A Night Like This (Smythe-Smith Quartet, #2) in Fans of Eloisa James & Julia Quinn

Oct 30, 2011 Shawna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-romance-regency, heroine-beautiful-bombshell, best-secondary-characters-ensemble, heroine-bad-reputation-fallen, 2012-reads, heartwarming, revenge-deception-secrets-lies, best-fave-reads-of-2012, hero-mix-of-alpha-beta, steam-2-warm

4 ½ stars – Historical/Regency Romance

Oh, how I love Julia Quinn’s witty, winsome writing! She’s one of my absolute favorite authors for feel-good, sweet romances that put a huge smile on my face and lift my spirits. The musicale scene in the first chapter had me laughing so hard that I had tears streaming down my face and that part alone was worth 5 stars. This actually has a bit of angst as well, but it’s tempered with Julia’s engaging, heartwarming style.

Another enchanting, romantic winner f ...more

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Oct 13, 2011 Annie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-go-rabid-over, genre-historical-romance, favorites, arc, review-requests, author-julia-quinn, read-in-2012

I have always been a Julia Quinn fan and with this book, I am reminded of why I loved her work. A NIGHT LIKE THIS goes back to what Quinn is known for. It opens with a fun scene with Daniel Smythe-Smith, Earl of Winstead and sets up the reason why Daniel left for so many years.
When he returns, Daniel is a changed man. After all, having your life threatened can do that to you. Time has done him good because he has matured. No longer the impulsive and brazen youth, Daniel shows a great amount of g ...more

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Mar 04, 2012 Janga rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The second book in the Smythe-Smith series is one of the feel-good romances of the year. It picks up where the last one left off, at the annual family musicale first made famous in Quinn’s beloved Bridgerton series. Once again Quinn does what she does best: she takes a standard Regency plot—governess with a big secret that puts her at risk falls for gallant aristocratic hero—and adds the touches that makes the story uniquely and delightfully hers. Anne is an immensely sympathetic and likeable he The second book in the Smythe-Smith series is one of the feel-good romances of the year. It picks up where the last one left off, at the annual family musicale first made famous in Quinn’s beloved Bridgerton series. Once again Quinn does what she does best: she takes a standard Regency plot—governess with a big secret that puts her at risk falls for gallant aristocratic hero—and adds the touches that makes the story uniquely and delightfully hers. Anne is an immensely sympathetic and likeable heroine. Because of a mistake in judgment made when she was very young, she has been barred from all she has known and loved and forced to depend upon her own resources to survive. Life has made her cautious but not bitter, and it has not destroyed her sense of humor. As is common with Quinn’s books, the secondary characters are wonderfully drawn. Anne’s charges are particularly appealing. The scene with Harriet’s play is laugh-out-loud funny, and young Frances is key to the happy resolution.

But Daniel is the star of the book. Horrified by the results of the absurd duel, he accepts responsibility for maiming his friend, although his shooting him was an accident. His affection for his family is unmistakable, and he is the very pattern of a man totally blindsided and inebriated by love. Attracted to Anne from the moment he sees her, every meeting, every touch intensifies his feelings for her. He is euphoric just thinking about their first kiss.

And the reader believes in the love that grows between these two because she sees them spend time together. They talk and laugh and share pieces of their lives with one another, and attraction deepens into a love that includes passion and liking and respect.

If you are a Julia Quinn fan, you will not want to miss this one. If you’ve never read Quinn and you like light-hearted romance that is more than froth, romance that leaves you with a smile on your face and a sigh of satisfaction, read A Night Like This. Then, glom her backlist. I’m already looking forward to the next Smythe-Smith book and hoping that Hugh Prentice will be the hero.

See full review at Just Janga:
http://justjanga.blogspot.com/2012/05...

...more

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May 29, 2012 Donna Jo Atwood rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, england-fiction, musicians, humor

I love Julia Quinn's books and this one is one of her best.

The Smythe-Smith family and their annual musical evening presented by only the unmarriaged daughters will live forever in the mind as sheer loving torture. But--apparently Cupid is tone deaf, as romance rises from the echoes of cacophony.

Daniel Smythe-Smith, Earl of Winstead, returns on the night of the musical evening after three years in exile following a duel. There he meets the beautiful Anne, governess to three of his cousins, and k ...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Shh I'm reading! rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, historical

I liked it, but then it's rare that I admit to disliking a JQ book (Mr. Cavendish, I Presume and The Lost Duke of Wyndham are the exceptions). Daniel and Anne's story was very sweet and enjoyable, the humor I adore had my chuckling a couple of times...then Anne made a comment (view spoiler) I disagree. Other minor d ...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Christy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1-own-it-kindle, kindle-pre-ordered

Not my favorite Julia Quinn but even a sub-par book of hers is way better than 90% of the rest of what I read. A solid, sweet romance with her trademark humor.

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