This overall felt really repetitive and the pacing was off. I didn't care about any of our characters and wasn't captivated by the plot. I found Philip to be cruel at times and felt like their wasn't enough character progression for how long the novel was and overall didn't understand why the heroine liked him. My biggest gripe was how there was no steamy scenes in the book. I don't expect alot of steam from historical romances but the author could have at least given us 1.

Overall this was a meh book.

Lisa Berne so far has been a bit hit or miss for me. This sixth book in the Penhallow Dynasty was my first return after reading books one (which was okay) and two (which I loved). Sadly The Redemption of Philip Thane just did NOT do it for me. I was intrigued by a Groundhog Day type living the same day over and over type of situation. Unfortunately, that means the romance arc was SO SLOW, and Philip's character advancement took way too hecking long to come about. I want to LIKE the hero of the romance I'm reading before I'm through the majority of the book.

This book reminded me a lot of 50 First Dates, even though it was the hero's day kept repeating. It gave him time to grow and evolve into a more compassionate person. I will say that it kept the heroine from growing along with their story, so it felt a bit one sided for me. However, I really enjoyed the premise of the book and it was written well.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I think the premise of this book is really fun, a historical romance take on Groundhog Day, but I just could not get into it. I did not like the hero, and it frustrated me that the heroine was trapped not changing or growing with him. I also got bored with the repetition, though I know it was part of the concept for the book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.

I enjoyed the premise here. I appreciate the fact that Philip's "groundhog day" process takes him through many days before he eventually reaches the point of being the sort of person he should be - too many romances with rakish heroes oversimplify their internal journeys. Overall, though, it didn't go as far as it could have. I wanted more from the heroine, who based on the same premise that allowed the hero to grow was herself trapped - sort of realizing that repetition was happening, but sort of not, and unable to grow in the same way.

It was unpredictable. Philip goes to his aunt for money. They bargain that he will get the money if he delivers a speech for the aunt in a very small town. He arrives in time for Plough Day where he meets Margaret who is there doing research for her book. Philip is taken by her but she won’t succumb to his roguish charm. Here’s where it became a bit tedious for me. Philip wakes up the next day and he seems to be reliving Plough day over and over again. For me it took too long for him to see the real issue that he needed to change his life. He was going down the road to perdition. Will Philip finally decide to change because life is more worth living if you have a purpose, give of yourself to others, and have someone to love?

I received an ARC copy for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: brief mention of death of a parent (past), brief mention of war injuries (side character, amputation)

This was a lovely a soft historical mix of Groundhog Day and 50 First Dates. Funny at times and heartwarming at others. An opposites attract novel with a moral lesson all wrapped up in the end.

Steam: 1

This is a first time read for me by this author and I enjoyed it. This is part of the Penhallow Dynasty series and is the sixth installment. After reading this I definitely have plans to go back and read the books I've missed! Philip is a first class rake and the last thing he wants to do is give a speech in the quaint town of Whittlesey, but somehow he got roped into it by the family matriarch, Henrietta Penhallow. As if being forced to give this speech isn't bad enough, for some reason he is being made to relive the day over and over again. How strange, but also how convenient! For this allows him to get more acquainted with Margaret, who is in town for some research on a book she is writing. There is an instant attraction between them and he just can't seem to get enough of her company. As he kept reliving the day, he realizes his follies and becomes less of jerk. There are also some humorous moments which definitely brought a smile to my face. I enjoyed seeing Philip's growth (albeit only over a day) and seeing him become a better person. This was a enjoyable and entertaining story and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for providing a complimentary copy. This is my honest and voluntary review.

While this book had promise, I found the Groundhog Day concept to be rather annoying after the first few chapters. I think the author accomlished what she wanted to in terms of Philip's character development in a few chapters of him reliving the same day and it did not need to go on for most of the book. I wanted to know more about Margaret earlier on, but we never really got any new information on her, even as Philip met her again day after day.

