Review of Highland Bride by Hannah Howell, an historical romance novel set in medieval Scotland.
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Synopsis
When Gillyanne Murray takes possession of her dower property, she doesn’t expect the three neighbouring lairds to turn up on her doorstep. Intent on maintaining peace, they insist that she must marry one of them. After keeping them at bay for three days, Gillyanne agrees to marry Connor MacEnroy.
The first hours of their marriage are rocky as Connor rushes her to his home (Deilcladach) and promptly seems to forget her. Gillyanne soon finds that Connor has some strange ideas about ‘gentle-born ladies’ that she must correct. She also struggles to break through the tight hold Connor has on his emotions.
Her efforts are complicated by Connor’s uncle and resentful ex-lover. Then Connor’s uncle is found dead, murdered with Connor’s dagger. Connor is imprisoned for the murder, so Gillyanne must prove his innocence and uncover the real killer. Back at Deilcladach, can Connor show Gillyanne how he feels before her father gives her a way out of their marriage?
Review
Highland Bride could have been two different books. The first part, where Gillyanne defends her property from the three lairds, was hilarious. The methods she used to repel her suitors were inspired and they deserved everything they got.
Once Gillyanne agrees to marry Connor and goes to Deilcladach with him, the whole story changes. It becomes more of a romance as they get to know each other and figure out their relationship.
I loved Gillyanne. She is spirited, creative, and amusing. Despite her apparently diminutive size, she has strength and an outgoing personality, making her seem larger. It was so much fun watching Gillyanne deal with Connor’s ex-lover and her friends (aka “The Three Whores of Deilcladach”).
My feelings about Connor are more complicated. He is handsome and fierce and everything a romance hero should be, while still being able to develop as a character. He appreciates Gillyanne’s intelligence and accepts her guidance in their relationship. However, he is just a bit too stubborn when it comes to showing strength and emotion. And his devastation over his uncle’s death is believable but gets annoying.
The constant psychoanalysing was repetitive and eventually boring. We don’t need to be told every ten pages how Connor must stay strong for the clan because of the violence of the feud that killed his parents. Furthermore, the dialogue got a bit repetitive.
Conclusion
Have you read Highland Bride? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.
If you haven’t, you can buy it at the following stores:
Review of The River of No Return by Bee Ridgeway, a time-travelling historical fiction novel set primarily in Regency England.
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Synopsis
In the early 1800s, Nick Davenant was the Marquess of Blackdown. Then he almost died at the battle of Salamanca but instead woke in 2003. For ten years, he has been cared for by The Guild, a mysterious organisation that provides new lives for time travellers.
When The Guild discovers that the future is turning back on itself, they break their own rules and send Nick back to 1815. He resumes his 19th century life easily enough, but struggles with following The Guild’s instructions.
Meanwhile, Julia (Nick’s neighbour and love interest) is struggling with her grandfather’s death. Soon, she is entangled in the manipulation of time and hiding her abilities is all she can do to keep herself safe. As Nick untangles the relationship between the Guild and their rivals (the Ofan), he and Julia grow closer.
Review
The River of No Return is a thought-provoking book with lots of twists and turns. There is some romance, but most of the story is about time travel and its consequences. It has adventure, passion, intrigue, and one crazy nobleman. The world was complex, clearly presented, and believable.
I loved the constant confusion over which side in the Ofan vs Guild conflict was good. Was The Guild good and the Ofan bad? Or was The Guild bad and the Ofan good? The Guild said they were keeping members ignorant for their own good, but is that really the right thing to do?
Nick was an intriguing character. He was intelligent, caring, and sexy (but not overwhelmingly so). I particularly enjoyed the internal struggles between his modern ideas and what is expected of him in the 19th century.
He could feel the ghostly marquess building up a head of steam, could even taste the aristocratic outrage in his mouth: rusted metal. It must have been that man’s outburst that Clare was expecting. He let his gaze rest on his elder sister … His anger dissipated as fast as it had built. ‘It should have been yours anyway,’ he said … ‘You are the eldest and, by God, I will sign it over to you in life as I did in death. Blackdown shall remain yours. It always should have been.’
I spent much of the book waiting for Nick and Julia to talk to each other about time-travel. They’re the two main characters, but don’t actually spend much time together or communicate about anything meaningful. This creates misconceptions between them and makes their romance feel underdeveloped.
