I just adore Julia Quinn's romances. I have yet to finish one that didn't leave me with a smile on my face as I closed the last page. A Night Like This is no different. Daniel Smythe-Smith has been on a self-imposed exile to the Continent for three years after accidentally shooting his good friend, crippling him for life, and causing his friend's father to threaten his life. But after his friend, Hugh (who will be the hero in the next book of this series), finds him to let him know that Daniel is no longer in danger, Daniel returns to his home on the night the infamous Smythe-Smith musicale. He sees his cousins' governess, Anne, fumbling away at the piano and is immediately smitten. Anne is a governess with a mysterious past, one that she does not wish to share. She has had her own eight year exile, but this was an exile that was forced on her by her family and the family of her neighbor after a horrible event when she was sixteen. What follows after Daniel and Anne meet that night is a super sweet romance where friendship is formed and the demons of the past are exorcised.
What I loved:
Daniel and Anne. I loved these two characters. Daniel was so amazingly perceptive, understanding when Anne needed to talk and understanding when she needed to keep things inside. He was patient and willing to wait for her to be ready to share her history and her struggles with him. He could sense the moments that unnerved her in some way, and he was always careful to protect her in any way that he could, physically and emotionally. Anne had grown up as a somewhat spoiled and egotistical girl, focused on getting whatever she wanted. She was a beautiful girl used to getting attention, but after the tragedy of her sixteenth year she grew and changed into a caring woman with charm and wit. I loved her interactions with Daniel's cousins. But the best part of these two characters were their interactions with each other. There was an ease to their conversations that made their growing friendship obvious. Even though the two of them were physically beautiful, this relationship did not seem founded on purely physical attraction. It was clear that they were friends first, and I loved that.
What knocked this down a star:
I'm not a huge fan of melodrama in my historical romances. And this story had a huge dose of melodrama at the end. George was just so ridiculous as a villain. Sure, I understand how his scarring would have upset him. I can even see how he might hold an eternal grudge against Anne because of it. Every day that he looked in the mirror he would be reminded of what she had done ... even though it was his own fault that it happened. But (without spoiling anything) his choices at the end of this novel were absolutely over the top. He didn't need to be so melodramatically villainous. He would have been a much more interesting villain if he were not quite so maniacal. If he had been given even an ounce of layer to his personality and not simply portrayed as the 100% bad guy I would have loved to see how Daniel and Anne work to overcome the problems associated with him. As written, he was just just another cardboard cutout of a villain, set in the story simply as a means of showcasing the great love the hero and heroine have for one another.
But, having said that, this is still another great Julia Quinn romance. It is a fast read that left me happy in the end. I can't wait to read Hugh's story. He fascinates me as a character. Four stars for this one!
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Flip to back Flip to front
Follow the Author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
| Price | New from | Used from |
|
Audible Audiobook, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
$0.00
| Free with your Audible trial | |
|
Mass Market Paperback
"Please retry" | $8.99 | — |
- Read with Our Free App
-
Audiobook
$0.00 - 1 Used from $12.99
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more
Frequently bought together
- +
- +
![The Sum of All Kisses (Smythe-Smith Quartet) [Paperback] [Oct 29, 2013] Julia Quinn](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/W/IMAGERENDERING_521856-T1/images/I/51wEu5GkKIL._AC_UL116_SR116,116_.jpg)
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Popular Highlights in this book
He did not need to be her first, he realized. He simply needed to be her last.Highlighted by 119 Kindle readers- “I won’t be satisfied with anything less than everything,” he whispered. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to marry me.”Highlighted by 101 Kindle readers
- “Annelise Sophronia Shawcross,” she finally said to herself, “what have you got yourself into?”Highlighted by 83 Kindle readers
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
