Looking back at it now, it was a really solid reading year. I mean, it did its usual (for me) thing and meandered its merry way, here and there, up and down, and in fits and starts across the span of all twelve months. But it really did shape up nicely. Which is a good thing, because it was—shockingly, I know—another year in which we so desperately needed the authors and books and words of the world to come through for us. And they did, didn't they? I am, as ever, so grateful for them and their willingness to push through every barrier and battle that I know must try to keep them from putting their visions on paper. And so, as has long been my custom, I record here my list of published books that saw me through the year. Gifts, every one. (listed in the order in which I read them) The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake Bride by Ali Hazelwood You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian Once Persuaded, Twice Shy by Melodie Edwards Lucky Bounce by Cait Nary Lips Like Sugar by Jes...
That's the perfect image of Brisbane! I love the background as well.
ReplyDeleteAnd congrats cqueen2!
I just finished reading the first in this series and I really liked it! :D
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree about the picture, she did a great job!!
Li, the background is great, isn't it? *love*
ReplyDeleteSamantha, yay! I'm so happy to hear that. What were your favorite parts? ;)
I think I really enjoyed Raybourn's prose more than any one scene. It was very fluid and I liked Julia's reflections about everything that was going on around her. She was open-minded but still very much like a young lady of the time. I hate it when characters feel like they're from the 21st Century when they aren't. Raybourn did a great job mixing her "eccentric" upbringing with what it must have been like growing up during Queen Victoria's rule. Even Brisbane remarks how she's not like most of the women he knows. ;)
ReplyDeleteI loved the characters, too! :)
Her siblings are great. From Belmont to Val (even little things, like the exchange between the two sisters when Portia brings her dog to Julia's house had me laughing out loud).
I have the next one on order from the library, so hopefully I'll be catching up soon.
I went to the author's website and it says her next book is not part of the Julia Grey series, so I'm excited to see what direction she goes while we wait for Julia's next adventure.