My Rating ~ Five stars

Date published: 27 June 2017

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Format: Audiobook

Blurb

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.

Review

If anyone ever asks me what I look for in a best friend, I’m just going to say “Monty” from now on.

What was meant to be a year full of fun and adventure for Monty, his sister and friend (who he is desperately attracted to) takes a turn for the worse. First when he is informed they will have a stuffy escort along, intent on making the journey as boring as possible, and secondly when a reckless act sets the wheels in motion for them to become wanted by some unsavoury people.  In a time when prejudice is rife and being an Earl’s son can only get you out of so much trouble, Monty, Percy and Felicity need to overcome many hurdles while working out what is truly important to each of them.

I listened to this on audiobook and it was excellent. If there’s one genre I can confidently say I absolutely dislike, it’s historical fiction. I really don’t enjoy books set too far in the past. Now this book has rattled that right off the shelf! The characters were interesting, the historical thought processes around certain topics were both frightening and thought provoking. The romance made me grin like an idiot.

I’m really glad I decided to step outside of my genre comfort zone a bit and give this book a try!