Title: Thirty-Six Valentines
Author: Julia Quinn
In: The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown (Julia Quinn, Suzanne Enoch, Karen Hawkins & Mia Ryan)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Historical romance, Regency romance
Dates read: 26th April 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Avon
Year: 2003
5th sentence, 74th page: “What?” David and Clive demanded in unison.
Society is abuzz when the Season’s most promising debutante is jilted by her intended—only to be swept away by the deceitful rogue’s dashing older brother—in New York Times bestseller Julia Quinn’s witty, charming, and heartfelt tale.
What a fantastic way to round out the collection of The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown. This was kind of funny, seriously unique and very, very cute. It also ended with a happily ever after. The final of the four couples to get their romantic, beautiful ending. Definitely the kind of novella that I love to read. Just thinking about it all over again gives me the happy feelings.
I had expected this story to be filled with thirty-six instances of an attempt at romance. That’s kind of the hint that the title leads you to believe. But, it was a much, much better storyline. Instead of thirty-six moments of romance, there were literally thirty-six attempts at just writing one, small, romantic card. Considering I have a partner who probably couldn’t really write a valentine (he’s wonderful, just not great at that aspect of romance), I felt much, much closer to David than if he had’ve proceeded to create thirty-six seriously romantic moments throughout this story.
The opening Whistledown fragment immediately pulled me into this story. Primarily because it was made clear that the male love interest was embroiled in her history of being jilted and shunned. That makes it difficult to imagine how they would get over that little disagreement and find a way into each others’ arms… but, they do manage it. And in such a gloriously fun and engaging way. Mostly because instead of being about what other people expect… their relationship becomes about what they need in each other.
Not only did I seriously enjoy reading this novella, but it was also a great ending to the collection, The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown. All of the characters / couples from the past stories were revisited, all of the fun and passion was immersed within the pages. But, mostly, this story continued to entertain and enthral right up to the final page. Particularly when the story closes on a beautiful moment that hints at the happiness that could come forever after.
Earth and Skye 
3 thoughts on “Thirty-Six Valentines by Julia Quinn”