A Night Like This (Smythe-Smith Quartet #2) by Julia Quinn

A Night Like This by Julia Quinn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I'll be quick, just a little note. Possibly more later. Possibly.

I spent the entire time reading this book, at least if you look at my status updates, noting to myself and others that I wanted to DNF the book after every page (or every other page). Then I end up rating this book 3 stars. Am I overly generous? Do I never give ratings worse than 3 stars? Of course not. No, the things I despised were relatively minor, but seen in both main characters (the man, Daniel, was overly pushing and demanding, kept grabbing people by their arms/wrists, and kept forcing himself onto a woman (who was 'beneath him', marriage wise, as in she wasn't the type to be acceptable for marriage); the woman, Anne, kept repeating to herself how unacceptable she was (that wasn't the issue I had), while, at the same time continuously melting into Daniel (that was the issue, though, oddly enough, that 'redeemed' the man to a certain extent, as there is every indication that Daniel would have pulled back and not continued his advances if he hadn't seen/heard 'something' from the woman (she did say please kiss me, and the like) - as an aside, it's good she did say stuff, there are way too many evil assholes out there who 'see something in their eyes' or body language or whatever that screams that the woman wants it - even if what they are seeing is their own imagination)).

Right. So. I had issues with both main characters. I had issues with Daniel in the prior book, and had issues with him here. He is a full on Earl, not heir, or in line, but an Earl. He spent 3 years in exile because of a series of stupid events likely to not have occurred if he wasn't drunk, and he injured his friend in a duel . . . and he still seems very immature no that he is back in England. At least he seemed that way to me. That's another reason I was having trouble continuing to read this book.

Still, I saw these things and the made it harder to read the book, but not impossible. Basically, what I'm saying, is that neither main character were characters I really wanted to spend time with. Yet I did. Then somewhere around 55% things morphed a little and my thoughts started to change. Then the final section of the book was this mad dash action type thing that was thrilling and edge of the seat type stuff, so . . . the book didn't redeem itself so much as the issues I had with it were reevaluated. And so . . . gave it 3 stars on Goodreads.

Rating: 3.33

May 6 2018



View all my reviews

Just Like Heaven (Smythe-Smith, #1) by Julia Quinn

Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I’m quite tempted to rate this book higher than I have. Though it’s a question of rating it 0.25 stars more than I have, or not – but that raises the rating on Goodreads from 4 stars to 5 (since I’m thinking of rating this either 4.50 or 4.75).

Right, so. I’ve now dipped into three series by this author. All of which are connected to each other. The first series I dipped into, oddly enough, is also one that I’ve only read one book by – both because there were no other books in the series when I started; and because, when more books (1 more) appeared, I . . . wasn’t feeling happy with the author and the book itself didn’t look that interesting. I mean, the concept from the beginning – the underlying theme, is lying (reminder: I’m not talking about the book this review appears on, I’m referring to the second book in the Rokesbys series).

Right, that’s a muddle, let’s try that again.

I’ve dipped into three series by Quinn. First series I tried was the Rokesbys series, a prequel series to the Bridgertons series. Loved the first book, but haven’t read any other Rokesbys book. Then I read . . . most of the Bridgertons books – all 8 of them. Most because I had to DNF one of them. Bridgertons being about, unless I confused myself, the generation of marriageable adults that came after the generation in Rokesbys.

This book here, the book this review is supposed to be about but hasn’t been yet, is a side series instead of a prequel or sequel series. As in, the events in this series takes place during the same time period as the events in the Bridgertons series. Barely, but still. This specific book here, chronologically, slides in-between book 7 and book 8 of the Bridgertons series. About three years, if I were to base this on the age of Gregory instead of dates since I don’t remember the actual dates, prior to book 8 (Gregory’s book).

