Tuesday, 21 April 2020

[Review] First Comes Scandal, by Julia Quinn



Title First Comes Scandal
Series: Rokesbys #4
Author: Julia Quinn
Publisher: Avon
Number of pages: 384
Publication date: April 21st 2020



Synopsis:
She was given two choices...

Georgiana Bridgerton isn't against the idea of marriage. She'd just thought she'd have some say in the matter. But with her reputation hanging by a thread after she's abducted for her dowry, Georgie is given two options: live out her life as a spinster or marry the rogue who has ruined her life.

Enter Option #3

As the fourth son of an earl, Nicholas Rokesby is prepared to chart his own course. He has a life in Edinburgh, where he's close to completing his medical studies, and he has no time—or interest—to find a wife. But when he discovers that Georgie Bridgerton—his literal girl-next-door—is facing ruin, he knows what he must do.

A Marriage of Convenience

It might not have been the most romantic of proposals, but Nicholas never thought she'd say no. Georgie doesn't want to be anyone's sacrifice, and besides, they could never think of each other as anything more than childhood friends... or could they?

But as they embark upon their unorthodox courtship, they discover a new twist to the age-old rhyme. First comes scandal, then comes marriage. But after that comes love...


Review:
I received an eARC at no cost from the publisher, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.


Julia Quinn is one of my favourite authors, and I can’t tell you how ecstatic I was when I saw that I had been given the opportunity to read the last book in the Rokesby series, the Bridgerton prequel.

This is the story of Nicholas and Georgiana (Georgie). I like marriage of convenience stories, and I thought I would really enjoy this one, pretty much until I got to 98% of the book. Because that’s when I realized I had been waiting for the plot to move, for the twist, the drama, something. And there was none of it. I even went to check if this was a novella or something of such, because I couldn’t believe so little had happened and the book was now over. I’m pretty sure my flatmates think I’m slightly crazy as I was rambling around the house talking to myself about how this didn’t make sense, and I was confused, and not happy.

First things first. It has lots of banter, it’s a funny book, and has great Easter eggs. I mean… young Anthony and Benedict, and always hungry baby Colin. How adorable is that? I loved the glimpse into Edward and Violet’s wedding bliss, but it wasn’t enough to make me forget that in truth… there really isn’t a proper, full, complete plot in this book. And it breaks my heart to say this, as I love, love, love Julia Quinn’s books. But this one… it almost felt like she didn’t have much to give us, and so this is what was available…?

It probably isn’t as bad as you might be thinking, reading this. I loved getting to know Nicholas, a med student, and Georgie, a young lady who has a very clever mind, who just wants to learn everything related to Medicine. And cats, I loved the cats, but they disappeared after the carriage ride from Kent to Edinburgh. What happened to Cat-head, and Judith, and Blanche? Did Cat-Head ever warm up to Nicholas, and vice-versa?

We have a virgin hero and a virgin heroine in this book, and it’s adorable, and sexy, and romantic, to see them grow together as a married couple. But… that’s just it. There was no conflict. Maybe the beginning of the book was supposed to be the conflict? With Nicholas and Georgie being slightly reluctant to marry one another? But that was fixed from day to night, literally. And then… that was it.

I actually enjoyed the book, I just feel that it wasn’t complete. So… I’m giving it 3.5* but plot wise (and I can’t believe I’m saying this)… It probably wouldn’t reach a 3*.

Still funny, and romantic, but definitely not as good as the previous books.



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