It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to say about this book. I was intrigued by the concept of one day in time repeatedly occurring over and over and over again, allowing for the gradual redemption of a character who most assuredly needs it. The inspiration for the novel came from Groundhog Day, a 1993 movie starring Bill Murray that used this concept with great success. Unfortunately, for me, what worked in a visual medium was less effective on the page.

I've read Lisa Berne before. She's a good writer with a voice I enjoy and her writing in this book is good. The characters are vividly depicted, as are the citizens of the rural village where our main characters are stuck reliving Plough Day festivities. The challenge I had was with the format and the very slow pace for two-thirds of the book. I'm sure there are readers who will enjoy the character study (of Philip) that this type of plot device lends itself to. I wanted faster progression of the story and found myself losing interest, skimming paragraphs, pages, and whole sections. It didn't help that I found Philip repugnant for the majority of the book, didn't care if he was redeemed, and wanted to warn Margaret to run as far from him as she could. But then I hit the 70% mark of the book and everything changed. Here was the progression I had been waiting for, the redemption I doubted I would be able to buy into (I did), and the genuine feelings I needed to accept a relationship between Philip and Margaret (who I adored).

If this had not been a romance I think I may have been more patient with the slow pace of the book. As character studies go, it's well done; I just wanted more advancement of the romantic relationship, a faster pace, and I really wanted to spend less than 70% of the book actively disliking the hero.

Props to the author for trying something different with this book. If the premise is intriguing, and you don't mind a slower pace, give it a try or at least check out some other reviews. Just because parts of it didn't work for me doesn't mean you won't love it.

3.5 stars
*ARC received for fair and unbiased review

Just in time for Groundhog’s Day is a book based on the movie Groundhog Day! The Redemption of Philip Thane by Lisa Berne is the sixth book in her Penhallow Dynasty series, but it can be read as a stand alone. The book is a regency era historical romance take on the aforementioned Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell film. In fact, the main characters are Philip and Margaret…in the movie, it is Phil and Rita. They even have a travel companion in journalist Lawrence (i.e. Chris Elliott’s Larry). While many of the movie’s scenes have been recreated with a historical twist, I regret that the line “Don’t Drive Angry” is not used somehow. However, I found the novel to be delightful and the philosophical discussions between the characters are intriguing. I have not read others in the series, but am now curious if they too are based around movies or myth.

There is a lot to love about this book – the premise is a great one, based on a great film. A redemption arc is always a fun read, and Philip isn’t so heinous that the reader hates him. He’s just kind of an unpleasant guy, inconsiderate and irresponsible, but not necessarily cruel. There are definitely moments where he is hateable, but given that the other characters don’t take his bullshit, it works. The secondary characters are intriguing and provide a realistic background for the main action. The story is also delightfully romantic, though it takes a while to get there. Philip’s turn for the better is not a rapid one; he has to hit rock-bottom before he can rebuild himself. That’s satisfying, and his redemption doesn’t feel feigned. It is an earned change, one which fundamentally reforms him.

There is one big problem with this book however: the points of view. Philip is the main PoV character, but the reader spends nearly as much time with Margaret, who is mostly unaware that Plough Day is every day. This leads to an unfortunate amount of redundant prose, as Margaret has the same thoughts, over and over again, with minor variation. This is very annoying to read, and made me want to skim her sections. It would have been more effective if Margaret’s point of view had only been included when she had a new experience. My only other issue with the story is the logic around the time-loop, which is both too broad and not broad enough. The explanation given for Philip’s ordeal is really not necessary; the story works perfectly well without it, especially as it’s now a very familiar premise. However, a justification is offered, and it’s not really enough, nor does it really make sense.

The Redemption of Philip Thane is certainly a new direction for this series, and a fun story that mostly lives up to its premise.

Lisa Berne knocks it out of the park with a dazzlingly original and deliciously witty historical romance that is pure enchantment from beginning to end: The Redemption of Philip Thane.

