Daniel Smythe-Smith has been on the run for three years, after a duel with a close friend. When he comes home, he is immediately captivated by his cousins' governess, Anne Wynter. She is drawn to him as well, though she knows an earl is out of her reach. Daniel contrives to spend more time with her by inviting his cousins to visit his country home, but while Anne enjoys their time together -- and a few stolen kisses -- she knows she mustn't allow anything more if she's to keep her position. Their growing attraction is also darkened by a series of vicious attacks. Both Anne and Daniel have enemies, and with no clue who is responsible, each fears that they're putting the person they love at risk.

I was a little skeptical as I read the first few pages. The whole prologue was almost comical, though somewhat dark, and the hero certainly didn't strike me as heroic. Chapter one introduces Anne and gives us a hint of her mysterious past. By the end of that chapter, I was hooked. Julia Quinn has a mischievous style, and she uses a lot of parentheses as she gets us into the heads of the characters. It was something I had to get used to, but I found myself enjoying those little asides as the book went on.

Daniel and Anne's conversations alone are often very touching and clearly show their desires and their fears. Some of the scenes involving Daniel's young cousins (especially the rehearsal of Harriet's new play) are hilarious. By the time we reach the dark moments near the end of the book, we are fully invested in -- and afraid for -- the whole family. I read the last 160-or-so pages in a rare non-stop session because I couldn't put A NIGHT LIKE THIS down. I had to know what happened next.

A NIGHT LIKE THIS is sometimes fun, sometimes frightening, and always entertaining. I highly recommend it.

Book Summary