First Comes Scandal - (A Bridgertons Prequel) by Julia Quinn (Paperback)

Review originally published at Romancing Romances I received an eARC at no cost from the publisher, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. 3.25* 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 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.