The ending left me dissatisfied. Sure, Nick and Julia get their happily ever after, but so many other threads of the story remain unresolved. For instance, the mystery of Mr Mibbs isn’t solved, and Mr Mibbs himself has disappeared. Also, no one’s managed to mend the future or work out why it’s behaving so peculiarly. I hope Bee Ridgeway is working on a sequel.
Conclusion
Have you read The River of No Return? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.
If you haven’t, you can buy it at the following stores:
Review of The Parchment Scroll, a time-travelling romance set primarily in 17th century Scotland, the final book in the Highland Secrets trilogy by C.A. Szarek.
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Synopsis
After her sister goes missing, Jules McGowan travels to Scotland to look for her. There, she meets a strange woman called Bree who claims she can take Jules to her sister. They go together to the Faery Stones where Bree (with Jules’ help) opens a portal to the 17th century.
The first person Jules meets in 1675 is Hugh MacDonald, Laird of Clan MacDonald. Seeing that Jules has a parchment scroll written by someone close to the laird of his rival clan, Hugh takes her to his home, intending to ransom her. Instead, his auntie makes him send her straight to the MacLeods, but not before both he and Jules become obsessed with each other.
Then Bree steals a MacLeod child. Hugh returns the boy to his family, taking the opportunity to kidnap Jules again. Back at Hugh’s home, he and Jules get to know each other better and become lovers. After a while, Jules decides it’s time to return to the 21st century. Will she leave Hugh, or will he convince her to stay?
Review
The Parchment Scroll is the 3rd and final book in the Highland Secrets trilogy. I found it engaging from the start and thought it tied everything from the series together well. It has lots of action, great characters, and an interesting storyline. I particularly loved the scenes between the two sisters, especially their conversations.
I enjoyed getting a bit more of Claire and Jules’ backstory. In The Tartan MP3 Player, we are told that Claire has no one in the future except her sister. There’s no parents or other family that she should return to her own time for, other than Jules. In The Parchment Scroll, we find out that they spent much of their childhood in foster care.
“How could being raised with technology be better than being with his father?”
Jules frowned. She didn’t have the balls to retort to that. They’d been raised without either parent, so she couldn’t blame her sister for wanting her kid to have both.
Foster care sucked.
The characters felt more real in this book than they did in The Tartan MP3 Player. I can’t put my finger on what exactly the author did differently, but they seem more like people and less like characters.
I liked that the author used the real historical rivalry between the MacLeod and MacDonald clans as a source of conflict. While they’re not actively at war, they clearly don’t like each other. This makes Jules falling in love with a MacDonald while her sister’s married to a MacLeod a bit awkward.
The romance between Hugh and Jules was problematic. They are both possessive of each other, to the point that Hugh keeps kidnapping Jules. At least Jules recognises this, occasionally calling herself ‘Stockholm-Syndrome-Girl.’ However, they are both strong people with strong personalities, and the banter between them is both funny and sweet.
Conclusion
Have you read The Parchment Scroll? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.
If you haven’t, you can buy it from the following stores:
So, you’ve read Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series and loved it. You’ve maybe watched the TV show. Now, you have nothing “Outlander” to read or watch. It’s droughtlander. You could reread or rewatch Outlander, but eventually you should find something else to read. Check out my recommendations of books to read if you love Outlander.
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Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati
Into the Wilderness features Elizabeth Middleton, an English spinster schoolteacher, as she joins her father in the New York wilderness. Her father has plans for her to marry the local doctor – plans that she has no intention of going along with.
Instead, she runs away with Nathaniel Bonner, a man whose Native American family could be destroyed by the local village. After several months in the bush while their friends take care of legal matters, they return home where they have to rebuild the good opinions of their neighbours.
Elizabeth is a strong woman who knows what she wants and does what she has to do to get it. She may not have travelled back in time, but she has progressive ideals and a modern way of dealing with things. Like Outlander, Into the Wilderness is the first in an epic series packed with romance, adventure, and the vicissitudes of life.
Clan of the Cave Bear is the first of Jean M. Auel’s Earth Children’s series. It tells the story of a young girl who is adopted by a community of Neanderthals. Though the Clan, as they call themselves, are initially wary, they come to love Ayla.
However, the Clan’s leader has a son who instantly dislikes Ayla and does everything he can to make her life difficult. This eventually leads to her leaving the Clan, and later books in the series follow her life apart from the Clan, her romance with a hunky caveman, and her struggles fitting in.
