Saturday 18 June 2011

2 in 1 Review: Bevelstoke 1 and 3 - Julia Quinn

The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever
Series: Bevelstoke 1
Genre: Historical romance
Pages: 373
Published: 2007

2 March 1810 . . .Today, I fell in love.
At the age of ten, Miranda Cheever showed no signs of Great Beauty. And even at ten, Miranda learned to accept the expectations society held for her—until the afternoon when Nigel Bevelstoke, the handsome and dashing Viscount Turner, solemnly kissed her hand and promised her that one day she would grow into herself, that one day she would be as beautiful as she already was smart. And even at ten, Miranda knew she would love him forever. But the years that followed were as cruel to Turner as they were kind to Miranda. She is as intriguing as the viscount boldly predicted on that memorable day—while he is a lonely, bitter man, crushed by a devastating loss. But Miranda has never forgotten the truth she set down on paper all those years earlier—and she will not allow the love that is her destiny to slip lightly through her fingers . . . 

My thoughts:
I will try to write a short one. But it is so hard! Though I will try. And yes I did read book 2 before this one. Do not be shocked now (looking at someone stating with an M ;). But they are stand alone historical romances so you do not have to read in order.

This book was just sweet and lovely. Again a book that is just how I like my HR. The heroine is Miranda who is not as pretty as her best friend but then again she has been in love with her best friend’s brother for 10 years so what does she care about other men ;) Miranda was smart and funny. All in all a great girl. Her best friend Olivia likewise (but then I already read and loved her book). Our hero is Turner who is not like he used to be. He had a bitch of a wife who cheated on him and the poor guy is jaded. And yes he does take his time to fall for her and tell her what he feels, but he was in pain and he was afraid. I can live with that because I always knew he would realize she was his everything.

Conclusion:
This book is witty and cute. There is one scene where he threw a scone at her and that just made me laugh. It is certainly a HR I would recommend to others and it sure is an author I want to read more books by. Cute cover too.



Ten things I love about you
Series: Bevelstoke 3
Pages: 377
Published: 2010

Annabel Winslow is in a pickle. Having newly arrived in London for her first season and being in possession of a voluptuous figure, is being openly courted the the Earl of Newbury, who is at least 75 and a nasty brute to boot. Annabel does not want to marry him, of course, but feels that she has no choice since her father has recently died and left the whole family, includeing Annabel's mother her 7 siblings, almost destitute. Then, while attending a party in the countryside, Annabel met Sebastien Grey, the Earl of Newbury's nephew. And suddenly she found herself not only courted by the lecherous uncle, but also the charming young nephew. Should she follow her heart so that she can be with the one she loves, or should she marry the loathsome earl just so she can put food on the table for her family and make sure that her brothers get to stay in school? 

My thoughts: 
I will try to make it short again. For some reason I did not like this as much as book 1. Book 2 I did like, though not the last 100 pages. In this one it was the other way around in a way. I did enjoy the book and it was cute. But I just felt that it picked up more at the end. 

Annabel was nice enough and I understood her. Her family back home was not getting any help from her grandparents so therefore she had to marry a creepy old guy. What I grew a bit tired of was everyone speaking about how big her boobs and hips were. Ok I understood it the first time around. The guy needed kids but does it need mentioning every time? Sebastian then, well I actually did not like him that much in book 2. In this one I liked him a bit more since I saw he was tormented from the war and he writes books, I love that. Still he sure fell fast and she did ask something in the beginning that was a bit..oh why am i complaining? That is how HR is. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy this book a great deal.

Conclusion:
The book was funny and cute. It was still worth reading and I enjoyed it. I read it fast and it was nice to get lost for a few hours. A good book to read this summer. And the cover is cute I guess.

37 comments:

  1. I loved the diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever, but like you had a hard time with 10 Things I love about you-I think that is when I stopped reading this author-all of her books became too much alike for me.

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  2. My problem with reading historicals is that I bring my modern day way of thinking to those old eras... which doesn't work that way... and I find that it takes a really talented author to help me through that. Book 1 seems like able to do that, but not book 3.

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  3. I keep hearing about Julia Quinn's books. I actually think the idea behind the diaries is very cute and I am tempted to try my first historical romance with that one! :)

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  4. *gasp* You read them out of order?!

    *thud*

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  5. The Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever sound like my kind of book since I love historical fiction!

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  6. Ha! Well, with stand alones, I guess it is more forgivable to read them out of order. ;)

    Based on what you described about book one, it kind of reminds me of my all time favorite Austen, Persuasion. So that make it a must read for me!

    Lovely reviews! Glad you had fun with these books!

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  7. I have got a lot of unread books by this author on my shelves, and someday, someday ...

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  8. I promise to read the other Julia Quinn one in the next couple of weeks so that i can send it to you.

