When he was wicked - Julia Quinn

In every life there is a turning point. A moment so tremendous, so sharp and breathtaking, that one knows one's life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, London's most infamous rake, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton. 

After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing. Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca's surname was to remain Bridgerton for only a mere thirty-six hours longer—the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin. 

But that was then... Now Michael is the earl and Francesca is free, but still she thinks of him as nothing other than her dear friend and confidant. Michael dares not speak to her of his love... until one dangerous night, when she steps innocently into his arms, and passion proves stronger than even the most wicked of secrets... (less)

My thoughts:

I SO have not read these in order. I read the 8th first, then I think the 3rd? and then the 1st and now the 6th...oh well, getting to the end...slooowly. I really should read them all.

I almost started crying, damn. But she was SO happy and so much in love and then boom, hubbie dead. What? Nooooo!

So it is four years later. She thinks it is time to move on. In comes Michael, her husband's cousin, and the man who has loved her for years. But he would never go there, neither would she.

But hey we both know they will fall in each other's arms and so they do so that they can live happily ever after.

It was cute and I almost read it in a day, aaalmost, I did start another Quinn book the same day so it took 2 days.

Cover

Dull

Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages
Published June 29th 2004 by Avon (first published January 1st 2004)
Bridgertons #6
Historical romance
Library

Romance Friday: The Viscount who loved me / Romancing the Countess

This time, the gossip columnists have it wrong. 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 is 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...

My thoughts:

It was fun, cute, amusing, silly and it has some great lines where I went all snap! It's a Quinn book, what else is there to expect :)

Anthony is the eldest Bridgerton and he has decided to marry. He has found a pretty, nice and intelligent wife and. He is a rake and does not presume to marry for love. He just wants a nice little package. 

Kate does not want her sister to marry a rake. She is opinionated, not as pretty, but she does not back down. Of course he will start to fall for her instead even though he denies it, and of course she will start falling for this infuriating man. They bicker, I enjoy it.

Conclusion:

A sweet book. I actually read her later novels before starting the Bridgertons ones. But they all contain that fun cuteness. 

I liked how the ended up together. They had to work for it too ;)

cover

boring

Mass Market Paperback, 354 pages
Published June 27th 2006 by Avon (first published January 1st 2000)
Bridgertons #2
Historical romance
Own

Sebastian Madinger, the Earl of Wriothesly, thought he'd married the perfect woman-until a fatal accident revealed her betrayal with his best friend. After their deaths, Sebastian is determined to avoid a scandal for the sake of his son. But his best friend's widow is just as determined to cast her mourning veil aside by hosting a party that will surely destroy both their reputations and expose all of his carefully kept secrets...

Leah George has carried the painful knowledge of her husband's affair for almost a year. All she wants now is to enjoy her independence and make a new life for herself-even if that means being ostracized by the Society whose rules she was raised to obey. Now that the rumors are flying, there's only one thing left for Sebastian to do: silence the scandal by enticing the improper widow into becoming a proper wife. But when it comes to matters of the heart, neither Sebastian nor Leah is prepared for the passion they discover in each other's arms....

My thoughts:

I have been reading a LOT of books lately. I am feeling a bit reviewed out when I read so much (yay vacation!!). So...short? Eh, we will see.

These two have already loved and lost. Sebastian's wife died in a carriage accident (oh those carriage accidents!) and she was with another man. *gasps* He spun some lies at once. That man was Leah's husband and she sadly knew about the affair. It did not make her happy knowing. Now she wants to live and he wants her to calm down. A widow can't be merry.

I liked Leah. She wanted to live, to be free and the more I got to know her the more I understood. Sebastian just wanted to protect his wife's reputation and their son's. So he tries to keep her in check, but then he can't stop thinking of her.

Conclusion:

They both have to come to terms with what they know. And learn to love and live again. I do think they were a great fit in the end. A nice story.