White Rose Rebel is the story of Anne Farquharson, Lady MacIntosh. A staunch Jacobite, she raises the men of her husband’s clan to fight for Bonnie Prince Charlie in the 1745 rising. Her husband (Aeneas), however, has indebted himself to the English and joins the government forces.
Like Outlander, White Rose Rebel has a strong female protagonist who gets involved in the Jacobite rising. Anne’s romantic life features throughout the book, and like Claire’s, is somewhat complicated. It’s a standalone book, but the story is told so well, there’s no need for a sequel.
Dougless Montgomery has been abandoned by her boyfriend while on holiday in England. While she’s crying over her misfortune, a strange man appears in front of her wearing 16th century armour.
Nicholas, Earl of Thornwyck, was awaiting execution when he is magically transported to a strange future where he meets a crying woman. Convinced that the woman can send him home, he tries to keep her with him. Together, they dive into the historical record to try to uncover the truth behind the final days of Nicholas’s life.
There’s romance, a handsome and chivalrous hero, and well-developed historical settings. Nicholas isn’t as immediately loveable as Jamie, but by the end of the book, his relationship with Dougless was just as swoon worthy as the romance between Jamie and Claire.
After travelling to court in an attempt to have King Alexander cancel her betrothal, Margaret MacDonald finds her home has been raided by Norsemen. As the group searches the rubble, a group of Irishmen arrive, including the half-Norse Gannon MacMagnus. The following months are trying for everyone, as they rebuild the castle and seek vengeance on the raiders.
On a Highland Shore has romance, adventure, and a gorgeous Scottish setting. Unfortunately, Kathleen Givens died before she could finish the series (something I sincerely hope doesn’t happen to Diana Gabaldon). Otherwise, it’s an epic story.
When scattering her grandfather’s ashes on an Irish lake, Anne Gallagher gets lost in a sudden fog. She finds herself in 1921 with a bullet wound in her side. Dr Thomas Smith, the man who raised her grandfather, rescues her, initially mistaking her for his ward’s mother.
Once she’s healed, Anne throws herself into 1920s life: being mother to Eoin, joining the Irish revolution, and falling in love with Thomas. She loves her life in the 20s, but the revolution and questions about the other Anne’s disappearance create difficulties.
What the Wind Knows has time travel, romance, and a woman trying to fit in a time other than her own. I loved the glimpse of what life was like in 1920s Ireland. The characters were life-like, the love was timeless and unconditional, and the writing was superb.
When her uncle the King dies, Rhiann must secure her people’s future by marrying and producing an heir. Eremon is an exiled Irish prince who is in Alba (Scotland) to make alliances and create a name for himself.
Their forced marriage starts a bit rocky, but soon they become friends. United by a desire to protect Alba from the Romans, they travel across Scotland, visiting powerful kings. Along the way they fall in love, but their various secrets keep them from admitting it to each other.
Set in 1st century AD Scotland, The White Mare gives brilliant descriptions to the same place Outlander is set in, just at a different time. The hero, Eremon, has a lot in common with Jamie Fraser; they are both handsome, courageous, and intelligent men. If you love Outlander, you will thoroughly enjoy the story of Rhiann and Eremon.
Taking the form of a series of letters, Letters from Skye tells the story of a Scottish poet and her impetuous, American admirer. Elspeth and Davey share their thoughts and dreams, eventually realising that they’ve fallen in love with each other.
When Europe goes to war in 1914, Davey volunteers to drive ambulances in France. This prompts Elspeth to overcome her fear of boats to meet him in person. During World War Two, their daughter finds her mother’s letters and determines to find out what happened.
Letters from Skye left me with a massive book hangover. As much as I wanted to find out the end of the story, I didn’t want it to end. The letters were gripping, the romance emotionally involving, and the setting beautiful.
In 17th century Scotland, Morna has been unable to learn how to use her magical powers since her father banished her teacher. Then she finds an injured man who needs help returning to his own time. Fortunately, her brother has found journals written by her old mentor and set up a secret magic room for her to study in.
As Morna works towards sending Jerry home, the two of them become good friends and romance develops. Then word reaches them of a druid who might be able to teach Morna. While Jerry searches for the druid, Morna becomes convinced that he will never return and agrees to marry her brother’s friend, Henry.
