User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
I should rate this book a 4 or 5 because the writing is so good. Julia Quinn writes great dialogue that is smart and funny every time. And, the book was enjoyable enough that I didn't want to put it down.
BUT..
I just couldn't get over the fact that he kidnapped her in the first place. He really didn't have to, even though he continually acts like he was forced to do it.
He's a spy, and can't let her go when she discovers his secret "pirate cove" because she might blab about it.
But, mistakes were made. Choices were made.
It turns out that his brother is married to her sister and their families are extremely close. He realizes this before they set sail, so he really could have taken her into his confidence, told her who he was, and asked her to keep things secret, and she would have done so. He should have known this and let her go. So, it annoyed me that he forced her to live in his cabin, with no change of clothes and no one to talk to but him (occasionally), and not allowed to leave the room for a solid week. I mean, hell, even death row inmates get to leave their cells for an hour a day!
Yeah, and that's another part of my problem with this storyline.
So, she is trapped, alone, for a week straight. He comes in a couple of times a day to check on her, and they usually argue. But, as time goes by, she is excited to see him and appreciates any kindness he shows her. Eventually, he allows her out of the room for a few minutes, and she is so overwhelmed with gratitude that she thinks she is falling for him.
Um yeah. But reality: These are brainwashing techniques and she totally has Stockholm Syndrome.
So, I felt kind of pissed off the whole time and it made it harder for me to enjoy an otherwise good book. I didn't like him all that much, I didn't think he deserved to "get the girl", and I also thought he made a lousy pirate. He broke the pirates pledge:
See? He took an oath, dammit! And, he totally broke it!
Rating: really liked it
Now, this is a
Kidnapped By A Pirate romance I can get behind.
Even though
technically Andrew was a privateer and not a pirate.
But from the beginning, there are no rapey undertones because Andrew is sort of forced into keeping her on board his ship after she stumbles onto his
stash of loot that could compromise his mission for the Crown.
See, Andrew isn't
really a privateer, either. Well, he
is but he's only doing it so he can chat up informants or smuggle documents.
And Poppy? Well, she's a young lady who's a bit bored with her place in life, so while she isn't exactly happy that her reputation is possibly being ruined, she's definitely going to soak up the adventure when and where she can.
Poppy and Andrew were adorable, and like all of Julia Quinn's couples, they had a nice back and forth banter going on between them. Although,
like all of Julia Quinn's stories, this one doesn't have much of a plot outside of a cute romance between these two.
All in all, this was one of (I thought) the better books connected to the Bridgertons.
Rating: really liked it
I pick up each new Julia Quinn expecting to feel the magic that I did when I first read her books more than a decade ago. Instead, she has become increasingly formulaic to the point where I can predict "this is where the first kiss happens" and "this is where they fool around" and "oops, I have X pages left, so they must have sex about ... yup here we are" and "we're at an epilogue, which means BABIES. NOTHING BUT BABIES."
I feel like my tastes are moving on from Quinn. I can still recall in great detail the earlier Bridgerton books. These? Not really. I have zero memory of Billie's story, and I read it not that long ago. They are interesting reads, but they don't stick with me. I wish Quinn would take the risks that she did in her earlier books. They were far more memorable.
I liked Poppy and Andrew, but I wound up skimming through most of their banter because it just got overly repetitive. They made great friends, but I just wasn't feeling the sexual chemistry for most of the book. How consent was utilized was excellent, A+ there. The ending was funny and great, but then the epilogue was so boringly predictable that I nearly threw my Kindle.
So this was an OK read. I'd give it more 2.5 stars. I liked most of it, but not all. But most of all, I wish for the magic of a Quinn book again. To get that, I'm going to have to go back to the original Bridgerton series.
Rating: really liked it
On Kindle sale for USD 1.99 20th Jan, 2022 4.25 stars!
(Tropes: Pirates(ish), Love-hate Relationship, Mistaken/Hidden identity, Forced Proximity)
I read this book in one sitting. ONE SITTING.
I had nearly forgotten how much I ADORE JQ’s books. And after a woeful string of mostly terrible historical romances, coming back to the Bridgertons was a DELIGHT! It’s easy, breezy, romantic, funny, and mostly angst free.