Philip Thane is an incorrigible rogue who sails through life thanks to his dashing good looks, magnetic personality and irresistible charisma. With funds running low and finding himself in desperate need of a cash injection, Philip decides to visit his distant relative Henrietta Penhallow and charm her into giving him a loan to help him out of the financial tight spot he has inadvertently found himself in. Philip is positive that the formidable Henrietta Penhallow will be putty in his hands from the moment he walks into her drawing room, however, the irrepressible Philip Thane is in for quite a shock because his imperious relation will only consent to giving him the money if he agrees to do her a favor: represent the Penhallow family by giving a speech at Plough Day in the tiny village of Whittlesey. Philip would rather stick pins in his eyes than spend a single second in a rural backwater surrounded by yokels and bumpkins. But things start looking up for Philip when on his way to Whittlesey, he finds himself crossing paths with the beautiful and fiercely intelligent Miss Margaret Allan, whom he is keen to get to know better.

Margaret is headed to Whittlesey to do some research for the latest book she is writing. She is certainly not looking for romance – and even had she been looking for love, the rakish Philip Thane would be the very last man she would consider having a relationship with. Philip might be the most handsome man she has ever clapped eyes on, but she is determined to keep him at arm’s length. However, little does she realize that fate is going to thrust the two of them together in the most startling and unexpected of ways. Over and over again…

Philip is counting down the hours until he can hightail it out of Whittlesey. He cannot wait to climb into the Penhallow barouche and never set foot in this tiny rural hellhole ever again. But the next morning, Philip wakes up and finds himself reliving the same day in Whittlesey. Stuck in an endless cycle where he is living through Plough Day over and over again, Philip now has plenty of time to take a long hard look at himself – not to mention having plenty of opportunity to prove to Margaret that there is more to him than meets the eye.

The more time he spends with Margaret, the more he finds himself falling in love with her, but can he find the courage to stop hiding behind his rakish persona and prove to her that he is a man worthy of her love? Or will he keep repeating the same mistakes and end up losing the only woman who can make him happy?

Lisa Berne’s The Redemption of Philip Thane is a spellbinding historical romance that will steal every reader’s heart. Sparkling with humor, emotion and heart, The Redemption of Philip Thane is a fresh, witty and ingenious take on the Regency romance that will have readers laughing out loud and shedding a tear or two.

A heartfelt and captivating tale about second chances, letting go of the past and the magic of falling in love, The Redemption of Philip Thane is the story of two wonderful characters I adored. Margaret is clever, feisty, intelligent and courageous and it is impossible not to be charmed by Philip. Handsome, charismatic, funny, smart and a reader, he is perfect hero material.

The fantastic Lisa Berne manages to pull off a Regency Groundhog Day with great skill, flair and aplomb and in The Redemption of Philip Thane has written a historical romance that has got winner written all over it.

The story has some charm to it. Reading the outline of the story informed that this story is written quite differently then other historical romance novels. Reading Philips character, I see that he’s not the normal leading male character that comes on scene. While reading His character I envisioned him as one those obstinate, sneaky, back stabbing villains in the book. Luckily for Philip when Margaret comes along he slowly changes his character.
The romance was sweet and charming between the two. I found some of the wording in the book to flamboyant. Keep wording simple and will help the book move along smoothly for the readers and keep the readers engaged in the book. The characters were entertaining and bought some excitement to the story.

Philip Thane is caught in a time loop - he keeps reliving the same day over and over and the only thing keeping him sane is the ability to keep interacting with Miss Margaret Allen like it’s the first time they are meeting. This is a good thing because Philip can usually charm the ladies right out of their skirts, but for some reason Margaret appears to be immune to his rakish maneuvers. 😉 This is one time where he gets to make a first impression…over, and over, and over ad nauseam & each time he improves his approach and behavior not knowing which day will be the one that sticks.

