The Redemption of Philip Thane

Berne’s winning sixth Penhallow Dynasty Regency romance (after The Worst Duke in the World) begins when Philip Thane, an unrepentant rake whose debts are catching up with him, visits his relative Henrietta Penhallow to ask for money. She agrees on the condition that Philip visits the agrarian village of Whittlesey to deliver a speech on her behalf at their annual Plough Day festival. En route, Philip meets Margaret Allen, a ravishing folklore scholar researching Plough Day, who can’t stand his snobby, lecherous behavior. Philip’s hopes for a perfunctory trip are dashed in bizarre fashion when he wakes after the festivities to find it’s Plough Day all over again. From there, anyone familiar with Groundhog Day will anticipate what comes next, as it follows the movie almost beat for beat (though Berne deserves credit for the copious humor and heart). As Philip progresses from confusion through hedonism to desperation to bed Margaret (who will have none of it) and near-madness, Berne patiently lays the groundwork for his redemption: learning to see cozy Whittlesey as more than a backwater and Margaret as more than an object of desire. The eventual coloring-in of the setting and central relationship leads to a romantic and satisfying conclusion. It’s familiar but expertly crafted. Agent: Cheryl Pientka, Jill Grinberg Literary. (Jan.)