Julia Quinn
Quinn, Julia - BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN (Avon - 1997)
(Very Highly Recommended)
Julia brings Charles Wycombe, Earl of Billington (from MINX), together with Eleanor Lyndon (from EVERYTHING AND THE MOON) when he literally falls out of a tree at her feet. Charles is drunk because he has just found out that if he isn't married by age 30, he will lose his inheritance. He proposes to Eleanor, who accepts (because she wants to get out from under her future stepmother's thumb), but with the proviso that they not consummate the marriage until they know each other better. He agrees and adds a proviso of his own—that he can try to seduce her before she decides she's ready. What follows is a delightful romp with laugh-out-loud moments. The hero gets to the point where he's convinced they'll both be dead before they can do the deed. BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN is a very satisfying, funny read with likeable characters. ~Beth C. (elizabeth_coogan@brown.edu)
Quinn, Julia - BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN (Avon - 1997) (4+)
Take one dashing rake who needs a wife before his 30th birthday in order to inherit his father's estate. Add one determined spinster who needs to find a way to get away from her father's new fiancé. And what do you get? Fun, fun, fun! Julia Quinn writes dialogue that is sharp and witty, and I was chuckling out loud in spots. I really loved this book and would recommend it to everyone. ~Connie R. (C1Rams@aol.com)
Quinn, Julia - HOW TO MARRY A MARQUIS (Avon - 4/99) (4+)
Elizabeth Hotchkiss has been supporting and caring for her sisters and brother for five years by working as a paid companion to Lady Danbury, but the family's shortage of funds is becoming critical. She wants to keep the family together, so there is only one solution to their money problems: marriage to a
wealthy man.
One day Elizabeth steps into Lady Danbury's library for some new reading material and discovers a small red book with the title, " HOW TO MARRY A MARQUIS." She scoffs at the idea of reading it, but by the end of the day she is unable to withstand her curiosity any longer. Elizabeth snatches the book from the shelf, rushes out the door, and proceeds to crash into a man just coming up the steps. He introduces himself as James Siddons, Lady Danbury's new estate manager. In actuality, he is James Sidwell, Marquis of Riverdale, as well as Lady Danbury's nephew.
James has been summoned by his aunt to come to the estate, incognito, because she is being blackmailed and needs his expertise. Until a year ago when his cover was blown, James was an operative for the War Office, and he feels this is the perfect opportunity to leave the boring London social scene behind. At first he's suspicious of Elizabeth as she seems to be hiding something, and he initially believes she may be the blackmailer; but as he gets to know the young woman, he realizes his mistake. She tries to replace the book after becoming thoroughly disgusted with the idea of finding a rich husband...and is caught by James. When he discovers what she's hiding and the reason why, he offers to help her find a wealthy man to marry. As Elizabeth and James work together towards this goal, however, the attraction between them blooms and both have to rethink their priorities. But what will Elizabeth think when she discovers James' true identity? And the question still remains: who is Lady Danbury's blackmailer?
Julia Quinn has written a hilariously funny, yet immeasurably heartwarming story set during the Regency era. The hero and heroine are colorful and wonderfully portrayed, and I especially enjoyed their many mishaps—Elizabeth is such a klutz! The chemistry between these two nearly leaps off the pages, and their witty repartee is quick and funny. The reader will fall in love with both of them. The secondary characters, including Elizabeth's siblings, Lady Danbury, and her capricious cat Malcolm, will also give readers countless chuckles. By the way, James was a secondary character in TO CATCH AN HEIRESS, and the two main characters of that book make an appearance in HOW TO MARRY A MARQUIS. Don't miss this fast-paced, humorous romance—it's fantastic! ~Sharon Laird for Bookbug on the Web
Quinn, Julia - TO CATCH AN HEIRESS (Avon - 1998) (4+)
Caroline Trent's unscrupulous guardian, Oliver Prewitt, would do anything to get his hands on her inheritance money. He schemes to have her seduced so she will marry his son, but his plan
goes awry and she escapes. Blake Ravenscroft, a secret agent for the Crown, has been trailing Prewitt, a suspected smuggler and traitor, for quite some time. Mistaking Caroline for a
notorious spy in cahoots with Prewitt, he holds her prisoner in his home in order to question her. Because she needs to stay in hiding for several weeks until she can legally claim her
inheritance, she lets Blake believe the worst about her, stalling for time. When the truth finally comes out, Blake is already half in love with the spirited minx, though he won't admit it to himself. He lets Caroline remain in his home under his protection, but he also guards his heart. Because he failed to protect someone he once loved and lost, he fears history will repeat itself.
Julia Quinn has written an excellent story with the perfect mix of laughter, romance and intrigue. Caroline's antics to keep Blake off balance are zany and fun, and their attraction for each other is heartwarming. I look forward to the second book in the series. ~Robin Peek for Bookbug on the Web
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