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 . . .

New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn's enchanting second novel in the Smythe-Smith quartet is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud and tug at your heartstrings in equal measures.

• ISBN10: 0749956801
• ISBN13: 9780749956806
• Publish Date: 29 May 2012
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
• Imprint: Piatkus Books
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Amanda]

Reread notes: Not my favorite in the series, but still enjoy it. Especially the girls and their shenanigans.

Oh. OH. A book that can make me giggle out loud is always good. And that's precisely what A Night Like This did, on multiple occasions. The interactions between Anne, Daniel, and his cousins were so much good fun. Sometimes you need a little lightheartedness in your stories.

Especially when both characters have their own secrets and problems.

As the second book in a series, the couple from the first book made an appearance in A Night Like This. In fact, there were overlapping scenes and that just made it all the more entertaining. If you haven't read Just Like Heaven, though, no worries. A Night Like This is able to be read on its own. But you get more depth to the story with your knowledge of what happens in book 1.

And I liked the way it all rolled and fit together.

Anne's past (and Daniel's) made for an intriguing match between the two. But it was sweet and forbidden and rather darling. Which is not a word I use normally, but somehow it seems to fit, so I'm going to stick with it. This is the fourth (I think) book of Julia Quinn's I've read, and while it's not a heavy hitter like Sarah MacLean or Tessa Dare, Julia Quinn's books are the perfect kind of escape read when you need something light and fun.

[kimbacaffeinate]

I love a good Regency romance, and when the author adds in a little suspense and deliciously fleshed out characters the world around me fades away. A Night Like This by Julia Quinn was such a tale. Quinn delivered a wonderful story, with colorful characters and dangerous suspense that had me flipping the pages. Mini review: romantic, suspenseful and incredibly delicious.

The Earl of Winstead returns to London on the eve of the Smythe-Smith musical, and not wanting to upstage his sisters, he hides in the wings while they perform. It is here that he spies the pianist, Anne Wynter, and from that moment he knows only one thing; he will kiss her. Anne Wynter is the governess, and the Earl is the first man in a long time that has captured her attention, but she cannot risk being discovered. The tale that unfolds was wonderfully paced, filled with humor, tender moments and a suspenseful twist that held me captive as I searched for my happily-ever-after.

I truly enjoy Regency romances and love flawed, fleshed out characters and Quinn delivered a hero and heroine that I adored. Anne Wynter is bright, has an excellent sense of humor and is quite good in her role as governess. Daniel, the Earl of Winstead has not had an easy go of it, especially after events that forced to leave the country. I loved the little back-story regarding those events and his return. He is immediately smitten with Anne, and I love that he can see beyond social classes. The banter between them was hilarious, and the attraction curled my toes. The romance built slowly, and I appreciated how Quinn let the tension build. Anne’s wards were delightful, and I would love to read their romances once they come of age. I imagine they will cause quite a stir! Other characters from; Daniel’s best friend, meddling family members and someone from Anne’s past added to the suspenseful thread weaved throughout the novel and at times complicated the romance.

A Night Like This was a clever tale, and despite being the second book in the Smythe-Smith Quartet, I immediately felt comfortable. It would appear each is a self-contained tale. Daniel while not a devilish rake captured my heart with his straightforward manner and delicious banter. I love when my heroines are feisty, and don’t quite conform to the acceptable norm of the ton. Anne tries to be exactly what everyone expects, but it is difficult to dim such a bright light. While this was a relatively clean book, Quinn does discreetly bring us the heat. Many of the aspects I loved would only spoil the tale for you and I find myself biting my tongue. The pacing was well done, as Quinn provided details that allowed me to slip within the story and imagine myself there as an observing servant. The tale slowly built with tension as we moved towards the climatic ending. Quinn wrapped things up nicely, allowing me to close the book with a smile.

Copy received in exchange for unbiased review and originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Cocktails and Books]

Daniel Smythe-Smith, Earl of Winstead, has returned home after roaming the continent for three years hoping to stay one foot ahead of the men the Marquess of Ramsgate hired to kill him. It seems imbibing, cards and a drunken challenge of a duel are not things that should be taken seriously once you've sobered up. But men will be men and the duel went forward with disastrous results. Now back home, Daniel hopes he can put all of that behind him and be able to enjoy the family he missed while away. But instead of spending time with his family and reacquainting himself with her properties, he finds himself infatuated with his young cousins' governess.

Anne Wynter plays the roll of governess very well. For the past eight years, this is the only life she has known. Having been shunned by her family by her actions at sixteen (which really were in self defense) she was forced into the life she has now. She's found a place within her current employers home that is comfortable and she doesn't have to worry about barring her door at night. She didn't know that her current threat would come in the form of her employer's nephew, an Earl, and that the threat was to her heart.

Daniel, Daniel, Daniel. The man has a HUGE heart. After the duel gone wrong with Hugh Prentice, he admitted he was wrong and what happened was an accident, even when having to face Hugh's overbearing, crazy father. He comes home from the continent on the night of the family's musicale and hides in the back to ensure his family's "musical performances" keep the spotlight. And when he spies Anne Wynter playing the piano, from that moment you never have to guess at how much he feels for her.

Anne has a difficult road with Daniel. She only has her past to guide her in Daniel's attentions and she fears she's making the same mistake she did eight years ago by falling for a man who was too high above her station. But Daniel is charming and sweet and many times to tempting to resists. When she discovers her past has come back to haunt her, she's willing to give up Daniel and her three charges she's grown to love in order to keep them safe.

As with any Julia Quinn book, there are always some stand out secondary characters that leave you in stitches. For this story, those characters are the young Pleinsworth girls: Harriet, Elizabeth and Frances. From Harriet thinking she's the next William Shakespeare to Frances thinking she's a unicorn, the girls brightened up whatever scene they were in. They had you smiling and laughing hoping their escapades would continue.

A sweet book, with wonderful characters. Truly a pleasure to read.