Love Beyond Reach is the eighth book in the Morna’s Legacy series (it’s a prequel to the other books). There’re twelve novels in the main series so far, and this is the first one I’ve read. Having read it, I definitely want to read the rest.
In Tapestry, Jane Maxwell falls off Uluru (Ayers Rock) and wakes in the body of a Scottish noblewoman. Winifred’s husband, the Earl of Nithsdale, is in the Tower of London, awaiting execution for his part in the 1715 Jacobite Rising.
As Winifred, Jane must travel to London and save the Earl. If she succeeds, Jane is certain that her 21st century fiancée (Will) will wake-up from his coma. Along the way, she makes friends and falls in love. By the time she returns home, Jane is no longer sure that she wants to marry Will.
The Earl of Nithsdale’s escape from the Tower of London is truly an incredible true-story. I liked the unique angle the whole time-travel element added to it. Jane is such a strong, ingenious woman (a bit like Claire). Between the adventure, Jacobites, and romance, Tapestry is a book you will enjoy if you love Outlander.
Review of Love Beyond Reach, a time travel romance set in 17th century Scotland by Bethany Claire.
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Synopsis
Morna’s father strongly disapproves of her magic abilities and sends away the one person who can teach her. Years later, 20-year-old Morna finds a strange young man. She is Jerry’s best hope at returning to his own time, but first she has to learn all she can from some recently discovered spell-books left behind by her teacher.
As they spend more time together, Morna and Jerry grow to love each other. Then Morna’s father dies, and her old teacher returns and takes Jerry. Heartbroken, Morna agrees to marry her brother’s friend but finds that he is not the man she thought he was and leaves to fight to get Jerry back.
Review
Love Beyond Reach is the eighth book in the Morna’s Legacy series and is apparently something of a prequel. I haven’t read the previous books yet but think that I might appreciate Love Beyond Reach more once I have. I love how it was written as a book meant to help the woman in the next book. It’s definitely left me wanting more.
This book could be called a romance novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes where Morna and Jerry were falling in love. However, the romance was far from overwhelming. There was a lot of intrigue and other sub-plots, so I initially categorised it as historical fiction, not romance.
The characters were all well developed and memorable, even minor characters. Morna’s brother, Alasdair, was so caring and protective of his family. Her one-time fiancée Henry had an interesting arc where we gradually discover just how bad he really is. And Mary, the housekeeper, was such a forceful, loyal, and organised person that I just had to like her.
I really liked Morna. She may not do things the way she’s expected to, but she follows her instincts and gets things done. I loved how close she was to her family and lengths she goes to protect them. Despite constant challenges, Morna keeps learning and becomes the person her brother believes she can be.
“But yer death is a ruse to save yer brother from a violent clash with Henry’s clan.”
So Henry would keep his word and spread the news of my witchcraft, and my death is all that could prevent the bloodshed of others. I would gladly fake my death for such a cause. […]
Until he asked the question, I’d not stopped to think about the ramifications of faking my own death. I would never be able to see all those I loved. For them, it would seem as if I truly were dead. It would be my last time to see my home, my nephew, my brother.
Love Beyond Reach could have been set in any time or place. There is almost nothing that sticks it to 17th century Scotland. Sure, the dialogue has the occasional bit of Scottish brogue, but the setting isn’t developed enough.
Conclusion
Have you read Love Beyond Reach? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.
If you haven’t, you can buy it at Book Depository (they have free international shipping!) or Waterstones (free delivery on UK orders over £25, will ship internationally).
Review of Letters from Skye, an historical romance novel by Jessica Brockmole, set in Scotland during World Wars One and Two
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Synopsis
In 1912, an impetuous young American sends a letter to the author of his favourite book of poetry. Thus begins a friendship that blossoms into romance just as war begins. Davey volunteers as an ambulance driver in France, prompting Elspeth to overcome her fear of boats in order to see him.
Meanwhile, in 1940, Elspeth’s daughter, Margaret, has stumbled across her mother’s old letters. Curious, she starts asking questions. This prompts Elspeth to go to London without warning and looking for Davey. With her mother gone, Margaret resorts to contacting a long-lost uncle and travelling to Skye for the answers to her questions.
Review
Letters from Skye takes the style of a collection of letters. In my opinion, this is a great way to tell this story. We get to see into Elspeth and Davey’s minds and really experience the growth of their relationship. However, it is set in some amazing places which couldn’t be fully developed.
