There comes a time in every reader’s life when you read a book that just clicks on all levels – a flawless, much loved storyline, a dashing, sexy hero, a darling heroine you’d want as a best friend and the endearing secondary characters who become like family. Such was the case for me with Julia Quinn’s The Viscount Who Loved Me. The first time I read it I was completely blown away and it’s one of the few books that I’ve read multiple times. It’s my “go to” book . . . my comfort read . . . and yes, my very favorite book. It features one of the most popular and beloved heroes of all time, Anthony Bridgerton, the head of the well-known Bridgerton family. But what would Anthony be without his leading lady, Kate? Nothing, I tell you. This blog is all about my girl, Kate.
We first meet Katharine Grace Sheffield when she and her sister, Edwina, are embarking on their first London season together. At twenty-one, Kate may seem a bit old to be having her debut, but her family only had enough funds for one trip to London, so they decided it best to do so when Edwina turned seventeen. They are there with Kate’s stepmother and Edwina’s mother, Mary. Right away, we learn three important things about Kate: she is fiercely loyal to her family, she is sensible and she is completely selfless. Despite the fact that her sister is this season’s “incomparable” and is beauty and grace personified, Kate doesn’t pout about it nor feels any jealously towards Edwina. She accepts it as fact and is happy for and utterly devoted to her sister. Who wouldn’t want a sister like that? In fact, Edwina and Kate are so close, that Edwina pronounces that she will not marry anyone her sister does not deem worthy. When Kate observes Edwina dancing with Viscount Bridgerton, the “reprehensible rogue”, her defenses are instantly raised. There is no way that that rake is going to marry her sister. Later, the viscount tells Kate that she is as lovely as her sister. Big mistake, but Kate handles it very well. “And you, Lord Bridgerton,” she replied in a tone that could have frozen champagne, “are almost as handsome as your brother.” Heh. Kate gives as good as she gets.
Competitive only begins to describe how Kate is around Anthony at first. In fact, it is their conflict and verbal sparring that absolutely drive this story. Not to mention it creates some of the most memorable scenes in any historical romance, such as the Serpentine debacle and the infamous Bridgerton Pall Mall game. Who doesn’t love that Kate, having picked the black “mallet of death”, deliberately sinks Anthony’s pink ball in the lake? I could read that scene over and over and never tire of it.
But it isn’t always combative between the two. While it’s obvious they enjoy vexing each other, it’s even more obvious that there is a spark there. The more they’re around each other, the more they want to be. And Kate’s heart really softens towards Anthony when he does the one thing she doesn’t expect – he rescues her friend Penelope from the young lady hurling nasty insults at her by giving her the cut direct.
. . . and in that moment Kate had the oddest feeling that she understood this man completely.
But even stranger – suddenly she wasn’t so certain that he was the soulless, reprehensible rake she’d taken such comfort in believing him.
“Did you see that?”
Kate, who, along with the rest of the assembled company, had been staring openmouthed as Bridgerton led Penelope from the room, his head bent to hers as if she were the most fascinating woman ever to walk the earth, turned to see Edwina standing next to her.
“I saw the whole thing,” Kate said in a dazed voice. “I heard the whole thing.”
“What happened?”
“He was . . . he was . . .” Kate stumbled over her words, unsure of how to describe what exactly he’d done. And then she said something she’d never thought possible: “He was a hero.”
At this point, poor Kate is torn. She now knows the true Anthony Bridgerton and knows that he would indeed make a fine husband for Edwina. Except that now she wants him for herself. And then the unthinkable happens as they are forced to wed thanks to a pesky bee and the biggest gossip in London. Yes, Kate wanted him, but not like this. She may not be happy with the circumstances, but my girl is no idiot. She knows the ramifications if they do not wed. She accepts and suddenly Anthony has a revelation about his betrothed.
With great reluctance, he slowly tore himself away from her, letting his hands rest on her slim shoulders and straightening his arms to keep himself far enough away so that he wouldn’t be tempted to continue where he’d left off.
And the temptation was there. He made the mistake of looking at her face, and in that moment he would have sworn that Kate Sheffield was every bit as beautiful as her sister.
Hers was a different sort of attraction. Her lips were fuller, less in fashion but infinitely more kissable. Her lashes – how had he not noticed before how long they were? When she blinked they seemed to rest on her cheeks like a carpet. And when her skin was tinged with the pinks of desire, she glowed. Anthony knew he was being fanciful, but when he gazed upon her face, he could not help thinking of the new dawn, of that exact moment when the sun was creeping over the horizon, painting the sky with its subtle palette of peaches and pinks.