Cover

ok

Mass Market Paperback, 302 pages
Published September 6th 2011 by Signet Eclipse
Romancing #1
Historical romance
Own

Review: The Duke and I - Julia Quinn

After enduring two seasons in London, Daphne Bridgerton is no longer naive 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 Bassett - 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 now in danger of falling for a man who has no intention of making their charade a reality.

Series: Bridgertons #1, Genre: Historical romance, Pages: 339, Published: 2006 (2000) by Piatkus, Source: my own

My thoughts:

It seems that this was not my first Bridgerton book, now I had actually read the 8th and last first, but totally forgotten about it since it had bored me a bit. I can't even remember what happened in it..a wedding and a carriage at the end? Well I am pleased to say that this one was better and it did not matter that I read out of order. Welcome to the Out of Order reading club.

Oh and I did try to read..book 3? And gave up cos I just grew angry...end of story (even if it still annoys me).

Still I do prefer her newer books, but I did enjoy this first Bridgerton books and all the siblings (8 if you are wondering). But at the moment only 4 are out and about. Daphne is nice and all, but men just want to be her friend. We all know men can be such idiots sometimes. I did like her in the book too, she was fun and I am sure we would have been friends.

The hero, well he has issues, he had stutter as a kid and the relationship with his dad was horrible. He is carrying a lot of anger. Even though we know that this well end up in a HEA there are obstacles first as he never wants to marry or have kids. Poor guy is pretty messed up.

The tone is fun and cute. They fit so well together from the very beginning. Yes Simon was an ass, yes maybe Daphne should have know better. But the drama at the end was actually one of the best parts. It seems I like an unhappy couple who has to solve a big crisis.

Conclusion:

Sweet is the word. Sweet with sugar on top, but at the end there is some salt, but then it's all sugar and happiness again.

Review: On the way to the wedding - Julia Quinn

 Bridgertons, book 8

Genre: Historical romance
Pages: 320
Published: 2006

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED...
Unlike most men of his acquaintance, Gregory Bridgerton believes in true love. And he is convinced that when he finds the woman of his dreams, he will know in an instant that she is the one. And that is exactly what happened. Except...

She wasn’t the one. In fact, the ravishing Miss Hermione Watson is in love with another. But her best friend, the ever-practical Lady Lucinda Abernathy, wants to save Hermione from a disastrous alliance, so she offers to help Gregory win her over. But in the process, Lucy falls in love. With Gregory! Except...

Lucy is engaged. And her uncle is not inclined to let her back out of the betrothal, even once Gregory comes to his senses and realizes that it is Lucy, with her sharp wit and sunny smile, who makes his heart sing. And now, on the way to the wedding, Gregory must risk everything to ensure that when it comes time to kiss the bride, he is the only man standing at the altar..

I am gonna make this short, I have been reading like crazy and getting the reviews out of the way too ;)

Plot: 

The last of the Bridgerton siblings is looking for love, too bad he finds it in the wrong girl, and never sees his true love before him, before it's too late and she is walking to the altar with another man.

Characters:

Gregory, what should I say, I was rather annoyed that he believed to be madly in love with Hermione, and relentlessly pursued her. Even though she was on love with someone else.Then he was hit by lightning again, and didn't see who it was. Am I cynic when I say that is lust and nothing more. But to his defence, I loved how he believed in true love and wanted to find it, and when he finally understood what love was he was not letting her get away, even if she was to marry someone else.

Lucy, she was rather grey at times, and I am not sure I liked how she didn't want her friend to be with the man she loved, just cos he wasn't noble.

Love:

Gregory sure loves, and falls in love in this one. Lucy is more sensible so do I feel it? Dunno. There is some smexin too, I didn't expect that, the book looked so sweet.

Bad things:

How he fell for a pretty face and that was it.

Good things:

How much he believed in love and wanted it.

Final thoughts:

This was much first Bridgerton book, how funny I should read about the last sibling. Not a series one have to read in order. It was sweet and easy.

Cover thoughts: Cute

Reason for reading: Library