It's in His Kiss: The 2nd Epilogue

Bridgertons #7.5

by Julia Quinn

What happened to the diamonds????If you've read It's in His Kiss, you want to know. Don't miss this charming and passionate addendum, in which Gareth proves that some things get better with age, Hyacinth gains new respect for her mother (with a daughter like Isabella she'd have to, wouldn't she?), and everyone learns that while diamonds are lovely, sometimes tenacity is a girl's best friend.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Regency

100 pages, ebook

First published June 6, 2006

About the author

#1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn loves to dispel the myth that smart women don't read (or write) romance, and and if you watch reruns of the game show The Weakest Link you might just catch her winning the $79,000 jackpot. She displayed a decided lack of knowledge about baseball, country music, and plush toys, but she is proud to say that she aced all things British and literary, answered all of her history and geography questions correctly, and knew that there was a Da Vinci long before there was a code.

A graduate of Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges, Ms. Quinn is one of only sixteen members of Romance Writers of America’s Hall of Fame. Her books have been translated into 32 languages, and she lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest.

The Bridgertons, her popular series of historical romance, is currently in production by Shondaland as a Netflix original series starring Julie Andrews, Phoebe Dynevor, and Rége-Jean Page.

Reviews

[Exina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just lovely! After fifteen years of crazy but unrelenting search finally Hyacinth did it! Isabella – as she is just like her mother – instinctively knew what Hyacinth needed: she wanted to be the one who finds the diamonds. And I hope Isabella will never tell her the truth...

Though the story is mainly about Hyacinth’s search, you also get a peek into Hyacinth and Gareth’s wonderfully happy marriage.

“Because I know you,” she said, feeling a smile growing inside. “I know you, and you know me, and it’s just the loveliest thing.”

[Anna D. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have never disliked one of Quinn’s non-villain characters until Isabella St. Claire. I guess I didn’t hate her, but I did find her frustrating! This whole Epilogue was annoying – the only exception is the tender and sweet interactions between Gareth & Hyacinth. There was just no good reason why Isabella would keep the diamonds from her parents. Maybe when she was little, but once she was old enough to move out of the nursery it just seemed like she should’ve known better…and then to re-hide the jewels (WHAT???? - she was 16 or 17 years old at this point, she should know better!) Why would she hide it instead of just giving it to her mother (and maybe presenting an opportunity for her and Hyacinth to have a mother-daughter heart to heart moment) – it just didn’t make sense! I rather liked all the other Second Epilogues (even loved the one for When He Was Wicked) – but this one was just a big letdown.

[Brittany McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this one! A great epilogue showing the mother/daughter relationship and the wit that made me enjoy this addition to the Bridgerton collection

4 Stars

[~Rajeswari~ Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hyacinth’s search for the diamonds continued for 16 years without any success.Meanwhile, her daughter Isabella found them when she was 10 and hid them in her bedroom.

I liked that this epilogue wasn’t about Hyacinth’s marital bliss but about her headstrong mentality to find those diamonds.It’s good to see her being opinionated and letting her daughter be one too💜
Though I would have loved to see Lady Danbury again.

[Millie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I refuse to believe Hyacinth is stupid enough not to look in every bathroom.


Not the best out of all the other epilogues but at least more interesting than some (me eyeing up Anthony's epilogue). Could be better if it was more Hyacinth and Gareth and less of their kid.

