When He Was Wicked (Bridgerton #6) by Julia Quinn
Published: 2004
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
E-book, English Edition, 368 pages

Blurb:

Everything was so much simpler... when he was wicked.

In every life there is a turning point. A moment so tremendous, so sharp and breathtaking, that one knows one's life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, London's most infamous rake, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton.

After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing. Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca's surname was to remain Bridgerton for only a mere thirty-six hours longer—the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin.

But that was then... Now Michael is the earl and Francesca is free, but still she thinks of him as nothing other than her dear friend and confidant. Michael dares not speak to her of his love... until one dangerous night, when she steps innocently into his arms, and passion proves stronger than even the most wicked of secrets...

Review:

Francesca jarang terlibat langsung di cerita-cerita Bridgerton sebelumnya, karena ia telah menikah lebih dulu dari Colin dan Eloise dengan Earl of Kilmartin, John Stirling, dan tinggal di Skotlandia. Karena itulah aku penasaran dengan sosoknya. Lagipula, cerita-cerita Julia Quinn ringan dan menghibur, jadi aku membacanya untuk mengusir rasa bosan.

Ternyata nggak terlalu wow. Mungkin karena adegan intimnya lumayan bertebaran, dan aku biasanya lebih suka melewatkannya untuk fokus ke inti ceritanya. Yah, keintiman itulah intinya. Dan ceritanya mengandung kerumitan perasaan para tokohnya. Tapi pembawaannya masih segar dengan selingan humor khas Julia Quinn di sela-sela cerita.

Jadi Francesca menikah, bahagia, dan mencintai pasangannya, John Stirling. Michael Stirling, sepupu dan sahabat baik John yang playboy menyukai Francesca saat pertama kali mereka bertemu, saat Francesca sudah akan menikah dengan John. Tapi Francesca dan Michael tetap bersahabat baik. Belum dua tahun Francesca dan John menikah, John meninggal. Francesca hamil, sehingga gelar bangsawan Earl of Kilmartin akan jatuh ke anaknya jika yang lahir laki-laki. Sayangnya, Francesca mengalami keguguran, jadi gelar bangsawan Earl of Kilmartin jatuh pada Michael Stirling.

Yah, kemudian ada drama-drama-drama, Michael galau, Francesca galau, hot di sini, hot di sana, dan... sudah bisa ditebak lah, akhirnya seperti apa.

Dramanya sangat panjang, sampai bikin aku capek mengikutinya. Dan kepanasan. Hahaa...

Karakternya, hmm.. Francesca bukan tipe heroine yang kusuka. Terlalu kalem dan sering galau. Tapi bisa jadi karena sedih ditinggal orang tercinta dan keguguran bisa membuat orang kacau. Penulis bisa menggambarkan Francesca dengan baik, yaitu berusaha kuat dibalik kerapuhannya. Michael juga bukan tipe hero favoritku, karena plin-plan. Secara keseluruhan, semuanya so-so aja. Nggak istimewa.

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Tentang penulis:

Julia Quinn

Julia Quinn
#1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn loves to dispel the myth that smart women don't read (or write) romance, and in 2001 she did so in grand style, competing on the the game show The Weakest Link and walking away with the $79,000 jackpot. She displayed a decided lack of knowledge about baseball, country music, and plush toys, but she is proud to say that she aced all things British and literary, answered all of her history and geography questions correctly, and knew that there was a Da Vinci long before there was a code.

In 2010, Ms Quinn won her third RITA Award in four years and was the thirteenth author to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. Her books have been translated into thirty-two languages, and she has been profiled in USA Today and TIME Magazine. Her popular Bridgerton series is currently in development by Shondaland as an original Netflix series.