I got very tired during last 100 pages of Miranda feeling sad that Turner won't say he loves her and of Turner feeling guilty for not being able to say it. Endless rounds of same thing all over again. Blah.

This particular plot device that we run into from time to time never fails to irritate me. It may just be me, but I simply cannot relate to the idea that life is ruined because someone won’t say the 3 Magic Words. If I tell someone I love them, it should be a simple gift, not said in expectation of hearing the words said to me in return. Of course it’s wonderful if the words are returned, but there are lots of ways to express love. Turner was not a to-die-for hero, but he wasn’t awful either. Once he finally married Miranda, he was pretty darn wonderful to her except for saying those 3 words. So suddenly Miranda morphs into this total stranger because he won’t say the words. Everything else he says and does is rendered irrelevant. When I see this in a book it’s as if conflict has been created because it’s time to have conflict.

I’m glad to know that this was written some time ago. I think JQ’s plots have become much more sophisticated, and so I’m keeping her on my auto-buy list. And because I really, really did enjoy the bulk of the book, I’d be more likely to give it a B-.

Terrific review, Jayne, and except for the final verdict I quite agree with you.

Yes that is the excerpt I read, and now that you have confirmed Turner is one of those heroes who’re just being difficult for the sake of being difficult, I think I’ll borrow this book. I hate that dead ex-spouse is pure evil thing, I can walk on books from here to China for every one that has this sort of villain. Authors, we need new plots!

Not when he had already indicated that it wasn’t “desire” that had led him to kiss her.

But I’m totally nitpicking. JQ is an AMAZING talent and I won’t hesitate to pick her up again. I guess like you I was just a little disappointed. And would have been less so if I knew it was an older book.

Turner's a problem. She sets him up wonderfully at the funeral but then there's something missing and I don't think we're given a good reason for Miranda's feelings to persist. Although there is the saying… you can't help who you love.

Well, there’s that brief moment when Winston might be making a move to catch Miranda’s heart and, for a nanosecond, it looks like she might let him try. But of course we know that Turner is supposed to be the hero so in reality, I knew that romance was going nowhere fast. By books end the only reason I could think of for Miranda to still be in love with Turner is what you say….a heroine can’t help what her author’s plot tells her to do.

Colleen, you're correct about when JQ intially wrote this book: 1994 with extensive rewrites in 2006

And that makes so much sense. I’m a new fan of JQ. I basically inhaled the Bridgerton books. When I read this I thought either she had to write this much faster or…. it read like some of her older books where she was still finding her sea legs.

Turner’s a problem. She sets him up wonderfully at the funeral but then there’s something missing and I don’t think we’re given a good reason for Miranda’s feelings to persist. Although there is the saying… you can’t help who you love.

My only gripe… I wish I would have known that this was an older book going in. I still would have bought it. As a reader I LOVE to grow with an author. See how their voice evolves, their skill as storytellers grow, etc.

Colleen, you’re correct about when JQ intially wrote this book: 1994 with extensive rewrites in 2006.

Jayne’s right. I’m a woman of mystery. Bwah.

But here’s a tidbit about the book: I attended a JQ signing last summer at an independent bookstore and she did a little talk, and answered some questions.

When she was asked about her next project (this was, of course, a signing for On the Way to the Wedding), she said she was working on a duo of books to be released back to back about a Duke of Somewhere (which, you’ll note, is promo-ed at the back of Diaries), and that because she was only used to writing one book a year, she was anticipating that Avon would release a book she’d written awhile ago (she didn’t say when, or how long ago)…and I’m guessing that book is The Secret Diaries of Miranda Cheever.

(And in light of the dedication at the beginning of the book, I’m even more convinced that’s the case.)

Of course, I know Ms. Quinn sometimes comes around here, so maybe she can confirm or deny whether that’s the case. But I thought it might be interesting to know that this book, in all likelihood, was at least conceived and written in at least some form, before the Bridgerton books.

BTW Bam, are you going to settle on one avatar or can you just not make up your mind?

No. :)