April 17, 2017
In this charming sequel to Because of Miss Bridgerton, Quinn heads to late-18th-century America for a tale of romance and international intrigue. Cecilia Harcourt has come from her Derbyshire village to occupied New York to search for her missing brother. She finds that his best friend and her sometime correspondent, Capt. Edward Rokesby, is in the hospital with a head injury . By claiming that she is Edward’s wife, Cecilia is allowed to care for him while getting more information about her brother’s whereabouts—but when Edward wakes with no memory of the last few months, Cecilia finds herself trapped in the lie. Edward and Cecilia make a captivating couple whose relationship grows naturally from their letters and personalities, and even their flaws—including Cecilia’s ongoing deception—are understandable and appealing instead of frustrating. The secondary characters, mostly other British officers, are less well constructed, however, bordering on cliché in their deference toward Edward and dismissal of Cecilia. This is a solid entry in the Bridgerton universe.

June 15, 2017

When her father dies, Cecilia Harcourt is left without viable options--dismissing out of hand a distasteful marriage to a greedy cousin. Her brother, Thomas, has been wounded in the war in America, so she heads across the pond to help him. But instead of finding Thomas in the hospital, she comes upon his fellow officer Edward Rokesby, in a coma. Deciding she'll give him aid until her brother appears, Cecilia is allowed to step in--but only after claiming to be Edward's wife. The situation proves even more problematic when it turns out that Edward has lost his memory and believes they are actually wed. VERDICT Funny, spicy, and fast-paced, this spirited Bridgertons prequel is sure to be a fan-pleaser and may gain Quinn some new devotees as well. Quinn (Because of Miss Bridgerton) lives in the Pacific Northwest. [See "Summer Escapes," LJ 5/15/17, p. 78.]

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2017

Quinn changes the playing field in this next prequel to her eight Bridgerton books. Moving across the pond, the story introduces the British troops encamped in New York during the American Revolution. Cecilia Harcourt braves the ocean crossing in search of her injured brother only to be mistaken for the wife of his best friend, who awakens from a head wound but can't remember anything.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2017
A young Englishwoman travels to New York during the Revolutionary War and ends up impulsively passing herself off as the wife of an injured officer.Cecilia Harcourt has too much bad news all at once. Her father dies and leaves her alone, she receives word that her brother, Thomas, has been injured fighting in the American Revolution, her loathsome cousin pressures her to marry him, and she stands to lose her only home if her brother doesn't survive to inherit it. She does the only thing she can think to do -- sail for America to care for Thomas. But when she gets there, she finds her brother missing and his best friend unconscious in a hospital on the island of Manhattan. Only immediate family is allowed to care for him, so Cecilia passes herself off as his wife. That's how Capt. Edward Rokesby, second son of the Earl of Manston, came to wake up and find himself married to a woman he'd never met in person. But he does know her--and is half in love with her--just from reading the letters she sent to her brother. A head injury keeps Edward from remembering the past few months, so Cecilia's cover is not immediately blown. By the time the mix-up is all sorted out, Cecilia is thoroughly compromised and Edward and Cecilia are thoroughly in love. This is one of those novels where the reader longs to shout at the characters to tell each other the truth already, but it is a great read nevertheless, with mystery and adventure and, yes, romance. This is the second of Quinn's (Because of Miss Bridgerton, 2016, etc.) Rokesby novels and a prequel to her popular Bridgertons series. Quinn's fans will be grateful she's crossed the pond for this textured look at life in New York during the 1770s.

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from May 1, 2017
If Cecilia Harcourt hadn't lied and told her horrible cousin Horace that she was going off to Scotland to stay with a maiden aunt she invented on the spot, she is positive he would have found some way to coerce her into marrying him. But instead of traveling to Edinburgh, Cecilia sets off for America to find her brother, Thomas, a British soldier who has reportedly been injured in battle. However, once Cecilia arrives in New York, she discovers Thomas is missing, which leads her to lie number two. By claiming to be the new wife of her brother's best friend, Captain Edward Rokesby, Cecilia establishes a valid reason for remaining in Manhattan. And since the injured Edward is suffering from amnesia, it isn't as if her little lie is really hurting anyone, right? In this stellar prequel to her best-selling Bridgertons series (Because of Miss Bridgerton, 2016), Quinn keeps things fresh by switching up her customary English setting with that of Revolutionary-era Manhattan while at the same time retaining the abundance of dry wit and swoonworthy romance for which she is best known and loved.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, 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.