1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, This Author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London's most elusive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry. And in all truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consummate rake, nobody does it better...
-Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, April 1814
But this time the gossip columnists have it wrong. Anthony Bridgerton hasn't just decided to marry-he's even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended's older sister, Kate Sheffield-the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate's the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams...
Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes to not make the best husbands-and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate's determined to protect her sister-but she fears her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony's lips touch hers, she's suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself...
The first time I read the Bridgerton series Anthony and Kate's story was my favourite. On my reread I find it a vast improvement on the previous The Duke and I. It's still funny and full of laughable moments but that humour doesn't seem as forced as in the first book. And the Bridgerton brothers (especially Colin) come across as more endearing than domineering. Anthony is by far the Alpha Male of the pack, he is domineering, controlling and decided to rule his heart as he rules his businesses. With reason and no feelings. He can't seem to stop his attraction to the sister of the woman he plans to marry though and since they are always bickering with each other there was some funny moments there and some scenes are used to emphasize that - the fall into the pond, the Pall Mall game... but nothing would have been achieved if they hadn’t been forced to marry. After that the book looses some of its funny undertones but it becomes more interesting (to me) as Kate and Anthony try to deal with each other and heal each other's wounds.
Quinn has a knack for writing the secondary characters that are Anthony Bridgerton family. I ended the book thinking of picking the next one immediately because of how well she made like them.
Other people have mentioned to me how their favourite scene in the book is the Pall Mall game and Anthony ending up with the pink mallet while Kate has the Mallet of Death. That's a funny one to be sure but my favourite scene is when Anthony rescues Penelope from Cressida Cowper's meanness. That was so hero worthy!
Grade: B
My favorite of the Bridgerton series. I really don't find the Pall Mall scene the best in the book either. I actually have a problem remembering the scene altogether, but the scene of the bee really has stuck with me Maybe because Anthony finally becomes vulnerable.
ReplyDeleteOh he was panicking in the bee scene and Kate was totally oblivious to his fear. Poor Anthony!
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