Sometimes you find love in the most unexpected of places…
This is not one of those times.
Everyone expects Billie Bridgerton to marry one of the Rokesby brothers. The two families have been neighbors for centuries, and as a child the tomboyish Billie ran wild with Edward and Andrew. Either one would make a perfect husband… someday.
Sometimes you fall in love with exactly the person you … love with exactly the person you think you should…
Or not.
There is only one Rokesby Billie absolutely cannot tolerate, and that is George. He may be the eldest and heir to the earldom, but he’s arrogant, annoying, and she’s absolutely certain he detests her. Which is perfectly convenient, as she can’t stand the sight of him, either.
But sometimes fate has a wicked sense of humor…
Because when Billie and George are quite literally thrown together, a whole new sort of sparks begins to fly. And when these lifelong adversaries finally kiss, they just might discover that the one person they can’t abide is the one person they can’t live without…
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Julia Quinn never fails to sweep me away to another time, to a family I love to visit again and again. I adore her Bridgertons. They’re a read I’ll come back to again and again.
Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn is a book that I had in mind to buy for a while now, but was hoping to stay strong until the Portuguese version came up, however, after a few less entertaining books and starting to feel like I was in the beginning of a reading slump, I thought it was time to buy it – and it felt so good to do it!
I must admit I’m a huge fan of the Bridgertons so anything that involves this family (even as a prequel) gives me this feeling of coming back home.
And how good it was to start doing it with Billie Bridgerton! I have to say I hadn’t had such fun reading a book in a long time. We had the mallet of death (<3) and so many fun adventures, with the mums of our main characters interfering to try and get Billie and George together – and they remind me so much of Anthony and Kate (The Viscount Who Loved Me).
Billie is so funny, strong and fearless, whereas George always felt a distance between himself, his brothers and his neighbours, the Bridgertons, because he knew he had to learn everything about his dad’s estate and couldn’t afford to “loose” time playing around. In a way, he envied them, but he was also happy with his position because it made him happy to do his job and he was good at it. And when he and Billie become closer (with the help of a cat!), everything starts to change. For the best, of course.
Maybe for some people this book and The Viscount Who Loved Me are too similar but for me they are practically perfect, I wouldn’t change a thing.
A book that made me laugh (really laugh, getting me some strange looks at the bookshop’s café where I was reading it) – well the perfect book with a perfect ending.
What can I say that hasn’t been said before? Divine characters, witty prose that made me laugh-out-loud, and a spectacular romance.
I love the Bridgertons! Great book, lots of humor and love.
“Before the Bridgertons, there were the Rokesbys.” The phrase on the cover perfectly defines the book. If Julia Quinn charmed her readers by portraying her most famous family, by returning to the past and showing their ancestors she proved that there is much more to be explored. And by adding the Rokesbys, it creates new characters as enthralling as the original and potentially interesting.
The book is the classic opposites that attract each other. And that’s where the beauty lies. Billie is not a typical society girl. Balls, dances, beautiful dresses, suitors, none of this enchant her. Her true passion is the family lands. Her vocation, to administer the property. Created on the fringes of all social rules, she is a free spirit, and her neighbors and friends are the companions of adventure. Except George, the eldest. In his right and good manner, he is the representation of the aristocracy and the power of the title he will inherit. And all that Billie wants to stay away from.
But the rescue of a troublesome cat will bring Billie and George closer. And when two very different people approach, sparks fly. But in the midst of so many fights, so much irritation, a spark of desire lights up. And the two will have the difficult mission of dealing with unwanted attraction. This attraction will make them rethink what they really want from the future.
George and Billie delight the reader with every page read. George was the perfect portrait of the good guy, charismatic, noble, caring, and passionate. His struggle between doing what was expected and being impulsive brought depth to the character. Billie was strong, true to her ideals, funny and brought the lightness George so badly needed.
The other Rokesbys brothers also arouse interest. I can not wait for their adventures. The book is the classic period romance. Expect balls, dresses, dances, compromising situations, eager mothers to marry their daughters, a noisy family, nosy siblings, a stubborn couple, a misunderstanding, and a lot of romance. All this written with mastery. It’s Julia Quinn at her best.
One of my favorite Julia Quinn books.
Anything by Julia Quinn is beautifully written and hysterical! A very talented author!
