What Happens in London

Olivia Bevelstoke could have anything she wanted. She's a good-looking young girl of respectable birth and large dowry. Her parents trust her judgment, and have allowed her to refuse unacceptable marriage proposals. She is free to gossip with friends and visit her best friend, Miranda (who also happens to be her new sister-in-law) - which is all precisely why she thinks her life is dull. So, when a girlfriend mentions that Olivia's new neighbor may have murdered his fianc?e, she latches onto this information and starts spying on Sir Harry Valentine.

Sir Harry doesn't think he's as interesting as his neighbor does. He works for a dull branch of the War Office as a translator. Growing up, Harry lived with his overbearing grandmother, who refused to speak in languages other than French or Russian. Thus, Harry speaks both as fluently as English, which is why he was so desirable to the War Office. This is also why he is charged with watching Russian Prince Alexei, and monitoring the Prince's interest in his neighbor.

Olivia sees the situation with Prince Alexei as flattering, but she is not interested in the Prince's flirtations while Harry is still suspect. However, a few nights of bonding through open windows across an alley, as well as a copy of Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron forge an odd friendship between Harry and the girl next door.

The more time Olivia spends with the Prince, the more Harry is convinced the Prince is up to something nefarious (possibly involving Olivia). Harry is finally satisfied of Olivia's innocence and becomes her bodyguard with the hope of discovering Alexei's plot (if one exists). It has the added perk of inserting himself into her everyday life.

Although the book displays trademark Julia Quinn wit, interconnectivity between related and unrelated books, and decidedly realistic characters, it doesn't have the same gripping quality her works usually possess. It's a fun ride, but not the usual roller-coaster/page-turner fans are used to seeing.