Title: The Viscount Who Loved Me: The Second Epilogue Author: Julia Quinn Series: Bridgertons #2.5 In: The Bridgertons (Julia Quinn) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Historical romance, Regency romance Dates read: 16th January 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Avon Year: 2006 5th sentence, 74th page: She had sent his ball into the lake.
Fifteen years have passed, but the Bridgertons are as devious and diabolical as ever when it comes to life on the croquet field. Join Anthony, Kate, Simon, Daphne, Colin, Edwina, and (of course) the mallet of death, as Julia Quinn shows that happily ever after can still be a little bit wicked… and a whole lot of fun.
One of my favourite things about Kate and Anthony in The Viscount Who Loved Me was the fact that Kate and Anthony are constantly engaged in some kind of witty banter. This second epilogue highlights that aspect of their relationship. Through the game of Pall Mall. And the Mallet of Death. I love that they continue to play this game years after that first iconic game and continue their insane banter and competitiveness with each other.
Even after fifteen years together, I love the Kate and Anthony are competitive and aggressive. They’re so determined to win that they’ll cheat and scheme. Including fight each other over the right to collect the Mallet of Death.
Even though Kate and Anthony are incredibly competitive and spiteful within this story, they are still so very clearly in love. In fifteen years time, I would love to have this same fun and light spirit in my own marriage. One full of banter and witty arguments…
Title: The Viscount Who Loved Me Author: Julia Quinn Series: Bridgertons #2 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Historical romance, Regency romance Dates read: 14th – 15th January 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Avon Year: 2000 5th sentence, 74th page: Kate gave her hand a squeeze.
1814 promises to be another eventful season, but no, This Author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London’s most elusive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry. And, in all truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consumate rake, nobody does it better… – Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, April 1814
But this time the gossip columnists have it wrong. Anthony Bridgerton hasn’t just decided to marry – he’s also chosen a wife! The only abstacle is his intended’s older sister, Kate Sheffield – the most meddleseom 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 is 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…
I’ve been trying not to go nuts and buy the rest of the Bridgerton series since I read The Duke and I. I even managed to last a far while before I succumbed. And then I read The Viscount Who Loved Me the moment that it arrived on my doorstep. There is just something so unbelievably sweet and unforgettable about this series that makes it impossible to put down. Something that means I really have to pace myself when picking up these books, because I tend to ignore everything else in my life.
The Viscount Who Loved Me definitely has a bit of a Pride and Prejudice vibe. And, considering that’s one of my favourite classics, I thought that this was brilliant. There was a much more modern spin and tone to the classic (even though it is set in much the same time). And there were even moments that I thought of a few other Jane Austen books whilst reading it. There was just something undeniably fun, light-hearted and brilliant about this. Something which felt totally new, but also wonderfully familiar. Kind of like a good comfort food late on a winter’s night…
I’m the older sister of a girl who is undeniably, stunningly beautiful. I’m no slouch, but when compared to her… so I kind of understand why Kate is a little withdrawn from the pursuit of men. Yet, she’s also fiercely independent and strong willed. Loyal to her sister and unwilling to just let people take advantage. Again, eerily familiar. Yet, her love interest and counterpart in this story, Anthony, is not in the slightest bit familiar (although, rather reminiscent of Mr. Darcy). He’s kind of a self-centred moron for much of the story. All because he’s decided to “face” his mortality. Men who think they know best are annoying at the best of times, the ones who feel are like this and then refuse to communicate…. Yeah, I got really frustrated for a good portion of this story. Yet, I still absolutely adored him.
Title: The Duke and I: The Second Epilogue Author: Julia Quinn Series: Bridgertons #1.5 In: The Bridgertons (Julia Quinn) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Historical romance, Regency romance Dates read: 15th January 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Avon Year: 2000 5th sentence, 74th page: Her heart thumped, then flipped, and any facility she might have possessed for synonym retrieval flew right out of her.
Fifteen years have passed, but the Bridgertons are still just as happy and devoted to one another. Join Daphne and Simon as they discover yet another surprise is heading their way.
I read The Duke and Ibecause I needed a Q author for a reading challenge. And I very quickly became absolutely obsessed and just demolished the whole story. So it was really, really nice to revisit Simon and Daphne in this second epilogue. They’re just such a wonderful, cute couple and I loved every short moment of revisiting their happily ever after moment.