Prequel to Bridgerton series, the first book in the Rokesbys series follows Billie Bridgerton, older sister of Edmund the father of Bridgerton kids, and the oldest of the Rokesbys, George.
The neighboring family was always very close, when they were younger the kids played together and now they are good friends. Billie always thought she would end up with one of them, except for George, she dislikes him very much.
Billie is not a typical female of that time. She basically runs the estate, gets into everything, and has no patience for things like balls. One day, trying to save a cat she gets stuck on the roof, and who comes to save her? George. Even though she thinks he is full of himself, the spark fly between them. 🙂
It’s enemies to loves story, my favorite, even though they are not really enemies, there is more dislike than hate. 🙂 It’s fun, romantic, steamy, and addicting to read. 🙂
Because of Miss Bridgerton was so much different than I expected. I was quite surprised how this storyline of Billie and George unfolded.
At first, I was a little bit cautious about Billy, I just didn’t know what to think of her. George was the usual moody and mysterious hero. As the story developed I rather started to like Billy and totally loved George. It was really a lovely story unitl, until… until it became so much more. George and Billy just stole my heart. Their story quite unique and refreshing. I really loved reading their love story. It’s sweet, heartfelt and fun. And this won’t be the last book I’ve read in this series.
Having grown up near the family in the Kent countryside, everyone anticipates Billie Bridgerton will one day marry one of the Rokesby brothers. She ran wild about the estates as a child with Edward and Andrew, either of whom would make an excellent match. Billie enjoys the company of all the Rokesbys, excepting the oldest and heir to the earldom, George. He’s far too proud and self-assured and he loathes her in equal measure, she’s sure.
But when Billie and George are thrown together by a twist of fate and some masterful parental manipulation, their connection is clear. When their passion results in a kiss, it becomes abundantly obvious that they can’t live without each other.
If you’re looking for a feel good, low angst read, this one is just the ticket. I listened to this on audio and tore through it very quickly. I loved the low drama and ease of childhood frenemies finding their way and navigating new feelings. This was quite the slow burn, but I was so charmed by the characters, I didn’t mind. Billie was utterly relatable to me as was the struggle both she and George had with belonging and finding their place. I loved how thoroughly they understood each other, and I think this book did a great job of illustrating that bond and sense of connection with another person. That feeling is truly what life is all about and I loved that these two played no games once they realized their feelings. This plot was super simple, and I loved it for that.
Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspot.com/2021/03/because-of-miss-bridgerton-by-julia.html
Good Series Start
This was a cute story about childhood frenemies becoming lovers. All of the characters introduced were interesting, the antics fun, and the camaraderie between families was cozy. The plot was predictable but well told.
It’s been a few years since I’ve picked up a JQ book, but almost instantly I was reminded why I ADORE her books!
It’s also been a while since I’ve read a book in two days. I couldn’t put this one down!
Enemies to lovers is a trope I often have a hard time with because most authors feel the need to make the hero and heroine hate each other and fight the entire freaking book. I hate it when people who are supposed to be in love are screaming and yelling at each other the whole story.
Billie and George were not like this. They had the perfect amount of bickering and vexation going on between them, but I was pleased that their emotions for one another quickly began to become entangled as more. They had passion! Not just anger towards one another.
I barely put the book down all day today it was so good! I can’t wait to read the next book!
One sex scene in the very end that isn’t very detailed. Earlier, the hero describes a dream to the reader that is intimate but not long nor detailed.
The Bridgertons have always been a whimsical, adventuresome, and interesting bunch. This was rather bland.
I loved the witty interaction of characters in this book. As always Quinn’s storytelling is so great and enjoyable to read!
all her books are great .
I wasn’t sure how tomboy Billie was going to manage becoming a temptress, but Julia Quinn has written a perfect foil for her, an unexpected love story that creeps up on the characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed this prequel to the Bridgerton series. The Bridgertons are wonderful, as always, and so are their close neighbors, the Rokesby family. Billie and George are a delightful polar-opposites couple, their banter sharp and witty but underlaid with the warmth of a lifelong close ‘frenemies’ relationship. It’s a light, warm read that will brighten your day.
Author is a good writer; manages to make a rather ordinary plot clever.
Loved the whole Bridgerton series.
i actually went and got the other two of this series. I know her larger series was fantastic and these were just a fun. Great for beach day and rainy days!