What Happens in London (Bevelstoke Series #2)

Loved it!

I absolutely love Julia Quinn! I will admit I was a little dissappointed in her last two books, but this one makes up for it. I loved it!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Solid.

First I must say it is great to read a romance book that does not have some shirtless man with a waxed chest on the cover. Don't get me wrong...my new found love for romance novels have brought me nothing but joy...but darn if those covers aren't shame inducing sometimes. So I must praise the cover because I can read it in public with getting smirks from strangers.

Now on to the book. There is not much to say but that I enjoyed it a lot. I started this book at 3pm, by 9:30 I had finished it...this is how much I loved/enjoyed reading it. Not that it was the greatest romance novel ever written, but had everything I liked in romance novels.

1. A non typical story. Yes they are all about the same. Two people meet, they hate each other, then they love each other, they fight, then they make up, get married and have babies. But even while having some of the same cliches..it managed to appear fresh. And it did not have the typical plot contrivances and misunderstandings to keep the two main characters apart for no sensible reason but unneeded angst...which always just annoys me and makes the characters look dumb.

2. Witty banter. I love clever dialogue. I love funny and sarcastic quips. This book was full of them and had me chuckling throughout at almost every page. Both the hero and heroine of the book were smart and plucky and slightly odd. I loved them for it.

3. The female was strong. Se was not sniveling or trying to hard...she just was and she was relateable. This goes a long way.

All this conspired to make the book loads of fun for me, and when I am having fun...books get devoured. This was a kind of book that is great when you just want something fun and light to brighten up your day or otherwise humdrum week. My only complaint is that I would have liked to go more into Harry's family situation and some of the secondary characters more.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Very Fun To Read

The story is very funny and easy to read with steamy interludes to indulge the senses! Loved It!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

unworthy

This book was so disappointing. "London" had amost no plot, and would'nt even make a good short story.I have all Ms. Quinn's books, so obviously
I'm a big fan-but I'll wait to buy the next one until I read the reviews.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Review by: "The Reading Reviewer" (www.marygramlich.com)

What I love about this book by Mary Gramlich - everything!

When you are a perpetual gossip like Lady Olivia Bevelstoke and you hear that your new neighbor Sir Harry Valentine is a potential fiancée killer you have to kick it up a notch and turn into a spy of some sort even though Olivia is not a very good sneak and an even worse spy. So Olivia decides keeping track of him through her bedroom window is a brilliant idea since she can see into Harry's bedroom with a nice, clear view even if this is not the proper thing to do. The problem for Olivia is Harry is working for a spy office and while he is not in the covert side of it he is still involved enough to have a few tricks up his sleeve and when from day one he sees her he is able to out-maneuver her tactics and figures two can play at this game and play they do. They court, argue, dance and burn up the night with long talks and book discussions through their open windows - or at least that is what they are leading everyone to believe.

This matchup is great since Olivia is outgoing and Harry reserved but both are competitive individuals and when a Russian prince comes to town to court Olivia and invades Harry's space well the game just went into overtime. A normally laid back Harry becomes ferocious in his pursuit of Olivia and while he is still recovering from the effects of his service in her Majesty's Army as well as the drama of growing up the child of an alcoholic Harry is more than prepared to take this contender on especially with his first class knowledge of Russian thanks to his grandmother. What Harry also discovers is something new never thought to obtain - unconditional love. Olivia turns out to be not only a beautiful and somewhat chaotic surprise for Harry but a wonderful breath of fresh air in his stale life.

I have yet to encounter a Julia Quinn book that is not first class, well written and just to perfect for words. I question with each new book if she can produce another hit and she does time and time again. Not with a loud roar but with a soft word and gentle manner that has just the right combination of romance and love on every single page. Always pick up a Julia Quinn book, sit back in your chair, sip your tea and realize you will not stop reading until the book is concluded.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

She is back!