I like that whilst the epilogue in the actual novel is a little more immediate, this story takes place twenty years after the events of the main novel. Mostly romances provide a story, and then you get to imagine most of the happily ever after. This short story just ensured that you got confirmation that all the hopeful, happily ever after thoughts you may or may not have were actually spot on.
Children is something that has begun to be discussed a fair bit in my household (I’m approaching thirty), so it was fun to read a story in which that conversation is still being had twenty years after the first children, and moments of happiness have been achieved. It was a little intense… but, considering Daphne is only forty (although old for the time period), it may even be a discussion that takes place in my own household…
Title: Knight of My Dreams Author: Lynsay Sands Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Historical romance, Regency romance Dates read: 9th January 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Novella Publisher: Avon Year: 2014 5th sentence, 74th page: Are you chilled?
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lynsay Sands comes a classic short story of a knight in need of a bride…
Lady Alice knows she is not the type to entice a man. She’s too voluptuous, too intelligent, too strong minded. Why, she even reads! But then Jonathan, Earl of Fairley, arrives at court. Tall, dark and handsome, the knight is any woman’s dream. And he has just been ordered by the king to find a bride… and Alice is to help him!
Jonathan has been evading his mother’s matchmaking schemes for years, so why does she insist that Lady Alice isn’t for him? Alice is only to aid in his search for a bride, yet Jonathan can’t help but be distracted by her glorious hair – the color of a sunset – and a figure that is like a lush berry about to burst to full ripeness… Has Jonathan fallen prey to love?
This is a fantastic novella. It is a quick, easy read. It’s fun, cute and actually incredibly romantic. Plus, there is this insanely meddlesome mother who I am completely in love with. Meddlesome mothers who just have their sons’ best interests at heart? That’s just perfect. Especially when you discover her machinations at the very ending of the story and realise that every moment in this novella has been carefully orchestrated.
Finishing this novella had me quite merrily giggling away. There was a great sense of humour throughout this story. I love that it’s a tale which takes you to another place, but with the same battles we face today. Namely, men who are stubborn and silly and refuse to take control of their lives. I have a man like this in my life, and there are certain things which I approach in a really, really roundabout way. Just to make sure that the outcome is the what I desire… I probably relate a little too much to the mother in this story…
There is nothing really revolutionary that I can say about this novella. It was just a great, easy read that I didn’t want to put down. I was kind of sad that it ended so quickly… but I do have another Lynsay Sands standalone novel in my pile to read this month… I look forward to another story that is simple, light and fun.
Title: The Duke That I Marry Author: Cathy Maxwell Series: Spinster Heiresses #3 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Historical romance, Regency romance Dates read: 30th January 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Avon Year: 2018 5th sentence, 74th page: “Did you write down a wager?”
Once upon a time there were threee young ladies who, despite their fortunes, had been on the Marriage Mart a bit too long. They were known as the “Spinster Heiresses”…
Is it wrong for a woman to want more?
Not if she is a Spinster Heiress. They do not settle. Any young miss would be very lucky to find herself promised to a man like the Duke of Camberly. However, Miss Willa Reverly has watched her friends marry for love. Camberly may be the prize of the season, but she will not be “sold” to any man. She wants his devotion or she wants nothing at all.
When is a Marriage of Convenience inconvenient?
Newly named to the ducal title, Matthew Addison is determined to discover the secrets behind Mayfield, the bankrupt estate he has inherited. He doesn’t have time to coddle a headstrong heiress who is determined to ditch him over something as silly as “love”. Little does he know that his questions will place her in jeopardy. Now he will do what he must to save them both.
Could it be that in running from danger they might be racing headlong into a truly unexpected fate: falling in love?
This is a fantastic ending to a beautiful little trilogy. Not only does Willa, the third “Spinster Heiress” find her own happiness, but the final scene involves all three women with their own happily ever afters. I loved that it ended with the girls being together as friends, rather than that feeling I was beginning to get that made you think that once they were married, they travelled off into the sunset and didn’t see each other again. I’m so glad that their bonds are reaffirmed in this.
