The Sum of All Kisses

I may be biased, but my grandparents were never more happier than when they were verbally sparing. That said romance stories about oil and vinegar, or Beatrice and Benedict relationships have always intrigued me. they seem to be the ultimate relationship doomed for failure, and yet tends to stand the test of time. I really loved this story, Sarah and Hugh had a good oil and vinegar setup. Julia has a fabulous writing style that tells tales in historic context, but with a modern humor, relate-table to today's audience.

That being said (spoilers...)First gripe I had with the book is I was easily lost in the background chapters, I had a hard time getting my ADD to stop an focus and understand it was getting several sources of background information.

To sum up the book, it hiccuped at the start, (at least for me.) Went along fairly nicely, and then it seemed to stop, like it could of continued with another couple of chapters of material, but instead it seemed to turn or squash a lot of climatic material into a compact space. such as the sudden change in our heroine's character into an almost Laura Croft esq. character and then all the sudden she remembers she's a virginal debutante? Which then hampered/ back logged into mixing modern morals onto the historic morals of the time. Which is where I started backing out or struggling to continue with the story.

The next issue, or continuing issue I had was how she handled/or really didn't handle the villainous father-in law. I'm totally about following the golden rule! But I would of loved to of seen the drugs reversed and used on him, and had the father-in law sent off on a indentured shipping vessel,or something... Than the slap on the hand he got. Sorry but if you write a Disgust-able truly Villainous character, he needs a proper comeuppance than a verbal slap of the hand.

But overall Julia's whit with dialog kept me going. and you may ask why four stars with so many "gripes" and my answer is this, it is still a well written book with a dialog you can follow with characters you wish you knew. yes this might tech. be her worst book yet. But wouldn't you want your worst work to be four stars?

This is so boring. I liked the two previous books in the series, but this is almost like it was written by someone else. I am giving up halfway through the book and returning it. The heroine is, did I say this, so boring. She doesn't have one interesting quality.

There is one interesting item about her so far in that one of her cousins tells her she is selfish. Do we have any real reason to believe that? No. Is it expanded upon? No.

Is there an attraction between the heroine and hero? We are led to believe that two people who find each other distasteful notice physically attractive attributes about the other. Is this believable? No.

I have now waded through pages of the author's demonstrating that a carriage ride with three squabbling children is tiresome. Well, yes it is, does the author expect us to enjoy reading an interminable description of that? If it is a necessary plot device, a couple of sentences would have summed it up.

Too bad. The hero deserves a more interesting book and a more interesting heroine.

[...]

Just Like Heaven changed my life. Or at the very least, it expanded my reading interests. Funny, heartwarming, endearing, with a touch of angst, and a healthy dose of romance, I had no idea a historical romance novel could be so wonderful. Julia Quinn is in my top five favorite authors. She is just plain amazing and since that first novel (for me), I haven't been able to stay away from anything that she writes.
Therefore, I could not believe my good fortune when I was accepted into this tour. I mean, I own every book ever written by Julia Quinn and I truly believe that it is not possible for her to publish a book I do not like. She is wonderfully talented and hilarious to follow on facebook.
And because Just Like Heaven was my first ever Julia Quinn story, this series holds a special place in my heart and it should come as no surprise that The Sum of All Kisses was everything we have come to expect from Ms. Quinn and so much more. Charming. Sweet. Absurdly funny.This book rendered me useless for the entire day, just so I could finish it.
It must be said, I was never a fan of Sarah Plainsworth. I found her to be irritating, self-absorbed, and far too dramatic. However, as the heroine of this story, she stole my heart. I began to understand her and sympathize with her and through the growth and development of her character, I was cheering and smiling the entire way. She faces life almost like a little warrior, hiding her insecurities and pain behind a veil of dramatics and sarcasm. But, she loves fiercely and though it cannot make up for all her past actions, she is entirely forgivable.
And Hugh. He is only the most awesome hero ever! Smart, witty, and charmingly eccentric. I adored him. He kept the most goofy and ridiculous smile on my face through the whole novel; though at other times, he also tugged on my heartstrings... quite viciously. I so desperately wanted him to find peace and happiness. I never imagined Sarah would be such a wonderful partner to Hugh but she was, and I could not be happier with the results.
These two seem to bring out the worst in each other, and yet their chemistry is off the charts. I couldn't wait to see them together, I was just too darned excited! Chalked full of lively banter, a fun vocabulary, and a delightful cast, this was a wickedly good time.
And to heck if I'm not irritated that it's over. The very last page, I just wanted to start anew.

The Sum of all Kisses is a 2013 historical romance, published by Avon. I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Hugh Prentice is the only son his father can count on to produce an heir. So when Hugh, a math whiz, gets a little drunk and starts playing cards with a group of men who have also had too much to drink, the night ends in a ridiculous duel. Hugh takes a bullet in the leg. His father is so angry he vows to kill the man who shot his son, and most likely ruined his chances for a grandchild.
It took a few years, but Hugh finally convinced his father to back off.
Now three years later, the man that crippled Hugh, Daniel Smythe-Smith, is getting married. Hugh and Daniel had long ago put the past behind them and are now friends again. Hugh must make an appearance to all the pre-wedding celebrations and dinners as well as the wedding.
Unfortunately, this puts him in direct contact with Sarah Pleinsworth, Daniel's cousin. Sarah blames Hugh for the scandal that caused Daniel to flee and Sarah to miss her fist season. Now she must be polite and social with Hugh for the sake of her family.
The first encounters between Hugh and Sarah were hilarious. They traded stinging barbs and bickered incessantly. Both of them strongly disliking the other. However, once they were forced to spend a little time together they each realized what the other has suffered as a result of the duel. Hugh considered himself damaged goods, and Sarah was convinced she could have been married by now if she hadn't been forced to miss her debut season. But, Sarah soon learns that her miseries are nothing in comparison to what Hugh lives with everyday. Soon, the two are seeing the other one in a different light and both of them like what they see.
Naturally, there are complications. Hugh has a few secrets that could prevent the two from having their unlikely happy ever after.

Julia Quinn has been at this for awhile. Some books are better than others, that's to be expected. However, I've yet to be disappointed with one of her books. This one was no exception. I loved Hugh! What a great guy. He was smart, funny, and honorable. He had a difficult childhood, a monster for a father, and now must live in pain for the remainder of his life because of stupid mistake.
Sarah's anger evaporated quickly once she got to know Hugh. Any immature grudges she may have harbored disappeared as she took it upon herself to right the wrongs of the past once and for all.

A very funny, romantic, sweet Regency period romance. I must also mention the cover art on this one. The dress was beautiful and I loved the color contrast.
Overall this is an A+ for me. I loved it!

Generally like Ms Quinn's books. This one was just ok. There is a very pivotal scene at the end of the book where the heroine has to bring her rage and anger. The scene goes well, but in retrospect I was left wondering why? We never saw anything in the story up to that point to indicate she was capable of her actions. As a matter of fact when confronted earlier on by the indubitable Lady Danbury, who is always present in the books, she was not able to keep up. The lady's seniority and reputation cowed her a bit. I didn't see any character growth between the two scenes to indicate she could pull off the big scene at the end.

Ms Quinn wrote a true old style regency romance. Will they, won't they. To the point I didn't really think there would be a sex scene at all, and was finding it a pleasant change of pace. I'd rather read a great plot, witty dialogue, and feel true emotion. I couldn't give a fig whether it happens in the bed or out of it. That said, it felt like she sent the book in to her editors and had it returned with a note, must have a sex scene, so she tacked one on at the end. It just didn't need it, and felt unnecessary.

I'll keep reading Ms Quinn as she has written some of the best I've read in this genre. This one was a miss for me.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

There is a very, very thin line between hatred and love – the dashing but scarred Hugh Prentice and the dramatic Lady Sarah Pleinsworth has proved it in The Sum of All Kisses.

Second to the Bridgertons (they will always, always be my favorite), the Smythe-Smith clan holds a dear place in my heart. It’s not just about the awful musical, that even I dreaded ever since I’ve been reading the Bridgertons Series – but it’s the combination of the different people in their family, the bond they shared and the loyalty they have to each other which makes this clan a little bit special. It’s not all about embarrassing themselves in front of other people, but it’s all about them – performing together, spending time on stage with each other which makes their performance somewhat heartwarming.

OKAY. Much said about their musicales – let me get back to these two amazing couple. Sarah had always hated Hugh after the duel that happened three years ago. It almost broke their family apart, and drove Daniel away from all of them. She had blamed him immensely, even though they both really don’t know anything about each other. It doesn’t matter if he had that bad limp going on, it wasn’t really the case. The point is that, she just couldn’t stand him.

Hugh on the other hand had always thought Sarah to be a little dramatic for her own good. He hated females who are fond of theatrics, and Sarah topped that list. It doesn’t matter that he grew to like her once she was forced to spend time with him during the wedding celebrations – because he had a ruined leg: he can’t carry her when she slipped, he could not ride a horse, he could not walk without limping and he could not even dance! Courting anyone, much more Sarah was near-impossible.

But when they are forced to spend together in each other’s company – things change, so are their opinions with each other. Indeed, there is a fine line between love and hatred, because as this two grew closer and closer to each other they discover that there is so much more to like than hate. Then there was this disturbing kiss that made the numbers in Hugh’s brain scrambled, and rendered Sarah speechless.

While the Smythe-Smith can be chaotic when their together – but the love, the tenderness, and fondness one member have for the other is visibly present. Unlike Hugh’s family – he may be the brightest, one of the most dashing bachelors (three years ago and probably still in the present), and perhaps the future heir (if his brother really decided not to get married), but besides his brother Freddie, he had no one. His father was just terrible, selfish and an a**, a sorry excuse for a father. He didn’t care about any of his sons – he just wanted to ensure that they will keep the title within the family. I hated is father, that’s why I’m so glad when Sarah put him in his place (this was one of my favorite scenes). Perhaps it was her love, or just an intense adrenaline rush that made her do it, nevertheless, it was needed to be done a long time ago! And Sarah did it – with flying colors.

