Customer Reviews

Minx

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The author's typical Regency with a lightheartedness that makes her even more readable than others with her style -- like Cathy Maxwell, Christina Dodd, Suzanne Enoch. A Light Read.

After reading "Dancing at Midnight," I wasn't so sure I'd be a huge Julia Quinn fan. But reading "Minx" has made me a believer.

We learn about Dunforn in "Dancing at Midnight," and definitely want to see him find the love and happiness that Alex, Emma, Belle, and John have found. He's such a likable guy and the whole storyline is unique and fun.

If I could change one thing about this book, I would change the heroine's name. I know it was supposed to original, but having her have a blatantly male name was a bit disconcerting. And to think of Dunford crying out "Henry" in ecstasy was a bit too much for me. :) Other than that, the book was wonderful.

Henry was a lovable, free-spirited original. Her lack of care of society's rules made her one of my favorite heroines. I loved her blunt speech and ability to win everyone over. She seemed a bit immature in the beginning when she was trying to make Dunford leave Stannage Park, but I guess that was intentional. She grew as a character throughout the story.

Just like in the first J.Q. novel I read, the sex scenes in "Minx" left a lot to be desired. There was a lot of heartfelt passion, but not alot of physical action to back it up. The sex scenes are pretty dull and there's not alot of description in those. If you're looking for some really scintillating stuff, read any Nicole Jordan novels. If you like the softer stuff, then J.Q. is definitely for you.

This book opens with a solid romance story. Gaiety and revelry develop into a delightful, humorous adventure. Our hero, the notorious London rake, Lord William Dunford, has inherited a prime piece of English property from a distant relative. Upon his arrival, he discovers the precocious, hoydenish Henrietta "Henry" Barrett. Only to find this little woman has maintained his estate quite successfully. The playful banter between our soon-to-be lovers is delightful. Usually, Julia Quinn draws her female characters as strong, capable woman and here is no exception, Henrietta is an enchanting young woman. Quinn's hero, Dunford, is a babe -- strong, caring -- a woman's fantasy. Sadly, all good things end. Our smoldering couple should have stayed on the estate.

Quinn changes the location and we adjourn into old London Town. A city filled with manipulators, schemers, and gossips. This move brings the novel's fun to an end. The innocence falls apart, to the reader's disappointment. Our happy friends begin to mistrust and misunderstand each other. Yes, I realize doubt and delusion are par for the course in romance reading, but the author is guilty of dangling this frustration too long. Quinn misplaced the merriment and the words became work.

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

I loved this book, Ill never forget the first time I read one of Julia Quinn's books, I looked at the back cover and saw that face of a little girl ...and thought I am getting very old, how can she write like my old favorites (Rosemary Rogers etc.), and having not read in over 10 years, I thought no way can this girl write...and she proved me wrong, in every one of her books...I LOVE her ... I fell in love with them all.. In addition, after reading every book she writes ...I look at that /sweet/smug smile of hers on the back cover and smile back at her ...and think...life is still good, I still get my romance ... and it is even better then before. Cant judge a book by its cover or um back cover that is. *wink*

In her third novel-the completion of an entertaining trilogy-Julia Quinn follows the fortunes of William Dunford, a warm, urbane and handsome gentleman who inherits a small estate in Cornwall from a distant relative.

Traveling from his home in London to survey the rustic paradise, Dunford meet Henrietta "Henry" Barrett, the highly independent and unconventional beauty who's been virtually running the estate for the past six years (since she was fourteen). Wearing men's clothing and always boldly speaking her mind, Henry is about as far from a ton lady as one can get.

Henry has already determined that the new owner and her new guardian is a threat to her happy, independent life in Cornwall, so she cooks up every scheme possible to get rid of him. What she doesn't count on is his goodness-his warmth, integrity and tolerance-that makes her fall in love.

Dunford is stunned by Henry's genuineness and by the force of his feelings for her-he never dreamed such emotion was possible for him. But just when he's about to make her his own, he finds out that he's her legal guardian-and thus obliged to give her the feminine training and brilliant season in London that will attract endless male admirers.

The sexual and emotional tension between Dunford and Henry is explosive, and it's a pleasure watching how they eventually unite. Their final conflict is particularly moving. Quinn has written another witty and entertaining novel with enough steam to whisk the reader breathlessly to the end. Already loads of fun, Julia Quinn gets better with each subsequent book.

I enjoyed the story, Julia Quinn has always been one of my favorite authors. Her books are always a "Great Read".

I know this is one of Julia's earlier works, but this book is far from being the charming read that others claim it is. While "Henry" the heroine is likeable enough, sometimes she's just plain irritating. She has a way of prattling on and says the most random and insipid things at the most initimate moments, that it makes you want to scream! I know this is supposed to be a part of her charm, but it's mostly just annoying.

Dunford the hero is--well, bland. We're told he's charming and a bit of a rake, but we never really see it, so he's not terribly convincing as a hero.

I also agree with some of the other reviewers in that the book was about 50 pages too long. I didn't even read those last pages because the story naturally ended when he proposed to her.

All in all, this is not a terrible read, but from what I understand, the author has better written and more enjoyable books to chose from.

I've read all of Julia Quinn's novels except "Everything But the Moon". I thought nothing could top the Bridgerton series, but I seriously, seriously, seriously enjoyed this book.

"Splendid", "Dancing at Midnight", and "Minx" are connected through the characters, but in my opinion "Minx" is the best of the three. It follows the story of the orphaned Ms. Henrietta Barrett who by a twist of fate ends up as Dunford's ward. Henry's a spunky girl and quickly has Dunford's character tied up in knots. There are a lot of hilarious situations and heartwarming moments, although, like another reviewer mentioned, the whole thing with Dunford's mistress could have been avoided, but I guess Quinn wanted a keener emotional arc in her story, thus this segment in the novel.

"Minx" is only as wonderful if you have read the previous stories of Alex and Emma, and John and Belle. It's heart-warming to revisit old friends from other novels, something that Ms. Quinn does frequently in her novels.

I highly recommend this book,as well as the rest of Ms. Quinn's work. She combines wit and humor with sensuality and sweet romantic moments. Her characters are believable, and British aficionados will enjoy the Shakespearean and literature of the time references.

I got bored with some parts of it and found I could get easily distracted and put the book down and come back to it, which with her Bridgerton series I refused to put the book down until I was finshed. I found both characters charming and the story was fun but it was not Julia Quinn's best book.

I'm not quite so sure that I would agree with anyone that the last 50 pages were unnesessary. I personally enjoyed the book in it's entirety.

I look at it this way, you wouldn't believe the stupid things that my husband and I find to argue about and how personally we can take things sometimes. If we had been using half the sense our mothers gave us when we were born, we would have never gotten ourselves into such messes in the first place. Like: "I actually believed that spam email was from another woman!" (This has acutally happened before!!) And my husband would really believe "that annonomous 'someone has a crush on you' was from my boyfriend I keep stashed away under the bed!" (This too has happened to us.)

So, to be honest, I related Dunford's and Henry's feelings during the conflict of the last 50 pages. I thought it brought added excitement to the book personally.

As always Julia Quinn has brought her readers a wonderful book that will have you smiling and giggling for days after you've read the last page. Her stories are so enduring and funny, you can't help but remember each character as if you really know them and share their dreams, passions, pain, sorrow and laughter.

Another MUST read... thanks Julia!