Sweet and funny
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Belle Blydon is taking a break from the ton, fed up of suitors who only pay attention to her looks and fortune (gosh, what a bind!), and ignore her intellect (well, she is something of a bluestocking). It is just as she's finishing her quest to read all of Shakespeare's plays in alphabetical order that she encounters the new neighbour to her cousin's estate. But just as she's beginning to enjoy their conversation, the man ups and leaves. Could it be that Belle Blydon, universally liked and loved by the ton, has found someone who dislikes her?
John, Lord Blackwood, was the youngest of seven children - neglected, ignored and assured that he would never amount to anything. But a highly successful career in the army has won him a title. A clear head and shrewd investments have finally paid off too, and he is now the proud owner of Bletchford Manor (he really must change the name).
While out walking his new property, he stumbles across Belle, but bad memories and personal failure make him abominably rude, and he hopes to have scared her off for good. John has achieved everything he has ever wanted, and he has no wish to dream for more.
Except that Belle is stubborn, and when she sees something good in a person she won't stop until all the world knows it's there too.
Haunted memories, mysterious notes, potential heartbreak, waltzes at midnight and a hilarious wedding bring out the best in this sweet, heartwarming tale. Emma, Alex, Ned and Dunford all return from 'Splendid' to add to the mix, but Belle holds her own in this step up from sidekick to heroine. John, too, is a hero worthy of her, even if he is a little confused, hesistant and stubborn at times.
However, the backstory of John's incident in Spain, that makes him unworthy, is some times a little disjointed. He seems to bounce between being a haunted man and a snob, with no real cohesion in the middle. By all accounts that's because this book was originally about class rather than demons, and it occasionally shows as a chunk of John's conscience rudely barges in without much need.
But this is all in the first half, and crops up rarely. Once John's reservations are forced aside all that's left is a trademark JQ gallop to the finish with John's past coming back in truth, a heartwarming confession of love and a bet that will surely come back to haunt Dunford (in 'Minx').
Another sweet, funny tale from JQ, and a worthy follow-up to 'Splendid'. Not her best, but even that makes it better than many, and always worth a read. Not to mention the poetry, which runs right through to an ending that can't do anything but make you smile.
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Not your best!
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I think Julia Quinn's books are generally very engaging. I like her character portrayals and the amusing dialogues. I thought after 'Splendid' that Belle Blydon deserved her own story. However I wish the authoress had waited until a real plot had occurred to her before putting pen/fingers to paper/keyboard! The premise of the story is of a dark tortured hero unable to love because of a terrible crime committed during the war. I just couldn't get with the idea that failing to rescue a girl from a rape, that he didn't commit, would make him into this lost person. He wouldn't be very strong as a character.That he then made the guilty officer desert also seems weak, surely he would kill him! or challenge him to a duel! Belle, likewise acted in a wholly unlikely manner for the period, visiting a man's home at 9.00 in the morning. John Blackwood loses his dark brooding manner far too quickly, to gain my sympathy for him as a character, and Belle deserved a better role. The resolution for the climatic ending lacked credibility. I agree with other reviewers about the Americanism's in the grammar. To have someone say " I like that you.. or I want that you .." jars me very rapidly from the 18th century into 21st century America. Still I will continue to read Julia Quinn's books in the hope that this is just a one off aberration!
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Enthralling
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This is a brilliant book that I could not put down.
The reason why I only gave it four stars was the occasional use of bad english grammar by the english characters. If the book was set in America and/or the characters were American, I wouldn't have a problem, but it is the English characters, in England, saying the word 'gotten' in the middle their sentence. English people in this period NEVER used this word, along with several other American phrases and words. However, I do appreciate that Miss Quinn is an American author, writing for the American market.
I still found this book highly amusing, great fun to read, and would recommend it to anyone.
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Not the best
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I have read many of Julia Quinns books and have enjoyed them, however I was sorley disappointed with this one. John seemed to get over his 'promblems' regarding marrying Belle to quickly for me to find it believeable. Also I am afraid that I do not like a 'desperate' women, you never would have guessed that Belle had received dozens of marriage proposals from the way that she chases John.
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Excellent
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This book is brilliant! If you want a hero & heroine who love & laugh together this is the book for you. Excellent.
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United Kingdom | 
Canada