I enjoyed reading it – I adore the banters within the family (it made me miss my siblings too), I love the characters (every one of them, except Hugh’s father!), the exchanges between Hugh and Sarah (talk about a subtle verbal foreplay), I adore the plot, the character development, the twists and most especially the romance. To sum it up – this is not just another love story. It’s a story about family, forgiveness, moving on and finally standing up not just for yourself, but for the people you love. No one does it like Julia Quinn.

★ARC Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.★

Quinn has created such lovable characters in this series, from the precocious children who will melt your heart to the snarky, dramatic heroine Sarah. Lady Sarah can be opinionated, and outspoken. When angered or wronged she is force to be reckoned with. I enjoyed seeing her layers peeled back and discovering all of her complexities. We witness her growth and transformation over the course of the novel, and I ended up adoring her. Huge our hero at first glance is an odd duck. He is not handsome in the classical sense, but his green eyes and subtle humor draw you in. He walks with the aid of a cane, as a prior incident has left the muscles damaged in his leg. Huge carries a heavy guilt and this burden suppressed both his charming looks and personality. We see a transformation in him as well. I absolutely loved seeing these two develop a relationship and grow from that interaction. House guests, family, and friends all added to this tale creating tender moments, suspense and humor.

The Sum of All Kisses was a wonderfully paced tale with the most unlikely romance. I love when characters loathe each other, and bicker constantly. The heated conversations are almost as good as the sexual tension. What joy I received when they suddenly are upended when they realize they are attracted to the other. It is positively scrumptious. Huge and Sarah had the most engaging arguments and conversations. At one point, I had tears streaming down my cheeks from giggling. Meddling family particularly Sarah’s siblings and cousins added enjoyment to the tale. Conversations surrounding unicorns of all things will bring laughter and amusement to the reader. The romance developed slowly and felt genuine leaving me with a warm fuzzy feeling. Quinn offers clean romances, with just enough sweet heat to make your toes curl. Copy received from publisher and originally review published at caffeinated book reviewer

~Reviewed by SUZANNE & posted at Under the Covers Book Blog

Hugh Prentice has enough to deal with with his bad leg, an injury that was entirely his fault and the result of a stupid and drunken duel with his best friend, and now it seems that the overly dramatic Lady Sarah Pleinsworth is also to plague him, despite her obvious dislike of him. Then again, it was her cousin he had the aforementioned duel with and it did result in a scandal and his friend, Daniel Smythe-Smith having to leave the country. As Sarah gets to know Hugh, her first impressions begin to crumble and her feelings take a dramatic change, especially when his kisses drive her so wild.

I love a Julia Quinn book! They are so refreshing yet familiar, when I open up one of her books I know I am in for a nice romance, some funny moments and often a glimpse of some favourite characters, for instance Lady Danbury a staple of Julia Quinn's world. The Sum of all Kisses didn't disappoint, I got exactly what I wanted from this book, a lovely romance with some really likable and great characters and finished the last page with a smile on my face, looking forward to whatever Ms Quinn writes for us next.

Ofcourse, if you are looking for something deep and dark with complicated emotions and an original plot line you will have to look elsewhere. Although that sounds disparaging about this book, sometimes what you need is an uncomplicated romance with characters that are easy to understand. Hugh and Sarah were great, Hugh was a brilliant mathematician who had a cruel and insane father and as such had a little bit of a tortured soul, but was still a complete gentleman. Sarah was feisty and funny, and although a little overdramatic she was fully aware of this and this made me like her more. Together they had good chemistry and I really liked how their relationship changed from enemies to so much more as their banter and understanding of each other deepened as they got to know one another properly.

The characters that really stood out for me though weren't the main couple but Sarah's 3 younger sisters, they had me laughing at their antics and their delightfully ridiculous, yet intelligent, conversations. They were also a highlight of the previous book A Night Like This and I hope at some point Ms Quinn will write give them a book of their own.

This was a good book, Julia Quinn has once again delivered us a fantastic book, it was witty, it was romantic and I enjoyed every word, I can't wait to read the next in the series.

*ARC provided by publisher

Three years ago Hugh Prentice fought in a duel and was wounded. The duel was his fault but the worse thing of all is his friend had to go on the run to hide for safety. He has tried his best to live away from his father and has no plans to settle down. Lady Sarah Pleinsworth has never been a lady he cared for. Sarah doesn't like Hugh at all and not afraid to tell him so. She knows it's not lady like but she won't let him forget he ruined her chances of marriage when the family had to drop out because of the scandal of the duel with Hugh and her cousin. They both have to get along as they are paired together for a week long weddings celebrations they see each other in a new light.

Hugh made a mistake years ago and continues to pay for it. He doesn't think he will ever be a true man again. He can't run or do other things he enjoyed years ago. He always seems to be trying to save people from his father. He seems grouchy in some ways but you slowly see the humorous side of him. Sarah is straight forward and says what she thinks. Her whole family gets wrapped up in each others business and that is their way. She worries a lot about not getting married. I like her as she is a lady but needs someone to push her buttons in the right way.

This is a highly enjoyable book. You have action with the duel and other things. You get Hugh and Sarah's POV to make it more interesting where in several historical romances I have read it is all from the female POV. You get to watch Hugh and Sarah butt heads then begin to fall for each other. They share laughs, kisses and more to get closer together. Sarah really wins my heart in the end when she takes charge of things. If you love historical romances I would recommend picking this up. You have a wonderful family you get to share laughs with, a love that comes from truly helping each other and so much more. There is even a villain to hate.

This is the best book I've read or listened to in a while! It's also the first Julia Quinn book I've read and definitely won't be the last. Her writing is fresh, funny and polished. Hugh was immediately likable to me, but I'm a huge fan of brainiac heroes. I thought I wasn't going to like Sarah because I don't like highly dramatic heroines, but she really isn't that dramatic and her compassion for Hugh (once they start to become friends) is so sincere and caring that it's impossible not to warm up to her.

The narrator for the audio recording is excellent! I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book because the story is so good and the the narrator did a great job of reading with a natural expression. She also did a great job with the various voices of both men and women characters. This is straight romance with very little angst or nail biting. There are a couple explicit scenes which could be easily skipped if that's an issue for you. Overall, five enthusiastic stars!

The Smythe-Smiths appearances in the Bridgerton books were always quite a hoot and I'm glad that Julia Quinn gave them their own series. I actually enjoy the bits of comic relief in these books. The references to Mrs. Butterworth and the Mad Baron, Frances and her obsession with unicorns, and either the complete obliviousness or hyper-awareness of the musical talent of the Smythe-Smith ladies all make for very amusing moments.

Sarah hasn't necessarily been a stand out character for me (Iris & Frances are the scene stealers in my opinion) throughout the series and it was difficult to root for her initially. However, Sarah and Hugh were a joy to watch once they started to soften toward one another. As for Hugh, I did very much enjoy his character. It's not hard to imagine that he'd have a hard time forgiving himself after what happened between him and Daniel. The figurative and literal pain that he feels as a result of the error in his past and his prospects (or lack thereof) for the future is well-written. That said, I would've loved for the action to have to taken place over a longer period of time in order for the story to be a bit more believable. Sarah has loathed Hugh for the impact that he's had on her and her family for a long time and as this book takes place over the span of a few short weeks, it's hard to believe that feelings could change so quickly.

While Sarah was very much the drama queen and I'll just say that she had quite the match in Hugh's father. The climactic scene toward the end was a bit over the top for my taste but considering the emphasis on the fact that Hugh's father is mad, the scene still worked.

While this wasn't my favorite Julia Quinn book, she still remains on my must-read author list. Iris has been my favorite character throughout the series and I am excited to read her story.

There is always something about the Smythe-Smith books that put me in a good mood. I know that when I read them I'm going to be thoroughly entertained. I know I'll laugh, swoon, and happily sigh by the end of it.
The Sum of All Kisses is no exception.

Sarah is what you might call a drama queen. Everything is life or death with her. She has it out for the male lead, Hugh, because of the duel that almost ruined her family. She loathes him and he doesn't like her either. Which makes them the perfect two to fall in love. There is banter, witty and silly. There is family drama on Hugh's side. And of course there is romance. Sweet, sweet romance. All the ingredients for a good novel.

I love reading about this family. However this book is not my favorite. It's still really good, though. Julia Quinn knows what her readers want and delivers it every time. If you haven't met the Smythe-Smith family yet, you really need to be acquainted. I would start with the first book, Just Like Heaven. You could read The Sum of All Kisses without reading the others, although it would help you get the bigger picture. Now, I have to patiently (or not) wait for the next book to come out!

This third installment in the Smythe-Smith Quartet is a delightful, classic Julia Quinn read: heart-rending romance plus chuckle-out-loud humor. The enemies-to-friends trope has been done a thousand times, so it takes talent to make it feel fresh and engaging. Ms. Quinn, as we all know, has loads of talent, so I was expecting a lot. Hugh and Sarah are not precisely enemies; she hates him for instigating the duel that sent her cousin fleeing to the Continent for three years. For the same reason, he is overcome with guilt, wracked with pain from his injury, and convinced that his ensuing disability makes him unattractive to any young lady. In any event, he wouldn't want to attract her, as she is jarringly outspoken and something of a drama queen.

The couple is thrown together, however, at a house party/wedding, and their opinions of one another, and of themselves, slowly begin to change. Ms. Quinn resists the temptation to move this along too quickly; the couple does not succumb to a sudden moment of overwhelming lust. The banter between them is sharp and quite funny.

Near the end, however, things descend into melodrama. I could easily have done without that.

A review copy was provided for an honest review. The Sum of All Kisses equals another enjoyable romance historical written by Julia Quinn. The way she writes you find yourself instantly amused and prone to laughter. It's not hard to identify with the character's self-loathing and inner turmoil. The fun tone and humor are what I most love about her novels. Though A Night Like This offered more laughs and immediate chemistry between the two main characters, Hugh Prentice and Sarah Pleinsworth's stubborn love made the story. Both of them are repelled by one another until they are given no choice but to get along when they have to attend two upcoming nuptials for their friends and family therefore putting them in close proximity than they care to be.

The prologue recounts the night that changed Hugh Prentice's life when he and his friend Daniel Smythe-Smith, Earl of Winstead, drank too much and played piquet (a card game). The night that Hugh—a known mathematician—accused Daniel of cheating, then challenged him to a duel, lost the draw, sustained an injury to his leg that now makes him walk with a limp, deeming him less a man for it. The drunken mistake cost the two everything - leaving Hugh without a fully functioning limb—making him look weak—and Daniel sentenced by Hugh's father to exile. Years later after Daniel's return Hugh's story begins...

