The Series Spotlight: Bridgerton

     Breaking into your regularly scheduled programming to bring you something a little extra fun! No, this is not Caroline's Book Club. That will be arriving on your screens sometime this month. Today we have a brand new series, segment, whatever you want to call it: The Series Spotlight! The idea behind this new blog segment (?) is to focus on one specific book series instead of a set of different books. I happen to have quite a few series's and in the past, I've spread them out over a few months within the book club posts. It annoyed me but I couldn't figure out an alternative solution. Until today. As I was picking titles for March's book club from my master list, (every book I own and/or have read categorized into what has been blogged about and what has yet to be blogged about) the idea suddenly came to me. Put the books that belong to a series into its own post. The solution was that simple and somehow it took me three years to pull it from the recesses of my mind.
    So from this point on, all books that follow a specific order will be posted separately from Caroline's Book Club. The only exception to this rule is if I have already blogged about prior books within the same series in past months. Hopefully, this makes things easier for all of you because you will no longer have to dig through month's of blogs to find a new series you're interested in. Before I made my master list, I had to go through the archives for each month to remember when/if I'd written about the first book in a series, the second book, and so on. It was not fun. But now neither of us has to do that anymore! I call that winning.
    Without further ado, the inaugural Series Spotlight covers a highly popular set of books: The Bridgerton books. Now, if any of you think (or God forbid, comment) "What is Bridgerton?", we are banned from being friends. If I see you on the street, I'll go right by because how could you not know Bridgerton?  #1.) it's a Netflix Original and #2.) said Netflix Original has dominated most of pop culture across all platforms so how could you miss it? Season one was an instant hit when it premiered on Christmas Day 2020 and season two is set to drop on March 25th. The series is produced by Shonda Rhimes (think Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away With Murder; PS: Who remembers TGIT Thursdays on ABC? Anyone?) and is primarily filmed in the UK so the set and general mood is stunning. Some of the sets, if you watch historical dramas like moi, will be familiar. There's major crossover between The Crown especially. If I have to explain that, we are really, truly, seriously not friends. 
    The books that the series is based on were written by Julia Quinn starting almost twenty years ago. Apparently, Shonda Rhimes read the first book, then went to a Starbucks a little while later, and Julia Quinn was there too. They started talking and by the end of that little unexpected coffee date, Bridgerton was being developed for the screen. By January 2022, Bridgerton had been approved up to season four. Each season covers one book. The series contains eight books so there could potentially be eight seasons which I think would make it one of, if not, Netflix's longest running series ever. Let's dive in!

Book 1: The Duke and I (Daphne and Simon)
The first book in the Bridgerton saga takes place in 1813. This period in English history is known as the 'Regency Era'. King George III lost both America and his mind which made him unable to rule. So while he maintained the title for appearances sake, the real governing was left to his son and heir, George, Prince of Wales, who from 1811 until George III's death in 1820, ruled as the Prince Regent before formally retaining the title of King. In this time, debutants were a staple of the culture. Daughters of the upper class and the aristocracy all anticipated the "season" where they would be officially introduced into society. Once out, the hunt for husband was on. Money was a must and a formal title was a fabulous addition. The Duke and I introduces readers to the Bridgerton family; a large, influential family within London. There are eight children in total, named alphabetically from A-H. The first sibling we follow is Daphne. She wants a love match, not just an advantage match. Early on in the novel, Daphne struggles to receive any proposals because she is only seen as a great and compassionate friend. Enter our dashing male lead, Simon Basset, who has just inherited his father's title: the Duke of Hastings. A match set up by her older brother Anthony to Nigel Berbrook (who positively looks like a toad) sends Daphne into a tailspin so she and Simon come up with a grand plan. Fake a romance so that Daphne gets more attention and Simon gets left alone by all of London's ambitious mothers who want their daughters to be the next duchess. It's totally going to work and there are totally not going to be any of those pesky things called feelings. All is going well until Simon and Daphne kiss at a ball. That's a big no-no. Women could be nothing less than "pure" when they married. If you get caught, to the alter you go. And get caught, they do. By Anthony, no less. He's all kinds of furious because Simon should know better but since he didn't, wedding bells must ring. But oh no! Simon has long ago decided that he would never marry, therefore never having an heir which would mean the title dies with Simon. It's all very doom and gloom and mainly stems from Simon's major daddy issues (more on that later). Simon refuses to marry, Daphne is devastated, and Anthony only sees one way out. If you know it, sing it: 🎶The challenge demands satisfaction, if they apologize no need for further action🎶 To the dueling field they go! If you end up watching the show, the dueling scene is a full five minutes and so dramatic. Just as the pistols are about to be fired, Daphne shows up right in the middle. Literally. I mean, her own brother almost shoots her. Daphne decides that they will be married without consulting anyone. They get a quickie marriage license and three days later, Daphne becomes the new Duchess of Hastings. Spoiler alert: Simon is grumpy about that. Throughout the entire second half of the novel, Daphne and Simon get all confused by their feelings but neither one will actually suck it up and talk to the other. Most infuriating! On top of that, Simon tells Daphne that he will never have children and Daphne assumes that this is because Simon has something medically wrong with him, not that he just doesn't want to have kids period. She gets suspicious so her next move is to ask a maid some questions. See, our poor girl doesn't actually know how babies are made. Once she figures out that Simon has been lying, she's fuming (dueling-level Anthony fuming). Daphne confronts Simon (after seducing him, mind you) then leaves him. Simon eventually comes to realize that he loves Daphne and only felt the way he did because his father was horrible and thought that his stammer made him an idiot. He heads for London, which takes awhile because this is the nineteenth century and literal horsepower was the only way to get around. When Simon finally gets to London, Daphne is riding so Simon has to get back on his little horse and gallop after her. All very dramatic. It just so happens that the copy of the book I have is missing five pages which is the bulk of this scene. I'm not bitter. Anyway, she's ahead, he's chasing her, she falls off her horse, they argue a little because remember that they haven't actually spoken to each other, and then go home. Where all of her brothers are waiting and they are so not happy with their new brother-in-law. But all is well because by the end, both parties admit to their feelings, and agree on having a few kids. The epilogue reveals they have had kids: Amelia, Belinda, Caroline (I love having a name preferred by royalty and aristocrats), and the most recent, David. There will be an heir after all.

Book 2: The Viscount Who Loved Me (Anthony and Kate)
If I had to rank the books by my favorites, Anthony and Kate's story is probably my top pick. It's a great enemies to lovers story arc. Anthony is the eldest Bridgerton sibling. His father, Edmund, was the former viscount and he died when Anthony was eighteen from a bee sting. Of all the crazy things you could die of in the nineteenth century and he gets offed by a tiny little bee. After a rather rakish (essentially a posh term for slutty mostly used to describe the gentlemen) youth, Anthony decides it is time to find a wife because he comes from a long line of firstborn sons so he cannot skirt his duties any longer. Enter Kate and Edwina Sheffield. Edwina is the season's diamond and Kate is the big sister you don't want to mess with. Anthony has his eye set on Edwina because she meets all his requirements for a wife. Love not being one of them. In the midst of being on Edwina's trail, Anthony and Kate kiss in his study after he catches her hiding under the desk. Over time, the two develop a sort of quasi-friendship because they have all these weird feelings that they would definitely prefer not to have. One day, while they are both at Aubrey Hall, the Bridgerton family country home, Anthony bumps into Kate while out with Colin. Colin proceeds to invite Kate and Edwina to a game of pall mall with all of his siblings. Kate agrees and Anthony leaves to go get Edwina. During the game, Anthony attempts to get one over on Kate by "accidentally" hitting her ball but she catches on and ends up victorious. Her schemes end with Anthony taking a dive in the lake. It's one of my favorite scenes in the whole series and I hope it makes it into the second season. Later, Anthony and Kate have a rather eye-opening experience after she gets frightened by a thunderstorm and he helps her through it. The whole scene can be viewed as the turning point for the plot. The next day, Anthony sees Kate walking through the garden and decides to join her. Things are going surprisingly well until the bee shows up. Although, they are outside so we can't necessarily blame the bee for what happened. Anthony clearly has some major PTSD from his father's sudden death and when a bee takes an interest in Kate, he gets very agitated. In the end, the two are caught in a very precarious position after Anthony tries to suck out the sting. Ladies and gentlemen, what does that mean? 🎶We're goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married🎶 This is a little different tale because there were no preconceived romantic narratives, however one does begin to grow in the aftermath. Much like his sister, Anthony slowly begins to realize that he really does love his new bride. Our fearless heroine also begins to make the same conclusion. Anthony gets scared by his growing feelings and leaves Kate. A very confused Kate gets a letter from Eloise that Anthony is at Bridgerton House. She goes there but he doesn't want to talk. He tells her to leave and she does just that. Now nursing a pretty intense hangover, Anthony is with Benedict and Colin. Their conversation finally helps him get it through his annoyingly male brain that he loves Kate and needs to tell her. He leaves his brothers and heads home but learns that Kate is out with Edwina and her new love interest. On horseback, Anthony catches up just in time to see the carriage crash. Talk about drama. He pulls Kate out and professes his love in the midst of her having a broken leg. Once home and examined by a handful of doctors, Anthony tells Kate he feels that he could never live up to his father or surpass him in years. Basically, he believes he'll randomly drop dead sometime after he turns thirty-eight. This is also the reason why he was afraid to love her because he couldn't deal with having to leave her eventually. Kate tries to convince him that everything will be all right but he's still anxious. The epilogue reveals a very happy ending indeed for Lord and Lady Bridgerton. Anthony is celebrating his thirty-ninth birthday and the two have three children: Edmund, Miles, and Charlotte. 

Book 3: An Offer From A Gentleman (Benedict and Sophie)
Benedict has lived a very fulfilling life as a bachelor thus far and he's not looking for anything to change that, thank you very much. Until, as all good romance novels tend to have, that one fateful night. Benedict is attending a masquerade ball thrown by his mother. While in the ballroom, a mysterious stranger walks in and Benedict is immediately taken by her. Under the mask is Sophie Beckett, the illegitimate daughter of the Earl of Penworth. The maids transformed Sophie so that she could have a night of fun but she only has until midnight otherwise the whole plan would fall through. She ends up spending the whole time with Benedict on the balcony but never reveals her name. When it gets close to midnight, Sophie runs. Benedict tries to chase after her but fails due to the crowd in the ballroom. The only thing he has to remember the mystery girl by is one of her evening gloves. Sounds like a certain fairytale, doesn't it? A year later, Benedict has had no luck with his search and has given up hope of ever finding her. The other half of our Cinderella story, lovely miss Sophie, left her stepmother's home the day after the masquerade ball and ended up getting work as a maid in a country home. This home belongs to a nice old couple whose son runs in the same circles as Benedict. He decides to throw a house party and Benedict is one of the guests. Although he doesn't want to go initially, he changes his mind and good thing too because our girl desperately needs some help. Some of the partygoers get aggressive with Sophie and Benedict ends up being in the absolute right place at the absolute right time. Finally, when it seems everything will align perfectly for our star-crossed lovers, just the opposite happens. Benedict doesn't recognize Sophie. Then again, a masquerade ball probably isn't the best place to meet your soulmate because, hello....masks. However, being the gentleman that he is, Benedict takes Sophie away and promises to get her a position within his mother's household. While they are riding, a massive storm hits. Benedict decides to detour to his home until the rain passes. The name of Benedict's home is "My Cottage" by the way. Benedict ends up catching a cold so Sophie has to take care of him. The next day, the caretakers come back and wonder what's going on. The next few moments are mostly just Benedict and Sophie sending annoyed comments and such back and forth. Then, in the next scene, Benedict and Sophie are by the lake where there's major tension before they kiss for the first time. It was so magnificent that Benedict decides that Sophie will become his mistress. Sophie says "thanks but no thanks" as she should. Rule #1 when you think you might be in love with someone: Don't ask them to become your mistress! That's actually insane, talk to the wall. Anyhow, Benedict pretty much kidnaps Sophie, takes her back to London, and strongly implores his mother to hire her. Violet can see that there's something amiss but she can't quite put her finger on what. She hires Sophie and all is well for a few weeks. Enter, evil stepmother. Remember that menace? She's back and she's a vicious one. Lady Penworth never liked Sophie and after her husband died, she banished Sophie to the attic and forced her to do all kinds of work. One day, Sophie is spotted by her stepmother who accuses Sophie of stealing her wedding ring on the spot. There's a policeman nearby and he just arrests her. Like, I'm sorry but let's be logical humans for a minute. If Sophie hasn't been in the same 2-inch radius as her stepmother in the last year, how on earth could she swipe a ring that never gets taken off? Logical reasoning is clearly lacking here. Stepmonster thinks that she's about to get the last laugh until a beautiful coup is pulled. Benedict comes in with Violet and they are followed shortly thereafter by Sophie's stepsister Possy. Stepmonster gets docked even more points for bestowing that name upon a defenseless child. Possy proves that the whole thing is a set up and Sophie is released. Benedict thinks they're in the clear to marry but Sophie reveals that she doesn't have a dowry. Points for Possy because she comes in with a major reveal. The Earl did leave Sophie a dowry but his lovely wife spent it all. Lady Penworth is on fire and is about to throw back something scathing until Violet secures this whole chess game with the final checkmate. If she leaves Sophie alone and allows Possy to stay with her, then she won't contact her solicitors to hunt for the missing dowry. Stepmonster has no choice but to agree. Point, Lady Bridgerton. Possy rejoices with Sophie, who is now free to marry Benedict and they all lived happily ever after.

Book 4: Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Colin and Penelope)
Penelope Featherington has always been a side character in the preceding three novels. She's Eloise's best friend but has always loved Colin. Much like Daphne's problem way back in The Duke and I, Colin only sees Penelope as a very dear friend. There's even a scene in An Offer From a Gentleman where Colin swears that Penelope is the last person he'd ever marry and Penelope overhears. Julia Quinn did something really cool and she re-wrote that scene for the prologue but it's all from Penelope's perspective. Throughout the whole story, it was kind of obvious that Colin and Penelope were going to end up together. There were no other people or meddlers like there were for Daphne, Anthony, and Benedict. Penelope was pining in secret while Colin just had to spend (almost) the whole book figuring out that little fact for himself. When he finally does, it's a glorious day for all. Characters and readers included. The romance aside, a great reveal comes in the back half. For timeline's reference, Romancing Mister Bridgerton takes place in 1824. 11 years previously, in 1813, there was a great shakeup within London society. Everyone couldn't stop talking about Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews in the show). Lady Whistledown writes about everything. No scandal can get past her quill. The public are both intrigued but also desperate to uncover the author's identity. To motivate people, Lady Danbury (most definitely in the top five for characters) offers a lot of money to anyone who figures out who she is. Penelope panics because she is Lady Whistledown. She's afraid she's about to be discovered but everyone keeps guessing people who aren't her. Thinking she's in the clear, Penelope goes to deliver another draft to her editor but she's followed....by Colin. He's positively angry and Penelope is devastated because she thinks that all hope is lost for them. That is until a very odd turn of events and they get engaged. Although Penelope is happy and so is Colin, things are tense because he doesn't want to talk about her being Lady Whistledown. The whole tiptoeing around each other goes on for a handful of excruciatingly annoying chapters but all you need to know is that even after all the drama, the wedding does happen. And then all hell breaks loose in the form of Cressida Cowper. She's always hated Penelope and thinks herself to be better than everyone else around her. One night, while everyone is gathered at her house for a ball, Cressida announces that she is the one behind Lady Whistledown. No one really believes her but it is quite the dramatic moment. Penelope decides to pen a response which leads to Cressida putting two and two together that Penelope is the elusive author. She decides to conduct a little blackmail scheme which leaves Penelope terrified. She tells Colin who cooks up a plan but doesn't actually disclose the details of said plan to Penelope. All he tells her is that she must be at Daphne and Simon's ball and not leave the presence of his mother and sisters. Penelope does just that because what else can she do. Colin meets her later after conspiring with Simon. He leads her up to a balcony overlooking the ballroom, Simon halts the orchestra, and asks that the partygoes direct their attention to the balcony. After everyone is given a glass of champagne, Colin announces to the whole party that Penelope is Lady Whistledown. There is thunderous applause, Colin and Penelope cease their annoyed feelings toward each other, and the curtain falls on yet another successful Bridgerton love story.

Book 5: To Sir Philip, With Love (Eloise and Philip)
Book five picks up exactly where we left off. Eloise was at the ball but she slipped out in secret... to meet a man. Over the last two years, Eloise has secretly been corresponding with Philip Crane. He was married to her cousin Marina and after Marina died, Eloise reached out to offer her condolences and the two kept writing. However, Philip hasn't been honest with Eloise. He has eight-year-old twins named Amanda and Sam. He invites Eloise to see if they'd make a good match but she never responds. Thinking he scared her off, Philip forgets about the whole thing. That is, until Eloise shows up in his drawing room one afternoon. As they're having the world's most awkward conversation, a scream startles them. Philip explains that it was his children and Eloise stops in her tracks. Not once did he mention children. Philip assumes it was just an oversight on his part and heads for the stairs. He fumbles the situation miserably and Eloise is there to see. Luckily for everyone involved, things will get easier but not without a little bit of mayhem first. Amanda and Sam flat out tell Eloise that they don't want her there. Then, they arrange a bucket of flour to fall from the door when she opens it. Their final plot involves a piece of string tied from one end of the hall to the other. After a lot of yelling on Philip's part, the kids understand the error of their ways. A few days afterward, Eloise visits Amanda and Sam during their lessons. When she arrives, both are crying after the nanny took a ruler to their hands for misbehaving. Eloise has never liked that type of punishment but decides if the nanny felt it was warranted then she shouldn't overstep. She decides to take the kids swimming and work on their lessons. Everyone is having a fun time until Philip sees them. After some pushing, Philip explains that Marina died from pneumonia after jumping into the lake. Later that night, Eloise and Philip are sitting down to dinner, having grown much more comfortable with each other. Suddenly, the front door opens with a very loud bang followed by angry footsteps. The Briderton brothers have arrived. They proceed to pin Philip to the wall and beat him up. Anthony blasts Eloise for being irresponsible and all of them argue. Anthony takes Eloise from the room and informs her that she and Philip will have to get married since she's been there for days without any supervision. Eloise knows this and the conversation allows them both to talk to each other honestly. With that, the five of them for Benedict's until the wedding day arrives. After the joyous day, there's some tension between our newlyweds. Before they were rushed to the alter, neither one had a chance to sort out their feelings. This results in both of them skirting around the topic. Here. We. Go. AGAIN. Eloise decides to visit Amanda and Sam because she has lots of things planned for them that they've been missing out on since their mother died. Upon her arrival, both kids are very upset and the nanny says that they were misbehaving again so she punished them. With this being the second time she's witnessed something like this, Eloise goes off to find Philip. When she does, he's not seeing that she wants to have a serious conversation. In frustration, Eloise goes to Benedict's and finds that her nephew, Charles, is very ill. Back at home, Philip is irritated with the turn of events and leaves to go talk to Eloise. Once he arrives and learns the situation, he asked if they've tried a plant with certain healing properties. Everyone says no so Benedict and Philip go off to find some. Charles begins to slowly improve which allows Philip and Eloise to go home. Philip confesses that he thought she left him. Eloise responds that she would never break marriage vows and that she made a promise to Amanda and Sam that she would be their mother and that she would never leave them. The following day, Philip goes to visit the kids. He notices the nursery door open slightly and peaks in. Amanda is against the wall, huddled in a ball crying. He sees the nanny with a book raised over Sam. Philip fires the nanny immediately. Philip tells Eloise what happened and he finally gets the nerve to truly talk to her. They finally figure out how they both really feel. The end of the book is the four of them out shopping. Amanda is happily trying on dresses and Eloise makes Philip and Sam come in for the tailor. Sam's last line is that he wants the same tailor as his dad and Philip getting all warm and happy inside. 

Book 6: When He Was Wicked (Francesca and Michael)
Francesca's story is different than the rest of her siblings. She met and fell in love with John, the Earl of Kilmartin and everything was perfect. At least for John and Francesca but not for his cousin, Michael. The minute he met Francesca, he fell in love but Michael loves John like a brother so he decides to keep his feelings hidden. For two years, the ruse works great and everyone is happy. One day while in London, John gets a headache so Michael and Francesca go for a walk while he rests. Upon their return, the butler says that he has been unable to wake John up for a meeting he needs to leave for. The butler didn't want to be intrusive by going into the bedroom so Francesca goes up instead. She tries to wake John but also fails. She yells for Michael and he confirms the worst. John is dead. With modern medicine, it can be assumed that he died from an aneurysm but back then, they would just assume he got a headache and never woke up. Francesca and Michael are devastated but there is a matter that neither want to deal with: who will be the next Earl? John and Francesca hadn't had kids so Michael is technically next. That is, according to the Lords, as long as Francesca isn't pregnant. So now there's a waiting game because the OBGYN field and women's reproductive health isn't very advanced at this point. What you need to know is that Francesca is pregnant but miscarries soon after finding out. Francesca retreats back to Scotland and Michael travels. He becomes the new Earl but allows Francesca to still live in the estate and help run things while he's out of the country. After a year, he returns to the country still very much in love with Francesca. The two of them have a rough reunion because there is so much unsaid. Francesca wants Michael to talk to her but he can't do that without revealing how he really feels. Over the course of the book, there's lots of confusion, tension, and anger. Eventually, Francesca starts developing feelings so now they both have to deal with the ramifications. Micheal wants to marry her but she's very cautious. However, by the end she doesn't have a choice because more time is spent in bed in this novel than any of the others. One day, Francesca gets a letter that Eloise got married and is furious because no one told her. Philip tells her that this is a sign they should get married because her family didn't tell her about Eloise, so why should they be there for hers? Francesca agrees and they end up getting married in a small chapel on the estate grounds. They actually admit to their feelings pretty quickly but have another problem. Francesca has fertility issues and they're not having any success. Francesca is deeply affected by this, especially since her siblings keep having more. Micheal also finds himself getting sadder with each unsuccessful attempt. Many months pass and Violet is anxiously awaiting Francesca's visit from Scotland. When the carriage comes into view, Violet runs out to meet them. Francesca comes out and greets her mother happily. She tells her that she has a surprise for her and introduces her son, John to his grandmother. Talk about a shock!   

Book 7: It's In His Kiss (Hyacinth and Gareth)
Love for the youngest Bridgerton hasn't come easy. Opposite her is Gareth St. Clair, who, being born the second son of a baron, never expected to be in the spotlight. But then his brother died and Gareth became next in line for the title. On top of that, his father isn't his father. His mother had an affair but didn't disclose who the real father was. However, Gareth can still be considered legitimate. It's a little confusing but this is nineteenth century law, after all. Moving on to current events. Hyacinth is at the dreaded Smith-Smythe concert. Lady Danbury brought along her grandson: Gareth St. Clair and makes him sit next to Hyacinth. Long story short, they actually have a pleasant time. The next day, Gareth gets a journal that belonged to his grandmother, Isabella, who wrote it in Italian. Gareth decides to take it to Lady Danbury in hopes that she knows a translator. Upon his arrival, he finds both her and Hyacinth there, having interrupted their weekly reading session. Gareth tells them what's going on and Hyacinth says that she can translate the journal because she had an Italian governess. As Hyacinth reads, she learns that Isabella hid her collection of jewels somewhere. Romance novel meets Nancy Drew mystery, anyone?! They try searching different places within Clair House but have no luck. Between his scavenger hunt with Francesca, Gareth is still having to deal with his father- or not-father. He's a very difficult man and takes every opportunity to throw the family secret in Gareth's face without saying the actual words because can you imagine the scandal? On top of that, what else is happening? I want you to guess. 3...2...1...Gareth and Hyacinth are having feelings for each other. Yes, we have reached the point I like to call, "the awkward and infuriating chapters" because NO ONE WILL TALK TO EACH OTHER. Gareth is nervous because of the whole "my dad isn't my dad" thing and Hyacinth is just flat out confused. Eventually, Gareth's desire to stick it to his father grows so he proposes in the middle of Lady Danbury's drawing room and Hyacinth accepts. Afterwards, he's terrified that the secret will come out and Hyacinth will call it off. Gareth decides to seduce Hyacinth before the wedding because then she has to marry him. Real great plan! I'm screaming in my head. He and Hyacinth decide to do another search of Clair House but really he's just using it as a cover to get her into bed. The disastrous plan works but she still wants to search for the jewels and drags him along. At the same time they're sneaking out, Gareth's father is returning so Gareth makes Hyacinth hide in an alley. He and his father get into it again and the baron brings up the betrothal that he arranged for Gareth a decade ago. Gareth is furious that his father never broke it but his father delights in causing Gareth's misery. Once he leaves, Gareth goes back to Hyacinth but she's gone. Gareth chases her back to her house and is forced to climb through the bedroom window. After a few moments of back and forth, Gareth brings up the conversation and Hyacinth being angry about his previous betrothal. Hyacinth then informs him that she's not mad about that. What's upset her is the fact that he proposed only to get back at his father. The chapter ends with him crawling back out the window. Definitely how you want to leave a fight. After many days, both decide that they need to talk to the other. Much to my own anguish, this conversation can't stay on a straight line. They both started apologizing but then they got angry at the other one for not understanding and then one would apologize for overreacting then it would repeat. Hyacinth is fed up and about to leave but then Gareth finally tells her about his whole messy life. Surprise, surprise, Hyacinth is very supportive of it all. In fact, she still wants to marry him. But also, I'd like to remind you that she still has Isabella's journal. Based on when and what Isabella wrote, Gareth's biological father is actually his uncle. So now he feels a little better because he's still technically a St. Clair. All in all, everyone ends up happy. Hyacinth and Gareth get married, they have kids, eventually become the new Baron and Baroness, and then fifteen years later, as it is so kindly revealed in the epilogue, Hyacinth finds Isabella's jewels hidden in the wall in the nursery bathroom. What a ride! 

Book 8: On The Way To The Wedding (Gregory and Lucy)
Alright, gang. We've made it to the final book in the Bridgerton saga. Over a week later and I've finally finished writing my longest blog to date. Let's talk about Gregory, the youngest Bridgerton brother. By now, it's been about fifteen years in book time since Daphne got her Duke. Every other sibling is happily married with plenty of children running around. As a result, Gregory believes in true love. He's just waiting for that one moment across a crowded room. In Gregory's case, he veers away from the cliché and experiences his moment across a crowded garden party at Aubrey Hall. The moment he sees this girl's neck, he has to know more. Eagerly, he crosses the lawn to introduce himself. Gregory learns that the girl who has captured him is Hermione, accompanied by her best friend, Lucy. Things are about to get so interesting, just wait. He's totally lovestruck but Hermione is used to this and so is Lucy because Hermione is perfectly beautiful. Lucy and Gregory end up dancing together because Hermione's one fault is that she can't dance. Gregory and Lucy make polite small talk before Lucy gets right to the point. She's seen plenty like Gregory before, so infatuated with Hermione. She informs him that he probably won't have much success because Hermione is in love with her father's secretary and can't be swayed. She takes the moment to talk about her own engagement to one Lord Haselby (more on him later), which is nearly official. Gregory thanks her for the insight and they leave each other for the evening. The next few days are Gregory trying and making little headway with his efforts. Lucy is even trying to help him because she knows Hermione can never be with her father's secretary. Lucy and Gregory get closer because of this and the waters are shifting ever-so- slightly. While Gregory and Lucy are scheming, Lucy's brother, Richard, formally known as Lord Fenworth, makes an appearance at Aubrey Hall to tell her that she will be married in a matter of days. Having been very assured up to this point, Lucy suddenly grows uneasy about the prospect of becoming a wife so soon. Opposite her, Gregory is still on the Hermione trail but quickly picks up on Richard's attraction to his sister's best friend. He relays this to Lucy but she lets him know that he's insane and doesn't believe what he's so cleverly deduced. Later, at a masquerade ball, Lucy and Gregory dance together while arguing about the Richard-Hermione thing in between waltzes. Eventually, they notice that the couple in question have disappeared from the ballroom. Lucy doesn't panic initially but Gregory explains the situation to his sister-in-law (What's up, Kate?) and the trio begin searching before something scandalous can occur. Lucy makes it to the greenhouse with Kate and Gregory following soon after. Upon opening the door, Richard and Hermione are no longer missing. Kate declares they will be married immediately. The next day, Hermione leaves early to begin preparations for the wedding. Richard and Lucy leave that afternoon under a heavy cloud of suspicion. Gregory says goodbye to Lucy and can I just say, the romantic tension is off the charts. But unfortunately, Lucy is going to be married before the week is out. Any hopes for a potential relationship are lost. But are they? Back in London, Gregory begs Lucy to call off the wedding. She g0es to her  uncle to plead her case but her efforts are in vain. A blackmail scheme is underway that goes back to Lucy's father and her marriage to Lord Haselby is the final payment. To the church she goes! Don't lose hope yet because Gregory is also on his way to the church to make on last attempt. He makes quite the scene in front of a huge crowd, which includes his mother and sister. Lucy says she has to go through with the marriage and is subsequently dragged from the church. You'd think that would deter him but it doesn't. In fact, he sneaks into the wedding reception. After finding Lucy, he ties her to a sink in an old bathroom so that he can buy time to figure out a plan. Lucy's very annoyed, as expected but gives him an hour before she starts screaming like a banchee. After a brainstorming session with an unlikely squad that includes Richard, Hermione, Lord Haselby, and Lord Haselby's brother, it is determined that good ole Uncle Robert isn't so virtuous as he appears. A strategy is formed and they gang splits up. Gregory and Hermione go back for Lucy but she's missing. Robert kidnaped Lucy and has her in his study. He's got her blindfolded and held at gunpoint. Oh, not to mention that he's totally off his rocker. Gregory and co find Robert in the study before he can carry out any plans. After some crafty stalling, Gregory manages to get a non-fatal shot into Robert and save Lucy. Mind you, Gregory is the worst shot in the entire Bridgerton family. Everyone is joyful about the resolution and Haselby kindly allows the marriage to be annulled so Lucy and Gregory can be together. In my opinion, Lord Haselby is underrated throughout this whole plot and deserves more praise than he got.

    Eight siblings, eight happy endings! The road wasn't easy and more often infuriating than anything else but it was definitely an enjoyable ride. Please, please read these books or watch the show. You won't be disappointed!