Sometimes you find love in the most unexpected of places…

This is not one of those times.

Everyone expects Billie Bridgerton to marry one of the Rokesby brothers. The two families have been neighbors for centuries, and as a child, the tomboyish Billie ran wild with Edward and Andrew. Either one would make a perfect husband… someday.

Sometimes you fall in love with exactly the person you think you should…

Or not.

There is only one Rokesby Billie absolutely cannot tolerate, and that is George. He may be the eldest and heir to the earldom, but he’s arrogant, annoying, and she’s absolutely certain he detests her. Which is perfectly convenient, as she can’t stand the sight of him, either.

But sometimes fate has a wicked sense of humor…

Because when Billie and George are quite literally thrown together, a whole new sort of sparks begins to fly. And when these lifelong adversaries finally kiss, they just might discover that the one person they can’t abide is the one person they can’t live without…

Series = Rokesbys (Bridgerton Prequel series) = #1 Because of Miss Bridgerton – #2 The Girl With The Make-Believe Husband – #3 The Other Miss Bridgerton – #4 First Comes Scandal –

Title:  Because of Miss Bridgerton
Series:  Rokesbys #1 (Bridgerton Prequel)
Author:  Julia Quinn
Romance Genre:  Georgian Historical Romance
Publication Date:  March 29, 2016
Star Rating:  4

Billie Bridgerton and George Rokesby are, at first, an unlikely couple. If not adversaries, they are certainly not of the same mindset on life for the majority of their previous acquaintance. Yes, their families are friends, Billie considers several of the Rokesby clan to be as close as family – but not George. As the heir, he’s too closed off, more inclined to shake his head at the other’s antics. At least, that’s how Billie has viewed him. The truth, as it often is, couldn’t be further from her assessment. So when George is the brother who appears to help her out of a most embarrassing predicament she’s not exactly thrilled. Yet the situation they find themselves in does give each a slightly different view of the person they had “thought” they knew so well.

As George and Billie’s relationship slowly changes over the course of their story we are front row for a slow burn romance that moves from barely tolerating each other to not wanting to be apart from the other. Love? Yes, most definitely. Yet each one changes, and with each change sees the other in a different light. A little bit of jealousy, a family crisis, and growing into their different views of each other allows this couple to not only capture each other’s hearts – but ours as well. Am I being a bit vague? Most definitely. For this is a story that I believe you should experience first hand – not through the opinions of another reader.

There will, of course, be comparisons between the new Rokesbys series with the Bridgerton series. I happen to consider the Bridgerton series to be one of the best all-time Historical Romance series. I enjoyed and loved each and every one of those stories. It’s too early for me to say that the Rokesbys series will reach that same feeling for me. It is about an earlier generation, different world events along with some familiar legends early beginnings. Yet I do know this – I’m loving what I’m finding so far… and I feel that I will be enjoying this new series just as much as the one it connects to. I don’t like to do comparisons, it’s like asking which of your two children do you love more. But this one has captured my attention, my enjoyment, and my need for the next story. So, yeah, it’s really, really good.

I own a paperback copy of Because of Miss Bridgerton – which is, I suspect, destined to be well worn from re-reads in the future.