*****
“Captain Andrew James, at your service. Welcome aboard the Infinity.”
“No ‘We’re delighted to have you’?” Poppy asked.
He laughed as he placed his hand on the doorknob. “That remains to be seen.”*****
I won’t spoil or say too much about the plot as the book just came out, but this was as close to a 5 star I’ve read in a long, long time. I had a smitten smile on my face almost the entire time I read it – and the end had me holding my breath.
I will simply leave you some entirely spoiler free samples of JQ’ fantastic characters and banter.
- “You can’t take me!” she protested.
“It’s either that or kill you,” he said.
Her mouth fell open. “Well, you can’t do that either.”
- She picked up the butter knife and regarded it thoughtfully.
“Not nearly sharp enough to do me damage,” the captain said with a smile.
“No.” Poppy sighed, dipping it into the butter. “Pity that.”
- She heard a soft thunk, and then a soft grunt.
“Impeccable aim,” he murmured.
“Did I hit you?”
“Square on.”
Poppy smiled. “Face?”
“You should be so lucky.”
- “Why are you being so agreeable?”
She blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
“You’re remarkably amiable today.” His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t quite look suspicious.
“As opposed to . . .”
His head tilted to the side, as if he hadn’t considered this. “When you arrived, I suppose.”
“You mean in a sack?”
- “If I might be permitted to pay you a compliment . . .”
She inclined her head graciously; it seemed expected.
“Of all my conversational sparring partners, you rank easily in the top five.”
She quirked a brow. “There are four other people in this world who find you as vexing as I do?”
- He cleared his throat. “I should be getting back. There is much that requires my attention.”
She nodded absently, inspecting several puzzle pieces. “I would imagine so. I’m surprised you have remained in the cabin as long as you have.”
Not as surprised as he was.
- Poppy Bridgerton was vexing, exasperating, and far too clever for his peace of mind. She was an inconvenience wrapped in an impending disaster, and yet when he thought of her—which was all the time, damn it—he smiled. Sometimes he grinned.
- “If I kissed you,” he whispered, “would you let me?”
- “I think I’ve known you forever.”
- “I saw stars,” he said, still amazed. He heard her smile.
“On the insides of your eyelids?”
“I think I saw them on the insides of yours.”
She laughed, and the bed shook.
******
- “So it’s me against the world?”
“No,” he said, and something began to tumble inside him. He was weightless, and it was like the time he’d fallen from a tree, except there was nothing below, just an empty expanse of space and her.
“No,” he said again. “I think I’m on your side.”
Rating: really liked it
I've given this a B- at AAR, so that's 3.5 stars rounded upThe Other Miss Bridgerton is the third instalment in Julia Quinn’s series of novels featuring members of the previous generation of Bridgertons and their neighbours and long-standing family friends the Rokesbys. In the first book, Because of Miss Bridgerton, Sybilla (Billie) Bridgerton married George Rokseby; in the second, the story focused on the next Rokesby brother, Edward, an officer serving in North America. Andrew is the third brother and, when we met him in the first book, he was on leave from the Navy while he recovered from a broken arm. Handsome, good-humoured, and well-liked by all, he’s a convivial chap with a sharp mind, a quick wit, and a reputation as the family jokester.
He’s also – unbeknownst to his family – a spy.
Poppy Bridgerton – cousin to Billie and niece of Viscount and Lady Bridgerton – has had two London seasons and has not, so far, found a man she wants to marry. She’s starting to think she never will; perhaps it’s too much to hope that she will find a man who is interesting to talk to and who can make her laugh. With the season winding down, Poppy has gone to stay in Dorset with a friend who is expecting her first child, and is enjoying the small freedoms afforded to her away from the eyes of society. On a ramble along the beach, Poppy stumbles across a cave she’s never seen before and decides to investigate – only to find herself captured by members of the crew of the
Infinityand forcibly taken aboard and into the presence of its captain, the devastatingly handsome, charming, witty and completely infuriating Andrew James. (aka Andrew James Edwin Rokesby. Of course).
