Series Review: Montague Siblings

Series: Montague Sibilings

Author: Mackenzie Lee

Number of Books: 2 and 1 Novella (so far)

Nummer of Books Read: 2 and 1 Novella

Overall Series Rating: 5/5

Title: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue

Release: June 27th 2017

Read: July 27th – July 29th 2018

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: 

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores

I don’t know what kept me from this for so long. I guess I saw some negative reviews and thought it wouldn’t be worth my time and also I don’t usually go for historical fiction. Anyway, this book blew my mind. I binged it in like two days and I could barely stop reading in between.

It was such a lovely story around live and family and illness and what you’re willing to do for the ones you love. And all of that around an LGBT romance with just the right amount of humour. Monty is a faulty character, but he grows above his issues. I love him with all my heart and I will protect him till my last breath, okay. Percy, too. God, Percy. I loved his story and how his skin colour influences his life even though he had the luck to be born into privilege. I also really loved that his story was inspired by Dido Elizabeth Belle. And don’t even get me started on Felicity, what an icon. I hope she reaches all her dreams, she deserves everything.

Yes, overall I loved every single thing about this book. I loved the slow burn, the soft affection that Monty and Percy always held for each other even as friends and the whole mystery and drama. It was a perfect package.

Title: The Gentleman’s Guide to Getting Lucky

Release: October 2nd 2018

Read: October 2nd 2018

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: 

In The Gentleman’s Guide to Getting Lucky, Monty’s epic grand tour may be over, but now that he and Percy are finally a couple, he realizes there is something more nerve-wracking than being chased across Europe: getting together with the person you love. Will the romantic allure of Santorini make his first time with Percy magical, or will all the anticipation and build-up completely spoil the mood?

I know this is just a little novella that those people who preordered The Lady’s Guide and signed up for got, but I still had to include it here, because I loved it so much. This short novella really just showed me again how amazing these characters are. I would read literally anything with them in it, it’s always gonna be fun and cute and will make my heart melt. If there is any way you can get your hands on this one, do it. It’s perfection.

Title: The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy

Release: October 2nd 2018

Read: October 9th 2018 – October 12th 2018

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: 

Felicity Montague is through with pretending she prefers society parties to books about bone setting—or that she’s not smarter than most people she knows, or that she cares about anything more than her dream of becoming a doctor.

A year after an accidentally whirlwind tour of Europe, which she spent evading highwaymen and pirates with her brother Monty, Felicity has returned to England with two goals in mind—avoid the marriage proposal of Callum Doyle, a lovestruck suitor from Edinburgh; and enroll in medical school. However, her intellect and passion will never be enough in the eyes of the administrators, who see men as the sole guardians of science.

But then a small window of hope opens. Doctor Alexander Platt, an eccentric physician that Felicity idolizes, is looking for research assistants, and Felicity is sure that someone as forward thinking as her hero would be willing to take her on. However, Platt is in Germany, preparing to wed Felicity’s estranged childhood friend Johanna. Not only is Felicity reluctant to opening old wounds, she also has no money to make the trip.

Luckily, a mysterious young woman is willing to pay Felicity’s way, so long as she’s allowed to travel with Felicity disguised as her maid. In spite of her suspicions, Felicity agrees, but once the girl’s true motives are revealed, Felicity becomes part of a perilous quest that will lead her from the German countryside to the promenades of Zurich to secrets lurking beneath the Atlantic.

When I got this book in the mail, I  was excited, but I was also scared it wouldn’t be able to compare to the Gentleman’s Guide. I loved that one so much and I just didn’t know how Felicity’s story would hold up to it, especially since my favourite part of Gentleman’s Guide was the romance. And boy, was I wrong to not believe in this book.

The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy has no romance and I enjoyed it a lot. I concentrates on the relationship between three women and their struggle, to find a place in this world ruled by men. Felicity is trying to get a leg up in the medical world, but the men being on top are pushing her down constantly. It’s heart wrenching to see, how her qualifications and talent are ignored just cause her gender is regarded as inferior and even more heart wrenching to know, that this is still happening to this day.

The other two female characters in the center of this story are Johanna and Sim. Johanna has a very special place in my heart, for her German heritage and her love of dogs, but also for how she is allowed to like pretty things and dressing up, but also being clever and wanting to matter in this world. Sim is completely different, a muslim sailor out in the world, trying to impress her family and make them see she’s wort as much as her brothers.

The adventure in this one is just as, if not more, gripping than the adventure in Gentleman’s Guide and I was truly excited to see where it was going, once it was in full swing. They story took a bit too long, to get really started, but I was happy to have some time seeing how Monty and Percy where doing in the beginning.

Overall I would say this is a truly important read and everyone should go and check this out. It’s a story about the struggles of women and so full of quotes that hit way too close to home. And even with that, it still has this hilarious sense of humour, that I loved so much in Gentleman’s guide. A truly terrific novel.