Review: "An Offer From a Gentleman" by Julia Quinn

• Title: An Offer From a Gentleman
• Author: Julia Quinn
• Genre: historical romance
• Language: English
• Series: Bridgertons #3
• Characters: Benedict Bridgerton, Sophie Beckett
• Setting: London England, 1817 (UK)
• Date Finished: 2014/3/10
• Stars: ★★★★★
• Favourite Quotes:

"It suddenly made sense. Only twice in his life had he felt this inexplicable, almost mystical attraction to a woman. He'd thought it remarkable, to have found two, when in his heart he'd always believed there was only one perfect woman out there for him.

His heart had been right. There was only one."

---

"In her heart she longed for this man, dreamed of a life that could never be."

---

"A man only got one shot at declaring himself to his true love; he didn't want to muck it up completely."

• Review:

This is the first Julia Quinn book I read and it started the phase that is "historical romance binge"... 

It all started when I signed up for Goodreads and discovered that some of my facebook friends have already signed up. Although most of them only signed up and barely used it, Jen (of course, the avid reader!) is an frequent user and has posted Julia Quinn books on her status update. I got curious and clicked on one of them and it was a Julia Quinn book on the Bridgertons. After checking them out, I decided to read the 3rd installment of the Bridgertons.

Then it got me HOOKED!!

I have to be honest... I'm a sucker for Cinderella story and my favourite girl movie "Ever After" basically sums it up... This historical romance is actually quite similar to the linear narrative of "Ever After," down to the fact that one of the two stepsisters is actually kind to the cinder girl.

The heroine, Sophie, is a bastard daughter of the Earl of Penwood. Her mother was maid at the household of the earl and she died shortly after giving birth to Sophie. Sophie's grandmother then deposited her at the doorstep of the earl along with a letter telling him that Sophie is his daughter. The earl took her in as his "ward" even though everyone knows that it's not true. She was clothed and educated as a nobleman's daughter, but without the status. However, it all changed when the earl remarried and then went ahead and died. (Just like the movie "Ever After"..) Ever since then, Sophie was degraded to be a servant and never being able to get out of the house as she didn't know she had a dowry set aside by the earl.

The hero, Benedict, is the second son of the Bridgerton family. He is quiet and the artistic one. Since he is the second son, there is no obligation for him to succeed on the viscountcy and he does seem content to what he is given. The Bridgerton boys are a close-knit bunch and they all look similar so everyone around just call them by their numbers... (which Benedict hates).

They met during the ball hosted by Dowager Viscountess Violet Bridgerton and since it's masquerade, they all have masks on. Benedict fell head over heels in love with Sophie without knowing her identity and only thought she's a lady from a mysterious background. Sophie thought she would just enjoy this one night for the rest of her life, but Benedict is very much besotted and actually tried to look for her, from the glove that she left at the ball.

As chance happens, they met again, when Benedict saves Sophie from being violated by her employer's son (Sophie had run away from the Penwood household and worked odd jobs to make ends meet). They fell madly in love and eventually Sophie was recommended by Benedict to work for his mother, the Dowager Viscountess.

Finally, Benedict found out that Sophie is actually the mysterious lady but then was furious with her so he kinda left her in the middle of the argument to cool off... Sophie thought it's over so she quit and left but before she was able to leave the Bridgerton's household, she got caught by her step mother Araminta and then sent to jail. Then the knight in shining armor that is Benedict realizes that he was being a dick and should just love her as she is came rescuing her. All is well and they got their HEA.

This is the book that caught me completely off guard in the historical romance genre. It got me started reading this genre furiously again since when I was in university. I remember I went through the same historical romance phase in university and devoured all the books by Julie Garwood and Judith McNaught.

I love the humour in this book and Julia Quinn really knows how to crafts a story that is moving and refreshing at the same time. The sex is not too blatant and just sensual enough to make you swoon just a bit.

Benedict's frustration with his profession and his reluctance to accept Sophie is a bit annoying but I guess it's normal for a man of his status. He doesn't necessarily HAVE to marry well, but there is always the social consequences and gossips that he has to endure. 

The ending is very satisfying and I would love to read more of their story... Since Quinn also wrote the 2nd epilogue for these Bridgertons... guess it's not over yet for these two!

