The season of Julia Quinn's Smythe-Smith
Quartet came
to a close with the release of THE SECRETS OF
SIR RICHARD KENWORTHY, and we cannot stop swooning over this regency romp.
Here is what Fresh Fiction Reviewer Susan
Gorman had to say:
Review of THE SECRETS OF SIR RICHARD KENWORTHY
THE SECRETS
OF SIR RICHARD KENWORTHY is the fourth book in
author Julia Quinn's Smythe-Smith quartet. Ms.
Quinn's readers have waited over a year for Iris Smythe-Smith's
story, and it was well worth the wait! Ms. Quinn has
written a captivating, romantic story which centers on
family loyalty, choices, love, and forgiveness.
Our hero Sir Richard Kenworthy is a man on a
mission: He has traveled to London to find a wife. His goal
is to be married and on his way home to Yorkshire in two
weeks time. Sir Richard has asked his friend Winston
Bevelstoke for an invitation to the Smythe-Smith
annual musicale. It's a well-known
fact that the musicales are awful and only dear friends and
family attend. So why would Sir Richard ask to attend the
musicale if he was looking for a wife?
During the performance, Sir Richard notices Iris hiding
behind her cello, and he asks Bevelstoke to introduce them.
Iris interests him because "she is the type of girl no one
would notice." Why would a man looking for a wife be
interested in someone no one would notice?
Bevelstoke and Kenworthy call on the Smythe-Smiths the next
day, where Richard suggests a walk in the park. I loved the
banter between Iris and Richard. Ms. Quinn's
dialogue brings out subtle traits of the characters and is
entertaining at the same time. Richard learns through his
conversations with Iris that she is intelligent, observant,
diplomatic, and that she loves her family. One of my
favorite scenes occurs when Richard and Iris dance the
minuet. Iris experiences the feeling of desire as she
effortlessly follows the intricate dance steps with
Richard. This piece is another example of Ms Quinn's
ability to write a heartfelt, touching story. I felt for
Iris. She is a wallflower who is wise to society and to
its rules. Like so many of us, Iris wants to be treasured
and desired.
Sir Richard has a secret. It's the type of secret that,
when revealed, has the potential to affect a lot of
people. I enjoyed how the author gave the reader hints and
clues about the secret as the story progressed. The story's
plot was well-paced, and both the main and secondary
characters remained true to their personalities. The secret was revealed to the
reader just before
Iris discovered it. I enjoyed how Iris reacted to
Richard's secret and how she worked through its
consequences. Well done, Julia Quinn! .
In the final book of this series, Julia Quinn weaves a
romantic and entertaining story of two people with a
great sense of family loyalty who meet, marry, and fall in
love. Fans of Ms. Quinn will love how she includes
Hyacinth Bridgerton, Garrett St Clair, the Bevelstokes and
my favorites Frances, Harriet, and Elizabeth. In my
opinion, Frances is the best character created by Julia
Quinn since Lady Whistledown.
If you are a fan of Julia Quinn's books, read THE SECRETS OF
SIR RICHARD KENWORTHY.
It will warm your heart and make you smile!
About THE SECRETS OF SIR RICHARD KENWORTHY
Sir Richard Kenworthy has less than a month to find a bride. He knows he can't
be too picky, but when he sees Iris Smythe-Smith hiding behind her cello at her
family's infamous musicale, he thinks he might have struck gold. She's the type
of girl you don't notice until the second— or third—look, but there's something
about her, something simmering under the surface, and he knows she's the one.
Iris Smythe–Smith is used to being underestimated. With her pale hair and quiet,
sly wit she tends to blend into the background, and she likes it that way. So
when Richard Kenworthy demands an introduction, she is suspicious. He flirts, he
charms, he gives every impression of a man falling in love, but she can't quite
believe it's all true. When his proposal of marriage turns into a compromising
position that forces the issue, she can't help thinking that he's hiding
something . . . even as her heart tells her to say yes.
Smythe-Smith Quartet
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