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    The Sum of All Kisses
    The Sum of All Kisses
    The Sum of All Kisses
    Audiobook9 hours

    The Sum of All Kisses

    Written by Julia Quinn

    Narrated by Rosalyn Landor

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    From Julia Quinn, the New York Times bestselling author of steamy historical romances, comes the third seductive installment of the Smythe-Smith Quartet, The Sum of All Kisses.

    Sarah Pleinsworth can’t forgive Hugh Prentice for the duel he fought three years ago that nearly destroyed her family, sent her cousin fleeing, and left Hugh himself with a badly injured leg. That’s fine with Hugh, who can’t tolerate Sarah’s dramatic ways. But when the two are forced to spend a week together, they find that unexpected kisses, and mutual passion, may have the power to change both of their minds.

    Written with Julia Quinn’s trademark style, The Sum of All Kisses is a witty and lighthearted Regency romance.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateOct 29, 2013
    ISBN9780062265142
    The Sum of All Kisses
    Author

    Julia Quinn

    #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn began writing one month after graduating from college and, aside from a brief stint in medical school, she has been tapping away at her keyboard ever since. Her novels have been translated into 43 languages and are beloved the world over. A graduate of Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges, she lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest.  Look for BRIDGERTON, based on her popular series of novels about the Bridgerton family, on Netflix.

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    Reviews for The Sum of All Kisses

    4.5/5

    306 ratings30 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title a bit boring at times, but overall it is a fantastic and enjoyable read. The story is fun, entertaining, and endearing, with a good storyline. The characters are well-developed and the enemies-to-lovers aspect is lovely. Some readers had issues with the recording quality, but others found it very enjoyable. The book is part of a series and readers are excited to see where the other characters' stories go. Overall, this book is recommended and loved by many.

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 2/5
      Ugh I so excited for this series and am trying to desperately like it but all the books are turning out to be boring. This one was no different.

      Regency, someone walked with a limp, old duel issues, daddy issues, and I hate you! BUT wait, you're starting to turn me on. Fin.

      Will I read the next book in the series? Yes. I am I happy about it? No.

      Julia Quinn is really resting on her laurels with me.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      Que bella historia de amors, ame mucho el enemies to lovers y la escena de intimidación de Sara hacia su suegro jajaja esas son mujeres con carácter, ella resolvió.
    • 5/5
      I Just love Rosalyn's art! She and Julia Quinn are really great.!
    • 3/5
      While I really enjoyed the characters and gaining a new perspective on the plots of the two previous Smythe-Smith books in the series, I didn't feel like the stakes were high enough in this story. There was plenty of action towards the end of the novel, but by then the characters were already in love and planned to get married, so I didn't feel like the external conflict mattered. It was dramatic and shocking, but I never worried that there wouldn't be a happily-ever-after.

