Emma Dunster was
not thrilled at all when her father told her that she was to go back to England with her
visiting relatives. Her father’s sister
had been spending time with them in Boston and managed to convince him that it would be a
good idea for Emma to have a season in London. Of
course, Emma knew the real motive behind the invitation was to find her a wealthy husband
and marry her off.
Alexander Ridgely,
the Duke of Ashbourne is determined to postpone getting married as long as humanly
possible. But then, he never expected to
encounter someone as beguiling and enchanting as a certain redheaded beauty that he met
under the most unusual of circumstances.
Alex and Emma are
determined not to get tangled with each other, however, their pulling attraction proves to
be too strong to resist.
Julia Quinn’s
“Splendid” is a re-released title from 1995.
It is the first book of a trilogy (“Dancing at Midnight” and
“Minx” being the following titles). “Splendid”
also happens to be Ms. Quinn’s first book. Certainly,
after reading it, I am not surprised at all by her success as a historical romance writer. “Splendid” has beautifully drawn and
engaging main characters with a secondary cast to match.
Witty dialogue and a plot that keeps the reader literally glued to every
page complete this wonderfully entertaining romantic story.
The interaction between Alex and Emma is a true pleasure to read. Emma’s independent character and the sexual
chemistry she shares with Alex provide a delightfully amusing and fun read. “Splendid” is a must read for all Julia
Quinn fans and for lovers of the historical genre. For
those who have not yet tried regency-era romances, it certainly would be a good
introduction to this particular romance category.
Reviewed by Mireya
Orsini for The Road to Romance
November 15, 2003 |
