4.5 stars! A Night Like This (Smythe-Smith Quartet #2) by Julia Quinn

Anne Wynter’s job as governess to three highborn young ladies can be a challenge – in a single week she finds herself hiding in a closet full of tubas, playing an evil queen in a play and tending to the wounds of the oh-so-dashing Earl of Winstead. After years of dodging unwanted advances, he's the first man who has truly tempted her, and it's getting harder and harder to remind herself that a governess has no business flirting with a nobleman.

Daniel Smythe-Smith might be in mortal danger, but that's not going to stop the young earl from falling in love. And when he spies a mysterious woman at his family's annual musicale, he vows to pursue her. But Daniel has an enemy, one who has vowed to see him dead. And when Anne is thrown into peril, he will stop at nothing to ensure their happy ending ...

Type: Historical Romance
Heat: 2.5 out of 5
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Amazon All Romance Book Depository Goodreads

This was my first. ever. Juila Quinn book *runs and hides because omg, Anna, seriously?!* Yep. I know. I've been totally living under a rock but sweet Mary no more! I'm in total reader girl love and *score* there are a freaking TON of books for me to catch up on--no waiting-- now. A Night Like This was amazing. It was hilarious and sweet, made me tear up and had me gasping a couple times as sparks fly between Daniel and Anne and the two come up against some, herm, bumps in the road to romance.


Lordy, I don't even know how to start with this review without sounding like a totally smitten reader girl. lol

*Okay, pulls it together*

So, Anne is a governess to three eclectic young ladies and she's hiding some serious secrets about her past but she's a wonderful lady. She's smart, caring and, well, she can use that tone of voice that'll make you fall into place right quick! And Daniel. He's had quite the few years on the run from a friend's father but has finally come home. And he's one sexy hunk of man. *rawr* He's totally smitten with Anne and so cute with his little girl cousins. He totally embraces their quirky and is sweetly indulgent.

Anne and Daniel were great together. They just seemed to fit and the banter between them was excellent even when it was a completely and utterly ridiculous conversation. I just couldn't help but smile over them. Things do get heated up and it's really nice when it happens but it does take a while and, well, there's not much overall which is my one complaint about the book. Yes, I know. I'm terrible! But I love those sexy bits in my reads ;)

Harriet shrugged, then said, "I'm going to begin with act two. Act one is a complete disaster. I've had to rip it completely apart."

"Because of the unicorn?"

"No," Harriet said with a grimace. "I got the order of the wives wrong. It's divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, widowed."

"How cheerful."

Harriet gave her a bit of a look, then said, "I switched one of the divorces with a beheading."

"May I give you a bit of advice?" Anne asked.

Harriet looked up,

"Don't ever let anyone hear you say that out of context."

Harriet laughed aloud at that, then gave her papers a little shake to indicate that she was ready to begin. "Act two," she began with a flourish.

My favorite thing about this one was just the family as a whole. They're...nuts. Or, erm, eccentric. Yes, eccentric. They're truly themselves and embrace all their oddities and are just fun to be around. They can't play a musical instrument worth a lick but do a huge recital every year, there are unicorn obsessions and cringe-worthy plays but it's all just...fun and endearing. I'd so love to spend an afternoon with them.

All in all, I'm definitely on board with Julia Quinn. From the family to the romance to the heart breaking pasts of both Anne and Daniel. It was just a wonderful and moving read that had me completely invested and hopeful that these two would find their happily ever after together. I can't wait to read the rest of them!

Have you read Julia Quinn? Have a favorite?

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