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Fabric of Love #1

The Trouble with Tweed

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It has been said that rakes often make the very best husbands, but Miss Claire Preston disagrees with the sentiment wholeheartedly.

If there was something more embarrassing than being thrust on the marriage market at the spinster-worthy age of twenty-seven, Claire had yet to experience it. But needs must—and Claire needs a husband. She has a very specific kind of man in mind—boring, bookish, hopefully chaste. She's witnessed first-hand the damage a rake can do, and she has no intention of falling prey to one of them.

The only problem is she doesn't know the private reputation of every man she meets.

Enter her childhood friend, Lord Rutheridge. Being a rake of the first order himself, he can spot a poor choice at twenty paces. Besides, he owes her.

But with Michael at her elbow at every ball and dinner party, pointing out who fits her strict parameters and who she should stay well clear of, soon Claire is in danger of the most imprudent thing of all: falling in love.

281 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 15, 2026

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About the author

Jill M. Beene

18 books234 followers
Be sure to follow me on Goodreads to get every update! I live in sunny California with my handsome husband and my slobbery English Mastiff, Rupert. I've always loved stories and wanted to write novels. When I'm not getting words on the page, I'm walking my dog or cooking something (hopefully) delicious. Feel free to ask me a question or connect with me here, but you can also find me on Instagram or my website, JillMBeene.com. I so appreciate my readers! Thank you!

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5 stars
209 (47%)
4 stars
154 (35%)
3 stars
64 (14%)
2 stars
11 (2%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
586 reviews9 followers
May 14, 2026
unrelieved fun

Claire is determined but not that perceptive even as the oldest sister. I want to marry Michael or something like that.
986 reviews12 followers
April 16, 2026
3.5 ⭐️

This was such a unique concept and I was absolutely rooting for Claire and Michael. So much so that I wanted more of them! I’ll definitely continue with this series!
Profile Image for Brigitte.
66 reviews1 follower
July 5, 2026
Meh, it was okay but had some big flaws. I don't think I will keep going with the series, it just did not capture my imagination and was rather forgettable in the end. Some parts felt withheld for future books, but to such an extent that it was like, "Okay well if you'd rather not share," like the book is NOT going to tell you some things that it kept teasing and I lost interest.

It's a second chance, clean romance following Claire and Michael who had a falling out over a misunderstanding from four years back. Claire misunderstood a situation, and, rather than talk to Michael or anyone about it, shunned him instead. Now, she's back in society having weathered a financial crisis with her family, still resolutely refusing to communicate honestly with anyone. She does not grow throughout the book, so expect her to learn nothing and most everything to still remain unspoken. Michael is hell bent on tricking Claire into falling back in love with him which is also weird. "Claire should be with him and no one else. Michael could forgive her for not realizing it at first, as long as she came around to the right view of things eventually." If a refusal to communicate, even when a character's love interest and sisters are BEGGING her to, is a trigger for you, I'd avoid this one. There's so much of it and very little in the way of payoff.

Also, I am aware this is an indie, so it's not going to have the benefit of an editor one would find at a major publisher or perhaps even a sensitivity reader. Not to be the friend who's too woke or whatever, but there is a lot of body checking in this book. To the extent that I think it might be triggering to people in recovery for disordered eating.

I started highlighting all the incidents because it was so striking:

"her pointed chin cradled in a thin hand" <-- she's SO skinny you guyyyys

"her own skin was flawless" <-- okay, great

"What I wouldn’t give to have your perfect skin.” Sylvia laughed and pressed her fingertips to Claire’s cheek. <-- not Sapphic, just being weird

Sylvia surprised Claire by reaching over and smoothing the curl that Claire’s maid had left draping forward over one shoulder. “See, your hair color is perfection.” <-- so ... blond? Also, somehow Sylvia dyes her hair purple in the book by accident. How? They author isn't going to explain it. It's like they heard "show don't tell" and then decided not to tell the reader anything even when it was needed.

"her slender face"

"your skin is flawless" <-- does it need to be said and so many times?