Review: "Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)" by Suzanne Collins

• Title: Catching Fire
• Author: Suzanne Collins
• Genre: young adult, dystopia
• Language: English
• Series: The Hunger Games #2
• Characters: Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, Primrose Everdeen, Gale Hawthrone, Effie Trinket
• Setting: District 12, Panem / Capitol, Panem (U.S.A)
• Date finished: 2014/1/31
• Stars: ★★★★☆

Review:
I had read the first book "The Hunger Games" when I went vacating in Hawaii in February 2012 during the company retreat. I thought it would be a great beach read and it certainly was!

I remember finishing the book at Kailua Beach and just starred at the ocean for awhile. Then when I got back to the city, I went to Barnes and Nobles in Ala Moana Mall and bought the hardcover version of "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay."

I don't usually buy hardcover books as they are heavy to carry and I usually don't finish books that are heavy...(except for Harry Potter). But I thought that I would give them a try as hardcover copies were the only available ones at the time.

As soon as I came back to Tokyo, I leafed through the first chapter of Catching Fire and then put it at the night stand then simply forgot about them.

Until the time when "Catching Fire" the movie came out. Ooops, I better read the book before the movie...

Unfortunately, the movie was screening in limited theatres in Japan and I waited until after the new year of 2014 to finally watching it. After I saw the movie, I decided that, enough is enough, time to finish the book!

Then I read the book in 2 days.

My favourite part would have to be when they visit the districts and Kat grow to be closer to Peeta. I understand all the PTSD effect and that they only have each other to rely on because of the trauma but the romance sure is taking a long time to grow for them. Even though Kat "pretends" to be in love with Peeta, I think it is pretty clear that she cares about Peeta more than she cares to admit.

The premises on all the victor tour and what happens to tributes after they become victors are interestingly described. In "The Hunger Games," we only get to see few victors and what they are like... namely Haymitch... and he's not the best representation you would want to see. However, the idea that they need to be "further make-over'd" is a little bit weird. But I guess that goes to prove how Capitol people are to be "entertained" by these victors, sans their own.

Of course I cried at the part when they went to Rue's district 11 and they all saluted to Kat using the same gesture when Kat said farewell to Rue when she died. It's one of the images that will haunt you as you read.

The second time around of Hunger Games, the 75th game turned out that the tributes will be drawn from past victors. Of course this is the President Snow's plan to get rid of Kat and it's obvious as she has become a symbol rebellion that has been occurring since Peeta and her have won the game last time around. It's great to see the past victors of other districts and getting to know about the other districts a bit more.

Overall, this is a good continuation of the first book, although I do agree with many people that the first book is good enough to be a standalone book.

What I have got so far... (books 1-18)

1. Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) by Suzanne Collins
2. Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3) by Suzanne Collins
3. An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgertons, #3) by Julia Quinn
4. Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Bridgertons, #4) by Julia Quinn
5. The Duke and I (Bridgertons, #1) by Julia Quinn
6. The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgertons, #2) by Julia Quinn
7. To Sir Philip, With Love (Bridgertons, #5) by Julia Quinn
8. When He Was Wicked (Bridgertons, #6) by Julia Quinn
9. Then Came You (Gamblers, #1) by Lisa Kleypas
10. Dreaming of You (Gamblers, #2) by Lisa Klepas
11. Secret of a Summer Night (Wallflowers, #1) by Lisa Kleypas
12. The Duke (Knight Miscellany, #1) by Lisa Kleypas
13. The Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred
14. It Happened One Autumn (Wallflowers, #2) by Lisa Kleypas
15. Devil in Winter (Wallflowers, #3) by Lisa Kleypas
16. Again the Magic (Wallflowers, #0.5) by Lisa Kleypas
17. Scandal in Spring (Wallflowers, #4) by Lisa Kleypas
18. A Wallflower Christmas (Wallflowers, #5) by Lisa Kleypas

Currently I am reading the first Hathaway series book "Mine Till Midnight" by Lisa Kleypas.

Boy, that's alot of historical romance... lol.

2014 Reading Challenge

After discovering the site "Goodreads," I started getting recommended by the site for all these books that I have yet to read.

The site encourage people to start a reading challenge so I thought I would start one for myself.

Although it's a bit ambitious, I thought I would start out with an even number: 100 books.

Let's see how long this will last.

Hopefully long! :)