Rating: Summary: To Sir Pathetic, With Boredom Review: The Romantic Times reviewer wrote this about To Sir Phillip, With Love: "This may be heresy to her devoted fans, but Julia Quinn's Bridgerton saga is getting a little pat. Everything feels a bit formulaic for the first half of this book. Outspoken spinster virgin? Check. Tortured, repressed hero? Check. Chaotic meeting of the Bridgertons and the new love interest? Check. Numerous references to how beloved the Bridgertons are? Check."Well now, whenever Romantic Times gives a scathing review, I find myself cracking my knuckles and clicking as fast as I can on Amazon.com. I buy said book and read it with enthusiasm. Sometimes I agree with Romantic Times. Most times, I do not. In this case, I found myself torn. I sorta agreed with the reviewer, but then I didn't. I am not tired of the Bridgertons. In fact, I think Eloise is the most entertaining Bridgerton of the lot. She is witty, daring, and wonderfully flawed. I liked her vulnerable side - especially when shown during a little pre-matrimonial chat with her mother. It was a touching scene - one I thoroughly enjoyed. The rub here was Phillip. Ugh. Sir Pathetic. He mopes around, feeling miserable, acting moody. He is a painfully inept father. And there's no real explanation for it. And what about his dead wife? What was her deal? Why didn't we ever find out why she killed herself? It was vaguely implied that she had post-partum depression. But then, if I had to live with that drab, sad-sack Phillip, I would have pre, post, and perpetual depression. I kept hoping maybe the ex wife had an affair with Phillip's brother. Now that would have made sense. So the ex just had the post-baby blues? And where was Mister Wonderful Sir Phillip? Digging around in his garden? Playing in his potting shed? Not very compassionate or heroic. Julia Quinn is a talented writer. Her dialogue is unmatched. The wit in this book - as delivered by Eloise - was brilliant - which is why I give it a four. Still, Sir Phillip was a drag and really makes the book deserve more like a 2.95.
Rating: Summary: Not as great as the other books in the Bridgerton series Review: There's no such thing as a bad Julia Quinn book. "To Sir Phillip, With Love" was a good read, just that it wasn't up to par with the other books in the Bridgerton series. Eloise is a great heroine, and Phillip and his children were charming enough. Still, Eloise and Phillip didn't shine as much as Colin and Penelope ("Romancing Mr. Bridgerton"), for example. The best parts in this book were when the entire Bridgerton family was together. It's always great to revisit old friends. I wouldn't recommend starting off with this book. If you're already a Julia Quinn fan you'll want to read it just to follow the series, but I do hope the next one is better.
Rating: Summary: My least favorite Quinn novel Review: This book is the 5th in the Bridgerton series after The Duke and I, The Viscount Who Loved Me and An Offer From a Gentleman. The sixth book in the series will be When He Was Wicked.
This is the first of Julia Quinn's novels that I didn't plan to read again any time soon. I liked Eloise from other novels, certain aspects of this story bothered me. Philip's relationship with his children was a real turn off for me. I just cannot imagine treating children that way so I couldn't like him too much. He seemed like a cold fish to me. It was ncie to see all the Bridgerton men com to Eloise's "rescue" though. I love revisiting with all of them!! I though the end was a little cheesey too. Just nto my favorite of hers by far. The Duke and I will always be my favorite!
Rating: Summary: My least favorite Quinn novel Review: This book is the 5th in the Bridgerton series after The Duke and I, The Viscount Who Loved Me and An Offer From a Gentleman. The sixth book in the series will be When He Was Wicked. This is the first of Julia Quinn's novels that I didn't plan to read again any time soon. I liked Eloise from other novels, certain aspects of this story bothered me. Philip's relationshop with his children was a real turn off for me. I just cannot imagine treating children that way so I couldnt' like him too much. He seemed like a cold fish to me. It was ncie to see all the Bridgerton men com to Eloise's "rescue" though. I love revisiting with all of them!! I though the end was a little cheesey too. Just nto my favorite of hers by far. The Duke and I will always be my favorite!
Rating: Summary: Another great book Review: This book was well written and kept up a steady pace. The storyline was excellent and well thought out. For those who enjoy romance this is a must read.
