A Proposal of Marriage

4.5 Stars Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of A Proposal of Marriage by Cheryl Bolen. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this delightful novel prior to publication. My opinions are mine alone, and no one has influenced them. A Proposal of Marriage is a lovely Regency romance with engaging characters and a traditional plot for this genre. I thoroughly enjoy the marriage of convenience troupe, and Ms. Bolen is a master at making them work. The pacing of the story kept me enmeshed from the beginning to the end, making it a pleasure to read. Rebecca Peabody is an endearing heroine. She has lived in the shadow of her beautiful sister unable to see her own beauty. She has several facets to her character because she goes from bold to retiring throughout the book. Her boldness has her proposing to the hero, a man who is much older than she. When it doesn’t reap what she expects, she returns to retiring persona. John Compton, the Earl of Ainsley, is an honorable hero, my personal favorite. He has a large family, and his children are the most important responsibility he has, and one he relishes. Although a widow, he is not looking for a wife. I loved his determination to do right by his six boys and a daughter ready for her first London season. When he comes to the realization his younger sons need a woman’s love and his daughter needs guidance, he goes to Rebecca and proposes to her. Even though, she believed he is too old to be interested in the physical side of marriage, he is confident he can change her mind. I love how he gets her to understand her sexuality exists, and it’s something she desires. The romance between Rebecca and John is a slow build as they learn more about each other once they wed. I’ve never been a fan of spring and autumn relationships, because for me, I could never find a man so much older than I attractive, so it’s hard for me to accept other women do. Rebecca is an old soul, mature beyond her years while John has remained young at heart, so their marriage works beautifully. I could see Rebecca and John as soul mates and wanted them to find their happy ending. If you enjoy Regency romances with the signature aspect of building sexual attraction, and one with characters you’ll grow to love, then you will find A Proposal of Marriage an engaging reading experience as much as I did. I have read Ms. Bolen’s novels for years, and this one is an excellent example of why I enjoy her books. I’m glad I found this while searching titles on Net-Galley. Happy reading!

A delightfully entertaining Regency romance, this novel has all the attributes of a good romantic comedy. Rebecca has had her fill with living with his sister and brother-in-law and therefore proposes marriage to the elderly Earl of Aynsley. The not-so-very-old John Compton finds her highly amusing and is also intrigued by Miss Peabody's proposal, but when he links her name to the writer of political essays in the news sheets, he finds his interest piqued. Marrying John takes all of Rebecca's courage, but being confronted by four of his seven children, taxes her resources to the full as she battles to overcome mistrust and undisciplined behaviour. Winning the boys over is an easier feat than breaking through her step-daughter's barriers but Rebecca does not know the meaning of giving up. I loved the main characters in this book, as John is thrown off balance by his bluestocking bride. Rebecca cannot help but keep falling into trouble and it takes more than a little ingenuity to win her step-children over. This novel is entertaining with wonderful characters and comes to a happy and successful conclusion. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you Ms Bolen! I enjoy reading all of your books thus far. A romance author speaks strongly and eloquently when she wielded her quill (computer :D) with words that captivates her readers instead of resorting to describing in great details the bedroom scenes! And you are 1 of them. I look forward to enjoying more Regency from you.