Customer Reviews

An Improper Proposal

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Honorable Miss Payton Dixon was usually known as the Dishonorable Miss Payton Dixon. Raised on board ship by her three seafaring brothers, Payton was the most unladylike lady England had ever seen. Since she was rarely in England, no one ever thought that it would matter. So when Payton suddenly realized that she was in love with Connor Drake, the captain of one of her brothers' ships, it became important to her to act like a lady. Unfortunately, Connor Drake was marrying another, a woman who was everything Payton was not--the ideal genteel English lady. Connor didn't even realize that Payton had grown up. He had known her since she was in pigtails running around barefoot on the deck of his ship in pants and a vest and had never really thought of her as female. So why was she now acting so peculiar on his wedding day? Patricia Cabot has written a riotous, sexy romance about a seafaring hoyden trying to become a lady despite her three older brothers. Her witty and fast-faced dialogue will keep you in stitches while following Payton and Connor's adventures.

Ms. Cabot is an original author. From the moment I read the cover, I was not able to put the book down. Payton Dixon is an absolute tomboy who lacks a female presence in her life to guide her as she matures into womanhood. She is willful, proud, and comical. Through her thoughts, actions, and reasoning I could easily relate to her. I especially loved her quick prayer bargains with God! Connor Drake was a novel character who I could easily fall for in real life, just as Payton did. He was handsome and proud with a real man's way of thinking. He charmed me since the very beginning. The story is well written, funny, and original. I was amazed at finding it full of action. The only problems I encountered with this novel is that it was rushed towards the end which caused the majority of the characters to be left hanging. However, unlike the majority of romance novels, it was very well-written with comedy, romance, action, and suspense. I still say congratulations to Ms. Cabot for a job well done!

While I enjoy the deepest and most provocative tales I can get my hands on I am also the first in line to read something that can entertain me with wit and imagination and not leave me feeling as though I have labored for hours. Cabot has created some of the most wildly outlandish and adorable as well as evil and unrehabilatable characters I have ever encountered. The dialouge and storyline however are equal to the task that her players find themselves facing. If you are in the mood to kick back and relax with a joyous, tender and enchanting evening's entertainment then you will not be disappointed with delightful creation.

In 1830, almost nineteen-year-old Payton Dixon loves sea Captain Connor Drake. Ignoring the fact that she has spent most of her life as a tomboy, Payton moans that her beloved has never even glanced her way in all the years they have known each other. Now it appears to be too late as Connor must do the honorable thing as befitting his new status as a baronet and marry Becky Whitby. Still, Payton has other plans as she realizes that Becky is not suited to be the spouse of a seafaring person.

Payton behaves very badly on the eve of the wedding and during the ceremony. She accuses Becky of treacherous behavior towards Connor. Instead of freeing her beloved from a sentence of unhappiness, her actions lead to his being taken prisoner by Lucien La Fond, a French pirate and Becky's lover. Payton tries to rescue Connor, prove Becky's infidelity, and claim a love of a lifetime. However, La Fond is a powerful opponent and he holds her beloved captive.

AN IMPROPER PROPOSAL is an exhilarating historical romance that leaves readers laughing one moment and tightly gripping their book the next moment. The action never eases as the pulse pumping story line sails to a wonderful finish. The characters are all fully developed making the intrigue feel even stronger. With novels like this one, WHERE ROSES GROW WILD, and PORTRAIT OF MY HEART, Patricia Cabot is gaining a reputation as one of the more entertaining historical romance authors.

Harriet Klausner

I absolutely adored this book. Unlike most historical romances I've read, when the heroine is unconventional, it doesn't seem to really impact their lives. Payton's life, however, has been defined by her free spirit. She lives in a time when proper women sat at home darning socks. Payton, however, can fight, shoot, and navigate a ship better than her brothers. Unfortunately, being a girl, her brothers, who encouraged her before, are expecting her to be the dutiful little sister. She loses the ship she wanted to captain to Sir Connor Drake, the man she has been wild over since she was a girl. But she really steals the heart when, instead of weeping and fainting, she manages to rescue him later in the book. This is most definitely a delightful read.

