Sunday, April 18, 2010

I Fell in Love with a Rake

9:48 AM by Subtle_Hints · 0 comments

A rake (lower-case) is youthful and immature. He flaunts his exploits, behaves with utmost idiocy, and thinks himself dangerous to women.

A Rake (upper-case) knows he is dangerous to women. He doesn't flaunt his exploits because he doesn't need to. He doesn't behave like an idiot for the simple reason that he isn't an idiot.

Lady Whistledown's Society Papers,
20 April 1814

I have read a number of romance novels, but never did any of those books have gripped my heart as much as that of the Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn. I know that I have a lot of reading to do before I can say that this might be the best, but for a hopeless romantic such as I, I believe that the entire series leaves you falling…and falling desperately in love with not only the heroes and the heroines but also with their relationships and with the entire Bridgerton clan.

I read a romance novel because I want to fall in love. After reading the first book of the series, I did just that- and I fell over and over again while reading one book after another. And as much as it pains me to say this, but the kind of man I’ve fallen with the most is a Rake.

The series is set in the Regency era in the year of 1813 where Daphne the eldest daughter of Violet and Edmund Bridgerton starts this series of books in: The Duke and I. All of the eight books of the series, stars heroes that are, what you would deem as imperfect. Yes, they are so dashingly handsome, quite a Rake, but mostly, if not all, have issues in their lives that gives you the impression of a wounded hero. But it is these very same qualities which makes them all the more appealing to readers. They are anything but boring. Each has their own personality which sets them uniquely apart from each other. And though they are quite a Rake, you’d end up falling for them anyway! Forget that they’ve been with countless of women! ‘Cause when they do fall in love, Heavens! You end up catching your breath and sigh longingly along with the heroines.

It is such a wonderful read. So wonderful that you end up giving into fits of laughter, be thrown into an emotional whirlwind with the characters, and of course wishing that there are Viscounts, Dukes, Earls for each girl out there. I say, I wouldn’t mind a Duke myself if it meant having Simon Basset as a husband! And of course, unlike other romance novels that you end up being jealous of the heroine, in all eight series you wouldn’t mind giving them the heroes! They are the type of heroine who you would want to spend a nice afternoon with, talk, and giggle just like you would with a best friend. They are all so adorable and show strength every woman should have.

I just love everything about the series. It gives you a light hearted background story, an intriguing plot, and a heated romance. It is for those people, like me, who wants to drown themselves in a book just to escape reality. But I don’t suggest you read it out in a very public place, ‘cause of sure, you will be grinning from ear to ear, blushing, and sometimes (most of the time) laugh out loud while reading the books. It’s not the most sane thing to see when others have no idea how entertaining the book truly is. But I suggest you read it during a peaceful afternoon, with tea on hand then share the book with a friend. And in the end, you and your friend might end up falling for one of the heroes too!


Disclaimer:
The photo I used here does not belong to me, it belongs to Josephine-Marie of Deviantart.