The Duke and I

Rating:
Summary: A Breath of Fresh Air....
Review: I do like reading Romances but I've often found that many of them sound the same. Certainly the plots change and the character names and circumstances change -- but the essential dialogue and tensions often replicate themselves in book after book. This gives many Romance novels a homogenous, artificial flavor which I don't like and I feel cheated when I read books like this because I feel as if the author has underestimated the intelligence of her/his reader. How refreshing it was then to read Julia Quinn's, "The Duke and I." This was my first (certainly not my last) Julia Quinn book and I was highly impressed with her ability to create characters who don't always speak and behave the way you expect them too. Daphne and Simon's relationship is believable, they seem like "real" people and their problems were fairly ordinary and not overly dramatic or contrived. The secondary characters each deserve (and will probably get) a book of their own. Quinn also had a knack for making me laugh -- the humor was not forced or too cutesy, just well written. Although this book is set in the Regency period, it is not your "traditional" Regency as it does contain some frank sex scenes and the characters often act with a more modern sensibility than one might expect. In any case, this was a great read and I am eagerly looking forward to reading Quinn's other novels.

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Summary: A Light-hearted Read...
Review: Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, and Daphne Bridgerton, pretended an attachment to each other. For Simon, this plan was to free himself from marriage-minded mothers. For Daphne, it was to free herslf from unsuitable suitors and in the meanwhile attract more suitors. Somehow, they grew attracted to each other and found themslves in a compromising position. But the thing was... Simon had vowed that he were never to marry. You have to find out on your own how the two ended up together because I will not want to sopil the book for you!

This is the first Julia Quinn book that I have ever read, and I am extremely delighted with it. Although a few parts in the story are not really believeable, the humour shown throughout the book somehow made up for it. The characters in the book are well-developed. I even grow a fondness over the Bridgerton family even though the three elder brothers of Daphne were proved to be rather meddlesome in the matters of her marriage. I am looking forward to the next book of the Bridgerton family, "The Viscount who Loved Me".

This is the novel for you if you love a light-hearted read, with witty and humourous dialogue, and some heart-wenching moments. Enjoy the read!

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Summary: refreshing introduction to Quinn
Review: The Duke and I is a splendid book and a great introduction to the writing style of Julia Quinn!

Simon Basset has never been perfect in his father's eyes, and having failed, he's decided to thwart his father forever by being everything his father never thought he would be, including refusing to marry and continue the long and mighty Hastings ducal line. And however much he wants Daphne Bridgerton, he refuses to go back on his vow.

Daphne has always been friendly...so friendly in fact, that potential suitors never consider her a likely candidate for marriage. That is, until Daphne meets Simon. Even though he tries to be aloof, not only because of his vow but because Anthony Bridgerton (a long-time friend of Simon's) threatens his neck, Simon cannot help but be attracted to Daphne during the span of their pretend courtship.

Caught in a compromising position, they are forced to wed, and both are at the beginning of a journey to learn more about themselves and each other. Of course, included is a healthy dose of humor. Julia Quinn is IMHO, one of the best writers of witty dialogue, not to mention the incredible Lady Whistledown! Her books are bound to make you laugh out loud.

Rating:
Summary: PERFECT!!
Review: Although I read this book AFTER it's 2nd part of the series (The Viscount Who Loved Me), I thought it was wonderful!! The characters are so rich and full of life and so....REAL. All of Daphne's brothers are so typically male and yet so charming. And Daphne is a 100% spitfire head strong woman. She is great! It is time for her to find a husband but she refuses to marry without the breathtaking love she knows truley does exist. So, avoiding a number of friendly marriage offers, she has a little run in with one of her brothers' friends. His name is Simon and he is just like his brothers and therefore they want him to have nothing to do with their Daphne. But Daphne is independant and smart and so Simon and Daphne have a plan. They will make everyone think they are an item when in reality, it is a ploy to get everyone off their backs about marriage. So much fun, this book is full of laughs and strength, and Daphne's family is wonderful!! Julia Quinn is fabulous. You will not be disappointed in this book and I vow to read every part of this series as the members of this charming family live their individual lives.

Rating:
Summary: D-d-d-d-duke!
Review: The first installment of the Bridgerton series focuses on the eldest Bridgerton sister, Daphne. This is an emotional joy ride in how Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings found true love with Daphne Bridgerton. Simon grew up motherless, rejected by his father, and with a speech impediment to boot --he stutters. He overcame this impediment but it still comes out especially in times of great emotional strain.

Simon met Daphne when he rescued her from an obssessed suitor. The Duke just came back from living abroad and found out that Mamas with marriageable daughters kept hounding him; whereas Daphne needed to raise her marriage desirability among the eligible bachelors of the ton. So they struck a deal, they will announce a sham engagement. Of course, once the proposals started pouring in for Daphne, Simon thought that the sham engagement must be turned into a real one. And before anyone could say "Duke of Hastings," they were married.