This charming novel is the perfect companion for that Mexican vacation chair. It's quick paced, it's light reading, and it's very entertaining.

The story begins with the banter between three older brothers and their unruly baby sister, Payton Dixon. Immediately, we are aware of Payton's struggle to keep her bosom inside the unfamiliar corset she is wearing. These brothers have raised nineteen-year-old Payton, onboard their clipper ships, and she is more accustomed to wearing a man's wardrobe.

What a delightful young woman, she is unlike any leading lady I have yet to experience. Payton is wild, untamed, and frankly speaks her mind. Yet, on the other hand, she is sensitive, sensual, and naive.

Her two most desired dreams: to be the captain of her brothers' newest ship, "The Constant", and to wed her secret love -- her brothers' best friend, Connor Drake. Ah, Captain Drake, a ravishing gentleman, an English Baron, and a man honor bound to marry a scheming vixen on the morrow.

Tonight, however, the game unfolds. Captain Drake cannot take his eyes off the ripening Miss Payton Dixon. He has just become "painfully" aware that Payton has "developed" into a much desired lady. Cabot skillfully spins her words creating enormous fun.

I enjoyed this book. It is action packed, there is no arguing between the two main heartbeats, and the love scenes are steamy and sizzling. If there is a serious complaint, it is the tomfoolery of Payton's brothers. At times, their behavior seemed moronic.

Overall, a great vacation book -- no worries, mate. Fluff, but oh such pleasant gossamer.

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

After reading her last novel, A Little Scandal, I was absolutely hooked with the phenomenon that Patricia Cabot has proven to be. She's a fresh and original author who never fails to make you laugh with her unique plots and outrageous dialogue. An Improper Proposal is the last of the 4 Patricia Cabot books I've read and it was as good as the other three. Payton Dixon is a herione you've never met in any other book -- a foul mouthed, take no prisoners tomboy with a heart of gold. She's got the formula for heartache as she's hopelessly in love with Captain Connor Drake -- a man she's known forever who only sees her as the flat-chested little sister of his best friends/employers. The plot sounds simple enough but the clincher is that as the book opens, Captain Drake is on the eve of his wedding day to a mysterious beauty. The book is fast paced with witty dialogue and steamy love scenes. I thoroughly enjoyed it. So why is my rating only three stars? Here's the reason why : Patricia Cabot manages to lure you into falling in love with her characters and plot in the book's beginning but leaves you high and dry in the end. This is a consistent problem that I've noticed in all her books. She has a perennial trouble in bringing home the bacon, so to speak. In any novel, you expect that defining romantic moment which is supposed to render the reader weak in the knees and short of breath. Her books lack this magical moment and it totally disappoints the reader since the author has built up your expectations with such a good beginning. Please editors, help Ms. Cabot. I hate to see her talent go to waste.

I LOVED this book!!!!!! It is by far one of the best books I have ever read, and whenever I find a book I love I run right out to the book store and buy all the books by the same author. At first I was getting irritated with the book, because it seems like the writer is speaking backwards or something, but ones I got used to the sentence structure, I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read her other books. I love the humor and the hero and heroine were so funny and wonderful. I think everygirl wants a man like Drake!!!!

Patricia Cabot is such a talented author. She has the ability to spin a tale that you just don't want to put down. I found myself wishing her characters, especially the headstrong Payton Dixon, were friends of mine--they were so interesting. I couldn't stop laughing at each crazy situation they found themselves in. Patricia Cabot has a way of drawing the reader in and making them feel part of the action. I have never read a romance that had so much humor and adventure! I would definitely read more of her work.

I'm not kidding, this one will make you giggle. And the sex scenes are *smokin'*. If this book doesn't crack you up AND get you feeling like you'd like to snuggle up to that special someone, there's something wrong with you.