Tag: julia quinn

Book Review: Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Bridgertons #4) by Julia Quinn

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 472 pages
Author: Julia Quinn
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: July 1st, 2002
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

On the sixth of April, in the year 1812 – precisely two days before her sixteenth birthday – Penelope Featherington fell in love. But Colin Bridgerton certainly didn’t fall in love with her in 1812 (and not in 1813, 1814, 1815, or – oh blast, not in all the years 1816-1822, either, and certainly not in 1823, when he was out of the country the whole time, anyway). Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend’s brother for well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret and fears she doesn’t know him at all.
Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought of as nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of everyone’s preoccupation with the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can’t seem to publish an edition without mentioning him in the first paragraph. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same – especially Penelope Featherington! The girl haunting his dreams. But when he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide is she his biggest threat – or his promise of a happy ending?

I LOVED THIS?

I didn’t know what to expect going in (other than the trailers for S3), lo and behold, I found this friends to lovers fantastic. It had a sweet and swoony vibe and I love how the unrequited love became an all consuming romance.

I loved the care that Colin gave to Penelope over man facets of the plot and how Penelope learned to truly shine as herself. I loved seeing the whole Bridgerton family again and all the moments between just the family members.

It’s a great audiobook, and I loved the way Colin hadn’t even realized just how deep in love he was. It has the great slow quality and then BAM, Colin is head over heels just as we know Penelope always has been.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: 2-3 open door
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgertons #3) by Julia Quinn

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 390 pages
Author: Julia Quinn
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: July 1st, 2001
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Will she accept his offer before the clock strikes midnight?

Sophie Beckett never dreamed she’d be able to sneak into Lady Bridgerton’s famed masquerade ball—or that “Prince Charming” would be waiting there for her! Though the daughter of an earl, Sophie has been relegated to the role of servant by her disdainful stepmother. But now, spinning in the strong arms of the debonair and devastatingly handsome Benedict Bridgerton, she feels like royalty. Alas, she knows all enchantments must end when the clock strikes midnight.

Who was that extraordinary woman? Ever since that magical night, a radiant vision in silver has blinded Benedict to the attractions of any other—except, perhaps this alluring and oddly familiar beauty dressed in housemaid’s garb whom he feels compelled to rescue from a most disagreeable situation. He has sworn to find and wed his mystery miss, but this breathtaking maid makes him weak with wanting her. Yet, if he offers his heart, will Benedict sacrifice his only chance for a fairy tale love?

CINDERELLEY.

So maybe Cinderella retellings aren’t super my thing? Or is it just the addition of the usual “awful stepmother” plot that gets me? Anyways, I did not love that, buuuut the rest of the book grew on me and it was another good read for the Bridgerton series.

I really liked Benedict! I think he was kind of bone-headed at times and thought with other parts of his body besides his head, yet his mind got around to connecting with what he should actually be doing and that made him all the better. I liked that Sophie stood up for herself and didn’t like Benedict just get away with everything initially. I love a good rescue moment so those ending scenes were the best.

Both of these characters were resilient and well rounded with flaws and strengths. I like the real feel of them because it brings a lot more connection to the overall story and what Sophie and Benedict are both going through. It’s a loving and romantic tale with a fantastic audiobook. Lower steam than you’d expect and had me already looking up the next Bridgerton book I want to get my hands on.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: one open door (low explicit)
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: indentured servitude, attempted rape, threats of sexual assault, incarceration, bullying

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Book Review: The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgertons #2) by Julia Quinn

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 391 pages
Author: Julia Queen
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: December 5th, 2000
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

ANTHONY’S STORY

This time the gossip columnists have it wrong. London’s most elusive bachelor Anthony Bridgerton hasn’t just decided to marry—he’s even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended’s older sister, Kate Sheffield—the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate’s the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams…

Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best husbands—and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate’s determined to protect her sister—but she fears her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony’s lips touch hers, she’s suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself..

THE ANGST.

This was a complete, bookstagram made me do it. I had no designs about picking up this series and a friends review convinced me to give it a try and Y’ALL. WHY DID I HOLD OFF ON THIS.

THE PINING. THE PASSION. THE ANGST. THE HEATED GLANCES.

It is everything I LOVE about enemies to lovers and I couldn’t get enough. There were so many rememberable scenes and I loved watching these two fall in love. Fantastic banter and the quiet moments where they learned more about each other were so tender. I liked how much background was added for both characters to give credence to decisions and actions. I found the steam scenes to actually be really sweet and work well into the story.

I liked the way the side characters worked into the plot but didn’t over shadow the romance. They added to the story and I loved many of them. I bet I’m going to find myself reading the rest of these books.

The ability for both Kate and Anthony to overcome different aspects of their pasts and find love together was CHEF’S KISS. There was no way I wasn’t throwing five stars at this book and now I already want to reread it.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical romance
  • Language: little
  • Romance: two low explicit open door
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: PTSD, death from anaphylaxis recounted, death of a parent discussed

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