Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn

Back Blurb:

HONORIA SMYTHE-SMITH IS:
A) a really bad violinist
B) still miffed at being nicknamed "Bug" as a child
C) NOT in love with her older brother's best friend
D) All of the above

MARCUS HOLROYD IS:
A) the Earl of Chatteris
B) regrettably prone to sprained ankles
C) NOT in love with his best friend's younger sister
D) All of the above

TOGETHER THEY:
A) eat quite a bit of chocolate cake
B) survive a deadly fever AND world's worst musical performance
C) fall quite desperately in love.

It's Julia Quinn at her best, so you KNOW the answer is...

D) All of the above

My Thoughts:

Overall I thought this was a fun book. I loved getting to know one of the infamous Smythe-Smith girls which are mentioned in just about every Bridgeton book written. After all the Smythe-Smith Musicales are major events that everyone goes to even though the music is so terrible it bring tears to most listener's eyes. 

I found Honoria and Marcus well suited for each other. They balance each other very well. She is loyal to family (which is why she plays in the musicales despite the fact that she knows they are really bad) and Marcus has no family. She is often outspoken and outgoing where he is most likely to be quite and reserved. 

The witty banter between Honoria and Marcus is typical Quinn and quite entertaining. As a matter of fact the dialogue between not only the two main characters but with most of the characters was probably my favorite part of the book.

I also liked time frame some of the scenes were written in. Meaning that Honoria would experience an event then we would be privy to the same event through the eyes Marcus.

What I didn't like, however, was the moment they realized they loved the other. They each had their own moment and both of the character's inner dialogue described it almost cheesy. The world stopped a lot. I expected to read that angels were singing. This part of the book really was too sugary for me.

I also noticed that on a sizzling hot sex scale this book would be warm possibly even luke-warm. There was one sex scene which was found almost at the end of the book which was described non-graphically. Normally I am all about hating books that have too much graphic sex but found in this case it was the complete opposite. I would have liked a little more. Or at least, if the sex wasn't there the romance should have been showcased more. There was romance but I think for lack of hot monkey sex there should have been more. 

Overall I would say that this was a decent book by a great author.