#434 ~ The Viscount who Loved Me

Viscount Who Loved Me: The Epilogue II by Julia Quinn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars







I bought an audio file copy from audible.com to get me through a borrowing bit of admin at work.

It's always a joy to read, or in this case listen to, Julia Quinn.

She has such a unique and funny writing voice, and it really shone through with the narration by Kevan Brighting.

One of the things I love about Julia is that she visits her characters again, and it was lovely to see that Anthony and Kate were no different.


Product Details

I bought myself the Audible Book copy HERE, which was £1.00 and listened on Baby (Kindle Fire HD) via the Overdrive App.

If you're interested in getting the Kindle file, then it's HERE at £3.59 or the paperback HERE for £6.79.


Errors/Bug Bears

Not applicable.


Happy reading, or listening.

Hugs

Kay

#220-#222 (#18, #19 & #20 of 2012) - Where's My Hero - Collaboration

A COLLABORATION BOOK (3 stories):

Against the Odds ~ Lisa Kleypas
Midsummer's Knight - Kinley MacGregor
A Tale of Two Sisters ~ Julia Quinn

ISBN or ebook:

978-0-06-050524-0

Publisher:

Avon Romance

Brief Outline and Rating:

This is a collaboration about some of the sub-characters from various books, that needed their own story told.

I loved it as it had Lisa Kleypas and Julia Quinn men, not sso very keen on the Kinley MacGregor one, but it wasn't truly awful.

A 4 star read taken as a whole work.

#136 ~ How to Marry a Marquis ** RE-READ**

I have so little time for reading at the moment, so plumped for a re-read of one of my favourites, the story of Elizabeth Hotchkiss and James Sidwell, Marquis of Riverdale.

Enjoyable the second time around.  See the original post CLICK.

It got a 3 star rating last time, if anything I enjoyed it a little bit more this time, as some of the subtle humour was missed before and a 3.5 star rating this time.

Hugs

Kay

#134 (#70) - Just Like Heaven ~ Julia Quinn

I've been so busy that not much reading has taken place, and I haven't got much time to review what has actually been read.  So very quickly this is a 3 *** Star read.

Lady Honoria Smythe-Smith (of the famous Smythe-Smith musicales) who is the Daugher of the Earl on Winstead and Marcus Holroyd, Earl of Charteris and best friend of Honoria's brother Daniel.

#132 (#68) - Romancing Mr Bridgerton ~ Julia Quinn

ISBN:  0-7499-3660-6

Always a happy, happy day when I can get my hands on a Julia Quinn, and this day was no different - in fact brilliant sunshine!  The only problem being that I now have to go back to read "To Sir Phillip with Love" ... oh dearie me, could I really describe that as a problem.

Penelope Featherington has a secret or two, one of which is that she adores her best friend's brother, Colin Bridgerton.  Whilst she dreams that he can feel the same, in reality a good looking and empty headed charmer like him wouldn't go for a girl like her .... indeed, he even said as much to his brothers' in her hearing one day!

Colin on the other hand is sick of being know as an empty headed charmer, but is not certain how to get fulfillment, therefore he travels .... a lot in fact.  He's also sick of the entire ton's preoccupation with the gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who seems to talk about him quite a bit.

Upon returning from yet another trip he begins to realise that Penelope has changed, and also that she has depths, and a secret or two.  At the same time Penelope stumbles across a secret that Colin has.

One thing leads to another and Lady Whistledown is unmaksed, but will Penelope ever get her man?

A 5+ *****+ star read.

I know I mentioned this company in the post below, but seriously they have wonderful prices only 63p from Abe Books.

#129 (#65) - On The Way to The Wedding ~ Julia Quinn

ISBN:  0-7499-3690-8

Gregory Bridgerton, youngest of the Bridgerton Siblings, has never been in doubt that he would find love and marry .... for surely that's what all of the others had done, and he wasn't going to fight it!  However, right up to the night he arrives at his Brother's Houseparty he just hadn't found the one.