Rating: Summary: To Julia Quinn, with love Review: This reassuring effort after her witty spiel of a romance Romancing Mr. Bridgerton shows why Julia Quinn is on top of her game. To Sir Phillip, with love dishes out its invitation tantalizingly with an imaginative sequence of letter correspondence between its two protagonist. Eloise Bridgerton, the 28-year old spinster has decided to take love into her own hands as she rushes to meet widower Sir Phillip Crane at Romney Hall. Lost in the handling of his rambunctious children Oliver and Amanda after his wife's (Eloise's cousin) demise, Phillip seeks Eloise as a marriage prospect. While love chance upon the enigmatic pair, Phillip's insecurity from his scarred childhood maintains the emotional distance. Quinn's energized narration and characters galvanize the romance and saves the predictability of the ending. Ms. Quinn salvages what might have been an overwrought melodrama with wits and chemistry in the couple. Success, once again flows under Quinn's silver pen.
Rating: Summary: A Pleasurable Read Review: To Sir Phillip, With Love is the story of Eloise Bridgerton and Sir Phillip Crane. The two meet by way of correspondence when Phillips wife, who is also Eloise's cousin, Marina dies after trying to kill herself. Eloise and Phillip write several letters to each other over the course of almost a year. Phillip then asks Eloise to visit him sometime because he would like to see if they'd "suit" and possibly marry. What Eloise doesn't know is that Phillip really doesn't want a wife, he just wants a mother for his eight year old twins who are completely out of control. Eloise goes to Phillip's house where her family finds her after just a few days. The two are forced to marry to avoid scandal. Neither completely happy about the situation. This novel was well written and kept up a steady pace. Much to my delight there were no kidnapping scenes which are common in Regency Era romances. The characters were likable and seemed to be well developed. Eloise wasn't just a delicate maiden who batted her eyelashes. She was a woman who knew what she wanted and was out to find her happiness. Phillip wasn't a strong man who thought the world revolved around him. Phillip, in fact, seemed to be a little dazed at times by what was going on around him. The storyline was good and was well thought out. There were no rough spots in this book. The story flowed from beginning to end. The author had a story to tell and told it with a purpose. This was the first Bridgerton novel I've read and I'm sure it won't be the last. If the others are as well-written as this it will be a pleasure to read them all.
Rating: Summary: A Little Lacking Review: While this novel about Eloise is certainly charming, as one reviewer stated, it seems to be lacking something. I believe this can be attributed to 2 factors. First, this novel doesn't seem to have as much humor as Ms. Quinn's other stories, and second, it is much more serious and weighed down by doubt and other heavy emotions. I, myself have mostly enjoyed Ms. Quinn's novels because of their breezy and lighthearted stories. They make me laugh, and I don't have to worry some favored character will get killed or the heroine raped. Her novels aren't so melodramatic like most romance novels. To Sir Phillip, With Love kinda dragged me down and didn't leave me filling very happy by the time I had finished it. My favorite parts in the book are when the twins were setting traps for Eloise and when her brothers arrived and kept twitting her. I hope this novel isn't the beginning of books where Ms. Quinn dwells more on depressing emotions instead comedic bantering between the characters, as evidenced by reviews about her newest novel.
Rating: Summary: My favorite JQ book Review: Yep. I Love 'To Sir Phillip, with Love'. I guess it's one of those you either love it or loathe it kind of books, but I can't quite grasp why someone wouldn't love it too. The first thing that attracted me was the hero himself. Sir Phillip. He is a different sort of hero than you usually see in a romance novel. He's not that sure of himself, he's failing as a father and he has a lot of pain from the past buried inside himself. But he tries, and he cares, and he is honorable to a fault. He's a good man, with all the failings and blessings that come with it. And you hardly ever see that now days. Usually it's all about the rogue who has bedded a thousand women and now he'll promise to be faithful to one woman the rest of his life. *ahem* Right. I guess TSPWL came along at just the right time for me. I was caught up in the story, I loved the hero, Eloise herself was a different kind of heroine and she was utterly perfect for Phillip. It was fun catching up with the brothers and finding out how they were doing. It made me cry and it made me laugh and I was truly grateful for the happy ending. As for it not being like some of her other books, well...Julia Quinn never writes the same book twice and I'm truly grateful for that.
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