Title: To Sir Phillip, With Love
Author: Julia Quinn
Series: The Bridgertons #5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Historical romance, Regency romance
Dates read: 8th March 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Avon
Year: 2003
5th sentence, 74th page: His children had not been kind to their governesses, and he did not imagine they’d be much more charitable to a female guest who was obviously there in the role of prospective stepmother.
She wrote him a letter…and he stole her heart.
Sir Phillip knew that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, and so he’d proposed, figuring that she’d be homely and unassumig, 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?
I’m not sure if Eloise or Hyacinth are my favourite Bridgerton sisters… probably Eloise, she has all of Hyacinth’s opinions and intensity, but just a little smoother and, well… less terrifying. So reading a story about Eloise and her man… that was always going to be something that I loved. Especially when the entire story begins with Eloise making an incredibly impulsive decision. I’m after all, fairly, ridiculously impulsive… even at the best of times. So I can relate WAY too much to her impromptu decision making…
Sadly, I read the Romancing Mister Bridgerton Second Epilogue before sinking my teeth into this, so Eloise’s impulsive decisions and the way in which Phillip and Eloise decide to get married wasn’t as much of a revelation as I would otherwise have wished for. Though, it was still an incredibly fun and humorous little adventure. One that had me giggling quite happily throughout. And made me smile. Especially since of all the sisters, Eloise is the only one who acknowledges that she specifically needs a man who is able to stand up to her four brothers. Something that I’m sure all of them feel, but Eloise’s moment of epiphany is kind of cute and sweet.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this story is that it involves children who already exist. Unlike the other books in this series, Phillip already has two children which have to factor into his relationship. The fact that they are twins and total terrors… well, it’s incredibly amusing and seriously fun. Something that made it not only impossible to put this book down… but also had me giggling out loud frequently. And loudly. With much mirth.
So far I think that this is probably my favourite of The Bridgertons books. Firstly, I relate to Eloise more than I have any of the other female leads, but I also found myself absolutely loving her paramour. The fact that he is a good father (although it takes him a little while to figure out how to do this), and a botanist… that definitely drew me in. unlike the other gentry in this series, Phillip actually has an occupation and a degree that he uses. I can’t WAIT to read this book again and again and again!
Earth and Skye 
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