"thin figure"

"thin hand"

"pointed chin"

"her thin hand"

"her delicate hand"

So much body checking. Claire is just a tiny little wisp skeleton pointy chin bone fingers full of secrets and covered in perfect, flawless skin and blonde hair that's described as both "ash" and "honey" colored somehow. This isn't a thing that the character is obsessively self-conscious about, her being like "Gosh I'm just too unfashionably skinny!" comes up once or twice.

And how is one "handsome enough, though a little portly around the midsection" guy immediately characterized? Why of course he "shoved an entire watercress sandwich into his cheek" and this disappears from the text. Fat people? Eating?! Gross!! (sorry, sarcasm is my coping mechanism) Also does anyone eat by putting a sandwich in their cheek? So this and the body checking ... it's not nothing.

Anyway, the issue with indie publication is that, even if an editor pointed all this out, the author could just ignore it, and it shouldn't have been ignored. The body checking needed to be dialed down and the one "portly" side character should not be described solely as eating in a disgusting fashion.

I get that bodies are often described in romance but that's often because there are spicy scenes. In a clean romance I would urge more authors to add a little body diversity or even practice a bit of body neutrality. This must be the 10th romance I've read this year where the FMC is blond with either blue or green eyes. It's enough.

Now, to Be Fair, Some Quotes I Didn't Hate

On the other, she’d just barged into his house, witnessed possibly one of the most embarrassing moments of his life, declared him a rake, and then proclaimed that he was the last man she’d ever want to marry.

It was a delicate thing, inquiring about private topics. On one hand, one didn’t want to not ask and therefore seem cold and indifferent. On the other, one didn’t want to be a prying, meddlesome sort of person.
37 reviews
May 3, 2026
Fun sweet and enjoyable

Another lovely regency romance by this author! Excited for her sister’s and Rachel’s books. It was an entertaining and humorous story.
Profile Image for Regency_Fan_ Michelle RegencyFanMichelleAndMore.
799 reviews18 followers
May 3, 2026
Witty, Charming, and Absolutely Delightful

The Trouble with Tweed by Jill M. Beene was such a joy to read.
I loved every moment of this story.

Claire’s determination to avoid rakes makes for such a fun and engaging setup, especially when paired with her childhood friend, Lord Rutheridge. Their dynamic is full of wit, banter, and undeniable chemistry that kept me smiling the whole time.

The romance felt natural and satisfying, and the writing was both clever and heartfelt. If you enjoy Regency romance with humor, charm, and a friends-to-lovers feel, this one is absolutely fabulous.
Profile Image for Lida Marie.
218 reviews6 followers
April 21, 2026
📚✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨📚
Title: The Trouble with Tweed
Series: Fabric of Love (Book 1)
Author: Jill M. Beene
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📝 My Thoughts: Tweed, Tea, and Tension
This Regency romance is a delightful mix of humor and heart. The "do-over" Season for Claire Preston is full of sharp social commentary and a unique premise. Claire is determined to find a "Tweed”, a man who is exceedingly boring, safe, and dependable to avoid the heartbreak of her past. To navigate the marriage mart, she enlists the help of her childhood friend, Michael, Viscount Rutheridge. The contrast between Claire’s rigid requirements and the natural chemistry she shares with Michael makes for a very entertaining read.

💖 Why I Loved It:
The witty banter between Claire and Michael is easily the highlight. Their shared history as childhood friends adds a layer of tender tension to their "lessons" on how to navigate society. I also loved the secondary characters, especially Claire’s seven sisters and brother William. It is funny, fast paced, and has that perfect "friends to lovers" feel as Claire realizes her list of requirements might be missing the most important thing of all.

🔖 Favorite Quote:
"It’s when things get quiet again, when you aren’t just fighting for survival—that’s when the grief really sinks its talons into you. Because that’s when you have time for it."

📌 Final Verdict:
A charming choice for fans of the "he fell first" trope and sweet Regency romances. While it is the first in a series, the main story wraps up beautifully, making it a great standalone read that will still leave you wanting to follow the other Preston sisters.