      I love Julia Quinn as an author, but I would recommend starting with another novel if you've never read her work before. Starting with the first Smythe-Smith book, "Just Like Heaven," would help the plot of this one make sense. I was pleasantly surprised that I liked Hugh's character. From what I remember, he was more-or-less seen as the villain in "Just Like Heaven" so it was nice that the truth about him was revealed. It was refreshing to read about a character with a disability who didn't have psychological issues as the main focus of the novel. Hugh was an intelligent gentleman with a cane, not a brooding, tortured soul.
    • 4/5
      Like the constant terror of having to read one of the plays written by her younger sister Harriet is not enough to cast the shadow over the existence of Lady Sarah Pleinsworth, she has to attend two weddings this month. And there is talk that what better way is to celebrate a Smythe-Smith wedding then with musical performance by a famous quartet.You would think that this is the end of Sarah's troubles but she is also asked by her cousin Honoria to entertain Hugh Prentice, a man she detests. Oh, what could more possibly go wrong?In her usual light, humorous and entertaining way Julia Quinn treats us with another historical romance about enemies who become something more. All spiced up with the cast of u(nu)sual characters who you love.Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a honest review.
    • 5/5
      Lovely story continuing on where the last one left off. I am so happy that Hugh got a chance at happiness. I also enjoyed spending more time with Harriet, Elizabeth and Frances. I hope they eventually get their own books because I want to know where their stories go. Sarah and Hughes enemies-to-lovers story was lovely and endearing. I love Hugh as a character.
    • 4/5
      Loved this book. The story was so much fun and entertaining
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed this story of nemeses turned lovers, and particularly the bit parts with the unicorn.
    • 5/5
      a good story line very enjoyable book i reccomend it
    • 5/5
      Loved it!!!!!!! :)
      Simply amazing :)
      (And probably JQ ´s best) :)
    • 4/5
      Book was ok, the recording is TERRIBLE! It has long pauses all throughout the recording!!!
    • 4/5
      Whenever I have a bad day, Julia Quinn is an author I turn to. I devoured her Bridgerton series and I’ve made no secret that MR. CAVENDISH, I PRESUME is my favorite. When the opportunity came to participate in the blog tour for THE SUM OF ALL KISSES, I couldn’t pass up the chance. THE SUM OF ALL KISSES is the third in the Symthe-Smith Quartet series. If you haven’t read the first two books, JUST LIKE HEAVEN and A NIGHT LIKE THIS, you can delve right in; however, Quinn does mention a few things that occur in previous books , but nothing I would consider a spoiler.As for character development, it’s strong. We spend an equal amount of time with Sarah Pleinsworth and Hugh Prentice and get to know each of them well. At first, Sarah is difficult to warm up to because she made the assumption of Hugh’s character without fully knowing the facts regarding the duel. It’s understandable that she was kept in the dark and the only information she had came from gossips, but she’s an intelligent woman and I would have liked her to have attempted her own inquiry. Alas, it took me a while to like her, but I admire her because once her faults are pointed out she makes an effort to change and realizes her mistakes. As for Hugh, he’s very much a beta hero, but tortured. It’s difficult to write a beta hero without him coming off as a wimp, but Quinn does a great job with Hugh. Hugh struggles with the repercussions of his decision to fight a duel and has to deal with his father. His father, the Marquess of Ramsgate is a piece of work and your heart will ache for Hugh. I adored Hugh especially when you get to know him. He’s the first to admit that he won’t dance again or be there to help a woman when she swoons, but most importantly, he realizes what the duel cost him. Several secondary characters make an appearance and play a vital role including Sarah’s sisters which you’ll love. I really liked Hugh’s brother, Freddie and I wish we had more scenes with him.THE SUM OF ALL KISSES is written in typical Quinn style. It’s light, funny, and just an overall feel good novel. If you’re looking for an angst type of romance you won’t find it here. We have witty banter between the characters and though the plot is a bit slow, it’s still a delightful read. This isn’t one of those quick fall in love romances, but rather one where the characters take the time to get to know each other. I do have a few problems with the execution of the plot. Mostly, it has to do with the conflict; there are two sources here: Sarah and Hugh’s dislike and the secret Daniel knows about Hugh. When we’re told the secret, it’s made out to be a dire one and yet in the end, it wasn’t. Also, the ending was a bit too tidy and it felt unnatural especially with regards to what Sarah does. I won’t go into detail because I don’t want to give spoilers, but it just felt rushed. Furthermore, the Symthe-Smith musicals are legendary in Quinn’s novels and I was a bit surprised at Hugh’s reaction when he hears about the family tradition. I was left scratching my head wondering which rock he’s been hiding under (or maybe that’s good a thing!). I debated with the rating between a three and four and decided on four because of the Pleinsworth sisters. Frances stole the show (there’s no doubt about that), but I adored the interaction between them. While reading, I couldn’t help but compare THE SUM OF ALL KISSES to Jane Austen’s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and Louisa May Alcott’s LITTLE WOMEN. The bickering and dislike Hugh and Sarah feel toward one other may remind readers of Lizzie and Darcy while the closeness of the Pleinsworth sisters and their antics are similar to that of the March sisters. Hugh reminded me very much of Laurie and Sarah a bit like Jo, but unlike the ending to LITTLE WOMEN, no one dies and of course Hugh and Sarah wind up together. Ultimately, what I really enjoyed about THE SUM OF ALL KISSES are the feelings Quinn evokes. Fans of historical romance will have a great time spending the day with Julia Quinn’s THE SUM OF ALL KISSES. Quinn always makes me wish I could live among her characters and THE SUM OF ALL KISSES doesn’t disappoint.
    • 4/5
      It's been awhile since I read the previous Smythe-Smith book, so I was a bit hazy on the details going into this one. It wasn't a concern, however. Things were explained in a way that brought me up to speed without bogging the story down.