Having endured a lecture from Anthony about taking life more responsibly and settling down he walked out and wham .... it hit him .... he feel in love with the back of a particular girls neck ..... fortunately the front of Miss Hermonie Watson was startlingly beautiful too.  He also met her friend, you know, the friend that every beautiful girl has ....the not quite so lovely one, Lady Lucinda Abernathy.

Having been firm friends with Hermonie for so long, Lucy was used to gentleman falling immediately and utterly in love with her friend, but decides to help this poor love lorn fool to win the hand on Hermonine.

Hermonie though has already fallen in love with another, and simply does not notice, or care, that Gregory is in love with her - and on the other side of the coin poor Lucy has fallen for Gregory, even though she goes above and beyond to further his cause.

What a tangle .... will Gregory ever realise that Lucy is the girl for him, and just what happened on his way to the wedding?  A 3 *** Star read, which was a tiny bit slow for the first third but kicked up a gear from there to a really rather lovely ending.  I especially love the author's Epilogues!

Like a Stick of Blackpool Rock ... if you cut me through.....

I would say in great BIG BIG BIG letters .................. the most ardent Julia Quinn fan ..............so here's the lady herself talking about dialogue:

#122 (#58) - What Happens in London ~ Julia Quinn

ISBN: 978-0-7499-4189-5

A 4.5 ***** Star read, this time a follow on from the story of Miss Miranda Cheever, featuring her lifelong friend (and sister-in-law) Olivia Bevelstoke and her new nextdoor neighbour.  Actually, I don't need to explain ..... here's a video:

#119 (#55) - Dancing at Midnight ~ Julia Quinn *RE-READ

ISBN: 978-0-7499-3913-7

So much fun I read it again .... still a 5+ *****+ Star read.

Check out my previous thoughts for (#26) review.

Kay

#118 (#54) - It's In His Kiss ~ Julia Quinn

ISBN: 0-7499-3663-0

What more can I say about a Julia Quinn book than I have said so many times before ... sparking, fun, intelligent, in all SUCH FUN!  Another 5 ***** Star read - I truly think she is my most favourite author.

This tale is another in the Bridgerton series, and features the youngest sibling, Hyacinth.  So very, very smart and holding out for somebody whom she can love and will tolerate her intelligence and not feel threatened by it.  She is also unprepared to compromise and dumb down for any man.  I felt that she really wanted to actually fall in love with somebody who could be her equal.

Then Gareth St Clair rocks up on the scene ..... following the death of his Brother, he's the sole heir to the Baron St Clair (his Father) and they truly hate one another. In fact Lord St Clair is set to ruin the family fortune rather than see it go to Gareth

Gareth left home at a tender age, and was taken under his Grandmother's wing (the formidable Lady Danbury), on whom he dotes.  Gareth's sole heirloom is an old diary written by the Baron's Mother, which is in Italian.  He speaks not a word, but Hyacinth does a little.  Even though Gareth admits that Hyacinth is best in small doses they set to unravel the truth ........... and fall in love?

Kay

#114 (#50) - Brighter Than The Sun ~ Julia Quinn

ISBN: 978-0-7499-0892-8

Excellent, excellent, but aren't they always .... Julia Quinn  always wit and inventiveness ... it's a happy day to finish off one of her books, puts a smile on my face.

A 5 ***** Star read  - the story of Eleanor Lyndon and Charles Wycome, Earl of Billington, who make a marriage of convenience.  Although it turns out that it wasn't that convenient for most of the time, and love snuck on them and bit them in the proverbial!

#99 (#35) - An Offer From a Gentleman ~ Julia Quinn

ISBN: 0-7499-3659-2

It's always a pleasure to read a Julia Quinn book, they are humours and generally beguiling ..... and this one was no exception - a Cinderella story if you will.

Miss Sophie Beckett is the illegitimate daughter of the Earl of Penwood, and lived with him from being a young child as his "ward".  When Sophe was around 8 the unmarried Earl takes the step of marrying Araminta and brings his new Countess and her two daughters to Penwood Park.

Araminta takes an instant dislike to Sophie, and when eventually the Earl dies she is forced to keep Sophie or see her annual income reduced by a vast amount.  Sophie is put to work by Araminta - indeed, she does the work of 3 or more servants.  The only kindness she receives at all is from the staff.

