει πολύ καλές συστάσεις και είναι πολύ καλή στη δουλειά της. Έτσι, όλα κυλούν ομαλά, μέχρι που ερωτεύεται κάποιον που δεν μπορεί να έχει.
Εδώ είχαμε έναν κακό, ή και περισσότερους για να λέμε και την αλήθεια, ένα σκοτεινό παρελθόν και πολλά μυστικά. Μπορεί όλα αυτά να ακούγονται εξαιρετικά για ένα πολύ καλό βιβλίο, όμως νομίζω μας απογοήτευσε λιγάκι σε ετούτο. Μάλλον περιμέναμε πολλά που δεν έγιναν. Δεν πειράζει, υπάρχουν κι αυτά τα βιβλία!
Συνανάγνωση με τις @jouliajoe @v_reads_booksallalong @m9x2016 @bookgirl_reads @geokwnstantinou
Η Ανν, η γκουβερνάντα των τριών κοριτσιών της οικογένειας Πλέινσγουορθ δε μιλάει πολύ για το παρελθόν της, αλλά έχει πολύ καλές συστάσεις και είναι πολύ καλή στη δουλειά της. Έτσι, όλα κυλούν ομαλά, μέχρι που ερωτεύεται κάποιον που δεν μπορεί να έχει.
Εδώ είχαμε έναν κακό, ή και περισσότερους για να λέμε και την αλήθεια, ένα σκοτεινό παρελθόν και πολλά μυστικά. Μπορεί όλα αυτά να ακούγονται εξαιρετικά για ένα πολύ καλό βιβλίο, όμως νομίζω μας απογοήτευσε λιγάκι σε ετούτο. Μάλλον περιμέναμε πολλά που δεν έγιναν. Δεν πειράζει, υπάρχουν κι αυτά τα βιβλία!
Συνανάγνωση με τις @jouliajoe @v_reads_booksallalong @m9x2016 @bookgirl_reads @geokwnstantinou
I'll admit that I definitely have expectations when I pick up a Julia Quinn romance. I expect to laugh a lot, to love the main characters, and to be amused by the many secondary characters who surround the couple. Well, check plus on all three points for this book!
I feel like once you're familiar with Quinn's style, it is immediately recognizable. And that is the case here. I love returning to this London and to the great families she creates. There is so much love evident and for someone who prefers a lighter story, it is so comforting. I don't want angst-I want to have fun and Quinn always delivers!
This is the second book in the Smythe-Smith quartet and it overlaps with the end of the first book, Just Like Heaven, which I read last year but did not review. Daniel Smythe-Smith, Earl of Winstead, has returned from abroad where he had escaped after foolishly dueling with and injuring a peer with a powerful and protective father. It is supposed to be safe for him to return. However it is not exactly as he promptly loses his heart to his sisters' governess the lovely and mysterious Miss Anne Wynter. Anne has worked very hard to reach her current position and does not want to jeopardize it by flirting above her social stratum.
But as the book progresses, of course, she is charmed by Daniel and falls for him. Alas all is not well though with Daniel suffering several attacks that may have been orchestrated by his friend's father who still harbors a grudge and with Anne also threatened by someone from her past. Her story is an old one but not one any less worthy of compassion. I especially liked the climactic ending because of course Anne's past has to haunt her and of course Daniel has to go after her. But happily Anne can be her own heroine and save herself with Daniel just providing additional support.
While I did miss Lady Danbury who I remember playing a role in the first book, it is more than made up for by Daniel's three younger sisters who dearly love each other. One is an aspiring playwright and another has an obsession with unicorns; just a few of the quirks that make them so much fun to read about. And of course we have the traditional Smythe-Smith performances that open and close the book and will probably never not make me smile.
Overall: I think I actually liked this book more than the first although warning to those who don't like love at first sight stories. I usually don't but Quinn is so masterly that I end loving them.
I feel like once you're familiar with Quinn's style, it is immediately recognizable. And that is the case here. I love returning to this London and to the great families she creates. There is so much love evident and for someone who prefers a lighter story, it is so comforting. I don't want angst-I want to have fun and Quinn always delivers!
This is the second book in the Smythe-Smith quartet and it overlaps with the end of the first book, Just Like Heaven, which I read last year but did not review. Daniel Smythe-Smith, Earl of Winstead, has returned from abroad where he had escaped after foolishly dueling with and injuring a peer with a powerful and protective father. It is supposed to be safe for him to return. However it is not exactly as he promptly loses his heart to his sisters' governess the lovely and mysterious Miss Anne Wynter. Anne has worked very hard to reach her current position and does not want to jeopardize it by flirting above her social stratum.