When Andrew learns Poppy’s last name he’s surprised, to say the least, and also thankful that her being from a different branch of the Bridgerton family means they’ve never met. Time is of the essence if he is to deliver the packet of important documents which he has been tasked to deliver to the British envoy in Portugal, so he has no alternative but to take her along on the two-week return journey to Lisbon.
Neither Andrew nor Poppy is pleased about the change to their respective plans, and Poppy is certainly dismayed at the fact of having to spend the entire voyage below decks, cooped up in the captain’s quarters. (
“Here you are on what will probably be the biggest adventure of your life, and you are bored.”). Sailors are generally superstitious, and it’s known to be bad luck to have a woman aboard ship, and for Poppy’s personal safety she must remain out of sight. Fortunately, Poppy is not one of those TSTL feisty types who spits and claws and tries to escape at every opportunity; she’s not stupid and although not happy, realises that the captain’s reasons are sound and that she will just have to wait it out. She can’t – and doesn’t – deny that she’s bored, though, and Andrew, recognising in her something of a kindred spirit in terms of her lively mind and natural curiosity, tries to find ways to help alleviate that boredom, even as he’s berating himself for his concern over her. As the days pass, Andrew and Poppy start to realise that the hours they spend together over dinner are ones they look forward to more than they should, and that their conversations and quick-fire exchanges are stimulating and entertaining. Pretty much the entire first half of the book consists of such scenes between Poppy and Andrew, and they’re both clever and charming. The pair are clearly very evenly matched in their battle of wits, even though Andrew has sailed the world and Poppy has never ventured outside England; Andrew is charmed and impressed by Poppy’s intelligence and curiosity, while she comes to realise that he’s a kind, decent and fair man, in spite of his profession as a privateer and the fact that he’s (basically) kidnapped her.
So we’ve got two likeable individuals who are smitten from pretty much the get-go, are forced into proximity by unusual circumstances and thus allowed time to get to know each other through their various interactions. Their verbal sparring is well-written, sharp and often funny, and there’s no question these two people are made for each other. But some time before I reached the half-way mark, I realised that I was reading more or less the same thing over and over again and I was ready to move on from the flirting and banter and for something to happen. But it didn’t, until considerably later, and when it did, it was pretty weak. I can’t go into detail without spoilers, but it’s pretty much crushed into the last quarter of the novel, which also has to include the resolution of that plotline, reunite Andrew and Poppy, include a proposal, a sex scene and an epilogue. After the leisurely pace of the first three quarters of the book, this final section feels truncated and the ending is sadly rushed.
I liked Poppy; she’s clever, has a mind of her own and is bright as a button. But she doesn’t really do anything other than get kidnapped; and the same can be said of Andrew. Sure, he captains a ship and, as we learn early on, undertakes covert missions for the government which are, presumably, quite dangerous, but for most of the book he’s fairly passive, too.
I admit that I had a hard time grading this one. On the one hand, it’s tightly written and the dialogue is excellent. On the other, Andrew and Poppy are not particularly memorable, not much happens in the story and it’s unbalanced due to the large amount of time dedicated to the outward voyage. I could say this is one for die-hard Bridgerton fans only – but I’m a die-hard Bridgerton fan, and it didn’t work all that well for me. So I’ll say this. If you’re in the mood for something light-hearted with hardly an ounce of plot or depth but plenty of snappy banter, then
The Other Miss Bridgerton should while away the hours pleasantly enough. If, however, you’re looking for a romance with complex characters who exhibit growth, and an engaging plot, then I’m afraid you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Rating: really liked it
I accidentally read this one out of sequence which irritates my OCD side a little but I guess does not really matter in the long run. It was a lot of fun, a bit silly in parts , but overall a very enjoyable and entertaining read.
I liked both main characters and loved the verbal sparring between them. It was the situations they found themselves in that were a little over the top but this is supposed to be light hearted, not a piece of serious literary fiction, so who cares! I loved the ending and in fact wished the author had played it out a bit longer before the ultimate and obvious conclusion.
It was all very sweet and now I must get back to finishing the Bridgertons series and restart the Rokebys after that!
Rating: really liked it
DNF after only 10%
This is a sad, sad day. I am giving up on a book written by one of my all-time favorite authors. I'm sorry, but I just can't. I spent almost two months on this, and every time I picked it up again, I ended up seething and quickly put it away after a page or so.