Gregory and Colin make cameos in this book. Oddly, and I only really recalled it now – but Gregory got talked about a lot – invited to a party, was a member of that party, was talked about as a potential husband material . . . but didn’t really appear in this book. Colin, on the other hand, was never talked about – at all – yet had an important scene in the book. There might have been another Bridgertons pop up in this book, but I don’t recall any. The very old woman who feels free to say whatever she wants, but whose name now escapes me (Lady . . . Ddd . . d . . D something), also plays a somewhat important role in one (or two, but it’s connected) scenes.
The story is about … I hate when book descriptions fail to include the main character’s names in them. Bah. Honoria Smythe-Smith is the lead female character (and yes there are two points of views in this book). Honoria comes from a large family, just like the Bridgertons (I do not recall if an exact number was mentioned for Honoria’s family), but Honoria is like Gregory and Hynacith – near the end of the line (or the end), but unlike those two, she doesn’t have anyone nearish her own age. So she both experiences a large family and . . . being lonely in a large home – what with her older siblings off doing their own thing. She does ‘pester’ on of her siblings, though – mostly because he’s close enough in age, roughly 5 years, that she can try to do stuff with him. Unfortunately Daniel wants nothing to do with ‘Bug’. And would have nothing to do with her but for her persistence and the empathy of Marcus, Daniel’s friend from Eton.

Marcus, Earl . . . something or other, comes from a very small family. There’s him and . . . . there’s him. His father got his mother with child (don’t worry, they were married at the time), and when the mother died when Marcus was . . . 5? some suggested the father marry again to increase the number of potential heirs. Father, though, gazed upon his son and found him intelligent enough and stuff. And had no desire to reenter the marriage market and heaven forbid actually deal with another wife. He was content with just the one child. Not that he talked much him until the kid was about 12, whereupon the kid was mostly off at Eton anyway – so father and son rarely saw each other. Mother and son, while mother was alive, were also in favor of the stand-offish parenting style.

The book begins with Marcus meeting Honoria and her family, through brother Daniel – and being, basically, made a member of their family. That’s the prologue.

The actual story starts off with Honoria caught out in the rain in Cambridge, and being helped, temporarily, by an Earl – Marcus. They are still . . . friendly-ish, but they haven’t spent much time near each other for the last three years – ever since ‘that thing with Daniel’ occurred.

Marcus and Honoria reconnect. Etc. Etc. Honoria is in her third season and is determined to find a husband before the end (well, during it, the season hasn’t started yet). Her mother isn’t much help, though, because she’s become withdrawn these last three years – though there’s every indication that she was like Violet Bridgertons for her other children.

Those who have read the Bridgertons series will recall that the Smythe-Smith put on music recitals – and that plays an important role in this book as well. Well, it would have to since Honoria is a member of the performing quartet.

Marcus is strong, muscular, ‘with money’, and ‘highly titled, plus he doesn’t appear to be beast like (though no one seems to call him handsome, just not beast like). Oh, and he’s shy-ish and doesn’t like parties, crowds, London, or the ‘season’. He spends the book near Honoria . . . for reasons.

I rather enjoyed this book from, mostly, beginning to end. I was a little concerned, though, when the beginning didn’t see that humorous to me. Since the reviews seemed to indicate that this was more of a comedy than a romance book ()+––––––+

Dang it. My word processor just died. mmphs. Now I have to actually write in the box here on Goodreads. Though I was able to get the review up to now. mmphs.

Where was I? Book was said to be funny. I didn't see it at first. But was funny, eventually. There's a medical issue that crops up - I liked how that was described and even found humor there. As is somewhat normal, I kind of just skimmed along when the sex turned up - I do not, in general, enjoy reading the really long sex scenes this author writes, though there might occasionally be funny moments - more often there are . . . potential moments of me wishing to not continue reading due to the . . . stuff . . . let's move on.

I liked the side characters, for the most part, especially Iris and Sarah from the Quartet. Though I had trouble telling the parents apart - Honoria's, Iris's and Sarah's (were all of them there? I'm not even sure, though I know . . . um . . at least two mothers were involved in the story).

Rating: 4.50

May 3 2018



View all my reviews

On the Way to the Wedding (Bridgertons, #8) by Julia Quinn

On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I mentioned in the previous review I did for a Quinn book that there were reasons for why it took me two years to get around to reading the last two books in this series. Well, I’ll mention specifically for this review the part where I haven’t exactly ‘loved’ the Bridgerton male leads. And Gregory hadn’t exactly impressed me in prior books (I believe he is a ‘kid’ in all prior Bridgerton books but for his nearest sister’s book, the previous book in this series, and the first book in the Smythe-Smith series where Gregory is still in college but is same age as lead female in that book).

