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clairemdrake17's review against another edition
4.0
First book of 2024!!!!
Ringing in the new year on a time traveling romance note!
Ringing in the new year on a time traveling romance note!
lynseyisreading's review against another edition
4.0
What a nice change for this type of book - a time travel romp - for it to be set in England rather than the Highlands. Not that I don't love my rugged Highlanders (and you know I do - rawr!), but a stilted, stoic yet sinfully sexy British gentleman is an excellent alternative to a sword-weilding Scot any day of the week. And why should those north of the border get the monopoly on all of the stunningly beautiful damsels that accidentally fall through time anyway, hmm? Seems a little unfair to me. :)
Must Love Breeches brings us the delightful romance of modern-day office worker Isabelle Rochon and pre-Victorian heartthrob Lord Montagu. Montagu is everything an Austen-loving reader could wish for. Very Darcyish in all the good ways. The delightful scene when Isabelle falls through time will definitely bring a smile to your face, and endear you to both characters immediately. And things only continue in this vein. The enchanting push-pull dynamic between the two of them builds beautifully into a convincing love story. I even shed a small tear at one point - that's how much they got to me!
Isabelle is an excellent lead. She's fun, sassy and intelligent. I particularly enjoyed how little she cared of what people thought of her seemingly strange antics. Montagu's cousin, who befriends Isabelle was also delightful. But Lord Montagu steals the show with his gruff manner paired with the elegance and sophistication inherent in men of this time.
All in all, Must Love Breeches was a fabulous read, one I would happily recommend to my fellow romance junkies. It's fun, romantic, and sensual, and an excellent start to what looks to be a promising series.
4 Stars ★★★★
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Must Love Breeches brings us the delightful romance of modern-day office worker Isabelle Rochon and pre-Victorian heartthrob Lord Montagu. Montagu is everything an Austen-loving reader could wish for. Very Darcyish in all the good ways. The delightful scene when Isabelle falls through time will definitely bring a smile to your face, and endear you to both characters immediately. And things only continue in this vein. The enchanting push-pull dynamic between the two of them builds beautifully into a convincing love story. I even shed a small tear at one point - that's how much they got to me!
Isabelle is an excellent lead. She's fun, sassy and intelligent. I particularly enjoyed how little she cared of what people thought of her seemingly strange antics. Montagu's cousin, who befriends Isabelle was also delightful. But Lord Montagu steals the show with his gruff manner paired with the elegance and sophistication inherent in men of this time.
All in all, Must Love Breeches was a fabulous read, one I would happily recommend to my fellow romance junkies. It's fun, romantic, and sensual, and an excellent start to what looks to be a promising series.
4 Stars ★★★★
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
karenreader's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
⭐️ horrible, ⭐️ ⭐️mediocre, ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ entertaining, ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ great, ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ excellent
[***The following rambling notes are for me. They may contain spoilers or no information at all.***]
While I loved the premise and the side characters, I couldn’t stand Isabelle. Most of the book deserves about 4 ⭐️, but the main character is about a 2.5. She’s a professional historian working at the British Museum and , while her specialty is the American South, she loves Jane Austen. However, she was surprised by how many layers of clothing women wore in the 1830s, indignant that she couldn’t open a bank account, ignorant of basic rules of propriety… I know more from reading historical fiction. It was extremely annoying how stupid the author made her. If it needed to be explained to the audience, it could have she surprised to live through X, which she already knew about. I almost DNFed multiple times. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I should because I was constantly surprised by how stupid the main character was.
While I loved the premise and the side characters, I couldn’t stand Isabelle. Most of the book deserves about 4 ⭐️, but the main character is about a 2.5. She’s a professional historian working at the British Museum and , while her specialty is the American South, she loves Jane Austen. However, she was surprised by how many layers of clothing women wore in the 1830s, indignant that she couldn’t open a bank account, ignorant of basic rules of propriety… I know more from reading historical fiction. It was extremely annoying how stupid the author made her. If it needed to be explained to the audience, it could have she surprised to live through X, which she already knew about. I almost DNFed multiple times. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I should because I was constantly surprised by how stupid the main character was.
fuent020's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jackiehorne's review against another edition
Since Quarles recently won a RITA for a later book in this series, I thought I would give this first book a try. Too light and silly, and with a protagonist who did not appeal to me, so I DNF'd, alas.
bookish_caprice's review
5.0
I really like the story. It took me a little to get used to the writing style and train of thoughts, but it's really well written The author has described all the emotions so good - I've felt it all.
I love the time travel especially combined with my favourite time period - 1800s England. The time travel is well executed and
And then what will happen next time, when she finds the case again in new time line in 1973 and goes back in time and return - will she mess up the time line again?
This book also reminded me with another favourite story of mine - Stealing time by B.W. Haggart- the FMC also struggled to adjust and find herself in new time and the tension between MCs ...
I love the time travel especially combined with my favourite time period - 1800s England. The time travel is well executed and
Spoiler
have an interesting theory about changing timelines. Although it's interesting if she didn't close the loop the first time by putting the journal and a silver case under board herself - so she can find it and travel back - then who did?And then what will happen next time, when she finds the case again in new time line in 1973 and goes back in time and return - will she mess up the time line again?
