Groundhog Day is one of my all-time favorite movies and this book was delightfully done. This is my first book by Berne and the low ratings from other readers have kept me away. I have started reading other books in this series and while I like them, this book goes above and beyond.

Phillip Thane, on a mission from his Aunt Henrietta to attend Plough Day, picks up Miss Margaret Allen, her Aunt Seraphina, and Mr. Lawrence in an inn courtyard after their conveyance breaks down. There's an instant attraction between Margaret and Phillip but his rakish behavior and insulting comments keep her away. The book takes place over one day that repeats over and over again, the days unfold much like the movie but from the perspectives of Thane and Allen. I loved that detail and especially the points where Allen almost remembers repeating the day.

Philip is pretty terrible from the beginning, but slowly over the course of his metamorphosis, the reader falls in love with him too. His antics are pretty funny, there's some wenching that takes place early on. I also loved how rich Margaret's character is and she's not this one-dimensional female. Her inner monologue into Philip's physical attributes is amusing. She's sort of drawn to him against her will. She becomes the catalyst and at times the inspiration that keeps Philip going as the days get harder. By the end, you believe he's a changed man. Berne's steam in her series is not overt but it's there. It's there in clever little interaction and details. So, while this isn't the typical steamy romance I would be drawn to, it's a nice change. The interactions between Philip and Margaret really drive the story forward and not gratuitous love scenes.

I loved this whole book. It was soooo good and engrossing. I loved all the characters and the different variations of Plough Day. Making groundhog day into an enjoyable historical romance novel is no easy feat. And it's clear Berne had excellent editors helping her along. It didn't feel at any point that it dragged. If anything, I had to force myself to walk away and take breaks.