The Duke and I by Julia Quinn Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
Series: Bridgerton #1
Published by Recorded Books on 2016-09-13
Length: 12 hours and 9 minutes
Reviewing Audiobook from Scribd
Rating:
Simon Basset, the irresistible Duke of Hastings, has hatched a plan to keep himself free from the town's marriage-minded society mothers. He pretends to be engaged to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn't as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry - though there is something about the alluring Miss Bridgerton that sets Simon's heart beating a bit faster.
And as for Daphne, surely the clever debutante will attract some very worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable. But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, she soon forgets that their courtship is a complete sham. And now she has to do the impossible and keep herself from losing her heart and soul completely to the handsome hell-raiser who has sworn off marriage forever!
So I jumped on the Bridgerton train a little late, but y’all! I absolutely loved the new Netflix show, even my hubby enjoyed it. I’ve always enjoyed period dramas, and this one moved to the number one spot of favorites. I didn’t realize it was based off a book series though until I started watching it. The first thing I did once I had the chance is pick up the audiobook and dive in. If you haven’t read the book and enjoyed the show or you enjoy historical romance with a touch of snark, I highly recommend you grab a copy asap.
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn is the first book in her widely successful series Bridgerton about a rather large family finding happiness and love in regency London. This book follows Daphne Bridgerton as she sets off to find a husband and the Duke of Hastings who refuses to marry.
Daphne is a treat. She is not what you’d expect of a character set during this time period. She speaks her mind, isn’t actually ready to marry, and pleasant to be around. She doesn’t see the other society ladies as competition and is happier in the corner laughing with her brothers than being trotted out to every eligible bachelor in town. Then she meets Simon.
Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, has the reputation of being a cad, but in reality he is anything but. He keeps to himself and hasn’t been to town in several years. Planning to attend one party to see his old friend, Anthony Bridgerton, and then leave, Simon isn’t prepared to lose his heart to a woman.
I love how the relationship between Daphne and Simon develops naturally through the book. The friendship they begin is the foundation of their relationship and nothing could be better than that. The banter is perfect, and the steam is well steamy 😉
Rosalyn Landor is fantastic as the narrator for this one. I exclusively listened (unusual for me as I usually bounce between the book and audio), and I couldn’t have been happier. The characters came to life with each inflection and tone change. I’ll be looking for more books narrated by Ms. Landor in the future.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Duke and I. While there are differences between the show and book, those are acceptable for time purposes and to appeal to the larger audience. I personally loved the book as much as the show despite those differences. I can’t wait to continue the series!
About Julia Quinn
#1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn loves to dispel the myth that smart women don't read (or write) romance, and in 2001 she did so in grand fashion, appearing on the game show The Weakest Link and walking away with the $79,000 jackpot. She displayed a decided lack of knowledge about baseball, country music, and plush toys, but she is proud to say that she aced all things British and literary, answered all of her history and geography questions correctly, and knew that there was a Da Vinci long before there was a code. Ms. Quinn is one of only sixteen members of Romance Writers of America's Hall of Fame, her books have been translated into 29 languages, and she currently lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest.
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