The Duke and I

Rating:
Summary: Good fun, but not in tune with the period
Review: Julia Quinn's strengths in the books of hers I have read - the Bridgerton series - are her witty dialogue, her rakish but "softy" heroes and her independent heroines. Her weakness is that her heroes and heroines sometimes behave and speak in ways more reminiscent of the 1990s rather than the 1810s (the Regency period).

I have to agree that THE DUKE AND I is a great fun read. I did "get into" the characters, their humor, and their relationships with each other. And yes, I read it all through in one evening, and noticed the flaws only as I neared the end.

However, I found some parts very hard to accept. For example, the tone of the conversations between the characters are not really Regency but very modern or post-modern. Much as I enjoyed the book, I cannot believe that some reviewers are comparing Julia Quinn to Jane Austen in terms of her accuracy in portraying the Regency period's conversation and the social elite.

There are some situations that also strain my credulity, such as the fact that Simon prefers to be thought of as a blackguard when he has hopelessly compromised his friend's sister. Would any man - even one so afraid of marriage and determined not to have children - still be prepared to lose all his friends? [That is what would have happened in real life. Making love to your friend's unmarried sister and then refusing to marry her was simply not done]. This is not even mentioned in the book.

Some minor things that bother me are: What happened to Simon's nanny, she who loved him and taught him to read etc? No mention of her after the first few pages. Amazing.

Also his maternal relatives are never mentioned. It is inconceivable that his mother's family and friends would take no interest in the child even at birth. If the Duchess and Duke were orphans coming from single-child families for generations, that would make sense. But there is nothing to place Simon in the context of a larger family, nor to show him as anything but the catch of the season as an unmarried Duke.

I have to admit that I do like the humor, and when I read the book simply for the story and the plot (as a generic period piece) it is a great fun read. Yes, I laughed out loud several times.

I really wanted to know more about the brothers, especially Benedict and Colin. And I have my own suspicions about who Lady Whistledown (the author of the little gossip snippets) is.

General recommendation - if you like a good fun read, with lots of witty dialogue, and with a lot of humor sometimes bordering on farce, this is a good book. If you like a strong modern heroine and a hero tortured by his unhappy relationship with his father, this is a good book as well. If you want the atmosphere to be right, and you don't like some inconsistencies, then this is probably not the book for you.

The book is not a keeper for me, but then I tend to be pickier in my Regencies than the average reader. I rated this book at 4.3 (deducting points for insufficiently fleshing out Simon's background, and the other inconsistencies I mentioned earlier).

Rating:
Summary: A story straight from the heart
Review: Julia Quinn has been called a "contemporary Jane Austen" by Jill Barnett, and you can certainly see why in THE DUKE AND I. This is the story of Daphne Bridgerton, a debutante who longs for marriage and family, but is sick of the marriage mart, and Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, who is recently returned to England and determined not to get snared into marriage by any determined matchmaking mamas. Simon is friends with Daphne's brother Anthony, and when he and Daphne meet, they agree to conduct a sham courtship to simultaneously increase Daphne's eligibility and reduce Simon's chance of getting trapped into an unwanted marriage. But you know what they say about the best plans of mice and men...

Julia Quinn's THE DUKE AND I is a wonderfully heartwarming story with a witty and effervescent cast of characters. Daphne is a far cry from the stereotypical damsel in distress; she is incredibly intelligent and loving - all in all, a very likable person who appeals to Simon in spite of himself. As for Simon, he manages to be strong-willed and sensitive at the same time. He is sincere (if misguided), has a great sense of humor, and is the perfect match for Daphne. There is no dastardly villain lurking in the wings in this tale; rather, the characters deal with internal demons and the importance of love and family.

The secondary characters are just as strong and sympathetic as the protagonists are. Violet clearly, as Daphne says, has "hidden depths," Anthony is the perfect scowling overprotective older brother, and Benedict and Colin are great rogues in the making. I look forward to the stories of the remaining Bridgertons.

