Review: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

Title: The Duke and I
Author: Julia Quinn
Series: Bridgersons, #1
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: January 1, 2000
Pages: 371
Rating:

By all accounts, Simon Basset is on the verge of proposing to his best friend's sister, the lovely---and almost-on-the-shelf---Daphney Bridgerton. But the two of them know the truth--it's all an elaborate plan to keep Simon free from marriage-minded society mothers. And as for Daphne, surely she will attract some worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable.

But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, it's hard to remember that their courtship is a complete sham. Maybe it's his devilish smile, certainly it's the way his eyes seem to burn every time he looks at her...but somehow Daphne is falling for the dashing duke...for real! And now she must do the impossible and convince the handsome rogue that their clever little scheme deserves a slight alteration, and that nothing makes quite as much sense as falling in love...

*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS* *SPOILER ALERT*
The Duke and I started out as a cute and fun read and I was really liking it, not loving it, but liking it enough to continue that is until I got to the halfway mark. I've tried to think of many possible ways to not include spoilers in my review as to not ruin it for those who have not read it, but it is an impossible task and the book has been out for a few years so why not spill my guts?

I want to know where the hell the heroine gets off by raping the hero?! I am really at the point of cursing now but I did enough of that when I was actually reading the book. Thank god I didn't throw my kindle across the room as well. But seriously? Are you kidding me? Since the halfway mark I really couldn't stand Daphane's character anymore. She seriously pissed me off. And she didn't do anything I expect a heroine to do to confort her tortured hero. She failed the, "Things Heroine's Do To Comfort Their Tortured Hero" test.

This book was suppose to be one of those cute stories about Daphane who falls in love with a Duke, Simon who has a tortured past and they fall in love and live happily ever after, with some hot steamy romance added. Nope.

The heroine wasn't the only one I had a problem with. I think Daphane's brother, Anthony was a huge annoyance in the book for me. He was too naggy and way too overprotective that you would've had the impression that Daphane was his daughter. Honestly I thought he was a jerk most of the book. There are probally a million other things I could rant about, but I'll take me leave for now.

Honestly without thinking about the horror of what happened there, the story was very "meh". It was okay and good, but it wasn't great. It had great humor and all, but I get the impression these are just short fun reads. I didn't care about the characters a whole lot though. I'm looking for an epic romance in historical romances and this was the complete opposite of epic. I was horrified by what happened in this book.
*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS* *SPOILER ALERT*