When He Was Wicked (Bridgerton Series #6)

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Overview

In every life there is a turning point.

A moment so tremendous, so sharp and breathtaking, that one knows one's life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, London's most infamous rake, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton.

After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing. Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca's surname was to remain Bridgerton for only a mere thirty-six hours longer — the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin.

But that was then . . . Now Michael is the earl and Francesca is free, but still she thinks of him as nothing other than her dear friend and confidant. Michael dares not speak to her of his love . . . until one dangerous night, when she steps innocently into his arms, and passion proves stronger than even the most wicked of secrets . . .

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
Unlike the hero of Quinn's newest Regency-era romance, who falls in love with his cousin's wife upon first sight, readers won't be swept off their feet by the protagonists of this tale. Indeed, while Michael Stirling, dubbed the Merry Rake, is charming enough, subdued Francesca Bridgerton rarely seems worthy of his pursuit. All is well at the novel's outset, aside from the fact that Michael covets his cousin, the Earl of Kilmartin's, wife. Then, barely two chapters into the book, his cousin suffers an aneurysm and dies. Devastated and unable to cope with his new position as earl and his feelings for Francesca, Michael flees to India for four years, only to return still very much in love and suffering from malaria. In London, the two attend social events, trade quips and try to restore their friendship, but the more intimate they become, the more their feelings of guilt gnaw at them. Guilt is the only thing that stands in the way of the couple's happiness, and it's often frustrating to witness their slow, overwrought progression from denial to acceptance. While this book possesses some of the qualities that Quinn's fans have come to expect-sprightly prose, feverish love scenes and well-developed secondary characters-it is weighed down by the sheer intensity of the protagonists' grief. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780060531232
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
  • Publication date: 6/29/2004
  • Format: Mass Market Paperback
  • Pages: 384
  • Sales rank: 74,344
  • Series: Bridgerton Series, #6
  • Product dimensions: 4.18 (w) x 6.75 (h) x 0.96 (d)

Meet the Author

Julia Quinn

Julia Quinn started writing her first book one month after finishing college and has been tapping away at her keyboard ever since.

The New York Times bestselling author of twenty-one novels for Avon Books, she is a graduate of Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges and lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest.

Read an Excerpt

When He Was Wicked


By Quinn, Julia

Avon Books

ISBN: 0060531231

Chapter One

... I wouldn't call it a jolly good time, but it's not as bad as that. There are women, after all, and where there are women, I'm bound to make merry.

--from Michael Stirling to his cousin
John, the Earl of Kilmartin,
posted from the 52nd Foot Guards
during the Napoleonic Wars

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.

After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught and then turning the tables until he was the victor, of caressing and kissing and making love to them but never actually allowing his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and so hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing.

Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca's surname was to remain Bridgerton a mere thirty-six hours longer; the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin.

Life was ironic that way, Michael liked to think in his more polite moods.

In his less polite moods, he used a different adjective entirely.

And his moods, since falling in love with his first cousin's wife, were not often polite.

Oh, he hid it well. It wouldn't do to be visibly out of sorts. Then some annoyingly perceptive soul might actually take notice, and -- God forbid -- inquire as to his welfare. And while Michael Stirling held a not unsubstantiated pride in his ability to dissemble and deceive (he had, after all, seduced more women than anyone cared to count, and had somehow managed to do it all without ever once being challenged to a duel) -- Well, the sodding truth of it was that he'd never been in love before, and if ever there was a time that a man might lose his ability to maintain a façade under direct questioning, this was probably it.

And so he laughed, and was very merry, and he continued to seduce women, trying not to notice that he tended to close his eyes when he had them in bed, and he stopped going to church entirely, because there seemed no point now in even contemplating prayer for his soul. Besides, the parish church near Kilmartin dated to 1432, and the crumbling stones certainly couldn't take a direct strike of lightning.

And if God ever wanted to smite a sinner, he couldn't do better than Michael Stirling.

Michael Stirling, Sinner.

He could see it on a calling card. He'd have had it printed up, even -- his was just that sort of black sense of humor -- if he weren't convinced it would kill his mother on the spot.

Rake he might be, but there was no need to torture the woman who'd borne him.

