• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sugarbeat's Books

The Home of the Romance Novel

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About Me
  • Review Policy
  • Review List
  • My Books

Penelope

To Sir Phillip With Love by Julia Quinn

By Barb Drozdowich

Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!

sugarbeat's books romance novels romance book reviews

Welcome to Series Sunday!

This is the day that we get to celebrate books written in series – one of my all time favorite things 🙂 If you have been following along…..we have been reviewing Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series, in anticipation of her new release at the end of May (less than a month now, if you are keeping track!) Today’s book is To Sir Phillip with Love. Of this series, it is my least favorite.  That isn’t to say that it is poorly written, or lacking in any way.  It is just quieter than the rest and in my mind, less romantic and more a practical love story.  Just my view, which I might add, doesn’t keep with all the awards this book has won!  I hope you give this book a go and feel free to disagree with me 🙂

To Sir Phillip with Love by Julia Quinn

ISBN: 0-380-82085-4
Publisher: Avon books

Source: I purchased this book to read

sugarbeat's books romance books romance novel reviews historical contemporary eroticaMy dear Miss Bridgerton,

We have been corresponding now for quite some time, and although we have never formally met, I feel as if I know you.

Forgive me if I am too bold, but I am writing to invite you to visit me. It is my hope that we might decide that we will suit, and you will consent to be my wife.

—Sir Phillip Crane

Sir Phillip knew that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, and so he’d proposed, figuring that she’d be homely and unassuming, and more than a little desperate for an offer of marriage. Except… she wasn’t. The beautiful woman on his doorstep was anything but quiet, and when she stopped talking long enough to close her mouth, all he wanted to do was kiss her… and more.

Did he think she was mad? Eloise Bridgerton couldn’t marry a man she had never met! But then she started thinking… and wondering… and before she knew it, she was in a hired carriage in the middle of the night, on her way to meet the man she hoped might be her perfect match. Except… he wasn’t. Her perfect husband wouldn’t be so moody and ill-mannered, and while Phillip was certainly handsome, he was a large brute of a man, rough and rugged, and totally unlike the London gentlemen vying for her hand. But when he smiled… and when he kissed her… the rest of the world simply fell away, and she couldn’t help but wonder… could this imperfect man be perfect for her?

The fifth installment of the Bridgerton series is my least favorite, I think. Maybe that’s a bad way to start a review, but I might as well be honest up front that this particular story didn’t really appeal to me.

The story explores the relationship between Eloise Bridgerton and Sir Phillip Crane. Sir Phillip’s first wife died due to a fever after a suicide attempt. Since his wife is a distant relative of Eloise’s, she writes a letter of condolence upon the woman’s death. This starts a year long letter writing affair ending with Sir Phillip inviting Eloise to visit in order see if they would suit. Eloise feels lost after the marriage of her best friend, Penelope, to her brother Colin, and decides to visit Sir Phillip. Interestingly, she decides to go without taking a chaperone or letting her family know where she is going. She arrives to find two unruly, motherless children who do everything in their power to drive her away. Sir Phillip, it seems, is looking for a mother for his children. Eloise, growing up as 1 of 8 children, easily responds to the children’s pranks and turns them around but not until after several hilarious pranks are played by both sides! Sir Phillip is more work, but the decision to marry is taken out of their hands when all four of her brothers arrive to find her unchaperoned. Yet another interesting situation!

Although this is a story about tragic circumstances, I miss the glitter and the glamor of most of Julia Quinn’s books.  I like the character of Eloise, but I found very little to like about Sir Phillip; he seems too stiff to me. Maybe it’s the missing glitter, but I thought Eloise could have found a better match.

This book was named one of the 6 best mass market original novels of the year by Publisher’s Weekly and was a New York Times bestseller.  I guess I don’t share their opinion.  What is your opinion of this book?

