Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

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 is 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!

Average Customer Rating:

Wonderful books	Customer Rating:
Julia Quinn is one of the best historical romance authors I have ever read. This series is great reading. I could not put them down until I read all 8 books. WONDERFUL !!!

No Austen!

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This is a cute titillating bodice ripper (quite literally, I'm afraid), but if you're looking for something Austen-esque, look elsewhere. Quinn is definitely no Austen. Austen, for one thing, knew what she was writing about. Quinn apparently has no idea. Despite setting the plot among the Ton of the Regency era, she doesn't seem to have the slightest how they would have spoken or acted. I'm not even speaking of technicalities, like words or phrases that are no longer used (and that make Heyer's gorgeous works for a non-native speaker like me very difficult to understand!) - it's the very basics, things they say or do that strike one as very modern and immediately throw you out of the storyline. Things like, for example, the way they address each other. The things they speak about. The things they do. The characters are, for Regency sensibilities, utterly brash, vulgar and unfit for any polite society. Not to mention the shirt buttons. :) I understand most of Quinn's works have been written in the age of the Internet, so she really has no excuse for not doing her research. It's all up there. Also what disgusted me was the utter b****iness of Daphne in taking advantage of Simon. Whether taking advantage of someone drunk is rape or not, the very assumption that she is right in making Simon break all the vows he has made shows unbelievable self-conceit and disregard for Simon. In addition, the constant spacing out of both lead characters reminds me of bad fanfic written by teenagers - the usual filler when the author does not know how the characters might react or what they might say. I've given it two stars because, despite its many and huge faults, the story was well paced, romantic (at times) and sexy (well... if one isn't too much disturbed by the modernness). And I needed a dose of chick lit right now, which the book satisfied quite nicely.

It is the reason i fell in love with books

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Every time i write a review on a historical romance, I tend to mention this particular book as one of my favorites. It is not one of my favorites, but my main. Honestly, it has been the best story i have ever read, a breath of fresh air. A book that allows you to dream that love and happily-ever afters actually exists. How wonderfully written, what a great creation of characters. This book, made me fall in love with historical's and made me Julia Quinn's most devoted fan. I love every page, every word, every kiss. The main characters have such a chemistry that you can feel it through the pages. It is extremely well-written, and the romance is believable. I just do not have enough words to express how enamored I am of this story. I only know that i have read it more than a couple of times, and every time, i find myself enjoying the story even more. A work well done Mrs JULIA !!!!!!!! Thank you.

Page-Turning, Delightful Read!!

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This was my first introduction to Julia Quinn (when I read it about 5 years ago). I must say that it was an absolutely charming and heartwarming tale, one which I have frequently picked up over and over again over the years. Daphne and Simon's tale is beautifully written, Ms Quinn knows how to draw you in to the characters and you feel as though you are right there with them, feeling their sadness, sharing their laughter and tears as the story moves along. When Simon broke down and told Daphne how his father had made him feel as a child, I felt every single emotion he must have felt at such callous treatment! The introduction of Lady Whistledown also adds delightful comic relief and dry British wit to the story. Her character is absolutely hilarious and is highly entertaining throughout the story. Ms Quinn's The Duke and I is a wonderful tale and is definitely a keeper for the bookshelves!

A Bore!

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Quinn's book is in a word - dull. The story line is not horrible, albeit somewhat trite. It was the characters, however, that got to me. They are in every sense two-dimensional, flat characters that prevent the book from becoming more than a dreamy, hastily thought out fantasy. There is no conflict of emotions whatsoever, and hence, no depth. And if the lack of originality and good plot weren't enough to put anyone to sleep, her diction fully drives the point home. I've read fanfiction by 13 year-olds much better in every way than this.