Customer Reviews

AN Indecent Proposition (Signet Eclipse)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In a drunken moment Derek Drake, the Earl of Manderville, and Nicholas Manning, the sixth Duke of Rothay, make a wager that has the entire ton all atwitter. The wager is in regards to which of them is the superior lover and any number of women could attest to one or the others prowess but how will they possibly find one woman who would be willing to bed them both and publicly pronounce one of them as winner?

Lady Caroline Wynn has absolutely no interest in ever marrying again and her cool and standoffish reputation makes her the least likely of candidates. Her husband's cruel treatment of her has her seriously doubting that any man can truly pleasure a woman but something in her is dying to find out if maybe, just maybe either of these men can deliver on their claim.

Caroline's curiosity leads to a brash move on her part - she sends a missive to Nicholas offering her services as a judge of their prowess in the bedroom if they promise her complete discretion. She doesn't divulge her identity but once they express interest she arranges a place for them to meet - there the men are stunned to learn the identity of the woman willing to volunteer for such a hedonistic task. Her direct approach and insistence on discretion is a heady combination as are her youth and beauty. Nicholas and Derek agree to accept her offer even though both of them regret making such a reckless bet in the first place. Nicholas is taken with Caroline's wit and air of innocence and fully intends to discover all he can about her at his country estate where they'll spend a full week together. In the meantime, Derek remains in London and tries to come to grips with the fact that the woman he loves is engaged to another. Is there any possibility that a wager made when these two rakes overindulged in alcohol could prove to result in them finding their heart's desire?

Emma Wildes has thoroughly enchanted e-book readers with her emotionally charged storylines so it was only a matter of time before the print world discovered this gem of an author. In AN INDECENT PROPOSAL a shocking bet leads to extraordinary circumstances and some emotional entanglements that none of the characters anticipate. What I found particularly stunning about this storyline is Caroline's bravado in even becoming involved in such a chancy endeavor. Her husband's treatment of her was abysmal and her insecurity and fear of intimacy is very easy to imagine. Of course, Nicholas's gentleness and seductive technique helps ease her fears - and leaves readers sighing in envy. Derek's skills are equally fine tuned but he's so brokenhearted he's finding it difficult to muster any enthusiasm for bedding Caroline. Ms. Wildes tells this story with plenty of compassion, humor and even a bit of suspense to keep readers riveted to each scandalous scene - and everything in between.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

Emma Wildes provides us with two touching romances in one. Sensual and textured this story is like eating a sinfully rich chocolate dessert while lounging on velvet sheets in a forbidden Eden.

This story of two notorious rakes wagering a wicked bet on which of them is the best lover unfolds into a touching and endearing journey of four people battling their own inner demons to find the everlasting love they each thought impossible.

Ms. Wildes brings these characters to life with thoughtful narrative and sparkling dialogue. Each scene so richly described you feel as though you are there. No matter what genre you prefer, this book is a must read for all.

It took a really long time for me to warm up to some of the leads in this story, there are four of them. So long that by time I liked them the book had only a few chapters left.

Heroine Carolyn Wynn is a rather straight laced widow, or so it seems. She has heard about the juvenile bet that best friends Nicholas Manning, the Duke of Rothay and Derek Drake the Earl of Manderville have wagered. Each believes they are the better lover and since Carolyn had a terrible marriage and wants to know about passion she has decided to put herself into the role of judge between the two men. She wants to be discreet though. Here is where her logic flies out the window. Boys will be boys and furthermore there are prying eyes all about the ton but she never thinks through these small trifles, only gets their word that they won't tell.

Nicholas and Derek agree to the wager very quickly. It really had me wondering about this trio, namely what kind of friends take turns with a woman and what kind of woman wants to be passed off and talked about by two men. If Carolyn wanted to taste passion, why not approach one of them privately? She knows both are skilled lovers from ton gossip. Still she agrees to this infantile wager amongst bragging competative men and agrees to first sample Nicholas's lovemaking for a week. Then she will go to Derek's bed.

She has a marvelous time with Nicholas and opens up about her marriage and unthaws her icy reserved self. There are moments that electrify her but also she cannot forget that she has promised to engage in this same bed sport as soon as she is finished with Nicholas. She soon regrets this decision.

Derek is actually in love with someone else, a sweet girl named Annabel and I wish the author had focused a little more on their story. Annabel has loved Derek for a long time but unfortunately he was afraid of commitment. When Annabel saw Derek with another woman after they shared a steamy kiss, her heart was broken. Now she is engaged to a solid, decent nobleman and Derek is going crazy thinking that she is the only one he will ever love. Somehow he must find a way to convince her that they are meant to be together. Whereas Nicholas and Carolyn's romance is fueled by lovemaking, Derek and Annabel's is fueled by deep and long abiding feelings of love. They were a charming couple. Overall I give this novel three stars. The beginning while original never captured me because of the ridiculous bet, but the lovely story of Annabel and Derek was quite engaging.

