The Viscount Who loved Me

Title: The Viscount who loved me

Author: Julia Quinn

Published: 5 December 2000

Genre: Romance, Historical, Fiction

Number of Pages: 378

Start Date: 5th March 2022

Finish Date: 5th March 2022

Summary

1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, this author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London's most elusive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry. And in truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consummate rake, nobody does it better.—Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, April 1814

But this time, the gossip columnists have it wrong. Anthony Bridgerton hasn't just decided to marry, he's even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended's older sister, Kate Sheffield; the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate is the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams.

Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best husbands; and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate is determined to protect her sister but she fears her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony's lips touch hers, she's suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself.

Review

I enjoyed the first book the Duke and I a lot, but I absolutely loved the Viscount who loved me. Enemies to lovers is one of my favourite troupes, but I've never read a historical romance enemies to lovers book, and let me tell you, I have been missing out. This had the best banter, and I loved watching Kate and Anthony fall in love. I can't wait to continue on with the series, but this is going to be a hard one to beat!

Julia just has a way of writing that I’m becoming addicted to, and I’m afraid she is going to spoil me as I read other books. This book gave me feelings as I witnessed both Anthony and Kate work through fears and demons they had in their closets from tragic circumstances in their lives, tears were shed. These circumstances make it hard to give oneself completely in the heart, but that’s what was so beautiful about this story; them working through it and the realisations smacking them dead centre.

“..love isn’t about being afraid that it will all be snatched away. Love’s about finding the one person who makes your heart complete, who makes you a better person than you ever dreamed you could be. It’s about looking in the eyes of your wife and knowing, all the way to your bones, that she’s simply the best person you’ve ever known.”

Anthony’s story is nuanced, complex, and sad without being depressing. I thought it was a very realistic take on a man who loses his father from an impressionable age. At first it’s easy to dismiss Anthony’s fears of death but as the story goes along I think Julia Quinn does a remarkable job at explaining why he just couldn’t get past it and creating a believable phobia for Anthony and Kate to work through together.

Kate and Anthony had so much chemistry between them early on in the book and it was exciting seeing their love bloom in each other’s company. They were each stubborn enough but vulnerable enough to make the Taming of the Shrew element feel realistic and not forced or annoying.

The sexual tension between them crackled. While this book definitely has steam, it never crossed over into raunchy excess. Julia Quinn struck a perfect balance between sexy and romantic. Kate was strong, funny, and intelligent and that shined through in their romance and witty banter that I loved. Anthony was sexy, flawed, and brought so much sex appeal, charm and humour to the story that it was easy to love him.

Book 2 of the Bridgerton series and I cannot recommend it enough. I love that Julia Quinn is able to keep me at 5 stars for her writing, character development and storyline.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️