The Proposition (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author) "The most highborn lady Mick had ever been with-the wife of a sitting member of the House of Lords, as it turned out-told him that..." (more)
Key Phrases: annual ball, Miss Bollash, Mick Tremore, Duke of Arles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Setting: Regency England
Sensuality Rating: 8

Lady Edwina Bollash is a talented linguist, but she may have taken on more than she can handle when she accepts the challenge of transforming handsome commoner Mick Tremore into a gentleman. She only has six weeks to accomplish the daunting task, but Mick proves to be a quick study. Unfortunately for Edwina, Mick is also utterly irresistible. Edwina soon finds herself loving everything about the brash charmer whose approach to life is so less restrictive than her own. But she's a lady and he's a commoner--or is he? And Lady Edwina can't possibly have a future with this handsome, impossible man--or can she?

The classic Pygmalion tale takes on a new twist in Ivory's version with a plot that springs some surprises on the reader. With a villain one loves to hate, a hero and heroine that are so much fun to watch spar and spark, and a cast of secondary characters that add texture, The Proposition is pure delight. Don't miss the fun. --Lois Faye Dyer

From Publishers Weekly

When her father dies, Lady Edwina Bollash is ousted from her ancestral home in Regency London by her greedy cousin, the new Duke of Arles. To support herself, Edwina gives elocution and deportment classes to country folk and foreigners eager to enter polite society. She becomes so successful that twin lords Emile and Jeremy Lamont challenge her to turn Mick Tremore, an ill-mannered, uncouth Cornish rat catcher, into a gentleman and pass him off as a viscount at her cousin's annual society ball. Intrigued by the subject's accent and eager to exact some personal revenge, Edwina agrees to the wager. Little does she know that her life is about to be turned inside out: she discovers that Mick is a virile, handsome, incorrigible man. His wicked propositions boggle her virginal heart but stir her womanly passions. Through skillful writing, Ivory (Beast) captures the subtle sensual pleasures of her colorful characters, creating a sexy varitation on My Fair Lady. (Dec.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (December 8, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380802600
• ISBN-13: 978-0380802609
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #409,568 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SUPER DUPER FIVE STARS FOR THE PROPOSITION!, December 1, 1999

By	Julianne "bicoastalite" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Proposition is my first Judith Ivory novel and I am sooooooo impressed! I read all the great reviews regarding this book and when I got my hands on this book, I couldn't put it down! True to the reviews, this book has great plot, great characters and a great ending! Loved Mick and Winnie's story and I laughed so much! And there were many poignant moments, as well! The sexual chemitry between the two were strong and powerful... I just couldn't get enough of the two!Mick, even when he was "unpolished" was sexy and totally charming! My heart just went out to him! As for Winne, she was not the typical romance heroine but strong and individual and beautiful in her own way. I just like Winne so much! After I finished the book, I had to flip through it again to savor the "good" parts.

If you're thinking about getting this book, don't wait- GO GET IT NOW!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Proposition Is Irresistible, December 7, 1999

By	Kathleen Eagle (the woods of Minnesota) - See all my reviews

I've been a Judith Ivory/Judy Cuevas fan for a long time, and I have to say "The Proposition" is one of her best. In a delightful variation on the "My Fair Lady" theme, Ivory gives us rat catcher as a hero. And, oh, what a lovable rat catcher he is! Mick enjoys life to the fullest. He's proud to be a working man. He and his collection of dogs and ferrets are hell-on-wheels at rat-catching, much to the delight of those in need of their services. From the first raucous scene, there's side-splitting humor, heart-mending sweetness, heart-pounding sensuality. The chemistry between Mick and Winnie--the tutor charged with turning him into a "gentleman"--is delicious, and the way Ivory handles the linguistics aspect of the story is masterful. It's a fabulous feel-good story--perfect for holiday reading!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Opposites Attract, January 30, 2000

By	Barbara Chadwick "barbchadwick" (Virginia Beach, VA) - See all my reviews

What characters could be more diverse than Edwina Bollash, a prim, impoverished spinster linguist and Mick, the handsome Cockney ratcatcher? Set in Victorian London, this romance is a retelling of old tales, a mixture of "Cinderella" and "Pygmalion." Winnie, who has been disinherited by her Scrooge-like cousin, takes on a bet to transform Mick into a perfect British peer in six weeks time. While trying to concentrate on rounding his vowels and sprucing up his appearance, she becomes increasingly aware of his fun-loving personality and his impressive physique. Mick sees a selfconcious innocent, who is unaware of her physical beauty. Sexual tension crackles page after page as the protagionists are attracted like magnets to each other. Ms. Ivory has written a beautiful story, one even better then her previous works, "Beast" and "Sleeping Beauty." I loved this book! I cared about the characters and loved them at the end as much as they loved each other. They were meant to be together; they complemented and completed each other. Brava, Ms. Ivory! I'll wait impatiently for your next Victorian fairytale!