At first I wasn't on board with Hugh and Sarah's relationship because they seemed to have nothing in common apart from their dislike of one another, but as the pages turned I started to see how they worked together. Hugh's self-hate over how inadequate he is due to his injury makes him feel like he's broken, and undeserving. That crushed me. Some scenes really hit the mark and made you feel sad, happy, and all the emotions in between. Sarah whose a bit too dramatic with a strange sense of humor dwells on how Hugh ruined her chances at meeting an eligible husband by missing out on her first season thanks to her cousin Daniel's exilement. They both have pent up issues and take awhile to face them and move forward. When Sarah and Hugh are forced together they get to know the person beneath their previous misconceptions. The romance takes time to get started—granted, they aren't even friends at first—but in the meantime the growing chemistry is fun to see unfold. Though it's slowly paced it's worth reading to the end especially if you're a Smythe-Smith Quartet fan.

The Sum of All Kisses will charm, entertain, and sweep you away with many feelings. Though not my favorite of the series, I liked it nonetheless. Julia Quinn's a wonderful romance writer, and I always walk away from her books with contentment.

THE SUM OF ALL KISSES by Julia Quinn is another exciting,witty Regency Historical Romance set in 1821-1824 London. #3 in the "Smythe-Smith Quartet",but can be read as a stand alone. Fast paced and filled with wit,a bit of humor,romance and passion. Meet Sarah Pleinsworth and Hugh Prentice. One reckless moment leaves Hugh with a badly injured leg years prior, and his best friend off to the unknown,hunted by Hugh's father. Can a Mathematician and an opinionated Lady friend true love? Well you must read "The Sum of All Kisses".....Years later, Hugh friends himself intrigued by Hugh's cousin, Sarah. A few passionate kisses,and a week together finds the lady speechless for once and the gentleman mathematician at a lost for sums. Thus "The Sum of All Kisses" may just equal love forever. Fast paced and passion filled. Engaging characters and an interesting storyline. You do not want to miss Hugh and Sarah's story. A great read! Received for an honest review from the publisher and Edelweiss.

RATING: 4

HEAT RATING: MILD

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction and More

I loved Julia Quinn, but I stopped buying her books at first release a long time ago. I haven't reviewed books in a long time because all the books I was reading, it just became to much but that is neither here nor there. This book was given two star because while it was rather terrible I chuckled and smiled on several occasions. At best this book is cute. But its just nonsense. I guess since Sarah is dramatic its supposed to be dramatic right along with her. But seriously the story was horrible, the hate to loving each other didn't do it for me, it seemed to just drag on and the TRUTH that needed to be reveled, yea no didn't like that either was ready to toss the book out the window. Seriously I was yelling at the author for even thinking this needed to be in the book. I like Frances, she was the best character. If you like Julia Quinn, it will be hit or miss. If you like a lot of dialogue between your characters and not a lot of development of the characters to fall for them, then i'd suggest this book. If you want a little cute in your reading, then read this. If you are looking for romance with a great heroine and hero skip it, get it through the library (like me) and skim through it and be onto the next. Its not really worth the time.

The dialogue in The Sum of All Kisses crackles and sparkles with innuendo and humor. Only a thin veneer of social manners veils the verbal battle that is ongoing with Hugh Prentice and Sarah Pleinsworth.

The song "Getting to Know You" came to mind as I read. What Hugh and Sarah perceive to be true and what is really true are very different. These two strike sparks off each other from the word go. Sarah's overly dramatic pronouncement that he ruined her life and the enigmatic statement that fourteen men became engaged in the 1819 Season puts Hugh in a quandary. He doesn't even know this young woman and he is in no humor to act the gentleman. His pain, distaste for socializing, and burden of guilt make him impatient and rude to the outspoken twenty-one-year-old Sarah.

They cannot escape each other. Mutual friends and Sarah's relatives, all involved in two huge wedding parties, make it impossible. Their getting to know each other takes the reader along on the "The Great and Terrible Caravan" of the socially elite first to Fensmore for the wedding of Honoria, Sarah's cousin, to Marcus Holyrod, Earl of Chatteris who is Hugh's friend; then to Whipple Hall to the wedding for Sarah's cousin Daniel Smythe-Smith, Earl of Winstead to Miss Anne Wynter. Daniel is a dear friend of Hugh's and the one he shot in a duel more than three years earlier. Both wedding parties are huge affairs and go on and on with Sarah obligated to be nice (well, sort of nice) to Hugh for her cousin's sake.

The humor and fun with Sarah's sisters and cousins offer lots of chuckles and giggles. The eleven-year-old Frances is one of my favorites. Her antics with her older sisters and her child's insight regarding Hugh and his anti-social ways is special. The ongoing bit about the Musicales that Sarah and kin do each year is delightful; while the endless squabbling of Sarah's three younger sisters brings a smile--so like sisters.

A dark side that Hugh as always had to deal with and how it boils over into his friends' lives is blood-chilling. Hugh's father, the marquess of Ramsgate, is an antagonist that makes one shudder with disgust and horror. How he is finally brought to heel is so satisfying. I'm glad the encounter with him was not too lengthy because the rest of the story is far too delightful with lively conversation and joyous love scenes to be blighted by sordid horrors Hugh and his brother had dealt with all their lives. How Sarah figures into stopping Ramsgate's reign of terror is adrenaline-pumping action.

Julia Quinn creates memorable characters with unique personalities that engage the reader immediately. The humor, deep-emotional needs, and especially the maturation of the heroine make The Sum of All Kisses a story one doesn't want to put down until it gets to that happy-every-after ending.

Originally posted at Long and Short Reviews

Off the beaten path of Regency romance...yet still very enjoyable. The characters were a great deal of fun, and yet had such deep and vivid pasts and baggage and pain. It was marvelous to watch our H/h inexplicably drawn to one another (despite everything), falling in love against their better wishes. Their love develops genuinely, organically, and in such a rewarding way. Lady Sarah is such a perfect match for Lord Hugh, that theirs is an uncommon romance, a beautiful joining of hearts and hands and futures. The love scenes are remarkably tender and sweet.

Sensuality level: PG+
Language: surprisingly mild

Like the constant terror of having to read one of the plays written by her younger sister Harriet is not enough to cast the shadow over the existence of Lady Sarah Pleinsworth, she has to attend two weddings this month. And there is talk that what better way is to celebrate a Smythe-Smith wedding then with musical performance by a famous quartet.
You would think that this is the end of Sarah's troubles but she is also asked by her cousin Honoria to entertain Hugh Prentice, a man she detests. Oh, what could more possibly go wrong?

In her usual light, humorous and entertaining way Julia Quinn treats us with another historical romance about enemies who become something more. All spiced up with the cast of u(nu)sual characters who you love.

Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a honest review.

Whenever I have a bad day, Julia Quinn is an author I turn to. I devoured her Bridgerton series and I've made no secret that MR. CAVENDISH, I PRESUME is my favorite. When the opportunity came to participate in the blog tour for THE SUM OF ALL KISSES, I couldn't pass up the chance. THE SUM OF ALL KISSES is the third in the Symthe-Smith Quartet series. If you haven't read the first two books, JUST LIKE HEAVEN and A NIGHT LIKE THIS, you can delve right in; however, Quinn does mention a few things that occur in previous books , but nothing I would consider a spoiler.

As for character development, it's strong. We spend an equal amount of time with Sarah Pleinsworth and Hugh Prentice and get to know each of them well. At first, Sarah is difficult to warm up to because she made the assumption of Hugh's character without fully knowing the facts regarding the duel. It's understandable that she was kept in the dark and the only information she had came from gossips, but she's an intelligent woman and I would have liked her to have attempted her own inquiry. Alas, it took me a while to like her, but I admire her because once her faults are pointed out she makes an effort to change and realizes her mistakes. As for Hugh, he's very much a beta hero, but tortured. It's difficult to write a beta hero without him coming off as a wimp, but Quinn does a great job with Hugh. Hugh struggles with the repercussions of his decision to fight a duel and has to deal with his father. His father, the Marquess of Ramsgate is a piece of work and your heart will ache for Hugh. I adored Hugh especially when you get to know him. He's the first to admit that he won't dance again or be there to help a woman when she swoons, but most importantly, he realizes what the duel cost him. Several secondary characters make an appearance and play a vital role including Sarah's sisters which you'll love. I really liked Hugh's brother, Freddie and I wish we had more scenes with him.

THE SUM OF ALL KISSES is written in typical Quinn style. It's light, funny, and just an overall feel good novel. If you're looking for an angst type of romance you won't find it here. We have witty banter between the characters and though the plot is a bit slow, it's still a delightful read. This isn't one of those quick fall in love romances, but rather one where the characters take the time to get to know each other. I do have a few problems with the execution of the plot. Mostly, it has to do with the conflict; there are two sources here: Sarah and Hugh's dislike and the secret Daniel knows about Hugh. When we're told the secret, it's made out to be a dire one and yet in the end, it wasn't. Also, the ending was a bit too tidy and it felt unnatural especially with regards to what Sarah does. I won't go into detail because I don't want to give spoilers, but it just felt rushed. Furthermore, the Symthe-Smith musicals are legendary in Quinn's novels and I was a bit surprised at Hugh's reaction when he hears about the family tradition. I was left scratching my head wondering which rock he's been hiding under (or maybe that's good a thing!).

I debated with the rating between a three and four and decided on four because of the Pleinsworth sisters. Frances stole the show (there's no doubt about that), but I adored the interaction between them. While reading, I couldn't help but compare THE SUM OF ALL KISSES to Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and Louisa May Alcott's LITTLE WOMEN. The bickering and dislike Hugh and Sarah feel toward one other may remind readers of Lizzie and Darcy while the closeness of the Pleinsworth sisters and their antics are similar to that of the March sisters. Hugh reminded me very much of Laurie and Sarah a bit like Jo, but unlike the ending to LITTLE WOMEN, no one dies and of course Hugh and Sarah wind up together. Ultimately, what I really enjoyed about THE SUM OF ALL KISSES are the feelings Quinn evokes.

