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Title: The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown by Julia Quinn, Suzanne Enoch, Karen Hawkins, Mia Ryan ISBN: 0-06-051150-8 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 28 January, 2003 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.34 (32 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: An anthology of the highest caliber
Comment: Julia Quinn drew me to this book, but I was more than pleased with each of the four novellas included. Unlike most anthologies, the quality was top-notch all the way through, even though each story had its own strengths.
My first experience with the other authors was pleasant enough to have me looking for their books for my to-be-read pile. Having Quinn's Lady Whistledown weave the stories together is an added delight. Moreover, the stories do mesh quite well, with characters from each of the novellas making appearances in the other three.
While Suzanne Enoch's "One True Love" is a charming romance, well-written and enjoyable, I found it to be the weakest of the four offerings. The quality of all the works, however, means that even the weakest link is remarkably good. My only real criticism is that the story didn't stay with me once I moved on to the next one; thus, it simply wasn't as memorable as the others. Nevertheless, Lady Anne Bishop and the Marquis of Halfurst are a well-matched pair and it was great fun watching the Marquis claim his errant fiancé. His romantic gesture with the daffodils was really well cone, although the proposal left me a little flat.
"Two Hearts" by Karen Hawkins pits the boldly delightful spinster Elizabeth Pritchard against her lifelong friend, the roguish Royce Pemberley. What a delight to watch Elizabeth realize that at 31, she does want a husband to share her life and love with; even more delightful is watching Royce realize that his old chum is a desirable woman and he may very well lose her. Their confusion and consternation over the changing nature of their relationship is almost palpable, and Liza's bovine-loving suitor is a gem of the eye-rolling variety. Royce's declaration, in front of other no less, is possibly the most romantic in the book; it has the same joyous tears of Emma Thompson's performance in Sense & Sensibility.
Mia Ryan's "A Dozen Kisses" had me laughing out loud as Lady Caroline Starling said all sorts of things that never should have left her lips and the Marquis of Darington constantly said things less than what he meant. His difficulty in saying what he means after a war injury was handled beautifully, lending him both gentle sympathy and personal courage. Although his friend was somewhat sketchily drawn, Caroline's mother was well done (the hateful woman). At times, the story sags just a touch when it becomes more serious, but when Dare finally writes to her all that he cannot manage to speak ... ahhhhh..... And Caroline's impetuousness always hits the right notes.
There's a reason Julia Quinn is my favorite romance author--she never misses. "Thirty-six Valentines" contains both the sly wit and the emotional depth that always sets Quinn's work apart. When Susannah Ballister is dumped by her suitor who would expect his older brother to sweep her off her feet? A single kindness, one that reestablishes her in society, sets the stage for romance. In the process, Susannah and David, the Earl of Renminster, both learn a great deal about themselves, and Susannah sees in David what no one else, even his brother, has discovered. As for the 36 Valentines...well, we wouldn't want to spoil the story.
This is a buyer and a keeper. The best anthology it has ever been my pleasure to read.
Rating: 5
Summary: Winning character ensemble provides hours of pure enjoyment
Comment: The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown is the most delightful romance anthology I've ever read. Full of passion, humor and expert storytelling, these four interconnected Regency stories should not be missed.
The reader is treated to the incomparable, irrepressible Lady Whistledown-the wry, wise and compassionate gossip columnist created by Julia Quinn for her magnificent Bridgerton family series. Lady Whistledown shares her wonderfully entertaining observations at the beginning of every chapter of each novella. She is also mentioned in each narrative, her personality because one unifying force in the book, along with theme, place and time.
All four stories take place during the last three weeks leading up to Valentine's Day 1814 in London-so dreadfully cold that the Thames freezes over and aristocratic families flee to town for winter festivities, some right on the Thames! The stories feature the same cast of characters and 3 common events that all characters attend: a night at the theatre, an ice skating party on the Thames and a Valentine's Day ball. Each story is told from the point of view of a different couple who experiences these events and in the meantime falls in love.
