Review: When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

When He Was Wicked

by Julia Quinn

(Bridgertons # 6)

Michael Stirling is known as the Merry Rake. Seducing and flirting is his forte. However, Michael is in love with the one person he can never have. Married to his cousin John, Francesca is unaware of Michael’s feelings for her. The three of them are best friends, but her presence makes Michael hurt in the worst of ways.

But when a loss shatters both their worlds, Michael and Francesca don’t know how to deal with the pain...or the presence of one another. The question stands, how will they face each other when a distant memory continues to haunt them?

Julia Quinn is known for her witty and loving characters. It’s her remarkable ability to make readers sympathize with the characters that makes them feel so real to you. Quinn has a talent that most writers envy and make readers rejoice because each book is simply to die for.

WHEN HE WAS WICKED caught my attention because of its engaging title. Who could resist such a tempting tease like that?

But it was with this opening paragraph that I knew this book would hold something deeper than Julia Quinn’s usual books.

“In every life there is a turning point. A moment so tremendous, so sharp and clear that one feels as if one’s been hit in the chest, all the breath knocked out, and one knows, absolutely knows without the merest hint of a shadow of a doubt that one’s life will never be the same.
For Michael Stirling, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton.”

With just these few words, I knew that this would be different than the other books in this series. First off, it’s written in parallel with To Sir Phillip, with Love and Romancing Mister Bridgerton, which has not been done before in this series. And the second, is that Quinn covers the more extreme spectrum of emotions including grief, hate, anger, passion and love. And longing – pining for what you can never have.

WHEN HE WAS WICKED was by far the most emotional of the series. It showed that Quinn was able to display more than her cunning wit. She wrote drama and heartbreak and grief. And it was really the perfect read.

Michael was the perfect hero. I loved the internal battle he waged within himself. There was lust and love on one side and honor and loyalty on the other. It was interesting to witness how a man could still love even after what had happened to him.

And then there was Francesca whom I wasn’t too interested in out of the Bridgerton siblings. She was the most remote of them all. But I learned a lot about who she was through this story. She doesn’t know of Michael’s attraction to her, so she was slower to come to his attentions.

Some thought that Francesca was playing hard to get, but I disagree. I think since Michael loved her before everything happened, he had a lesser distance to travel in order to fall in love. However, Francesca experienced a crushing loss that tilted her world off its axis. Added to that is the fact that she experienced another subsequent loss shortly thereafter which tore her apart again. So, no I don’t think Francesca was too slow to accept Michael. In this book, she had a great distance to travel emotionally and I think only time and Michael’s persistence allowed for her to open her heart up once again.

Overall, this book deserves the 5 stars I’m giving it. Maybe even more because I didn’t even mention the sexy love scenes that these two have. WICKED doesn’t even cover it! 

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn

To Sir Phillip, With Love

by Julia Quinn

(Bridgertons # 5)

At eight and twenty, Eloise has been on the shelf for quite some time. Despite previous marriage proposals, Eloise never thought she’d find herself in this position, alone. With her best friend Penelope, happily married off to her brother, Colin no less, Eloise tries to take her life into her own hands.

It all starts with a letter to Sir Phillip offering him her deepest sympathizes on his wife’s recent death. As is polite, Sir Phillips sends a letter back with a small gift of a pressed flower showing his appreciation. Soon, a relationship blooms between them as they continue to exchange letters until finally Eloise receives one that ask for her to visit his home to see if they would suit.

When I started this book, I’ll admit I was feeling a bit detached from Sir Phillip. He was definitely not a Bridgerton brother. But then something happened and by page ten, a connection was made and I fell in love with him. It’s pretty remarkable how Quinn has the power to do that with just a few words and a turn of events.

This book addresses more delicate matters such as suicide and corporal punishment. To Sir Phillip, With Love focused mainly on family and how the actions of one person could forever scar someone’s life. Phillip knows of this by his father and his unstable relationship with him. It was also about the lack of actions by a loved one. I loved reading about how Phillip and Eloise found that balance.

