The Viscount Who Loved Me

This was my latest Julia Quinn read. I've decided that reading her can be extremely dangerous. I started it yesterday morning and ended up being late to work. Note to self: read Julia Quinn only on weekends.

Needless to say, I enjoyed the book: 4 out of 5. Anthony Bridgerton decides it's time to marry, and he sets his sights on the beautiful Edwina Sheffield. Her older sister, Kate, knows about Anthony's reputation as a rake, so she is opposed to the match. Unfortunately, Kate is attracted to Anthony, and he reciprocates her feelings.

The dialogue and humor really shine in this book. Kate and Anthony make a terrific pair. As I read about Kate's fear of thunder and lightning storms, I couldn't help but think about a quote attributed to Chekov: "If in the first chapter you say that a gun hung on the wall, it must without fail be discharged." Kate's fear of storms plays out in a big way, as does another event described early in the book. (I won't go into detail here to avoid spoilers.) I anticipated the former (and it didn't detract from the reading experience), but the latter scene surprised me. Looking back, I see that it shouldn't have, but in any case, I enjoyed noting Quinn's craftsmanship.

Anthony's realization at the end of the book did seem abrupt, but The Viscount Who Loved Me was primarily a fun, memorable read.

Alyssa