A year or so ago I began reading Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series and after devouring the first six books back to back, I set them aside and moved on to something else. Well here I am a year later and in the spirit of “Spring Cleaning,” I decided I’d catch up on those books that were just sitting on my shelves collecting dust, and that included the final two Bridgerton books.
Gareth St. Clair is in a bind – that’s what the cover blurb tells us. Though I must admit, the first time I read that I was sure it said, ‘Gareth St. Clair is blind,’ so imagine my confusion when his eyesight seemed perfectly fine to me. It’s not that I was wishing him any harm or ill will, but I was all ready to embrace him as a vulnerable hero who needed someone to shine brightly in his lonely, dark world. Well, clearly, it’s my eyesight that is lacking.
Where was I? Oh, yes… Gareth St. Clair is in a bind, and they aren’t kidding! His mother, brother and paternal grandmother are all long since deceased, and his father hates him. He has only one person who loves him, and who he loves in return – his grandmother, the one and only Lady Danbury – who really did steal the show. Despite Gareth’s perfect eyesight, I really did adore him, and he truly was vulnerable, but in ways that aren’t quite so apparent.
Hyacinth Bridgerton is such a funny young woman. Sweet, smart, outspoken… I really loved her character. And there was something else about her that just seemed so honest, and so real. I loved how she accepted her imperfect self, and in fact, embraced it!
It’s In His Kiss was such a wonderful story. The glaring contrast between Hyacinth Bridgerton’s life and family, and that of Gareth St. Clair, made this at times heartwarming as well as heartbreaking, but leave it to the Bridgertons to look beyond titles and peerage, to see the worth of the person within, and embrace him. This was one of those books that’s the perfect combination of lighthearted and serious, and was an absolute delight to read.
Have you read the last book in the series (On the way to the wedding), yet? I didn't like it very much but It's in his kiss is one of my favourites! Hyacinth is just brilliant and hilariously funny! Great review, Dhes!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Steffi!
ReplyDeleteI read both books, back to back, and while I liked On the Way to the Wedding, I didn't love it. Off the top of my head I think I've given most of the Bridgerton books 4 stars, but this one was a 5 star and definitely one of my favorites, too.