While a bit modern, the letters were very gripping. The back and forth between the characters created tension and really involved my emotions in Elspeth and Davey’s relationship. Their friendship was so deep, and their developing romance helped the keep things light amidst a dark time.
I didn’t like the way some of the letters talked about things that both sender and recipient were present for. The person the letter is addressed to was there and knows what happened. There’s no need for such an explanation in letter writing. I’m sure the author could have come up with a better way to impart this information, if necessary.
One of the issues dealt with in Letters from Skye is adultery. Elspeth is married when she and Davey begin their relationship. There’s also Elspeth’s brother, who ‘steals’ their other brother’s fiancée when he’s injured in the war. This wasn’t a problem for me, but I understand that it might trouble some readers.
All that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It gripped me right from the beginning, and as much as I wanted answers, I didn’t want the story to end. It left me with such a book hangover.
And I loved how Elspeth and Davey loved books. I can imagine myself getting lost on a street full of bookstores just like Elspeth does at one point.
Conclusion
Have you read Letters from Skye? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.
If you haven’t, you can buy it at Book Depository (they have free international shipping!) or Waterstones (free delivery on UK orders over £25, will ship internationally).
Review of Again the Magic, a gorgeous, second chance historical romance set in 19th century England by Lisa Kleypas.
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Synopsis
Lady Aline Marsden found her other half in childhood friend John McKenna. The problem is that he is a servant and she is the daughter of an earl. When her father finds out about their romance, McKenna is sent away with a warning to never return.
Years later, Aline’s father is dead and McKenna has made his fortune. He returns with his business partner, ostensibly to win over investors for another business venture, but with firm plans for revenge. Certain that she will never marry, Aline figures that she has nothing to lose from fling with McKenna and goes after the memories that were denied her when she was younger.
Review
Again the Magic tells a beautiful second chance love story between two childhood sweethearts from different social classes. The characters have been through so much that you just have to want them to have a happily ever after. Overall, it’s a wonderful, well-written story with many dimensions and a lot of depth.
I loved how Again the Magic had a second romance woven into the story. Aline’s sister has such a sad backstory that I was so happy when she found love. Livia and Gordon were such an unusual couple from very different backgrounds, but their relationship was so sweet.
The characters were well-developed; even the minor characters’ personalities were shown clearly. Aline and McKenna’s feelings towards each other were obviously very deep and I enjoyed how realistic their reactions to events were.
I found Aline infuriating. She keeps pushing McKenna away and coming up with these ridiculous excuses instead of telling him the truth. Her secrecy is convincing and understandable, and to some extent I felt sorry for her. However, I also found the pride behind it foolish.
McKenna is the embodiment of the perfect hero; he’s passionate, powerful, and handsome, but tender and caring. He also doesn’t seem to be afraid of showing genuine emotion. These emotions appear so intense. I loved how McKenna was honest at the end about the suffering Aline had put him through; it’s heart-breaking.
Conclusion
Have you read Again the Magic? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.
If you haven’t, you can buy it at Book Depository (they have free international shipping!).
Book review of What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon, time-travelling historical fiction set in modern and 1920s Ireland.
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Synopsis
Following her grandfather’s death, Anne Gallagher travels to Ireland to find out more about her family. While scattering her grandfather’s ashes in Lough Gill, she gets lost in a sudden fog, is shot, and is pulled out of the lake in 1921. Her rescuer is Dr Thomas Smith, guardian to Eoin, a six-year-old boy who is Anne’s grandfather.
Having been mistaken for Eoin’s long-missing mother, Anne assumes the dead woman’s identity. Once healed, Anne gets involved in Irish independence, and the relationship between her and Thomas develops. However, the differences between her and the original Anne eventually puts her life in danger.
Review
I was completely captivated by What the Wind Knows. The writing is poetic and lyrical, and just jumped off the page. It was so suspenseful that I always had to read “just one more chapter” to find out what happened next. The whole story was heart-wrenching, beautiful, and felt authentic.
I loved the depth of emotions experienced by various characters. The writing is so brilliant that I could feel what they were feeling most of the time. There were many intense, emotional moments between characters. However, it wasn’t just the love between people explored in the book; there was love for a family, a country, and a past time.