This book also reminded me with another favourite story of mine - Stealing time by B.W. Haggart- the FMC also struggled to adjust and find herself in new time and the tension between MCs ...
tt0rres's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this book but found it a bit too slow moving. I also found the main character to be annoying.
origamy's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I love a good time travel and this definitely was one. Highlight was how Isabelle wasn't a damsel and distress and was able to save herself from the baddie at the end and didn't have to wait for Phineas to save her. I wish their relationship wasn't so insta-lovey but besides that it was really good.
tracey_stewart's review against another edition
4.0
I surprised myself by requesting this book from Audiobookloudnoise.com (kidding – it's now audiobookboom.com). I mean, I'm extremely fussy over romances, and I generally object to the time travel romance (been there, done that, got the torn bodice), and if I am going to pick up a romance novel I am not at all comfortable having the heavy–breathing parts read to me. And here … well, the cover art is embarrassing. I listened to the book at work, and every time someone came over to talk to me and I had to pause the Audible player, I sincerely hoped no one was paying much attention.
But the reason I generally object to the time travel romance is because so few of them are at all well done. From the sample, this seemed like it might be, and the narration sounded good, so I went for it. And I was very glad I did. It was fun.
The story: Isabelle Rochon, enthusiast of the Regency period, attends a reenactment ball and finds herself whisked back in time into the middle of an actual Regency ball in 1834. How and why, she has no idea, but it seems to have something to do with the antique card case she was handling when it apparently happened – which is promptly stolen from her on the street. She is fortunate enough to fall in with Ada Lovelace, who gives her shelter and a guide to this brave new world – and through whom Isabelle meets Lord Phineas Montagu, known as the Vicious Viscount, a man on a mission.
Some things could, perhaps, have been done better. For such a scholar and enthusiast of the period, Isabelle was alarmingly prone to lapsing into modern idiom and habits, and – to me – surprisingly slow to adapt all around. Naturally, I tend to think I'd do better – and of course I'm probably wrong. It just seems like it would be similar to an immersion course in French: much more quickly absorbed, as one has no choice.
"Running in a corset had been a mistake." It always is. I know this from experience.
The writing on the whole is self-assured and sure-footed in the period, which I think is one reason that Isabelle's anachronisms were so jarring to me. The Phineas point of view was lovely. I love the intoxication of the sight – and touch! – of an ungloved hand. And while sex-in-a-carriage is one of the squares on my Bad Historical Romance Bingo Card (patent pending), this version of sex–in–a–carriage is marvelous. And the twist in the tale, the little moment at the end which made me say "Wait, what?" and go back to hear it again? So good.
I love that I learned something new about Shakespeare in this. I had never heard of the Tate version of King Lear – and my hair either stood on end or went a bit grayer, reading that. Wow. Just wow.
I love Jane Wells's male voices; her Lord Montagu (Phineas) is velvety and very nice. In British mode she reminds me of Juliet Stevenson, and of Heather Ordover in her American. I tend to be as wary of Brits' American accents as they must be of Americans faking an English accent – have you heard some of the "Americans" they've used on things like the old Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes, or the Britcom of your choosing? But Ms. Wells's American accent is not half bad – though occasionally there's a little overlap. Overall really excellent.
This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com. Thank you!
But the reason I generally object to the time travel romance is because so few of them are at all well done. From the sample, this seemed like it might be, and the narration sounded good, so I went for it. And I was very glad I did. It was fun.
The story: Isabelle Rochon, enthusiast of the Regency period, attends a reenactment ball and finds herself whisked back in time into the middle of an actual Regency ball in 1834. How and why, she has no idea, but it seems to have something to do with the antique card case she was handling when it apparently happened – which is promptly stolen from her on the street. She is fortunate enough to fall in with Ada Lovelace, who gives her shelter and a guide to this brave new world – and through whom Isabelle meets Lord Phineas Montagu, known as the Vicious Viscount, a man on a mission.
Some things could, perhaps, have been done better. For such a scholar and enthusiast of the period, Isabelle was alarmingly prone to lapsing into modern idiom and habits, and – to me – surprisingly slow to adapt all around. Naturally, I tend to think I'd do better – and of course I'm probably wrong. It just seems like it would be similar to an immersion course in French: much more quickly absorbed, as one has no choice.
"Running in a corset had been a mistake." It always is. I know this from experience.
The writing on the whole is self-assured and sure-footed in the period, which I think is one reason that Isabelle's anachronisms were so jarring to me. The Phineas point of view was lovely. I love the intoxication of the sight – and touch! – of an ungloved hand. And while sex-in-a-carriage is one of the squares on my Bad Historical Romance Bingo Card (patent pending), this version of sex–in–a–carriage is marvelous. And the twist in the tale, the little moment at the end which made me say "Wait, what?" and go back to hear it again? So good.
I love that I learned something new about Shakespeare in this. I had never heard of the Tate version of King Lear – and my hair either stood on end or went a bit grayer, reading that. Wow. Just wow.
I love Jane Wells's male voices; her Lord Montagu (Phineas) is velvety and very nice. In British mode she reminds me of Juliet Stevenson, and of Heather Ordover in her American. I tend to be as wary of Brits' American accents as they must be of Americans faking an English accent – have you heard some of the "Americans" they've used on things like the old Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes, or the Britcom of your choosing? But Ms. Wells's American accent is not half bad – though occasionally there's a little overlap. Overall really excellent.
This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com. Thank you!