regency

This is the second book I have read by Julia Quinn and I loved it! The characters were fun and I hoped it would never end, but it did. Luckily this book is only the beginning of a series called the Bridgerton Series. This one is about Daphne, the oldest daughter of the family. Talk about humor and even some serious parts that were heartwarming. The type of people you wish you knew.

~Daphne Bridgerton, the daughter of a Viscount and the eldest daughter of eight children is tired of the social whirl and the ton's endless matchmaking going on. She wants love, love like her mother and father shared. She will settle for no less. Even if she has to pretend to be courted by a Duke that has NO intention of EVER getting married!

The Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset, has lived a life of trying to overcome his secret problem that has caused his father to pretty much abandon him as a son. When his father dies, Simon feels no grief, just relief. But the scars haven't healed from a horrible childhood. His revenge on it, to never marry and let the illustrious title of Dukedom die a quiet death when he does. The plan...pretend to court his best friend Anthony Bridgerton's sister in order to keep the ton's matchmakers at bay and out of his hair until he can come up with a better idea. What he realizes is that Daphne is not some silly girl he can play 'pretend' with.
The two get caught up in their own lie and they find themselves wishing it were all real. Then when an incident causes Daphne's eldest brother and Simon's best friend for so many years to cry foul, a friendship is tested and the 'game' has come to an end. Will Simon, the new Duke of Hastings learn to forget his father's evil presense in his memory? Or will he let the memories take control of his life and make him lose the best thing to come into his life...Daphne must uncover the secret that is about to distroy Simon forever and her...

This is well worth the money. Highly recommended. Anthony's story is "The Viscount Who Loved Me", the second book in the series. By the way, if you read "How to Marry a Marquis", some of the colorful characters I loved in that book are here in this one, "The Duke and I".

Tracy Talley~@

Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, and Daphne Bridgerton, pretended an attachment to each other. For Simon, this plan was to free himself from marriage-minded mothers. For Daphne, it was to free herslf from unsuitable suitors and in the meanwhile attract more suitors. Somehow, they grew attracted to each other and found themslves in a compromising position. But the thing was... Simon had vowed that he were never to marry. You have to find out on your own how the two ended up together because I will not want to sopil the book for you!

This is the first Julia Quinn book that I have ever read, and I am extremely delighted with it. Although a few parts in the story are not really believeable, the humour shown throughout the book somehow made up for it. The characters in the book are well-developed. I even grow a fondness over the Bridgerton family even though the three elder brothers of Daphne were proved to be rather meddlesome in the matters of her marriage. I am looking forward to the next book of the Bridgerton family, "The Viscount who Loved Me".

This is the novel for you if you love a light-hearted read, with witty and humourous dialogue, and some heart-wenching moments. Enjoy the read!

The first installment of the Bridgerton series focuses on the eldest Bridgerton sister, Daphne. This is an emotional joy ride in how Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings found true love with Daphne Bridgerton. Simon grew up motherless, rejected by his father, and with a speech impediment to boot --he stutters. He overcame this impediment but it still comes out especially in times of great emotional strain.

Simon met Daphne when he rescued her from an obssessed suitor. The Duke just came back from living abroad and found out that Mamas with marriageable daughters kept hounding him; whereas Daphne needed to raise her marriage desirability among the eligible bachelors of the ton. So they struck a deal, they will announce a sham engagement. Of course, once the proposals started pouring in for Daphne, Simon thought that the sham engagement must be turned into a real one. And before anyone could say "Duke of Hastings," they were married.

Daphne found bliss and happiness in Simon's arms, and wants to start a family; but Simon's painful childhood is blocking the way to their total happiness.

"The Duke and I" started off lighthearted but it has moments where you truly feel for the characters. I like Daphne's strength and her determination to pull Simon out of the dark remembrance of his past.