A Night Like This by Julia Quinn

When I first started reading Julia Quinn, I didn't love her style all that much.  (Too fluffy for a diehard angst bunny.)  But now I enjoy her books as a nice change from my usual reads.  I wouldn't want a steady diet but I look forward to her new books when they appear.

A Night Like This by Julia Quinn 
(2012, Regency Historical)  5/29/2012
Grade: 4

Anne Wynter is working as a governess for the younger Smythe-Smith cousins, but she’s hiding a secret.  She is working under a false name and running from an old enemy.  Daniel Smythe-Smith spent three years abroad, fleeing from the father of a friend he wounded in a duel.  Now he’s back with his family, but is it really over?  Anne and Daniel are instantly attracted, but can they find a future together with so much between them?

Julia Quinn always writes books that are reliably enjoyable, although they aren’t always terribly memorable.  I can barely remember her last book, although I enjoyed it at the time.  I’d put this book a bit above that one, since the conflict kept it going - there was a real reason for the hero and heroine not to be together, and there was real emotion involved.  I read the whole thing in a few hours, which is unusual for me these days.  The secondary characters were fun as well, even if I probably won’t remember them by next week.  Overall, a fun and enjoyable read even if it wasn’t all that earthshattering.  

 I have the new Carla Kelly due on my Kindle tomorrow, so that should be something completely different!

The Proposal by Mary Balogh

I'm always happy to see a new book by Mary Balogh, even if her books don't transport me the way her earlier ones did. She's almost always a reliable read (the Slightly series notwithstanding) and I can even bring myself to pay hardback prices.

The Proposal by Mary Balogh 
(2012, Regency Historical) 5/20/12 
Grade: 4

When Gwendline, Lady Muir, meets Hugo, Lrod Trentham, on a rocky beach, it’s awkward for both of them. Gwen has no intention of remarrying after her unhappy marriage, and Hugo is wary of the upper classes. He won his title after distinguishing himself in battle, but is haunted by his wartime experiences. But because of their great attraction to each other, they agree to try and courtship - and to try to live in each others’ worlds.  

An interesting, if not particularly passionate, book by Mary Balogh. The book does a great job in highlighting the class differences between Gwen and Hugo, which makes the book stand out from other Regency historicals. The book is written in Balogh’s usual style, but it’s rather heavy in introspection and internal monologues, even for her. The romance seemed more focused on the head than the heart. Even the love scenes felt a bit forced. Overall, it was an enjoyable book, but it didn’t sweep me away.

Although this one isn't a keeper, it's a promising beginning to a new series.