While this troupe might not be for everyone, it worked for me. Michael is in love with his cousin’s wife though he does not act on it but then the cousin dies and Michael realizes that he might actually have a chance with Francesca. In this book, the troupe is forbidden love, not adultery, but forbidden love all the same. While most of the series is flippant and happy (and when I say flippant I do not mean that in a negative way), this book was darker and more emotional than any of the others. I was not expecting this book to be so complex and brooding, but I adored it. until one dangerous night, when she steps innocently into his arms and passion proves stronger than even the most wicked of secrets. Michael dares not speak to her of his love. Now Michael is the earl and Francesca is free, but still she thinks of him as nothing other than her dear friend and confidant. Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca’s surname was to remain Bridgerton for only a mere thirty-six hours longer-the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin.īut that was then. For Michael Stirling, London’s most infamous rake, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton.Īfter a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing. Ī moment so tremendous, so sharp and breathtaking, that one knows one’s life will never be the same. When I started this one, it was very clear this was going to be different than some of the other ones in the series, but by the end it emerged as my favorite in the entire series. However, Julia Quinn is a stunning writer and I fully trust her ability to write believable romances that will win me over in spite of myself even if I don’t LOVE the story, I know that I will at least enjoy it. So when I finally got to Francesca’s story I was fully expecting it to be the book that I had to ‘get through’ before moving on to the rest of the charming Bridgerton siblings. Which made me constantly think ‘wow that sounds depressing’. For example, there were references about her being a widow really young and that the love of her life died etc. The minimal references to Francesca’s story left me with a lot more questions than answers.

I was constantly reminding myself that ‘oh ya there is another Bridgerton sibling before Gregory and Hyacinth’.

To be honest, I practically forgot about her on a regular basis. There is next to any info about Francesca’s character in all the other books. The sixth book in the Bridgerton series was probably the one I was least looking forward to.

Bridgerton when he was wicked