First Comes Scandal - Julia Quinn (Avon - Apr 2020)

Series: Bridgerton Prequels/Rokesbys (Book 4)

She was given two choices...

Georgiana Bridgerton isn't against the idea of marriage. She'd just thought she'd have some say in the matter. But with her reputation hanging by a thread after she's abducted for her dowry, Georgie is given two options: live out her life as a spinster or marry the rogue who has ruined her life.

Enter Option #3

As the fourth son of an earl, Nicholas Rokesby is prepared to chart his own course. He has a life in Edinburgh, where he's close to completing his medical studies, and he has no time -- or interest -- to find a wife. But when he discovers that Georgie Bridgerton -- his literal girl-next-door -- is facing ruin, he knows what he must do.

A Marriage of Convenience

It might not have been the most romantic of proposals, but Nicholas never thought she'd say no. Georgie doesn't want to be anyone's sacrifice, and besides, they could never think of each other as anything more than childhood friends... or could they?

But as they embark upon their unorthodox courtship they discover a new twist to the age-old rhyme. First comes scandal, then comes marriage. But after that comes love...

Fun friends to lovers romance. Nicholas and Georgie have known each other all their lives. They grew up on neighboring estates, and Nicholas was her brother Edmund's best friend. Nicholas's parents are Georgie's godparents as well as her parents' friends. So when Georgie ends up in the middle of a scandal, through no fault of her own, her godfather comes up with what he thinks is the perfect plan.

Nicholas is attending the university in Edinburgh, nearly through with his medical studies, when he receives an urgent message from his father. Nicholas is to return home immediately, though he is given no explanation. Expecting the worst, Nicholas hurries back to discover that his father has a most unusual request for him - marry Georgie and save her reputation. Nicholas is understandably stunned and none too happy. He has no time for marriage thanks to his studies, and besides, Georgie is almost like a sister to him. Well, okay, maybe not a sister, but he's never thought of her that way.

Meanwhile, Georgie despairs of her future. Thanks to Freddie Oakes' attempt to force a marriage by abducting her, her reputation is shredded. Her choices are to marry him or not marry at all. An unexpected third option is almost as bad. Married because a friend feels sorry for her is too terrible to contemplate.

I felt terrible for Nicholas during his conversation with his father. He has seen his two brothers marry for love and be happy, yet his father expects him to make a loveless marriage. He understands the reason, but he has other plans for his immediate future. However, he promises his father that he will think about it. That evening, the Rokesbys have dinner with the Bridgertons. This was one of the best scenes in the entire book. Thanks to that conversation with his father, Nicholas finds himself looking at Georgie differently. He notices her wit and beauty, and especially how easy it is to talk to her. He is surprised by her genuine interest in his studies, and their subsequent discussion was hilarious. It also made Nicholas think that maybe marriage between them could work after all.

However, marriage is not a foregone conclusion. Nicholas has accepted the idea, but now he has to convince Georgie. I ached for Georgie. Nicholas's attempt at a proposal was awkward and wasn't helped by the presence of her two young nephews. She was furious at being thought an object of pity, someone that Nicholas had to be coerced into marrying. She barely let him get a word in as he tried to talk to her before he stormed off in frustration. Georgie is an intelligent woman, though, and once she gets past her injured pride, she looks honestly at her options. Her decision is further helped along by the arrival of an unexpected and unwelcome visitor. This was another funny scene that showed how well Georgie and Nicholas were suited.

The development of their relationship is a slow one, rooted in their friendship, and without any significant conflicts. Georgie is fascinated by Nicholas's work and endlessly curious about it. She is not the least bit squeamish and takes every possible opportunity to make herself useful to him. Nicholas is impressed by her intelligence and curiosity. Their journey from their homes in Kent to Edinburgh is full of laughter and growing attraction. There is a little strain between them when they reach their destination, thanks to their living arrangements. I liked how Georgie took matters into her own hands to solve the issue, and that Nicholas supported her actions. There is a bit of a scare at the end that highlights their love and trust in each other. The epilogue was a nice peek into their future together.

I also enjoyed the glimpse of Edmund and Violet's marriage. It is a little bittersweet, knowing what the future holds for them. At this point, they have only three of their eight children, but the descriptions of those three show that their personalities formed early. I think I will have to reread the original Bridgerton series before the TV series begins.

The Other Miss Bridgerton - Julia Quinn (Avon - Nov 2018)

Series: Bridgerton Prequels/Rokesbys (Book 3)

She was in the wrong place...

Fiercely independent and adventurous, Poppy Bridgerton will only wed a suitor whose keen intellect and interests match her own. Sadly, none of the fools from her London season qualify. While visiting a friend on the Dorset coast, Poppy is pleasantly surprised to discover a smugglers' hideaway tucked inside a cave. But her delight turns to dismay when two pirates kidnap her and take her aboard a ship, leaving her bound and gagged on the captain's bed…

He found her at the wrong time...

Known to society as a rascal and reckless privateer, Captain Andrew James Rokesby actually transports essential goods and documents for the British government. Setting sail on a time-sensitive voyage to Portugal, he's stunned to find a woman waiting for him in his cabin. Surely, his imagination is getting the better of him. But no, she is very real -- and his duty to the Crown means he's stuck with her.

Can two wrongs make the most perfect right?

When Andrew learns that she is a Bridgerton, he knows he will likely have to wed her to avert a scandal -- though Poppy has no idea that he is the son of an earl and neighbor to her aristocratic cousins in Kent. On the high seas, their war of words soon gives way to an intoxicating passion. But when Andrew's secret is revealed, will his declaration of love be enough to capture her heart…?

Good continuation of the adventures of the Rokesby and Bridgerton families. In this book, third son Andrew meets his match in the form of Poppy Bridgerton. Andrew appeared in the first book (Because of Miss Bridgerton) as a rogue and a flirt. He's light-hearted and cheerful, and no one in his family suspects that he is a spy/courier working for the British government. In this book, Andrew has a time-sensitive mission to Portugal. Beneath the cheerful exterior is a man who is deadly serious about carrying out his duties. There is also a small part of him that is weary of the demands that keep him away from his family, and he ponders the idea of giving it up and moving on to a more settled life.

Poppy Bridgerton is a woman who knows her own mind. She is independent and a bit impulsive, intelligent and forthright. She's had two Seasons, but none of the men she met have lived up to her exacting expectations. She escapes for a while to visit a friend, where she can take long walks and think about her future. On one walk she stumbles across a smugglers' cave filled with booty. Unfortunately for her, it also contained two pirates who were determined to keep her from revealing what she knows. They tie her up and take her aboard ship, where they leave her on the captain's bed for him to deal with.

I thoroughly enjoyed Poppy's encounter with Brown and Green, the two pirates in the cave. She talked rings around them, but it still wasn't enough to keep them from kidnapping her. Andrew's shock at finding her in his cabin was nothing compared to the shock he got when he found out who she was. He knew he was fortunate that they had never met, considering how close their families are - especially with her cousin Billie married to his brother George. I'm not sure why he didn't tell her who he was from the start, but it certainly made for some entertaining moments. He also knows that there is a good chance he will have to marry her to prevent a scandal.

I loved the development of the relationship between Poppy and Andrew. Poppy is, of course, upset about her abduction and worried about the effect it would have on her family, friends, and reputation. However, nothing she says convinces the captain to set her free, though he does allow her to send a letter to her friend with a story that will keep her family in the dark. I loved the back-and-forth between Poppy and Andrew as she pleads her case, and he counters every argument. I was impressed with her acceptance of her confinement, intelligent enough to realize that it was for her safety. I could also feel her frustration at being on an "adventure" and yet bored out of her mind. The only bright spots were meals with Andrew when their conversations ran the gamut of subjects. Andrew was impressed and intrigued by her intelligence and curiosity and finds that he wants to find ways to counter that boredom. Poppy responds as she realizes that he is a kind and decent man despite being a pirate and kidnapper. I loved watching them grow closer over that week.

Things look fairly promising between them since Andrew at least knows that they are a suitable match. But things go sideways when they reach Portugal. Andrew's attempt to give Poppy a pleasant interlude off the ship ends up with them both as captives. The situation is intense as Andrew bargains for Poppy's release, tells her the truth of why he is there, and sends her off to his contact for help. That scene was pretty funny as Poppy's stubbornness was no match for the needs of King and Country. I ached for Poppy, who was returned to England, not knowing if Andrew was safe or not. As a reader, you know very well that trouble is just around the corner when Andrew arrives at his parents' home, determined to stay only long enough to discover where Poppy is, not knowing that she and her family are coming to dinner that very night. That dinner scene was fantastic, with the soup incident being one of my favorites in the whole book. I loved Andrew's big moment and how they came together. The epilogue was terrific, too.