The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy
by Julia Quinn
I’d never read a classic romance novel before, but the cover of this Julia Quinn book was too pretty to resist. No shirtless man, no corset about to bust – but instead lovely opera gloves and a rose. When I found myself laughing countless times through the first chapter, I knew I wanted to try out the genre. Funny, clever, and very realistic to the time period; I was impressed! Yes, there were a couple of bedroom scenes, but the romance novel wasn’t at all what I’d been expecting.
The book starts out with two friends attending a concert. It’s not a professional performance, but instead an annual musicale put on by all the unmarried women within a few families, with hopes that their musical talent will show them at their best and attract a suitor. It’s usually dreadful and painful to the ears, and this year’s event is no exception. However, the leading man in the story is amused by one of the musicians, since she is very much aware of how lousy the performance is and is barely containing her laughter. She’s older than her sisters, and as an intelligent woman with wit instead of money, she’s not the ideal companion for most men of high society. However, he needs a wife – and fast. His reasons are his own, and held off from the reader for quite a while. But he woos her quickly with hopes of a fast marriage, and the alternating perspective of the chapters is very amusing.
While this book hasn’t hooked me on romance novels, I’ll probably read it again when I need a good laugh. If you’re looking for one that has a greater emphasis on the writing, story, and characters, rather than bedroom scenes, this is a great one to pick up.
The book starts out with two friends attending a concert. It’s not a professional performance, but instead an annual musicale put on by all the unmarried women within a few families, with hopes that their musical talent will show them at their best and attract a suitor. It’s usually dreadful and painful to the ears, and this year’s event is no exception. However, the leading man in the story is amused by one of the musicians, since she is very much aware of how lousy the performance is and is barely containing her laughter. She’s older than her sisters, and as an intelligent woman with wit instead of money, she’s not the ideal companion for most men of high society. However, he needs a wife – and fast. His reasons are his own, and held off from the reader for quite a while. But he woos her quickly with hopes of a fast marriage, and the alternating perspective of the chapters is very amusing.
While this book hasn’t hooked me on romance novels, I’ll probably read it again when I need a good laugh. If you’re looking for one that has a greater emphasis on the writing, story, and characters, rather than bedroom scenes, this is a great one to pick up.