3 star - The First Kiss – Julia Quinn (Peter & Mathilda)It was a sweet story, but nothing really stood out. I liked the premise of the story and the end was really heartwarming, but the story itself was just ok since I felt the H/h were lackluster. I’m a big fan of Julia Quinn so I think I end up liking anything she writes. This was no exception, though it will not be my on favorites list.4 stars - The Best of Both Worlds – Suzanne Enoch (Xavier Matson & Charlotte)I really enjoyed this story. Everything about it was unoriginal and somewhat predictable, but Suzanne Enoch wrote it with so much wit and charm that I didn’t care. Both the H/h are so likeable and the story comes through as such a “made for each other” pairing. I haven’t read any of Enoch books, but after this short story I’m looking forward to her books! The only thing that would have made it better would be a lengthier ending, which felt rushed and abrupt.4 stars - The Only One for Me – Mia Ryan (Anthony & Isabella)I like light and cute reads and this was definitely that. I enjoyed that Bella was a happy girl, but she really needn’t giggle as much as she did (she’s 30 after all, not a teenager! She even giggles when they’re having a fairly intimate moment) Once you get past all that giggling (and easily accept and understand her explanation of why she’s so happy all the time), I have to say that she is a very likeable character with a lot of redeeming qualities, intelligence, and capabilities. We also appreciate her very optimistic view on life. Anthony is the typical hero that we love to love…the commitment-phobic rake who changes his ways for the unexpected girl that has gone unnoticed for years. He’s also a person with a lot to offer but has been wasting it all this time because he’s been missing purpose, motivation and gratitude for his privileged life. Until he meets Bella who turns his life into a meaningful direction. I also enjoyed Lady Neely and Lord Waverly’s part in this story. One thing I would have wanted to see was for Anthony to work a little bit harder to win Bella. Otherwise, this was a perfect short and easy story, very enjoyable read. 3 stars - The Last Temptation – Karen Hawkins (Max & Sophia)Thank goodness this was a short story! I hate it when the only thing getting in the way of a couple’s HEA is their own stupid pride and stubbornness. It is so obvious the H/h are still in love with each other! Granted the reason for their separation was surrounded by an event that spiraled out of their control, but since Richard’s death (11 years later) – the truth came out and all that was sorted through. It’s hard to champion a couple that is making it difficult for themselves. I can bear the frustration in a short story, but if this were a full length, I would have hated it.That being said, there were some enjoyable moments in the story – 1) I liked John, Sophia’s brother, a lot. He was cute and funny (especially with his love of food – I thought it was hilarious that he picked his women based on how good their cooks were – that’s new). He was also the only one with the sense to bring the H/h together. 2) It was great seeing the characters from the other stories in the anthology. 3) The passion between the H/h was also nice to read. All in all, the story itself was good. It had potential to be better, but the downfall for me was the fact that we don’t really like the h/h themselves (we don’t dislike them either) – it’s just that the reason we want them to be together is because they are perfect for each other, but as far as stand-alone characters, they are just ok. 4 and 5 stars are for reserved for great stories with characters (like John for example) that I love (individually and as a pair) for some reason or other.
This is a four story anthology. Only the first story (and I assume the Lady Whistledown commentary at the beginning off each chapter) is written by Julia Quinn.The short stories are woven together, taking place at the same time. Some scenes and conversations are the same, except that the scenes takes place from a different character's POV. There is the mystery of who stole the ruby braclet common to all. I enjoyed the first three stories. The forth (and the one that solves the mystery) I ended up scanning just to confirm my suspisions of who stole the bracelet, which I correctly guessed from the clues in the first story. I hated (yes hated) the characters in the forth story.Forth story spoilers follow.A couple of months after wedding the heroine, the hero was accused of cheating at cards. He fled England (instead of trying to clear his name) and lived in Italy for twelve years. He left his wife behind because he didn't want her to be banished with him and because she sided with her brother (the yonger one) instead of him when he was accused of cheating.So, twelve years pass with letters between them. He's supporing her and himself by painting (pictures, not houses).Her younger brother dies and makes a deathbed confession. He was the cheat not the hero. I'm not certain of the timing, but after her brother makes this confession, she and her older brother work to untarnish the hero's reputation and then she sends the hero a letter demanding an annulment to their marriage or she will sell his dead uncle's scandalous diary to the highest bidder. Huh? Why bother restoring his reputation, resurfacing a twelve year old scandal, if the man hasn't been back in 12 years? And then ask for an annulment?They have no grounds for annulment or divorce so he can't just give her what she asks for, as if handing out candy. One of the reasons I like reading historicals is because marriage was a life sentence. Once done, the two had to figure out how to make the marriage work or how to enjoy seperate lives. Death was the only way out!!The H/h thought processes' are too contemporary for an historical story. The heroine's internal voice is contradictory and illogical. When he's acused of stealing the bracelet, she sets out all by herself to identify the real thief (when did she obtain investigator skills? Somehwere between piano, embroidery and painting lessons?) She ends up digging holes in Hide Park (A Lady of the aristocracy digging holes? Really? Freckles were bad enough. But blisters?)The hero does not act like a member of the aristocracy (why did he flee the country instead of clearing his name by duel or investigation?) And he paints to make money, not considered an acceptable occupation for a gentleman. Apparently he was broke when they married so if she had goen with him to Italy, they would have lived in poverty. (Didn't she, as the daughter of an wealthy earl, have a dowry?)So, read and enjoy the first three stories. Skip the forth.BTW, the parrot stole the bracelet.