      Hugh and Sarah are a very unlikely match. I really liked their acrimonious relationship and how it moved into a friendship, then more. The story was sweet and fun. Exactly what I've come to expect from Quinn.
    • 5/5
      Very good book. It starts out with neither character being particularly likable. Hugh has gotten himself into a really stupid duel. He and Daniel had both had too much to drink when they argued over a card game. Normally the best of friends, neither would back down once they sobered up. When Hugh actually shot Daniel (unintentionally) and Daniel shot back, Hugh ended up with a badly injured leg and Daniel exiled from England because of Hugh's father. Three years later Hugh and Daniel are friends again, but Hugh is still bitter about what happened and blames himself for his stupidity. Sarah is a young woman who tends toward the melodramatic. She blames Hugh for the years that Daniel was away and the shame it brought to the family. When she meets Hugh face to face, she really goes off on him, saying quite a few nasty things to him. She would love to avoid him completely but that isn't going to happen. There are two family weddings happening in a three week period, both of which Hugh has been invited to. One of the brides is worried that Hugh will not feel welcome and asks Sarah to take care of Hugh. She knows that they don't get along, but she does it anyway. At this point Hugh and Sarah start to grow on me. The two of them can't seem to say a nice thing to each other, but also find themselves fascinated. I feel for Hugh. He is in nearly constant pain because of his leg. He is also somewhat socially inept. He is a brilliant mathematician but those skills don't help him conversationally as he tends to simply say what he thinks. He also hates not being able to do the things he used to do and feels like he is not a whole man because of it. Sarah tends to be overly dramatic and a bit shrewish, but she does love her family. She's not thrilled to be stuck with Hugh, but she'll do it to make her cousin happy.As they are stuck in each other's company, Hugh and Sarah start out with their usual bickering. But once they realize that are going to have to get along for the foreseeable future, they call a truce. This allows them to begin to get to know each other. Hugh discovers that he likes Sarah's honesty and forthright nature. Her family is something completely outside his experience and he fascinated by them. I loved the way he related to Sarah's youngest sister Frances. The way he treated Frances went a long way toward improving Sarah's view of him. He also discovered that he was attracted to Sarah in a way that he hadn't been with any woman since the duel. He is also surprised to find that his injury doesn't seem to matter to her. Sarah spends the first part of the book thinking mainly of how the duel affected her family and she herself. It isn't until she spends time with Hugh that she starts to think about the effect it has had on him. When she sprains her ankle she begins to gain an small appreciation of what his life is like. I loved seeing the way that her attitude began to change as she got to know him. She began to like spending time with him and looking forward to their encounters. I really liked the way that his injury didn't make any difference to the way she felt about him. I also enjoyed seeing her stand up for him to others. The development of their feelings for each other was quite nice. Once their antipathy was overcome they were surprised to discover how much they liked each other. Hugh's biggest difficulty was the lack of self confidence he had because of his injury. It was fun to see his reaction to Sarah's attitude toward it. I also enjoyed the softening of Sarah's personality as her feelings for Hugh made her more empathetic to others. Things were going along great for them until Hugh's father showed up. He is a horrible man and the things he said and did to Hugh were unforgivable. One of the best scenes in the book comes when Sarah faces him down in order to get what she wants. Her strength there was fantastic. I loved the way it was then followed by showing the love she had for him and the softness she could show because of it.
    • 5/5
      The best one in the series! Loved it so much!
    • 4/5
      4.5 Stars | Moderate SteamThis superbly written and utterly lovely novel was pure bliss to read. Hugh and Sarah are a combustible pair. Their strong, opposing personalities spar and banter with delightful wit and bite. Their hearts aligned is a seismic swoon-worthy revelation.I adored Hugh and Sarah’s rocky to romantic love story. It was so classy, smart and sexy I simply devoured it, smiling and floating the entire time.
    • 5/5
      I love Julia Quinn books! The Sum of All kisses is the third book in the Smythe-Smith series and covers the period between the weddings of the heroines of the first two books. Sarah Pleinsworth is dismayed to discover that Hugh Prentice is among the guests at her cousin Honoria’s wedding. Several years before, a drunken Hugh challenged Sarah’s cousin Daniel to a duel which resulted in Hugh becoming seriously injured. Hugh’s father immediately went on a vendetta to punish Daniel which resulted in Daniel fleeing England and his family withdrawing from society for a year. Unfortunately for Sarah it was her first year to be in society and she has blamed Hugh all of these years for her missed opportunity to find a husband. Daniel and Hugh have settled their differences but Sarah still harbors resentment and lets Hugh know how she feels. Sarah is a bit of a drama queen and Hugh is a quiet, highly intelligent man who finds her annoying. As they are forced to spend time together, they discover the quirky humor they share and feelings begin to change.I have really enjoyed this series. The Smythe-Smith recital has always been a source of humor in Ms. Quinn’s books and meeting the hapless participants just makes the situation that much funnier. Sarah is an intriguing character, one who wants marriage and family in her future but on her own terms. Ultimately her strong personality is what saves their relationship. Hugh is a man who hasn’t felt in control of his life for some time and who has made a devil’s bargain to keep his friend safe. The interactions between them were a joy to read and the chemistry between them jumped off the page. I especially loved the interactions with the younger Pleinsworth girls who have been the source of the most humorous parts in the entire series. Frances reminds me of Hyacinth Bridgerton and I hope we will eventually see her grow up and find her perfect man. I cannot wait for the next book in this series to come out!
    • 5/5
      Julia Quinn, you don't disappoint!!