It’s a creative historical romance that, while highly repetitive 🤣, it is an enjoyable story. I have not read any other books in this series and was able to read and understand this book easily. Although this is my first book by Lisa Berne I won’t hesitate to read additional works in the future.

3 Stars ⭐️

I found this to be a very fun, and different take on a historical romance. While this is the 6th book in the Penhallow Dynasty, it can definitely be read as a standalone. Lisa Berne has crafted a refreshing and unique historical romance based around a "groundhog day" scenario. I think Berne does a wonderful job of keeping the novel fresh and new as we watch Philip relive the same day over and over for the vast majority of the novel. Berne crafts the beginning with the feeling of monotony and annoyance, then moves through various tomfoolery, until a better and deeper understanding of the situation happens. This creates the perfect parallel for the hero's growth through out the novel. I definitely found that this romance story was really a story about the hero learning to be a better man, to see how he could be beneficial to the world around him and take responsibility for his past and future.

Philip Thane is a rogue and a scoundrel who finds himself roped into giving a speech in a small dumpy provincial town, and to make matters worse he finds himself caught in a never ending loop of reliving the same day over and over again. Margaret, the heroine, is delectable and brainy and when Philip does not seem to immediately make her fall under his spell, he uses his relived days to cozy up to her.

I really enjoyed that this felt like a different style of a small town, opposites attract type of novel. Because this novel revolves around the fact that the hero is stuck in a loop, he has to do the heavy lifting of change and understanding, and I think Berne does a really lovely job with this. Philip must learn a lesson, he must discover something about himself and his journey has many ups and downs in the beginning as he vents his frustration with the situation, and learns how far he can push things. I love that Philip has a slow journey to better understanding the situation and as we move into the latter half of his journey he starts to make small inner changes that will help him grow into a stronger, more aware human. The romance is this novel is very sweet, I found the heroine to be very compelling and interesting, she is able to provide a foil for the hero at times, to make him question things and look deeper, and while he journey might not be as broad as Philip's she does hold her own. The steam level of this novel is very low, there is only kissing, because the heroine believes her relationship with the hero to be only a day in length we were never going to move into a more intimate physical relationship. I think this works well for the story and characters and I would definitely have questioned things if the relationship took a very steamy turn.

Overall, this is an enjoyable and fresh feeling historical romance. If you are looking for a low angst, sweet love story that really focuses on the hero's journey this is a great option to check out.

When discussing my latest ARC to my cohost, Veronica, I described it as Groundhog Day (GD) set in Regency England. She indicated to me that GD was one of her favorite movies, and I remember liking it quite a bit growing up. What’s not to like though? Bill Murrary (or Dr. Peter Venkman, as I like to call him), gorgeous Andie McDowell, Stephen Tobolowsky (Tobo) and being written and directed by my favorite ghostbuster, Harold Ramis (Egon Spengler). The film is loosely based on the Kubler - Ross 5 stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. One might be able to also pinpoint aspects of buddhism and reincarnation throughout, which is understandable, as Ramis’s wife was a practicing Buddhist and he was close friends with the Dalai Lama. We have European psychology mixed with spiritualist principles. I’m sure you all just thought it was a funny movie where Bill Murray drives around town with a groundhog on his lap screaming “DON’T DRIVE ANGRY!” while being chased by his top hatted brother Brian Doyle-Murray (“If you gotta shoot, aim high, i don’t want to hit the groundhog”). It’s much more than that. As such, when I say that Lisa Berne’s The Redemption of Philip Thane is a direct sendup of GD, I am not exaggerating.

I’m tempted to copy/paste in the plot of GD to this review, but I’ll refrain.

