First Comes Scandal (Rokesbys, Bk 4)
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Helpful Score: 1
Fun friends to lovers romance. Nicholas and Georgie have known each other all their lives. They grew up on neighboring estates, and Nicholas was her brother Edmund's best friend. Nicholas's parents are Georgie's godparents as well as her parents' friends. So when Georgie ends up in the middle of a scandal, through no fault of her own, her godfather comes up with what he thinks is the perfect plan.
Nicholas is attending the university in Edinburgh, nearly through with his medical studies, when he receives an urgent message from his father. Nicholas is to return home immediately, though he is given no explanation. Expecting the worst, Nicholas hurries back to discover that his father has a most unusual request for him - marry Georgie and save her reputation. Nicholas is understandably stunned and none too happy. He has no time for marriage thanks to his studies, and besides, Georgie is almost like a sister to him. Well, okay, maybe not a sister, but he's never thought of her that way.
Meanwhile, Georgie despairs of her future. Thanks to Freddie Oakes' attempt to force a marriage by abducting her, her reputation is shredded. Her choices are to marry him or not marry at all. An unexpected third option is almost as bad. Married because a friend feels sorry for her is too terrible to contemplate.
I felt terrible for Nicholas during his conversation with his father. He has seen his two brothers marry for love and be happy, yet his father expects him to make a loveless marriage. He understands the reason, but he has other plans for his immediate future. However, he promises his father that he will think about it. That evening, the Rokesbys have dinner with the Bridgertons. This was one of the best scenes in the entire book. Thanks to that conversation with his father, Nicholas finds himself looking at Georgie differently. He notices her wit and beauty, and especially how easy it is to talk to her. He is surprised by her genuine interest in his studies, and their subsequent discussion was hilarious. It also made Nicholas think that maybe marriage between them could work after all.
However, marriage is not a foregone conclusion. Nicholas has accepted the idea, but now he has to convince Georgie. I ached for Georgie. Nicholas's attempt at a proposal was awkward and wasn't helped by the presence of her two young nephews. She was furious at being thought an object of pity, someone that Nicholas had to be coerced into marrying. She barely let him get a word in as he tried to talk to her before he stormed off in frustration. Georgie is an intelligent woman, though, and once she gets past her injured pride, she looks honestly at her options. Her decision is further helped along by the arrival of an unexpected and unwelcome visitor. This was another funny scene that showed how well Georgie and Nicholas were suited.
The development of their relationship is a slow one, rooted in their friendship, and without any significant conflicts. Georgie is fascinated by Nicholas's work and endlessly curious about it. She is not the least bit squeamish and takes every possible opportunity to make herself useful to him. Nicholas is impressed by her intelligence and curiosity. Their journey from their homes in Kent to Edinburgh is full of laughter and growing attraction. There is a little strain between them when they reach their destination, thanks to their living arrangements. I liked how Georgie took matters into her own hands to solve the issue, and that Nicholas supported her actions. There is a bit of a scare at the end that highlights their love and trust in each other. The epilogue was a nice peek into their future together.
I also enjoyed the glimpse of Edmund and Violet's marriage. It is a little bittersweet, knowing what the future holds for them. At this point, they have only three of their eight children, but the descriptions of those three show that their personalities formed early. I think I will have to reread the original Bridgerton series before the TV series begins.
Nicholas is attending the university in Edinburgh, nearly through with his medical studies, when he receives an urgent message from his father. Nicholas is to return home immediately, though he is given no explanation. Expecting the worst, Nicholas hurries back to discover that his father has a most unusual request for him - marry Georgie and save her reputation. Nicholas is understandably stunned and none too happy. He has no time for marriage thanks to his studies, and besides, Georgie is almost like a sister to him. Well, okay, maybe not a sister, but he's never thought of her that way.
Meanwhile, Georgie despairs of her future. Thanks to Freddie Oakes' attempt to force a marriage by abducting her, her reputation is shredded. Her choices are to marry him or not marry at all. An unexpected third option is almost as bad. Married because a friend feels sorry for her is too terrible to contemplate.
I felt terrible for Nicholas during his conversation with his father. He has seen his two brothers marry for love and be happy, yet his father expects him to make a loveless marriage. He understands the reason, but he has other plans for his immediate future. However, he promises his father that he will think about it. That evening, the Rokesbys have dinner with the Bridgertons. This was one of the best scenes in the entire book. Thanks to that conversation with his father, Nicholas finds himself looking at Georgie differently. He notices her wit and beauty, and especially how easy it is to talk to her. He is surprised by her genuine interest in his studies, and their subsequent discussion was hilarious. It also made Nicholas think that maybe marriage between them could work after all.
However, marriage is not a foregone conclusion. Nicholas has accepted the idea, but now he has to convince Georgie. I ached for Georgie. Nicholas's attempt at a proposal was awkward and wasn't helped by the presence of her two young nephews. She was furious at being thought an object of pity, someone that Nicholas had to be coerced into marrying. She barely let him get a word in as he tried to talk to her before he stormed off in frustration. Georgie is an intelligent woman, though, and once she gets past her injured pride, she looks honestly at her options. Her decision is further helped along by the arrival of an unexpected and unwelcome visitor. This was another funny scene that showed how well Georgie and Nicholas were suited.
The development of their relationship is a slow one, rooted in their friendship, and without any significant conflicts. Georgie is fascinated by Nicholas's work and endlessly curious about it. She is not the least bit squeamish and takes every possible opportunity to make herself useful to him. Nicholas is impressed by her intelligence and curiosity. Their journey from their homes in Kent to Edinburgh is full of laughter and growing attraction. There is a little strain between them when they reach their destination, thanks to their living arrangements. I liked how Georgie took matters into her own hands to solve the issue, and that Nicholas supported her actions. There is a bit of a scare at the end that highlights their love and trust in each other. The epilogue was a nice peek into their future together.
I also enjoyed the glimpse of Edmund and Violet's marriage. It is a little bittersweet, knowing what the future holds for them. At this point, they have only three of their eight children, but the descriptions of those three show that their personalities formed early. I think I will have to reread the original Bridgerton series before the TV series begins.
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