Title: The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy
Author: Julia Quinn
Series: Smythe-Smith Quartet #4
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Historical romance, Regency romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Year: 2015

As a final book in the Smythe-Smith Quartet, I was intrigued to how everything would tie together. Plus, although Iris only makes her first memorable appearance in The Sum of All Kisses, it was intriguing to know what was going to happen in her happily ever after. Not going to lie though, I wouldn’t mind finding out about the happily ever after of Daisy. Regardless, I did thoroughly enjoy how The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy rounded out this quartet and left me feeling very happy and content.

I love that Iris is completely suspect of her new husband, but also happy to try and find a good ending. She isn’t taken in by his actions and doesn’t fall for his underhandedness. But, she’s also willing to try and find the good in him and love him. Honestly, with his big secret and trickery, I don’t know if I could ever forgive him myself. But, Iris is smart and good, even when she has every right not to be. She’s also pretty determined and underhanded herself when she wants to be.

Richard’s secret is somewhat predictable considering the era in which this story is set. It’s still pretty harsh and horrible for Iris, and I did wonder how the reveal and subsequent battle would evolve. But, it was still seriously predictable. Luckily for me, I read these regency romance novels for their simplicity and predictability. There is enough of a surprise throughout the evolution of their relationship that I couldn’t put this down though. Not that it’s hard for me to sink deeply into a book.

I absolutely adored The Secrets of Richard Kenworthy. I didn’t necessarily feel quite as connected to the characters as in other Julia Quinn books, but I also couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen to them next. Ultimately I think what I loved the most about this book was the way in which Iris was able to deal with an untenable situation in the best of ways.

Image source: HarperCollins Australia

Title: The Sum of All Kisses
Author: Julia Quinn
Series: Smythe-Smith Quartet #3
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Historical romance, Regency romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Year: 2013

Every time I pick up a Julia Quinn novel, I know I’m going to love it and that I’m in for a treat. I do like to put a little bit of time between my reads so that I don’t start to feel the same same about regency romances. But it doesn’t seem to matter if I’ve read 4 in a week, or nothing for a few months… I love all of her books that I’ve read. Sarah and Hugh’s story is no different.

I enjoy the poetry of the cousin of the man whose life Hugh kinda screwed up is the one he ends up with. I also like that Sarah just takes all of the needless drama of the men and fixes it. In like one moment of her cracking it. A good reminder of the power of women.

Hugh’s background is probably the most abusive if the heroes I’ve read in the Julia Quinn books. In fact, his father absolutely horrified me. I like that they kind of got control of him in the end. But the bustard is still terrifying and I just can’t imagine marrying into such a horrifying legacy.

Iris has a bit of a cameo in the other Smythe-Smith books, but she has a lot more of a presence in this novel. It just makes me look forward to reading the next book in this series all that much more…

Image source: Julia Quinn

Title: A Night Like This
Author: Julia Quinn
Series: Smythe-Smith Quartet #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Historical romance, Regency romance
Dates read: 11th – 18th May 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Avon
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: She saw only him, watching her as if she were the only woman in the world.

ANNE WYNTER MIGHT NOT BE WHO SHE SAYS SHE IS…

But she’s managing quite well as a governess to three highborn young ladies. Her job can be a challenge – in a single week she finds herself hiding in a closet full of tubas, playing an evil queen in a play that might be a tragedy (or might be a comedy – no one is sure), and tending to the wounds of the oh-so-dashing Earl of Winstead. After years of dodging unwanted advances, he’s the first man who has truly tempted her, and it’s getting harder and harder to remind herself that a governess has no business flirting with a nobleman.

DANIEL SMYTHE-SMITH MIGHT BE IN MORTAL DANGER…

But that’s not going to stop the young earl from falling in love. And when he spies a mysterious woman at his family’s annual musicale, he vows to pursue her, even if that means spending his days with a ten-year-old who thinks she’s a unicorn. But Daniel has an enemy, one who has vowed to see him dead. And when Anne is thrown into peril, he will stop at nothing to ensure their happy ending…

As with all the Julia Quinn books in my shelf. I loved this. Quinn just has such an amazing talent for sweeping you away to a happy, content world that you know everything will turn out well in.

This story reminded me a little of the Benedict Bridgerton story in that it is a man falling for a woman below his station. And he happens to glance at her at a society event, and become instantly infatuated. The similarities do stop here though, for which I I glad.

I love how aware Anne is of how wrong things can go and how she is constantly trying to make Daniel see sense… it works brilliantly well. And it feels a little more realistic. I mean, this is a Regency romance, so it’s not exactly going to be realistic regardless… but it does make it feel a little less far fetched I suppose.

Daniel and Anne are a fun couple, and the villain they have to face in this is a lot more evil and intimidating than any Julia Quinn book so far. This, combined with the constant awkwardness of Harriet and her younger sisters had me smiling throughout. There was a great sense of lightness to match that feeling of horror that the villain lent

A fantastic novel that let me float on a happily ever after for a while. One that I will definitely read again.

Image source: HarperCollins Australia

Title: Just Like Heaven
Author: Julia Quinn
Series: Smythe-Smith Quartet #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Historical romance, Regency romance
Dates read: 10th May 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Avon
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: “What did I say?”

HONORIA SMYTHE-SMITH IS:
A) a really bad violinist
B) still miffed at being nicknamed “Bug” as a child
C) NOT in love with her older brother’s best friend
D) all of the above

MARCUS HOLROYD IS:
A) the Earl of Chatteris
B) regrettably prone to sprained ankles
C) NOT in love with his best friend’s young sister
D) all of the above

TOGETHER THEY:
A) eat quite a bit of chocolate cake
B) survive a deadly fever AND the world’s worst musical performance
C) fall quite desperately in love

It’s Julia Quinn at her best, so you KNOW the answer is…
D) all of the above

As always, I loved this book. There is just something fantabulous about Julia Quinn that draws me in each and every time. The stories may be beautifully simple, but they’re also seriously enjoyable. And this one is definitely no exception. The fact that it is the first of the stories about the Smythe-Smiths whom are frequently mentioned throughout the Bridgertons series… well, that just made it that much better.

I love how intricately Julia Quinn is able to weave her different series. Although they can all stand on their own, they are also interconnected. In the case of this, you have the Mad Baron story (which was authored by another beloved character) and a great conversation or two with some of the Bridgerton boys. That, and Lady Danbury makes another appearance (she’s my favourite) as does the infamous Smythe-Smith Music night.

Honoria is a great lead. She is witty and strong, but not necessarily going against the grain to be strong. She also is completely unhesitant to do the right thing for Marcus, even if she may be putting her own reputation at risk. I do love the scene with the mole hole the most though… it was both hilarious and adorable.

Marcus is the perfect quiet male lead. He just kind of plods along and then, when he realises that he’s in love, goes with it. There is none of the angst and painful denials in this story that seem to be in a lot of romances. And I entirely put that down to Marcus not being a numpty. That, and Honoria also just has faith in him and doesn’t get all bogged down in her own mind.

All in all, this was a great way to spend an evening / day and just… drift in the happiness that Julia Quinn is always able to inspire. Seriously fun and most definitely another one to add to the “favourites” shelf.

Image source: Goodreads