A Little Bit of Plot:
We meet scandalous rake and lay-about Philip Thane as he is traveling to a small town of Whittlesby to deliver a Plough Day welcome speech. Less than enthused by the assignment, but needing the money offered by his relative, Thane delivers a belittling and maladroit address. Margaret Allen, a folklorist, who happens to have encountered Thane on the way to Whittlesby, is absolutely disgusted by the man. Thane, however, is enraptured with Miss Allen. Luckily for him, fate has stepped in and given him countless opportunities to woo Margaret to his charms: Philip is doomed to relive Plough Day over and over. We also have the character of Larry the Cameraman (in the film played by Chris Elliot) as an intrepid reporter, Mr. Lawrence, who helps as a plot marker as each loop progresses as his routine never differentiates. I would also like to illustrate the parallel of Punxsutawney Phil, the titular groundhog, to the Plough Day icon of the Straw Bear. Side note: similar to the point in the movie in which Phil kidnaps the groundhog and goes joy riding, we have a number of loops which include a certain mascot and a mode of conveyance.

The Compliment Sandwich
The Top Bun (The Pro)
The Redemption of Philip Thane (THE TITLE! SEE WHAT I DID THERE?!)
The film relies heavily on the 5 stages of grief to showcase Phil’s turn into a more sympathetic character. The novel utilizes the same device with Thane. Upon his second morning, Thane is in absolute denial of what is occurring, believing that everyone is playing an elaborate prank on him:
“There had to be a perfectly good reason for all of this. He was looking forward to giving that hearty laugh, demonstrating that he had a very good sense of humor even when the joke was at his expense, and then getting out of here, once and for all.”

After numerous repetitive days, however, he moves to anger, then bargaining; moreover, he performs most of his outrageous stunts during this stage. From orgies, to jewelry heists, and finally kidnapping, Thane wakes in his Apple Street Inn bed each morning to the sound of “Wake up, sir,...it’s Plough Day”.

While at first merely attracted to Margaret, Philip becomes obsessed with seducing her and like Rita in GD, she continually refuses him. It isn’t until Philip begins to make peace with the situation does he begin to view Margaret as a person rather than a conquest, leading to his eventual character reformation. At one point, Margaret herself starts feeling a sense of deja vu which allows her to soften towards Philip almost immediately each Plough Day morning. On one particular loop, Philip almost reluctantly allows Margaret to spend the day with him on her own insistence where he divulges the truth as to what is occurring. He describes everything he has learned about her, and it’s heartbreaking in its unvarnished simplicity. “You’re kind, forthright, generous, tenderhearted, and you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, both inside and out”.

As the novel travels along, Philip begins to use the days not only to better himself, but the town and its people. Conversely, some days, he never spends little to no time with Margaret at all. The farther away from the original Thane we move, the more detached he becomes from his debauched former self making for the resolution much more satisfying.

The Meat (The Con)
Of all mediums to detail this modern day retelling of Sisyphus, film is truly the best. While there is a lot to enjoy about this book, there was a bit I didn’t care for. The repetition became boring. While I understand that we needed this numbing detailed reiteration to create a sense of ambiguousness as to passage of time or the loss of hope, I found myself skimming a lot. At 400+ pages, there was a lot to slog through. I mentally cheered for myself when I reached the 50% point. I think this could have done with a little more editing, additionally, the ending was quite drawn out.

The Bottom Bun (The Pro)
This Book Was Deep!
I’m going to say it; this book was way more thoughtful and introspective than it had any right to be. I’ve not read anything else by Lisa Berne, so I’m not sure if this is commonplace in her other novels, but the storyline dealt with a lot of philosophy, literature critique, and utilized poetry profusely throughout to underscore certain points.
In one scene, Margaret is departing, inevitably running into a snowstorm, and forcing her and her companions back to town. Before leaving, she enacts a promise from Thane that he will not do anything foolish (like robbery or kidnapping). They then have this exchange:

“Just for today. Please, Mr. Thane. Promise.”
Bit by bit, his smile faded. “I promise”.
“Good. And remember the story of the cow and the fly.”
“I don’t know that one.”
“It’s an old folk-tale out of Africa. A cow faces dire consequences for breaking her promise to a fly.”
“Are you comparing me to a cow, Margaret?”
“Only metaphorically. Besides, that would make me a fly.”
“I can’t picture it somehow.”
“Nor you as a cow.” She smiled a little. “At any rate, it’s quite the cautionary tale.”
“Maybe you’ll tell it to me sometime”.

