A Night Like This by Julia Quinn
Title: A Night Like This (Smythe-Smith #2)
Author: Julia Quinn
Publisher: Avon 2011
Genre: Romance
Pages: 384
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf; Unread Shelf Project RC - Favorite Genre
Anne Wynter might not be who she says she is....
But she's managing quite well as a governess to three highborn young ladies. Her job 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 that might be a tragedy (or might be a comedy; no one is sure), 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, even if that means spending his days with a 10-year-old who thinks she's a unicorn. 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....
CW: Rape, sexual assault (not described in details, but there)
Much better than the first book in the series. These characters are actually interesting and likable. I totally bought their romance. Their back-and-forth was lovely and engaging. I enjoyed the mystery of who Anne was and the lingering affects from Daniel’s banishment. I was even more excited that Quinn didn’t make Hugh a complete villain. He is going to be delightful as a hero in the next book. I cannot wait! My biggest complaint is the lack of steamy scenes. The one scene seems very rushed and unfocused, but I think this just might be how Quinn writes them.
Smythe-Smith Quartet:
#2 A Night Like This
#3 The Sum of All Kisses
#4 The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy
Next up on the TBR pile: