Picture this!  An author creates a series of stories (The Bridgertons).  Yet a common thread throughout each book there is one event the characters protest, object to, complain about…well, you get the …picture.  And say, for example…it’s set in the Regency era, and, um… suppose it’s a musicale.

Yes! Yes, that’s good, a musicale.  Better still, a Quartet.  These characters—young and old—loathe to attend because the musicians—excuse me!  I meant Quartet, are all unmarried, yet debuted young women.

And uh—tone deaf.

Yes.  I said tone deaf.

So, the brilliance in Julia Quinn’s new book (I pray is a series) has done just that. Honoria Smith-Smythe is a determined and quite untalented violinist.  But as an unmarried, already out debutante, family tradition requires she take her place in the Quartet until such time she marries.  She grits her teeth in a firm, bright smile and plays.  Why?  To make her mother proud, of course.

Marcus Holroyd, the Earl of Chatteris, is an unusual hero.  He is a brooder (not so unusual), strong (okay, that too is not so unusual).  Somewhat shy and introverted (definitely, unusual).  When he trips in a hole (also unusual) , Honoria has dug to create a theatrical show intended for herself, he ends up spraining an ankle in the silly thing.  Worse, when the doctor cuts off his beloved Hessain boot, he apparently stabs his leg.  Marcus almost perishes from the infection, but for Honoria and her mother’s unexpected medicinal treatments.

But, in truth, it’s their long standing friendship from childhood that brings their situation to life and love.  Uh, and the fact that  if Marcus can sit on the front row and proudly root on this woman on through such ear-splitting trauma.  He deserves the title of ­—

HERO!

So, rather than “picturing this” in your head, try “picturing this” in your hands.  It is such a fun and lovely story, you’ll be glad you did.  And certainly worth the read and the eventual reread.   ­— Kathy L Wheeler