THE DUKE AND I is a delightful comedy of manners that I'm sure Jane Austen, if she was around today, would get a kick out of. In lieu of that occurrence, fans of Regency-era romances will certainly devour it and come away wanting more. I know I did!

Rating:
Summary: much better than i expected...
Review: I guess you could say "The Duke and I" was my first "real" introduction to Romance literature, and I'm glad to report it was a wonderful introduction. My interest in Romance novels began with Georgette Heyer - probably one of the best Regency Romance novelists ever - but I had stayed so long loyal to one author that I thought it high time to branch out into novels written by more "modern" authors.

I expected the the novel (well, Romance novels in general) to be fake and contrived, emotions unreal and characters that you can't relate to - but I'm happy to say "The Duke and I" is nothing like that. Quinn describes beautifully the powerful emotions that run through Simon, his thoughts and reason behind them, and you get the sense of his person - he is real, believable. You can sympathize with his pain and anguish, his unability to let go of the past. You can relate to Daphne - beautiful, intelligent, and with that certain tomboyish quality that comes with having 3 older brothers. Her desire to have children isn't contrived, it's something that is inherent in her character. And you can somehow respect her for doing what she thought she had to do.

Besides the two main characters, the set of secondary characters running amuck in the novel is wonderfully fresh. Violet is the perfect mother, funny and loveable. Anthony is the stern, over-protective brother that you hate and love. And of course, Colin - wicked and delightful.

Quinn's style of writing gives the characters in a slightly modern sensibility, which is surprisingly nice. The humor throughout the novel is natural and very amusing - I laughed out loud many times, to the annoyance of people around me. All in all, if you're looking for a great Romance book that satisfies, "The Duke and I" is the book :)

Rating:
Summary: His family line would end with him
Review: Simon Basset, Earl Clyvedon, grew up believing this to be true. Troubled by a stutter, disdained and cursed by his father, Simon strove to overcome the obstacles before him and to eventually make his father proud. His father's intolerance, however, drove him to do everything possible to shame his father with his activities and to flout his obligation to his family. But upon his father's death, years later, Simon reluctantly returns to England to assume his father's title and responsibilities. He is determined, however, not to let the Basset line continue. To him, this is the ultimate means of revenge against the father who continued to scorn him. He does, however, resume his friendship with his old school chums, most notably Viscount Bridgerton who warns him about the ambitious mothers of England who are trying to foist their young, single daughters upon wealthy, titled men such as themselves.

Among these ambitious mothers and single daughters lie Viscount Bridgerton's own mother and sister. Daphne Bridgerton is into her second season and though the eligible bachelors like her they do not adore her. But when she meets the new Duke of Hastings she agrees to a proposition that will be advantageous to them both. If it works, Simon will not have to worry about the ambitious mothers and Daphne will have a slew of potential suitors thanks to the attentions of the duke.

Julia Quinn has written a brilliant, witty, and engaging story about two people who strike a deal with each other and become fast friends because of it. To Simon, Daphne is the best woman. He can be himself around her and not have to worry about his inadequacies. His primary concern is his unexpected and unwanted attraction to her. Daphne is drawn to the duke as well but she finds herself comfortable with their friendship. This is one of the best aspects of this story. And as Daphne finds herself falling in love with Simon, she worries about his unwillingness to marry, his supposed inability to give her children, and the possibility that he will never love her in return. One of the more poignant situations in this story stems from the fact that Simon is not the only one who is afflicted by the attraction between the two. Anthony, Viscount Bridgerton, senses from the beginning what Simon and Daphne do not. Where they see their plan as being advantageous, he sees it as being explosive. And as the story unfolds, his longtime friendship with Simon is also put to the test because of the chemistry between his friend and his sister. Quinn's handling of both Simon and Daphne's respective relationships with Viscount Bridgerton expands the reader's understanding of these characters and adds an added dimension to this wonderful love story.