[leanj · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didnt expect for this one to annoy me so much. The diamond hunt extended for two decades, anyone wouldve become mad with that but then again, author chose not to (bc in reality, Hyacinth would have been in an asylum sent by her family for her delusional behavior) another thing is, Isabelle. God, wow, I don't like her. She really kept the jewelries to herself just because; and then when she accidentally overheard her parents talking about it almost two decades later, she finds out how important the jewelries were for her mom and then just now STARTS doing something about it? Where was this energy all these years when she was in possession of the jewels? Like I get why not telling her parents when she first found them when she was 10 but to keep it to herself and not tell her parents when she's of age? Hello? what selfish, immature, insensible behavior is this? And then after she felt bad for keeping the secret, she just puts them back where she found them in hopes of her mother finding it a year later? What, am I supposed to do? cheer for her "brilliance"? What if Hyacinth didnt and she found it 50 years later? Yeah, I dont think so. She's not going to get any points from me because of that. Nah. No way. This damn diamonds would've been found if her 10-year old self told her parents about it. Any kid will do. Unless you're the hoarding sort, which Isabelle was, tbh.

This epilogue soured the enjoyment I had from reading the main book. I even rated it 5 stars. Damn. I so wish I didnt read this one. Would've been better off not being introduced to this daughter.

[Kate Russo ❦ (Rina Kent’s Version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that Isabella found the jewels AND THAN WHEN SHE PUT THEM BACK AND HER SMILE WHEN SHE HEARD HER MOM FIND THEM OMG

[kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was fine! I wanted more Hyacinth and Isabella being absolute monsters, but apparently diamonds are more important or SOMETHING.

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Violet Bridgerton happy her most unique daughter got a daughter "just like her" 😆
Little Isabella is the one to solve the riddle about the diamonds, without even knowing about it!
And mother and daughter both have Gareth wrapped around their fingers 🤭💙

[Dana Al-Basha | دانة الباشا · Rating 3 out of 5]

Am I the only one who wanted to throttle Isabella? She could've just shared the discovery YEARS ago and I'm sure Hyacinth would've even given the jewels to her to wear and keep.

[Anica · Rating 1 out of 5]

WHAT THE HELL????

I'm just so damn confused and frustrated by this 2nd epilogue. What tf went into Quinn here? When you think that the first epilogue was bad already and left you annoyed as hell... just wait until you've read this one. Ngl I am just... stunned.

I don't think I've ever hated a non-villain character as much as Isabella St. Clair. Seriously. She pissed me off so much in the first epilogue but here? Her behavior is the cherry on the cake. WTF? I know I am repeating myself but I am just... completely bewildered.

We all know that she found the diamonds when she was 10; instead of saying a word or giving her to her mother like pretty much any child would, she hid them again. Okay, fine. I mean I find this whole set-up in her not knowing about the search from her mother stupid to begin with but okay (as well as Hyacinth not searching every damn tile in this house because... my God is this all dumb I have no words!). But when Isabella was 16 she moved out of the nursery and SHE TOOK THE DAMN DIAMONDS out of the hiding place in that kids' bathroom and hid them in her damn davenport. Again NOT SAYING A DAMN WORD. Basically just keeping them for herself. I am ?????????

And thanks to a funny coincidence she overhears her mother finally talking to Gareth about the search for the diamonds 3 years later again!!! and is like... oops? I CANNOT BELIEVE!! Now you would think, Isabella had enough guts to go and give the diamonds to her mother, have a nice mother-daughter talk or any kind of interaction whatever but instead she fucking blames her mother that she didn't tell her about the diamonds??? Excuse me what???

And then Isabella decides... TO HIDE THE DIAMONDS AGAIN!!! So that her mother can find them all by herself. So it takes another fucking year!!! for Hyacinth to find the diamonds where they were originally hidden.

I am just so... WHAT THE FUCK?????

I am not sorry but what entitled, asshole-ish, brat behavior is this??? This is the worst outcome ever. I mean Hyacinth should have found the damn diamonds by herself of course so I have no clue what the hell went into Julia Quinn to write such BS---even in the original novel. It all makes no sense!

The sweet moments between Hyacinth and Gareth were nice so but overall this diamond outcome and Isabella in particular simply pissed me off too much to change my mind about this book.

Just... YIKES!!!

[Amy | Foxy Blogs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-listened - 6/27/2021

[sof ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me gustó mucho la dinámica entre Hyacinth e Isabella!

