Wednesday 3 August 2011

Book Summary: Just Like Heaven - Julia Quinn

I was walking around a bookstore near by, and i saw this book. Julia Quinn's Just Like Heaven.
I remember few weeks ago, I posted a summary on one of Julia Quinn's Bridgerton Series, and wrote that she's going to release a new series on the famous (not-so famous) Smythe-Smith Girls..

As many Julia Quinn's fans know, any  Smythe-Smith girls, as long as they are still single, will play at the performance. This was a tradition after all. They held musical performance anually, and to say that the performance rocked was overrated. It was horible. But the society are trying to be nice, and some people attended this musical because they felt pity to the Smythe-Smith girls.

Basically, this book is about the youngest Honoria Smythe-Smith. In her family, which has 4 kids, she's the youngest. The age gap between her and the nearest kid is 5 years old. Since she was little, she's the most chatty from all. Her one and only brother, which is around 8 years older, Daniel, always consider her as a trouble, and tried to avoid her the best that he could.

Daniel had a very good friend, named Marcus. While Daniel is really good at ignoring Honoria, Marcus is just the opposite. He can't bear seeing her ignored. He knew exactly how it felt to be lonely. He will, at the end, bring Honoria to play with him and Daniel. Ofcourse with Daniel's grunts. And so, Honoria is always well taken cared. Until one time, Daniel did silly thing, and forced to run away to Italy to save his life.

Before he left, Daniel make Marcus promise to take care of his little sister. And Marcus kept his promise. He scared all man who's not suitable for Honoria, the old man, the fortune hunters, and any one whom he felt not appropriate for her.

One day, Honoria was visitting her cousin, Sarah Royle. And she bumped into Marcus in the street, or to be exact, Marcus saw her drained over the rain. This brings the old memory back, how they used to tease each other. They were so close.

Actually, Honoria's planning to get married before the end of the season. That's why she agreed to visit Sarah. Meeting Marcus was quite good. But, she needed to be focus, and as she set her cap for Gregory Bridgerton (yes, the youngest boy of Bridgerton family), she need to work her plan.

When the boys (Gregory and 3 other men) were hunting, Honoria made a mole hole. She planned to make her ankle twisted, in a way, so that her future husband, Gregory, could save her in time. But Marcus turned out to be around, and saw the whole thing. He was quite delighted and amused at her plan. Anyway, when he planned to help Honoria out from the hole, he got himself trapped, and his ankle got twisted. He was too heavy for Honoria, and his leg hurts like hell when he tried to walk. His house was 3 miles away, but Sarah's  house was nearer. So Marcus asked Honoria to go home and write a letter to his house, asking his valet to pick him up.

It started to rain, and probably Marcus was under the rain around 2 hours before he was picked up. On the other hand, Honoria slept over exhausted. The next day, Honoria felt obliged to visit Marcus. However she's the one making the hole, he felt into it, and so she's the one guilty. She visited Marcus, and quite pleased as he seemed to be better.

Honoria went back to London. And after few days, a letter arrived from Marcus' helper, saying Marcus was in very bad condition. Honoria became worried, and forced her mother to go with her visitting Marcus. At the end, they both went. And turned out that his condition is really bad. He's hot and high in fever. Out of curiousity, Honoria wanted to see his ankle, and surprised to find it swollen. The doctor missed this, and it was really bad, that Honoria knew they had to clean the wound for him.

This is when Honoria's mom become the hero. She forced herself to do the surgery, cutting through the dead skin, and at one point, Honoria replaced her. The doctors, coming around 1 hour later, was satisfied that they did a very good job. But he still suggested to let Marcus' leg amputated to save his live. Honoria can't bear the mind that she's responsible, and she might be the one making decision whether to save his leg or let it to be cut.

Marcus survived, and getting better. Honoria helped him through the recovery stages, and this is when she realize that she love him. On the other hand, Marcus thought that it was quite pleasant to have Honoria around, she seemed to knew his mind well, and he knew he loved her.

One day, a letter came from Daniel. He's coming back. Honoria's mom is quite pleased, and require to return back to London as soon as possible. The next day, Honoria was planning to write a letter to Marcus, saying that they're leaving. She saw Daniel's letter to Marcus, and thought a short peek will be okay. But she read the letter, and found out that Daniel forced Marcus to take care of her, and these were the reason why Marcus went to London although he hated to be there, and why Marcus scared off her suitors. She felt miserably sad. And wrote plain letter saying her goodbye, and went back to London broken hearted.

Not knowing what happen, Marcus went to London. He's planing to court Honoria, but he never did this kind of courting before. Honoria still felt hurt, and reject Marcus' courtesy as gentle as she could by saying she's busy.

On the day of the musicale, Lady Danburry saw that Marcus couldn't put his gaze away from Honoria when the Smythe-Smith Quartet played. And on another time, she saw Honoria couldn't resist looking at Marcus and Felicity Featherington. Lady Danburry knew she had to do something. She called Colin Bridgerton, and twisted the conversation, and left Colin alone with Honoria. Colin was really attractive guy, and Honoria found her self enjoy his presence. She might even felt in love with Colin if Marcus hasn't captured her heart.

Marcus couldn't stand looking at how Honoria smile, laughed, and chat with Colin. He was really pissed. So he grab Honoria's arm, and with not so politely, said to Colin that he needed to talked to Honoria. Seeing this, Colin simply smiled and moved out. Honoria was still curious at Marcus, and went out after saying her words to him. After a few second, Marcus decided to go after her and set things right.

And things does get right at the end. Daniel's back, and Marcus and Honoria get married. But ofcourse, you've to read the book to know how the proposal went! Surely you'll enjoy it as much as i do :)

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