Wow. What girl wouldn’t want to have someone feel that way about her? But (there’s always a but, isn’t there?), despite what Anthony thinks of her, he tells Kate not to expect love from him. They will always have a mutual friendship and respect, but never love. Kate tells him that that is okay with her, but deep down inside, it’s not. And Kate starts to become a little selfish. Good for her!
All her life, she’d been the one who’d received the second glance, the second greeting, the second kiss on the hand. As the elder daughter, it should have been her due to be addressed before her younger sister, but Edwina’s beauty was so stunning, the pure and perfect blue of her eyes so startling, that people simply forgot themselves in her presence.
Introductions to Kate were usually met with an embarrassed, “Of course,” and a polite murmured greeting while their eyes slid back to Edwina’s pure and shining face.
Kate had never minded it much. If Edwina had been spoiled or bad-tempered it might have been difficult, and in all truth, most of the men she’d met were shallow and silly, and she hadn’t much cared if they only took the time to acknowledge her after her sister.
Until now.
She wanted Anthony’s eyes to light up when she entered the room. She wanted him to scan a crowd until he saw her face. She didn’t need him to love her – or at least that’s what she was telling herself – but she desperately wanted to be first in his affections, first in his desires.
And she had an awful, terrible feeling that all this meant she was falling in love.
Falling in love with one’s husband – who would have thought it could be such a disaster?
Well, it didn’t end up being a disaster, but it sure was a bit of an uphill battle for Anthony and Kate. Anthony helps Kate conquer her biggest fear and she knows that what she feels for him in indeed love, though she doesn’t understand why Anthony can’t feel the same. (Readers know that he believes he’ll die before he turns thirty-nine, as his father did.) Drinking himself into a stupor along with some shrewd advice from his brothers confirms to Anthony that he does love Kate and that it shouldn’t matter if he dies in five, eight, ten or fifty years from now. What matters most is loving that one person with all your heart while you can.
“I was so sure that it was the one thing that could make this . . . this . . . I don’t really know what to call it – this knowledge of my own mortality . . .” He raked his hands through his hair, fighting for words. “Love was the only thing that was truly going to make that unbearable. How could I love someone, truly and deeply, knowing that it was doomed?”
“But it’s not doomed,” Kate said, squeezing his hand.
“I know. I fell in love with you, and then I knew. Even if I am right, even if I’m fated to live only as long as my father did before me, I’m not doomed.” He leaned forward and brushed a feather-light kiss on her lips. “I have you,” he whispered, “and I’m not going to waste a single moment we have together.”
Kate’s lips spread into a smile. “What does that mean?”
“It means that love isn’t about being afraid that it will all be snatched away. Love’s about finding the one person who makes your heart complete, who makes you a better person than you ever dreamed you could be. It’s about looking into the eyes of your wife and knowing, all the way to your bones, that she’s simply the best person you’ve ever known.”
Yes, all ends well for Kate and she absolutely deserves it. We learn through her journey in finding her “happily ever after” that she is loyal, sensible, selfless (and a little selfish when the moment occurs), intelligent, witty, compassionate, honorable, vulnerable, strong in her convictions, stubborn when she needs to be and patient when she needs to be, as well. Julia Quinn does a masterful job of not just telling us these things about Kate, but showing us. We know that Kate is each of these and more, and I couldn’t ask for better qualities in a BFF, fictional or otherwise.
Since my all-time favorite heroine is in a historical romance, who are some of your favorite historical romance heroines? Why?
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TrishaM
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 2:21 pm:
I love Kate as well! Any heroine I can relate to is a favorite of mine. Olivia Bevelstoke from What Happens In London and, of course, Elizabeth Darcy from Pride and Prejudice are my favorites.
Joy
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 2:44 pm:
I enjoyed all the main heroines in the Bridgerton series with the exception of Francesca. Its not fair, I’m sure; but, I just didn’t like her character. Kate is one of my faves. I also really like Daphne. But, my absolute favorite in the series in Penelope. Lady Danbury is a close second. I like these ladies that played outside of the rules, fought for what was “right to them”, had a tremendous wit and intelligence, and fought in their own ways (sometimes behind the scenes) to provide support for the ones they loved.
Gannon
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 3:23 pm:
Great blog, Andrea! The black “mallet of death” always cracks me up. I just spied this book on my shelves–may be time for a reread! The entire Bridgerton series is so much fun. I love Kate, too, but Penelope is my fave.
Sunny
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 3:48 pm:
Hi Andrea, this is the book that made me fall in love with historicals and Kate would make a terrific BFF. Great pick! I’m with other people when they say that Penelope is their favorite in this series, she too would make a great BFF. As for other heroines in historicals I’d have to go with Lillian Bowman from It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas. Her American attitude in the midst of the English Ton throughout this book just makes me want to call her up and invite her to lunch.
janeybooks
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 4:30 pm:
Hi Andrea! Who doesn’t love the black mallet of death scene? Kate is a great choice for a BFF, thank you so much for reminding why I love this book and this series.
Buffie
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 5:41 pm:
Wonderful post Andrea! You know that the Bridgerton series is one of my all time favorite series. In fact, I try to reread the entire series every year. It’s great when you can do a back to back read.
Kate is a fabulous heroine, and I love it too that she gives just as good as she gets. She goes toe to toe with Anthony and usually wins. Love it!
Andrea
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 5:46 pm:
Thanks, y’all! Believe me, it was my pleasure.
Trisha — Olivia is great, isn’t she? And of course, Elizabeth is probably the most beloved heroine ever. And I noticed you put Darcy as her last name. Cute.
Joy — Lady Danbury is certainly one of a kind! And I love Penelope, too.
Gannon — I’m telling you, when I need a “pick me up”, I turn to the Pall Mall scene. Priceless!
Sunny — I love Lillian, too!!! I know many people could only tolerate her, but I just adore her and her attitude.
janeybooks — You’re welcome for the reminder. Anytime.
Andrea
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 5:48 pm:
Thanks, Buffie! I wish I had time to reread this series every year. I try to read at least one . . . and it’s usually TVWLM. lol
Pam P
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 6:01 pm:
Kate and Lillian are two of my favorite heroines. I happened to read the epilog and they’re still trying to outwith each other with the black mallet every year, lol.
Another favorite – Jessica Trent from Lord of Scoundrels, another indendent, strong-willed heroine, who knows just how to manage Dain.
Marisa
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 6:25 pm:
Hey Andrea! What a wonderful take on Kate! She is an amazing character and who wouldn’t want to have her as a best friend. The thing about reading a Julia Quinn book is that most of her heroines I’d want to befriend. And I’m definitely in the Penelope camp – I enjoyed reading about her, not only in ‘her’ book, but throughout the series.
Some of my favorite historical heroines come from Julie Garwood and Jodi Thomas. I know from medieval to westerns – go figure. Take for instance Jessie Barton in Tall, Dark and Texan – widowed, single mother with nothing but the clothes on her back making it work! Love her. And then there is Brenna from Garwood’s The Wedding – naively independent and feisty. There are so many historical heroines who have resonated with me. I’m sure I’ll come up with 20 more later on.
Maria Lokken
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 6:31 pm:
Andrea – I think you hit the nail on the head with Kate. She has so many qualities to love, but for me the loyalty counts – in a heroine – and a BFF.
Cheryl C,
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 6:47 pm:
I absolutely loved JQ’s Bridgerton series. Kate was my favorite heroine, and conveniently, Anthony was my favorite brother in the series. The Pall Mall scene was unforgettable!
Other favorite heroines:
Jessica- Lord of Scoundrels(Chase)
Gillian- Ransom(Garwood)
Jessie- Tall, Dark, and Texan(Thomas)
Sara- Dreaming of You(Kleypas)
Kate- Manhunting(Crusie)
Phoebe- It Had to Be You(SEP)
and SO many others!
Andrea
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 7:11 pm:
Pam — I’ve never read LOS (or any Chase book, for that matter), but sooooo many people love Jessica that I think I may need to rectify that! And I, too, loved the second epilogue for TVWLM!! It was perfect.
Thanks, Marisa and Maria! And thanks for allowing us to gush about our favorite heroines.
Cheryl — Anthony is my favorite hero, too!! Yes, how convenient that he’s in the same book.
Maria Lokken
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 7:18 pm:
Hey Cheryl – I just LOVED Jessie in Tall, Dark and Texan. In fact, i was lucky enough to just finish an advance reader’s copy of Jodi Thomas’ upcoming release, The Lone Texan, the next in the Whispering Mountain Series. This is Sage’s book, and she’s another heroine to love.
Stacy ~
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 8:01 pm:
Kate is also one of my favorite heroines, and TVWLM was my first JQ book. It left quite an impression on me.
Some of my favorite historical heroines are Jessica Trent from Lord of Scoundrels, Sarah Fields from Dreaming of You, and Emily Walcott from Vows.
Lisa from Temple
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 8:05 pm:
Andrea,
I loved this blog! Kate and Anthony are definitely my favorite couple in the Bridgerton series (with Simon and Daphne a close second). I know everyone loves Penelope and RMB (and I do too) but I think it was the things you mentioned about Kate and Anthony in this blog that won me over. The Pall Mall scene is absolutely classic, and I have always loved a great battle-of-the-sexes story.