But as the book progresses, of course, she is charmed by Daniel and falls for him. Alas all is not well though with Daniel suffering several attacks that may have been orchestrated by his friend's father who still harbors a grudge and with Anne also threatened by someone from her past. Her story is an old one but not one any less worthy of compassion. I especially liked the climactic ending because of course Anne's past has to haunt her and of course Daniel has to go after her. But happily Anne can be her own heroine and save herself with Daniel just providing additional support.
While I did miss Lady Danbury who I remember playing a role in the first book, it is more than made up for by Daniel's three younger sisters who dearly love each other. One is an aspiring playwright and another has an obsession with unicorns; just a few of the quirks that make them so much fun to read about. And of course we have the traditional Smythe-Smith performances that open and close the book and will probably never not make me smile.
Overall: I think I actually liked this book more than the first although warning to those who don't like love at first sight stories. I usually don't but Quinn is so masterly that I end loving them.
First half was pretty awful, very insta lovey, like why is this man absolutely infatuated with this woman you’ve never even spoken to pls sir stop you’re making me cringe. The second half was absolutely classic JQ batshit and I loved it. Wholly entertaining. Just needed more romance build up tbh
I own two of the Smythe-Smith books so I guess now I'm going to have to read the other two. They are such quick reads and luckily I can get them on Hoopla. When you just want a romance book that you know you will smile through. Don't get me wrong there is always something bad happening of why the couple cannot be together, but there will always be a Happily Ever After. Anne is the governess for Daniel's cousins but they both realize they each have secrets and they are tired of looking over their shoulders.
"Was this what love meant? That another person's pain cut more deeply than one's own?"
"Was this what love meant? That another person's pain cut more deeply than one's own?"
I adore Julia Quinn. She's the only reason I ever fell in love with romance novels. And while I enjoyed this book, it was difficult not to compare it to Honoria and Marcus' love story, which was far better.
I adored Anne - she was a strong, daring heroine, who stood up for herself, her convictions, and didn't back down from those around her. She didn't lose her mind over a man despite her intense attraction to Daniel. On the other hand, Daniel was... just Daniel. He was rather plain and uninteresting, almost too uninteresting for a woman of Anne's caliber, but perhaps that made him just what she needed given her history.
I think overall this was more Anne's story than Daniel's. While his return to London and his past with Hugh was significant, Anne's past overpowered his story and I really enjoyed it - even if it was in many ways a batsh%# crazy story. I loved that she was strong and capable of fighting George on her own. Of course, the hero has to save the damsel in distress, but Anne was doing a fine job of taking care of herself and I have no doubts she would've been able to save herself here. And George was an awful, cruel, downright disgusting man and he made my stomach turn, which doesn't always happen in JQ books. Things are rather light and fluffy, even when something is keeping a couple apart. This reminded me of Lucy's story in On The Way To The Wedding - it was that level of crazy.
So, yeah, it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't fantastic. Not that I'm saying it was mediocre either. It was just... not what I expected? JQ fans will love it, but this JQ fan just loved the other Smythe-Smith book a little more.
I adored Anne - she was a strong, daring heroine, who stood up for herself, her convictions, and didn't back down from those around her. She didn't lose her mind over a man despite her intense attraction to Daniel. On the other hand, Daniel was... just Daniel. He was rather plain and uninteresting, almost too uninteresting for a woman of Anne's caliber, but perhaps that made him just what she needed given her history.
I think overall this was more Anne's story than Daniel's. While his return to London and his past with Hugh was significant, Anne's past overpowered his story and I really enjoyed it - even if it was in many ways a batsh%# crazy story. I loved that she was strong and capable of fighting George on her own. Of course, the hero has to save the damsel in distress, but Anne was doing a fine job of taking care of herself and I have no doubts she would've been able to save herself here. And George was an awful, cruel, downright disgusting man and he made my stomach turn, which doesn't always happen in JQ books. Things are rather light and fluffy, even when something is keeping a couple apart. This reminded me of Lucy's story in On The Way To The Wedding - it was that level of crazy.
So, yeah, it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't fantastic. Not that I'm saying it was mediocre either. It was just... not what I expected? JQ fans will love it, but this JQ fan just loved the other Smythe-Smith book a little more.
fast-paced