Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn

Just Like Heaven (Smythe-Smith Quartet, #1)

by Julia Quinn

Honoria Smythe-Smith, the youngest daughter of the eldest son of the Earl of Winstead, plays the violin in the annual musicale performed by the Smythe-Smith quartet. She's well aware that they are dreadful. In fact, she freely admits (to her cousins) that she is probably the worst of the bunch. But she's the sort who figures that nothing good will come of being mortified, so she puts on a good show and laughs about it.

Marcus Holroyd is the best friend of Honoria's brother Daniel, who lives in exile out of the country. He's promised to watch out for Honoria and takes his responsibility very seriously. But he has his work cut out for him when Honoria sets off for Cambridge determined to marry by the end of the season. She's got her eye on the only unmarried Bridgerton, who's a bit wet behind the ears. When her advances are spurned, can Marcus swoop in and steal her heart in time for the musicale?

Reviewed by Cocktails and Books on

5 of 5 stars

Share
Julia Quinn has done it again. She’s written another book that when I get to the last page (I can’t say close the book since it’s an ebook) I actually have a smile on my face.

We finally, after many books with the infamous Smythe-Smith Musicale, get to meet some of them.

Honoria, who is the youngest in this branch of Smythe-Smith’s, is determined to get married. She is in Cambridge with a few cousins and a friend attending a few lectures at the university in hopes of snaring the attention of one of the men in attendance. While contemplating her state of unwedded bliss, she gets stuck in a rainstorm and runs into (and running into really means he pulls up dry in a carriage) Marcus Holroyd, her brother Daniel’s best friend.

Marcus, has known Honoria since the days she used to follow he and Daniel around on their adventures. He promised Daniel (on he way to the continent after a duel gone wrong) that he would watch out for Honoria. And watch out for her he has.

It’s while watching out for her that he: ends up spraining his ankle, gets stuck sitting on a log in a down pour, is cut by his valet while getting his boot of said sprained foot, catches a cold, a fever and falls in love.

Marcus, never one for being the center of attention, has never really put himself out there with other people, but as soon as you read the interactions between Honoria and Marcus, you can tell she’s one of the few people he can absolutely just be himself with. And Honoria, sees who Marcus is (as he says down to his soul). You can tell the two of them are perfect for each other.

Of course, before they can get their HEA the fever has to be beaten into submission, the musicale has to be performed and of course the two of them need to tell each other how they really feel.

As an added bonus, we get to see some of the characters we have grown to love in the Bridgerton series. Lady Danbury is still at it!!!

Wonderful story with wonderful characters. A must read!

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 1 June, 2011: Finished reading
  • 1 June, 2011: Reviewed