The Viscount Who Loved Meby Julia Quinn

Review by Barb Drozdowich

 

Book 2 in the Bridgerton Series tells the story of Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sheffield.  We find Anthony at the beginning of the book deciding it is time that he, at the ripe old age of 29, marry and sire some heirs.  Since he has decided that he has no intention of falling in love with his wife he is rather methodical about his choice of a wife.  Anthony  became Viscount after his father died at the age of 38 from a bee sting. Anthony feels that he will probably die the same way, and at about the same age as his father and he doesn’t want to leave a wife desperately grieving his death.  His choice of a wife, Edwina Sheffield, is someone he feels he will never fall in love with and therefore some one who will not be too devastated when he dies.  When Katherine (Edwina’s older half-sister) learns of Anthony’s pursuit she is determined to interfere.  Anthony has a reputation as a rake and she doesn’t want her younger, more innocent sister to become a victim of Anthony’s rakish ways.  Anthony decides to seduce Kate to scare her off, but to his dismay, finds that Katherine may be the one to bring him to his knees when it comes to love!  Although Anthony is becoming more attracted to Kate as each day passes, he holds true to his decision to marry Edwina.  That is until he and Kate are caught in a compromising position by the biggest gossip in London.  He was trying to suck out the venom after Kate was stung by a bee.  If the scene wasn’t so heart wrenching, it would have been hysterical!  Kate and Anthony help each other resolve their outstanding fears and love conquers all in traditional Regency romance fashion.

 

This is a beautifully written book that deals with the character’s traumatic issues in a very sensitive fashion.  Certainly one of the better ones of this series.