HAS THE DEVASTATING DUKE FINALLY FOUND A BRIDE?
All the society papers say so. But, only the Duke of Hastings and "his "intended" know the truth. For the irresistible Simon Basset has hatched a plan to keep himself free from all those marriage-minded society mothers by pretending an attachment to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn't as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry--though there is something about the alluring miss that sets Simon's heart beating a bit faster. And as for Daphne, surely the clever debutante will attract some very worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable...
But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, she soon forgets that their courtship is a complete sham. Maybe it's the mesmerizing look in his intense blue eyes, or the way she feels in his strong arms, but somehow Daphne is falling for the dashing duke ... for real! And now she has to do the impossible and keep herself from losing her heart and soul completely to the handsome hell-raiser who has sworn off marriage forever!
I read this book eighteen years ago but wanted to reread it before watching the Netflix series. I'm so glad I did because knowing Simon's past makes it easier to understand why he is the way he is. I've only seen the first episode so far and haven't seen anything about it other than the mention of his estrangement from his father.
I liked Simon. He has a well-earned reputation as a rake, yet the reason behind it is heartbreaking. His mother died when he was born, and his father was only interested in having the perfect heir to the Basset name. His father ignored Simon until he was two and then cruelly rejected him as an "idiot" because of a speech problem. I ached for Simon as he worked to overcome his problem and was continually rejected. I loved his determination and strength of will as the years went by. The Eton scene was immensely satisfying. When his father's rejection continued, Simon decided to live down to his father's expectations and shortly after left the country. He didn't return until after his father's death.
Simon states that he will never marry and have children. His father's obsession with the perfect heir and carrying on the family line made Simon determined that the Basset dynasty will end with him. Unfortunately for him, as a very eligible bachelor, every matchmaking mother in the ton wants him for their daughters. I loved his conversation with Anthony Bridgerton at the beginning of the book and Simon's belief that he could avoid them.
I also liked Daphne. She is young and naïve but also reasonably practical. As the fourth Bridgerton offspring and oldest daughter, she is the first one to make her debut. With the example of her parents' loving marriage, Daphne wants the same for herself. Thus far, her dreams have not been realized, and she starts to lose hope. It doesn't help that she feels most men don't even see her or only see her as a friend. She has a terrific relationship with her family, whom she loves dearly. I especially enjoyed watching her with her three older brothers, who rarely come out on top when dealing with her.
I loved the first meeting between Daphne and Simon. He may be a rake, but he is also a gentleman who overhears a young lady in apparent distress. His reaction to seeing her deck the man with a well-placed punch was priceless. Their conversation was great as they traded barbs over what to do with her erstwhile suitor, and the sparks between them were obvious. The ballroom scene was fantastic as Simon found himself in the very situation that Anthony predicted, up to and including his introduction to Daphne's mother. It's at this point that Simon comes up with his plan and presents it to Daphne.
I loved watching Simon and Daphne's relationship grow from co-conspirators to something much more. Simon's attraction to Daphne hits him hard from the beginning and horror! It's his best friend's little sister! Add that to his determination not to marry, and it's clear that Simon is in deep trouble. He is fascinated by her, drawn to her practical nature, and can't stay away even when he knows he should. I laughed out loud at how many times she called him out on statements or actions because "I have four brothers. I know how you think." The more time he spends with her, the harder it is to remember his vow.
Daphne is equally fascinated and attracted. That same experience with her brothers gives her the ability to see past Simon's façade to the hurting man inside. I loved her ability to bring him out of the depths of bad memories and intervened several times when things became awkward. It didn't take long for her to see that none of her other suitors measured up to Simon and that she wanted to make their deception real.
When their attraction gets out of hand, Daphne faces a ruined reputation if Simon won't propose. I was glued to the pages during the confrontation with Anthony, the early morning meeting, and Daphne's refusal to allow a duel to take place. I wanted to shake Simon when he fudged the truth about his vow because I knew it wouldn't turn out well. Their marriage starts well (except for that), with the two of them growing closer physically and emotionally. But trouble looms as Daphne discovers the truth and takes matters into her own hands. I ached for them both as Simon's insecurities burst forth due to his anger, and both say things they later regret. It takes time apart for both, but especially Simon, to face their feelings. I loved the ending. The scene in Hyde Park was deeply emotional as Simon finally opened his heart fully to Daphne. Even better was the following scene at Hastings House, as the couple faced three very determined Bridgerton brothers. Watching Simon and Daphne take their shots at them was great, but the winner of that confrontation was most definitely Lady Violet Bridgerton.
The edition I read contained both the original epilogue and the more recent second epilogue. The first one was great, but the second one had a twist that I did not see coming. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series and seeing what the author came up with for their second epilogues.
The secondary characters were just a wonderful as Simon and Daphne. My favorite was Lady Violet, mother of eight. I thoroughly enjoyed watching her "manage" all eight, with them being oblivious to how she does it. I also loved the three oldest brothers, Anthony, Benedict, and Colin. Their love for their family is indisputable, as is their protectiveness toward Daphne. It will be fun to reread their stories and watch them fall. Lastly, the invisible Lady Whistledown cannot be ignored. I enjoyed the excerpts of her paper at the beginning of each chapter. Because it has been so long since I read the books, I don't remember who she turns out to be, so I look forward to the revelation.
No comments:
Post a Comment