Quinn crafts a lovely story that stirs up darker emotions but manages to warm the heart at the same time. Quick glimpses of the Bridgerton brothers lightened the mood, but I think it was the presence of the Crane kids that made me love this book so much. I can’t wait to read the next one! 

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn (Bridgertons # 4)

Romancing Mister Bridgerton

by Julia Quinn

(Bridgertons # 4)

Penelope Featherington has been overlooked her entire life. She’s been told that she’s not pretty enough, too plump, too nervous and too quiet. And yet, Penelope probably has the most personality out of all her heroines in this series. Penelope is hands down my favourite heroine! I love seeing her growth as a character in the previous ones leading up to her own book, Romancing Mr Bridgerton with her long-time crush, Colin.

I wondered how Colin would redeem himself after his flapping mouth exposed too much about how he felt about marrying Penelope in the last book. But even though Penelope was humiliated publicly by Colin’s outcry, she took it in stride, never letting Colin know how much it hurt her.

Colin Bridgerton is the third son of the well-known family and he’s been portrayed as the devil-may-cry character. Colin is known for his easy smiles and his well-placed words, but in this book we discover that Colin has his unfulfilled fantasies and secret desires. Who would have suspected such a thing from Colin, who always seems to enjoy himself in everything?

What I loved about this book is that we learn that there is more to the hero and heroine than we first thought. Quinn presents Penelope and Colin as one way, and in this book, we discover that there is more to these characters than we ever suspected.

If you’ve been wondering who Lady Whistledown is, then rest easy because you do find out who it is in this one! I smacked my head when I found out! OF COURSE! I thought. It makes absolute perfect sense now that I look back. There were so many clues to indicate the true identity of the notorious Society paper queen.

Also, if you’re read Lisa Kleypas’s Dreaming of You, then you may have noticed that Quinn incorporated one of Kleypas’s characters into this book. Penelope reads Mathilda by S.R. Fielding who is actually Sara, the heroine of the book!

And of course, I have to talk about the romance between Penelope and Colin. While the previous book with Benedict was quick and passionate, Penelope and Colin’s romance was much slower and more solid. I love that Quinn makes each book different while still keeping it true to the characters. It makes each subsequent book entertaining to read. *sigh* I just adore this series! 

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: An Offer From A Gentleman by Julia Quinn

 

An Offer from a Gentleman

(Bridgerton # 3)

by Julia Quinn

I’ll be quite honest... I didn’t think much of Benedict before this book. Like many of the ton, I saw him as Number Two of the Bridgertons and now, I love him. He wasn’t mentioned often in the previous books, so I was looking forward to Colin’s book much more than Benedict’s.

Going into this book, I already knew that this book followed the Cinderella theme. A poor, young woman is fated with an evil stepmother and two equally annoying step-sisters. She gets one chance to live out her dreams and go to a masquerade until the clock strikes midnight. This initial storyline irked me a bit because, firstly, I don’t really like Cinderella and secondly, I hate reading about bullies.

But while Quinn stays true to the Cinderella story, she does veer away from it and develops a great romance between Benedict and Sophie. It might have been boring if she stuck with the Cinderella storyline throughout the entire book. Instead, it was refreshing and very, very romantic! Who knew Benedict would be such a dashing hero? I didn’t.

And I’m soo glad that I read this book because Benedict is a dream! I loved how protective he was over Sophie. And while Sophie did allow him to take her to his home, she still remained true to herself throughout this whole thing. I really liked that about her character.

I must say how much I despise Araminta, Sophie’s stepmother. She’s a snake and in the end, she got what she deserved. I really wished there was more done to her, but Lady Bridgerton definitely put her in her place.

I’ve already got Colin’s book ready to go! I can’t wait to read of Penelope and Colin. After that overheard statement about Penelope, I’m curious to see how Colin redeems himself. It’s sure to be a charming book.

 

 Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: The Viscount Who Loved Me + Epilogue Pt 2 by Julia Quinn

 

 

The Viscount Who Loved Me

(Bridgerton # 2)

by Julia Quinn

THE VISCOUNT WHO LOVED ME is the second book in the Bridgerton series and this book has come to be one of my all-time favourite historical romances! Quinn is the queen of witty and snarky dialogue and she really goes above and beyond with this one. Anthony, the eldest son of the Bridgeton and Kate have amazing chemistry, even as they exchange snide remarks and the occasional elbow jabs and kicks. I just love it when they go toe to toe. That Pall Mall scene was hilarious!

What I loved about this book is the fact that in addition to the charming romance that develops between the hero and heroine, there is also so much character development within the hero and heroine respectively that it makes their romance that much stronger, their love that much deeper. Quinn notes that Anthony’s fear of dying similarly like his father at a young age is a common phobia of young men who have lost their fathers. It’s easy for readers to be impatient and argue to “Get over it already!” but it’s tough and takes time. Anthony fully acknowledges his fear and knows that it is silly, which is why he vows to never fall in love, but it is an entirely different matter to overcome that fear. And I think that Quinn does a great job of pacing his “recovery” out in a believable manner.

I also LOVED the storm scene where he comforts Kate and her phobia of storms. The fact that they are willing to comfort each other just makes me melt and it does a great job of strengthening their bond into something more than friendship.

I have to mention my girlcrush on Kate! I absolutely adored her character! It seemed like she fit right into the Bridegerton family with little effort. I adored her attitude and loyalty towards her sister, Edwina and found that even though she was a little jealous of Lord Bridgerton’s earlier attentions to her sister, she was never malicious or acted upon her jealously. Not only is she a great older sister, but she’s one of the few heroines I adore so much that I wish she were real so I could be her friend!

I LOVED this book and went straight into the Epilogue: Part Two which takes place fifteen years later where they engage in their annual tradition of Pall Mall. And let me tell you, I’m surprised a scuffle didn’t break out on the Bridgerton grounds that time. The Pall Mall scene is heated and hilarious, making me love Quinn all the more. As if that was even possible...

 

 

Purchase links: Amazon

Review: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

 

The Duke and I

(Bridgerton # 1)

by Julia Quinn

I have been ruined by Lisa Kleypas and all her wonderful historical that until now, I couldn’t find an author who could live up to the Kleypas craze. Julia Quinn is the answer.

THE DUKE AND I is such a charming story of Daphne and Simon! The story captured me with its prologue. It starts off with a story of a vulnerable young boy and his prideful father who wished to have the perfect heir. When he learns that his son has a speech impediment, he deems him as defective and unworthy to love, shunning him from his life and love. The boy grows up, wondering what he has done to make his father hate him so much, harbouring an anger towards him that grows with each year.

Years later, Simon Basset has learned to overcome his stutter and is now the Duke of Hastings, making him a sought-after bachelor. Simon is such a great hero. I loved him from the moment he stepped on the page. There’s just something about him that lures you in. He has secrets that make you want to keep reading until they are revealed. And, not to mention, he’s quite the seducer as well.

I don’t blame Daphne for falling so hard for him. Daphne is the eldest daughter of the Bridgeton family, making her a prime target for her brother’s overprotective tendencies. But Daphne is a strong woman and is able to handle situations on her own. I loved the strength that she showed throughout this book. There is nothing better than a strong heroine who isn’t afraid to stand up to her man (and her brothers).

What I love about historical romance is the lightness and charming nature of the stories. I found it very difficult to find another author who possessed that effortless wit that Lisa has in her writing, but after reading this I found that Quinn is just as capable of doing this. She manages to weave stories that are full of heart and passion but still making it light-hearted and fun.

I loved the idle banter between the Bridgeton siblings! They are such a fantastic family and I can’t wait to read the next few books of this series. I have no doubt that the Bridgeton will charm me completely. I am so glad I picked this series up!

 

 

 Purchase Links: Amazon