After watching Bridgerton (okay, I admit it for the second time), I decided to go back and reread the Duke and I by Julia Quinn. Admittedly, I had just read it for the first time right before Christmas. But then I had read the next five books too so I did have those storylines competing in my head.
Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings- the hero of our tale. Simon has just returned to England, following his father’s death. He’s a tortured hero, consumed with his past. Just enough of the tortured soul shines through and snares our heroine’s heart.
Daphne Bridgerton- the fourth Bridgerton child, but oldest girl. Unlike the show where Daphne is making her debut, this is actually Daphne’s second season. She’s turned down four offers (well, she keeps trying to turn down Nigel Berbrooke, but he’s persistent.). Daphne gets along very well with all of her siblings, but especially her favorite, her next older brother, Colin.
Brief Summary (while trying not to give everything away)
In The Duke and I, Simon and Daphne meet under slightly different circumstances than they do in the Netflix show. He comes charging in to rescue the damsel in distress, only to see said damsel flatten the rogue. A friendship sparks, while Simon tries to remind himself that Daphne is his best friend’s sister and therefore, off limits. This is especially true since he has vowed never to marry.
Recommendation?
I had not read any Julia Quinn books before December 1st. But both a friend and my sister told me I must and I did before watching the show. If you like historical romances, you won’t be disappointed in this one. If you like light hearted banter, you won’t be disappointed. This book is incredibly witty and very well-written. I highly recommend reading it.
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And in case you hadn’t figured it out, my plan for 2021 is to write a blog post for each book I read. Last year, I read 150 books. We’ll see how I do this year.
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