Then the prologue, which I think I read two years ago, didn’t exactly lead me to scream ‘MUST READ NOW!’ No, it screamed ‘back away and flee’. Several reasons, I’ll just note: I do not like reading ‘prologues’ that take place in the future, and the rest of the book leads up to it (then moves past it . . . eventually). I do not like it in books, on television or in films.

No matter. Eventually I got around to reading this one, and, oddly, found it to be near the top of the Bridgertons books. Eh, don’t go by me though, I do not think other readers feel same way.

Right so. Gregory starts off the book . . . let’s skip the prologue. The book starts off with Gregory being told that he needs to do something with his life. Get a job, settle down. Something. Be serious about his life. Gregory promises to do so and has a vague feeling that he will, in fact, find his match – he’s a romantic, see, and expects to find ‘his love’ – who he’ll immediately recognize at first appearance, and both of them will feel it, feel the love. Well, he did have 6 older siblings (and 1 younger) make love matches, so . . . he’s been trained to be a romantic.

Naturally Gregory finally finds love at a party immediately after being told he needs to ‘grow up’. Gregory is beyond happy. He’s found his one. She . . . barely acknowledges him. ‘She’ being Hermione Watson. The woman with Watson, Lady Lucinda Abernathy, lets Gregory in on some secrets and tries to help him. Doesn’t seem to work.

Meanwhile the female lead of the book is . . Lady Lucinda Abernathy. She rather loves her best friend Hermione, but she’s spent her life in her shadow. Everyone wanders up and instantly falls in love with Hermione and only pays attention to Lucinda if they remember that friends might help ‘get’ Hermione.

There’s humor, blackmail, love, mistakes, etc. etc. throughout the book. And some rotten guardians (and siblings, Lucinda’s brother, who she appears to rather like, is a complete asshole to her – okay, maybe not that, but he’s a spineless fuck who doesn’t give a fuck if his sister actually has a season and stuff – just goes along with the guardian’s plan to marry off his sister, despite brother now being the titled person and the head of the family, but fuck responsibility, right? Pft. Guardian is their uncle, to just round things off.

Right, so, where was I? I liked the book. It good.

Rating: 4.75

May 3 2018




View all my reviews

It's In His Kiss (Bridgertons #7) by Julia Quinn

It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


There are two reasons it took me roughly two years to read this book despite already owning it for those two years: 1) my ratings for the Bridgertons series kept going down to the point I’d DNF’d the previous book; 2) Hyacinth didn’t really look like a character I wanted to read.

Strange what happens, eh? I rather enjoyed Hyacinth. And her friendship with . . . again I’m bad with names, but the really old woman who speaks her mind in this series: Lady . . . Dangerfield or whatever.

Hyacinth has been around for a while – season wise, without getting married. She’s had proposals, less and less as the years went by, but she’s had some. None, though, were from anyone she fancied. Hyacinth is generally . . . liked well enough by the rest of the ‘season’ people, but also described, mostly behind her back, as . . . well, the word isn’t used, but basically a shrew. Or, a young version of that woman I labeled ‘Lady Dangerfield’ above because I can’t recall her name. She’s attractive enough, but not a beauty, is intelligent . . . and knows it. Has something of a hyper-need to know everyone’s business. Etc. etc.

Because of reasons I won’t get into, Gareth St. Clair, the male point of view, is something of an outsider. He’s heir to a title, I don’t mean that, I mean he kept himself apart from others. He’s the kind who is, at least rumored, to prefer spending time with Opera singers instead of ‘the ton’. There’s reasons for that. Okay, I’ll mention: Gareth’s father loathes him, and when Gareth learned why, he rebelled.

