Thursday, July 30, 2009

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

Julia Quinn has a new book out, What Happens in London, and I've read several reviews. And they all mention how great her Bridgerton series is. My SIL loves Julia Quinn, but she tells me I should read them in order. If the rest of the books are as good as this one, I've got another author to add to my favorites list. I loved this book - I couldn't put it down!! And so it begins....

It opens with the sad story of a lonely little boy, Simon, whose father, the Duke of Hastings, won't acknowledge him because of his stutter. His mother died during childbirth. He spends his childhood trying to impress his father and overcomes his stutter and goes off to college. He then goes abroad, harboring a hate for his father, until his father dies.

Then we meet the Bridgertons - Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth, oh, and their mother, Violet. Anthony, Benedict, Colin, and Daphne are attending a ball when Simon arrives. Simon is a friend of Anthony's from Oxford and is attracted to Daphne until he realizes she's Anthony's sister. After attending a few balls where the mothers of eligible daughters keep pushing them onto the eligible bachelors, Simon and Daphne hatch a plan to fake an attachment to avoid all the matchmaking. It works, to a point. Simon and Daphne cannot stop the attraction between them, and when they are caught kissing behind a hedge, Daphne's brother demands they marry. Simon has major baggage from his childhood and is determined not to marry or have children, so he refuses. Anthony challenges him to a duel over his sister's honor. Daphne runs out to the duel and stops it and convinces Simon to marry her. He explains he can't have children and, despite her disappointment at this news, agrees to marry him.

They marry, and are happy, until Daphne realizes it's not that Simon can't have children, it's that he won't have children. They have a huge arguement and he comes home drunk. Daphne ends up tricking into "finishing" and he is furious. He leaves her to stay at another of his estates. She returns to their home in London and hopes she is pregnant. Once she realizes she is, she sends him a note. He's been miserable without her, and she's been miserable without him.

He comes back, thinking she's pregnant, but it turns out she's not. They have a heart-to-heart and he agrees to try for a family. The epilogue is sweet and satisfying.

I loved this book - the characters are charming and I <3 the whole Bridgerton family!

4 comments:

  1. Great Review Patti!

    I love JQ! She's an amazing author with some of the best dialogue ever. Plus her books are hysterical! Despite that though, my favorite Bridgerton installment is 'When He Was Wicked'. It's also the darkest in tone and the steamiest, IMO. In fact, it's my favorite JQ novel ever.

    Ooooo, you'll love book two - 'The Viscount Who Loved Me'. Very, VERY good.

    Happy Reading,
    VFG

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  2. Thanks VFG!I'm just starting Colin's story, so I'm excited because I've liked his character in all the books so far...

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  3. First of all, I really like your review.

    I read WHIL, but that was my first JQ. I really want to read this Bridgerton series!!

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  4. The Bridgerton's are my favorite Regency family and series - nothing else comes close. I consider these series "comfort reads" You're already on Colin's story - I hope you didn't jump ahead because it will really ruin it for you and reveal a major spoiler for the books before it! Although, Colin's story is my fav!

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