A Night Like This
When Daniel Smythe-Smith, the young Earl of Winstead, returns home after seven years, he has plans to reunite with his family and repair some of the bridges burned following the drunken duel that led to his exile. He certainly doesn’t expect to fall in love with the first woman he lays eyes on. He expects even less that the woman who snares his heart is his cousins’ witty governess.
Anne Wynter is also in a sort of exile, after a youthful indiscretion sends her from her well-born family and into service. As governess to the distinguished Pleinworth family, she’s just trying to keep her head down and stay out of trouble. Falling in love with an earl just might not be the best way to do that.
A Night Like This is rollicking good fun in true Julia Quinn style. It starts and ends with the infamous Smythe-Smith musicale, a nice bookend for this family who loves each other, warts and all. Admittedly light on history, it’s strong on humor. A few plot points stretched incredulity, but wrapped in such delightful dialogue and narrative, I was more than willing to forgive. Another frothy, fun Regency romance from the dependable Quinn.