Fans of historical romance will have a great time spending the day with Julia Quinn's THE SUM OF ALL KISSES. Quinn always makes me wish I could live among her characters and THE SUM OF ALL KISSES doesn't disappoint.

**This review is posted on my blog**

Parts of it were very cute and I became very fond of the youngest sister. She could go from being so perceptive to acting like squabbling with her sisters and jostling over the window seat. I loved the "I'm bored" bits. I liked the interaction between Daniel and Hugh - they were such guys. I loved the dance on the lawn. The annual performance is always funny, including how the participants react in any discussion.

Some of it was not so good. The repartee just went on and on, and it seemed brittle. There just wasn't enough honest conversation. I did not quite believe the duel and how that all went down, or Sarah's response to how Hugh handled his father, or how Sarah just went off without help. Father was over the top. So, it was okay, but I doubt I re-read it.

Lady Sarah Pleinsworth and Lord Hugh Prentice have been dancing around each other like boxers for years. A stupid mistake made in Hugh's youth cut off Sarah's season of marital possibility and she is still angry about it. Granted everyone has gotten over the problem but Sarah being the original drama queen nothing that can be a problem is never gotten over.

Hugh has a left over injury from his discretion that has taken away the ability to have a carefree life. However, Hugh has made a life even for a second son with a self-serving father destined to alter the course Hugh has chosen for himself. It appears though that Sarah may have the same desire even though she is not aware of the control she possess over Hugh. The sway of her hips or the mere touch of her hand intoxicates him beyond reason and has Hugh longing for something he thought to give up on, love.

Sarah can actually feel the change in the relationship she has with Hugh, every minute she spends with him is ecstasy and she sees him as a whole man with a tender side he does not reveal to anyone but her. Hugh feels the need to prove his manhood to Sarah and if he cannot be strong for her he must let her go. Sarah however believes that Hugh is more man for one woman and that love with keep them for a life time.

You watch as this couple lingers over breakfast, wonders over tea, and plans a life in the library without realizing they are a perfect match.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Sum of All Kisses, the romance and hate to love premise with all the angst was just what I was looking for. There is a scared hero with a limp who does not feel worthy of love and a heroine with a bit of a dramatic flair, they play off each other to make this read so much fun.

Several years ago a duel between Hugh Prentice and Daniel Smythe-Smith, the Earl of Winstead caused repercussions for years to come, nothing was supposed to happen, shots were supposed to go wild without hitting anyone, but Hugh accidentally hit Daniel in the shoulder and Daniel shot Huge in the leg, a leg that healed poorly and he now uses a cane whenever he walks.

Hugh's father Lord Ramsgate never forgave Daniel and was forever after Daniel even though Hugh told him to stop. Hugh eventually makes a deal with his father to have him back off and let Daniel return home. Now Daniel is happily about to get married.

Lady Sarah Pleinsworth has had three unsuccessful seasons and her first season was interrupted because of the duel, and she has always blamed Hugh. She is so mad at him that she is unsure of how to stay away from him during the two weddings they both will be attending. Unfortunately her cousin Honoria, one of the brides, has asked her to keep Hugh company - something she is dreading. I will have to say that I loved whenever the two got together, the banter was amazing and there were several moments that I found myself laughing. Of course as they spend time together, they realize the attraction is beyond denying, even when decisions are forced upon them.

This is my first Julia Quinn book, but it will not be my last, given time I would love to read the previous two books in the series and then of course her back list. I really like the author's voice, humor, emotion and of course romance are prevalent in her story and I just love Hugh and Sarah together. I really like Hugh, I have a soft spot for the tortured hero and especially those that are so intelligent that they are a bit socially awkward. Hugh is a math genius and along with his limp he keeps to himself most of the time, I love that fact that Sarah thinks he is more lonely than just alone. I was not sure of Sarah at first, she seemed very full of herself and blamed Hugh for everything wrong in her life, but then she lightens up, especially after her cousin calls her selfish which really startled her and was a laugh out loud moment. The witty banter between Hugh and Sarah was so engaging that I enjoyed their time together as they grew to like/love each other.

The story is a continuation of the series and we get to know the story behind Daniel and Hugh, the friendship survives some horrific circumstances and outrageous deals are made for the safety of Daniel, which just shows how much Hugh loves his friend. And although it is part of a series, you can easily read it as a standalone. I really enjoy the secondary characters and feel they added so much to the story, Sarah's sisters where so much fun and thoroughly engaging and I loved when Hugh interacted with them. The true villain was Hugh's father, a truly evil man that only wanted an heir and would do anything to get what he wanted and I wish we would have met Hugh's brother as he is an important reason Hugh and Daniel had the problems they did. A lovely historical romance that I recommend.

Review also posted at Ramblings from a Chaotic Mind

Copy from publisher through Edelweiss for an honest review

I thought this the third in the Smythe-Smith Series was the best yet. I had missed the bantering family feel that was so delightful in the Bridgerton Series and seemed in short supply in the first books of this series, but this book captured all of that once more with the Pleinsworth girls and the Smythe-Smith daughters. Here we not only have a hero bogged down in guilt but we have a heroine who initially has every intention of making him pay for past deeds. There is a villain whom we revile and whom our heroine takes to task. The romance is slow to build, the dialog wickedly witty and the book splendidly entertaining.

Hugh Prentice has no patience for theatrics, which should be enough to turn him off of Lady Sarah Pleinsworth. If it weren’t, the fact that she declares she hates him and that he ruined her life would do it. After all, it’s Hugh’s own life he ruined – and the life of Sarah’s cousin Daniel Smythe-Smith – thanks to a reckless accusation followed by a duel that ruined Hugh’s leg and forced Daniel to flee the country. Now that Hugh’s done his best to make things right with Daniel, he’s found himself a guest at not one, but two Smythe-Smith weddings. That alone wouldn’t be a problem, but the weddings have thrown Hugh together with Sarah. The more time the two spend around one another, the closer they become, to the surprise of both. Fate seems to have a cruel sense of humor, for the one woman Hugh shouldn’t want is fast becoming the one to capture his heart.

A brilliant mathematician, an outspoken heroine, and Julia Quinn’s trademark humor all come together to create a charming read. Despite their initial wariness (on his part) and dislike (on hers), Sarah and Hugh are a great match and their chemistry keeps The Sum of All Kisses afloat, even through the surprisingly slow-paced first half of the story. I’m a bit conflicted about The Sum of All Kisses, for as much as I liked it (and I did), the slowness of the first half of the book and the confrontation with the villain at the story’s climax left me strangely hollow. Some of Ms. Quinn’s usual magic is missing from this book. That being said, once Sarah and Hugh begin to fall in love, The Sum of All Kisses takes off and readers are treated to the sigh-worthy romance Ms. Quinn is famous for.

The Sum of All Kisses is the third book in the Smythe-Smith quartet, but it can easily be read as a standalone. Honoria and Daniel (of Just Like Heaven and A Night Like This) do play strong supporting roles, and it was lovely to see both of their weddings. Speaking of family, Sarah’s sisters definitely threaten to steal the show in The Sum of All Kisses. Ms. Quinn had me laughing out loud at the younger Pleinsworths’ antics, and though this series is supposed to be a quartet, I do hope we get to revisit Harriet, Elizabeth, and especially Frances when they’re older. Whether or not we do, I’m eager to see where Ms. Quinn takes the Smythe-Smith family next.

Note: If you also happen to be a fan of Eloisa James, you’ll be happy to learn that Once Upon a Tower heroine Edith gets a nod in The Sum of All Kisses.

This book was reviewed by Shayna for Joyfully Reviewed (JR), and was provided by the publisher/author at no cost to JR for the purpose of being reviewed.

Four years before,Lady Sarah Pleinsworth would never have been described as shy or retiring. And today Sarah still felt she was justified in her total antipathy of one Lord Hugh Prentice! After all there had been 14 (fourteen) reasons for which he had inadvertently stripped her of any happiness and totally ruined her debut season! And strange as it seemed Lord Hugh Prentice, brilliant mathematician that he was, had no idea whatsoever what the number fourteen had to do with the seemingly illogical and overly dramatic female - Lady Pleinsworth.

After an impetuous duel in his youth had left Hugh with a ruined leg, and nearly destroyed Lady Sarah's family Hugh would do his best to get along for the duration of the wedding gatherings that had ultimately paired he and Lady Sarah together. Somehow, some way they must strike a peaceable accord even as they both were beginning to doubt their very bad first impressions.

*** Ms. Quinn does have a remarkable gift of storytelling that comes shining through in the plethora of best selling novels she has churned out over the years and with THE SUM OF ALL KISSES, one is easily assured of that fact. Not having read the first two books of this particular series, I was not at all oblivious to a `lost' feeling with regard to what had gone on previously. Summarily this lets you know that while part of a series, THE SUM OF ALL KISSES can surely stand alone.

Anyone who has experienced reading Ms. Quinn will also know that you are in for a pleasurable jaunt as her characters come alive with exacting attributes that let the reader totally imagine they are a fly on the wall, so to speak, both in any of the scenes, and with absolute certainty while watching and laughing out loud at the lively and witty dialogs between the leads and secondary characters.

Obviously, this was not a love at first sight story - rather, it was if looks could kill and daggers drawn - at least on Sarah's part! However, what the reader is in for is the slow coming to flourish friendship that evolves before the discovery of a passion neither had ever realized or dreamt of. One of the things I never expected, was the revelation of the secret that Hugh had held with regard to his father and Sarah's dearly beloved cousin. This was a surprising twist I had not seen coming and was pretty surprised as to the nature and bizarreness of that secret.

Bottom line: This is exemplary Julia Quinn - where the romance is hot; the dialogs witty; the sensualness steamy; combined with secrets that still have the ability to surprise me! Highly recommended!

Marilyn Rondeau, for [...]

I love Julia Quinn books! The Sum of All kisses is the third book in the Smythe-Smith series and covers the period between the weddings of the heroines of the first two books. Sarah Pleinsworth is dismayed to discover that Hugh Prentice is among the guests at her cousin Honoria's wedding. Several years before, a drunken Hugh challenged Sarah's cousin Daniel to a duel which resulted in Hugh becoming seriously injured. Hugh's father immediately went on a vendetta to punish Daniel which resulted in Daniel fleeing England and his family withdrawing from society for a year. Unfortunately for Sarah it was her first year to be in society and she has blamed Hugh all of these years for her missed opportunity to find a husband. Daniel and Hugh have settled their differences but Sarah still harbors resentment and lets Hugh know how she feels. Sarah is a bit of a drama queen and Hugh is a quiet, highly intelligent man who finds her annoying. As they are forced to spend time together, they discover the quirky humor they share and feelings begin to change.
I have really enjoyed this series. The Smythe-Smith recital has always been a source of humor in Ms. Quinn's books and meeting the hapless participants just makes the situation that much funnier. Sarah is an intriguing character, one who wants marriage and family in her future but on her own terms. Ultimately her strong personality is what saves their relationship. Hugh is a man who hasn't felt in control of his life for some time and who has made a devil's bargain to keep his friend safe. The interactions between them were a joy to read and the chemistry between them jumped off the page. I especially loved the interactions with the younger Pleinsworth girls who have been the source of the most humorous parts in the entire series. Frances reminds me of Hyacinth Bridgerton and I hope we will eventually see her grow up and find her perfect man.
I cannot wait for the next book in this series to come out!

The Sum of All Kisses is the sum of all things I love in historical romance! It’s romantic, witty, passionate, charming… it’s a story that had me smiling and sighing from the very start, and kept me there right to the very end.

I don’t know how else to explain it except to say there was something endearing about the gruff, bitter, Hugh Prentice. Even when he was being an utter ass, even when his self-deprecation was at its peak, I wanted to cuddle him and love him and make him all better. And even when Sarah was being a stubborn ninny, I wanted to cuddle her… okay, that’s a lie. I wanted to smack some sense into the silly chit’s head and shout, “Can’t you see he’s hurting? Can’t you see he needs you??” Thankfully, she figured that out on her own without the need of violence on my part. Close call, that.

Julia Quinn has such a gift for writing about family and close friendships. Story after story, she pulls me in, makes me care, and keeps me coming back for more.

My thanks to Avon Books and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review. Truly, it was a pleasure!

This is a 3.5-star read for me.

* * *

I see Hugo Prentiss as the linchpin for this series. He is the vital first piece that set into motion the series of events that led to Daniel's exile to the Continent, and his subsequent return, and Honoria, Daniel's sister, finding her happy ending with their friend, Marcus Holroyd.

As this is the third book in the series, we've already formed a bit of Hugo's image in our minds, and we need to decide if he is a character to forgive and accept. This is the same challenge that faces Sarah Pleinsworth, who saw how that drunken challenge broke apart her cousin's family, but Hugo was also damaged by his own actions -- his leg is permanently injured. Sarah is conflicted. She likes Hugo, but she feels obligated to hate him because of what he did -- but, there's also a part of her that sympathizes with Hugo, who seems to be holding the world together.

"You do not know me," he bit off. "You do not know what I think or what I feel or what measure of hell I visit each and every day of my life. And the next time you feel so wronged -- you, who do not even bear the same surname as Lord Winstead -- you would do well to remember that one of the lives I have ruined is my own."
- p. 69

In a sense, he is: Hugo's father, the Marquess of Ramsgate, continues to threaten Daniel's existence, and ever since the incident, Hugo has been doing penance for the fool-hardy duel. He doesn't see his actions as forgivable, or himself as redeemable -- so he set himself out as a sacrificial lamb to please his father (and protect Daniel).

This novel shows the contrast between two families: the Smythe-Smiths and the Prentisses. Hugo's father "loves" Hugo, but it's an oppressive and suffocating kind of "affection" -- the attachment of Hugo's father with Hugo reminded me of Annie Wilkes in Stephen King's Misery. He's become so hyper-focused on Hugo (and the family legacy) that he has become blind to everything else. He also cannot forgive or accept Freddie, Hugo's older brother (and his actual heir). The Smythe-Smiths, on the other hand, are such an open and forgiving family, as evidenced by their instant acceptance of (and sincere joy in) Daniel's marriage to the Smythe-Smith cousins' former governess. They are a family so loving and caring, that they have accepted Daniel's decision to rekindle his friendship with Hugo, and everyone is doing their best to help make Hugo feel welcome.

It's love taken to both extreme ends of the spectrum -- the dark, obsessive side is shown by Hugo's father, and the brighter, happier side is represented by the Smythe-Smiths.

Sarah is likeable, but a lot of who she is is so tied up in the Smythe-Smith quartet, and this is the one very small problem that I saw in the novel: Julia Quinn is so intent in showing the allure and humour of the Quartet that she doesn't fully realise the potential of Hugo's story. There's so much to be explored in this enemies-to-lovers story, and there's just such wonderful promise in Hugo and Sarah's characters, and to their story, but it isn't explored as deeply.

I have to say, though, that the parts that Quinn chose to tackle were done very well. I particularly appreciated the conversations between Sarah and Hugo -- and you could see the gradual change in their opinion of each other.

Even if their first meeting hadn't been a mind-numbingly mad disaster, they would never have been friends. Sarah Pleinsworth was one of those dramatic females given to hyperbole and grand announcements. Hugh did not normally study the speech patterns of others, but when Lady Sarah spoke, it was difficult to ignore her. She used far too many adverbs. And exclamation points.
- p. 34

* * *

"Forgive me," he said stiffly. "I was of the opinion that you thought my suffering was no more than I deserve."

Her lips parted, and he could practically see his statement running through her mind. Her discomfort was palpable, until finally she said, "I may have felt that way, and I cannot imagine I will ever bring myself to think charitably of you, but I am trying to be a less ..." She stopped, and her head moved awkwardly as she sought words. "I am trying to be a better person," she finally said. "I do not wish you pain."

His brows rose. This was not the Sarah Pleinsworth with whom he was familiar.

"But I don't like you," she suddenly blurted.

Ah. There she was. ...
- p. 133

(I still don't understand the Iris/Daisy angle and why she was so intent in getting a quartet together to play.) I did fall in love with Sarah's younger sister, Frances, and would love to read about her in a future Julia Quinn book.

"Sarah doesn't believe in unicorns, either," Frances said. "None of my sisters do." She gave a sad little sigh. "I am quite alone in my hopes and dreams."

Hugh watched Sarah roll her eyes, then said, "I have a feeling, Lady Frances, that the only thing you are alone in is being showered with the love and devotion of your family."

"Oh, I'm not alone in that," Frances said brightly, "although as the youngest, I do enjoy certain benefits."
- p. 126

While I was thinking about this review, it dawned on me that there is an innate optimism in all of Julia Quinn's stories. As I reader, I always feel assured that, when I start reading a Julia Quinn book, I know I will enjoy the experience. I also feel assured that everything will work out for her characters in the end. Beyond the optimism, a sense of joy also seems to be hard-wired in Julia Quinn -- and it filters through in her characters. You just can't help but smile when you read about Sarah and her sisters, and their entire family, for that matter. Her books are a true comfort read.

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
What started out as an innocent game of Piquet between drunken friends ends in a duel, exilement, and a life-long injury.
Lord Hugh Prentice always had a way with numbers & was freakishly good with them. When he gets bested in a game of cards by the Earl of Winstead Daniel Smythe-Smith (which if you have read any of the Bridgerton books you know of the notorious Smythe-Smith’s). After all is said and done many unfortunate things take place, grievous injury, exile, and the disgrace of a family; and all this is in the Prologue!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were parts where it could have progressed a little faster with Hugh and Sarah but other than that I loved this book!
Hugh was a tough nut to crack but seeing his dark sense of humor against Sarah’s sharp wit was a hilarious thing to watch. Seeing the two of them together from beginning to end was great, the way they learned more about one another and that their preconceptions were wrong and not based on facts. Watching their minds and hearts change as time goes on was beautiful.
Lady Sarah Pleinsworth knows that this must be her LAST year in the musicale or else she will “die” of embarrassment. Sarah was an entertaining person to watch because she was feisty yet somehow she was still shy. Where she loves she loves deeply, in turn where she holds a grudge she holds strong to that belief. When facts come to light and she sees that she has been in the wrong it takes a while for her to come to grips with that.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes historical regency romances. Julia Quinn did not disappoint me as she never has. I want more Smythe-Smith books for they will be fantastic I am sure. I give this a 4/5.

... and I usually love Julia Quinn's books.

I did NOT like Sarah Pleinsworth. I did not feel any real chemistry between her and Hugh. Hugh's sudden attraction to her was so not believable. Sarah's sisters were annoying more than they were endearing. If I were Hugh, I would have shot myself rather than be stuck in their company. Okay that was a little exaggerated but still. I found myself, skipping pages and I couldn't wait to finish the book already. Reading some of the dialogues were quite painful. What the author described as "banter", in my opinion was just the opposite. Not clever or funny or witty but kind of cheesy and a little overkill. There was one little part that annoyed me when I read Daniel saying to Hugh, " ...and you, I think have forgiven me" , then the narration continues, "Hugh had not in fact, but that was only because there was nothing to forgive." Talk about being redundant. But there were plenty of THAT in the book. Describing someone's face color changing into "somewhat of an unripe strawberry" made me dry-heaved a little. Oh and then the Inn with Lord Ramsgate (Hugh's dad) and that whole ridiculousness. That was when I really stopped reading because it was so far fetched and corny and absurd.

I loved the Brigerton Series. I read them all. I even liked Daniel and Anne's story. But the Sum of all kisses (by the way, very misleading title, the author didn't really highlight Hugh as a mathematician or that they kissed a lot) was a very mediocre story with a very mediocre heroine. From a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being AMAZING and 1 being KILL ME NOW, I give this book a big fat Hughnicorn. Doesn't make sense right? Just like this book.

For much of the book I truly enjoyed Sarah and Hugh. The emotional, dramatic heroine and the arch, cerebral hero are the perfect pair for a dialogue driven novel. Quinn writes realistic sibling relationships and when she sticks to the interpersonal dynamics the book soars. (The only false note is a sharp scene where Sarah’s cousin takes what appears to be a completely unfair shot. Quinn likes to write with interconnected timelines so I assume this will be explored in the next Smythe-Smith installment.) The exploration of divided and colliding loyalties in the lives of the Hugh, Sarah and the Smythe-Smiths is some of the finest genre work I’ve read this year. It was love. Until it wasn’t.