Upon returning to the village, Margaret does impart the story to Mr. Thane. Needless to say, it’s a bit morbid, however, strikes a nerve with Philip.

“Most certainly a cautionary tale,” said Philip, and couldn’t stop the wave of melancholy and regret that broke over him as he thought again of all the promises he had never kept.
But…
But today he had kept a promise.

When discussing Philip’s situation, Margaret posits the idea that begins his ultimate character turn. It has to do with time and it being a gift rather than a cage.

"Yes, Philip, isn’t time the most precious commodity any of us have? And somehow, for some mysterious reason, you now have more of it than anybody else. Maybe you’ve been given some kind of well, some kind of opportunity. Some kind of gift.”
He looked at her rather fixedly.
“An optimistic perspective. Do you believe we live in the best of all possible worlds?”
“You’re thinking of the German philosopher Leibniz and his argument for hopefulness?”
“Yes”
“I don’t know his theories very well, but doesn’t he take the position that the darkness of the world provides an important contrast to goodness - that the darkness offers us a chance to find our way into the goodness we seek? Into light, happiness, connection, peace, joy?”

I will state I haven’t read many historical romances that have utilized German philosophy, African folk tales, and Shakespearian prose to present different themes. The witches from MacBeth are referenced a number of times throughout along with strong allusions to Sisyphus and other Greek mythology.

“Every day - like Sisyphus, perhaps, taking a little something from atop the mountain to bring back down with him - he borrowed a book to take back to his inn, having, of course, to each day keep borrowing the same book until he finished it”.

Lastly, I can’t fault a novel that rhapsodizes the under-appreciated Mansfield Park. While P&P is my favorite Austen, Mansfield Park comes in a real close 2nd.

All in all, I would suggest giving the book a chance. Fair warning, you may find yourself skimming large swaths of the repetitive parts. Still, I really did enjoy the payoff of the titular "Redemption of Philip Thane". Plus, I’d recommend watching Groundhog Day either before or after to make comparisons.

At his aunt's insistence, rake Philip Thane travels to a small town to give a speech for their Plough Day celebration. On the way, he picks up a trio of travelers whose carriage broke an axel. Among them is beautiful young scholar Margaret, and he's instantly smitten. The attraction is mutual, but she can't abide his scandalous ways.

But Fate has different ideas. Philip wakes up the day after Plough Day to find that it's Plough Day again. Caught in a time loop, he lives the day over and over, slowly coming to realize that he's falling in love with Margaret. But how can he move forward to a future with her?

Funny and irreverent and emotional, this book is an absolute delight. It's my first Lisa Berne book, and now I can't wait to read the previous books in the series. If you like historical romance and the Groundhog Day trope, this you will love this story.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

THE REDEMPTION OF PHILIP THANE is book 6 in The Penhallow Dynasty series. This is the story of Margaret Allen and Philip Thane. I did feel this is a standalone book. Philip is a ladies man who hasn't had anyone say no to him except his Aunt Henrietta Penhallow who he needs her help with a money issue. Aunt Henrietta agrees to help him but she wants something in return which is to give a speech and represent the family on the local town's Plough Day. Philip ends up meeting Margaret who does seem to be immune to his charms but Philip finds that he gonna take a second chance to get her attention. I enjoyed this book and this author's writing.

The Redemption of Philip Thane is the sixth book in The Penhallow Dynasty series by Lisa Berne. This steamy historical romance is sure to take your breath away. After reading the blurb, I knew I had to read this one. I did not want to put this one down and look forward to reading the next book in the series.