The Duke And I (Avon Romantic Treasure) (edit title)

• Rated 5 stars

“The first in Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series and it starts it off so well. The characters are very likable and the humor in the story is right on target. After reading several Bridgerton books this is still one of my very favorites.”

• Rated 4 stars

“I am in love with this book. It is the first volume on the Bridgerton series. A witty smart girl and an ex playboy Duke that fall in love under an unusual "fake attachment" based on mutual benefits.

I came back from work today not in one of my most chippery moods and as soon as I picked this book up, I couldn't stop laughing.

If you're a fan of the timeless Pride & Prejudice then you will love this one. ”

• Rated 5 stars

“I am VERY happy to report that "The Duke and I" really IS an excellent book!! Whew! Relief. What a FUN book! I tell you, as I read this book I was either smiling, laughing, or crying. The hero, Simon, had a stuttering problem as a child and his idiot father pretty much ignored his very existence because his long awaited son was not perfect. The poor child worked tirelessly to improve himself and work past his awful stutter. Even as an adult he would struggle with it when in distress or angry. The heroine, Daphne, is one of 8 children and her adorable mother (seriously, I loved this mom, she was a riot) is determined to see her oldest daughter married. To get the mom and society off of their backs, so to speak, the two make a deal to pretend an attachment. All is well until they actually begin to fall for each other and things start to get complicated and sticky. Frankly, I was surprised at the depth of this story. I have read Julia Quinn's books before and usually found them pretty light, but this one definitely had some bite to it. I pretty much read it in one day (ok, a day plus one evening), and I enjoyed every second of it. I know the plot is not entirely original, but you easily forget that as you get caught up in the charm of this story!!!”

• Rated 4 stars

“The new Duke of Hastings was not pleased of his new title. For reasons few people know of, he despised his father and his dukedom. He has vowed never to marry, that the Bloodline would die with him. Daphne Bridgerton, the younger sister of his friend, however, proved to be a temptation beyond his contraol. Daphne could not help herself but to fall in love with Simon Bassett, Duke of Hastings. She is certain that he cares for her but for the pistol on his back, he will not marry her. When she discovers the truth of his family however, he has no chance to continue living in anger as he was.”

• Rated 4 stars

“4.5 stars--great read; can't help but love the Bridgertons!”

• Rated 3 stars

“I read this on a rec from one of my LJ friends, and even though there were things about it I found amusing, it was also predictable and pretty cliche. A wealthy man with a secret past resolves never to marry and contents himself with whoring his way through his 20s, but then falls in love, quite against his will, with a woman who makes him burn with a passion unlike anything he's ever experienced before (puh-leeze!) and marries her and after a few very minor bumps in the road (most of them courtesy her protective older brothers), they find their happily ever after. It was all right in the way of mind candy, I suppose, but nothing more substantial than that. It was also a touch more graphic than I was expecting, especially after reading scads and scads of children's books. ”

• Rated 5 stars

“Excellent read!!!”

• Rated 5 stars

“This book was just charming. I had already read the second book in the series so I knew the ending of this already, but I was still gripped. It was realistic yet fantastic, and it had moments of both sadness and humour. It was generally very well-written and has become a favourite.”

• Rated 5 stars

“One of my favorites in the Bridgerton Series. I re-read this one a regular basis.”