*** REVIEW *** THE DUKE AND I by Julia Quinn

 

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...

 

I enjoyed this story a little more than the television show.  I like the detail and character development that isn’t as clear on TV.  The author takes the reader through the seasons that focus on women finding a suitable husband and men picking a woman who will provide a suitable heir.  While it is expected, it isn’t agreeable for some of the participants. 

I like the heroine, Daphne Bridgerton.  She is a woman who has a hard time conforming to the rules of the Regency era.  She knows her mind and speaks her thoughts that puts off some men in her class or they think of her as “one of the guys" instead of a suitable wife. The Bridgertons are a large, tightknit family. Her older brother, Anthony believes it is his mission to find the correct man for her even though his idea as suitable doesn’t match their mother’s or Daphne’s.  Their differences lead to a lot of head butting between the siblings and eventually spills over to their mother. 

The fake relationship with Simon Basset is well done and entertaining.  That doesn’t mean that the reader doesn’t know where the arrangement will lead.  The relationship has dual goals keeping the mothers of eligible girls away from Duke while giving Daphne a greater appeal to the other eligible men.  It goes without saying that a girl who gets the attention of the most eligible bachelor will have the other men interested too.  The chemistry between the main characters sizzles. 

There is a lot of tension while Daphne and Simon try to hide their true feelings.  Simon holds onto his secrets long after the attraction is realized.  Anthony tries hard to protect Daphne from the scoundrel he believes Simon to be.  Simon didn’t have a lot of love in his life and doesn’t understand how to accept or give love freely.  This couple to work through a lot of baggage if they expect a long-term relationship.

Mrs. Whistledown, the local, anonymous gossip columnist is a unique and fun character.  She has the inside scope on everyone in the aristocracy, but no one knows who she is.  The story has a little bit of everything, love, family, secrets, angst, and hope for the future.  There are some emotional moments that touch my heart.  A really great story that hooks the reader with Daphne and Simon’s story and the need to know what is in store for other Bridgertons.

 

4 STARS