A Night Like this by Julia QuinnA Night Like This by Julia Quinn
Series: Smythe-Smith Quartet #2
Published by Avon Genres: Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Romance
Pages: 373
Format: Paperback
Source: Avon Addicts, Courtesy review copy
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four-stars

Anne Wynter might not be who she says she is . . .

But she's managing quite well as a governess to threehighborn young ladies. Her job can be a challenge—in a singleweek she finds herself hiding in a closet full of tubas, playingan evil queen in a play that might be a tragedy (or mightbe a comedy—no one is sure), and tending to the wounds ofthe oh-so-dashing Earl of Winstead. After years of dodgingunwanted advances, he's the first man who has truly temptedher, 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 fallingin love. And when he spies a mysterious woman at his family'sannual musicale, he vows to pursue her, even if that meansspending his days with a ten-year-old who thinks she's aunicorn. But Daniel has an enemy, one who has vowed to seehim dead. And when Anne is thrown into peril,he will stop at nothing to ensuretheir happy ending . . .

This is one of the Smythe-Smith books that crosses over with the Bridgertons.

This book starts out with how Daniel came to be exiled. He dueled with his friend Hugh over cheating at cards. The whole thing, including the duel that leaves both Hugh and Daniel injured, was all a big drunken misunderstanding. But Hugh’s father lets Daniel know he blames him and will see him dead. So Daniel travels the continent for several years until one day Hugh arrives and lets him know it’s safe to come home. Hugh has finally gotten his father to agree to leave Daniel alone.

So Daniel returns to London the day of the infamous Smythe-Smith musicale was taking place, the one that was held at the end of Just Like Heaven. It’s here that he sees Anne. Anne is the governess but he doesn’t know that, he just knows that he’s got to meet her. But there are a lot of things Daniel doesn’t know.

Anne has a secret. Her name isn’t Anne.

She’s reinvented herself as a governess, and so far she’s as happy as she can be. Until Daniel returns and turns her world on its head.

He constantly seeks her out, he is always looking for an excuse to get her alone, and she secretly loves it, but she has to keep him at arm’s length, because nothing can come of a relationship with them.

Meanwhile, there is a sub-plot running that has Daniel believe that Hugh’s father will never give up his quest to see Daniel dead. It takes Daniel too long to figure out what’s really going on, and by then it may be too late.

Any fans of the Bridgertons, Smythe-Smith books, or someone who just wants a lovely romance will love this book.

***Reader copy provided by Avon Books and Avon Addicts

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four-stars