When I read a book, I want to become involved emotionally. A book that does that is more likely to be highly rated. Such was the case with The Duke and I.I have a sickness, an infatuation for tortured, dark, conflicted heroes. The happy-go-lucky guys don't capture my imagination nearly so much as their darker counterparts. Fortunately, Simon was tortured enough to keep me happy.The beginning of this book was brilliantly done. I was already captivated with Simon, the future Duke of Hastings. My heart cried for him. I wanted to see him overcome the obstacles that were unfairly set before him, to become the man he was capable of being. And boy, did he become quite a man.Imagine my surprise, that for all my affinity for Simon, that the star of this story was Daphne? She started out very mild, sweet (typical Regency heroine), not necessarily standing out. But, by the end of this book, I loved her. She was just the woman that Simon needed. He was what she wanted, and she was going to get her man, and wouldn't settle for less than all of him. She had mettle, and she wasn't afraid to challenge Simon to change the future, and to shake free from the chains of the past, which held him prisoner. Perhaps he never would have found true happiness and joy if Daphne had not hammered (gently and not so gently, at times) at the walls around his heart.The event that puts a strain on their marriage could be read in different ways. I like that Ms. Quinn put that scene in. It was a brave move on her part. And there is enough ambiguity there to wonder if there was some culpability on Daphne's part. And it turns around some of those ever-present outcries we often get about sexual dynamics in romance.I liked that Simon had his so-called 'flaw'. I don't tend to care for perfect characters, because I don't enjoy rooting for them nearly so much as the flawed/less-than perfect ones. I loved that Daphne accepted that about him, and thought he was wonderful for overcoming the obstacles he faced, and that she thought he was brilliant. She loved him so much, enough to fight for him, and she did many times. In fact, I'd call Daphne the Knight in Shining Armor of this book. Go, Daphne!What was underwhelming about this book? Well, I thought some of the humor aspects were a bit off. I couldn't find the balance between humor and angst. On the plus side, I did like the family dynamics, and the humor they brought to the situation. Those were some of my favorite humorous moments. I liked very much that Daphne's family were useful weapons in her arsenal to win her fair prince. Simon had never felt the loving bonds of family. He was captivated by the Bridgerton family dynamics, good and bad. I must say that Anthony annoyed the crap out of me. He was a bit of a hypocrit. I think that he forgot that Simon was a man he respected, and that he cared about his best friend. When he saw that Simon and Daphne had an attraction to each other, Simon became his enemy. He refused to believe that Simon could be honorable. I know what you're saying. I realize that Anthony took his responsiblity to protect his sister seriously. But, if Simon could look at the situation from Anthony's vantage point, I would hope that Anthony would try to do the same. I didn't see him doing that. I do have to say that I really admired how well Daphne stood up to her over-protective brothers, especially when they tried to interfere in her marriage. She put her foot down, and she needed to, or that wouldn't even stop, for as long as she was married. The other thing that bothered me about this book was that at times, it seemed to lapse into a modern voice. I know I shouldn't be so picky, but that's a rather large pet peeve of mine. However, I do have to say that for the most part, Ms. Quinn does the Regency period very well.I thought this was a good book, and probably my second favorite novel by Julia Quinn, after To Sir Phillip with Love. I don't go for the lighter Regencies that much, but this had enough angst in it to keep me pretty happy. Although I read it for a challenge, and to get it off my tbr pile, where it had been languishing for several years, I ended up reading it very quickly, and I enjoyed it very much.Overall rating: 4.25/5.0 stars.
4.5 starsWhat a great introduction to an understandably beloved and well-praised series!I won't say anything on the plot, since 90% of my friends here on Goodreads have read this series, but this is the story about Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. This couple though. Their little scheme, which covers about the first half of the novel, was funny and entertaining, and it left room enough for the little quirks of the Bridgertons to be shown. Julia Quinn, as I have experienced many times now, takes the time to make Simon and Daphne learn about each other. For Simon to get to know this crazy-as-hell family and everything that makes them so full of life and banter and for Daphne to get a picture of the person Simon is. Simon is one of those heroes that are round-up-perfect in every way, even with his faults. He is tortured, brooding, and tends to impress people as the arrogant duke. But he was so sweet sometimes, too. The scene where he gave Daphne's mother a bouquet of flowers? I fell in love right along with Daphne. She describes him better than I could have: "You might just be a nice person after all" "I'm hardly nice", he scoffed. "Perhaps, but you're hardly cruel, either."I loved Daphne. She is dependable, down-to-earth, funny, kind of laid-back and overall simply made for Simon. I loved her sometimes quit, sometimes not so quiet strength. It's not everyday that an HR-author succeeds in creating an enticing and 3D-heroine when said heroine is merely a debutante. I appreciate that and I'm probably in the minority but I don't think every heroine in this genre has to be widowed or a spinster or a world-traveling exotic to be interesting.The other Bridgertons were introduced in the funniest way, and although I didn't get a singular impression of the sisters, I loved the mother, Violet, right away, and the brothers were exactly like older brothers should be. Benedict wasn't introduced as much as Anthony and Colin, so of course I'm the most curious about him. But honestly, I'm curious about every member of this family. The second half of the novel became more angsty and dramatic, and all the conflicts that were just scratched on the surface in the first half were opened like a book full of secrets and emotions. I've read many Julia Quinn books and this was the first were the angst was really in the foreground. Simon's issues with his stutter and his hatred for his late (and quite tyrannic) father were issues that left a cleft between his relationship with Daphne. I didn't mind that change, and although I found Daphne's way of dealing with the one big conflict between her and Simon rather strange and weirdly random, it didn't bother me enough to reduce my rating a with a full star. Simon was so endearing with his fear and anxiety, but heart-breaking, too, and Daphne was just right for him, she was strong but open and honest about her feelings to herself and to Simon, too. "This was nice," she said, placing her hand on his. "Almost like it used to be, don't you think?"He nodded, turning his hand palm up so that he could clasp hers. "It will be like this again, won't it?" Her eyes showed a flicker of trepidation. "We'll go back to the way it was, won't we? Everything will be exactly the same."A great, great, read and seeing that I'm probably the last one to start this series, I must say that some things are worth the wait!
