It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn

MEET OUT HERO...
Gareth St Clair is in a bind. His father, who detests him, is determined to beggar the St Clair estates and ruin his inheritance. Gareth's sole bequest is an old family diary, which may or may not contain the secrets of his past...and the key to his feature. The problem is--it's written in Italian, of which Gareth speaks not a word.

MEET OUR HEROINE...
All the ton agreed: there was no one quite like Hyacinth Bridgerton. She's fiendishly smart, devilishly outspoken, and according to Gareth, probably best in small doses. But there's something about her--something charming and vexing--that grabs him and won't quite let go...

MEET POOR MOZART...
Or don't. But rest assured, he's spinning in his grave when Gareth and Hyacinth cross paths at the annual--and annually discordant--Smythe-Smith musicale. To Hyacinth, Gareth's every word seems a dare, and she offers to translate his diary, even though her Italian is slightly less than perfect. But as they delve into the mysterious text, they discover that the answers they seek lie not in the diary, but in each other... and that there is nothing as simple--or as complicated--as a single, perfect kiss.


If the past two months had been abysmal when it comes to my historical finds, September is already heaven even with still close to two weeks left to it. I've been lucky enough to find books that are part of a series that I'm already in to. And after reading this JQ, I'm only three books short of finishing her Bridgerton series. Shame, but what can I do? The day I find Benedict, Colin and Gregory's stories (at a discounted price, to boot) will be the luckiest day, indeed.

Although I say right now that it just felt queer to read about a character (Hyacinth) who had just been a mere child in the previous books. (Wasn't she launching green pea missiles to her younger brother Gregory in The Duke and I?) And Anthony Bridgerton had gray hair. Two words: Clooney and hot!

This book was one of the simplest JQ books I've read. It was because of the lesser complex plot that made this a great afternoon read. Of course, we had another tormented hero as per the usual JQ serving plus a heroine who helped the hero face and vanquish the ghosts of his past. Gareth St Clair's strength in living with his father's hatred and his overall "quiet" character actually balanced out the exuberant nature of Hyacinth Bridgerton. And by that I don't mean that he was quiet quiet to her noise. But you get the picture, right? Gareth seemed to always hold back something when out in company. All the while, Hyacinth was always too comfy with herself in public to hold back anything about her nature. But when this two were together, everything balanced out and sometimes even put the other in a novel position--Gareth could actually stymie Hyacinth's words.

And I love treasure hunts. That and the fact that the heroine was a reader were two of the major factors why I liked this book. Or maybe I have just become too comfortable with JQ's writing style to not like it. And I loved the fact that as the love affair between hero and heroine deepens, Hyacinth got closer and closer to finding Gareth's grandmother Isabella's hidden treasure while Gareth got closer to discovering who he really was. It just disappointed me that Hyacinth wasn't able to find her treasure herself in this book. Oh, I know JQ wrote what really happened to it afterwards. Whether it was in one of her e-book second epilogues or in an anthology, I can't remember exactly where. One thing's for sure, I haven't read nor do I know what happened to the jewels and for once I'd be glad for some spoilers.

To be honest, I didn't enjoy this quite as much as I did the others in the series. But being the JQ that it was, it was a lot better than most out there. (I'm really waiting to stumble on Colin's book since I heard that it's the best in the series. Hmm, let's see how it'll fair with WHWW.)

Final verdict: 7.5/10. Good read.


The Bridgerton Series
The Duke and I
The Viscount Who Loved Me
An Offer From a Gentleman
Romancing Mister Bridgerton
To Sir Phillip, With Love
When He Was Wicked
It's In His Kiss
On the Way to the Wedding

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, This Author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London's most elusive bachelor, who has no indication that he plans to marry.

And in truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consummate rake, nobody does it better...
--Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, April 1814

But this time the gossip columnists have it wrong. Anthony Bridgerton hasn't just decided to marry--he's even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended's older sister, Kate Sheffield--the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate is the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams...

Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best of husbands--and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate is determined to protect her sister--but she fears her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony's lips touch hers, she's suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself...


After reading Anthony's story I have become more in love with the Bridgertons And I loved his story so much that I had second thoughts about doing a review--I don't think I can do it justice. But I'll try.

This might be the second book in the series but it's my fourth Bridgerton book to read. So I have already come across Anthony Bridgerton, head of this illustrious family, a number of times. He came across as someone who was a tad overprotective of his family but also someone who deeply cared about them and seriously took his position as the head of the Bridgertons to heart.

And now I know why. And I like him even more.