Funny how he'd never seen all those other women as a sin. He still didn't. They'd all been willing, of course; you couldn't seduce an unwilling woman, at least not if you took seduction at the true sense of the word and took care not to confuse it with rape. They had to actually want it, and if they didn't -- if Michael sensed even a hint of unease, he turned and walked away. His passions were never so out of control that he couldn't manage a quick and decisive departure.

And besides, he'd never seduced a virgin, and he'd never slept with a married woman. Oh very well, one ought to remain true to oneself, even while living a lie -- he'd slept with married women, plenty of them, but only the ones whose husbands were rotters, and even then, not unless she'd already produced two male offspring; three, if one of the boys seemed a little sickly.

A man had to have rules of conduct, after all.

But this ... This was beyond the pale. Entirely unacceptable. This was the one transgression (and he'd had many) that was finally going to blacken his soul, or at the very least -- and this was assuming he maintained the strength never to act upon his desires -- make it a rather deep shade of charcoal. Because this ... this --

He coveted his cousin's wife.

He coveted John's wife.

John.

John, who, damn it all, was more of a brother to him than one of his own could ever have been. John, whose family had taken him in when his father had died. John, whose father had raised him and taught him to be a man. John, with whom --

Ah, bloody hell. Did he really need to do this to himself? He could spend a sennight cataloguing all the reasons why he was going straight to hell for having chosen John's wife with whom to fall in love. And none of it was ever going to change one simple fact.

He couldn't have her.

He could never have Francesca Bridgerton Stirling.

But, he thought with a snort as he slouched into the sofa and propped his ankle over his knee, watching them across their drawing room, laughing and smiling, and making nauseating eyes at each other, he could have another drink.

"I think I will," he announced, downing it in one gulp. "What was that, Michael?" John asked, his hearing superb, as always, damn it.

Michael produced an excellent forgery of a smile and lifted his glass aloft. "Just thirsty," he said, maintaining the perfect picture of a bon vivant.

They were at Kilmartin House, in London, as opposed to Kilmartin (no House, no Castle, just Kilmartin), up in Scotland, where the boys had grown up, or the other Kilmartin House, in Edinburgh ...

Continues...

Excerpted from When He Was Wicked by Quinn, Julia Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Table of Contents

First Chapter

When He Was Wicked

Chapter One

... I wouldn't call it a jolly good time, but it's not as bad as that. There are women, after all, and where there are women, I'm bound to make merry.

--from Michael Stirling to his cousin
John, the Earl of Kilmartin,
posted from the 52nd Foot Guards
during the Napoleonic Wars

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.

After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught and then turning the tables until he was the victor, of caressing and kissing and making love to them but never actually allowing his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and so hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing.

Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca's surname was to remain Bridgerton a mere thirty-six hours longer; the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin.

Life was ironic that way, Michael liked to think in his more polite moods.

In his less polite moods, he used a different adjective entirely.

And his moods, since falling in love with his first cousin's wife, were not often polite.

Oh, he hid it well. It wouldn't do to be visibly out of sorts. Then some annoyingly perceptive soul might actually take notice, and -- God forbid -- inquire as to his welfare. And while Michael Stirling held a not unsubstantiated pride in his ability to dissemble and deceive (he had, after all, seduced more women than anyone cared to count, and had somehow managed to do it all without ever once being challenged to a duel) -- Well, the sodding truth of it was that he'd never been in love before, and if ever there was a time that a man might lose his ability to maintain a façade under direct questioning, this was probably it.

And so he laughed, and was very merry, and he continued to seduce women, trying not to notice that he tended to close his eyes when he had them in bed, and he stopped going to church entirely, because there seemed no point now in even contemplating prayer for his soul. Besides, the parish church near Kilmartin dated to 1432, and the crumbling stones certainly couldn't take a direct strike of lightning.

And if God ever wanted to smite a sinner, he couldn't do better than Michael Stirling.

Michael Stirling, Sinner.

He could see it on a calling card. He'd have had it printed up, even -- his was just that sort of black sense of humor -- if he weren't convinced it would kill his mother on the spot.

Rake he might be, but there was no need to torture the woman who'd borne him.

Funny how he'd never seen all those other women as a sin. He still didn't. They'd all been willing, of course; you couldn't seduce an unwilling woman, at least not if you took seduction at the true sense of the word and took care not to confuse it with rape. They had to actually want it, and if they didn't -- if Michael sensed even a hint of unease, he turned and walked away. His passions were never so out of control that he couldn't manage a quick and decisive departure.

