Delightful to re-read the Bridgerton books, especially after watching the tv adaptation. I love having the actors' faces in my head when I'm reading these, but I do so wish the show was closer to the books -- mostly because the books are funny, and the characters are deeply endearing, and I think the show isn't quite there with the general lovability. However, I enjoy both for their own strengths and I'm so glad to spend time with the Bridgerton clan again.

Fun to read Regency Era Romance but I think the Netflix series was more fun. However this is perfect light reading but to read in quick succession as a collection gets to be a bit predictable. We ( )

The Duke and I
Daphne Bridgerton has been out for two seasons but still hasn’t found a husband. With her prospects dwindling, she enters into a fake relationship with the new duke of hastings to get her more suitors and to keep the matchmaking mamas off his back. Falling for each other wasn’t part of the plan, however.
I enjoyed this book. The mutual pining was nice, the fake dating didn’t go on for long, which was nice and the sex scenes were done decently. I thought the misunderstanding between them was well done, both neither being completely in the right or in the wrong. The resolution of their fight was good and I liked that they had to talk things out and that it resolved on-screen.

The viscount who loves me
Anthony Bridgerton is going to marry, but before he can do that he has to convince her sister that he has put his rakish ways behind him. What follows is an okay plot that pretty much mirrors the first book and had me wondering if this was going to be the whole series. The characters are okay, I liked both Anthony and Kate, but I wished the story was shaken up a bit. The whole bee part was ridiculous to the extreme and really took me out of the story.

An offer from a gentleman
A cinderella story in disguise this book was enjoyable than the last one. I don’t know if it was because of the characters or I just like the cinderella part but it was pretty darn good. It made me want to read the rest of the series when I was ready to stop after the last one. I am glad that the formula has been changed up for this and I hope the rest of the series is different. ( )

Ebook, fiction, British literature

{First 3 of 8 Bridgertons series; Regency romance, steam} (2020)

i) The Duke and I

(2000)

Romance, transposed into 'Regency' times of balls and matchmaking mammas. Daphne Bridgerton, the eldest Bridgerton daughter with three older brothers, wants to get married but all the eligible bachelors think of her as a good friend and not marriage material. The Duke of Hastings, having had a horrible father who only wanted an heir to continue the Hastings line, has sworn never to marry and to never have children in revenge but, as the most eligible bachelor in London, he will have to fend off the determined mammas looking for the best match for their daughters. So they come up with a plan, since he is best friends with her oldest brother, to fake an attraction. This should have the effect of making her suddenly desirable as a potential wife and, conversely, making him less desirable as a potential husband. The plan works until they realise that they feel a mutual desire for each other. Cue lots of passion.

I put in a request on Overdrive for this months ago when the TV series came out but it said it I would be on the hold list for about 9 weeks and by the time it did come through, I wasn't really in the mood for a steamy romance. It seemed fairly standard for the genre (anachronisms, Americanisms and all) with more than the usual number of steamy scenes.

May 2021
3 *** stars

ii) The Viscount who Loved Me

(2006)

Kate Sheffield is not as pretty as her younger half-sister, Edwina. The Sheffields can only afford one season in London and Edwina is the more likely to find a suitable, rich husband so Kate appoints herself her protector. She wouldn't want Edwina to have her heart broken by a rake such as Lord Bridgerton. Unfortunately, as Edwina is the toast of the season, Lord Bridgerton sets his sights on her when he decides that he will marry this year. Naturally he clashes with Kate and, despite their mutual apathy, discovers that he desires her.

He had no business lusting after this woman. He didn’t even like her.

Quinn seems to have no clue as to the social mores of the period; there are several scenes, for example, when people confuse the two Misses Sheffield when they are talking about them when any good Austenite knows that they should be Miss Sheffield and Miss Edwina Sheffield. The five Bennet sisters were never confused when referred to.

More fluff and less fun than the first instalment.

May 2021
2.5 ** stars

iii) An offer from a gentleman

(2001)

This is a Cinderella story complete with wicked stepmother, one night at a ball, slippers and a cast off glove and fairytale 'love at first sight' (or just before first sight).

As the illegitimate daughter of the earl of Penwood Sophie has an aristocratic upbringing but her lot in life changes after her father dies. When she goes to a masquerade ball she meets her prince charming - Benedict, the second of the Bridgerton brothers - and they fall in love as soon as they sense each other across the room. As a consequence of going to the ball, Sophie is thrown out of the house so she leaves London to find work as a housemaid. Despite being mesmerised by his mysterious woman in silver, Benedict doesn't recognise her when they meet again but feels the attraction. He cannot marry a servant but he can make an ungentlemanly offer. She will not let any child of hers suffer the same kind of childhood she did. But a Bridgerton doesn't take no for an answer.

if her experience had been sufficiently wretched so that she refused to risk bearing a bastard herself—well, then, he should have respected that.
If he respected her, then he had to respect her beliefs.

Not my favourite instalment (I think you gather that).

May 2021
2 ** stars

NB: I’m not sure why, whenever she describes any of her characters as plump, Quinn implies it’s not a good thing. Up until the 20th century being well endowed was desirable as it indicated wealth and health.

Despite the book titles, these are all written in the third person.

Averaging out: 2.5 stars ( )