The Duke and I

Somehow, I forgot to review The Duke and I. I completed in February, but it just slipped my mind. So, let’s get to my thoughts.

Synopsis

In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince–while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable…but not too amiable.

Daphne Bridgerton has always failed at the latter. The fourth of eight siblings in her close-knit family, she has formed friendships with the most eligible young men in London. Everyone likes Daphne for her kindness and wit. But no one truly desires her. She is simply too deuced honest for that, too unwilling to play the romantic games that captivate gentlemen.

Amiability is not a characteristic shared by Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. Recently returned to England from abroad, he intends to shun both marriage and society–just as his callous father shunned Simon throughout his painful childhood. Yet an encounter with his best friend’s sister offers another option. If Daphne agrees to a fake courtship, Simon can deter the mamas who parade their daughters before him. Daphne, meanwhile, will see her prospects and her reputation soar.

The plan works like a charm–at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London’s elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule..

My Thoughts on The Duke and I

The Duke and I started out a little slow. It took a minute before I really got into it. The family dynamic was the only thing that kept me interested at first. I loved the Bridgerton Family. I also loved the secret Lady Whistledown. That was a fun twist to the narrative. But as far as the romance goes it took a minute for it to develop.

Once the romance got started, I enjoyed the fake dating trope. I think it was executed well but it went from fake to real very quickly. So, if you’re looking for that tension and angst this might not be what you’re looking for. And once the relationship started there was an entire slew of miscommunication. I think that could have been polished up just a bit.

Lastly, one more thing I want to mention. There was a line of consent that was definitely crossed. The emotions and reasoning were blurred but it was still crossed. So, you might want to research that a bit more before you give this a read. Overall, I enjoyed this book enough to complete it, but I don’t think I will continue the series.

My Rating: 3/5