Tag Archives: Mia Ryan

Lady Whistledown Strikes Back by Julia Quinn, Suzanne Enoch, Karen Hawkins & Mia Ryan

Book Review, , , , , , ,
Overview
Image result for lady whistledown strikes back book cover"

Title: Lady Whistledown Strikes Back
Author: Julia Quinn, Suzanne Enoch, Karen Hawkins & Mia Ryan
In: Lady Whistledown Strikes Back (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, Short story collections
Dates read: 12th – 25th May 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Avon
Year: 2004
5th sentence, 74th page: Peter was sure of it.

Synopsis

Who Stole Lady Neeley’s Bracelet?
Was it the fortune hunter, the gambler, the servant, or the rogue? All of London is abuzz with speculation, but it is clear that one of four couples is connected to the crime.

Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, May 1816

Julia Quinn enchants: A dashing fortune hunter is captivated by the Season’s most desired debutante…and must prove he is out to steal the lady’s heart, not her dowry.

Suzanne Enoch tantalizes: An innocent miss who has spent her life scrupulously avoiding scandal is suddenly—and secretly—courted by London’s most notorious rogue.

Karen Hawkins seduces: A roving viscount comes home to rekindle the passionate fires of his marriage… only to discover that his beautiful, headstrong bride will not be so easily won.

Mia Ryan delights: A lovely, free-spirited servant is dazzled by the romantic attentions of a charming earl… sparking a scandalous affair that could ruin them both.

You’ll hear it first from Lady Whistledown

Thoughts

This was such a great little collection. Like The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown, the four novellas were intertwined in ways that you couldn’t quite imagine. But there was an extra complication / mystery in this collection – that of the missing bracelet. You don’t find out until the final story who actually stole it, but throughout all four novellas, you keep finding clues and wondering what actually happened at the party…

It was incredibly bittersweet finishing this collection – this is the last time I get to read a Lady Whistledown column for the very first time. I would like to reread all of these books in the future, but I’ll never have that beginning joy that you get when you read something for the very first time. I love how all four of these authors, each of who have very different styles, are able to have that similar tone of voice that you can read throughout the entire collection. It’s a great continuing thread that I don’t think many authors could manage so seamlessly.

I liked that this collection had an extra mystery that ran through all four novellas. It wasn’t just about the four couples and finding their happily ever after. But it was also about finding out who stole a priceless bracelet. And all of the wonderful connections between people in the ton. And just how messy this small community can be…

<- The Only One For MeThe First Kiss ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Last Temptation by Mia Ryan

Book Review, , ,
Overview
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Title: The Last Temptation
Author: Mia Ryan
In: Lady Whistledown Strikes Back (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: 22nd May 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Avon
Year: 2004
5th sentence, 74th page: “You are the one who organized Lady Neeley’s haunted party, aren’t you?”

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Mia Ryan delights: A lovely, free-spirited servant is dazzled by the romantic attentions of a charming earl… sparking a scandalous affair that could ruin them both.

Thoughts

This is a wonderfully sweet and innocent novella. The town rake falls for the quiet servant. There is nothing dark and twisty about this story. There is nothing horrible going on. Just a gradual falling in love between two people who would not necessarily otherwise have been bought together.

There are a number of somewhat insane moments throughout this novella, but I honestly think that one of my favourite things is the battle with the damn parrot. It is so completely obsessed, and adds a great sense of humour to a story that would otherwise just be a cute, sweet journey.

Ultimately, I love that this story is about two people falling in love. One woman finding her own way in the business world. And finding a way to break the bounds of convention – he might be of the ton, but he’ll still marry the woman he loves. Even if she does go into business and does things just a little differently…

<- The First KissThe Best of Both Worlds ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown by Julia Quinn, Suzanne Enoch, Karen Hawkins & Mia Ryan

Book Review, , , , , , ,
Overview
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Title: The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown
Author: Julia Quinn, Suzanne Enoch, Karen Hawkins & Mia Ryan
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, Short story collections
Dates read: 6th – 26th April 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Avon
Year: 2003
5th sentence, 74th page: “I’ve never seen him like that.”

Synopsis

Lady Whistledown Tells All!

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.

When the scandalous actions of his beautiful fiancée are recorded in Lady Whistledown’s column, a concerned groom-to-be rushes back to London to win his lady’s heart once and forever, in Suzanne Enoch’s enchanting romantic gem.

Karen Hawkins captivates with an enduring story of a handsome rogue whose lifelong friendship—and his heart—are tested when the lovely lady in question sets her cap for someone else.

A dazzling and delightful tale by Mia Ryan has a young woman cast out of her home by an insufferable yet charming marquis—who intends to take possession not only of the house… but its former occupant as well!

Thoughts

I figured that I would thoroughly enjoy this collection just because it was created by Julia Quinn and featured the character of Lady Whistledown in some way, shape or form. What I didn’t expect was how brilliantly each of these four stories related in to one another. Mostly I was expecting four separate novellas with Lady Whisteldown’s witty repertoire at the very beginning. What I didn’t expect was to find each of the characters from the novellas in each other’s stories.

This is a fantastic historical romance collection which features some amazing new authors. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into some of their books! Each had that great sense of humour and wit that I recognise in the writings of Julia Quinn. Plus, each of the four women in these stories is strong in her own way. Strong and independent (in some cases, unusually so for this style of story). Not only does this make this collection fantastic, but it is a great hint of the type of women who filled the pages of this book with some wonderfully engaging words.

For anyone who loves regency romances, this is a fantastic short story collection. For people who have already fallen in love with Julia Quinn and her Bridgertons series…. it’s even more of a must have. There is just something about the unique voices of the four authors and the way they are able to so seamlessly intertwine their stories with each other… it is just amazing. And beautiful. Definitely a collection that I will be picking up again and again and again.

<- Thirty-Six ValentinesOne True Love ->

Image source: Goodreads

A Dozen Kisses by Mia Ryan

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the further observations of lady whistledown book cover"

Title: A Dozen Kisses
Author: Mia Ryan
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: 22nd April 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Avon
Year: 2003
5th sentence, 74th page: “Linney!”

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

A dazzling and delightful tale by Mia Ryan has a young woman cast out of her home by an insufferable yet charming marquis—who intends to take possession not only of the house… but its former occupant as well!

Thoughts

I really couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next in the The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown collection. After all, even though these are independent novellas, there is still this great sense of continuity throughout the storyline. One that I love figuring out, even as I fall in love more and more with the characters in each individual tale.

At first I just couldn’t understand how the lead male had kicked the woman out of her home, and then, years later, decided that he wanted to marry her. I like rakish, fun and daring rogues. But I really don’t like selfish, pig-headed horrible men. It turns out that he wasn’t really either of these. Just a sweet, slightly injured gentleman. And the fact that he partnered up with a woman who is constantly fighting the urge to say things that are seriously inappropriate… I kind of fell completely in love with both of them.

Alright, I did fall in love with Linney a little bit more. Which isn’t really anything new… I tend to love the female protagonists more so than the males, regardless of the story… after all, I too am a woman. But, Linney was particularly special. I tend to sometimes come out with some very random, awkward comments. And I tend to constantly have little pep talks with myself about NOT saying every single thought that comes to mind… much like Linney.

What I think I loved most about this novella is that it’s about two misfits. They’re not what people would consider the elite and part of the respectable. They’re just a little too different. Which, of course is what makes me love them so damn much. I always adore the misfits.

<- Two HeartsThirty-Six Valentines ->

Image source: Goodreads