jjares reviewed Four Weddings and a Sixpence: Something Old / Something New / Something Borrowed / Something Blue / ...And a Sixpence in Her Shoe on + 3413 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
It is pleasing to see that all of these stories are new to this edition. I'm only familiar with the work of Quinn and Guhrke; not the other two authors. There's an intro by Julia Quinn, setting the scene for the four stories to follow.
Generally, I buy anthologies that are several (or many) years old. This book was published in 2017 and all but the last story had a sex scene. I think sex scenes in Regency short stories are ridiculous because the couple barely has time to find each other before the story is over. Thus, I was disappointed in this book. It just wasn't realistic. From now on, I will read the reviews before I purchase newer publications because I think the authors have gone too far. I don't think I'm a prude; the sex scenes just seemed jarring.
SOMETHING OLD (Julia Quinn) --
This prologue to the four succeeding stories introduces the four misses at Madame Rochambeaux's Gentle School for Girls. When they find a very old sixpence in a mattress, they hope that they can use it as a lucky coin to find future spouses. This short intro sets the stage with Anne, Cordelia, Elinor, and Beatrice.
SOMETHING NEW (Stefanie Sloane) -- 3 stars
This is a story about Anne Brabourne who isn't interested in marrying but must find someone or her guardian/uncle will take her to the country to live out her days. She only has six weeks until her 21st-birthday. That is the cutoff for finding a marriage partner. Anne is looking for a man she can manage and live apart from; her parents' marriage was tumultuous and drama-riddled (until their deaths when Anne was 12).
This story was entertaining until the end when sex was brought into the equation -- prior to their marriage. I didn't understand the need for it. It was a startling event that really didn't fit in with the sweetness of the very thin plotline.
SOMETHING BORROWED (Elizabeth Boyle) -- 4 stars
Cordelia has been telling her elderly (meddling) aunts that she's engaged; the only problem is that she isn't. Now, she's to go to Anne's wedding (the previous story) and must present her intended groom to the aunts and Anne. Cordelia remembers her childhood friend; they planned great world adventures and even formed an explorers club. When Cordelia goes to ask Kipp to help her out, she finds out that he did no adventuring, he was the spare that became the heir. He has a title but no money and must marry to save his estate.
Cordelia comes at an inconvenient time; Kipp was getting ready to engage himself to a wealthy woman. There is no love between them, it is a business trade; her fortune for his title and position. However, at the last minute, both Kipp and his younger brother both accompany Cordelia to the wedding.
SOMETHING BLUE (Laura Lee Guhrke) -- 4 stars
This story intertwines romance with a mystery; Lady Elinor Daventry needs some help. Her former fiancee, Lawrence Blackthorne, is pursuing Elinor's father for treason. The couple broke up because of Elinor's conviction that her father was blameless about the poor-quality guns that killed innocent soldiers.
Elinor was hoping the coin would help her secure a marriage to someone who could stop the inquiry in its tracks. But Lawrence steals her good-luck coin and her life seems to spiral out of control. Although the inquiry and trial will probably kill Elinor's love for Lawrence, he sees no other choice but to pursue the case because he is a man of honor.
AND A SIXPENCE IN HER SHOE (Julia Quinn) -- 5 stars
Beatrice Heywood takes the coin reluctantly because she doesn't want to marry. Her two elderly aunts took her in when Bea's parents died of smallpox and she is dedicated to taking care of them now.
However, Bea inadvertently bumps into a very damaged person -- Lord Frederick Grey-Osborne. This is a delightful story about a spinster and a shell-of-a-man. Bea loves astronomy and Frederick studies theoretical physics. Bea's excitement awakens Frederick's heart. A wonderful story.
**Favorite stories to least -- Quinn, Guhrke, Boyle, Sloane.
Generally, I buy anthologies that are several (or many) years old. This book was published in 2017 and all but the last story had a sex scene. I think sex scenes in Regency short stories are ridiculous because the couple barely has time to find each other before the story is over. Thus, I was disappointed in this book. It just wasn't realistic. From now on, I will read the reviews before I purchase newer publications because I think the authors have gone too far. I don't think I'm a prude; the sex scenes just seemed jarring.
SOMETHING OLD (Julia Quinn) --
This prologue to the four succeeding stories introduces the four misses at Madame Rochambeaux's Gentle School for Girls. When they find a very old sixpence in a mattress, they hope that they can use it as a lucky coin to find future spouses. This short intro sets the stage with Anne, Cordelia, Elinor, and Beatrice.
SOMETHING NEW (Stefanie Sloane) -- 3 stars
This is a story about Anne Brabourne who isn't interested in marrying but must find someone or her guardian/uncle will take her to the country to live out her days. She only has six weeks until her 21st-birthday. That is the cutoff for finding a marriage partner. Anne is looking for a man she can manage and live apart from; her parents' marriage was tumultuous and drama-riddled (until their deaths when Anne was 12).
This story was entertaining until the end when sex was brought into the equation -- prior to their marriage. I didn't understand the need for it. It was a startling event that really didn't fit in with the sweetness of the very thin plotline.
SOMETHING BORROWED (Elizabeth Boyle) -- 4 stars
Cordelia has been telling her elderly (meddling) aunts that she's engaged; the only problem is that she isn't. Now, she's to go to Anne's wedding (the previous story) and must present her intended groom to the aunts and Anne. Cordelia remembers her childhood friend; they planned great world adventures and even formed an explorers club. When Cordelia goes to ask Kipp to help her out, she finds out that he did no adventuring, he was the spare that became the heir. He has a title but no money and must marry to save his estate.
Cordelia comes at an inconvenient time; Kipp was getting ready to engage himself to a wealthy woman. There is no love between them, it is a business trade; her fortune for his title and position. However, at the last minute, both Kipp and his younger brother both accompany Cordelia to the wedding.
SOMETHING BLUE (Laura Lee Guhrke) -- 4 stars
This story intertwines romance with a mystery; Lady Elinor Daventry needs some help. Her former fiancee, Lawrence Blackthorne, is pursuing Elinor's father for treason. The couple broke up because of Elinor's conviction that her father was blameless about the poor-quality guns that killed innocent soldiers.
Elinor was hoping the coin would help her secure a marriage to someone who could stop the inquiry in its tracks. But Lawrence steals her good-luck coin and her life seems to spiral out of control. Although the inquiry and trial will probably kill Elinor's love for Lawrence, he sees no other choice but to pursue the case because he is a man of honor.
AND A SIXPENCE IN HER SHOE (Julia Quinn) -- 5 stars
Beatrice Heywood takes the coin reluctantly because she doesn't want to marry. Her two elderly aunts took her in when Bea's parents died of smallpox and she is dedicated to taking care of them now.
However, Bea inadvertently bumps into a very damaged person -- Lord Frederick Grey-Osborne. This is a delightful story about a spinster and a shell-of-a-man. Bea loves astronomy and Frederick studies theoretical physics. Bea's excitement awakens Frederick's heart. A wonderful story.
**Favorite stories to least -- Quinn, Guhrke, Boyle, Sloane.