The beginnings of Willa and Matt’s relationship (and the hurdles they must face) are touched upon in A Match Made in Bed. In fact, on finishing the second book in the series, I was kind of desperate to pick up the final story, because there was a fantastic lead in to it. It meant that unlike the first two book sin the Spinster Heiresses series, it as possible to be thrown into the action immediately. Starting with Willa jilting Matt and making it quite obvious that she wasn’t the kind of woman who could just be walked all over.
There is a lot more hidden drama in this story than the first two books. Mainly because blackmail and bankruptcy lead to a pretty intense storyline. One which had me pulling the pages of the book closer and closer to my face as I was more and more absorbed by the storyline. Although, it was still the romance of the story and the couple who really swept me off my feet. After all, I’m a sucker for a good romance.
What I loved most about this story is that the moment both characters realised that they were in love wasn’t an insane lightbulb moment. There is sexual passion there from the very beginning and a bit of a lustful infatuation on both their parts. But it is that realisation that love doesn’t have to be full of drama and angst. It is about finding that perfect partner in another human being and being able to just work together… that was the part of this story which completely enthralled me.
Title: A Match Made in Bed Author: Cathy Maxwell Series: Spinster Heiresses #2 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Historical romance, Regency romance Dates read: 21st – 22nd January 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Avon Year: 2018 5th sentence, 74th page: Cassandra didn’t undestand why someone hadn’t appied a brush and paint to the problem.
Once upon a time there were threee young ladies who, despite their fortunes, had been on the Marriage Mart a bit too long. They were known as the “Spinster Heiresses”…
Is it wrong for a woman to want more?
Miss Cassandra Holwell is too tall, too bookish, and too smart – but she does have money and a father who wants a grand title for her. Cassandra hasn’t felt a desire to marry until she meets the sinfully handsome Duke of Camberly, who captures her imagination… until Soren York, Earl of Dewsberry and her family’s sworn enemy, steps in the way.
The Holwells ruined Soren’s family, and he’s lived on the knige’s edge trying to resurrect their fortunes… until he considers marrying the Holwell Heiress. Not only would her dowry give him the funds he needs, but he has secretly had an eye on the independent-minded bluestocking since they both first realized the differences between men and women.
She likes to read; he has no patience for books. She know little of sex; he is a man of the world and willing to school her. Her family destroyed his; his offer of marriage may be her only salvation
Now Cassandra and Soren must learn to love each other for who they are, not what they are – and the lessons are becoming an exercise in absolute pleasure.
I absolutely adored this book. There was just something about it that was easy, fun and totally impossible to put down. Which I’m starting to find as a bit of a trend in the regency romances I’m obsessing over at the moment. Again, I read this in a ridiculously short amount of time, found it impossible to put down and really wanted to pick up The Duke That I Marry immediately on finishing this. I didn’t, because I have papers to write and an adult life to live… but I might have to do so pretty soon.
After the intensity of Leonie and Roman’s relationship in If Ever I Should Love You, I was completely expecting Cass and Soren to have a major falling out once they’d agreed to marriage. And I completely dreaded it. They had a little more of a battle to actually get to their happy, nuptial state, and I really, really didn’t want to see that suddenly destroyed and having to be fixed in the first moments of their “happily ever after”. It didn’t happen. Which made me ridiculously happy.
I could kind of tell that the father of Cass was kind of horrible. And a dick. But even I was surprised at the depths of the horribleness of her family. After reading two books in this trilogy in which the parents of the bride are completely deplorable… I’m really, really hoping that the third, and final book has parents that are at least abideable. Not holding my breath… but horrible parents somehow tears my heart strings more than anything else. There is just something so drastically sad about such a thing.
As much as I loved this book. There were two themes that I really and truly adored.
The first was the discussion about compromise and finding a way to make everything work. Both Soren and Cass are stubborn and opinionated. But they find a way to work each others’ needs and desires into their actions. Passion and romance is always featured, but compromise in a relationship? That’s something that I think we all need to focus on a little bit more…
And secondly, and finally, this story is really about getting over the past and moving on. About finding a way to move forward and act like an actual human being, rather than holding onto the horrors of the past. There’s even a great example in there which shows you just how much you can be twisted by holding onto the past with such vicious bitterness.
