Product Description

After enduring two seasons in London, Daphne Bridgerton is no longer naive enough to believe she will be able to be marry for love. But is it really too much to hope for a husband for whom she at least has some affection? Her brother's old school friend Simon Basset - the new Duke of Hastings - has no intention of ever marrying. However, newly returned to England, he finds himself the target of the many marriage-minded society mothers who remain convinced that reformed rakes make the best husbands. To deflect their attention, the handsome hell-raiser proposes to Daphne that they pretend an attachment. In return, his interest in Daphne will ensure she becomes the belle of London society with suitors beating a path to her door. There's just one problem, Daphne is in very real danger of falling for a man who has no intention of making their charade a reality...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30462 in Books
• Published on: 2006-06-08
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Relentlessly pursued by match-making mamas and their charges, Simon Bassett, the handsome Duke of Hastings, has grown tired of the societal chase. Tired too is the lovely Daphne Bridgerton, whose matrimonially minded mother is set on finding her daughter the perfect husband. Neither Simon nor Daphne is happy with this annoying state of affairs and both would give anything for a little peace and quiet. Their mutual wish for a respite from the town's marriage mart leads to a pretend engagement--a scheme that is threatened with exposure by Daphne's suspicious older brother, who happens to know Simon's way with women very well. The two never anticipated that a mutual attraction would lead to the very thing they set out to avoid--a wedding. But Simon fears that his painful past may keep him from being able to truly love anyone. And though Daphne cares for him deeply, she won't settle for anything less than his heart.

The Duke and I is rich with author Julia Quinn's trademark humour and engaging dialogue. Beneath the Regency charm of this novel, however, dwells an insightful exploration of the impact of childhood trauma and the healing power of love. Quinn just keeps getting better and better, a fact that's sure to delight readers. --Lois Faye Dyer

Review
"'The Bridgertons are by far the most prolific family in the upper echelons of society. Although one can find only banality in their choice of names for their children. Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth - one would think that intelligent parents would be able to keep their children straight without needing to alphabetise their names.' Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, 28 June 1813 'Quinn has a smart, funny touch... That's reminiscent of Helen Fielding' TIME MAGAZINE 'The most refreshing and radiant love story you'll read this year' LISA KLEYPAS"

About the Author
Julia Quinn started writing her first book one month after finishing college and has been tapping away at her keyboard ever since. She is a graduate of Harvard and Radcliffe colleges and lives with her family in Colorado. Visit her at www.juliaquinn.com

Customer Reviews

A really good read, a must for all Regency fans
As usual, JQ has written a winner, this book is absolutely wonderful. The Bridgerton family are both adorable and hilariously funny, especially Violet, Daphne's mother, and I like the way that the hero isn't perfect. Some authors make their heroes out to be Gods, JQ made Simon totally human, complete with flaws, which made him even more sexy. Daphne is a very funny, down-to-earth heroine, and together Daphne and Simon are lovely, likeable characters. The only reason I gave this book four stars instead of five is because although the sex scenes are pretty hot, they're not as steamy as I like them! Apart from that, this book is perfect and I can't wait to read the next one in the series, about Anthony, Daphne's sexy eldest brother. Julia Quinn is a fantastic author, she should be very proud.

A very worthwhile Regency
Apparently the author chose the pseudonym Julia Quinn so that her books were beside Amanda Quick's on the shelves and more people might buy them. Amanda Quick is, of course, hugely successful in this genre but I believe Julia Quinn is a much better author - and this book is a good example of that. If you want complete accuracy in historical detail then this is perhaps not the best author for you - her characters speak with American turns of phrase and rather more 20th century than 19th century worldviews in some cases, but this is common to so many Regencies it's almost de rigueur now - if you can read it as fiction and not history you'll be fine.

"The Duke And I" is the first of the Bridgerton series, focusing on daughter Daphne, and it's a good Regency Romance like many out there (there are also, of course, countless dreadful Regency Romances in print too!) However, like "The Viscount Who Loved Me", the second book in this series, Julia Quinn's characters have a lot more depth than you often see in modern books of this genre.

Yes, we have the usual requirements - balls, gowns, the marriage mart and all the rest of it - but this series delves more closely into family dynamics and character growth. Daphne is the fourth child and the first girl of the Bridgerton family; her father died some time ago and her mother has brought up all eight children in a strong atmosphere of love. This was by no means usual at this time amongst the aristocracy - nannies and nursemaids often functioned more as parent figures than the actual parents - and it has enabled Julia Quinn to build a foundation of strong ties between brothers and sisters that she uses in the books.

And this is the contrast between Daphne, the heroine, and Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, the hero. His upbringing was completely different - his father rejected him, thinking he was stupid because he stammered, and Simon vowed to avoid marriage and children to get back at his father - the direct line of the Dukes of Hastings would die with Simon. But when he meets Daphne and they discover that a sham betrothal would be of benefit to both of them, their plans start going awry.

What's so good about this book is the way in which the characters begin to understand each other. Daphne learns to stand on her own two feet away from her family - particularly her brothers - and Simon learns to deal with the dreadful legacy that his father has given him. This book often deals with strong emotions and I, for one, think Daphne's behaviour at one particular point is unforgiveable, but I suppose it's this warts-and-all portrayal of two people trying to come to terms with sharing their lives together that is so powerful about the story.

An utterly charming novel...
This is such fun - a wonderfully witty novel full of sparkling dialogue and lovely characters. Even if you don't usually read historical romances I urge you to give this book a try as it's more like chick lit in a Regency setting than the more classic Georgette Heyer-style of historical romance.

It's a wonderful chocolate souffle of a novel - light-hearted and easy to digest but oozing with charm. A real treat - and deliciously satisfying!