So this book opens with a Bridgerton girl aimlessly traipsing around the countryside, only to stumble across a cave used by smugglers. Who promptly kidnap her because no-one EVER has managed to discover this oh-so-secret-cave before, and we can't kill a lady, after all. They drug her and drag her off to their ship -whose captain just oh-so-happens to be a Rokesby who (I'm assuming) works undercover as a smuggler for some reason. After annoying everyone, she is tied to a bed and locked into her room by the HERO of this story. Who knows who she is. But decides that kidnapping is the best way to go. I'm sorry, but I don't care for anything that happens after this. To me, this does not say "healthy relationship". I'm sorry, but I can't give this book another chance. Even if it actually physically pains me to abandon any book by Julia Quinn.
"Favorite" quotes from the first two chapters:
She hated him. Oh how she hated him. It had taken less than five minutes, but already she was certain she'd never hated anyone with quite the same intensity.Sure...
"You make a rather fine argument for killing you."Said by the "hero". I have no words. And the saddest thing is, I agree with him.
I'm off to re-read Colin now, trying to forget this exists.
Rating: really liked it
As I continue to say this is good but not as good as Bridgerton's series.
Both Poppy and Andrew are good characters, maybe Poppy a little bit more! LOL
I liked how she reacted to her abduction and how she made Andrew mad!
Nice and easy story with predictable outcome!
Rating: really liked it
This series by Julia Quinn has been my favorite from her. The books have been absolutely stealing my heart. There wasn't any doubt in my mind that I would be picking up The Other Miss Bridgerton. Like with the previous books, this was a feel-good story with a lovely couple.
Poppy Bridgerton was undeniably the star of this book. She was sweet and charming and so kind. While visiting a friend in Dorset, she stumbles upon a cave where she discovers pirates smuggling some goods. She finds herself kidnapped on a ship on its way to Portugal led by Captain Andrews. Poppy was in somewhat of a very tough situation, but she was smart and courageous and handled the discomfort of being kidnapped like a pro. On the ship, though she was bound and confined to the captain's room, she somehow found her a way to befriend a few people - that's how much of an adorable and friendly human being she was. Honestly, I don't know how Poppy handled it all so well. If it were me in her place, I'd be a raging mess! It helped that Andrew wasn't a complete scoundrel to her. You see, he isn't actually a pirate - his duties are to deliver important government documents, but Poppy does not know any of this. Sure, it was frustrating that he kidnapped Poppy, but it was to protect his duty to the Crown. I adored Andrew too. I loved that he wasn't your typical historical romance hero and that he was such a multi-faceted individual. I loved getting to know how he got into his career. Despite being a privateer, Andrew was very much still a gentleman. It was sweet how he cared about his entire crew and would go to lengths to ensure their happiness aboard the ship.
As Poppy and Andrew set sail towards Portugal, the two begin to know more about each other. I loved how much the two of them simply talked. There was some subtle flirting, but more than anything, I loved watching them push each other's buttons. The romance was sweet and slow-burning and I loved every minute of it. The scenes when they finally embarked in Portugal and galivanted around the city were just my favorite! The biggest conflict in the book arose from Andrew keeping his background as a Rokesby, a very close family to the Bridgertons, from Poppy. It was resolved really well though and Poppy being the kind and forgiving young woman she was, wasn't one to hold grudges against Andrew.
The short publication delay for The Other Miss Bridgerton was well worth the wait, in my opinion. Julia Quinn's books always leave me feeling happy and this was no different. If you love a good historical romance, definitely check this one out.
Rating: really liked it
After loving the first in this series, then feeling rather meh about the second, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the third. But the blurb - high seas! Pirate-y adventure! Bridgerton heroine! - I was pretty excited to give it a try. I'm so glad I did.