Related articles
  • Series Sunday – Review of Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn (sugarbeatsbooks.com)
  • Series Sunday – An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn (sugarbeatsbooks.com)
  • Series Sunday – Review – The Duke & I by Julia Quinn (sugarbeatsbooks.com)
  • Series Sunday – Review of The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn (sugarbeatsbooks.com)
  • Julia Quinn Reading Challenge – April Reviews (stitchreadcook.com)
  • Julia Quinn Reading Challenge – March Reviews (stitchreadcook.com)
Enhanced by Zemanta

Share this:

  • Share
  • Pocket
  • Tumblr
  • Print
  • Email
  • Reddit

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

By Barb Drozdowich

Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel

sugarbeat's books romance novels romance book reviews

Welcome also to Series Sunday!

Sunday is the day of the week that I post a book from a series that we are working our way through.  In honor of Julia Quinn releasing her next book at the end of May, I’m reworking the reviews from the Bridgerton Series.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve been enjoying re-living this wonderful series.  Last week was probably my most favorite of this series, not to say the rest aren’t good, they are!  I hope you enjoy my thoughts on Romancing Mr. Bridgerton today!

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

ISBN: 0380820846

Publisher: Avon Books

Source: I purchased this book to read and review

sugarbeat's books romance books romance novel reviews historical contemporary eroticaPenelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend’s brother for… well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret… and fears she doesn’t know him at all.

Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of the neverending sameness of his life, and, most of all, tired of everyone’s preoccupation with the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can’t seem to publish an edition without mentioning him in the first paragraph. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad, he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same—especially Penelope Featherington! The girl who was always simply… there is suddenly the girl haunting his dreams. But when he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide… is she his biggest threat—or his promise of a happy ending?


Romancing Mr Bridgerton is the 4th book in the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn and tells the story of how Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington learn to love one another. Colin and Penelope have know each other for years. Penelope is best friends with Colin’s sister Eloise. And it seems that Penelope has always been in love with Colin but Colin has always seen Penelope as the little friend of his little sister. Penelope has been the person overlooked by society for many reasons. In the beginning it was her weight and her quiet ways. Her mother seems to have horrible taste in dressing Penelope with her being described as an “over-ripe pumpkin” by Lady Whistledown at one point. No one seems to be able to see the true Penelope. After his latest trip abroad, Colin returns to have his eyes opened about Penelope. He realizes how much he has always depended on her friendship and one afternoon and one kiss has Colin realizing how much he desires her.

One quote that I found when reading other book reviews sums up my feelings about this writer and this series perfectly: “Julia Quinn’s witty storytelling and wonderful storylines often make me feel as if I’m sitting across from her at a coffee shop, drinking whatever, and listening to her as she tells me this story, often punctuated with smiles, chuckles and roaring laughter. Julia Quinn is truly a gifted writer.”

This book is a sweetly told story of lifelong friends finally falling in love. And, yes, in this book we finally find out who Lady Whistledown is!

This book was voted one of the top ten books of the year by the RWA membership and finalist for the RWA RITA Awards in the Long Historical category. Their review says in part: “However, as always, Quinn’s deceptively breezy dialogue and tone makes her Regency set thoroughly enchanting. It’s pure fun to step into her world.” It was also a NY Times Bestseller.

The Romance Reader gives Romancing Mr Bridgerton 4 hearts and says the following: “Colin and Penelope are a charming and entertaining pair who have a satisfying romance, and we finally find out the identity of the mysterious Mrs. Whistledown. Fans of Quinn will be ecstatic and others will find the story engaging as Romancing Mr. Bridgerton appeals on many levels.”

Related articles
  • Series Sunday – An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn(sugarbeatsbooks.com)

  • Series Sunday – Review of The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn(sugarbeatsbooks.com)

  • Series Sunday – Review – The Duke & I by Julia Quinn (sugarbeatsbooks.com)
Enhanced by Zemanta

Share this:

  • Share
  • Pocket
  • Tumblr
  • Print
  • Email
  • Reddit

Primary Sidebar

Follow Me

Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinrss

Subscribe to Blog on Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 16,653 other subscribers

Available Now on Amazon

Available Now on Amazon

Do you need a primer?

Do you need a primer?

Need help with your website?

Need help with your website?

Are you listed?

Book BLogger list 250

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

2021 Reading Challenge

2021 Reading Challenge
Barb has
read 0 books toward
her goal of
100 books.
hide

0 of 100 (0%)
view books

Archives

Footer

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023