A delightfully platonic friendship between Emma and man-about-town Dunford (who finally gets a story of his own in Minx).An incredible friendship between Emma and her beautiful cousin Belle that is better than any other friendship between women I have read in a romance.The growing relationship between Emma and Alex, which starts out at a fevered pitch as it is, and continues to grow and grow.Without plot, without conflict, what does this book offer, you ask? What a breath of fresh air to read a book in which the hero is not particularly tortured! There is no major conflict going on, although Emma certainly does involve herself in several scrapes that require the intervention of her harried hero. How could I be? I was too busy laughing and fanning myself! And, those that require meaty plot-lines might not appreciate the lack of action here. Julia Quinn”s flair for dialogue is apparent, although sticklers of historical accuracy might have trouble getting past the ”90”s vernacular. If you can read the dinner scene and keep a straight face, you must be dead. I”ve read it several times and it never fails to bring on hysterical laughter. There is one scene in particular that had me grabbing a box of Depends. When he discovers his mistake, his decision to teach her a lesson starts us on a mad-cap series of interludes that will have you laughing out loud at one moment and needing a cold shower in the next. They meet when he mistakes her for a maid and steals a kiss. He is a green-eyed, dark-haired rake with a reputation as an incredible lover. She is a feisty, red-haired beauty whose American sensibilities are like a breath of fresh air in Regency London. Julia Quinn”s debut romance relates the tale of American heiress Emma Dunster and Alexander Ridgely, the Duke of Ashbourne. But there”s not much to get in the way of the romance between surprisingly well-adjusted characters and their non-dysfunctional ways. There’s a touch of I Love Lucy thrown in for good measure, and some steamy love scenes. Just as Jerry, Kramer, Elaine, and George can spend a half hour entertaining us while doing essentially nothing, Julia Quinn”s debut novel is a delightful romp with very little in the way of story-line. Splendid is a splendidly, witty, wicked, and sexy read.

(originally published on January 25, 1997)

Splendid by Julia Quinn