JQ is back in full Bridgerton glory. Her trademark witty banter and complex characters seem fresh - a new set of characters within the same family we've all loved for years. I loved how Poppy and Andrew actually communicated; the turn in romance novels from feisty heroine who gets a blistering setdown from an alpha hero to feisty heroine who can get the alpha hero to actually treat her like the functioning adult she is, is something I'm loving. JQ is nailing this new time period, too. She's not bogging me down in details of the 1700s; instead, she's giving me enough to make me more interested in it. She gives the pertinent details - who's on the throne, what political parties are at play, and the dress/expected behaviors of the time - but I never felt I had to sit through a history lesson (which happens in many of these novels). These details were artfully sprinkled in, never overwhelming or distracting from the story itself.
Poppy was fantastic. She's a smart woman - smart enough to know when she's being outsmarted. She knows when to keep her mouth shut, showing a degree of maturity that many Regency heroines lack. She's quick-witted, knows when to do what she's told, and doesn't make stupid decisions. I adored that.
Andrew is a good, honorable man. He gains respect through hard work and treating people right; the subject of racism is brought up, handled, and accepted (not the racism itself, but there's a point when Poppy realizes that she's been insulated from it and wants to change, yet doesn't know how yet). Andrew accepts all people based on who they are, not what they look like or what their rank is, and his general good guy vibes shine through, despite the situation Poppy is in (kidnapped by two of Andrew's men).
The romance was fun, the adventure was well-played, and the Bridgerton name carries on as one of the best literary families to read. But I think that what I loved most about this book was that I can really see the changing tide of the romance novel inside of this historical romance's pages. In the beginning of romance novels, it was 100% female submission (he "bodice rippers," if you will). Then it became strong women, but stronger men (the woman who had to learn to accept that she did not always know best because, actually, the "alpha" hero did). But now, there's a tide towards true feminism - equality. The heroine and the hero are two imperfect sides of the same coin. They complement each other, and are strong where the other is weak. The hero doesn't always know best, but neither does the heroine. They communicate openly and as honestly as the storyline provides, and while the attraction drives the lust, the mutual respect is what drives the romance - and it's THAT which makes me believe in this couple's happily-ever-after.
Well done, JQ. You've once again given this reader a modern story in a historical setting with wonderful, relatable, lovable characters. Five stars.
**I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.**
Rating: really liked it
december 18: it was delightful, surprising, compelling, delightful AND SO ROMANTIC. oh yes, i love it! from book one, andrew looked like the perfect romance hero and he delivered just that, simple and utter perfection. and poppy was a splendid heroine and a great match for andrew. the banter scenes were so well written, the adventure storyline was good (surprisingly interesting to follow and really good for a romance) and the two characters were just wonderful apart and simply brilliant together. LOVE IT.
also let me tell you about that wonderful, perfect, funny, gorgeous, witty billie bridgerton, playing joan of arc or queen elizabeth when she was little and then giving sex ed classes to younger cousins.. god bless this pure soul. LOVE HER.
on the bright side only THREE MONTHS LEFT TO WAIT FOR MY OTHER FAVORITE ROMANCE FAMILY TO BE BACK
is the title new?? i like it BUT NOT AS MUCH AS I LIKE THE FIRST MISS B
ANDREW ROKESBY FALLS IN LOVE NO JOKE JULIA GIMME MORE
Rating: really liked it
I can’t believe I’m about to type this, because I’ve loved Julia Quinn’s books for years, but… I found this one boring. I’m not the biggest fan of romantic pirates at the best of times, but since Andrew isn’t even close to being a pirate (or a privateer really, since he’s more of a merchant-smuggler) I thought I’d risk it anyway. Which would have been fine, except that over half the book takes place in a single cabin on board a ship at sea – and nothing happens!
I had high hopes for something occurring outside the cabin, but even then, when there’s a glimmer of action, nothing happens there either. This is a book about Poppy and Andrew being in a room alone together (on the ship, in Portugal, even at the end) talking, bantering and arguing. There is nothing else. They talk at and to each other, some of which is witty, a lot of which is childish and the rest is either annoying or dull. Other characters make the briefest of appearances, but mostly it’s these two together congratulating each other on being so much cleverer than other people and falling in love. That’s it.
Well, except for Andrew keeping his secret for far too long (and paying no price for it) and the pair of them getting it on at a really inappropriate moment.