#RegencyRomance #Bookstagram #CleanRomance #JillMBeene #FabricOfLove #HistoricalRomance #BookReview #FriendstoLovers
100 reviews
June 16, 2026
Claire & Michael.

I like a “second chance” story, but this didn’t really feel like one, because almost nothing was said about their first courtship, other than that it happened, and Claire had ended it. And Claire’s feelings from the first time, about Michael, were never really discussed.

I also like a story where the MMC knows what he wants. The “I can’t possibly recognize my own feelings” until some lightbulb moment BA is not for me. So in that respect, Michael fit the bill.

But the MMC is asked to be this perfect, patient, maneuvering around her sensitivities guy (everything her brother was not), and it’s the FMC who is the “I can’t possibly recognize my feelings” character.

And once you know the cause of their first breakup, and Michael’s feelings about it, it’s hard to go back to the beginning and imagining their reunion playing out as written. Like, how was that consistent with their history and their feelings for each other, or his for her, at least?

I’m used to books in this genre being written in series, but I don’t care for when one spends so much time so obviously setting up or referencing the other books. (At least 3 couples, in this case). Like, sure. Let them be part of the story, but don’t just slide to stuff for the sake of indicating to the reader that there is or will be another book.

It was still an enjoyable read, but the details are why it’s a 3 and not a 4.

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Chayteaaa.
159 reviews1 follower
May 31, 2026
Dived right into to this from Dahlia and William's love story. Lord Rutherfield had this aura of mystery and fascination. Turned out he was just a sucker for Claire.

Oh sweet Michael, a man on a mission with a punching bag of a butler. Lmao. The second Michael I read who is seeking out to seduce their childhood lady friend.

I am impressed with his valiance. His love for Claire is deeper than the ocean. He was willing to be responsible for her seven sisters. What a man he is.

If not obvious enough, I was so invested with Michael's perspective than Claire. Claire was a headstrong FMC. She mirrored a lot of my personal traits and that's why maybe I find it so hard to get into her POV.

Favorite scene: When Michael basically laid out how sometimes when the tragedy is over, that is when we collapsed and our anger descend because at the midst of hardship we are too high strung and that our energy is reserved in solving the problem. It hit home since that was has my 2025 has been.
Profile Image for Jessica Harrison.
735 reviews24 followers
May 23, 2026
[4.5 stars]
I really enjoyed this book. It’s a second-chance, regency rom-com, light and charming. The writing is engaging and flowing, and it easily held my attention throughout.

My one complaint (and the reason for my half-star dock), is that I found the FMC a bit too illogical and ridiculous, both in her baseless assumptions about others and in her mercenary hunt for a loveless marriage to a boring man. It wasn’t too over the top, but it was enough to detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.

Regardless, I’m excited to continue with the series, and recommend this one to regency rom-com fans.

Content:
There is no foul language or sex, and the violence is minimal. The romance is limited to lightly descriptive kisses. There is no mention of faith or God.
7 reviews
April 22, 2026
Jill M Beene strikes again 😍

I have to say I never review books, but I have just fallen in love with Jill M Beene and have to recommend all her regency novels. Love, love, love! Such wit and banter and depth in her works. Thank you for sharing your talent with us! New favorite author for me. I haven’t read her fantasy or young adult books, but I might have to delve into them before the next one in this series comes out. If you love spice-free romance, this is the author for you! 😍
23 reviews
May 1, 2026
Loved!!! Claire was always going to be a harder character for me to like…but her character arc was strong and enjoyable. Jill M. Beene has fast become a must-read author for me and The Trouble With Tweed did not disappoint. Michael’s love for Claire, and their relationship’s development was real, authentic, and deeply satisfying. Can’t wait for the rest of the Preston sisters’ happily ever afters!!
16 reviews
June 17, 2026
I loved The Trouble with Tweed. It was such a feel good story, at first I wasn't sure about the fast pace of the book but I'm glad the author proved me wrong. The romance between Claire and Michael was well written and I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions between the sisters, it made for such a fun read. Some of the back story was unbelievable and maybe unreasonable but the angst it created worked, I'm keen to read the next books in this series.
13 reviews
June 20, 2026
wonderful read