Gareth and Hyacinth (gah that’s going to be annoying to keep typing that name I can’t remember how to spell) meet not because Gareth wants to reform himself, or because he decided to crash a ball and seduce one of the ton (‘ton’ – the upper class people who go through ‘seasons’ coming out and looking for husbands/wives through balls/parties/etc.) – because he doesn’t do that, he doesn’t seduce ‘proper’ young women, he goes for improper (not marriageable). No, the two meet because Gareth is related to that old woman whose name I can’t remember, who is also friends with Hyancith. They meet when Gareth goes to his grandmother (great?) on a visit and finds Hy there (I do not recall Hy getting any nicknames in the book). One thing leads to another and . . . no a romance does not bloom, no a friendship erupts. Kinda. They are friendly with each other (also, they first meet at one of those Smythe-Smith music things, I forgot that; though Gareth did, accidentally, bump into Hy when she was reading to Lady D), but not romantically interested in the other. Until . . . they are.

I liked the book. I liked how it broke down. I can’t remember if this is the book where the male lead did something detestable, which made me lower the rating, or if that occurred in a different book. Mmphs. That’s what I get for taking so long to write review, and reading so many Quinn books in a row.

Rating: 3.75

May 3 2018




View all my reviews

Tokyo Love by Diana Jean

Tokyo Love by Diana Jean

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is the 60th book I’ve read (well 60th on my reread shelf, I’ve not always ‘properly’ recorded rereads, and some of those 60 rereads are of the same book), and 2nd time I’ve read this book here. Still only the first book I’ve read by this author, though.

This is a near future story set roughly 30 years in the future in the 2040s, in (mostly) Tokyo Japan. Starring an American woman from the Midwest named Kathleen Schmitt who works as the director of a the software part of a special project developing Personal Love Companions (a combination of a robot and a love doll designed to mimic real people – in feel and personality). Kathleen is seen through the eyes of herself and Yuriko Vellucci (more on Yuriko later). I mention so I can then mention that Kathleen is described as having especially kinky hair (the kind where someone’s hand will get trapped inside of it if they try to run their hand through the hair), especially chubby and having oversized breasts. There are comments made about how Kathleen, as an American, is ‘larger’ than the normal person seen in Japan (this is where my earlier comment about the POV being Kathleen’s and Yuriko’s leads me to note that a self-assessment (Kathleen’s) is suspect, and Yuriko, even though half-American and having spent years in the USA, hasn’t been there in years and is out of practice ‘judging’ Americans).

Right. So. Kathleen works as the director, as noted, and has been in Japan for about three months now. Knows roughly three words of Japanese, and has come to realize that just because many Japanese know English, that doesn’t mean she and they could communicate fluently. Which is important because the story opens with her trapped in the Japanese metro/transit/train system and is freaking out. In the middle of berating and yelling at a help kiosk Kathleen is saved by the other main character – Yuriko (I stop for a moment to include the part where the help kiosk is designed to be available to be used in many languages, including English, but was having trouble understanding Kathleen).

Yuriko, as previously noted, is half-American (and not previously mentioned, half-Japanese). Works on the same project Kathleen is working on, but in a different division (Kathleen is software, Yuriko is hardware).

Yuriko & Kathleen become friendly and bump into each other every once in a while. Their ‘bumping into each other’ picks up when Kathleen ends up being the pre-beta tester of a Personal Love Companion (against her wishes), and Yuriko gets pulled into the situation for several reasons.

This is where I mention that: 1) Kathleen has no desire to have the PLC, but can’t say no; 2) the PLC is made based on a brain scan – the ‘perfect’ companion is created based on the scan; 3) Kathleen is 200% heterosexual (not 100% because she is very very adamant that she is heterosexual and nothing but); 4) Kathleen’s PLC is: a) female; b) looks exactly like Yuriko.

Yuriko, Kathleen, and Ai (the name the PLC gives herself) then proceed to interact, explore feelings and ideas, be fluffy mixed with angsty, and do a little exploring of Japan – mostly of some shrines.

I loved the book the first time I read it, and down rated the first read through somewhat because of how long it took Kathleen to get from ‘I’m 100% straight’ to ‘okay, I’m bisexual’) – oddly enough, that wasn’t an issue this time (well, it was an issue, just it wasn’t a ‘must down rate book’ level issue). The thing that keeps me from rating this book higher than I did this time is based partly on how this book needing several more passes through the editing process due to extra words, misspelled words (more in a there/their kind of way) and a few other issues like that.

Rating: 5

May 1 2018



View all my reviews