Because of Miss Bridgerton

March 7, 2016
Quinn (The Sum of All Kisses) skips back a generation in her best-selling Bridgerton family series, establishing the relationships and connections of the family during the late 18th century. Billie Bridgerton is a reckless tomboy who grew up playing with her neighbors Andrew and Edward Rokesby. She's dismayed to wind up trapped on a farmhouse roof with their disapproving older brother, George. Billie and George have never been friends, but they keep being thrown together in awkward situations, such as a house party to celebrate Andrew's leave from the navy. Soon they join up on purpose to locate Edward, who's missing from his regiment in the American colonies, and they realize that their time together has changed the nature of their relationship. George and Billie are clear preludes to their descendants, and their love hinges on both their self-discoveries and their interactions. The dangling threads of other characters may be frustrating for those looking for a standalone experience. Agent: Steve Axelrod, Axelrod Agency.

April 15, 2016

With their homes in Kent only three miles apart, the Rokesbys and the Bridgertons were practically family, and although it rarely crossed her estate-focused mind, forthright Billie Bridgerton assumed that if she married at all, it would be to one of the Rokesby boys. It just would never be George Rokesby, Viscount Kennard, the condescending, serious eldest son and heir, the one brother with whom she'd never gotten along. But when George tries to help Billie down from a roof and ends up trapped on top of the structure with her, their relationship begins to shift, and despite their resistance and the inevitable ups and downs, it's only a matter of time before they are made to yield to their feelings. A pair of childhood acquaintances who couldn't stand each other growing up are thrown into a tizzy when they realize they are falling in love. VERDICT This lively, effervescent Georgian tale takes place a generation before Quinn's wildly popular Bridgerton series and nicely adds to the family history. Quinn (The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy) lives in the Pacific Northwest. [An LJ Editors' Spring Pick, ow.ly/ZVCzS; a March LibraryReads pick.]

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2016
Two childhood friends finally stop squabbling and realize they're meant for each other in 18th-century England. At 23, Sybilla Bridgerton--known as Billie to her friends and family--is impulsive and tomboyish, riding around her father's estate in breeches and reading agricultural treatises for fun. The latest installment of Quinn's (The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy, 2015, etc.) Bridgerton series opens with Billie stranded on the roof of an abandoned house, nursing a sprained ankle. She climbed a tree to rescue a cat, then fell onto the roof from the tree. She's appalled when her nemesis, George Rokesby, Viscount Kennard, happens along and she's forced to ask for his help. Although the two grew up on neighboring estates, Billie has always been closer to George's three younger siblings. George, as the heir to an earldom, was always too serious and busy to romp with the other kids, and when they did interact, George and Billie always needled each other mercilessly. But after George helps rescue Billie from the roof, they begin to see each other in a new light, and gradually both are horrified to realize that their strong feelings of antipathy have given way to strong feelings of a different kind. For both of them, "this had to be the most inconvenient attraction in the history of man." Although George and Billie are both likable characters and Quinn is an accomplished writer, the book's exciting opening is not followed by additional exciting plot points. A brief house party and a single ball make up nearly all the events in the novel. Everything else is just the characters' thoughts and conversations. Although the plot is rather a sleepy one, the book is worth reading for fans of the Bridgerton clan and for readers who like character-driven novels.

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Starred review from February 15, 2016
Sybilla Billie Bridgerton blames the cat. If the dratted pet had not somehow got itself stuck in a tree, Billie would not have ended up trapped on the roof of a farmhouse. The fact that the feline did not seem to be even a smidgen grateful for Billie's assistance was really the icing on the cake. Fortunately, Billie knows that all she needs to do is wait patiently, and someone will come along and help her get down. Of course, with the way Billie's luck has been running that day, who should happen to be the very first person she spies but George Rokesby. The Bridgertons and the Rokesbys have been neighbors for centuries, and Billie would welcome the assistance of any of the Rokesbys except the insufferably arrogant, know-it-all George. When he subsequently ends up stuck on the roof with Billie, that's when the fur really begins to fly. Powered by a surfeit of dazzling wit and graced with a cast of unforgettable characters, Because of Miss Bridgerton is top-drawer, polished-to-perfection Quinn that will most certainly be savored by both longtime fans and new readers alike.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

January 20, 2003
This rewarding Regency-era anthology is connected by Quinn's popular gossip columnist, Lady Whistledown, who appeared in her previous novel, Romancing Mister Bridgerton. Each short romance features commentary from the society snoop and unfurls over the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day, 1814. Characters meet, plots intersect, and cleverly, each author includes the same skating party (shown from the perspective of the four couples). Though all of the authors hold their own in this collection, Enoch's tale of a young woman who resists a childhood betrothal until her long-absent fiancé returns to make her reconsider is the strongest. Quinn also delivers a tasty confection about a young lady suddenly wooed by two brothers. Hawkins's romance between an eccentric spinster and an amiable rake is the most traditional of the lot, while Ryan stretches the bounds of the genre with a hero whose odd behavior stems from more than simple eccentricity. All in all, these Regency bonbons are filled with the wit and charm that mark the authors' full-length novels, yet they still contain enough passion to keep wintry readers warm. A wonderful introduction to the contributors' work, this is a perfect Valentine for romance readers. (Feb.)Forecast:With its star-studded lineup and well-timed release, this exceptional anthology will likely be one of the holiday's most sought-after romances.

February 15, 2003
Once again the witty, provocative comments of Lady Whistledown, Julia Quinn's astute Regency-era gossip columnist (introduced in The Duke and I) grace the pages of a lively romantic romp-but this time there's a difference. Instead of one author, there are four; and instead of one story, there is a quartet of charming novellas, each focusing on a particular couple but linked by common events and all tied together by Lady Whistledown's wry, insightful observations. The abnormally cold winter of 1814 (complete with ice-skating parties on the Thames), assorted soir es and theater evenings, and a much-anticipated Valentine's Day ball provide the backdrops for romances depicted from the perspective not only of the protagonists but of other characters as well. Readers should enjoy the variety. The engaging tales by Quinn ("Thirty-Six Valentines"), Suzanne Enoch ("One True Love"), Karen Hawkins ("Two Hearts"), and Mia Ryan ("A Dozen Kisses") are nicely unified by both Lady Whistledown's comments and the well-integrated story details. A perfect Valentine's Day read.

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.