Enjoyed the book. Loved the characters & story line. Jill makes them human with her words. Love that she doesn’t overdo the description of every vein in a leaf to fill the pages. Was disappointed the 2nd book isn’t available yet but will be ready as soon as it appears in Kindle Unlimited. I hope more books are in the wings that tell the remaining sister’s stories.
Profile Image for Ayesha .
17 reviews
June 28, 2026
My previous read faded in comparison to this one honestly. The language truly is that of a classic and not to mention the instances that happen with Claire as she hunts for a suitable person are as original as they get. Not very often one comes across a book that is so very raw yet has the elegance and finesse of a classic.
Looking forward to the next book of the series.
662 reviews3 followers
April 27, 2026
It took clueless Claire a bit too long to figure it out, but I’m glad she did! I’m quite irritated not to know about the secrets being kept by Lily and Margaret… and the ending was rushed with a dumb line at the end, but the overall story was delightful…
Profile Image for Lycia.
26 reviews
May 6, 2026
The FMC, Claire, got annoying with her attitude of not giving the MMC, Michael, a chance to defend himself in the situation that caused Claire to refuse to speak to him for 4 years. Of course, she finally (after causing Michael so much pain) reveals the cause near the end of the book, but she didn't do nearly enough groveling. Michael and the other characters were what made this book worth reading.
5 reviews
May 12, 2026
Funny and enjoyable

Beene has become an automatic read for me. I love how she humanizes the relationships with flaws and personality. Several lines made me laugh out loud and I enjoy her storytelling. I'm flying through them though! We need a good, long, epic!
17 reviews
May 14, 2026
Americanisms

Unfortunately, I couldn’t finish the book. From the start, there were so many Americanisms - block, fall, color, snicker. I presume the book is aimed at the American market, which is fine. But I, as an English person, won’t be reading it.
76 reviews
May 16, 2026
delightful story!

Any book written by Jill is a joy to read! I’m thoroughly enjoying this series about William and his eight sisters and the trials and tribulations of love they must wade through to find “the one.”
Profile Image for Violet.
3 reviews
April 16, 2026
I never (ever) write reviews but I just need to share that the ... "Bath" scene had me in hysterics.

4.75 stars!
Profile Image for Deborah Bell.
411 reviews1 follower
April 21, 2026
I liked this story, and how patient Michael was. I liked how Claire finally resolved her anger and hurt with William and Beatrice.
38 reviews2 followers
May 1, 2026
Another great read

I almost missed Claire's story as it is in a different series (Fabric of Love) while the earlier books were glaring
Profile Image for Emily Harrison.
17 reviews
May 3, 2026
🥹🥹 this was so good that now I’m in a book hangover.
Profile Image for Hannah Horn.
59 reviews
May 6, 2026
The only thing I didn’t like about this book was all the secrecy among the sisters. I’d be heart broken if my sisters were as secretive as these sisters. 😂😂
Profile Image for Bryony.
313 reviews4 followers
May 31, 2026
When life gives you lemons read a regency romance 😂
Profile Image for Lydia Gainous.
353 reviews3 followers
June 4, 2026
friends to lovers

Loved this!! Such a cute read! I was fully invested in these characters and how everything would play out. Can’t wait for book 2!
Profile Image for Saysha.
699 reviews
July 10, 2026
So, we don't know why Claire thinks Michael is a rake for 75% of the book. We never find out what the deal is with Lily and Margaret because they each have their own books. The only thing we actually find out early is why Claire has issues from her childhood, and even those tend to be a bit too modern in their psychology.

The writing was good for the most part. Michael was likable from the beginning. He and Claire both had communication challenges that were hard to sort. But overall, it was a sweet book with a happy ending and more sisters to write about.
8 reviews
June 23, 2026
A lovely well written and light hearted book, fun dialogues and filled with characters that became quickly endearing. Looking forward to the next installement in the serie...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews