In every life there is a turning point . . .A moment so tremendous, so sharp and breathtaking, that one knows one’s life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, London’s most infamous rake, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton.After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his … 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. 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.
But that was then . . . Now Michael is the earl and Francesca is free, but still she thinks of him as nothing other than her dear friend and confidant. Michael dares not speak to her of his love . . . until one dangerous night, when she steps innocently into his arms and passion proves stronger than even the most wicked of secrets . . .
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My heart.
My GOD!
This is a tie with Colin’s book.
I can’t even. By far my favorite trope so I was immediately in love, but the passion and confliction that Francesca feels are palpable. I was unable to put this book down for a moment. I started it and neglected all of life until it was finished. Michael broke me in the best possible way.
I’m not sure how Julia Quinn does it, but each book I think … this can’t possibly top the next … and then she does.
OMG a most beautiful story with two characters perfect for each other and so well developed.
The widow falling or her husbands cousin and her best friend.
The epilogue was BRILLIANT. ‘Thank you, Michael, for letting my son love her first.’ Gut-wrenchingly beautiful.
With this book, I went back to the Bridgerton series for Francesca’s story. This story had me feeling strong emotions from the beginning and connect with her over an event early on. This wasn’t one of my favorite storylines but I enjoy that Julia Quinn writes such strong and different characters, along with having wit and banter throughout. I also enjoy when we have cameos of the other Bridgertons and can keep up with their stories.
Probably my favorite. Incomparably great.
As always, I turn to Julia Quinn’s wit to make me laugh. I so love the Bridgerton’s and their antics.
Another fabulous book on the Bridgerton family. Francesca’s story.
This is my favorite Julia Quinn book. I love her Bridgerton family books. I take her when I’m going to the airport. 3 hour delay ? Who cares. I’ve got my book. Funny, quick, nice romance set in England in a period I enjoy. Rereadable with a smile on my face. Listen to the rain, curl up, get my glass of port. Perfect !
This one has been my least favorite out of the Bridgerton series so far, but that could be because I felt the least connected to Francesca out of all of the children, which is fitting for her story since she describes herself as a little different and more distant than the others. There seemed to be a lot of telling instead of showing in this book as well.
With that being said, it was sweet story, but it did not really pick up pace until about 1/3 of the way through, which feels a little long for the 6th book in a series of romances surrounding one family. There didn’t seem as much tension on both sides throughout this book, but the spice was pretty good once we got to it as well.
It wasn’t bad, it was a book and I didn’t feel myself having to make myself read it, but I probably will not be rereading it.
This book takes place about the same time as ROMANCING MISTER BRIDGERTON and TO SIR PHILLIP WITH LOVE. Of all the Bridgertons, I like Francesca the least. How could she be so clueless? Michael was also kind of frustrating. Michael fell in love with Francesca the first time he saw her, but that was shortly before she married his cousin, John, who was more like a brother than a cousin as they were raised together. Which made me wonder, if the Stirlings were so close, why did they not meet much before? Then for two years, Michael was their third wheel. Both John and Francesca oblivious to the way Michael felt for Francesca, because he hid it so well. When John suddenly dies from a ruptured cerebral aneurysm, instead of comforting each other, Michael, is a coward and flees to India. It takes Colin’s interference to make him realize that he should not feel guilty about still wanting Francesca, but convincing Francesca is a whole other ballgame.
A secret love is revealed. Loved this story. Michael brought me to tears.
Okay, so I think I enjoyed this one a lot more than most of the others. I can’t say it’s my favorite, but it’s definitely in the top three. This book had more emotion in it and less playfulness, which is honestly right up my alley. I love books with strong emotions and sadness and everything else that comes with heartbreak because they always feel more impactful than the novels that don’t have those emotions.
Michael fought himself a lot when it came to loving Francesca. I think that constant struggle with guilt and love made for an interesting story. I also love how Francesca isn’t sure what she wants and yet still wants to grieve for the loss of her husband. Of course, she loved him, but as she began to have feelings for Michael, it made her feel so guilty. As you can see, guilt is a strong theme in this novel, but hope is too and healing.
I don’t really have many spoilers for this book that I want to talk about because even by reading the description, it’s pretty easy to tell what will end up happening. There weren’t many surprises there. I really like, though, how Francesca seems to be completely different from her family and “the black sheep.” I thought her character development was great.
Overall, definitely one of my top Bridgerton books. There’s only two left in the series, so I’m interested to see how they rank among each other! I might even make a post about it.
Favorite quote: “’It’s better with you here.’”
I know I say this every time but is probably my favorite one. It’s incredibly emotional, romantic and so touching…
Francesca was very happy in her marriage. Two years in her husband unexpectedly dies. She was crushed and broken. The worst part was, that she didn’t just lose her husband, but also her unborn baby and her best friends.