I put off reading An Indecent Proposition because of the story line. I was afraid it was going to be like the blurb on the back cover suggested. And after reading a string of comtemporaries, I wasn't in the mood for a lot of gratuitous sex. I was wrong, it wasn't like I was afraid it was going to be, and I loved this book. Unlike other reviewers, I didn't think this book was boring in the least. I heartily enjoyed all four leads, which is remarkable to bat a thousand like that. Usually I don't even like both leads in a book, let alone having four who could mess up. I admit I like Derek and Annabel's story better, only because neither one of them had any real baggage. Derek and Nicholas were phenomenal leads. Where can you find men like that? I know--only in a romance novel. They were great, I liked the ladies, and the writing was very good.
Take a chance on this one. It's a winner!

Thirty pages into An Indecent Proposition, I was not sure I was going to keep going. The plot, which involves a respectable widow, Lady Caroline Wynn, secretly offering to be the decision maker in a bet between two aristocrats(who wager on which is the best lover) seemed to contrived. What kind of guy makes a bet like that? To make matters worse there was a lot of sexual longing, without a good reason for sexual longing. I'm all for two people desiring each other, but two virtual strangers feeling lust, is not all that romantic.

But the payoff to this initially strained, situation, is surprisingly tender and sweet. There is not a threesome in sight and even though some of the love scenes are hot--the focus is always on the emotion. I liked the romantic and sexual tension between this avowed rake, and a widow whose husband made her feel unloveable and undesirable. This type of heroine is not uncommon and can be really irritating. But in this case the author pulled it off and I found myself feeling sympathy for Caroline.

I am new to Emma Wildes, and the fact that I have so many of her books ahead, delights me.

Rated 5 out 5 White Roses.

As a young widow, Lady Caroline Wynn has no desire to enter into a new marriage. What she does long for is to finally understand what the big deal of the marriage act is all about. So when she heard of the incredulous albeit drunken wager between the Duke of Rothay and the Earl of Manderville as to who the better lover is, she decided to raise the stakes. In exchange for showing her the delights of the flesh, she will agree to... well.. answer the question of who the better love is between them.

When Nicholas, the Duke of Rothay, realized it was Lady Wynn who sent him and the Earl of Manderville the message that she would resolve the bet between the two men, he found that the word "surprise" was a major understatement. But he couldn't help but be intrigued. There must be a reason why the normally frosty Caroline Wynn would take on such a very scandalous bet. And he not only wants to find out why but also what makes the chilly Caroline burn.

~*~*~*~*~

Ms. Wildes takes regular words and transforms it into a delectable story. Her stories have a tendency of making its readers melt and An Indecent Proposition is true to form.

I loved the characters. I enjoyed watching Caroline transform from hesitant and fearful to awakened and realizing what she truly yearns for in life. I took great delight in how Nicholas tried to get the girl. I even enjoyed the secondary characters like the Earl of Manderville and his addition to the overall story. It all just meshed so well together to make a very dreamy and satisfying read.

It's not only a must keep. It's a story that can be read again and again.

Hugs & Kisses,

The Lustrous Courtesan

readinghaven.com

I was pleasantly surprised by this book - I loved it!! Based on the title, I thought it would be kind of a shallow tromp - more smutty than romantic. Boy was I wrong. I really felt for all four of the main characters and watched them each grow in their own way. I really did not want the story to end. There are two love stories in one here and I thought both were very interesting. I would highly recommend this book. Do not by fooled by the title.

The plotting alone would put this book on my keeper shelf, the premise being that a staid widow (who is in truth a survivor of an awful marriage) agreeing to decide which of two reknowned rakes is the best lover. Of course, the reader of a Regency romance isn't prepared for her heroine or hero to go bed hopping, but trust Wildes to set up some cringe-able situations, and gracefully write us a way around them. Her bad guy is a scurrilous dog, her good guys (we get a very hefty subplot for rake No. 2), are endearing. The writing is terrific, the steam factor substantial, and the book utterly enjoyable.

Not getting into the plot of the story I will say that this was a beautiful and delightful Regency romance. At first I didn't want to read a book where the heroine is supposedly bedding two men in response to a wager two friends place to see who is best lover in London.

However, the moment I started reading AN INDECENT PROPOSITION I knew that it was going to be a great read. Caroline, a widow accepts their wager as she wants to truly believe that there is more to passion that the brutal copulations of her husband. Nicholas and Derek are both amazing heroes and there are two very endearing and lovely love stories in the book - which I wont tell you - you will have to read it to find out.

Needless to say - this book was lovely. Very well written, super sexy, passionate, sexual and so tenderly poignant. You will really fall in love with the characters! I'm off to read LESSONS FROM A SCARLET LADY - if it anything like this book - I am sure I will enjoy it immensely! Not to be missed!

Well, all the prior reviews have done justice. This book is funny in all the right places. The characters were very likable. It is exactly what a romance novel should be. The sensuality was appropriate and not too raw for Regengcy. It's a story about how 2 rakes discover what they fear most. The focus is mainly on the Duke and the heroine and the Earl's story is secondary. The heroine has a very strong character, opinionated, and not afraid to express her thoughts. It a story about a journey one takes to go through the emotions to then realize that love is found and not completely lost. Very romantic tale!