And the fact that he remained strong when he had to face the demons in his life everyday made him all the sexier. And yet it was quite understandable that he would aspire to be as great as his father was and to live for as long as Edmund Bridgerton had. Facing one's mortality doesn't make for good company. It did dictate much of his decisions in life and took root deep in his soul to actually help mould his character--especially towards the subject of love.

But he didn't expect the effect Kate Sheffield would have on him. No, he didn't expect Kate Sheffield, period.

Mortality had dictated that it was high time for him to take a wife and he decided Edwina Sheffield would do nicely. But like him, Edwina had strong familial bonds and had announced that she would only consider someone to be a husband-to-be with the approval of her sister, Kate.

Kate didn't think Anthony was good enough for her sister and she didn't mince words to let Anthony of that. But as the days pass, she realized that he was a better person that he let on. And when she was ready to accept that he could make sister happy, that could only be met with remorse. For she had fallen in love with him and wanted him for herself. She, whose beauty didn't even come second to her sister's.

Anthony might have had the approval from Kate that he wanted but when Fate intervened, he gladly and willingly escaped to Kate's arms. It was always her in his mind and who stirred his blood from the start. And when the rules of society forced them to marry, he agreed.

But therein lies the problem because unlike Edwina, Kate was some he could love. And as someone who was aware of one's mortality, that didn't sit well with him. He couldn't bear the thought of just having her for less than a decade, if he was lucky. He wanted to be with her for much longer than that.

But Kate, who had demons of her own and which Anthony helped exorcise, helped him realize that even if he couldn't get over his fears, he could at least not let it be the center of his life. And that he had to live everyday to the fullest as if it was his last. Having a half-lived life is the biggest regret a person can have.

So that's the reason why Anthony and Kate are easily two of my most fave characters. They both were too human and too real not to fall in love with.

Final verdict: 9/10. Fantabulous read, must have.

The Duke And I by Julia Quinn

Has the devastating Duke finally found a bride?

All the society papers say so. But only the Duke of Hastings and his "intended" bride know the truth. For the irresistible Simon Basset has hatched a plan to keep himself free from all those marriage-minded society mothers by pretending an attachment to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn't as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry--though there is something about the alluring miss that sets Simon's heart beating a bit faster, And as for Daphne, surely the clever debutante will attract some very worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable...

But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, she soon forgets that their courtship is a complete sham. Maybe it's the mesmerizing look in his intense blue eyes, or the way she feels in his strong arms, but somehow Daphne is falling for the dashing duke...for real! And now she has to do the impossible and keep herself from losing her heart and soul completely to the handsome hellraiser who has sworn off marriage forever!


Another personal winner from JQ. And I'm not just saying that because I've been in a historicals drought. That's why I decided to delay the review for a few days and then reread the whole thing to see if I'd still love it the second time around. Predictably enough, I still did.

Because Simon Basset is a hot, hot duke! I really couldn't blame him for not wanting children. His plight of having to endure his father's rejection when he was a kid was a good enough reason. But even if he had made it into a personal quest that he also wasn't going to get married, I love it that he just couldn't say no to Daphne. Yeah, well, maybe at the very beginning--maybe even die in stead of that ever happening. But when his defenses just melted at the onslaught of Daphne's persuasive charms, that scene has gotta be one of my most fave in the entire book.

As for our heroine Daphne Bridgerton, there couldn't have been a better character for Simon than her. (I guess that's why JQ created her. Duh!) She managed to say the right things all at the right time but the best thing about her was knowing what she wanted and fighting for it--him. Atta girl. Gotta love her for not shying away from doing things that would help him come out from his past, even if those things would incur his anger.

But the best thing about the story was that even if Simon hadn't accepted the thought of having children, he still cared enough and went back to Daphne at the possibility of one--even after he thought that she could make him into a stammering young boy again. So it goes without saying that Simon is hot one and absurdly the perfect one for moi--I don't have plans of ever having children of my own either. Although having this kind of a guy for a husband just might change my mind.

Final verdict: 8.5/10. An awesome read and a must-have.

To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn

Sir Phillip knew that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, and so he'd proposed, figuring that she'd be homely and unassuming, and more than a little desperate for an offer of marriage. Except . . . she wasn't. The beautiful woman on his doorstep was anything but quiet, and when she stopped talking long enough to close her mouth, all he wanted to do was kiss her . . . and more.