And we also have to give a shout-out to Kate’s dog Newton!
Dee
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 8:16 pm:
If I had to pick heroines who would make great BFFs, I first would choose Maggie from Claiming the Highlander by Kinley MacGregor. She is down to earth, has a great sense of humor, is loyal to her family and friends and I so totally understand her pain in caring deeply for someone who usually barely notices her. She doesn’t put up with crap from Braden and loves him despite knowing his bad habits and traits.
Next would be Claire Fraser. With her medical knowledge, I know she’d never let a friend die if she can help it.
Those are the two that immediately popped into my head. I’m sure I could come up with more.
Lisa from Temple
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 8:24 pm:
Ohh I forgot to add my list of fictional BFFs besides Kate…let’s see…
Maybe Jemma, the Duchess of Beaumont in Eloisa’’s Desperate Duchesses series. She could give me fashion advice, men advice, and teach me to play chess!
Naomi Brightstone from NR’s MacGregor Grooms. I totally empathized with how shy and awkward she felt, but she still landed the Harvard Hunk by the end of the story.
Alex Lawrence from Judith McNaught’s Something Wonderful-I loved how smart she was, and how she didn’t try to hide it. But most of all, I love how Jordan first fell for her spirit, and her heart, not just her looks. (Marisa, I know you like her too
)
Andrea
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 9:13 pm:
Stacy — Sara is a wonderful heroine!!
Thanks, Lisa! Yay, another Kate and Anthony fan!
oh, yes, I loved Newton. He absolutely made the Serpentine scene!
Dee — I’ve never read Kinley MacGregor! I know, I know . . . what rock have I been under? Maggie sounds like a remarkable heroine.
Marisa
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 9:28 pm:
Stacy and Andrea, can I get a witness – I believe Sara from Dreaming of You is such a great heroine from one of my favorite books – Stacy – I’m so glad you mentioned her. So, yes, Andrea, I’m adding one more to my list of favorite historical heroines.
Dee
on Aug 27th, 2009
@ 9:53 pm:
Andrea – That’s the name Sherrilyn Kenyon writes historicals under. She has 3 series under that name: The Lords of Avalon [fantasy/Camelot era], The MacAllisters [five brothers - 4 of whom have stories] and Brotherhood of the Sword [intertwined with the Macallisters].
Buffie
on Aug 28th, 2009
@ 6:06 am:
Dee — I would have to agree with you Kinley MacGregor. Her heroines are FABULOUS! And her heros are pretty darn good too
Dee
on Aug 28th, 2009
@ 6:22 am:
Thanks, Buffie. I think my favorite hero of her historicals will always be Sin McAllister. That book could make me cry no matter how many times I read it.
Andrea
on Aug 28th, 2009
@ 8:20 am:
Dee — Buffie has recommended BORN IN SIN to me and I really need to pick it up! Several of us here at RNTV will be seeing Sherrilyn/Kinley at the Moonlight & Magnolias conference in about 5 weeks! Can’t wait!
PJ
on Aug 28th, 2009
@ 4:25 pm:
Great blog, Andrea! Kate’s a terrific heroine.
Many of my favorites have been named here and, fortunately, none that I haven’t already read. Whew! My tbr stash is about to take over the house. If it gets much larger, I’m going to have to move out! LOL!
Irisheyes
on Aug 28th, 2009
@ 6:51 pm:
I love Kate, Andrea. Usually everyone picks Penelope as their favorite Bridgerton heroine, and I do love Penelope, but Kate is my favorite, as is The Viscount Who Loved Me.
Who can forget the Pall Mall game. That is a classic. You’re right… you can re-read it a hundred times and never tire of it.
The scene that always gets me in TVWLM is the wedding night scene when Kate thinks Anthony is imagining her sister when he’s with her. That had me catching my breath and sobbing. What a horrible thing for any woman to feel. I fall even more in love with Anthony every time I re-read that scene!
Some of my other favorite heroines are from Lisa Kleypas (Lily, Then Came You), Eloisa James (Esme, Duchess Series), SEP (Phoebe, It Had To Be You; Gracie, Heaven Texas; Annabelle, Match Me If You Can; Sugar Beth, Ain’t She Sweet), Jennifer Crusie (Min, Bet Me)… I could on and on – there are a lot of awesome heroines out there to choose from.
Andrea
on Aug 28th, 2009
@ 7:55 pm:
Thanks, PJ. I hear you on the tbr mountain!
Irisheyes, I’m so glad that you and so many others love Kate as much as I do! She really is a very special heroine.
Dee
on Aug 29th, 2009
@ 12:44 am:
I’ve re read Born in Sin about 5 times and each time I tear up like I’m watching a sad movie.