It should come as no shock to any of my regular readers that I picked up the fourth installment of the Bridgerton series last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. Now that Lady Whistledown’s identity has been revealed and she has retired from her writing, I wonder what impact this event will have upon the remainder of the series. Her witty insights and commentary was one of the things that I most enjoyed about these novels.
Romancing Mister Bridgerton continues the exploration of love in a non-traditional way. This time, the differences that must be overcome are a matter of physical appearances. The homely wallflower, Penelope, has been in love with the debonair charmer, Colin, for as long as she can remember. Does Colin even know that she has loved him? Penelope fully thinks that she will spend the rest of her life as a lonely spinster.
A few things to notice right away about this installment in the series. First, the book is a bit longer than the others in the series. The writing, however, is still excellent and worth the investment. Quinn’s commentary on the art of writing and the power of words are not to be missed. Second, this novel has more open-door intimacy; little is left to the imagination. At first, I was shocked by this choice, but I quickly came to understand why the author would make the change. It was important for the reader to see how much Colin ultimately comes to desire Penelope physically. If the audience doesn’t see the level of intimacy, there can be a question if this is a relationship of pity or convenience rather than love.
Bridgerton has been good to me this year and I’ve enjoyed the trips. However, I am going to delay my return to the series until the New Year. Typically, I find myself needing a break from the characters and writing style about halfway through a series. I’m not bored with Quinn’s plot or character development at all; I just want to make sure that I am not lulled into a sense of complacency due to familiarity. There is too much good writing in Bridgerton that I don’t want to miss a single turn of phrase.
Reading for Me 
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