Note from a rookie romance reader: I don’t read romance. Well, I didn’t read romance. My allegiances can be won, and this charming, undeniably sharp release from New York Times bestseller Julia Quinn opened my eyes to a truth many of you have long known: romance reads are a damn fine way to enjoy one’s day. So let's begin...
Because of Miss Bridgerton is the first of a new prequel series detailing the lives and romances of those who came before the 8 siblings featured in Quinn’s beloved Bridgerton series. Billie Bridgerton, fiercely independent and equally charming, has little time for romance. But a woman of her time, Billie knows she will inevitably be wed...she just never expected George, the eldest and least-tolerable son of the Rokesby family, to be part of the equation.
I forced myself outside my comfort zone for this book and soon found myself curled up one cold night, my blackened heart having grown three sizes, giggling madly at just how cute these two stubborn characters were as they continually butted heads. George's tendency to say exactly what he doesn't mean at the most inopportune times truly resonated, as I too often suffer from foot-in-mouthitis. Billie's overwhelming charm but instant discomfort outside the familiarity of her family's estate is instantly appealing to all us homebodies out there. This romance never feels preordained. It feels earned. And Julia Quinn has earned a new fan: a boy...who now reads romance.
To all you wonderful romance readers, I'd love to know your thoughts. What keeps you coming back to your favorite romance reads? Any particular sub-genre that holds a special place in your heart? Share your pearls of wisdom via the comments section below or drop me a line at [email protected]! And don't forget to check out the Because of Miss Bridgerton egalley, now available on Edelweiss.
-Chris
