Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn

So this was taking a break from my more serious reading for a easy and relaxing book.  I enjoy Julia Quinn's novels so much because:
1. They are set in Victorian England
2. They always end happily
3. The characters are always likable, with the male protagonist always being someone I find immensely attractive

None may ever be considered the "Great American Novel," but I read for enjoyment, and these always deliver.

Just Like Heaven follows Honoria Smythe-Smith and Marcus Holroyd, Lord Chatteris along their path to finding love. If you have ever read Julia Quinn, then you are no doubt familiar with the Bridgerton family. In many, if not all, of the Bridgerton novels, there is referenced the Smythe-Smith musicale. This is a family tradition among the S-S's for the unwed, but "out" young ladies to play in a quartet and perform every season. Honoria is a self-proclaimed terror on the violin, but plays in the quartet to honor tradition. She has an older brother, Daniel who has been best friends with Marcus since the Victorian England equivalent to high school. During school holidays, Marcus, having no family but a very cold and distant father, would join Daniel and the Smythe-Smith clan. That is where Honoria and Marcus met, oh so long ago, when she was an annoying younger sister and he just felt lucky to be included in a big warm family.

The present finds Honoria getting ready for her third London season, Daniel frightened out of the country by a duel gone wrong (which you can learn more about in Julia Quinn's A Night Like This), and Marcus having sworn to Daniel to not let Honoria marry the wrong man. Marcus has so far scared- or paid-off several suitors from previous seasons who weren't up to par, when Honoria and her friends have a house party and invite the same number of bachelor guests. Honoria hatches a plan to have a beau come rescue her from a feigned sprained ankle, but Marcus, who lives just miles from the house party, stumbles upon the plan and the ankle injury first.

In a dramatic turn of events, Marcus ends up very sick and bedridden. His housekeeper writes to Honoria, who, along with her mother, dashes to his bedside. There she discovers that his sickness was not caused by her ankle sprain trap but rather and infected wound. She and her mother clean and dress the wound and save Marcus from amputation. Other those days of sitting by his bedside, Honoria learns that she no longer feels for Marcus as a brother, but indeed has fallen in love with him. Marcus, so thankful to have been cared for so thoroughly by Honoria, thinks he might feel more for her too.

However, in typical Quinn style, it can't be that easy. Marcus receives a letter from Daniel announcing his return to England. When Honoria finds it and reads it herself, she learns of Marcus's promise and now thinks that she has always been a burden to him and that his new interest in her is because of his responsibility.

The end of the novel finds Marcus at the S-S musicale, trying to court his lady love, who storms out because she is confused by his attentions when she thinks she is only a burden. He follows her to explain, which happens to be to her bedroom. They make love, confess their love for each other, and then are engaged (after Daniel comes home to find them kissing in the hall and punches his best friend in the face).

Like I said, I enjoyed this book. However, it did read like so many of Quinn's other novels. Sometimes the story lines are very similar. The characters, though likable, where replications of many of Quinn's other characters. Marcus isn't a rake like many of the other male protagonists, but his pride and brooding traits reminded me of other characters. Honoria was a bit of a let-down as far as heroins go. The beginning of the story mentions her love of books, but we don't see this side of her anymore. Most of her character revolves around her love of upholding family tradition by playing the violin (badly) in the musicale. She falls in love with Marcus because she likes to feel needed, and he falls for her because he's never had someone care (literally) for him the way she does. I feel like Honoria could have been an Army nurse and Marcus a soldier for the part their identities played in their love story. Their individual characters did not seem strong enough to support a more exciting or dramatic story to be told.

The book was entertaining, but I probably won't remember much about it except the gruesome details of how Honoria and her mother cut off decaying skin and pus-filled welts from Marcus's leg wound. And you are welcome. Time for pizza!