Awful. First Julia Quinn Book I didn’t like at all!!

I have to admit I skimmed through the last half. It was soooo boring. But even worse, it was the most unromantic romance book I’ve read. JQ beats to death how unappealing Penelope is and then tries to convince you he suddenly loves her.... while still emphasizing how unappealing she is. I can’t stand it when authors NEVER make the guy unattractive, unless he’s been injured in war or the like. He can’t be chunky or plain, as so many female characters are these days. Yet we’re to believe the handsome male antagonists find these women irresistible. I’m past my prime for sure, yet I can enjoy the handsome prince and beautiful maiden story w/o feeling inadequate. It’s just a story. I’m ticked I wasted a credit on this book.

29 people found this helpful

Why are all the Bridgerton men rude ?

I am admittedly completely addicted to this series. Julia Quinn knows she’s brilliantly interwoven the large Bridgerton family romances into a series of books where we get glimpses into the “after ever after” and keep us coming back to see live behind the curtain. Rosalyn Landor is equally an incredible actor. However, by this fourth book I find myself continually annoyed at how all the female characters are painted somewhat pathetically, woefully enamored by their male counterparts with painfully deep insecurities about their worth, while the male counterparts vacillate between arrogant, entitled and petulant with little to no remorse or self-awareness after they threaten violence or man-handle their partners when they “misbehave”. Their lust seems to always be the final emotion that helps them overcome their behavioral deficiencies, yet that reiterates their ineptitude at self awareness and humility. We all know lust isn’t the thing that will sustain the long term healthy behavior, especially with characters who are suddenly seduced into good behavior to get to the altar. I’m hoping one of the next books has arches that show a woman who doesn’t need marriage to fulfill her self-esteem and a man that hasn’t relied on the luck of his birth gender at all times to navigate life.

22 people found this helpful

I do love the Bridgertons! (& Whistledown)

Julia Quinn telling a Bridgerton tale, there isn't another experience quite like it! This is 'regency' romance at its best. And Collin.....
The Whistledown mystery gets revealed, such fun!

Rosalyn Landor is perfect for these books.

There's plenty of chemistry and a fair amount of steam.

Creditworthy as always for this pairing of author and narrator!

17 people found this helpful

Another great Brigertons installment

Great installment! This was Collins story as he he falls in love with Penelope!

I really liked how we got to see the scene in the ending of the last book with Penelope and Collin, from Collins point of view in the scene, in the beginning of this book. It was written so that those of us who are following the series were able to see both sides and connect the story’s, as well as for newcomers who might have picked up the book in the wrong order.... They would fully get the story.

I was very happy that Penelope got to be in a story of her own. She has spent all the previous books being a part of those stories, that to have her in her own story was fun. I can’t say too much without revealing spoilers, but if you dig hard enough you can probably find the answers you’re looking for. I must say that I am not a fan of Hyacinth. JQ has her really kind of a brat. I don’t think it’s funny to be somebody who takes a person’s secret and negotiates to keep your mouth shut only to turn around and renegotiate and reveal the secret. It’s not cute, it’s not funny, it’s just bratty and I don’t like it. Hopefully in her future book she will grow out of that infantile behavior.

I loved how “the situation” was handled in the end. Obviously I’m not trying to give away spoilers so my comment seems a little obscure. But there was a situation at the end that needs to be dealt with, and I completely did not see them handling it the way they did and I thought it was fantastic. I absolutely loved Lady Danbury (throughout the whole book) and when she started to clap, it actually made me cry a little.

Rosalyn Landor did a great job as usual. I’m kind of disappointed to see up in future books that they switch her out and go to Simon Prebble. I am sure he is as good as the narrator but it seems like Roslyn Landor has been with the Brigertons this long, kind of stinks that they’re going to change over. But that’s in the future.

Definitely a worthy installment, and worth a credit.

13 people found this helpful

kind of boring

struggled to finish this one...it could have been so good. I didnt feel any connection between Colin and Penelope at all. he didnt seem like a hero to me.

12 people found this helpful

Good but...

I really liked Colin UNTIL his own book. Jeez, he was almost a surlier, angrier version of Anthony. Plus he was a whiny brat to boot. Given his talent for writing about the beautiful places he was fortunate enough to visit, his bitterness and jealousy was almost too much to overlook. Penelope was a very compelling character, but a trend I’ve noticed in this series is how the strong female characters turn into doormats at the hands of their husbands. Anthony redeems himself, but not before I wished to throat punch him more times than I have fingers and toes.

The romance between these two never seemed real or robust to me, except perhaps the balcony scene. A real shame because Ms. Quinn excels at passionate yet poignant love scenes. So why four stars? Because the plot and the characters are still that good.

11 people found this helpful

One of the Best of the Series

Would you listen to Romancing Mister Bridgerton again? Why?

Probably. It stands out from many of the other books in the series and was entertaining.

What about Rosalyn Landor’s performance did you like?

She always delivers a captivating performance. I particularly like how she portrays a jovial mood in characters over the Bridgerton series.

Any additional comments?

This is a solid win for the series. The story and characters were engaging, and the romance differed given the female protagonist doesn't fit the stereotype of this genre. I was a little dismayed at how quickly mercurial Colin became given he's the affable joker of the Bridgerton clan, and I thought Penelope could have shown a little more backbone at times. But alas, I'm being picky. This is worth a listen if you like historical romance.

11 people found this helpful

Great addition to the Bridgerton series

This was a great addition to the series, Thank goodness audible added after all this time. This was a the story of Colin Bridgeton finding love. It also has an interesting twist about finding out who Miss Whistledown is. Well worth the credit, I couldn't go on to the next book in this series until I listened to this one.

11 people found this helpful

Why does she want him?

******Spoiler*****I found nothing to like in the "hero" Colin. He was a complete a$$. I found nothing romantic in this story.

8 people found this helpful

Not much of a secret

I feel the description given for the story gives it away and the "secret" Colin has is not a secret at all. Silly really to make it sound that way. It was ok overall, however the excitement built at the end and how it was resolved was even more silly. So someone said she found out about the heroine's secret because of the way she said a sentence which is identical to that mentioned by someone else and therefore the two are one and the same.... So in my mind, I thought why not just say this is ludicrous and be done with it? leave it for her to prove, but nooooo. This was considered and she was to get blackmailed based on this claim. Now you tell me if this is not stupid reasoning. I feel it took something away from the book to once again make an issue appear more than it is just as Julia Quinn did with Colin's "secret".

4 people found this helpful