Splendid by Julia Quinn

Series: The Splendid Trilogy (#1)

Format: 396 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published: August 26, 2003 by Avon

Historical romance

Own

This one had a lot of issues. A really rapey hero

Spoilers cos a lot of WTF. Highlight

Alexander finds her unconscious, better kiss her, and then when her brains are scrambled and she is awake kiss her some more.

Oh, he sees her again. Totally the best moment to stalk her, break into her bedroom, throw her down, kiss her. If she says no, ignore it. Men knows better. And then get upset when she tells you to leave and that she will scream. Women be crazy!

Make even other people comment on how you stalk her.

And if all other things fail, call her a bitch! Because women are sheep and she will love you and marry you. YAY

WTF

He does get better. Because even though he is a stalker, refuses to listen to her, and does not care for consent, this was a 90s book and women there liked to be told what to do and feel. But strangely he does get "better", and seems to fall in love, and not act like a rapist lusting for fresh meat. He does have relapses though.

And Emma had big dreams, but eff it, she marries a lord and forgets what she wanted all her life.

Depressing and creepy

That is until a redheaded American throws herself in front of a carriage to save his young nephew's life. She's everything Alex never thought a woman could be—smart and funny, principled and brave. But she's a servant, completely unsuitable for a highborn duke—unless, perhaps, she's not quite what she seems...

American heiress Emma Dunster might be surrounded by Englishmen, but that doesn't mean she intends to marry one—even if she has agreed to participate in one London Season. When she slipped out of her cousins' home, dressed as a kitchen maid, all she wanted was one last taste of anonymity before her debut. She never dreamed she'd find herself in the arms of a dangerously handsome duke... or that he'd be quite so upset when he discovered her true identity. But true love tends to blossom just when one least expects it, and passion can melt even the most stubborn of hearts