In Suzanne Enoch's One True Love, the very independent and intelligent Lady Anne Bishop is enjoying a smashing social life when Maximillian, Marquis of Halfurst, suddenly appears all the way from his estate in Yorkshire to claim her. Having been betrothed to Max since she was an infant yet never before met him, the last thing Anne wants to do is marry him and move so far away from her beloved London.
Max is anxious to return to his beloved Yorkshire but not without Anne, the woman who captures his attention and his passion in a way none other ever has. In the battle of wills that ensues, the reader and Anne come to love the sexy and strong-charactered Marquis, who is a breath of fresh air compared with the other man of Anne's close acquaintance who hopes to capture the beautiful and strong-willed Anne for himself. This is a lovely romance with a satisfying resolution to the couple's seemingly insurmountable dilemma.
In Karen Hawkins' Two Hearts, the supremely confident and flamboyant Liza Pritchard decides it's time to marry so chooses a safe, reliable and boring man while her lifelong best friend, the quintessential rake Sir Royce Pemberley, is determined to stop her from making such a fatal mistake. The lively banter between the two is a joy to watch as each slowly realizes that there can be only one really passionate and happy match for them: what they could have with each other. The friendship between them is just as fun as the passion in this highly enjoyable, quick-witted romance.
In Mia Ryan's A Dozen Kisses, Lady Caroline Starling accidentally meets and falls for Lord Darington, the apparently heartless aristocrat who ejected Caroline and her mother from their lifelong country home after Caroline's father died and he inherited the title. But Dare is actually very different from what his stern and laconic demeanor would indicate and harbors a secret that explains all. This is a warm and passionate romance.
While all the foregoing are very enjoyable, my favorite of the lot is Julia Quinn's contribution, Thirty-Six Valentines. Somehow Julia, with her highly intelligent, discerning and deft touch is able to go just that little bit deeper into character and emotion that makes her work so vibrant, moving and astonishingly real.
Susannah Ballister, having been abruptly jilted last summer by the handsome and charismatic Clive Mann-Formsby-who informed her of his treachery by publicly announcing his engagement to someone else-bravely holds her head high while privately nursing her wounded pride. The last person she wants to have anything to do with besides the now very married Clive is his older brother David, the Earl of Renminster, who admittedly opposed the match.
But David, who at first befriends Susannah just to make amends for his totally self-centered brother, is captivated by the strong and frankly outspoken beauty. She touches him in ways no one else ever has and brings out a lighter side of his personality that longs for release.
For her part, as Susannah comes to know the reserved yet deep, complex and even humorous person that David can be, she realizes that her heart is in more danger than ever. She had superficial fun with Clive, but it is David whom she really loves-and he is even more out of her reach than Clive was.
On the other side, it is equally fascinating to see into David's heart, how he flowers as a person with Susannah and comes to love her with a fervent passion he never thought possible. And the way he tries to court her wins the reader's heart all over again.
In sum, The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown assembles four very strong and highly enjoyable stories in an appealing setting and winning character ensemble that provides hours of pure enjoyment to the reader. No lover of historical romance-or of any fast-paced, colorful and very sexy read-should miss this delightful anthology.
Rating: 5
Summary: TOO SHORT! :)
Comment: I loved this book, but short stories drive me crazy because I always want to read more about each character. I love how they interweaved all the characters!! That was so cute. If I remember correctly I liked Quinn and Ryan's stories the most and I think that I liked Hawkings's the least. But they were all really cute! "Lady Whistledown Strikes Back" has recently come out and features the same authors. This book is a cute spin-off (bad word, but I don't know how else to describe it) from the Bridgerton series - it is in the Bridgerton novel "Romancing Mr.Bridgerton" where Lady Whistledown's true identity is finally revealed.
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Title: To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn ISBN: 0380820854 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 24 June, 2003 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn ISBN: 0380815575 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 01 December, 2000 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn ISBN: 0380820846 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 02 July, 2002 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn ISBN: 0380800829 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 01 January, 2000 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: How to Marry a Marquis by Julia Quinn ISBN: 0380800810 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 01 April, 1999 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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