[Bookish ✨]

isabella youre such a brat 😭

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger Warnings:Death of parent, death from bee sting, illegitimate child treated poorly by dad, ableism, misogyny, sexism, death of loved ones

This is the 2nd epilogue to It’s in His Kiss.

Now for spoilers


This was a cute epilogue that focuses on finding the jewels. I thought it would happen in the actual book but it happens here. At the end of It’s In His Kiss, Gareth and Hyacinth’s daughter finds the jewels that Gareth’s grandmother hid. They have two kids, one is George, named after Gareth’s brother and one is Isabella, named after Gareth’s grandmother. It is funny that Gareth’s grandmother hid the jewellery to find that Isabella, their daughter, did the same. Isabella was now 19, Gareth moved into his father’s home after he died 4 years into marrying Hyacinth. Gareth was able to pay off the debt of his father with Hyacinth’s dowry and managed their finances well. Isabella found the jewellery in her nursery washroom and put it back. Three years later, she put it in her drawer. Hyacinth argues with her daughter, thinking about Violet, how Violet used to wish Hyacinth would have a daughter just like her. They raised their daughter to be fluent in Italian from a tutor and Lady Danbury is still alive and well. Isabella was just like Hyacinth, super opinionated and loved talking. Hyacinth hasn’t given up looking for the jewellery, since they now live in Gareth’s father’s home. She looks for years and still hasn’t found it in 22 years. When Isabella overhears Hyacinth and Gareth’s conversation while moving a bathtub in the washroom, she realized her mom has been searching for the jewellery she found for years. She feels terrible and hides it back in the original spot, hoping her mom would find it. Gareth told Hyacinth she should give up, and he could buy her a necklace, but Hyacinth doesn’t want that. She loves Gareth for not buying a necklace and hiding it to fake that it was the jewellery his grandma had hidden. A year later, Hyacinth finds it and she is so happy. It was cute, it ends with Isabella smiling while Hyacinth was so happy.


Stay safe folks!

[Mira :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it on the plane, cute short story.

[Γιώτα Παπαδημακοπούλου · Rating 4 out of 5]

Γλυκό, χαριτωμένο, τρυφερό, όπως ακριβώς και το... "πρώτο" τέλος της ιστορίας ενός ζευγαριού που δεν γίνεται να μην αγαπήσεις.

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 2nd epilogues have been really great. They answer questions you still had after the story ended. Totally worth the quick little read.

[Lovisa Wistrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, äntligen fick boken ett värdigt slut!

[eva♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite of all the 2nd epilogues!!

[Maria Jose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó ver como evolucionó la historia y que pasó con los diamantes. Nunca hay que darse por vencido

[Emilija · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024 52 Book Challenge - April Mini Challenge - 1) Never Gonna Give You Up

I loved this 2nd Epilogue, seeing Hyacinth and Gareth's children and Hyacinth's never ending obsession with the St. Clair jewels. One of the best 2nd Epilogues.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish I had known all the epilogues were bound into a volume of short stories before repurchasing this one.
Glad to have the 2nd epilogue because the first was a bit of a rip off.

[Nanou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mouahahah la fille de Hyacinth est encore plus diabolique que sa mère xD

[Grecia Robles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ay sólo lo leí para no quedarme con la curiosidad y saber que había pasado con las benditas joyas.

[Kit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad Hyacinth found the diamonds, but this didn't grab me.

[thewordlover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another perfect conclusion to a Bridgerton story.

[Iliana Matute · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

her daughter is exactly like her awwww

i love that hyacinth never gave up looking and while gareth didn’t believe they were there, he still supports her 🥹

i loved daughter isabella putting the diamonds back so her mom could find them, even though she didn’t understand why she was looking 😭 so precious
im so happy hyacinth finally found them

[Lanie J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though the book itself was a 3.5, this was a fantastic 2nd epilogue. So cute and answers a few questions left in the book ;)