Hugh went from capable and intriguing to obsessed with his injury. His brother enters briefly as a cliched sympathy grab and quickly exits the story. This is all about Sarah's family and Hugh's crazy dad. It's impossible to discuss the ending properly without spoiling it. Suffice to say it's an unlikely cavalcade of melodrama that leaves the reader irritated. You could stop reading the book at Hugh and Sarah's first kiss and leave happy or you could read on and watch the wheels come off the cart. I won't spoil it for you in this review but I'm giving you a heads up that it's a lot to take in.

I have read this week no less than a dozen times, it is my go to when I'm between books. I love the characters and their unlikely tumble into love. Julia Quinn always has a way of making to feel invested in the story and cheering for a happily ever after. I absolutely love this book would recommend it to anyone. Don't miss this one!

I am fast becoming a fan of Julia Quinn, in this second of her titles I have read, the stories are easy and engaging: with enough angst that is resolved by the end to make them the perfect afternoon getaway. In this book, the third in the Smythe-Smith Quartet, we have an unusual hero for most romances of this era. Hugh has a brilliant maths mind, little patience for the niceties of courtship, and a limp sustained in a duel after a night of cards with his best friend.

While Hugh has known the Pleinsworth family for a long time, in fact, the duel in which his leg was maimed nearly resulted in the family’s downfall, and Lady Sarah missed her debut because of the fallout. Outspoken, matter of fact and actually quite clever, Sarah can’t stand Hugh: his personality and hers are oil to water.

When Hugh starts to see Sarah in a different light, he believes his disability will keep her at bay: his own self-esteem is shot to bits, he feels less than manly and cannot imagine his life full of laughter.

The first interactions between Hugh and Sarah are melodramatic, as befitting the females of the family: and while the barbs are sharp, the dialogue is clever and telling, and nothing short of pure entertainment. Of course, this being a romance and we must push the issues: they are in close company with preparations for a wedding, and they must learn to at least exist in the same space.

Slowly but surely their understanding in one another grows, as does their attraction. What Sarah often sees as Hugh being ‘too serious’ is his own lack of faith or belief in his own worthiness as a man. Even more interesting, Sarah barely acknowledges his disability: it wasn’t the reason she didn’t like him, or consider him a possible match.

These two characters are so well developed and detailed, with moments that will bring you to tears when seeing Hugh’s dismay and self-loathing. While not being a highly conventional (for the time) man, he does actually appreciate Sarah’s brain and outspokenness, even if it may give others fits.

Slowly over the course of the book the two manage to discover the hidden gems under the exteriors, as preconceived notions and old hurts are healed and they work toward their own happily ever after. Moments of laughter, tears, anger and joy are thoroughly sprinkled throughout this story, perfectly suitable to read as the introduction to the series as Quinn is careful to provide background information without overloading the reader more familiar with the first two books. I am fast becoming a fan of Julia Quinn, in this second of her titles I have read, the stories are easy and engaging: with enough angst that is resolved by the end to make them the perfect afternoon getaway. In this book, the third in the Smythe-Smith Quartet, we have an unusual hero for most romances of this era. Hugh has a brilliant maths mind, little patience for the niceties of courtship, and a limp sustained in a duel after a night of cards with his best friend.

While Hugh has known the Pleinsworth family for a long time, in fact, the duel in which his leg was maimed nearly resulted in the family’s downfall, and Lady Sarah missed her debut because of the fallout. Outspoken, matter of fact and actually quite clever, Sarah can’t stand Hugh: his personality and hers are oil to water.

When Hugh starts to see Sarah in a different light, he believes his disability will keep her at bay: his own self-esteem is shot to bits, he feels less than manly and cannot imagine his life full of laughter.

The first interactions between Hugh and Sarah are melodramatic, as befitting the females of the family: and while the barbs are sharp, the dialogue is clever and telling, and nothing short of pure entertainment. Of course, this being a romance and we must push the issues: they are in close company with preparations for a wedding, and they must learn to at least exist in the same space.

Slowly but surely their understanding in one another grows, as does their attraction. What Sarah often sees as Hugh being ‘too serious’ is his own lack of faith or belief in his own worthiness as a man. Even more interesting, Sarah barely acknowledges his disability: it wasn’t the reason she didn’t like him, or consider him a possible match.

These two characters are so well developed and detailed, with moments that will bring you to tears when seeing Hugh’s dismay and self-loathing. While not being a highly conventional (for the time) man, he does actually appreciate Sarah’s brain and outspokenness, even if it may give others fits.

Slowly over the course of the book the two manage to discover the hidden gems under the exteriors, as preconceived notions and old hurts are healed and they work toward their own happily ever after. Moments of laughter, tears, anger and joy are thoroughly sprinkled throughout this story, perfectly suitable to read as the introduction to the series as Quinn is careful to provide background information without overloading the reader more familiar with the first two books. I’m thoroughly enamored of the Smythe-Smith Quartet, and can’t wait for the next installment.

I received an eGalley copy for purpose of honest review for the Jeep Diva. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

I just finished skimming through readers' reviews for this book. Interesting to see the range of reactions from those giving 5-stars to those giving 1-star. Many state that they are (or have been) great fans of Julia Quinn's writing, as have I. I have read every book she's written, some of them multiple times. I'd agree that this is not one of her best efforts, but as I came to the end, I do think I might have "gotten" why she said in her provocative dedication: "This one is for me. And also for Paul. But mostly for me." My thought was that in this book, Sarah is the hero (masculine tense intended). In so many Regency romances, women are saved by men. In this book, Sarah saves Hugh. She's feisty. And while Quinn has created other feisty females, I think Sarah may be in a class by herself.

Paid $7.99 for the book at the store and wish I could return it. I have read all of Julia's books and love almost all of them especially Bridgerton series. (You must read those!) What I didn't like about her last two books is that often there are pages and pages of dialog that don't move the book along. Why is it there? I'm an impatient reader. I want every word to move the story along. Yes, she is a great writer and her wit usually shows through all her books... but Julia... skip the meaningless banters and dialog unless they move the story along. I started reading and got as far as the heroines' sisters discussing a book they were writing about unicorns.. on and on and it had nothing to do with the story. Also... I hate to wait so long for romance. I was, after all, buying a romance book. I never got past the unicorns. Ho hum. How about writing more about the Bridgerton's or do another family series... those were the best.

First off, I must say that Julia Quinn used to be one of my favorite Romance authors, along with Julie Garwood, Lisa Kleypas and Jude Devereaux. I have no idea how her fun, heartfelt and actually witty banter has degenerated to such cringe worthy dialogues that the characters literally don't know what to say next and keep interrupting themselves in mid-sentence! Probably because the author couldn't seem to come up with anything worthy for the characters to say either to extricate their trite conversations and storyline out of the series of absurd, nonsensical, and utterly aggravating events that pile up on each other. As others have commented, there is zero chemistry between the Sarah and Hugh, the sisters constant bickering is annoying, the whole situation with Hugh's father was beyond contrived and ludicrous and Sarah's reaction to Hugh's "shocking" secret was utterly embarrassing and painted her as a rather horrible person, which makes you wonder what anyone could possibly see in her in the first place! Even Daniel's anger against Hugh for not telling Sarah his secret made absolutely no sense whatsoever, except to paint him as a selfish ass as well. Don't get me started on the "resolution" of the conflict. Even more asinine and unbelievable than the original conflict. Truthfully, none of the characters other than Honoria seemed remotely lovable. What happened to Julia Quinn?? Is she now ghost writing her books and just trying to cash in on her fan base with mediocre crap? How did this book get 4 stars??? Sorry but there are so many new authors out there, even beloved authors who write crap can lose their fan base. So disappointed!

Julie Quinn's The Sum of All Kisses is a well-written book. In fact, I consider it the best in the Smythe-Smith series. The characters are well-developed so that the conflicting emotions that make stories interesting come out so well in this book. The plot is good and the descriptions made the flow of the story even smoother. Like in Splendid Comets and Anna Karenina, the reader anticipates something fascinating with every page and chapter.

Julia Quinn's 4 1/2 star latest starts slowly with a light tone, but the tale plunges to stunning depths in the later half, making for thrilling and emotionally wrenching reading. Hugh is a damaged hero whose past may move readers to tears, and the love scenes are truly awesome. This is the third book in a series, and while it can stand alone, events that drive the plot are strongly connected to prior books in the series.
Heather Nordahl Files at adcmagazine.com

I really didn't like Sarah's character. I thought she was annoying and selfish and dramatic. I also never felt like she redeemed herself. Even after her cousin tells her she's selfish, she's really just the same person. She was just kind of unlikeable. I liked Hugh but felt he could do better. Even once their relationship developed, it was so quick. There was the mention that they spent a lot of time together talking, but it didn't actually show them talking and interacting. Also, once Hugh and Sarah decided to be together, and Daniel threw in the wrench about his father, that was more easily solved than the story seemed to realize. It was just really dramatic and complicated for no reason, and yet it showed Sarah not to her best again. I don't know . . . I just didn't really like it. I was really looking forward to it, too.

I loved Julia Quinn's books for years, looked forward to each new title, and then they started to go downhill. Saw this one in the store and picked it up, remembering my delight in reading them, but I'm on page 72 and I have to quit. I can't stand Sarah, she's nothing but a spoiled nasty brat and I just don't even want to know what happens to her. I like Hugh but I can't imagine him falling in love with such an unsympathetic character as Sarah, which means the rest of this book is going to be like forcing rocks through a sieve, and just as unbelievable. So this one's going to be donated to the library. Maybe it will save someone with more sense than I have the $5 I wasted on it.

I just related to the characters so much. I love Sarah and Hugh. I love the Pleinworth sisters that were so funny in A Night Like this. I wasn't sure I would like this one because Sarah was not a favorite of mine in the other books, but I fall for her just like Hugh. I like to read books several times before I give them excellence and I have read this one at least 4. The only down side.... we never do learn why "Henry VIII and the Unicorn of Doom" becomes "The Shepardess, the Unicorn and Henry VIII" and where the shepherdess falls into the play. LOL I just love good banter and this book has lots.

