Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining and pleasing but not my favorite book in the series, January 22, 2007
This is the last book (Book 8) of Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series.
I must confess that I absolute love Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series. Her witty storytelling and wonderful storylines often make me feel as if I'm sitting across from her at a coffee shop, drinking whatever, and listening to her as she tells me this story, often punctuated with smiles, chuckles and roaring laughter. Julia Quinn is truly a gifted writer.
I was, however, left disappointed when I read On the Way to the Wedding, Book 8 of the Bridgerton series. Book 8 is about Gregory Bridgerton. Based on what's he's seen in the marriages of his older siblings, Gregory very much believes in love and is waiting to meet his "Ms. Right".
When Gregory spots Miss Hermione Watson, he believes he's found his match. The problem is that Hermione doesn't reciprocate his feelings. Hermione is a beauty and is busy enjoying the attentions of all the men who are fawning over her.
Lady Lucinda Abernathy (Lucy), Hermione's best friend, witnesses Gregory's failed attempts to woo Hermione and begins to feel sorry for him. She offers Gregory her help in winning Hermione but fate steps in and their plans go awry.
Hermione is caught in a compromising position with Lucy's brother and they are forced to marry. Gregory, in his grief, begins to realize that Hermione and him would never have suited. A passionate kiss shared between Gregory and Lucy chases all thoughts of Hermione out of Gregory's mind, and he begins to believe that he's in love with Lucy. Lucy, however, already knows she is in love with Gregory but doesn't trust his fickle affections (and I don't blame her in the least!).
Oh, one more thing: Lucy is engaged to marry the son of an earl and has been for years. Gregory is desperate to get Lucy to break off the engagement but she refuses. There is a dramatic climax toward the end of the book including the revelation of a devastating secret that binds Lucy to her engagement like nothing else could.
My biggest complaint over this book lies not in its prose, storyline or character development, but in Lucy. She lacked courage. Lucy blindly followed the demands of her blackmailer without questioning the truth of his words. I have to agree with Hyacinth (Gregory's sister) when she hissed to Lucy that she is weak and doesn't deserve Gregory. I can't reveal more than that without exposing the most exciting part of the story. I'm sure I'm probably judging Lucy a bit too harshly but I'm rather partial to the Bridgertons.
Despite that, I thought this was an okay read.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Some good humor and wit, but not much romance or substance, July 6, 2006
This is the eighth and final Bridgerton installment, and is a rather middling end to the series. It is the story of Gregory, the entertaining and carefree youngest Bridgerton brother. He becomes infatuated with the stunningly beautiful, much sought after, and aloof Miss Hermione Watson, but she is all wrong for him. Her best friend, the sharp-tongued and subtly appealing Lady Lucinda Abernathy, is clearly his perfect mate, but it takes him a little while to realize this, and then he may be too late.
This is a very short summary as my reviews go, and that is because there was not much to this story. Lucy and Gregory were pleasant enough characters, though Gregory a little lightweight, but I did not feel a strong connection with them or between them. I did not feel satisfied at the story's conclusion because I was never invested in the couple. Many of their ruminations and exchanges were amusing, but at some point the humor got in the way of the romance. Every thought was stated, and every move analyzed, in a humorous context. It seemed more like an episode of Gilmore Girls than a historical romance. I am a big fan of the Bridgerton series. This book as well as the seventh book, "It's in His Kiss," are OK reads as light comedy, but if you're looking for subtle humor and sublime romance, try the excellent first six books in this series.
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17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
He finds the woman of his dreams, except.... she isn't the one, June 27, 2006
The Bridgertons are a close knit family of nine, widower Violet and her eight children all famously named in alphabetical order. Anthony, Bennedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory and Hyacinth. This final book is about Gregory, although not the youngest, he is the last unwed Bridgerton. Hyacinth's story was in Its In His Kiss (book seven).
Gregory believes in true love, well why shouldn't he? All of his siblings have found it and he is determined to find his one true love as well. So, when he sees the beautiful Hermione for the first time, he knows she's 'the one'. But Hermoine doesn't seem to notice Gregory at all. Enter Lucinda, Hermoine's less handsome and often overshadowed best friend. Lucy, the ever-practical 'helps everybody' friend, takes it upon herself to help Gregory try and win Hermoine's affections and thus prevent a disasterous marriage Hermoine was contemplating.
Lucy is engaged to Lord Haselby since she was a girl, but in the process of helping Gregory, she unintentionally falls in love with him. It isn't until later that Gregory comes to his senses and figures out it's really Lucy he loves, but is it too late? The wedding scene is fantastic, but I can't tell you anymore without major spoilers.
You think you've read this story before? No you haven't! There are so many twists and turns in this book its unbelievable. I won't spoil for you. Its worth discovering it for yourself. Just when you think you know whats coming next...BAMM! Surprise! I literally fell off the couch with one of them! The middle did lag a bit but the last 100 pages are so action packed, my heart was racing and I was sweating bullets.
On The Way To The Wedding is a true delight from the start -prologue (mega cliffhanger!) till you read the epilogue (a sweet and fitting surprise ending).
Recommended.
Don't forget to take a look at the family tree from the beginning, there are a few additions. This is my only teensie weensie disappointment (you'll get it when you look at the tree). I'm hoping one of the future ebook epilogues will resolve this to a happy end. If you haven't gotten the two ebook epilogues out (The Viscount Who Loved Me & Its In His Kiss) get them, they are very good.
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