And besides, he'd never seduced a virgin, and he'd never slept with a married woman. Oh very well, one ought to remain true to oneself, even while living a lie -- he'd slept with married women, plenty of them, but only the ones whose husbands were rotters, and even then, not unless she'd already produced two male offspring; three, if one of the boys seemed a little sickly.

A man had to have rules of conduct, after all.

But this ... This was beyond the pale. Entirely unacceptable. This was the one transgression (and he'd had many) that was finally going to blacken his soul, or at the very least -- and this was assuming he maintained the strength never to act upon his desires -- make it a rather deep shade of charcoal. Because this ... this --

He coveted his cousin's wife.

He coveted John's wife.

John.

John, who, damn it all, was more of a brother to him than one of his own could ever have been. John, whose family had taken him in when his father had died. John, whose father had raised him and taught him to be a man. John, with whom --

Ah, bloody hell. Did he really need to do this to himself? He could spend a sennight cataloguing all the reasons why he was going straight to hell for having chosen John's wife with whom to fall in love. And none of it was ever going to change one simple fact.

He couldn't have her.

He could never have Francesca Bridgerton Stirling.

But, he thought with a snort as he slouched into the sofa and propped his ankle over his knee, watching them across their drawing room, laughing and smiling, and making nauseating eyes at each other, he could have another drink.

"I think I will," he announced, downing it in one gulp. "What was that, Michael?" John asked, his hearing superb, as always, damn it.

Michael produced an excellent forgery of a smile and lifted his glass aloft. "Just thirsty," he said, maintaining the perfect picture of a bon vivant.

They were at Kilmartin House, in London, as opposed to Kilmartin (no House, no Castle, just Kilmartin), up in Scotland, where the boys had grown up, or the other Kilmartin House, in Edinburgh ...

When He Was Wicked. Copyright © by Julia Quinn. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating 4
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  • Posted December 9, 2008

    more from this reviewer

    fabulous Bridgerton romance

    In 1818, the first time ever Michael ¿The Merry Rake¿ Stirling saw Francesca Bridgerton he knows he is in love although he never experienced that feeling before. However, he can not act on his emotion because Francesca is to wed his best friend, his cousin John in less than two days. Michael ironically thinks that he now has two new feelings: love and for the first time envy. Ironically, he never coveted the earldom or the wealth of the man he considers his ¿brother¿.------ Two years later, Michael hides his love for Francesca from her and his cousin. John complains of headache and soon afterward he, not quite thirty and in seemingly perfect health, is dead. At twenty-two, Francesca is a widow and Michael is the earl. He still hides his feelings while they mourn their loss until one innocent night he offers simple solace that turns into heated lovemaking. The aftermath is that both feel guilty as if they let down John. As they evade one another so as not to explore their feelings, Francesca begins to wonder if John arranged the whole thing as a heavenly matchmaker.------ Title aside as no one is ¿wicked¿ in a nasty sense; fans will appreciate this wonderful Regency romance starring a loving relationship triangle between three wonderful protagonists. John was a nice respected person loved by his wife and his cousin so that his memory serves as a ghostly barrier to Michael and Francesca following up on their feelings. The two illnesses that John and Michael respectfully suffered from provide a feel for the era as Julia Quinn uses that to anchor her sixth fabulous Bridgerton book.------ Harriet Klausner

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 9, 2011

    This book is one of my favorites. You know its good when you want to read it more than once!

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  • Posted September 12, 2011

    Entertaining read

    Julia delivers another great book that is humorous and light but engaging none the less!

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  • Posted May 11, 2011

    Best Romance Novel Ever!!!!

    I've read this book a number of times and it never fails to make me laugh and cry, and I fall in love with the hero, Michael Sterling, all over again. The herione is not the perfect herione that your used to reading about, but a woman who we all can empathize with. I've read hundreds of romance novels....When He Was Wicked is in my top 5. This is one of the best novels I've ever read:) You won't be able to put it down.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 18, 2010

    good book

    a really good book, could have a better epilogue, but still, was a beautiful one.

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  • Posted February 26, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    Amazing!!

    I love this entire series and I've loved every book. Having said that, this is my favorite of the series. It has the most passion between the two main characters and I really feel like you can relate to their love and chemistry they can't fight.