Julia Quinn has done it again! This is a lovely, heart warming story with wit, warmth and that lovely sort of joy that wells up slowly until it has burst into a crescendo of happiness. Hugh and Sarah start the book hating each other yet as they find themselves thrown together they learn to love, but also to heal. Witty as ever, Julia Quinn has delivered another lovely escapist romp through Victorian England. Recommended!

There is something about Julia Quinn's writing that hits all the pleasure sensors in my brain. I laugh, cry, love and hurt with her books. She is probably my favorite living author and all I need is to see her name on the cover to grab it up. I could not wait to get my hands on THE SUM OF ALL KISSES and Ms. Quinn did not disappoint. Probably, because Julia Quinn never ever disappoints!

The story of Hugh Prentice and his duel with Daniel Smythe-Smith will never cease to bring pure drama to the pages. It will always be the dramatic, heartbreaking and defining moment of this series. A moment where two young men made a stupid mistake that will define them forever. More than define them they will always carry scars and it seems will keep paying for a youthful mistake.

Well, at least that's what life looks like for Hugh Prentice. Daniel suffered for a long time, but now he is home, back in the bosom of his family and about to get married to the love of his life. Hugh on the other hand is broken. He has a damaged leg and a reputation for being a bit too serious. More than that, Hugh can never dance, never carry a woman in his arms and never feel like he is a complete man.

I loved this book. THE SUM OF ALL KISSES starts with the most ridiculous, melodramatic and irrationally entertaining first meet I have ever read. When Lady Sarah meets Sir Hugh, fireworks fly, words are swung like knives and feelings are hurt. And yet, I laughed. I laughed, giggled and chuckled through most of this book, but that opening is gold. Sarah's hatred for Hugh is melodramatic, but also legitimate and it seems impossible that these two people will ever fall in love.

Then they do. They fall in love, slowly, realistically and oh so romantically. This relationship is similar to Mr. Darcy and Ms. Elizabeth. Their dislike for each other is so strong it seems that only God could change their opinion. But God wasn't needed in this situation, just time and openness. That's what makes these kinds of stories work so well. It quickly becomes obvious that two people are perfect and that misunderstandings could actually keep them apart. It makes you wonder about your own misunderstandings and whom your snap judgments are keeping you away from.
Julia Quinn did a wonderful job with Hugh's injury. It's strange to say wonderful job about something so heartbreaking, but honestly I believed it. I believed Hugh's inner turmoil. The idea that you are alive and you should be happy to be so, but you are not whole. There are certain characteristics that society has made us believe makes us a man or a woman. For a woman it's the ability to have children and for a man it's virility and strength. Hugh's injury takes some of that strength from him.
There is a moment where Sarah falls out of a carriage and Hugh does not have the ability to catch her. His absolute disappointment in himself is something so strong that I felt it in the pit of my stomach. I felt his despondency and his shame. I felt so much sorrow at the idea that he thought less of himself, because of something he could not help. Something that is not his fault.

THE SUM OF ALL KISSES is romantic, funny, heartbreaking, dramatic and charming. Like all of Julia Quinn's books. It is packed with so much drama and entertainment it's hard to put down. A must read.

Rating: A- ... Heat: Warm

Hugh Prentice is damaged, body and soul. Even though he's tried to right all the wrongs caused by that unfortunate duel with Daniel Smythe-Smith--and even though Daniel himself has forgiven and moved on--Hugh can't seem to. It was, after all, all his fault. Just as Daniel having to flee the country is all his fault. Or so he thinks. Hugh has a mountain of guilt to overcome.

Which is not at all helped by one impetuous, dramatic, and... verbal Sarah Pleinsworth. Who just so happens to blame Hugh for her current marriage-less state. In Sarah's mind, Hugh is at the root of nearly all of her problems. When she gets the chance to confront him at a ball, Sarah doesn't hold anything back.

Hugh and Sarah spar and bicker. They push and they prod. With combustible chemistry like that between them, you know it's only a matter of time before their mouths are doing more than throwing out hurtful words. Especially when they're forced to be each others company for two weeks and two weddings. Two weeks full of drama, misunderstandings, and feverish first kisses.

I love, love, love Hugh. Whip smart with a self-deprecating sense of humor, there is both a vulnerability and a toughness to him. Add in his incredible memory and amazing mathematical abilities and, well, you have a nerdy hero my heart can't seem to resist. And Sarah is his perfect match, even if she does take some growing up to finally get there. She realizes her errors quickly and it doesn't take long for her to see past Hugh's limp to his beautiful heart.

The Sum of All Kisses is sweetly seductive. No one does sweet and sassy romances quite like Julia Quinn. Nearly every page has you laughing or swooning. It made it very easy to fall in love with Hugh and Sarah. They may start out not on the friendliest of terms, but watching them fall slowly, passionately in love warmed my heart. Throw in all those meddling cousins and you can't help but be charmed. The Smythe-Smith's--and their extended family--are an eccentric lot. The way they banter back and forth is hilarious and utterly captivating. I can't wait to see who's book is next. (Iris, maybe?)

Honestly, just skip to page 155( paperback ) after that it becomes a better read. I have never read a book more boring. I hated that I couldn't get into unti later on. There was no conversation at all going on and no plot at first and maybe that was because I haven't read the first two books. You know the whole don't judge a book by its cover? I've now learned this. Super cute cover.

This is the first JQ book that I struggled to finish. I love her Bridgerton series and her older novels too. But this one I found boring. The characters weren't interesting and I wasn't emotionally invested in their story at all. The 'bantering' also seemed somewhat contrived and went on for too long, such that there wasn't really much action or real conflict to drive the story. The secondary characters were also a bit blah, and overall, this book didn't leave much of an impression.

The storytelling, characterizations and wordcrafting of the Smythe-Smith novels seem a level lower and less imaginative than the wonderful Bridgerton series. Hope that JQ's subsequent novels will strike a spark again.

I enjoyed this latest from Julia Quinn. I liked the growth from dislike to enjoying one another's company and eventually to love. I like the characters in Julia Quinn's world. They have a sense of humor. I think the love scenes at the end were a bit forced and did not add much to the story. It felt like some editor came back and said, "Make sure they complete the deed before the wedding night."

Having read and enjoyed most of Julia Quinn’s books, it’s really sad to see a dependable author put out a book this poorly written; it seemed more like a rough draft than a finished novel. It seems in her recent books, she has taken the sibling banter from the later Bridgerton books and expanded it more and more until, in this one, it completely took it over. I think this bantering is supposed to be witty and charming. It is neither—it is annoying, boring and very bad writing.
This stupid dialogue fills the book until there’s no room left for things like character development or even plot!! I found I could skim pages and pages without missing anything important to the story. The characters were all shown superficially so there was no depth of feeling, which meant no romance. I couldn’t even tell why Sarah and Hugh suddenly liked each other. Having her sprain her ankle so that she then understood about Hugh’s problem was contrived and silly. This petty arguing (oh excuse me, witty banter) continued even into their love scenes! If there had been any romance or passion that would certainly have killed it. His father was ludicrous. Her sisters added nothing to the story but distraction-- I think they were supposed to be funny. They weren’t.
Another problem was the actual language they were speaking, as well as their behavior and attitudes. It’s supposed to be historical fiction but it is full of glaring anachronisms. This has been a growing problem in her books and reached new lows here. Take out the carriages and corsets and it could have been a modern setting.
So, sorry to say, but good –bye Julia Quinn. There are so many better written books to read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I've been a fan of Julia Quinn for years now and I have sought out and read all of her books. With this story, the heroine, Sarah is an outspoken woman who longs to marry and the hero, Hugh is the typical brooding, quiet type, but along with the usual emotional flaws, he also has a physical one. Normally this would be a turn off for me, but Julia Quinn found a way to weave it into the story in a way that actually made him more loveable and relatable. The story starts off with them as adversaries and then a gradual friendship/attraction grows throughout. I loved the pace, I loved the story and all the supporting details that made up each character. While overall they were both well developed, Hugh is definitely more so. Nice read for Julia Quinn fans. Yes, it's somewhat lighter than some of her other works, but it is still a thoroughly humorous, emotional, and entertaining!

I have enjoyed all of the Smythe-Smith Quartet books. This one was sweet and sassy and full of misunderstanding. The story is predictable but you really root for Hugh and Sara.
I will be waiting for the next book. Love Julia Quinn.

Julia Quinn's books are humorous, thoughtful and calm! The Jane Austen period is so appealing like a universe that probably did not exist but you wish it had! A few non profit organizations would have been good to take up all that leisure time!!!

4.5 stars

This book had me chuckling from the first page or two. I love Julia Quinn's characters. It was a wonderful book. Only took half a star away cause I felt slowed down by the bit with his father but other than that great book!!!

I bought this book for the 2 1/2 hour drive to the southern coast of Georgia. The characters are great, albeit Sarah is WAY to whiny for my taste. It has great plot twists and I am still in love with Hugh. :) It really deserves 4.2 stars

Bland and boring, no real plot to speak of, characters neither interesting nor likeable. It seems the author didn't even really try with this one, just tried to get another book done and out the door.

Julia Quinn writes delightfully funny romantic books. The Sum of All Kisses being no different. I love how she intertwines characters from not just other books, but her other series as well into each book.

Another delightful romance from the talents of Julia Quinn! Watching our couple, Lady Sarah Pleinsworth and Hugh Prentice, go from enemies to friends to lovers was a journey that will please many romance fans. Julia Quinn is one of my favorite authors due to the way she injects humor throughout the entire story and this was no exception. Along with the humor, though, comes a deep sense of family and heart that is guaranteed to make you smile. The action at the end will have you flipping the pages but I did feel like it was a bit out of place and just a little over dramatic. While not my favorite JQ, A Sum for All Kisses was still perfectly proper romance that I was happy to be swept away by.

*review copy*

I don't really know how I want to rate this one. On the one hand, I really liked the story. Probably better than the others in this series. But on the other hand, it was a let down, as far as Julia Quinn's typically go. It was missing the massive amount of humor that I'm used to from her, especially in the series. I guess I'll go with a solid 3 stars, but I'm not satisfied.

Loved the way the story kept going back to his version and then her version. It was great to see what happens "after the story" as in the case of The Incident (meaning The Duel). I am glad that Hugh found love, and in the least likely place ever! Great story, great read, and I hated to see it end.

