From Goodreads: 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 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. Marcus has promised to watch out for Honoria, but he faces a challenge when she 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?
I've read every last Julia Quinn book, so I know the Smythe-Smiths very well indeed. I'm happy to see them getting their own series now.
First of all, let me say that I ADORE the Bridgertons, the family created in Quinn's previous works. I love that a couple of them made an appearance here. I love that her books cross over. You can totally read them as stand-alones, but it's very nice when you can read them all and see how things mesh.
I love the way she weaves her story. It's a quick, fun, flighty read that leaves my romantic side satisfied. The books make me wish really hard that I'd lived back in the day. I'd love to be part of the ton, but with my luck, I'd have been a servant or something.
I usually steer clear of romance novels, because WHOA. Sure, there's the romance aspect in these too, but I don't think it ever goes totally overboard. With that though, I would say don't read them if you're of a sensitive nature and if you're under 21. They're not R-rated really, but a pretty strong PG-13. So keep that in mind if you plan to pick one up.
Because I'm a sucker for a good story, Just Like Heaven gets a 'Drool Worthy' rating (and believe me, I drooled plenty over Marcus.)
