Absolutely marvelous.
585219
Sir Harry Valentine has been fluent in English, Russian, and French since the age of twelve. After years in the Army, Harry now rents a residence south of Rudland House. The War Office often delivers documents to Harry which needs to be translated to English quickly. Harry spends most of his time in his office doing these translations; however, he keeps getting distracted by the fact that Lady Olivia Bevelstoke keeps standing at her window staring at him. Harry has no idea whether she is just a curious debutante or is actually a spy. After a couple of meetings Harry decides Lady Olivia is neither a spy, nor kind. In fact, Harry decides he does not like her at all.

When Harry is summoned to the offices at Horse Guards in Whitehall he knows the reason cannot be good. A Russian prince is visiting at the same time that three known sympathizers of Napoleon are in town. It is rumored the prince's late father had favored Napoleon, but no proof was ever found. It is also rumored that his fortunes have diminished and the prince seeks a bride. He has been paying much attention to Lady Olivia. Thus Harry has been ordered to keep an eye on the prince and to make sure Olivia did not unwittingly commit treason. As Harry spends time with Olivia he finds that she is not as cold and remote as he had assumed. Olivia is full of humor and mischief. Perhaps Harry's mission will not be as boring as he had once believed.

***** FIVE STARS! This story overflows with humor to help offset the serious spy content. Harry gives Olivia "a lurid gothic novel" that had been recommended by his sister. Over half of this story is sprinkled with hilarious gems from the gothic novel (which Olivia demanded Harry read and suffer through too). I absolutely could not hold back my laughter as the pair verbally rips the story to shreds often. Once again the author, Julia Quinn, shows readers how her story-telling talent puts her on the Best Seller lists so often. Absolutely marvelous! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
413942
This thing was SPECTACULAR, just 10 stars. Well worth every bit of time and money invested. This is one of those books that you can't wait to return to each day, and I was genuinely sorry to finish it. I'm so glad I bought it, and you will be, too. By no means a prurient tell-all, but focused, gentle, probing, absorbing, and flat out entertaining in every way. Tragic, yes-but utterly fascinating. Way to go, Mr. Guinn.
2108045
loved it. If I could, I would rate it 10000000000000 stars, but I can't. words can't describe it... it was that good.
2221692
I found it extraordinary.  So beautifully executed.
3456921
Oh, my goodness!  Fascinating.  Absolutely fascinating.  Thanks!
51496
Astonishing, outstanding, lovely. God bless Christopher Tin ,orchestra, singers, choir. I am looking forward to see them at Rome Italy
2075448
Absolutely beautiful, inspiring, glorious.  Need I say more?
3630181
Absolutely a must read . What a wonderful story.
2107419
I am not normally inspired to write reviews, but this book was so good that I feel compelled to.

Immensely clever plot and the characters, in all their complexity, really came to life.

Do yourself a favor and read it.
4579986
I just loved this Series. This season like the ones that follow are beautifully crafted, wonderfully deep relationships, entirely credible and played out with taste and skill. I can not say enough good things about the story , the acting, the relationships nor the delightful complexity and seductive intrigue of this wonderful Television experience. More please.
1827502
Absolutely wonderful, product and delivery and service.  Very precise.
4844878
Absolutely fabulous, just keeps getting better and better.
2442911
Within a page of starting Home Economics for Girls I had slowed down to approximately the reading speed I use for people like Kant and A.J. Ayer. Not that it's hard to follow, at all - but there is a level of enjoyment above which one just has to prolong the experience, and I didn't want to miss a syllable of this wonderful book.

Tabitha Tickham is a wonderful character, with something of the quality of a catherine wheel that's not been adequately nailed to the fence. You do not know where or how she will explode next. Despite this larger-than-life quality, she is eminently believable, as is her older sister, the serious and faintly pompous Violet. There's no false sentiment here - they are depicted with ruthless honesty and a deep understanding of what childhood is really like.

Violet may or may not be fat and smelly. We do not really know whether her little sister's gibes are fair comment, or merely the taunting of a pre-pubescent sibling. Similarly, we do not really know what Marcus looks like, and yet he is unmistakably there, a massive, sighing, philosophical houndish presence.

This was one of the things I particularly appreciated about Wright's work; very seldom is anything really described in any detail, yet the entire book has a richly visual quality. The reader is allowed to supply. To do this, and do it well, requires a sureness, a lightness of touch and a mastery of language that is rare in any case, but extremely rare in a first novel.

There's a madness to the sequence of events, a dreamlike inevitability that tells us that of course a cake left on the window sill to cool will be knocked out of window; what else?

Wright has demonstrated, not only a fertile brain and the ability to produce a richly satisfying story, but a command of his craft that makes every sentence a joy. I cannot wait for more.
1083830
I sample a lot of books and read far more free ones. This one is worth so much more than the paltry sum requested for purchase. Admittedly, I'm only a tad over a third through, but I would have written the same accolades even earlier; and I doubt not that my endorsement will ring louder at its close.  The writing itself is phenomenal: characters, scene, commitment to details. And oh the language! Truly akin to the best of our masters of yore! I do not doubt tbat the remainder of this tale will please; I simply want you to enjoy it even before I have finished... and moved on to read more of this extraordinary  writer.
2864218
Absolutely wonderful. Read all other reviews n all nice things said are true.
1812142
Smooth, thick, luxurious, lustrous.  Simply wonderful.
1265657
So great, you'll be astonished at how much better this is than all of the rest.