Comments on Book Binge: Review: The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever...

I'm writing up my review now. I think I liked it a...

2009-07-05T10:18:10.967-07:00

I'm writing up my review now. I think I liked it a bit better than you because I didn't find the second half so surprising. I thought there were clues earlier that Turner would freak out and avoid Miranda after they have sex, and she does make things hard for him by refusing to marry him and letting her butler kick his ass (she also punched his face, didn't she)? Anyway I didn't find him irredemable/her a dishrag. What I wasn't a fan of was the last quarter though when it was like: when will this book end? The whole "he hasn't said he loves me" and his doing so only after the baby was born was just annoying/cliche. So in the end I'd say 3.75 out of 5.

I too found the elements of "old skool" romance mi...

2009-06-30T06:42:59.670-07:00

I too found the elements of "old skool" romance mixed in the book to be out place, although I couldn't put my finger on what was off until I started rereading my old "keeper" box of Woodiwiss, early Coulter and Quick, etc. Holly's review captured the incongruities. I started writing my first book in 1994 and finished last year, so now I wonder if I have the same problems!

Holly, I feel exactly the same way about this book...

2009-06-30T05:18:15.351-07:00

Holly, I feel exactly the same way about this book and to me it comes from how much it feels and reads like an old school novel.

I am glad that JQ departed from this - all of her other books are so different from this one, INLCUDING, thank God, the "sequel", What Happens in London

This was definitely a roller-coaster book for me a...

2009-06-30T05:06:15.905-07:00

This was definitely a roller-coaster book for me as well. Liked parts of it, disliked parts of it.

An inconsistent read with lots of potential that were never realized. That's what I seem to remember.

I'm reading What Happens In London. It's been a while since I read one of her books. :)

I remember it as very definitely a miscarriage (an...

2009-06-29T21:44:59.696-07:00

I remember it as very definitely a miscarriage (and how would they even be able to tell it wasn't actually a pregnancy in those days?) and I had the same negative reaction to their lack of reactions. -- willaful

Tracy, I'm saying I adored it. :P Booklover, It s...

2009-06-29T20:07:55.726-07:00

Tracy, I'm saying I adored it. :P

Booklover, It seems the book has gotten equal reviews - good and bad. I honestly didn't realize I'd disliked it so much until I started writing my review. Then I couldn't remember much but the negative parts. I seem to recall thinking, after I finished it, that I'd probably give it a 3.5.

Tabitha, I took it to mean that her mother explained to her about miscarriages, and therefore she didn't freak out over having had one. I could be mistaken though. If you're correct, I would feel quite a bit better about that part of the book.

Pam P and M., I really enjoyed What Happens in London. I thought it was so much better than this book. I think you'll both enjoy it.

'Cheever' was my first (hopefully only) Quinn DNF....

2009-06-29T19:56:00.745-07:00

'Cheever' was my first (hopefully only) Quinn DNF. I quit reading the moment he chucked something at her through a window (and hit) in a sulky fit. Making me think twice about 'London', even though I love me a clever title.

I never miss a JQ book, but I agree with your revi...

2009-06-29T19:41:59.566-07:00

I never miss a JQ book, but I agree with your review, Holly, felt the same way about those inconsistencies.

All the grievances you listed on the review came u...

2009-06-29T18:49:09.644-07:00

All the grievances you listed on the review came up for me as well but I enjoyed the book despite them. I read TSDOMMC awhile ago so correct me if I'm wrong but I thought Miranda said that she wasn't ever pregnant, that her body showed the symptoms of pregnancy but they proved false?

Holly, Have to say kind of surprised by your revie...

2009-06-29T16:05:44.278-07:00

Holly,
Have to say kind of surprised by your review. I loved Miranda Cheever and was one of my fav JQ novels of all time. It was a solid 4 for me.

So...what your saying is you liked it, right? lol ...

2009-06-29T15:11:18.684-07:00

So...what your saying is you liked it, right? lol

While the book certainly wasn't perfect for me I thought JQ wrote some extremely emotional scenes that really grabbed me. There were definitely times I wanted to beat both h & h to a pulp but I still loved it.

Liked your review. :)