A Night Like This - Julia Quinn

A Night Like This by Julia Quinn

Series: Smythe-Smith Quartet #2

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: May 29, 2012
Source/Format: Borrowed from Mel || Paperback

Anne Wynter’s job as governess to three highborn young ladies 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 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. 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. (from Goodreads)

It has been entirely too long since I read a historical romance, and A Night Like This was a wonderful reunion with the genre. Not only is it by one of my favorite authors Julia Quinn, but it also features an adorable and surprisingly refreshing tale of romance, deception and family. While I wouldn't necessarily count it among my favorites, it was entertaining, lovely and just what I needed when I read it.

I loved the fact that Anne was a governess. It added an extra charm to her character, especially seeing how she acted around the children she was in charge of. She was patient, kind and understanding. While she allowed for creativity and lots of fun, she was also firm about getting the children raised in the right manner. She managed to become a part of the family, and it was clear that there was something truly lovable about her and about her willingness to give of herself to these kids.

Daniel, on the other hand, is more of a beta hero than an alpha one. He's really, truly a good guy, in spite of what transpires early on in the book. In his pursuit of Anne, he's determined and slightly sly and very sweet. He's also very dedicated to his family, which I loved about him! I do feel like I didn't get to really know much about him, apart from his history (which revolves around the "mortal danger" indicated in the summary) and his feelings for Anne and his family.

Their romance is quiet and sweet, although it definitely has a very potentially scandalous start indeed. I can appreciate the fact that, even though their feelings and the moments they shared were certainly lovely, there were also real difficulties that they each had to overcome in order for them to be able to be together. I like the fact that the difficulties were not just one-sided, as it's true that in most relationships, both people bring their history to the table.

Even though I'm sure everyone reading this review can predict how it all turns out, I still enjoyed reading A Night Like This. Apart from being really easy to read, it was fun to revisit the Smythe-Smiths and to find out more about them. Julia Quinn definitely has a talent for writing these series revolving around a particular family, and I can't wait for the next book! If you're looking for a sweet little romance novel to pass the time with, I'd recommend this one (or any of Julia's books, really).