Julia Quinn's books are humorous, thoughtful and calm! The Jane Austen period is so appealing like a universe that probably did not exist but you wish it had! A few non profit organizations would have been good to take up all that leisure time!!!

4.5 stars

This book had me chuckling from the first page or two. I love Julia Quinn's characters. It was a wonderful book. Only took half a star away cause I felt slowed down by the bit with his father but other than that great book!!!

I bought this book for the 2 1/2 hour drive to the southern coast of Georgia. The characters are great, albeit Sarah is WAY to whiny for my taste. It has great plot twists and I am still in love with Hugh. :) It really deserves 4.2 stars

Bland and boring, no real plot to speak of, characters neither interesting nor likeable. It seems the author didn't even really try with this one, just tried to get another book done and out the door.

Julia Quinn writes delightfully funny romantic books. The Sum of All Kisses being no different. I love how she intertwines characters from not just other books, but her other series as well into each book.

Another delightful romance from the talents of Julia Quinn! Watching our couple, Lady Sarah Pleinsworth and Hugh Prentice, go from enemies to friends to lovers was a journey that will please many romance fans. Julia Quinn is one of my favorite authors due to the way she injects humor throughout the entire story and this was no exception. Along with the humor, though, comes a deep sense of family and heart that is guaranteed to make you smile. The action at the end will have you flipping the pages but I did feel like it was a bit out of place and just a little over dramatic. While not my favorite JQ, A Sum for All Kisses was still perfectly proper romance that I was happy to be swept away by.

*review copy*

I don't really know how I want to rate this one. On the one hand, I really liked the story. Probably better than the others in this series. But on the other hand, it was a let down, as far as Julia Quinn's typically go. It was missing the massive amount of humor that I'm used to from her, especially in the series. I guess I'll go with a solid 3 stars, but I'm not satisfied.

Loved the way the story kept going back to his version and then her version. It was great to see what happens "after the story" as in the case of The Incident (meaning The Duel). I am glad that Hugh found love, and in the least likely place ever! Great story, great read, and I hated to see it end.

This moved too slowly for me. It was predictable and I found myself skimming and skipping ahead because the story left me flat. Not enough tension between the main characters or intrigue in the plot. Although I enjoyed the relationship between the sisters, the love story between the hero and heroine just never grabbed hold of me.

I love Julia Quinn, and so I expected to love this book too. Unfortunately, the heroine made it impossible; she was rude and immature and so bloody irritating that I felt her completely unworthy of a happily ever after. Real pity, because the hero was one of Quinn's best

I loved this book ! The chemistry between the H and h was very good and the dialogues were crisp. Both the H and h seemed real characters with real character flaws which is sometimes missing in romance novels. It was a pleasure to read a good historical romance after a long time.

Beautiful love story. I cannot remember laughing so much in any love story as I did on this book. It has everything I enjoy in a romance book: touching moments, humor, interesting characters, and a satisfying love story between the two main characters. Highly recommended.

I liked the build up, I love this author, her books are a must read for me... but the climax she pulls such a fit because Hugh promises to kill himself if something were to happen to Daniel. Eh. That part not so a fan of, but still a good read!

I am typically a fan of all Julia Quinn's books. This one was awful. The plot feels beyond contrived and the romance poorly crafted. The characters aren't well written enough to be believable let alone compelling enough to cheer for. Every part of it felt forced and a pale imitation of the Bridgerton series. If she didn't have enough good ideas for a decent book she should have let it sit until she did. It felt like the author and publishers were betraying longtime fans reasoning they'd shell out for anything with her name attatched. So greatful I didn't buy my copy.. Based on this I won't be reading the final (still untitled doesn't that raise alarm bells?)book in the Smythe-Smith series.

started out so good Hugh and Sarah and her sisters are fun characters to read. even though the story had a strong start it tapered off a ether e ding was flat for me. still ive enjoyed the smythe smith stories so far.

I haven't been very enthused with the last few Quinn books. This one is no exception - in fact, it fell to new lows. What a disappointment! And that's why it got 1 star. I figure Quinn can only go up from here. It's so sad when another one of my "auto-buy" authors is removed from the list. Will I read her next book? Perhaps. But only if it looks good, and if I can get it from the library.
There were some sweet moments, but many of them were lost in a boring plotline and the over-the-top caricatures that constituted Hugh's family. Honestly, Hugh's family was too much. Quinn spends lots of time sharing what a crazy Hugh's father is. But wait, there's more! The family heir has to have a problem that makes Hugh indispensable. For Ms. Quinn to write about a homosexual character, and reference his homosexuality to a young woman in that time period? Nope. Totally false and it was so awkwardly done that it jarred me right out of the scene. It's like having the heroine start talking "Valley Talk". Utterly ridiculous. Which about sums up my opinion of the book.

Don't bother..what a mess this book was.I don't think I can stand another book in this series.The chatter between the sisters was very irritating..hardly any time for Sarah and Hugh. And the ending was just plain stupid.
Julia was superb in the Bridgerton series and has written a few fairly good books since. But I'm about to give up on her writing. It's not cute anymore..it's just very annoying.
Mary Ann Sawyer

Let me start off by saying I have been a reader of Julia Quinn's novels for several years now. In highschool I discovered some of her earlier works from her adorable Bridgerton series (The Duke and I, The Viscount Who Loved Me, An Offer from a Gentleman, Romancing Mister Bridgerton) and upon finishing each book I always had a grin on my face. As time passed during my university years I would take a quick break from the concentration and intensity of my academic studies to read a lighthearted tale by this author in the form of the Bevelstoke series (The Secret Diaries, What Happens In London). I was disappointed with these, and decided not to spend any more money on buying Ms. Quinn's novels. Now, a few years later, I saw this brand new book at my local library with a pretty cover page and a blurb about the Smythe-Smiths, which I had recalled from her Bridgerton works. Why not give it a chance over the Christmas break, I thought. Upon finally finishing it, I am now writing this negative review because I feel that I thoroughly wasted my time in reading it, so much so that it will be the last book I ever read by this author.

There were several major things I didn't like in the story. The plot was sorely lacking. In short the characters have a flimsy 'I detest you!" relationship before they drop the pretense. The action consisted almost completely of dialog and banter that attempts to be witty and humorous but fails miserably. The prologue was promising but after 200 pages I was bored. In short they move from one wedding celebration to another, during which time the main characters get to know each other with meaningless fluff and chatter punctuated by quirking of brows. The climax of any novel should generally be riveting but I was close to snoring with this one. It was held in a nearby inn with a villain whose actions were more of a joke than anything else.

Secondly, the grammar was deplorable. Many times there were phrases that were repeated in the same paragraph for emphasis. In one case, the hero states over and over within one page that he loves the heroine, but this is overdone in my opinion. Words and descriptions should touch the soul, not hammer away like a bludgeon to the head. I also found that there were a few instances where connecting words were missing and I would have to mentally add the word into the sentence while reading, which was very annoying. If it was not a printing error, then the editor should have caught these mistakes. Whenever this happens with books, I usually give up and don't waste any more of my time reading it, but I know Ms. Quinn is very talented, so I persevered. Like an essay though, these are easy but critical ways to lose points as well the reader's trust in the intellect of the writer.

The characters were bland to the point that I probably won't remember their names a few months from now. I do appreciate the fact that the hero is not the typical alpha male but is one living with a physical injury and its limitations that make him feel sorry for himself and not worthy to be a husband to any gentle young lady. The heroine appeared selfish and annoying to me, so I didn't really care for her. But my main issue here is that there didn't seem to be an emotional connection that pulls the two people together. There was nothing really special about the couple that pulled at my heartstrings, which is the whole point for why I read romance novels. I want to laugh, cry and rage at the characters for all of their winning moments as well as their faults and then fall asleep dreaming of their happily ever after. All I found between them was boring babble after which they came to understand each other. Other than that, there didn't seem to be any other action in the plot.

Sadly this is the book that has crossed Julia Quinn off my reading list for good. Usually I read a historical romance in between other genres like fantasy, science fiction, mystery or contemporary, but I was so dissatisfied with this one that the next one I plan to read is not the complex Atlas Shrugged (whose first page held more interest to me than this entire book did) as I had planned but A Knight In Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux. I guess I just didn't get any of the satisfaction that I usually expect from historical romance with this one, so I'm going to try a classic romance tale that has received rave reviews before moving on to more serious literature.

I LOVE Julia Quinn. I love every single one of the Bridgertons and I am very familiar with the Smythe-Smiths. I have read most of her books and I have to say, the excitement I felt leading up to this release was wasted.

Slight Spoilers ahead...

So, you have Sarah and Hugh. Hugh was mentioned in Daniel and Ann's story because it was the duel between Daniel and Hugh that forced Daniel to flee the country and Hugh's dad to go all psycho and try to have Daniel killed.

Daniel's back, Hugh's dad isn't going to kill him and now...we have Hugh. Hugh is left lame (which I believe isn't much nicer than crippled, Sarah Pleinsworth but, whatever) in one leg. After some horrible innuendo about Hugh's older brother and the rightful heir never having a wife because well, he'll never marry *wink wink* because you know "those sorts" don't marry *nudge nudge*. (Eventually they just come out with why he won't or can't marry although it's incredibly awkward and a waste of time imho).

More spoilers...

So, it's left to Hugh to continue the family line. Unfortunately he hasn't bedded a woman since his accident. In comes Sarah, the one girl who cannot forgive the stupid duel. She's just Daniel's cousin but because she had to go into seclusion for a year or whatever, she cannot forgive Hugh.

Eventually they get over this hatred of each other because obviously they are the two main characters and they have to hook up and fall madly in love with each other. The audience knows this so why even bother to provide real dialogue for more than a few convos or some semblance of romance/a real relationship.

I guess that is one of my biggest problems. The relationship felt forced. They COULD have made a good couple, if the time had been put into it. Half of the book is spent with them disliking each other (for stupid and forced reasons) and then in like 20 pages they are madly in love.

Also, the conflict in this novel was completely ridiculous and absurd. What's even worse? The solution. Complete drivel. Completely unbelievable, completely ridiculous and a complete a waste of my time.

So, all of that equals me getting a refund on the book and one very unsatisfied customer.

It could have been really good. Hugh and his eidetic memory were extremely interesting.