Because starting with the eight book Bridgerton series is what I suggest, other than Courtney Milan, to anyone who wants to try out a historical romance, it seemed like a good idea to provide reviews of her best novels. Herewith are my go-to Julia Quinn review adjectives: light, deft, witty, clever, convivial, bright, romantic. I use them every time I discuss a Quinn book, and, as this review benefits from being of one of her less recent novels, I get to express all of my […]
Unexpectedly Histrionic Historical Romance
The Secrets of Richard Kenworthy by Julia Quinn
A new release, The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy is the fourth book in Julia Quinn’s Smythe-Smith Regency romance series. I feel like all of my reviews of her recent novels are repetitive, to wit: Julia Quinn is an excellent gateway author for people who want to try Regency romance. The writing is light and fun. Deft is the word I always come back to. Since her Bridgerton series, her quality has fallen off a bit. The Bridgerton series is really strong though. It has […]
A historical romance with melodrama
3.5 stars Sir Richard Kenworthy has less than a month to find a bride, and secure her hand in marriage. She can’t really be an heiress or a diamond of the first water, because it’s really quite imperative that she accept his proposal, no matter what. When he spots Miss Iris Smythe-Smith suffering behind her cello at her family’s infamous annual musicale, he is intrigued. Very blond and pale-skinned, she should be unremarkable, but she’s clearly good at playing her instrument, which can’t be said […]
A historical romance with abductions and a drafty castle
Taran Ferguson has decided that if left to their own devices, his two nephews are never going to get their act together and find suitable brides. So just before Christmas, he takes matters into his own hands, rallies his faithful retainers, rides over to the neighbouring estate where there is a house party at present and kidnaps the three likeliest young women. Only because it’s dark and things got rather confusing, they end up with four ladies and one really rather pissed off Duke, who […]
… to overlook kidnapping in favor of a title, a handsome face, and maybe some true love?
“We’re going to get us some brides!” So declares Taran Ferguson the (drunken) laird of the Ferguson Clan on a winter’s night in Scotland, 1819. Only, perhaps he shouldn’t have meant it quite so literally, as he returns to his castle, in the midst of a snowstorm, bearing a carriage full of 4 young ladies (and 1 unexpected Duke), for his nephews to choose a bride from. The nephews – Byron, Earl of Easton, and Robin, Comte de Rocheforte and heir to Taran’s lands – […]
A historical romance with a Gothic romance novelist hero
4.5 stars Sebastian Grey is handsome, charming and welcome everywhere in polite society because he is the sole male heir of his uncle, the Earl of Newbury, and if said uncle dies before he’s able to father more male offspring, Sebastian will be the new earl. Of course, Lord Newbury hates his nephew and is doing all he can to find a nice, fertile young woman to bear him more children to prevent just this from happening. So Sebastian could be the best catch a […]