    I couldn't make this fit but I'd also recommend Eloisa James' Desperate Duchess series. Its the same time period and also very funny.

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  • Posted February 16, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    Mostly Okay

    This book was intriguing. It got me interested very quickly but there was a lot medical problems in this book. Overall, I liked it enough and it entertained me. Quick and easy read...nothing deep.

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  • Posted December 28, 2009

    Raciest of the Bridgerton bunch

    I rank this 4th in my list of favorites of the 8 Bridgerton novels, behind novels 1,2, and 8. Character development was good, as it most always is with Ms. Quinn's work.
    Definitely worth the read.

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  • Posted March 3, 2009

    I Also Recommend:

    Michael

    Michael was smooth.

    The rest was kind of dull.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 18, 2008

    Another Bridgerton Success

    This is the sixth book in the Bridgerton series, and one of my favorites. It is Francesca's story and I was not entirely expecting to enjoy it because I did not feel as if Quinn had properly introduced Francesca to the reader in her previous books. But I was dreadfully wrong. I found myself not only adoring her, but the male lead in the book, Michael, was so stunningly tragic sometimes I felt I could not entirely handle the amount of pain he put himself through for his love. I'll admit, this book is a bit slow in the first half as the first 150 pages or so are all relatively the same. However, once it gets going I felt I was more than rewarded for my patience. WHEN HE WAS WICKED is easily the hottest of all the Bridgerton novels. I was utterly blown away by the consummation scene. I completely understood why Quinn felt the necessity for so much buildup to the sexual climax and it was so completely WORTH IT!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 1, 2007

    different from her others

    I liked it. It was different from her usual stories. I liked Michael's character a lot but Francesca seemed a bit lacking. She was too self-centered for me. She would get mad at Michael for not being there for her when he was in pain also. But other than that I liked it.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 27, 2006

    WONDERFULLY ROMANTIC

    `When He Was Wicked¿ is yet another masterpiece by Julia Quinn. Although I have to admit that I¿m not that surprised (seeing as all her books I¿ve read have been). As far as I¿m concerned she¿s a complete genius. Well, I believe that¿s probably enough praises for Julia in this review. Now about the book, I believe this book was great it captured my interest from beginning to end. I just couldn¿t stop reading. I fell in love with both Francesca and Michael. I have to admit to feeling bad for Michael, who was a man suffering from unrequited love I was even tempted to do the most horrible thing imaginable and read ahead just to make sure she returned his feelings by the end (oh, who am I kidding? I did read ahead). Anyway this book was great and I yet again guarantee that if you like other Bridgerton novels you will love this one as well.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 26, 2006

    Wonderfully Wicked

    This book now ties as my favorite one out of the series (An Offer from a Gentleman being the other one)....i absolutely loved loved loved Michael....if he were an actual real human being-I would handcuff and tie him down and not let him out of my site...goodness i loved his character....and it was a really nice change to have the guy already in love with the heroine from the beginning...none of the same stuff of him waiting till the last page of the book to realize he's in love...this book was just wonderful...sooo increadibly enjoyable...its not the same tempo of the other Bridgerton stories...this one deals with alot more heart-ache...but its soooo enjoyable...amazing story....Mrs. Quinn- You out-did yourself! Two Thumbs up and a few toes

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 26, 2005

    Not for everyone

    It's really more of a four and a half star book. As other reviewers have said, this is definitely not Julia Quinn's usual style. But that's what makes it so exceptional. I've read a few books in her Bridgerton family series and found them not to my taste. They're a bit too light-hearted and sweet for me. But this one is much darker. It deals with all the painful emotions of love. Michael is such a vivid character. His descriptions of Francesca seem so heartfelt. His guilt and disgust with himself for loving his cousin's wife, of all people, is so palpable you can almost touch it. My only complaint is that with such a well-rounded hero, everyone else even the heroine takes a backseat. It's sad and depressing and there are definitely moments when you feel like crying. But that's what makes it so beautiful. Plus, there are some absolutely steamy love scenes. You have to wait for more than halfway through the book for them, but they're well worth it.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 16, 2005

    Excellent book

    Not your typical romance. The best part of this book was the male lead...wonderfully done! Yes, there was sex but it was real, and honest and, I think, a necessary part of the story. This book I will keep and revisit from time to time.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 10, 2005