Years after Michael Stirling returns, consumed with guilt for wanting his dead cousin’s wife.
It’s about grief, loss, and second chances, it’s about finding love again and letting yourself fall in love.
It’s a beautiful story!
The sheer level of angst is unparalleled in Michael and Francesca’s love story. The easy out would have been to write a story in which they both secretly pined for each other, but instead Julia Quinn very delicately handled the first marriage, writing a true love and loyalty between Francesca and John, and carefully navigating the aftermath of his death and the subsequent romance between Frannie and Michael. I wish there’d been a bit more discussion of feelings before all the naughty bits, but it read clearly as a result of so much guilt and denial that Francesca truly had to be forced into a corner by their sexual relationship, in order to acknowledge her true feelings. Despite that, there was so much emotional depth around John and the matter of children, that this could by no means be classified as simply a sex-filled romp. This was another favorite in the series!
Throughout the previous six books, I was always very curious to know what had happened with Francesca. We rarely see or hear of her and it’s always a mention in some kind of off hand way. So, I was very eager to get through this book and find out what was going on with the sixth Bridgerton sibling.
This book was one of the most emotionally charged books in the series thus far. I was moved to literal tears at one point, and I may have been previously, but this was on a whole new level. Francesca’s past and even present is saddening and heart wrenching. Where she ends up was so uplifting and I was immensely pleased with the ending of this story.
I feel like we saw less of the other Bridgertons in this book, but that wasn’t the reason for my 4 star rating (rather than 5.) I honestly felt a lack of closure when it came to Michael’s situation and I wish we’d had a definitive answer that he was going to be ok. Other than that, this book was almost perfection. I loved the story line, the progression and the characters.
3.5
This edition of the Bridgerton siblings could be considered a slow burn or maybe it was just slow. We know from the previous books that Francesca married young to John Stirling, the Earl of Kilmartin. They had a wonderful beginning to their marriage, but it was over before they could truly get started with John’s sudden death. And as much as that was heartbreaking, she also suffers more loss a few weeks later. Her family are in England and she has her mother in law with her in Scotland as they grieve together. The only other person who would understand her great loss would be John’s cousin Michael whom was John and Frannie’s best friend. But his own grief and lost love takes him to India for four years.
So now we are in 1824, and both Michael and Francesca are in London for the marriage season. Both, one reluctantly, have decided it’s time to remarry for children or marry for an heir. Neither think of each other as candidates, even though Michael has loved Frannie for six years, since he first set eyes on her. This sets about a lot of chapters that have Michael longing for Francesca and she never knowing his true feelings. Once they do start to have relations, this is where the book picks up and not because of the things that happen in the bedroom but because Michael is so endearing towards Frannie, and we get to see her fall for him.
Again this book has a second epilogue that is fully on Michael and Francesca, and the joys they bring to each other and their families. Loved it. Now I’m ready to know more about Hyacinth and who her beau might be.
This is my favorite book of the series. I loved the closeness between Francesca and Michael and even Francesca’s late husband John. I have to admit, I usually don’t like books where one of the couple is widowed and still in love. It makes you think- well if they weren’t widowed then what would happen to this new love? Add in the fact that Michael was in love with Francesca even when she was married to Iohn and that had the potential to be a big big mess. But their relationship overall was so well characterized that the development of Francesca and Michael’s love was believable. Yes, there was push and pull but it was within reason. Overall, I loved this addition to the Bridgerton saga. And I loved the second epilogue!! It was well written and reminded me of my own past trials. Well done.
Not gonna lie, I was a tad nervous about this one since we really don’t know Francesca from the previous books. But then… it quickly became one of my favorites. Probably second only to Romancing Mister Bridgerton (I mean Michael is great but Colin still holds that top spot). I came to love Francesca and her sarcasm and wit so much and Michael was just so endearing. Their banter was great and I am a sucker for good banter. Mostly I loved their friendship, that was my favorite aspect of the book. Bridgerton continues to deliver.
When I started this serious I was really curious with two books: Anthony’s and Francesca’s. I couldn’t be happier that they are my favorite so far.
Francesca was a really good character, so strong and human, so I felt really connected with her. And then Michael… what can I say? I just loved him so much. He’s the kind of hero that melts my heart and seeing him finally being happy was just the best.
I simple loved this book from the beginning. The story was different from the others and it was so perfect.
When He Was I Wicked is yet another great book in the Bridgerton series. I really enjoyed reading Francesca and Michael’s story. Their story, and their book, is a little bit different than the rest of the series. It’s more about Francesca, her first husband John and his cousin Michael, and with that all the drama begins.
I really enjoyed Francesca and Michael’s story. It’s a passionate and heartfelt love story.
This was my favorite Bridgerton.