Rating:
Summary: Expected better
Review: Am I the only reviewer who did not think it very admirable for Daphne to deliberately try to have a child, knowing Simon did not want one? And they she blames him??? I was amazed. Simon, who had a stuttering problem as a child, is a dark, brooding man who does not want to get married as his own childhood was awful. He is afraid to pass on his "defect" or perhaps fears too he will be a father like his father, which was not good. Daphne and Simon hatch a plot together to fake an engagement to a) have the women leave Simon alone and b) this will somehow make Daphne more marketable on the marraige mart. The story is okay the first half but, once married, is not very good. Can you please explain to me how it would be possible for Daphne, practically raised in the stables, is so ignorant about marrital relations? And she leaves Simon, thinking she might be pregnant with a Duke's heir, after she tricks him. I thought that was so shabby. And how in the world could her brother, Anthony, fault Simon for her leaving him? That too was illogical and was one of the many reasons the book was a loss. Simon frankly deserved someone better than Daphne. She should have gone to him and apologized, not the other way around.

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Fare
Review: This was the first Julia Quinn I picked up and it is still my favorite. Daphne Bridgerton is a refreshing and original character in a genre where so many heroines are cookie cutter copies of the archtypical independent Regency lady. Her relationship with Simon Bassett follows the comfortable formula of a Regency romance (he meets her, she is his pal's sister, witty banter occurs, they try to keep their hands off each other, they can't, romance and conflict ensue, conflict is resolved, and they live happily with each other) without being stale. Ms. Quinn's army of secondary characters is as endearing as the principals, and I hope that she plans to continue the story of the Bridgerton family. I have since read her other novels, and the "Duke and I" stands out among Ms. Quinn's other works and of the Regency genre at large.

Rating:
Summary: Oh.....The True Power of Love
Review: This book was so wonderful I can't even begin to express the number of emotions that it evoked in me. At one point I was so mad at Simon for refusing to marry Daphne that I was ready to throw the book.....then I was furious at Daphne for trying to get pregnant when she knew that Simon didn't want a baby....then I was mad at Simon for leaving........the emotions this book evoked were so real....I must say that Ms. Quinn is an expert in keeping her stories entertaining and not just the same old same old that can bog down most romance novels....her characters seem real with human failings and human emotions.... I am eagerly awaiting Ms. Quinn's next novel.

Rating:
Summary: Romance, humor, even a duel... this book has it all!
Review: I must say the _The Duke and I_ was like a Thanksgiving Turkey for me. There it was on the table, looking all nice and delicious, but I had to wait before I could devour it. _The Duke and I_ was in my HUGE pile of to be read books for a couple of months before I got the chance to eat. And, like the turkey, this book was better on the inside then on the out...

Daphne Bridgerton is the fourth of eight children, and is foundly refered to by every eligable bachelor as 'the best friend you could ever have'. Unfortunately for Daffy, she desprately wants to get married. This presents quite a problem because the only men who want Daff as more then a friend are people she could never see herself living with. And, because of her audacious mama, the bachelors that don't think of Daffy as a great friend are frightened off by Violet. So, for a girl already on her second season and getting precariously close to becoming a spinster, the husband candidates are few and far between.

Then we have Simon Basset, newly appointed the Duke of Hastings. Simon's childhood was a tortured one... the boy being his father's only son, there was a lot of pressure put on him. And, when the boy didn't speak until he was four, and when he did speak, he had a horrible stutter. This was enough to push Simon's father away from his son forever. The poor little boy was extremly determined to overcome his stutter and make his father proud of him, but the late Duke of Hastings could not get over his notion that Simon was a nit-wit. Simon grew up to be extremly smart, and earned the reputation of a rake among men. So, when he returns to London after his father dies, the vicious vultures that are politely reffered to as Mamas attack him, looking for a husband for their daughters. When Simon and Daphne meet, they decide to form a plan.