    Not a typical Julia Quinn novel

    When He Was Wicked is not one of the Julia Quinn typical light hearted, funny, fast banter, fast reads with which we have become familiar. It has funny moments, but this novel is a bit darker, delving into more tragic situations and darker emotions. Just as an actor likes to take on different types of roles to stretch his talents, I feel Ms. Quinn has stretched herself with this novel. And she has stretched herself remarkably well. She has drawn characters who are deep, and multifaceted. Michael, second in line to the title and incorrigible rake of the family, loves his cousin's wife. But he is much deeper than he seems to be superficially. He truly loves his cousin (who is really more like a brother to him since they were raised together after the death of Michael's father) and for that reason alone, will never act on his feelings. Francesca truly loves her husband and is completed by him, but she also loves Michael on a different level. He is the spice and excitement she has given up for understanding, comfort and security. She enjoys him as he is. She understands him as no one else does. But she feels safe with her husband. Francesca is the deeper more reserved of the free-wheeling Bridgertons. Her story would have to be different, as she is different from the rest of her siblings. There is great tragedy, and no simplistic answers. Just as in real life, we get through our tragic moments and come out of them stronger, as do Francesca and Michael. They find each other again after they have had time to deal with their grief. One of the reviewers complained about the overwhelming guilt between the two lovers. Guilt is as strong an emotion as love. When each truly loved the one who was taken, guilt is very real, as real and potent as the love they shared, and it takes time to overcome. There are no magic wands that one waves and, poof, no more guilt. The characters, as do those of us in real life, actually have to work their way through it. This is a Julia Quinn for grown ups. It ended happily as romance novels must, but throughout, it dealt with adult emotions love, grief, regret, and finally forgiveness. The epilogue was as bittersweet as the entire story; as bittersweet and as lovely. That letter had to come from Michael's aunt. No one else could have given him the final absolution so that he could put away the mourning, and continue with his life.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 4, 2005

    A wonderfully written story - Not typical Quinn style but still worth it

    Let me first say yes this is not a typical Quinn novel but it is still a very well written story. Our hero Michael Sterling has fallen in love with his cousin's fiancee at the start of the book when he first meets Francesca Bridgerton our heroine. After years of unrequited love Michael's cousin suddenly dies from an aneurism that leaves Michael feeling guilty for being in love with his cousin's wife and Francesca griefing. Michael runs away to India to get away from everything hoping his love will go away. Years later he comes back and his feeling are still very strong for Francesca. Francesca his now searching for a husband but still very much loves her dead husband. Michael realizes there could be something between him and Francesca and sets out to win her heart. The story is very sad and deals with darker emotions that Quinn's normal Bridgerton series. I loved it still. You can't help falling for the hero. The struggles they have to face dealing with the love they feel for one another will have you rooting for their happy ending. Their is laughter has well and I enjoyed this book.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 25, 2005

    Julia Quinn's BEST!

    I've read and loved all of Julia's Bridgerton series but this book is by far my favorite. It's not as light-hearted as her usual stuff, but thats only because Julia delves deeper into the characters and their pain and guilt. Michael is a fabulous hero who will definitely remain one of my all-time favorites. How can anyone not absolutely adore him? If you like well written stories with some meat, sexy heroes who adore their heroines, some wit, some angst, some steamy scenes... then this is the book for you.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 20, 2005

    Julia Quinn is one of my Fave Authors HOWEVER...

    I was really dissapointed with this book. I do not usually like widow stories and this was a perfect example why. This book did not at all have the typical Julia Quinn wit. THis Book was so depressing to me, I was especially sad when I bought and read it the first day it came out. It started off good but in the end I ended not liking Francesca at all. Michael is okay. However, ANything else by Julia QUinn is great!!!!! I can't wait for Hyacinth story to be out this summer.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 22, 2004

    Disappointment

    I love Julia Quinn but this book left me disappointed. The story took on some of the all too common qualities of many romance novels, a lack of relationship development and too much focus on sex. I think after a good beginning she rushed the story. I was pulled in at first but felt incomplete at the conclusion. I also missed the interactions between other members of the Bridgerton family that occur in the other books. This story lacked many of Quinn's characteristic traits that set her a part from other romance novelists.

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