The Duke and I

Author's Name: Julia Quinn

By all accounts, Simon Basset was about to propose to his best friend's sister, the sweetest girl on the verge of spinsterhood—Daphne Bridgerton. But they both knew the truth—that it was all an elaborate plan to keep Simon away from mothers whose minds were preoccupied with their daughters' marriages. As for Daphne, she would surely attract some worthy suitors now that the Duke had taken an interest in her. But as she waltzed with Simon from ballroom to ballroom, it was hard to remember that their courtship was anything but an elaborate ruse. Maybe it was his devilish smile, but it was definitely the way his eyes lit up with longing every time he looked at her. The most important thing was that, somehow, Daphne was falling in love with the handsome Duke, for real! Now she had to pull the trigger and convince the handsome conman that their clever scheme was worth a slight tweak, and nothing made more sense than falling in love for real. “The Duke and I is a story about overcoming the shadows of the past, learning how to love oneself and to be altruistic. These themes are as timeless as humankind on earth. Personally, reading The Duke and I made me relive a Regency fantasy (1811–1820) in which the duke is young, handsome, and affluent, a period in which there really were more than 28 duchesses.” -Washington Post “If you’ve never read romance novels, start here.” -Washington Post “Quinn is a complete novelist. Her prose is graceful and built on a firm foundation, and she has mastered the art of creating characters that linger and are indelible.” -Publishers Weekly “A lucid, joyful novel brimming with charm, humor, and wit.” –Kirkus Reviews