The characters were all distinct from each other, each with different features and personalities. I liked how each of the protagonists were imperfect, neighbour-like people. I also liked how the villains of the story weren’t evil for the sake of being evil; they were doing what they truly believed was best.
Thomas was lovely. He was such a timeless, unassuming hero. Not a complicated character, he was smart, kind, gentle yet strong, and generous. He wasn’t one of those heroes the heroine (or the reader) falls for immediately, but by the end you can’t help but love him.
The time travel element was very well done. Like other aspects of the book, it was well thought out. The author wrote it in a way that made sense. This can’t have been easy, what with time being ‘coiled into ever-widening (or tightening) circles, layered and wrapped around the next’ and not linear.
If I had to give What the Wind Knows one criticism, it would be the multiple references to people and dates that I didn’t get – I just didn’t have enough prior background knowledge. However, it did make me curious about the events mentioned.
Conclusion
Have you read What the Wind Knows? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.
If you haven’t, you can buy it at Book Depository (they have free international shipping!) or Waterstones (free delivery on UK orders over £25, will ship internationally).
Bridgerton is Netflix’s new, top watched original series. In it, Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, start a false courtship, which quickly leads to real feelings.
However, Simon is determined to get revenge on his father for his difficult childhood by never having children. This causes problems, as Daphne is the fourth of eight children and wants nothing more than to marry and have a family.
As the show is based on a series of books by Julia Quinn, I thought I would read the books and write out my thoughts on how they compared to the show. Season one is based on the first book; you can find my review of The Duke and I here.
Time Spent on Different Characters
I didn’t like how the TV show had so little time focused on Simon and Daphne. Usually, romances spend the majority of the time looking at the hero and/or heroine and their relationship. Bridgerton filled a lot of screen time with the exploits of the other siblings.
In my review of The Duke and I, I said that I thought the first half of the book felt like a set-up for the rest of the series. Book-Simon and book-Daphne’s relationship doesn’t develop at a realistic pace, but other characters are expertly introduced. There’s space for TV-Simon and TV-Daphne’s relationship to develop more realistically.
It felt like the TV show also used this first season as a set-up for the rest of the series. The show told the other Bridgerton sibling’s backstories around the main story (didn’t leave much for future seasons, really). Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough time focused on Simon and Daphne’s story for me to feel invested in their relationship.
Lady Whistledown
In the books, we don’t find out the identity of Lady Whistledown (the scandal writer) until the fourth book (Romancing Mister Bridgerton). In fact, The Duke and I spends no time pondering Lady Whistledown’s identity. (Aside from the occasional “she must have a spy in the family” comment, of course).
However, the TV show characters spend quite a bit of time discussing who Lady Whistledown might be. Eloise even launches her own amateur investigation into the matter.
Actors of Colour
One of the major differences between the Bridgerton books and TV show is the numbers of coloured people. The book characters are all lilywhite English aristocrats typical of the genre. The Netflix show has been praised for “colour blind” casting.
There is a theory that the Queen at the time may have been part black. Evidence includes a rather unflattering comment made by a royal physician and a portrait where she has unfashionably full lips. Additionally, her family tree has been traced back to a Portuguese noblewoman who may have been coloured (the evidence for this is far from conclusive, however).
Apparently, the show is set in an alternate reality where Queen Charlotte was half-African and favoured other part-African people. Even in such circumstances, I highly doubt that the Queen would have been able to elevate so many people of colour to so many (usually hereditary) positions in the 50-odd years she was married to King George.
Queen Charlotte and Prince Frederik
The Queen doesn’t appear at all in The Duke and I. I didn’t particularly like Queen Charlotte, but she certainly added to the story. By all accounts, the real-life Queen Charlotte took an active interest in society, so including her was realistic. And her hair and gowns were generally magnificent.
Her presence also made it easy to introduce Prince Frederik to the story. Daphne’s relationship with Prince Frederik adds another dimension to Simon and Daphne’s relationship that I enjoyed. Additionally, it creates some interesting action for the time that Simon and Daphne grow closer.
Anthony and Siena
In The Viscount who Loved Me, we find out that Anthony (Daphne’s eldest brother) is convinced he will die before his 39th birthday because his own father died aged 38. For this reason, he is afraid of falling in love. Apparently being in love would make his limited lifespan painful to live with.
On the TV show, Anthony appears to be in love with Siena (or at least thinks he is). This makes it look like Anthony’s problems with love are going to stem from previous heartbreak, not his father’s death.
