Book Review: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

The Duke and I
Author: Julia Quinn
Series: Bridgertons (Book 1)
Publication: Avon (April 28, 2015)

Description: Can there be any greater challenge to London's Ambitious Mamas than an unmarried duke?—Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, April 1813

By all accounts, Simon Basset is on the verge of proposing to his best friend's sister—the lovely and almost-on-the-shelf—Daphne Bridgerton. But the two of them know the truth—it's all an elaborate ruse to keep Simon free from marriage-minded society mothers. And as for Daphne, surely she will attract some worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable.

But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, it's hard to remember that their courtship is a sham. Maybe it's his devilish smile, certainly it's the way his eyes seem to burn every time he looks at her . . . but somehow Daphne is falling for the dashing duke . . . for real! And now she must do the impossible and convince the handsome rogue that their clever little scheme deserves a slight alteration, and that nothing makes quite as much sense as falling in love.

My Thoughts: This is a smart historical romance and a reread for me. It is also the first book in the Bridgerton series which has regained popularity because of the new Netflix series.

This is Daphne's story. She is the fourth child of Lord and Lady Bridgerton. She has three older brothers, one younger brother, and three younger sisters. Daphne is also on the marriage market and has been for a couple of seasons. She wants to get married and have a family but, unfortunately, the men of the ton see her as a buddy or a pal and not as a desirable woman to be courted. 

Then Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, comes back to London after many years abroad. He is one of Daphne's older brother Anthony's best friends. Simon had a difficult childhood. His mother died at his birth and his father had unreasonable expectations for his heir. Simon didn't speak until he was four and then was plagued with a stutter. His father decided he was an idiot and abandoned him to be raised alone on one of the family estates. Through hard work and determination, he conquered his stammer but by then he was no longer interested in his father's approval. When his father tried to draw his now acceptable heir into his circle, Simon left the country.

But Simon coming back to London makes him a target of young ladies and ambitious mamas looking to marry off their daughters. Simon has vowed never to marry and certainly never to have a child because he is still rebelling against his father despite his father's death. However, when he meets Daphne, he is intrigued. He and Daphne come up with a plan to pretend to be courting which should protect him from matchmaking mamas and also change the way other men look at Daphne. Neither had any intention of making the pretense real...at first.

I really enjoyed getting to know both Simon and Daphne. I loved seeing the contrasts between them. Certainly Daphne's life experiences as one in a large, happy family were different from Simon's. Things don't always go smoothly in their relationship which makes the story, but a happy ending ensues. I especially liked that my new Kindle copy of this paperback from my Keeper shelves includes the Second Epilogue which brings the couple forward in time some twenty years. I also liked that each chapter began with a quotation from Lady Whistledown's Society Papers penned by the mysterious and unknown Lady Whistledown.

The only problem I had with this reread was that I can't stop with just one of the Bridgerton books and am now off to reread THE VISCOUNT WHO LOVED ME. 

Favorite Quote:

Men, she thought with disgust, were interested only in those women who terrified them. No one seemed inclined to court someone like her. They all adored her, or so they said, because she was so easy to talk to, and she always seemed to understand how a man felt. 

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.