What Happens in London (Bevelstoke Book 2)

Many of this author's books are hits or misses with me. This book moved closer to miss than a hit. The heroine is, of course, beautiful and of course most people " underestimate " her. She reads the daily newspaper, focusing on the political section, to demonstrate how intelligent she is. However she is not able to interpret or contextualize news she reads. She dislikes gothic novels, again, A demonstration of how intelligent she is (A sly insult to Quinn's readers). She is so intelligent she acts in the most bizarre, twit like behavior, spying on her neighbor, based on gossip. She decides he is untrustworthy based on the amount of time spent in his office reading documents. She decides to dislike the hero when he mentions her constant monitor. The hero grew up in a home with an out of control alcoholic, and spent his childhood cleaning up after his father. As an adult, he made the decision to avoid alcohol. Late in the book, we are supposed to be amused to find alcohol has been added to the non alcohol beverage offered to guests at a gathering he was attending. The Heroes distress in inadvertently consuming alcohol, was suppose to be amusing. However, the incident would only be humorous to one who did not have an alcoholic's profound impact on one's childhood. I find some of this author's books amusing. This wasn't one of them.

Wow, this one really got me. It hits just the right tone from beginning to end, but more so, somehow. As I read through JQ’s early works I’m finally starting to see the writer who produced the Bridgerton novels. The characters are so real, so lovable. It’s also hysterically funny, poignant, and very sexy. Book 1 has Miranda doing that “but I can’t be certain he loves me” nonsense, which I find so ridiculous, so I was concerned when we got to the “he’s not who he said he is, I can’t trust him” part, but Olivia proves to be of sterner stuff than Miranda, thank you JQ. I really couldn’t have taken it if this has gone down that road. We get a Smythe-Smith musicale, which no JQ novel can be without. And we get our first mention of Lady Bridgerton. I loved it.

Miss Butterworth And The Mad Baron is growing on me.Any heroine that escapes the Plague, a harem, a bee sting in only three chapters is amazing and Julia Quinn is an amazing writer.While not as fantastic as Miss Butterworth Olivia is a great character and I'm quite fond of her Prince, both of them. It's too bad that they will only guest in other people's books after this.Dialogue is witty and charming. No horrible misunderstandings and crisis other than to Miss Butterworth and her mother.This may be her best book yet, even better than the Bridgertons but I'll have to read more of her work to be sure!

Avoid this one for a very long time due to the, to me unappealing, blurp. However, having read the first in the series a few weeks ago I felt it now had to be done.Compared to other, non Quinn, historical romances still top-notch, but I felt it wasn't the usual outstanding quality of the author.There are a few holes in the story and some historical 'inaccuracies', for example I felt that the difference in rank of the protagonists would have normally been an issue but it doesn't even get a mention, even when the ranking order is listed by the heroin.If you are looking for a lot of twists and turns, or a thrilling story this is probably not for you. All in all not a lot happens.BUT it is a charming love story.Olivia is a lot more likable than expected, after meeting her in The Secret Diaries, and Sir Harry is everything you want in a romantic hero. I very much enjoyed that there weren't really any of the big misunderstandings that leads the main characters to abandon each other, or "hate" each other, or keep them apart in whatever other way only to be reunited 5 Minutes before the end.It's a keeper and will definitely be read again.

It is pleasurable to find an historical romance (actually romance in general) were there is no BIG MISUNDERSTANDING. Occasionally, it is nice to overdose on a sweet, slow slide into love. The hero, Sir Harry Valentine, did not possess a dark tortured soul but seemed to me to be infinitely pragmatic. And the heroine, Lady Olivia Bevelstoke, while being a diamond of the first cut was not catty or supercilious. They meet when the h hears gossip concerning her new neighbor who happens to be Sir Harry and driven by curiosity, she spies on him. There is no instalove-love between them but a slow build toward like, then love.The parts with the "lurid, gothic novel" and pigeons of death were hilarious and had me laughing out loud and Harry's cousin Sebastian was a real scene stealer.I am sitting with a smile while I write this review and that is valuable to me. Would I want to read this book again? Yes most definitely.

When Sir Harry Valentine moves in next door to the Bevelstokes, Olivia is intrigued by local gossip (that he murdered his fiancée) and sets out to spy on him--exceptionally ineptly, causing initial friction between them. (Let's be honest, they hate each other.) Harry knows a bit about spying, having joined the Hussars with his dashing cousin, Sebastian, survived the Peninsular Campaign, and moved on to working for the War Office. True, it's the boring part of the War Office since he's mostly translating Russian documents for them (thanks to his grandmother he speaks the language fluently) but he rather enjoys the quiet life. However when he gets instructions to spy on a Russian prince who has shown a marked interest in Miss Bevelstoke, things get interesting. Julia Quinn has given us an interesting hero with an intriguing family backstory which has given him the odd hangup. There's a plot (besides the romance) which works well and a terrific proposal scene. This is the followup to The Secret Diaries of Miranda Cheever. Julia Quinn is always worth reading. There's witty dialogue, a lot of humour, high excitement and the obligatory sex scene (which she writes well).

