ASIN: B009NF6Z84
ISBN-13: 978-0062072931
Publisher: HarperCollins
Line: Avon
Release Date: Oct 29, 2013
Pages: 384
Digital Retail: 7.99
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Genre: Historical
Heat Level: Hot
Rating:
From Julia Quinn, the New York Times bestselling author of steamy historical romances, comes the third seductive installment of the Smythe-Smith Quartet, The Sum of All Kisses.
Sarah Pleinsworth can’t forgive Hugh Prentice for the duel he fought three years ago that nearly destroyed her family, sent her cousin fleeing, and left Hugh himself with a badly injured leg. That’s fine with Hugh, who can’t tolerate Sarah’s dramatic ways. But when the two are forced to spend a week together, they find that unexpected kisses, and mutual passion, may have the power to change both of their minds.
Written with Julia Quinn’s trademark style, The Sum of All Kisses is a witty and lighthearted Regency romance.
Review
In the third book of the Smythe-Smith Quartet, we have Sarah Pleinsworth a Smythe-Smith cousin asked to bury the hatred and hatchet she has for Hugh Prentice. Hugh is responsible for the duel that sent a Smythe-Smith, the hero from book 2, Daniel into exile.
What I really enjoy about this book is that the hero isn’t just a strapping young man with no worries. He’s a man that will always walk with a cane and has some major damage in his leg from the duel he fought with Daniel. In a way he’s paid for the disastrous duel as much as Daniel has. For Sarah, Hugh is a curse on her family. He’s caused far too much suffering over the past several years. Hugh has some secrets though that provides him with no reason to want to live. His character truly arcs in amazing ways when he and Sarah finally get over the old animosity. I also like Hugh because he reminds of a big growly bear, when calmed he’s just a cuddly teddy.
Sarah is definitely one of those women who tend to be a bit overdramatic about things. She also romanticizes things a lot. What I loved in this book is that Sarah truly grows from her young woman ideals into adult woman ideals. In my eyes this character transformed from her first words to her last. I don’t know how, but when I read her voice and her internal thoughts at the start of the story I found her childish. As she gets to know Hugh and their relationship morphs she becomes more adult in her thoughts, more focused, which makes her character transformation amazing.
This latest book covers the weddings of the first 2 couples who fell in love so far in the Smythe-Smith Quartet. So for readers covering the series you’ll find this book answers some questions, and cements the HEA for our previous heroes and heroines.
Overall, plot and pacing are good with plenty of lighthearted banter and some, wouldn’t-be-a-Quinn-book-without, slightly unrealistic situations with hilarious results. Quinn serves up a nasty villain as well, which is something new for me in her books. I didn’t think she had villains up her sleeve, but this story proves she does. As the Smythe-Smith Quartet winds down I can only wonder which lucky lady will be the one who finds love in the last story
Reviewed by Landra