Synopsis:
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.

Review:
“I don’t believe I have ever been condescended to by a woman before.”
She shrugged, “It was probably past time.” (Page 102)

I decided to give this book a shot as it was on kindle unlimited and I am waiting for the end of the fourth season of Bridgerton the television show to drop on the 26th. I was very pleasantly surprised as once I started I could not set this book down! I spent most of yesterday reading, finishing well into the early hours of the morning (thank goodness authors set their own hours and can sleep in!) The characters were so very different from the show, in good ways and bad. Violet has far more gumption and intention than her television counterpart; soft spoken about the marital act aside, she has whims and ways of controlling and manipulating the family that the children aren’t even aware of. The looks of the characters also very distinctly from the television show, with all the Bridgerton children having chestnut hair and various eye colours and Violet being fair haired with blue eyes. Simon himself also instigates more than the television show led one to believe. I loved the brotherhood of Anthony, Benedict and Colin and how Anthony was willing to go up against Simon all the time for his sister. I definitely hadn’t expected what actually happened at Lady Trowbridge’s ball, nor how Daphne actually learned more about the marital act.

I could write an entire compare and contrast of the two but in the end the most important thing to note is that the book absolutely enthralled me from the first page and I could not set it down. There was not any intimacy until deep within the novel which made it all the more alluring. Simon and Daphne had a far superior connection in the novel than the book, and I quite enjoyed the difference in Daphne’s personality and her understanding of men given her three older brothers. Daphne is far more witty and cutting than her television counterpart.

As with all things book to screen one has to almost consider them completely separate entities but this author will encourage you to read the first book in the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn, for if we are anything alike, you’ll be hooked.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