      The character tension in this one was absolutey delicious. Ssrah and Hugh were adorably antagonistic, and they kept the chemistry going almost to the end.

      The one thing that tripped me up was the rather awkwardly placed "If my dad kills Daniel, I have to kill myself." Um... what? That was rather ridiculous. When I hit that point, I got a bit skeptical about the whole thing, went "really? is this the direction you want to go in?" But thankfully, Sarah and Hugh slid back into their normal badassery when the plot to a cool, if a bit silly, plot twist.

      So I give this 5 stars, and admit that parts of it were weird and oddly done. I really enjoyed it.
    • 4/5
      I've never found a Julia Quinn title I didn't like, but this one is probably the one I liked the least. There is nothing wrong with it. I just didn't quite buy the hero's redemption from his darkness and I wasn't totally convinced that vanquishing his evil father would be so relatively easy. Also there really wasn't anything different to make this title stand out from the author's previous work. Still the weakest Julia Quinn is much better than most of what's out there.
    • 4/5
      This book in general was funny, but recently I have no patience for suicidal people even in fiction. With that said, I liked the book and the romance, I LOVE Sarah's sisters, and quite frankly, I can't wait for their stories. Especially the one that loves unicorns!

      I wish she would write "Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron", "Miss Davenport and the Dark Marquis", "Miss Sainsbury and the Mysterious Colonel" and "Miss Truesdale and the Silent Gentleman"... it would be wonderful to read the books and plays she adds in her books like Harriet's plays as well.
    • 4/5
      Much better than the previous instalment in the series as I did actually care about Sarah and Hugh and there were some incredibly funny moments. Passed the time very nicely.
    • 3/5
      I really enjoyed the first 3/4 of the book. It was great to see a nonperfect girl and guy get together. However, the last quarter of the book was just a mess with a plot device that was inplausible. This is a Julia Quinn book and when she tries to tackle serious subjects, it just doesn't work. This really ruined the book for me.
    • 4/5
      The Sum of All Kisses
      4.5 Stars

      After the disappointment of A Night Like This, the possibility that Hugh and Sarah’s book would fall flat had me worried but The Sum of All Kisses is Julia Quinn at her best.

      Love/hate relationships are a particular favorite of mine, and Sarah and Hugh’s initial antagonism ranks up there with Anthony and Kate in The Viscount Who Loved Me. They complement each other so well and their banter is witty and charming. Moreover, the slow build up of their romance is particularly enjoyable as they learn to love and accept each other - flaws and all.

      Physically and emotionally scarred, Hugh is the epitome of the tortured hero who feels himself unworthy and undeserving of love until he meets his match in Sarah, a spirited and engaging heroine although selfish at times. The two bring out the worst and the best in each other as Hugh learns to accept that it is not shameful to accept the help given by a loved one and Sarah learns give of herself selflessly.

      The conflict is minor and revolves around Hugh’s diabolical father and his nefarious machinations, which are a little on the farcical side but make sense within the context of the storyline. It is very entertaining to see Sarah get the upper hand with him although he does deserve a more significant comeuppance.

      The Smythe-Smith family dynamics are another highlight and I look forward to reading the next book in the series although I’m not sure who the heroine will be - perhaps Iris.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoy reading Julia Quinn and the Smythe-Smith Quartet is an enjoyable series. She writes strong female characters that have a sense of humor. They don't back down from a madman. Lady Sarah doesn't like Lord Hugh because he challenged her cousin Daniel to a duel and then Daniel was ran out of England by Hugh's father, which ruined Sarah's coming out year and finding a husband. Hugh doesn't like Sarah because she's loud and bossy sounding. But they soon form a friendship and much more as they travel from one wedding and then the other. I always like the younger siblings too especially Frances and her unicorns.
    • 5/5
      I could not put this book down it was simply a fantastic read that
    • 3/5
      I liked it enough till about the last couple of chapters where I was slightly confused as to why Sarah was so mad... then I understood but still thought she was kind of annoying. It was just okay.
    • 3/5
      good story. little long
    • 5/5
      Loved it! Hugh is fantastic!
    • 3/5
      A bit borring to me. I had to fast forward some parts because it seemed like nothing was hapenning. I didn't like the some of the voices.
    • 2/5
      well it was witty but no intrigue. the heroine was annoying. some of the scenes were just not at all believable. i mean, i know it's historical romance so woman don't act like they normally would. but really! the whole Lord Ramsgate scene was really not plausible at all. sigh. hopefully number 4 comes back to earth.