The Duke and I - Julia Quinn

This was my on-the-plane book for the trip from New Zealand to the US. Given that the trip takes around thirteen hours, you'd think I'd take more than one book, but there's the lure of the inflight entertainment system (and it was a night flight so I was hoping to grab some shuteye). I'm telling you all this so you'll know how good a book would have to be to keep me glued to the page.

This did it.

I cannot BELIEVE I've never read Julia Quinn before. With this one book, she jumped onto my must-read list. The good news is that because I'm a newbie to JQ, I now have a yummy backlist to go through.

The Duke and I kicks off the Bridgerton family series. Basic story is that Daphne Bridgerton is sick of not attracting any serious suitors, not because men don't like her, but because they like her too much. She's too "normal" - they all treat her as a trusted friend, nothing more, while she wants to find love and get married. Simon Hastings, the Duke of the title, on the other hand, has no desire to marry but is being hunted by the unmarried women of the ton.

Daphne and Simon decide to fix each other's problems by pretending to form an attachment - the duke's attraction to Daphne will make her of interest to other men, while the same attachment will keep Simon safe from the attentions of others. Except things don't go according to plan and Daphne and Simon end up married.

Daphne is a great heroine - she is normal, in the best way. No histrionics for Daphne. She just gets things done and I loved her for it. And Simon is a great foil for her - so dark and brooding.

If you want to read a more detailed review, check out Jane's at Dear Author, one of the reviews that convinced me I needed to read this. On my part, I really loved The Duke and I. I literally didn't stop reading until I finished. Now, I must get my paws on the rest of the series!