Customer Reviews
A wonderful novel - By: C. L. Skelton, 12 Apr 2008 
I have been an avid reader of the 'historical romance' genre for quite a few years & after a while all the stories can seem to blend into one. Therefore it is such a delight to discover a book like this one, what a breath of fresh air. I really couldn't put it down.
Both the characters of Penelope & Colin are delightfully rounded (as Colin admits himself he is not the brooding hero) & the friendship between the two is brilliantly developed.
A must read for anyone who enjoys this genre & I would not hesitate to recommend this book a thousand times over.
The Wallflower gets her man - By: Becca Lusher, 12 May 2007 Penelope Featherington fellin love two days before her sixteenth birthday, & over twelve years later she loves him still. It doesn't matter that he's her best friend's brother, or that there's never been the slightest chance he'll love her back. He's Colin Bridgerton, & that's all there is to it.
The third of the infamous Featherington sisters, Penelope has never enjoyed much success or popularity amongst the ton. Or evenin her family. Despite her friendship with the Bridgertons she has always been a wallflower. Now, at eight & twenty, she's a spinster, but at least her mother had stopped dressing herin orange & yellow. It's not so bad being a spinster, especially as she has Eloise Bridgerton to keep her company. Besides, she hardly deems it fair to marry anyone when her heart already belongs to another. Not that anyone has ever proposed.
The object of her affections is newly returned from his travels abroad, and, at three & thirty, Colin is not impressed to have his oldest brother pushing him to marry. It's enough to make a man flee the country... again. And yet, despite his frequent travels, Colin feels restless & discontent. His life lacks meaning, he has no focus, nothing to show for himself except repeated mentionsin Whistledown about how charming he is. And he is charming, not to mention goodnatured, good-looking & wealthy, but they're hardly achievements, & not what he wants to be remembered forin years to come.
Then one day Penelope discovers something about him that he's never told anyone before, &in the midst of their conversation he finds himself telling her how he feels. When she loses her temper with him, he realises he risks a friendship he never expected to find. One that means more to him than he realised. And something that threatens to turn into much, much more...
At last Colin Bridgerton gets a book of his own! And it is by far my favourite of the 'Bridgertons'. Unlike Daphne, whose love grew inspite of itself, or Anthony - which was more of a farce - or Benedict's fairytale, Colin's begins with friendship. He's known Penelope for years, he even swore once (loudly, publicly, causing mortifying embarrassment) that he would never marry her. However, the more he gets to know her, the more he sees, & the more precious their friendship becomes.
This is my favourite 'Bridgerton' book, probably my favourite JQ novel, because Colin is such a wonderful character, developed gradually over the previous tales - & returning regularly hereafter (except forin Hyacinth's tale). But, even better, Penelope is a delightful heroine, well worthy of her place amongst the Bridgertons. Her experience amongst the ton can be heartbreaking at times, & while it's lovely to see Colin stand up for her, it's even better when she stands up for herself.
This is a tale for every shy, ugly duckling & wallflower out there, & proves that occasionally (just occasionally) the heroes do the smart thing & marry the girl for her brains, not just her beauty.
Oh! And thanks to a challenge issued by the irrepressible Lady Danbury (she's back, huzzah!), Lady Whistledown is unmasked. Have you guessed who it is yet?
Brilliant & wonderful, I wish I had more stars, because five just isn't enough.
A good story but not quite gripping enough - By: Helen Hancox, 04 Dec 2006 
The first couple of paragraphs of this book are fantastic - light-hearted, amusing, witty - & I settled down for a gripping & brilliant read. Sadly I didn't get entirely that. This was a good book, like Ms Quinn's others, but it wasn't quite as good as some & because of that I was disappointed.
This is the fourth bookin the series (following "The Duke And I", "The Viscount Who Loved Me" & "An Offer From A Gentleman") & is the story of Colin Bridgerton, third son, & Penelope Featherington. Penelope gets mentionedin most of the other books &in fact there is one scenein "An Offer From A Gentleman" which features Penelope & Colin & is repeatedin this book.
In some ways I really liked the premise of this story - it's the good old friends who know each other for years & years & then somehow find themselves fallingin love & getting married. It's so nice for the slightly dumpy & apparently dull woman to get the dishy man - most Regencies have beautiful debutants striding onto the scene & ensnaring wonderful men instantly. Penelope waits 12 years for her man - but she gets him!
Penelope is a great characterin this book. She's not particularly beautiful but she has brains & wit & somehowin this book she discovers a bit more self-confidence or gumption to change her life a little. Colin also is trying to step out of the shadows of his two older brothers & find a purposein life - these interactions were well drawn & believable. In fact it'sin character drawing that Julia Quinn excels & I very much appreciate the wayin which her large cast of characters all have their own behaviours.
A lot of this book is focused on Lady Whistledown - a plot device used wellin most of the other books but probably rather outstaying its welcome. Fortunately Lady Whistledown is unmaskedin this book - probably rather more of this was made than strictly necessary.
This book also sets the scene for the next ("To Sir Philip With Love") which features Eloise who was Penelope's best buddy. I like the way the books are interlinked & that we can follow on with the relationships of those who've been married offin earlier books.
Overall this is still a good book, much better than most Regencies on the market at the moment, but it's a little disappointing when compared with some of Julia Quinn's othersin this series.
What a Book! - By: , 04 Jan 2006 I have read this book so many times, I have actually lost count of how many times I havein fact read it! It is an amazing book, & the story is so believeable, how you can know a person for many years, yet not actually know them at all, God knows it's happened to me! I think this is a book that,in a way you can relate to (if like me you were an ugly duckling, who grew into being not that bad!), even if it is setin the 1800's! This has to be my faverouite book by Julia Quinn, she is an excellent writer, & I would urge anyone to buy this book, because believe me, you won't regret it! Well, unless, like me, you're shut off from the world while you read it!