Daphne found bliss and happiness in Simon's arms, and wants to start a family; but Simon's painful childhood is blocking the way to their total happiness.

"The Duke and I" started off lighthearted but it has moments where you truly feel for the characters. I like Daphne's strength and her determination to pull Simon out of the dark remembrance of his past.

Rating:
Summary: Can't Believe a Historical is This Good!
Review: I rarely read historicals. Yet I found myself buying this book even though I have a stack of comptemporay romance/suspense waiting to be read on my nightstand. This was one of the best impulsive buys I have ever made. I have never read anything by Julia Quinn, but if this is how she writes, I've just added a new author to my list of must read. Simon and Daphne are not your typical historical lead characters. Yes Daphne is this young thing during her second season looking for a husband and Simon is a dashing rake avoiding marriage, but this is where the stereotype ends. These characters take on personalities you will not soon forget as they struggle to make things work. It is impossible to describe this book fully without giving away the plot. Just let me say this, the dialogue is wonderful and you will love these characters. This book had me grinning almost the entire time I read it. That is how funny the dialogue reads. The secondary characters are a bonus. You have to read this book if you are looking for something to lose yourself into for a few hours. It is worth it!

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Summary: Quinn just keeps getting better
Review: I have read all of Quinn's works (all that she has written for Avon, at least) and she just keeps getting better. I have liked and kept all of her books because I like her style of writing. Nothing heavy here and that's why I read. I'd rather be entertained by a light, witting and sometimes touching story than be tortured with reading about rapes and characters who don't talk to each other until the end of the book. I guess there are quite a lot of other readers who share my views, because Quinn is becoming extremely popular. Simon and Daphne, the main characters, blend so well together. While Simon might be sterotyped as the typical brooding hero, Daphne is the one who does enough talking for both of them. The secondary characters are also a treat. Daphne's mother, I thought, was hilarious! 'TDAI' has just the right mix of humor with a dose of tension at the end to make it a highly entertaining read. Quinn reminds me alot of Amanda Quick, another of my favorite writers. I'd probably rank this most recent work higher than five stars if I could. I thought it was that good.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious
Review: Julia Quinn is incredibly funny. This is not my favorite book in the series because I love Anthony Bridgerton and The Viscount Who Loved Me is my favorite. However, Daphne and Simon are both endearing characters and their story will keep you riveted from start to finish.

Rating:
Summary: A Near Perfect Romance Novel!
Review: I absolutely loved Simon and Daphne was a great heroine. Simon's horrible upbringing and treatment by his father made me want to grab him in a hug and hold him forever. The stuttering made me fall head over heels for him. He was so REAL. I actually found the stuttering a bit sexy when he did it as an adult. He was so passionate and so intense. I just loved him!

The Bridgertons are an awesome family and the rest of the series is as wonderfully warm and sensual as "The Duke & I."

I highly recommend this one!

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Summary: The book that started it all...
Review: It was very unfortunate for me to read the FIRST book in the series as the LAST one. Because of that reason, I will never find out if I could have reacted differently if I read them all in order. But in order or not in order, this is DEFINITELY worth the hunting I did just so I can finally read Daphne's story.
Daphne is who u call "one of the guys"; the girl who boys can hang out with--period: no marriage intentions or whatsoever. But as it turns out, there is one Duke out there that will fall for her charms nonetheless. The only problem is, this is one of those Dukes who has a depressingly destructing childhood. If he consulted a psychiatrist-if there is one on that time-then we won't have to go through another emotional-roller-coaster-self-conflicted-ride...but since they weren't (probably)offering any psychology courses for the ton, we have to rely to the "healing power of love", whew! that is HEAVY eh? So here we have Daphne, who wishes to have a loving husband and lots and lots of children, falling in love with Simon, who had a bastard of a father, and sweared to his death that He will never, I repeat, NEVER continue the line of the Basset's ancestry; therefore, ending the dukedom with him. But of course, when you have the Bridgertons, what else could go wrong? You'll surely have a happy-ending.
I don't know if Quinn has brothers and sisters, but I was surprised and impressed on how he completely captured the "barbaric" relationship between siblings. I laughed so hard especially when Daphne and one of his brother get into the fighting mode--physically. There is also a family dinner which you CAN'T miss...I mean, the Bridgertons in a family dinner...it almost killed me!hehe--Violet Bridgerton will completely crack u up!
As a wrap-up, half of the book is simple and easy-going with all the charms and antics u'll expect from a Bridgerton book, and half of the book is emotional, touching and sweet as u'll expect from Quinn.