Do You like book Lady Whistledown Strikes Back (2004)?
This anthology contains 4 novellas linked by Lady Whistledown's Society Papers (introduced by Julia Quinn in her Bridgerton series). There's also an ongoing mystery connecting the stories, as all the H/h are more or less involved in the disappearance of a ruby bracelet. The mystery starts in the 1st story and is only solved in the last story, so it's better to read these novellas in order if you want to "savor" the mystery. Other than that, you can read them out of order without a problem. It isn't difficult to figure out who's the culprit, anyway. :)I'm not up to writing a full review - I've been feeling very lazy lately, must be the holiday season, LOL - so I'll just make a few comments for my own record:The First Kiss by Julia Quinn (4 stars)Hands down, the best story in the bunch. Peter was charming and honorable (even though the ton saw him as a "fortune hunter"), Tillie was cute as only a JQ heroine can be, and their falling in love was believable and pleasant to read.The Last Temptation by Mia Ryan (2 stars)Good premise that failed to deliver. Anthony and Bella were OK, but I didn't really care about them. Worse, I didn't believe each cared that much about the other, so the HEA didn't ring true. I also had problems with Ms. Ryan's writing, which was way too modern. For example, she had Bella saying "You are pissed." to Anthony and I really don't think that well-bred women used that kind of language in the 19th century. :(The Best of Both Worlds by Suzanne Enoch (4 stars)Very good story. Xavier was one of those repenting rakes I can't help loving, Charlotte was surprisingly level-headed for an Enoch heroine, the sexual tension was well written, and the conflict that prevented them from being together was realistic. The only "problems" I had with this story are: Xavier and Charlotte engaged in a public sexcapade that had me rolling my eyes - I haven't read that many books by Ms. Enoch, but I've seen this scenario in all the ones I've read so I'm starting to believe this is one of her trademarks - and the ending was very abrupt.The Only One for Me by Karen Hawkins (2 stars)Meh. A Big Misunderstanding leading to a Long (12 years) Separation between the H/h? This story was doomed from the start, but hope springs eternal. Unfortunately, my fears were confirmed and the story didn't work for me: I didn't understand why Max went away in the 1st place, why Sophia kept thinking that he was the one in the wrong when she was the one who didn't trust him, and I didn't believe they had a better chance at the HEA this 2nd time around. This last story is only worth reading to find out who stole the ruby bracelet.
—Dina
This is the book #2 in the Lady Whistledown set. Book #1 is "The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown." Per the author's website, she does not consider this set to be part of the Bridgerton series because none of the Bridgerton's are in these two books.If you read the Bridgerton series, you may remember that Lady Whistledown's society column appears in the beginning of each chapter--for most of the Bridgerton series. Lady Whistledown is a hoot!This book includes 4 short stories:1. The First Kiss by Julia Quinn2. The Last Temptation by Mia Ryan3. The Best of Both Worlds by Suzanne Enoch4. The Only One for Me by Karen HawkinsNice reads.
—Kathrynn
This was another entertaining anthology where all four novellas in the book were connected together with common scenes and plot. The main connection in this particular book is a mystery of a ruby bracelet that went missing at a dinner party.This was a good read, but I think in the end I enjoyed The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown (FOLW) more.There are allusions to the Bridgertons in this book, but you don't have to read Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series to read this book, nor do you have to have read FOLW to read this. However, if you have read them, you may appreciate the little mentions to characters from the series and from the prior book (like the monkey featured in FOLW or Benedict Bridgerton being one of the suitors found in the drawing room of a character in this book).My favorite story in this anthology was written by Karen Hawkins. In some ways, it reminded me of a less-dark version of the book Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas. The gist of the story is an estranged husband of 12 years who has returned to the ton after his wife annouces she wants an annulment.
—FlibBityFLooB