One night those staff arrange for her to attend a Masquerade Ball held by the Bridgertons', where Sophie meets and falls in love with the handsome Benedict Bridgerton.

The story follows the usual path from there she disappears at midnight, leaving behind a monogrammed glove, and Benedict tries and fails to track her down.  Araminta finds out and Sophie runs away to find work in the country.

Several years later Benedict attends a drunken house party and rescues a serving maid from certain rape, he doesn't recognise her of course, but he takes it upon himself to remove her from the situation and place her in the household of his Mother.

When will he find out that this servant girl is the beautiful woman he has longed for in the intervening years.  Indeed, the only woman he could ever imagine becoming his wife?

A 4 **** Star read and highly recommended.

#94 (#30) - Mr Cavendish, I Presume ~ Julia Quinn

ISBN: 978-0-7499-0887-4

There really should be a higher than a 5+ *****+ Star rating, as this book deserves it.

The flip side of the story - from the point of view of Thomas, the Duke of Wyndham, before he was dispossessed of his title by Jack (see The Lost Duke of Wyndham).  Complicated?  Oh you bet ya little cotton socks it is ......... and perfectly written.

Thomas the Duke of Wynham has been engaged to Amelia since they were both in their cradle, but has dragged his well polished Hessians, and never quite managed to make it to the alter.  Along comes Jack the Highwayman, who dispossesses him of the title of Duke and marries Grace their grandmother's companion.  What of Amelia?  Read the book people ................. I love, love, love it ........... no doubt both of the books will be read, and re-read over and over again.

Run and buy it .... laugh and marvel out just what a comic genius Julia Quinn is.

#79 (#15) - To Sir Phillip with Love ~ Julia Quinn

ISBN: 0-7499-3661-4

Another sparkling and funny novel from Julia Quinn - I believe Book 5 in the Bridgerton Series).

The most appealing part of her work I have read so far is the unusual use of list, little bits and pieces of love letters etc. that she uses throughout.  The pace is also generally quick, and more importantly, quick witted.

Following the death of his wife, Sir Phillip Crane enters into a correspondence with her distant cousin, Eloise Bridgerton a spinster the wrong end of 20.

He needs a wife to manage his household, but even more than that somebody to manage his very out of control eight year old twins.  From the letters Eloise seems the kind of unassuming and homely girl that would fit the ticket exactly.  After a year of correspondence he recommends that she come for a visit and see if they would suit in marriage.  She need only let him know and he would arrange a suitable companion.

Obviously, Eloise couldn't marry a man she had never met, so she organised herself the hire of a carriage and hied off during a family ball.  She thought she'd left a note for her Mother on the hall table .... she forgot to advise Sir Phillip she was coming!

Therefore he was a more than a little put out on her arrival ..... and proved moody and ill-mannered - the twins proved unruly and very much in need of a mother.

How can all this conclude happily? I hear you thinking ..... well you will just have to read it too ........ but definitely won't be disappointed along the way.  A 4.5 ***** Star read - I just need to score some more of the Bridgerton Series (not sure if they are all in print though).

Kay

#49 - The Viscount Who Loved Me ~ Julia Quinn

ISBN:  0-7499-0774-6

What can I say, another sparking Julia Quinn novel that had me laughing out loud ... definitely recommend this one.

The story of Rake Anthony, Viscount Bridgerton and Kate Sheffield.

He decides he needs to marry, and Edwina Sheffield is firmly set in his sights.

Her Sister, Kate has different ideas and he needs to get through her to marry her sister.  Not that she would want him for herself even.

They do start to get a grudging respect/friendship together, but Kate still vehemently disapproved of him for Edwina.  Eventually a bee helps things along and love conquers all.

A 5+ Star ***** + read.

Happy reading.

Kay xoxo

#44 - How to Catch an Heiress ~ Julia Quinn

ISBN:  978-0-7499-0882-9

Which method do you think would work to Catch an Heiress:

(a)  Arrange for your son to rape her, and then force her into marriage?;

or

(b) Wait until the rape was attempted, then for said Heiress to flee her Guardian's home and then kidnap her by gunpoint because you thought she was a spy, tie her to the bedpost and be generally horrible for a few weeks?