Intrigued?

It gets better.

Their plan is to pretend to have developed a tendre for one another. That way, the Mamas will stay away from Simon, and men will start to look at Daff in a new light. But, what happens when the two start to fall head over heals in love with each other?

Through out these events, there is one gossip colomnist who is reporting it all. The ton refers to her as Lady Whistledown even though the name is obviously fake. The woman seems to have spies everywhere, and knows of things, it seems, before they happen. Bits and pieces of her gossip colomn are stuck in at the begining of each chapter and make the book ten times more entertaining then it already is. If you don't want to read this book, I would suggest it to you for no other reason then to get a kick out of this woman's view of the ton. It is garunteed to get a laugh out of you and make you itch to find out who this woman is.

I sincerly enjoyed _The Duke and I_. It had everything I look for in a book in it. Romance, humor, family, and a little bit of seriousness... but just enough to make you believe that this may have really happened. Simon... well, I fell completely in love with him. Julia Quinn was very smart to include the prologue describing Simon's childhood. It strengthened the character development tremendously and it helps the reader see how he developed into the man he was. Because of his stutter, I felt very attached and (if this is possible to feel for a character in a book) protective of him. I often wanted to hop into the book and give him a hug and a kiss on his cheek. Daphne... well she was wonderful. Her spunk and love were all lovely, and her devotion to Simon will bring tears to your eyes. You will laugh at her wit, and cheer for her bravery. When Simon is a blockhead (and trust me, he seriously knows how to be stubborn) you want her to give him a punch for you. It was nice to see the heroine deffend herself, but to have been able to do it without a gun or a knife was commendable. Daphne knew how to get down and use her hands to defend herself if that was ever needed, and I found it a nice change from the usual self defense that romance heroines usually have. I absolutely loved her family. They added spice to this turkey... dare I say they were the stuffing? I can tell there are going to be sequals because Daphne's three oldest brothers were so well developed. Julia Quinn's writing style is just my type, it's light and bouncy and full of humor (it is garunteed that you will laugh out loud at least once) but also keeps you grounded. Her humor is not complicated, it's basically what you see is what you get, and it was nice to take a break from sarcastic humor to just plain old comedy. Although, the characters' dialogues are full of hysterical, witty sarcasm that will bring a smile to you face and have you in awe of Julia's ability to write. This book was so good that I was reading it even as my eyes were fully dialated from an eye exam (not an easy feat if you ask me).

If you question Julia's humor, just read the little bio of her on the back inside cover of any of her books. If that doesn't get a chuckle out of you, read the dedication on one of the first pages. Trust me, this book is excellent. When you add up all of the ingrediants I've mentioned above, you'll get one great turkey. I can't wait to read more of her work.

Rating:
Summary: The Duke and I
Review: A delightful, light-hearted and funny read. Great content with tongue-in-cheek throughout. Characterization is wonderful, as they become as familiar as old friends.

Rating:
Summary: The Duke and I
Review: Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings, had an arduous childhood. His mother died giving birth to him, he couldn't speak until he was four years old, and his father rejected him because when he did speak, he stutters terribly. Simon was shunned by his father who thought he was a moron. Actually, Simon is extremely intelligent, earning a first in mathematics at Cambridge. But Simon has never forgotten his father's rejection, and refuses to reconcile with him before his death. He also vows never to marry or have children. Enter Daphne Bridgerton, whose mother is determined to find her a suitable husband. Sure she's then foreced to search for the acceptable husband and endure the churlish men. When Daphne and Simon meet they decide to fake an attachment, so that other suitors will find Daphne more attractive and so that Simon is spared the attentions of the matchmaking mothers. But it soon turns into the real thing. Can the bachelor give up his solitary ways for the woman he loves?

The Duke and I is humerous, endearing, heart-warming and entertaining. Crisp and funny dialogues. You'll enjoy this wonderful story as her other works. No exception. Highly recommended.