Customer Reviews

Proposal

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3 star:		(2)
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This book was not up to the standard of her other books "Road to Ruin" and "Kissing a Stranger". I felt that Sophie was detached from the hero, Cassian, who was obviously madly in love with her. She was so independent that she never appeared to be in love with Cassian. She was not English and often spoke in another language, which was shown in italics and it often detracted from the flow and often annoyed me. At first, it was promising because it seemed to have a good plot and the heroine was independent, intelligent and good-- but I felt she was a little cold. She did not realize she loved him until the end of the novel. The two characters never developed a rapport and in the end it was difficult for me to believe that these two people loved each other as the author alluded. Even when she accepted his honorable proposal of marriage, it was more of a logical decision rather than one stemming from deep love. So many authors make create female characters which are annoying and naive. Sophie was a bit too realistic and cold and not idealistic enough.

Buy this book if you want to pass the time, but its mediocre at best and won't make it to my "keeper" shelf.

Read "Road to Ruin" and "Kissing a Stranger", which have charming characters and strong plots.

At first, I thought this book had everything it needed to be a great romance. A beautiful, smart and independent woman. A mysterious and handsome dark hero. Unfortunatlely, the characters never seemed to click. I thought Sophie a bit cold. She agreed to marry Cassian but didn't really acknowledge that she loved him. She didn't do that until the end. This made the acceptance of his marriage proposal a bit cold and calculating. She was entirely too detached to be in love.

This book wasn't bad, it just wasn't very good.

In 1795, Sophie Pinnock's beloved spouse passed away. For the next two years, while grieving her loss, Sophie continued the family business partnership with Fingal Moncrieff, who took full credit for her artistic landscaping designs. However, when he becomes too familar and her in-laws push her to marry him against her will, Sophie has had enough. When she refuses his marriage proposal, he dissolves the partnership and walks off with her designs since the evidence support his claim that they are his. Even without her portfolio, Sophie decides to go ahead and try to procure the landscaping job of Cassian Carysfort, Lord Bevington.

Cassian hires Sophie and quickly finds himself very attracted to the lovely widow. He pursues her, desiring to make Sophie his mistress. However, Sophie will never accept the role of a mistress even though she finds herself falling in love with her handsome patron. Can there be room for compromise between the two of them so that he will make herfhis wife?

Margaret Evans Porter is highly regarded for her moving Regency romances (see DANGEROUS DIVERSIONS or TOAST OF THE TOWN, etc.). Her current novel, THE PROPOSAL, is a sensitive romance filled with radiant characters and enumerate intricate historical details. However, Ms. Porter's homage to the era's posh gardens provides a reinvigorating twist to a fabulous Regency romance.

Harriet Klausner

Margaret Evans Porter knows Regency England inside out and it shows in her writing. Reading her wonderful book, you feel immediately as if you are *there* living in that time. I love a story with a strong, talented heroine such as this one has, and especially one who prevails in a man's world with only her wits and integrity for weapons. The hero is fascinating and the conflicts are strong and compelling. Readers who love romance and demand and appreciate a marvelously done historical are in for a treat.