The Duke and I
by Julia Quinn
Series: Bridgertons #1
Series Rating:
Published by Avon Books on June 27, 2006
Genres: Regency Romance
Pages: 384
Format: Paperback
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Also in this series: The Viscount Who Loved Me , An Offer From a Gentleman, Romancing Mister Bridgerton , To Sir Phillip, With Love , When He Was Wicked , It's in His Kiss , On the Way to the Wedding , The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After
The Duke and I is a romance set in the Regency era.
In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince—while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable… but not too amiable.
Daphne Bridgerton has always failed at the latter. The fourth of eight siblings in her close-knit family, she has formed friendships with the most eligible young men in London. Everyone likes Daphne for her kindness and wit. But no one truly desires her. She is simply too deuced honest for that, too unwilling to play the romantic games that captivate gentlemen.
Amiability is not a characteristic shared by Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. Recently returned to England from abroad, he intends to shun both marriage and society—just as his callous father shunned Simon throughout his painful childhood. Yet an encounter with his best friend’s sister offers another option. If Daphne agrees to a fake courtship, Simon can deter the mamas who parade their daughters before him. Daphne, meanwhile, will see her prospects and her reputation soar.
The plan works like a charm—at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London’s elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule...
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn is brilliant and lovely. The characters are magnificent.
Will Daphne and Simon be a lovematch after all?
Daphne Bridgerton
Our heroine is the fourth child of the Viscount and Viscountess Bridgerton. Daphne’s three older brothers have helped her learn how to deal with men or boys, or so she thinks. Although, most of the ton believes her to be a friend to all, which doesn’t leave much room for suitors, who see her as wife material. Oh, and she can punch quite well.
I enjoyed Daphne’s spirit, youthfulness, and care for her brothers and sisters. Daphne does take things a bit far regarding Simon’s wants and her needs; that is all that I will say on that matter. A lot is riding on making a good match as it will be how her life goes from there. Daphne is extremely honorable. I think that she would make an excellent friend.
The Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset
Simon is an only child whose mother died in childbirth and whose father is a complete a$$hat. If it weren’t for his nurse, anger, and a strong will (some may say stubborn), he might not have amounted to much, but he is the Duke either way. Simon at first finds that talking to Daphne is easy. She is funny and sets him at ease. But once his emotions get in the way, he finds it hard.
I found Simon okay. I know that is weak, but he runs; instead of facing his adversary (his father, Daphne). He doesn’t shine through the way I wanted him to. However, I am not a male in the Regency era, and perhaps I am not grasping the whole of his experience. So, I will correct myself and say that Simon is perfectly imperfect.
The Suprise Character
Violet Bridgerton turns out to be my favorite character. I found her humorous, strong, and very capable. She is a beautiful mother and adores her children. If we could only strive to be half the mother that she is. Violet’s strength comes from love, the love she had with her husband, and her love for her children.
Five Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed The Duke and I. The whole Bridgerton family is quite lovely. They all have incredibly different personalities that create this remarkably realistic family and drama. My rating for The Duke and I by Julia Quinn is five stars. I highly recommend this to all you regency romance fans.
Oh, and don’t forget you can catch the first season of Bridgerton on Netflix. Of course, it has been modified by Shondaland.
Bridgerton Series
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Duke and I by Julia Quinn.
Until the next time,
About Julia Quinn
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.
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