Dearest Gentle Reader,
The moment you have been yearning for has finally arrived after a long awaited break. The second part of Bridgerton Season 3 has aired for your and my entertainment both, and once again the captivating adaptations of Julia Quinn’s books by the one-and-only Shonda Rhimes, has proven to be the pinnacle of romance. As the hit series continues on with glowing reviews and a promise for more I find it prudent to remind us all why Bridgerton has dominated the romance genre as it has.
Julia Quinn’s masterful use of the reader's ever beloved romance tropes shines through to take the spotlight in each of her novels as the Bridgerton siblings explore all things romance. The series has 9 volumes in all, which makes for a delightful stretch of reading, a superb set book set on the shelves, and so many stories to entertain.
From the beginning we witnessed romantic escapades through Daphne’s story, The Duke And I, which highlights a personal favorite scandal of fake romance. Miss Bridgerton and the Duke of Hastings expertly tricked the ton into believing they were madly in love. Whispers suggest the ruse was started so the men of the marriage market would find Miss Bridgerton most desirable indeed after her attempted ruin. As for the Duke’s side of the bargain, some say it was so the mischievous mamas would leave the Duke to his own devices. Who would’ve thought the two would fall for their own ruse.
Just a season after Daphne’s success, her brother Antony Bridgerton in The Viscount Who Loved Me, enters the marriage market himself only to find his story to be one of intrigue between enemies turned lovers. His was a season of seduction and suspense as the ton watched him struggle to come to terms with his unyielding love for one Miss Kate Sharma. Once thought to truly abhor each other the two found their dislike for each other was not the passion of loathing but of love.
Now, as the second half of what appears to be Colin Bridgerton’s social season begins, we find our most beloved ton abuzz with pure, heartfelt, romance as friends blossom into lovers. The Bridgertons have been the subject of plenty of scandals these past seasons and it seems this season won’t be any different as Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington face the harsh words of the ton to make their undeniable love for each other a reality in Romancing Mister Bridgerton. Will they succeed? I suppose we shall see together, Dear Reader.
Of course, we know past seasons’ events well, but that leaves many to wonder what will happen to the rest of the Bridgerton siblings. If the script is to be followed, we are in store for many more love matches as the Bridgerton seasons continue. Though I must warn you, Dear Reader, that to continue reading is to subject yourself to the tantalizing spoilers of the Bridgerton novels, so I must urge you to read at your own discretion.
Mr. Benedict Bridgerton in An Offer From A Gentleman seems to be in store for a particularly scandalous match between himself and the illegitimate daughter of an Earl, Miss Sophie Beckett. It seems they’ve found themselves in a Cinderella story as Miss Beckett flees the ball where they met, leaving nothing behind but her visage imprinted on his mind. We wait with bated breath to see if Benedict and Sophie are able to overcome the obstacles the ton throws at them and fight for their, very own, much deserved love story.
The next Bridgerton love story, To Sir Philip With Love, takes love from pen to paper as Eloise Bridgerton finds her own long awaited love story among the trees of the countryside. Through an enriching correspondence with Sir Philip Crane, Eloise begins to believe that love can indeed be found in this suffocating society. Taking quite the risk, she travels the long miles to meet him and to embark on their own tumultuous journey of love. Do you believe these two pen pals will make it work?
Of course, we mustn’t forget about the youngest Bridgerton siblings. A romance between Sir John Stirling and Francesca has been teased in the latest Bridgerton season, though it may not please the reader to know the Earl of Kilmartin is not Francesca’s final match. In Francesca’s story, When He Was Wicked she has to cope with a devastating loss, but through another’s dedicated support and the strength of her own tenacity she emerges from the depths of her despair. Hers is a romance of second chances to embrace the love that’s been patiently waiting all along.
Hyacinth Bridgerton’s romance story, It's In His Kiss, takes on an edge of mystery as she finds the courage to leave the past behind. As the youngest Bridgerton, Hyacinth has to be outspoken and intelligent to garner any attention away from her many siblings. Through chance she agrees to help Lady Danbury’s grandson Gareth St. Clair reclaim his family inheritance as his father schemes behind the scenes to ruin the St. Clair name. Will the two succeed and fall in love while overthrowing his father’s plot?
Last but certainly not least, the youngest Bridgerton brother Gregory in his own story, On The Way To The Wedding, seems to have been caught in a delicate misunderstanding. As a firm believer in true love, as modeled by his siblings, Gregory is convinced he’ll know the minute he meets his soul mate, however love is not so straight forward. Miss Hermione Watson, the woman Gregory is convinced is his true love, is most regrettably in love with another. But Gregory Bridgerton is not so easily dissuaded, so he enlists the help of Miss Watson’s good friend Lady Lucinda Abernathy to help him win Hermione over. As Gregory and Lucy conspire, their feelings for each other begin to grow, but the two may not act upon these feelings as Lucy is already trapped in another engagement. Will Lucy and Gregory sort out this bewildering knot of marriage and love to find their happily ever after?
And so Dear Reader, I hope to continue to be your guide as the social season endures. I myself can’t wait to see how the Bridgertons continue to tempt scandal and fight for unexpected love in a season for each of their own.