Julia Quinn's funny, engaging style is back! After the lackluster "Lost Duke of Wyndham/Mr. Cavenish" books,I was not sure how I would receive "What Happens in London". With "What Happens in London", Julia has again produced a book equal to the standard set by the delightful , funny and re-readable "Romancing Mr. Bridgerton".

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Another Quinn Romp

Great read. A good story with serious and humorous moments

Great Escape.

Novel was great historical novel that is a fantastic escape read.

Good read

Loved the humor.......laughed out loud alot

Loved this Book

Julia Quinn does not disappoint. Charming and witty characters. I laughed out loud on several occassions. Didn't want to put it down. I could reread this one!

Charming and Funny Regency Romance!

Julia Quinn has done it again! "What Happens in London" is a charming regency romance with laugh out loud moments. I LOVED the characters and the situations they found themselves in, and could barely put the book down. This has to be one of her best books. Fantastic!

What I love about this book by Mary Gramlich - everything!

When you are a perpetual gossip like Lady Olivia Bevelstoke and you hear that your new neighbor Sir Harry Valentine is a potential fiancée killer you have to kick it up a notch and turn into a spy of some sort even though Olivia is not a very good sneak and an even worse spy. So Olivia decides keeping track of him through her bedroom window is a brilliant idea since she can see into Harry's bedroom with a nice, clear view even if this is not the proper thing to do. The problem for Olivia is Harry is working for a spy office and while he is not in the covert side of it he is still involved enough to have a few tricks up his sleeve and when from day one he sees her he is able to out-maneuver her tactics and figures two can play at this game and play they do. They court, argue, dance and burn up the night with long talks and book discussions through their open windows - or at least that is what they are leading everyone to believe.

This matchup is great since Olivia is outgoing and Harry reserved but both are competitive individuals and when a Russian prince comes to town to court Olivia and invades Harry's space well the game just went into overtime. A normally laid back Harry becomes ferocious in his pursuit of Olivia and while he is still recovering from the effects of his service in her Majesty's Army as well as the drama of growing up the child of an alcoholic Harry is more than prepared to take this contender on especially with his first class knowledge of Russian thanks to his grandmother. What Harry also discovers is something new never thought to obtain - unconditional love. Olivia turns out to be not only a beautiful and somewhat chaotic surprise for Harry but a wonderful breath of fresh air in his stale life.

I have yet to encounter a Julia Quinn book that is not first class, well written and just to perfect for words. I question with each new book if she can produce another hit and she does time and time again. Not with a loud roar but with a soft word and gentle manner that has just the right combination of romance and love on every single page. Always pick up a Julia Quinn book, sit back in your chair, sip your tea and realize you will not stop reading until the book is concluded.

Mary Gramlich is The Reading Reviewer located at www.marygramlich.com

Only Julia Quinn can start a book off with a son cleaning his fathers puke and make it GOLD!!!

I am thoroughly smitten with ALL of Julia Quinn's novels. This particular one was full of that fun,quirky and romantic style that is Quinn and I loved this book.

It starts off, like I said, with Harry Valentine digressing on the short comings of his childhood and family. He gives accounts of various instances including anecdote about his DRUNK of a father, his uncommon fluency in all things Russian (thanks to his Grand-mere) and the morbid humor of knowing exactly how many times he cleaned up his father's 'sick'. Decided in an instant, after the commencement of his final term at school before college (in oxford), Harry takes his neglectful mothers advice and joins his cousin Sebastian in buying a commission and heading off to war. After a while, Harry begins to work for the war office, translating Russian text into English. There is a rumor started that he murdered his fiancee (which isn't true), and after moving in next door to the Bevelstokes, he becomes not only the topic of discussion in every drawing room in the neighborhood, but the object of some innocent surveillance by the daughter of the family , Olivia.
They meet face-to-face at a ball, and after some embarrassing innuendos of peeping tom's, both Olivia and Harry become rather 'put-off' by each other. Harry would of just left Olivia alone after that (despite the fact that he found her very alluring), but she was currently being courted by a Russian Prince with a questionable history who was being investigated by the war office; so because of Harry's proficiency in the culture and language, he is 'forced' to follow her around and see if she is connected as well while keeping tabs on the Prince.
This is a romance book, so obviously, during this incognito surveillance and spying, Harry finds himself smitten with Olivia as much as she is with him. He quickly determines she is not involved but now he must focus on the mission of figuring out the mysterious exiled Prince. After some nail-biting moments involving guns, abductions and abandoned music room dalliances, The story concludes with a very sweet and romantic ending.