Did he think she was mad? Eloise Bridgerton couldn't marry a man she had never met! But then she started thinking . . . and wondering . . . and before she knew it, she was in a hired carriage in the middle of the night, on her way to meet the man she hoped might be her perfect match. Except . . . he wasn't. Her perfect husband wouldn't be so moody and ill-mannered, and while Phillip was certainly handsome, he was a large brute of a man, rough and rugged, and totally unlike the London gentlemen vying for her hand. But when he smiled . . . and when he kissed her . . . the rest of the world simply fell away, and she couldn't help but wonder . . . could this imperfect man be perfect for her?

Another great read from JQ. In all honesty, it didn't impress me as much as WHWW did but for a book set in rural Regency England, JQ did very well in keeping me turning the pages without a single ball in them. Suffice it to say that I love reading about parties, especially in this setting.

I know y'all have the read the book so I'll come straight to the point: my most favorite part. That would be when the Bridgerton brothers descended on Romney Hall. I really had a good laugh reading that part. I, for one, don't have any brothers and I'd always wanted one. And I've always wondered up to what extent could brothers get overprotected and I fell like I've missed something terribly important when I was growing up. But this doesn't mean that I'm not grateful for my sisters. Although I'm sure those peeps who do have brothers feel differently.

Eloise Bridgerton is a character I could relate to because I myself am on the fast track to spinsterhood. (Don't ask.) And taking her own fate into her own hands was a really brave thing to do. But I'm sure that even with her apprehension to marry Phillip (after her brother Anthony's 'edict'), she was already in love with him. Otherwise, she wouldn't be there in the first place, level-headed girl that she was. And Sir Phillip turned out to be an interesting hero to read, worldly enough to complement Eloise's innocence and vice versa.

So, yeah, I have been and will be scrounging bookshelf after bookshelf at the UBS for JQ books. Although I'm obviously not the only one looking for her novels because every time I got there they seem to have run out of the stuff. And those letter tidbits at the start of each chapter helped to do me in. Cute.

Final verdict: 8/10. Must read, must-have.

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

In every life there is a turning point. A moment so tremendous, so sharp and breathtaking, that one knows one's life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, London's most infamous rake, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton.

After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing. Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca's surname was to remain Bridgerton for only a mere thirty-six hours longer — the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin.

But that was then…Now Michael is the earl and Francesca is free, but still she thinks of him as nothing other than her dear friend and confidant. Michael dares not speak to her of his love…until one dangerous night, when she steps innocently into his arms, and passion proves stronger than even the most wicked of secrets…


My first JQ book. And what a great one it was. It might have been more expensive than the usual used book but it was well worth it. Her writing style is amazing--almost like a historical version of the tone you get when reading an SB. I read it all in one sitting and I will probably have more one-sitting reading sessions with JQ books. No doubt about that. I have become the latest Quinn convert.

I'm more than ready to sell my soul to bag myself a Michael Stirling. What a hero! (Okay, I'm grinning here like an idiot but so what?! LOL!) His whole character was abso-freakin'-lutely wonderful. He might have been a rake but he didn't shy away from the word love as if it's an infectious disease. He admitted right when he saw Francesca that he had fallen in love with her. And he really was a man of principles as he did his best to hide his feelings from Francesca, for not begrudging his cousin John the earldom and all the things that come with it, for feeling guilty when everything suddenly became his after John's untimely death. And even when he was already married to Francesca, he never forgot to remember his cousin.

I gathered from other reviews that a number of people didn't really like this book because they felt that they didn't know Francesca well enough. Seeing as this was a part of series, I see how that would matter. So I'm actually glad I got to read this first out of all the books in the series because I was able to form an unbiased opinion of her and her story. And I found myself really liking her (when I was supposed to hate her because I want Michael for myself). The best thing about her was that she didn't need to be seduced by him so she'd fall in love with him. She felt the spark before there was anything physical between them.

And Michael being Michael (did I say I WANT him, yet?), he did seduce her. But only because he couldn't make her say yes to his marriage proposal right away. A tactic I wouldn't mind being turned on me, that's for sure. Their love scenes were so sexy. Oh la la! And added with:

And he, who had slept with countless women, suddenly realized that he'd been nothing but a green boy.
Because it had never been like this.
That had been his body. This was his soul.

...made everything just about perfect.

And for Francesca and John to have had a good marriage didn't take anything from Francesca and Michael's story. If anything, it was good for their storyline. Because had she had a bad first marriage, it would be a given that whatever she'd have with Michael would be better, however mediocre it might've been. It was wonderful knowing it was a great love after another great love and that Michael wasn't second best. And the best thing about it was that he didn't have to be someone else:

"You didn't have to do anything," she whispered. "You just had to be."

Final verdict: 9/10. Must-read, must-have.