What do You think about The Duke And I (2006)?
5 Fairytale Stars! There was nothing more attractive to mothers of single daughters than a single duke. Unforunately for Simon he is one. And he is single. And considing he never wants to get married, those mothers are a pain in his arse. So he makes a proposition to Daphne, the younger sister of his best-friend who is also tired of rejecting pretendents she doesn't want. The deal is pretending to be interested in each other and everyone will leave them alone. What they don't expect is those feelings becoming real.They both know that ended up falling in love for real, but Simon's past doesn't let him move on and get past it, so when things become serious, how will they make the ghosts go away and find happiness? Rating: 5 starsStoryline: This was a beautiful and heartwarming historical romance. I loved every single word of it.Writing Style: Third person, dual POV. Romantic, emotional and completely addictive.Character Development: Daphne was a pretty good heroine, although a little innocent for my taste, but it was the 800's so I can't actually complaint about it. Simon was amazing, but you know how I love my sexy broken heroes. I LOVED Daphne's family, especially the older brothers. They were all so sweet and protective.Steam: Some hot scenes.HEA: (view spoiler)[Yes, and with the cutest epilogue. (hide spoiler)]
—Catarina
There are so many wonderful reviews on this book by so many lovely ladies that I just don't feel like it's worth rehashing it. Suffice to say that I agree with many of those ladies and totally fell in love with this book. It's very sweet and the characters are wonderfully written and full of charm. The only thing in this book that bothered me was when Simon begged Daphne to stay and then after events from that night goes off and leaves HER like a dunderhead. I guess in romance they need the tension but I didn't feel like it was necessary. Or, as I said earlier, he was just being a jerk. But really, all in all this book was absolutely lovely and had me reading the whole thing in one sitting. I'm really looking forward to the rest of this series.
—LiteraryLover
***4,5 lovely stars from me***The Bridgertons are a really crazy, but wonderfull family!!!I really had a great time...This book was funny, interesting and i couldn't put it down!!!The only reason that i put 4,5 stars was because i was torn between and 4 and 5... and that's because even though that it was a really great story, somewhere before the middle had a really slow pace for my taste!!!Well, well, well...I have to tell you that the Bridgerton family aparts from nine members...The mother and her eight childern!!! God help her!!!Four boys and four girls...And each one's name started by each letter of the alphabet in the right order as they were born... A,B,C,D...And i stopped in D because in this book the main heroine was the fourth children, Daphne who also happened to be the oldest from the girls...Well, Daphne was young, intelligent, spiritual, funny, charming and very kind.She wasn't very beautiful and that's why after two seasons as a wallflower she didn't have find the right one man to become her husband...The men usually found her very easy to be friends but nothing more, except one or two that they weren't what she was looking for to a husband...She wanted to get married and she wanted to have her own children... She wanted a big family like her own... A big, loving family that you could count on it!!!Simon Basset recently became the Duke of Hastings.He was a beautiful, clever young man who seemed a little bit arrogant and icy...His life wasn't easy, but he managed to succeed in everything that he had put on his mind.When he was a little boy he had some problems that guided all the rest of his life...His stubborness made him get over his old problem but he never get over the disaproval that he felt from his own father...And at this moment, he had reached the point that he made an oath to do not ever get married or to have children...After many years away travelling, Simon returned back to London and as a Duke he had to join the society!!!An unexpected fact brought in his path Daphne and he mesmerized by her, until he discovered that she was a Bridgerton.You see, her older brother was one of his greatest friends and there is an unwritten rule that you can not flirt with your best friend's sister...But Simon faces one big problem that forced him to make an unusual proposal to Daphne... All the unmarried girls and their mother's are drown from his title...So he and Daphne agreed to pretend that between them there is something more for the benefit of both of them... Simon will get ride all those girls and their mothers and Daphne will have more suitors when they will see her with him...But somewhere the plan started to change course since both of them started feel something for each other...I really liked this story...I laughed so much and i had a really good time...Daphne was adorable and so strong... I liked the way that she approached Simon...And i liked Simon... As a child was so cute and my heart was aching for him...But as a young man, he was stunning, but also very stubborn like a mule...I also liked the man that he became everytime that he was near to Daphne....As for the rest of the Bridgertons??? They were delightfull, but i will spoke for each one of them in their own books...And it's Anthony's turn, who made Simon's life miserable... Hahaha... Karma is a bitch, mister!!!I can not wait!!!Oh!!! I forgot!!!I am so curious about this Lady Whistledown... Who the hell is she???
—Nicoleta