My favorite part in the book: Is during one of the undercover missions, where Harry pays a call on Olivia to 'return a book' and their visit is interrupted by none other than the Russian Prince. He joins them in the drawing room and then during the conversation Olivia asks the prince to say something in Russian for her. He says something and then when asked what he said, he translates it as "Only that you are more beautiful than the oceans,sky, and fog". But Harry, knowing Russian too (though that detail isn't known by anyone for fear it may compromise the mission), knows that what the Prince really said was "Iam going to pump you until you scream'.

morbidly humors indeed. I laughed so hard after reading that, it was so unexpected and just thrown into the scene of the two suitors viing for Olivia's attention....

Overall, it was very well paced and exciting, with just the right amount of romance to make it a personal favorite. Even though the drama of the abduction was saved for the end and therefore did not really develop as much as it could have been, I still found the ending endearing and touching.

READ IT!!!

*Also check out the previous and 1st novel in the Bevelstoke series 'The secret Diaries of Miranda Cheever'
*And also pick up your copy of 'Ten things I Love About You', Sebastian's story, in stores May 25t

What Happens in London... What a Read

Let me start out by saying that Julia Quinn is a master at her craft. I could not help but smile and laugh out loud continuously while reading this book.

That being said, let me say that Harry Valentine is one heck of a man. There is something beautiful and vulnerable about him. He is not your typical bad boy or reformed rake. He is not a stereotypical male character. I loved reading his "perceptions" throughout the book.

As for Olivia, I really found myself torn about her character. There is no doubt that she is a quirky, fun character. However, I found her irksome at times. Might just have been me.

The book focuses around a fun, intriguing plot. For me, the end of the book (though not the actual end-end) was a bit "off". I do not want to spoil the ending, so let me just say that Olivia's response to the climactic events near the end irritated me.

However, this has nothing to do with Quinn's style of writing. She created well-developed characters who made me laugh. I will admit that certain parts were far-fetched in their eccentricity, but it was all in the name of a good laugh.

A must read if you are a Julia Quinn fan!

Fun and Endearing ROmance

This is another winner from Julia Quinn! The book is fast-paced, lively, and has endearing characters. It was loads of fun to read! I love her books and look forward to the next one!

Predictable

This book was cute how they would talk through the window. It was pretty predictable but a good read.

Great biij

Loved it!

Okay

I was really looking forward to reading this but it was okay. Kind of force myself to finish it.

What Happens In London

From Back: When Olivia Bevelstoke is told her new neighbor may have killed his fiance, she doesn't believe it for a second, but still, how can she help spying on him, just to be sure? So she stakes out a spot near her bedroom window, cleverly concealed by curtains, watches, and waits...and discovers a most intriguing man, who is definitely up to something.
Sir Harry Valentine works for a boring branch of the War Office, translating documents vital to national security. He's not a spy, but he's had all the training, and when a gorgeous blonde begins to watch him from her window, he is instantly suspicious. But just when he decides that she's nothing more that an annoyingly nosy debutante, he discovers that she might be engaged to a foreign prince, who might be plotting against England. And when Harry is roped into spying on Olivia, he discovers that he might be falling for her himself...

I love Julia Quinn. Her books always have humor in them. I have to admit I fell in love with this book from the moment I saw the ad. on YouTube. I hope Sebastian's book is just as good.

Hilarious!

From the moment the two main characters started interacting, I could not stop laughing! Once you start reading, you will not be able to put the book down. I highly recommend this book. This is my first novel from this author, and now I have a feeling I will be reading more of her novels.