This has got to be one of my favourite JQ books and I think that Harry is probably one my favourite of her heroes. I like that he is not a rake as so many of her men are but he is still witty. He is also kind hearted and intelligent. At first I thought that Olivia would not be the sort of girl to interest him, that he would be more suited to someone with more about her. But there is more to the Oliva we met in "The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever" and she turns out to be the perfect match. I loved that there was no inequality like in so many of her books, when it usually seems the woman falls in love first. Harry and Olivia hate each on sight, then actually grow to respect each other and fall in love almost at the same time. It was nice that they didn't come together until they were in love as well. I bugs me a little that with most JQ books the man more often than not just desires the woman rather than loves her the first time they make love.I also love that this book actually had more of a plot as well, not just the romance and it was full of laugh out loud humour. I couldn't wait to find out what happens next.Finally I loved the gothic novel "Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron" got a mention again. I think I would actually like to read this crazy book, killer pigeons and all!Also has my favourite JQ lines when Harry says to Sebastian:'You scream like a leettle girl.' to which Sebastian asks'Is there any reason you're saying that with a German accent?'lol!

They say he killed his fiancé. Lady Olivia Bevelstoke doesn't know who 'they' are exactly, nor does she believe it for a moment, but she's always been curious. And Sir Harry Valentine does spend an inordinate amount of time in his study. Acting peculiarly.Fluent in both French and Russian, Sir Harry works for the boring part of the War Office, because despite spending years in the Hussars fighting Napoleon he'd rather translate documents than become a spy. But fluent Russian speakers are hard to come by in London, so when a Russian prince arrives - under suspicion regarding his motives and loyalty - Harry is the obvious choice to keep an eye on him.It just so happens that Olivia is Harry's neighbour - but that doesn't explain why she's spent the best part of a week spying on him. When the prince starts showing marked interest in Olivia, Harry soon gets every chance to find out. Whether he wants to or not.JQ is back on form with this delightful tale of rumours, suspicion and the amusing consequences of jumping to conclusions. Olivia is a true JQ heroine, with wonderful quirks - like her mental list making - and Harry is an intelligent hero, who is refreshingly comfortable with himself and his emotions. There's no self-delusion for him.As lovely as their burgeoning relationship is, however, what makes this special is the wit, the ludicrous situations and fabulous supporting characters. Only JQ could have two characters court convincingly out of the windows of two separate houses, with ten feet between them. Or write more than one brilliant drawing room scene - though Sebastian definitely steals the show in the second.A glorious return to form, complete with princes, badly written gothic novels and one of the best proposal scenes I've ever come across. This follow up to  The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever  is an absolute winner. Can't wait for Seb's tale. The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever

This book is a revelation as it is so well written & so very light, frothy & humerously balanced. Why does it work so well is because both the main characters are thrown together & so begins this incident of errors. Harry works for the war office & part of his job is to translate documents from Russian to English & enter Olivia who has just acquired him as her neighbour & rumour has it that he had murdered his fiance.She spies on him from her bedroom window whilst he is in his drawing room office & he pretends that he does not know that she is there.What these 2 go through, their thoughts, their initial hatred of each other, their growing attraction & the characters (especially Sebastian that add credence to the storyline) that round off this novel is brilliantly executed.What is so sweet about this modern day Jane Austen type novel ( there is no resemblance to the story so do not please be discouraged to buy this book) in style of writing is the feelings that slowly develope & bud into strong emotion. Julia Quinn has her own unique style but she has a lot of passion in developing the characters & the subtle story line that then leaves the reader with a spring to their step.Loved the highs & lows to their growing feelings for each other to the climax when Olivia realises that she has not known Harry at all well & is shocked to realise that she had placed all her trust in this one person & feels that she has been misguided. This particular scene was really well written without going overboard.Rounded off again with a nice romantic humourous touch. Loved it immensely.

Another gem from Julia Quinn. I loved the humour and the charm of the characters. Julia writes in such a way as to transport you into the story, bringing the characters to life. She knows how to keep you so intrigued that you can’t bare to put the book down until you’ve reached the last page and then leaves you wanting more. Bring on book 3!