When He Was Wicked: Bridgerton: Francesca's Story

I've read all of the Bridgerton Books (in one week). I won't run through a synopsis of this book (or any others mind you) as each one has been cataloged and described in detail. I initially fell head over heals in love with Simon, Daphne Bridgertons' husband in the first book "The Duke and I". Simon in still a favorite and was so until Michael came along in "When He Was Wicked". I came to love Anthony Bridgerton more through his appearance in subsequent novels than his own "The Viscount Who Loved Me." Although his roles in other novels were brief his strength, authority and the responsibility and love he feels for his family really shine in the two books succeeding his and in Daphne's story preceeding. The dining room scene in "To Sir Philip With Love" is truly priceless. The thought of four gorgeous, powerful and thoroughly all male Bridgerton brothers coming to save the day is enough to make any girl (young or old at heart) giddy. I loved each book, each hero and each heroine separately and for their own individuality. I've read hundreds of novels and I have found that for the most part, other than variations in coloring (hair, eyes etc often completely different than that described in the book) my hero and heroine in each usually retain the same appearance in my minds eye. Not so with the Bridgerton series. Julia had done a brilliant job of bringing each character to life in both personality and looks (even though the Bridgerton children are regularly noted to be so similar in look they are nearly interchangeable). I am able to vividly recall the individuality of each of the Bridgerton children and their perspective spouses throughout each book. From Francesca's blue eyes to Colin's green. I even pictured Benedict's slightly taller stature than his brothers before Julia even mentioned it in the first ballroom scene in "The Duke and I" when Daphne is talking to her three eldest brothers. Only Michael in "WHWW" did I have a hard time picturing with ebony hair, he always came up lighter in my mind. (odd as he's my favorite male by far.) "WHWW", "Romancing Mr.Bridgerton" and "To Sir Philip" actually all take place simultaneously at the same point in time. You could actually read them in any order you like. I'm glad "WHWW" was the one I read last because I don't think I would have enjoyed Colin or Eloise's story as much since I would have been expecting the same level of fever and passion that is in "WHWW". "WHWW" is unlike the other books simply due to it's more melancholy nature. It does however have much more wit and humor in it than I was led to believe it may through other reviews. There is definitely a shift in Julia's writing with "WHWW". It's more mature, deeper emotionally and holy Mary is it steamy. Completely wicked on a level the others don't quite subscribe to. Michael simply took my breath away. As I said there is something delicious and sensual about Simon that endeared me to him from the first book but Michael Stirling leaves me breathless. Ooohhh La La where can I get a man like THAT!? It does take a lot longer for anything to happen between Frannie and Michael than in the other books but under the circumstances had anything happened sooner it would have seriously discredited the grief and guilt that Michael and Frannie were dealing with. Like I said though what Julia makes you wait for is truly worth the wait. Of all the books, "WHWW" was the only one that also really touched me on an emotional level. At the end of the book I found tears rolling down my cheeks as Frannie talked with John at his grave. Julia really did a phenomenal job with this book and hope she realized the task she has laid before herself when both Gregory and Hyacinth have their stories told. Anything less than what Michael and Frannie exposed us to and it will be like raising a sail with a gentle breeze. I miss Michael and Frannie already. I do wish Julia would have added more to the epilogue instead of leaving the reader hanging wondering if Frannie ever does conceive. This was such a main point of the book and the catalyst of sorts that brings the two together. Of course I'm sure if her and Michael have a son (I can only hope this is confirmed in Hyacinth's book) they name him John. It's rather predictable but under the circumstances only fitting. Thank you Julia for creating such a wonderful family and such deliciously, delectable, delightfully, dashing men. It does make returning to the real world a little bitter sweet however.

"Tell me something wicked..." Francesca, or Frannie, is happily married to John Stirling. They have a loving marriage and this couple is really a group of three as John's cousin, Michael, completes their family. He's Frannie's close friend and like a brother to John. He's also madly in love with Francesca. He loves her from a distance because he would never, ever do anything to interfere with his cousin's happiness. So he suffers silently, loving a woman who will never love him back like he wants and needs. Tragedy comes when John dies suddenly from a brain aneurysm. Frannie and Michael are both devastated and when Frannie needs Michael most, he distances himself. Now, he's inherited the title of Earl from his cousin, taking over his life and as much as he loves Frannie, he just can't go there. He can't be around her, loving her, and be able to offer support. He ends up leaving and travels to India, staying away for four years. Francesca takes over running the homes and is basically the acting Earl of Kilmartin in Michael's absence. She mourns her husband for a year, stays in partial mourning for 3 more and decides that finally she's ready to marry. She wants a child desperately and even though she knows without a doubt that she'll never find someone to love as much as she loved John, she wants a child. And marriage must come first. She heads to London early before the next season starts and Michael has the same idea, coming home after being gone for so long. Michael is one interesting guy. He starts out the book with the label of the Merry Rake - a happy-go-lucky, wicked man who's quick with a smile and known for his rake-ishness. After John's death, when John's life pretty much fell into Michael's lap, he went hard. He's very dark, harsh at times, and struggles to find his way in making John's life and responsibilities his own. Francesca misses her friend, but her objective now is finding a husband and Michael is forced once again to imagine what it will be like to see Francesca married to another man, no longer be a Stirling and he faces a future with her not in it at all. And then they kiss. For Michael it was years coming, for Francesca, it scares her. She fights what she's feeling for Michael for much of the second part of the book, and if I had one small issue it was with how back and forth she was with him. But through it all the emotion was so high with this story. But what made their relationship stand out and move past John's ghost was the passion. As a side story for Michael, he's fighting malaria. His attacks are getting farther and farther apart which is good, but it's another catalyst for Frannie to realize that he still is sick and nothing in life is certain. I love the whole Bridgerton family and they aren't present in this story, but for a few pages with Eloise and Hyacinth. While I did miss the sibling interaction, it was nice to have Frannie and Michael front and center, with very little interruptions as they were trying to figure out their relationship and what they meant to each other. I'm a big sucker for a tortured hero in love with a woman who takes a long time to love him back. The payoff was sweet for Michael and I so wanted him to find his own happiness and not the happiness that he felt he was taking from John. If you love a lot of angst, heartbreak, emotional characters and a little wickedness in the bedroom (or a library...or a sitting room) you will love Michael and Francesca. It was nice to finally get to know the "forgotten" Bridgerton and to fall in love with a Stirling. Blog Rating: 4.5/5

Julia Quinn has to be, by far, the most witty Historical Romance writer that I know; and When He Was Wicked, amongst the Bridgerton Series is rather a lot different than the rest considering the type of heroine we see (at first she seems quite plain but turns out rather interesting in the end), and also that it is rare to find a Historical Romance which portrays the woman, instead of the man, having had a previous spouse.

Not my favorite out of the bunch but its a good read in general. The second half is kind of repetitive.

Het fijne van dit boek is dat ze makkelijk te lezen is en beter is dan de serie. Hou je van romantische romans, familie series en humor dan is dit een boek voor jou.

For the first time with a Bridgerton book, I had few expectations about anything. Francesca had barely been present in previous stories, so I'd known nothing about her. And here I've been surprised with the most romantic, passionate and heartbreaking story yet. I fell in love with Michael, probably my favorite male character in the six books I've read. And Francesca was so human, so broken for John's death but still alive, after all. And I loved how Michael made her realize that she still had desires, that through her veins still run passion and that she could be loved and could love again. Then, for maybe the first time, I really liked the second epilogue. Francesca and Michael really deserved their happy ending.

When I looked up over the internet about the various Bridgerton novels and their rankings, I found this novel somwhere at an average rating. But as I read the synopsis, it piqued my interest. The novel is about moving on and letting go of guilt, of embracing change and accepting a new person. Francesca was a character never really explored much in other novels. She was very much non-existent. That fleshed out well as her character is shown to be fiercely private and reserved. Francesca kept an air of mystery around herself, and so did her match- Michael Stirling. He hid his true feelings and remained loyal to his cousin John for as long as he could. When Francessca was ready to move on and find a husband to have babies, love was the last thing in her mind. She had experienced marital bliss which she wasn't willing to share with anyone else so she was pretty sure she wanted a loveless marriage. But little did she know Michael had been pining for her for far too long, and he could provide her everything that John gave her. But that would mean she was enjoying her episodes with Michael and that would mean she had forgotten John. Which broke her heart. The last chapter brought me to tears. It really is hard to give up on your first love. To mourn, to let go, to keep those flowers on their grave. It really is difficult. Tormenting even. And to add to the torment, the author also introduced infertility. I am not a person who wishes to have children, but I am sure that if I am told I can't have them, I would cry every night to sleep. It is devastating to think that so many couples who crave desperately to hold a little piece of their partners in their arms, are denied that fate. Thankfully by the end of the epilogue they are given that chance. What I loved about this book was the male lead was not some proud bloke wandering without a goal. The Bridgerton boys were privileged in all sorts of ways. Anthony may act as the patriarch, but even in his book he acts as a douche for most of the story, misusing his power and mostly enjoying in his rakish lifestyle. Michael on the other hand was man to whom everything was thurst upon. He was a mix of all Bridgerton boys, and still was his own thing. He was a rake like Anthony once was, as cocky as Collin and as wicked as Benedict. But what he was not, was that he had utter respect for his woman right from the beginning. She was not his foe, or pastime, or sidekick. She was his muse. And he was desperately in love with her. But even with all that he never forced his way on her. He let her take charge- every single time. He let her come to him, and always waited for consent. (Of course I wouldn't say the Bridgerton boys did not ask for consent. But in more ways they had their way with their women and the girls simply fell to them losing any control of their situation). Michael let himself be dragged and played and tore apart, if only it meant Francessca was happy. He never forced anything. He tried whatever he could and let her take her time. I wouldn't say this is my favorite one, but it is definitely better than Collin and Anthony's stories. My favorite is Benedict's story though, reasons I would elaborate in the review of that book. The stakes were simply higher and I found Sophie to be a woman of high integrity. And having read Frncessca's story, I find her to be a woman of regard as well. She is a tough protagonist, (Sophie was tougher), who also has a wicked sexual side. [This book should actually be named: When SHE was wicked]. Nevertheless, I enjoyed their love story more than other Bridgerton novels. Not because it was as thrilling as Benedict's, or as erotic as Anthony's, but rather it was way more functional as it's own. The love between the two was selfless, and they shared values that could be passed on without shame. The conflict that drove them, was very relatable to any of us. Grief. And the guilt of letting go of the grief, of a person we promised ourselves that we will mourn for life, is quite a big deal. All my stars to this book.