Lady Whistledown Strikes Back

While fun - I just wasn't as invested in this short story collection centering around Lady Whistledown and the mystery behind who stole Lady Neeley's ruby bracelet. Four different romance novellas all take place around the same two week span and some of the characters even interact with each other. Four different romance writers write in the style of Julia Quinn and give us four more romances in the Bridgerton world. The four romance novellas were ok, but nothing to write home about and I'm not sure if I will ever read it again. Not horrible - just not as good as the Bridgerton saga - I respect what these ladies were trying to do though.

The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown

A fun little romp that is a delightful addition to the Bridgerton universe. Although none of the stories center on the Bridgerton clan they do occasionally pop up at balls and of course the beloved (and reviled) Lady Whistledown is there to record everything. All four short stories take place over the same span of a few weeks during winter. The Thames has frozen over and no one can remember a better winter social season; Valentines Balls, skating parties, resplendent plays, and more are on the calendar. Four unsuspecting ladies and four rakes will find themselves thrown together this season for some hot steamy fun. Not bad, but not memorable - a nice fluffy read to sate the appetites of Bridgerton lovers. 

On the Way to the Wedding

Honestly one of my least favorite in the series. I didn't love the premise and also... it's so hard to imagine a love story with the younger siblings. They are still little kids to me! Anyways - the last installment of the series focuses on Gregory - the last unmarried of the eight Bridgerton kids. He is in no rush to be married or choose a profession but unexpectedly he falls madly in love with the back of a woman's neck at a ball. It was as if he was struck by a thunderbolt - Hermoine is the most beautiful and dazzling person he's ever met. He's POSITIVE that she is the one. Hermoine is not remotely interested in Gregory any of the other boys that fawn all over her - she is in love with another - and her best friend, Lady Lucinda has to step in and warn him off. Instead of deterring him it makes him only more determined to win Hermoine's heart. Why can't he see what's right in front of her? Some twists and turns at the end. Just a so so installment. Now I'm on to the prequels!

It's in His Kiss

This was a cute romance and I liked the teensy bit of adventure we got. Hyacinth is the youngest Bridgerton and her mother, Violet, is fairly desperate to marry her off. Hyacinth is a beautiful young girl, but she is headstrong and opinionated which hasn't resulted in too many proposals. She doesn't mind though - none of those men challenged or excited her. It may come as no surprise that one of her biggest role models is the indomitable Lady Danbury, yet when Danbury tries to parade her grandson, Gareth, in front of her; Hyacinth isn't interested. The two keep finding their paths crossing and when he turns to her for help translating his grandmother's Italian diary they become fairly inseparable. What they discover takes them on a treasure hunt but maybe there is more than one treasure to look for. Not a deep romance, but definitely very steamy. 

When He Was Wicked

So far my least favorite of the series - and not for the romantic lead either! For once it was a Bridgerton I was annoyed with. Francesca was such a bore in this one. I got her behavior at first but after it continued to drag out I found myself wishing she would get Malaria as well. Just be with the guy you're having amazing sex with - what is so hard to grasp?! Francesca's husband died suddenly after only two years of wedded bliss. She and Michael (his best friend, cousin, and heir to the title) try to cope with the hole in their life. For Michael it is extra hard because he has coveted Francesca for so long. From the moment he laid eyes on her he wanted her - but would never act on it (even though he is a rake) because he loved and respected John too much. With John out of the picture it's suddenly too much to handle. Will they or won't they? This book spans years so readers have plenty of time to figure it out. 

To Sir Phillip, With Love

I was so curious to read Elouise's love story because she is such a fiercely independent woman and I couldn't imagine who she would end up. Her romance is as improbable and unconventional as I anticipated - she becomes pen pals with a man she's never met (she wrote him a condolence letter after the death of his wife who happened to be her cousin) and he proposes marriage. At first she is annoyed and flabbergasted but when her best friend and fellow spinster, Penelope, gets married - she's feeling very alone. She decides to sneak away to meet him and see if he's the marrying sort. What Sir Phillip neglected to tell her was that he had two rambunctious twins who can't manage to stay out of trouble. He's looking for a new mother for them rather than a wife - but maybe they'll find there could be more to the relationship. 

Romancing Mister Bridgerton

I was so ready for this book! Before I read the series - I watched the Netflix show and I ADORED PENELOPE. I wanted to see her snag Colin Bridgerton soo bad. Imagine my delight when I realized that this fourth installment follows the man himself, Colin, and the woman he may or may not be fast friends with, Penelope. In this book we also get a major shocking reveal that impacts the whole Bridgerton universe, we discover the identity of Lady Whistledown (again if you watched the show - they already gave that away). A slow burn and for two of my favorite characters. I love this whole series and I can't wait to read the next one!

An Offer From a Gentleman

I LOVED the fairy tale aspect of this one and I really hope there are similar "themes" in some of the upcoming installments. The third book focuses on Sophie Beckett, the bastard of an earl who was horribly mistreated after his untimely death. Being forced to act as a maidservant to her stepmother and stepsisters is unbearable and one night the other servants convince her to dress up and sneak to masquerade ball where she meets the man of her dreams, Benedict Bridgerton. She doesn't even know who he is but they are both captivated by each other. She flees at midnight and doesn't encounter him until years later. Her circumstances haven't improved much and he doesn't recognize her. But is there a spark of interest. Could a member of the ton have feelings for a lowly servant girl? Fun, witty, and sexy. Give me more please! 

The Viscount Who Loved Me

I liked this even better than the first one! I'm a sucker for quick wit and charm and the characters in The Viscount Who Loved Me have those in spades. Now that Daphne Bridgerton is off and married (to a Duke no less) Anthony Bridgerton has decided that as man of the house it is up to him to get married and produce an heir. He is convinced that he will not live longer than his beloved father (who died young at the age of 38) so he wants to find a nice wife to bed and be friends with but not to love. When the Sheffield sisters come to London for the season, Anthony is assured that the younger sister, Edwina, is the belle of the season so he decides to wed her. The only trouble is he has to deal with her bull-headed older sister before he can woo Edwina. Thoroughly enjoyable. I can't wait to read the next one!

The Duke and I

I'm so glad I finally read the book! Honestly I think the tv series follows it pretty well. They moved around a few scenes and added a few characters and small storylines to flesh out the show - but honestly I loved both the print and the film version. Obviously there is a very questionable consent scene that readers have to grapple with, but beyond that I really enjoyed the book. The Duke and I is a regency romance that shows what happens when two people who are "just pretending to like each other to get people off their backs" actually start to like each other. The Duke had an upsetting childhood and a horrid father so he has vowed the the dukedom will end with him. But then he finds that he really does love someone and agrees to marry her... but will have no kids so the line still ends. Is that possible? Will their love overcome such a hurdle? Wonderful. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.