You'll just have to read the book to find out.

The story of Caroline Trent and Blake Ravenscroft.

Full of the usual whit and laugh out loud moments.

I loved it, and highly recommend you give it a whirl.

A 4.5 ***** star read.

Happy reading.

Kay xoxo

#36 - Ten Things I love About You ~ Julia Quinn

IBSN:  978-0-7499-4194-9

Always a pleasure to read Julia Quinn, but here are 10 things I loved about this book:

1. Full of witt
2. Smart
3. Savvy buxom heroine
4. A completely adorable and funny hero
5. A twist in the tale
6. Bumbling fool who gets his comeuppance.
7. A wonderful grandmother
8. Gossips a plenty
9. A great set of sub-characters
10. It made me smile.

For me a 4 **** Star read, she is so easy to get along with, I want Miss Quinn as a BFF!

I have a Mary Belogh on the go now, T.T.F.N. peeps.

Kay

#26 - Dancing at Midnight ~ Julia Quinn

ISBN: 978-0-7499-3913-7

I am unsure if this was actually a real sequel to 'Splendid', i.e. written exactly after it ... or it was just a sequel by virtue of the fact that it is about Lady Arabella Blydon (Cousin of Emma eventually Duchess of Ashdowne featured in Splendid).

Shortly after the Emma and Alex get married, bluestocking Bella is visiting for an extended stay whilst her parents sojourn in Italy.  She trespasses onto a neighbour's land and is challenged by Lord John Blackwood.

I have to say that I immediately fell in love with him ......... I am just the kind of girl that simply cannot resist an injured and damaged war hero.  Especially when you add in good looks, and social ineptitude ......... so much so indeed, that I finished the book early this morning [see previous post, I only started it late on yesterday evening].

My favourite scene was Belle's blister on her way to visit him, closely followed later in the book by John climbing a tree to her room, and even later on Belle climbing a tree to his room and ultimate deflowerment (not sure if it's an actual word, but it should be) ~ notice I did not say ruin!

It was ummmmmmmmmm, more Splendid that Splendid was Splendid if you see what I mean.  Although with tiny things like "block" cropping up again.  We do not have blocks here in England, just a minor irritation though.

I have set a limit on here of 5 stars being the highest, but I am going to make an exception with a 5 star +, being the ultimate.  All in all a lovely, frothy and delightful read - take it on a plane, train or automobile ride .... better still, take an Cruise and snuggle up on a the deck in a cosy blanket and get a steward to keep bring coffee, alcohol and choccies to assist in your journey across these pages.

5 Star ***** +

#25 - Splendid ~ Julia Quinn

ISBN:  978-0-7499-3912-0

Yes, I am reading a  lot of her work, and I refuse to apologise one jot!!!  Having bedded down to her style ~ I am completely at home.  They move me to tears (of the happy variety) and frustration sometimes for a hero to get a bloody MOVE ON, but they always make my heart sing.

I should have been making the bed, doing more housework, or any number of other wifely duties, but instead I've had a "Splendid" time .............absolutely SPLENDID time reading this book.

The story of wealthy American heiress, Emma Dunster who dressed as maid, and met Alex Ridgeley (Duke of Ashbourne), who would ultimately become the love of her live.

Splendid by title SPLENDID and full of humour on all fronts being a 5 Star ***** for me, even allowing for the use of "block" "in back" and other such Americanisms!

Happy reading

Kay

#24 - Secret Diaries of Miss Mirada Cheever ~ Julia Quinn

--0-

ISBN:  978-0-7499-3832-1

Miss Miranda Cheever fell in love at the age of 10.  Completely, utterly and irrevocably in love with the 19 year old Viscount Turner.

He was an embittered widower some 8 years later, and Miranda a grown woman.....could he love again, and would it be Miranda.

Well, I have to say I fairly sobbed my way through the end of this one.  I just loved it, and am still mopping up the happy tears off my glass cutting mat!!

A big fat 5 Star ***** rating.

Happy reading

Kay