Title: If Ever I Should Love You Author: Cathy Maxwell Series: Spinster Heiresses #1 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Historical romance, Regency romance Dates read: 7th January 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Avon Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: She just didn’t want the handsome Lord Dewsberry to be crestfallen on her account.
Once upon a time there were threee young ladies who, despite their fortunes, had been on the Marriage Mart a bit too long. They were known as the “Spinster Heiresses”…
He’s inherited a title, but not a penny to speak of, so the Earl of Rochdale knows he must find a wife – preferably one tolerably pretty and good-tempered, but definitely wealthy, and who will exchange her fortune for his family name.
His choice: Leonie Charnock, one of the season’s “Spinster Heiresses”. Years before, the earl had saved the dark-eyed beauty’s reputation, and she is still breahttakingly lovely, leading Rochdale to hope that their marriage will be more than in name only.
However, Leonie doesn’t want to be anyone’s wife. Nearly destroyed by the secrets in her past, Leonie agrees to their union with one condition: there will be a wedding but no bedding. But it’s a condition the new Countess Rochdale isn’t sure even she can keep…
Late last year, I read a novella by Cathy Maxwell and I loved it. So, the other day when I decided I wanted to buy a random guilty pleasure and saw one of her books on the shelves… I succumbed. And then, I read it very, very quickly in a period of about 24 hours. To the point that I didn’t even spend the last hour with my partner before he went away for a week because I really wanted to finish this amazing novel!
I love the Leonie is incredibly flawed. Unlike most heroines, particularly within Regency romances, she has a pretty big and serious flaw. There is no sweetness of voice of reason to her actions. Instead, she’s a lot more relatable. Actually, since her flaw (alcoholism) is one that my family has… it was a little too easy to relate to this aspect of her character. The fact that Roman then is incapable of dealing with her flaws like a semi-normal person. I love that both of these characters make you want to reach through the pages and smack them around. Normally I kind of feel like that about the men, but the fact that I wanted to do it to the woman as well… it somehow made her that much more real!
I’ve definitely decided in the last month that Regency romances are my new obsession. There is just something about them that captures the imagination and takes you away. An extra level of innocence which make the story so much sweeter and impossible to put down. There is just something that makes it more intense and fun. They’re a little reminiscent of Jane Austen, but the modern day writers add in a lot more sex, and this is something that I thoroughly enjoy in my romances… that turning of innocence.
One of the parts of Leonie that I love is that instead of focusing on becoming a better woman for Roman, she finds a way to just become a better person. A way to love herself again. The use of roses and gardening is a great way to do this. And it acted as a little bit of a reminder that it’s important to love yourself before finding a way to be what your partner needs. Feeling worthy of love is one of the most important things. Which is an amazing message – although this is a romance, Leonie doesn’t rely on a man to make her complete, she finds a way to do it herself.
Title: The Duke & I Author: Julia Quinn Series: Bridgertons #1 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Historical romance, Regency romance Dates read: 17th – 18th December 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Piatkus Year: 2000 5th sentence, 74th page: ‘Of course,’ Lady Bridgerton said politely.
‘Men are sheep. Where one goes, the rest soon follow…’ Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, 30 April 1813
After enduring two seasons in London, Daphne Bridgerton is no longer naïve enough to believe she will be able to marry for love. But is it really too much to hope for a husband for whom she at least has some affection?
Her brother’s old school friend Simon Basset – the new Duke of Hastings – has no intention of ever marrying. However, newly returned to England, he finds himself the target of the many marriage-minded society mothers who remain convinced that reformed rakes make the best husbands.
To deflect their attention, the handsome hell-raiser proposes to Daphne that they pretend an attachment. In return, his interest in Daphne will ensure she becomes the belle of London society with suitors beating a path to her door. There’s just one problem, Daphne is in very real danger of falling for a man who has no intention of making their charade a reality…
This novel is beautiful, sweet and romantic. It’s kind of like a Jane Austen novel with far more humour, and a more approachable, modern language. Quite possibly my favourite read of the year to be fair. There is just something about it which is kind of brilliant, and a lot of fun. There is also a sense of naivety to the storyline which really isn’t present in a lot of the romances that I read.