Sorry but I expected something more. More action, more sea-faring fun, more peril, more absolutely anything from Poppy (the intelligent and curious!) except begrudging acceptance of her captivity, and definitely more grovelling from Andrew. Alas, I was doomed to disappointment on all counts. I did learn a little bit about Lisbon, though, so every cloud and all…
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)
Rating: really liked it
Reread August 2022.
What was I thinking? Only 4 stars! This is definitely a 5 star read. Enjoyed it so much the second time round!
What a delight. This certainly appealed to my sense of the quirky. Poppy is a marvelous character. What with she and Captain Andrew James sniping at each other, quoting Shakespeare and later even physics lessons I was won. But then I was captivated right from the first moment Poppy, due to her insatiable curiosity, found herself in the wrong cave at the wrong time, was kidnapped, taken aboard ship and found herself bound for Lisbon!
Rating: really liked it
Archetypical JQ book - sweet and funny and not terribly angsty. It was just a matter of time before the inquisitive and indomitable Poppy Bridgerton's curiosity got her into trouble. While exploring caves near her friend's home after expertly ditching her assigned maid/chaperone, she finds far more than she intended and consequently gets napped by pirate smugglers keen to protect their secrets. Only these pirates are unlike any other pirates she has read about. They neither rape nor plunder, they appreciate fine food on board and their captain has the manners and speech of a gentleman, albeit one with a perchance for shocking flirtatious innuendos and who can effortlessly match her verbal wit - the latter a rare feat indeed.
Captain Andrew James omitted his surname of 'Rokesby' when he introduced himself to his unexpected captive of the famed and powerful Bridgerton family. On a secret mission for England, he cannot afford to divulge his true identity, not when even his own family has been unaware of his clandestine work for the Crown these past many years. The third son of an earl, he is shocked to learn that his men have abducted a Bridgerton daughter, in fact the cousin of his very own brother's lovely wife. With no time to spare, he has no choice but to take the highly loquacious Poppy along to Portugal, intending to return her to her family within a fortnight. Fully aware of the potentially irreversible damage to her reputation, he is prepared to do the right thing by her upon their return, as ingrained in him since birth. Only as the journey progresses, Poppy's presence becomes less of an uninvited inconvenience and more a highly pleasurable answer to his recently unexplained restlessness. They gravitate towards one another as they trade witty barbs, appreciating the other’s astuteness and intellect.
Out the door he went, leaving her alone with her breakfast and her thoughts, which unfortunately consisted of one part pleasure at his compliment and twelve parts annoyance with herself for feeling that way. She supposed she'd better get used to such inner conflict. She had a hunch it would be with her the rest of the voyage.
He did that to her sometimes. Jumbled her thoughts, tangled her words. She, who prided herself on her gift of conversation, her ready supply of wit and irony, was rendered without speech. Or at least without intelligent speech, which she rather thought was worse.
Something began to tumble inside him. He was weightless, and it was like the time he'd fallen from a tree, except there was nothing below, just empty expanse of space and her. Light but enjoyable reading with amusing dialogue between the leads. Poppy is a sensible and pragmatic heroine without a tendency for histrionics, which is refreshing. Andrew too is highly likeable, honorable and gallant but with more than just a glint of mischief in his eyes. The ending was a bit too abrupt when they reunited again, but otherwise, this book was a great way to pass a couple of lazy summer days and brought frequent smiles and occasional grins to my face.
"If I'm going to die I'd like to have a proper kiss."
"Poppy," he finally managed to say. "I -"
She looked at him expectantly, and God help him, his gaze dropped to her lips. The universal sign. He wanted to kiss her so bad. But he said, "This isn't a good idea."
"Of course it it isn't. But I want to do it anyway."
So he did. But he wasn't going to. One of them was insane. He was sure of it. He just didn't know which.
Rating: really liked it
4.5 stars!
This is my fave prequel so far. Poppy and Andrew are Perfection. Kidnapping. Forced proximity. Another kidnapping and Naughty times. I loved the banter between these two. Loved the storyline. Loved the mention of baby Benedict’s impending birth. So many things. No spoilers.
There was one part that gave me North & South vibes, BBC version:
“Andrew gritted his teeth. Turn to me, damn it. To me.”
Swoon! Andrew could get it!π₯