At present, I don’t like this change, but we’ll see how they deal with it in season 2.
Simon’s Backstory
In The Duke and I, Simon’s backstory is told almost all at once in the prologue and first chapter. The show used flashbacks sprinkled throughout the episodes to tell the same backstory.
I liked how the show kept the backstory itself the same, but preferred the way the book delt with it. However, I loved how the show included a high-tension scene where Simon makes a vow to his father on his deathbed – so dramatic, and really highlighted just how much Simon hated the old duke.
Why can’t Daphne find a husband?
The reasons behind Daphne being unable to find a husband differed between the book and the show.
In the book, she’s a rather ordinary girl who becomes everyone’s friend but no one’s romantic heroine. Sure, Simon speculates that her overbearing elder brothers might have something to do with it, but it’s not the main reason.
In the show, Daphne is “flawless,” and every man wants to court her. Her inability to snag a husband has everything to do with Anthony scaring away potential suitors.
I preferred the book version. Book-Daphne was so much more relatable. The book also made Nigel Berbrooke more redeemable; he may be a minor character, but he does appear briefly in the book’s epilogue and The Viscount who Loved Me.
Favourite Scenes
I watched season one of Bridgerton before reading The Duke and I, and there were a couple of scenes that I hoped would also be in the book. I loved the scene where Anthony and Daphne try to turn on the stove so they can have warm milk without waking any of the servants.
As great as TV-Simon and Daphne’s conversation at the inn was, I preferred the book version of Violet telling Daphne about marriage, and the ensuing wedding-night conversation. It was just so funny. Daphne’s mother failed so completely to tell her anything useful and it led to such a hilarious misunderstanding.
Have you, also, watched Bridgerton on Netflix and read the books? How do you think they compare? Let me know in the comments below.
Book review of The Viscount who Loved Me by Julia Quinn, an historical romance novel set primarily in regency London.
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Synopsis
Kate Sheffield is determined to protect her younger sister, Edwina, from society’s rakes while they are in London for the season. This creates quite a problem for Anthony Bridgerton, who has decided that it’s time he found a wife. Edwina fits his requirements, so he pursues her.
As the sisters get to know Anthony, Kate realises that Anthony isn’t as terrible as she had thought. But just as she removes her objection to Anthony courting Edwina, Kate and Anthony are found in a compromising situation involving a bee.
Their ensuing marriage works out well, until Anthony realises he might be falling in love with Kate. Because of his certainty that he will die sometime in the following nine years, this terrifies him. Can he and Kate defeat their demons? Will they be able to love each other freely?
Review
The Viscount who Loved Me is the second of Julia Quinn’s books about the Bridgerton siblings. It tells the story of how Anthony, the eldest Bridgerton, finds love and marries the next viscountess.
I liked how Kate isn’t the ravishing beauty who is the typical heroine in romance novels. She has an inner beauty that Anthony eventually recognises, but she is always compared to the more fashionably beautiful Edwina. It’s such a refreshing change from the norm.
Kate is brilliant. She is intelligent, has a sharp wit, and cares for others. When Anthony is less than perfectly polite, Kate doesn’t hold back from being rude right back. And the way she delights in Anthony’s discomfort is hilarious.
I also loved the relationship between Mary and Kate. They have a really strong bond and I might have forgotten they weren’t mother and daughter if it wasn’t mentioned so much. Mary is so unlike the stereotypical evil stepmother I just had to like her.
My favourite scene has to be the scene where they all play Pall Mall. It showed Anthony’s devotion to his family and further built his relationship with Kate. Before this, Anthony was difficult to like (not great for a romance hero); his views on marriage and how he treated Kate were so annoying. I also loved the glimpse of Daphne and Simon, the protagonists from the first book in the series (The Duke and I).
The Viscount who Loved Me is full of hilarious dialogues. Anthony and Kate have the best banter. They also exchange veiled insults and share tender moments. It was such fun to read.
Unfortunately, the steamy and tension-filled scenes between Anthony and Kate became a bit lukewarm towards the end of the book. Their banter is no longer fun and light, but grows serious.
Conclusion
Have you read The Viscount who Love Me? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.
If you haven’t, you can buy it at Book Depository (they have free international shipping!) or Waterstones (free delivery on UK orders over £25, will ship internationally).