Although this is a romance, I was fully expecting the marriage to occur at the end point of the story. After all, that’s normally the “happily ever after” moment for most of these stories. But, instead it actually takes place just after the halfway mark. Actually, the couples biggest challenge is their own personal issues and the moments they have to face up to throughout the marriage, rather than actually getting to the altar. I completely loved this because it highlighted the fact that there is a story after marriage. That you have to continue working on the relationship, even after you have made that commitment. Something that I think sometimes needs to be highlighted a little more.
I couldn’t put this book down. It did take me two days, because I started it late at night and figured that I needed to actually sleep… but the next day, I decided to shun all people and only pursue the barest of responsibilities… I really, really had to see what happened. It’s been a little while since I was this happily engrossed in a story and I was just so damn grateful. My biggest frustration is the fact that I blew my budget over Christmas, so now have to save up before I’m able to buy more books in this series. But they’re at the top of the list!
As to the characters… Simon is incredibly stupid and angry at moments. But we still love him. There is a number of great redeeming characteristics about him, so it’s possible to forgive his stupid moments. Daphne is frustratingly naïve in many moments. But I think that it’s very true to the time, or our ideas of the time. I also love that although she’s a regency-era woman, she also has a modern rebellious streak… there’s a number of moments throughout where she actually punches the moronic men in her life. And haven’t we all felt the same desire at some point?
Fall in love with the unpredictable and irresistible dukes (and one dog named Duke) of Four Dukes and a Devil. Join New York Times bestselling authors Cathy Maxwell, Jeaniene Frost, and Tracy Anne Warren, along with USA Today bestselling author Elaine Fox and RITA Award winner Sophia Nash, for tales of noble danger and devilish desire.
Delicate young ladies must be protected from him.
First he steals her clothes, then he steals her heart.
Most would be terrified of this powerful vampire—but not him.
He’s “the catch of the century”. . . but she’s the only one he can’t have.
A young miss demands a kiss. But he won’t rest once she’s touched her lips to his.
With four dukes and one devil, there’s no limit on love.
I’ve had this collection on my shelf for a little while. And wow! Why did it take me this long? I completely loved all five novellas. They managed to run the gambit of romance genres and all featured good, strong women who you were completely gunning for the entire time. Five different couples, five different authors, five different settings, one really good adventure. This is the first collection in a long time that I have wanted to read cover to cover instead of taking a break in between like I usually do…
One of the things I loved about this collection is that although all five stories are romances of a sort, they’re from completely different genres. To start with there is a historical romance, then a contemporary one, then a romantic journey that features vampires and a demon. And finally, two regency romances to tie it all out. An intriguing mix, one that I would never have thought would work so well. But wow. It was impossible to put down and impossible to forget.
I now have many stories to put on my wish list… some are to expand on the series which this collection introduced me to, some just because I need to read more by some of these authors. Regardless, I have one more Night Huntress tale that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed and four new authors to obsess over.
All India wanted was to escape the notice of a very unwanted suitor. And then she found Quentin. After agreeing to their ruse, the two find themselves experiencing emotions that they really weren’t expecting.
This novella was an absolutely fantastic way to end out the Four Dukes and a Devil collection. It was sweet, funny and impossible to put down. I laughed, I smiled (a lot) and just generally loved the adventure that it took me on. The innocence to the story and the humour were a perfect mix. And, as this collection as shown me… I’m kind of falling in love with Regency Romances at the moment. So it worked kind of perfectly for my mood lately.
As with a lot of romances, this was kind of entirely predictable. You knew who was going to end up with whom. Alright, some of the bumps weren’t necessarily expected – but you knew that there were going to be bumps. But you know what? I actually enjoy having such a predictable story sometimes… just because you know that it’s going to end in happily ever after, it doesn’t mean you can’t join in the journey. Or enjoy it.
The two leads in this – India and Quentin are absolutely fantastic. Alright, as usual, the man is a little it slow on the uptake and too stubborn to realise his good luck. But, eventually he comes around and gives us the ending that we desire. And India? India is bright, fun and vibrant. She’s kind of naïve in her hope, but it’s the part of me that I sometimes wish I could reclaim, that unjaded outlook on life and ability to be excited by everything… if only.
Earth and Skye 