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  9. I didn't know this book were from the same series :s The covers are so different!

    The Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever sounds cute :)

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  10. How adorable that she ended up with the guy she fell in love with at 10! Always love those tortured souled guys. I'd get a bit tired of hearing about her ample anatomy too!

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  11. You know some inexplicable thing about books about or titled secret diaries attract me.

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  12. Great to know at least one of these was up to your expectations - thanks for your reviews!

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  13. I also loved The Diaries of Miss Amanda Cheever - I didn't know there was a series! I'm so psyched!

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  14. Hee hee... must be Mel or Missie huh? ;D *dances* you read out of order! *giggles*

    These do sound cute! Hm.. but if I read them in order, I may make you shocked! :D

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  15. Your reviews of HR books are so temptation that I want to try one immediately. I think we can forgive you for reading books out of order since they can be read as stand-alone books :)

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  16. @Bucky
    I do not what did it but there was something. It was good, but not as good. Though I will certainly not give up, I still enjoy her more than other HR authors

    @Cherry
    I try not to but always when they have sex my modern mind screams noooo! She will be ruined, come one people! But then I just sit back and continue to read ;)

    @Mel
    Read the first one :D And if you like it the continue cos I do like her books.

    @Chris
    Omg! I killed Chris!!! *runs over* Oh phew, you just fainted from the shock

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  17. I still feel a bit lightheaded...

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  18. @Amused
    I do love funny and cute HR and it you like it then give her a go

    @Sabrina
    I can't help you since I really liked London...until the last 100 pages when I went all wtf?! And then it plummeted back to good and funny. I do hope to read her new book soon so I will keep you posted

    @Missie
    Ah thank you. I feared my offence was too grave ;)
    Hm...it does? I can't see it but if you see it then read it cos I absolutely adore Persuasion!

    @Aurian
    Lucky you :) I hope you read one one day

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  19. @Chris
    I feel absolutely dreadful. Please sit down and have some tea. Should I get the smelling salts?

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  20. Maybe if you would just assure me you aren't planning to read a series out of order anytime soon...

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  21. @Chris
    Oh yes of course! I solemnly swear that I will not read a series out of order any time soon (and soon being approximately this coming week)

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  22. I haven't read anything by Julia Quinn, but she seems like an author I would really enjoy. I love sweet stories and I've been in the mood for a historical romance for a while, so I think my Kindle needs some Quinn on it!

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  23. @Vivienne
    Hihi, I can't wait :D I do hope it is good and funny

    @Gaby
    I know! I would not guess it either. But book 2 is more like book 1

    @Alyssa
    I know :D It did make me go all awwww. YAY. She never fell for anyone else.
    Too many oh big boobs on that one grows very tired

    @Steph
    Lol, I am glad that made you more intersted

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  24. @Ana
    One can't have it all but at least they both were good, but oh you would have died from a fluffy and sweet overdose ;) I do fear it was very sweet.

    @Dana
    You did not? Yay :D I am so glad you now know that there are two more. The next book is about Julia.

    @Melissa
    Oh perhaps ;)
    Lol, yes I am very very very bad. And if you red them order, oh the shock would be too much. You better mix it up

    @Misha
    Hihi, thanks. I do like that about HR that you do not need to stick to reading them all in order. And I hope you try one one day

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  25. Book 1 sounds interesting. I like books with a good heroine; I haven't read many historical romances either so maybe this is a good place to jump in and try a good one. Thanks for the recommendation.

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  26. The Secret Dairies sounds so sweet. It pulls on my heartstrings that the heroine has been in love with the Viscount for 10 years.

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  27. @Jenny
    I do think you need some Quinn on your kindle :=) Sweet is the best thing in a HR

    @HK
    I do think Quinn would be a good author to start one. She has written a lot too

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  28. @Jenny
    I know and she was even at his wedding, poor thing. But she was happy for him

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  29. This sounds like a fun little series. :) Thanks for the reviews. And they are new to me.

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  30. I loved that cover and this sounds like a great series. I have got to read this author!

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  31. @Melissa
    fun and cute, just as I like my HR :D

    @Staci
    I do like her, sure things bug me sometimes but in the end they are awesome

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  32. I'm not usually one for historical romance but these sound pretty good. Glad you enjoyed them.

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  33. Nice reviews, they both sound good, especially The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda.

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  34. @darlene
    They were really cute :D

    @Naida
    I did like that one the bes

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  35. i read miranda cheever but i didn't like it as much as her older stuff. haven't tried the next book yet.

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  36. @Carrie
    And I liked the newer stuff more :) I did try a Bridgerton book but was a bit meh over it

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  37. I have been on a Julia Quinn glom this week - read the new one, and Miranda and one other. I know what to expect when I read her and that's a good thing!

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