Friday, May 6, 2011

Review: What Happens in London by Julia Quinn

Synopsis: When Olivia Bevelstoke is told that her new neighbor may have killed his fiancÉe, she doesn't believe it for a second, but, still, how can she help spying on him, just to be sure? So she stakes out a spot near her bedroom window, cleverly concealed by curtains, watches, and waits . . . and discovers a most intriguing man, who is definitely up to something.

Sir Harry Valentine works for the boring branch of the War Office, translating documents vital to national security. He's not a spy, but he's had all the training, and when a gorgeous blonde begins to watch him from her window, he is instantly suspicious. But just when he decides that she's nothing more than an annoyingly nosy debutante, he discovers that she might be engaged to a foreign prince, who might be plotting against England. And when Harry is roped into spying on Olivia, he discovers that he might be falling for her himself . . . (from the back of the book)

Review: Lady Olivia Bevelstroke is a secondary character in Quinn's The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever and I was delighted to find she had her own book. I enjoyed her so much in the first! She's beautiful, but for once, she's a heroine aware of her beauty! And the hero, Sir Harry, is handsome, but reasonably so, smart, has a troubled past but isn't emo or tortured or mysterious. He is what he is - like many of us, made up of the good and bad in our lives. Quinn has a rare talent for making her characters round, whole, complete, sparkling, witty and layered - which makes for a marvelous read.
I found myself smiling through most of the book and if I had to choose one word for it, I would pick "happy" - sure there is danger and tension, but it doesn't detract from the overall delight of the prose. I enjoyed ever minute of this book!

Bookmarks: 8 of 10

Awards: 2010 RITA Winner for Best Regency Historical Romance

Date Finished: 5-4-2011
Pages: 372

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