A Daring Proposal - Review

A Daring Proposal (Memorable Proposals, # 3)

By: Jennie Goutet

Publication: February 8, 2022 by Cedar Fort, Inc.

299 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

Source: YouTube Audiobooks

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--She has loved him for as long as she remembers. He is fast discovering his newfound attachment. And now they may never see each other again. Phoebe Tunstall has lived her entire life in the shadow of her outgoing twin sister and in service to her maiden aunt. When she suddenly finds herself alone and free of all responsibility to others, she decides to heed the challenge thrown out by the man she has long admired-her brother's best friend, Lord Ingram. Frederick Ingram is reeling from the shock of learning that his first love has married someone else upon mere weeks' acquaintance. Filled with frustration, he is unable to watch his friend's little sister, Phoebe, living meekly and waiting for happiness to come to her. He tells her to live more boldly. What he does not expect is for her to take it to heart and travel to Brussels as Napoleon begins his march northward. Frederick arrives in Brussels for his military duty and-contrary to his expectation-does not find Phoebe cowering in fear at the threat of the emperor's invasion. Instead, she appears to be the center of Society with every male eye in the city on her. Phoebe is eager to show Frederick exactly what he has been missing out on all these years, and he is finally ready to declare his love. Then war breaks out.

I was looking forward to Phoebe's story through this series. She was the twin I could relate to between her and Anna. Phoebe has been in love with Frederick as long as she can remember. Frederick is her brother's best friend and the brother of one of her best friends. If something happened between them and that ended up ruining the friendship between their two families, Phoebe would be devastated. But what's more devastating is that Frederick never seems to see her. Not the way she wants to be seen anyway.

Frederick had his heart broken. He had an agreement with a lady who backed out of the arrangement in favor of another man. His eyes have now been opened to her true character. He dares Phoebe in passing one day to do something bold, daring, and unexpected. And she decides to take him up on it.

Phoebe decides it's time she quit pining over a man who does not see her. And she takes her friend's offer to travel with her and her husband to Brussels. Only war is heading toward Brussels, and Frederick is sent to the area, as well. Frederick expects Phoebe to rush back home, but she isn't interested in doing that. He's now there and in danger. As well as her friend's husband who is also in the military. She can't think of abandoning them.

Frederick begins to see a change in Phoebe. She isn't who he always thought her to be. She is coming out of her shell and being the center of attention in Brussels. Many of the men have their eyes on her, one in particular. Frederick and Phoebe grow closer just as war does.

A Daring Proposal was a quick listen for me. And I really enjoyed the historical facts included in the text, specifically the battle that took place. I could picture the scene so clearly. And Jennie Goutet did a great job making it feel like history was coming to life. Of course, the romance has to drive the story in most cases for me to love a book, and that didn't disappoint. A Daring Proposal was a good close to this series and gets 4 Stars from me. Have you read or listened to A Daring Proposal? What did you think? Let me know!

A Faithful Proposal - Review

A Faithful Proposal (Memorable Proposals, # 2)

By: Jennie Goutet

Publication: July 1, 2021 by Cedar Fort, Inc.

305 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

Source: YouTube Audiobooks

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--She was born to lead London Society. He could not leave it fast enough.

With a few well-placed words in the right ear, Anna Tunstall can direct anyone to do her bidding, exactly the skill needed for one destined to be the wife of a man in politics. A summer visit to a friend’s country estate is the perfect distraction before the London Season begins and Anna can achieve her ambition of a perfect match.

Harry Aston has spurned the noble aspirations of his family to enter holy orders where he might make a difference in people’s lives. His mother’s untiring attempts to find him a wife worthy—and wealthy—enough to suit him only serve to set up his back. He has never been in love, and she should not think that suitable wives dropped down from heaven, especially not in the village of Avebury.

When Harry finds Anna unconscious on the road, and she awakens in his arms, his world shifts at her gaze. But before he can think that heaven has come through at last, he must convince Anna that her prolonged stay in Avebury is not fate’s way of toying with her, but rather opening her eyes to a new direction for her ambitions—and her heart.

Anna is very different from me. Sometimes this makes reading a character more fun, and other times it makes them hard to relate to. Anna comes off as shallow. She likes gossip and fashion. And she bonded with...oh shoot...what was her name?...her friend over these things before her friend married and moved from London. Anna is now on her way to visit her friend before her confinement while her husband is away at war. Anna is headstrong and often disregards logic and sense for her own whims. She's one of those people that thinks "Oh, that could never happen to me." But it seems "that" often does happen to her.

After dismissing the idea of traveling with any sort of male escort and only hiring a temporary maid, her coach is robbed by highwaymen. Anna is found by Harry, the local vicar, and deposited with her friend to recover. Harry is almost immediately taken with Anna's beauty. But he needs to know there is more to Anna than her looks.

Harry is of noble birth, but all things London and high society rub him completely wrong. Most especially, his family. He does battle with wondering whether Anna is as surface level as she gives off because as a vicar, he needs his bride to be deeper than that and concerned with more than simply herself. Anna does rise to the occasion, but I was a little disappointed that he didn't probe deeper into her faith. As a vicar, I would imagine it isn't good enough to have a kind wife. Wouldn't you need a believing wife as well? And given the main role that Harry has, I would have expected to see some deeper religious themes used throughout the book. I wasn't put off by it, but it was something I noted.

A Faithful Propopsal has a few mysteries wrapped up in the overall storyline. Who are the highwaymen who robbed Anna at the beginning of the book? Why were her possessions returned to her? Anna's friend's husband is missing. Will he return or will she finally receive news that he is dead? Or will he remain missing? This was perhaps one of my favorite parts of the overall story, and I can't spoil anything surrounding it.

A Faitfhul Proposal wasn't a perfect book for me. I had a few issues with Anna as a character, to begin with. I wanted to see a little more depth to Anna where Harry was concerned. Sure I didn't expect her to change just for his sake, but are they truly the best fit for each other? I did enjoy the side stories because they didn't take over the main plot, but I felt like they truly did add to the story instead of take away which can sometimes happen in romantic mysteries. I give A Faithful Proposal 3 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) A Faithful Proposal? What did you think? Let me know!

A Regrettable Proposal - Review

A Regrettable Proposal (Memorable Proposal, # 1)

By: Jennie Goutet

Publication: July 1, 2021 by Cedar Fort, Inc

349 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Orphaned at a young age, Eleanor wants nothing more than to settle in a home of her own. Stratford, having met once with betrayal, desires a woman who will be true. When a complicated inheritance forces them together, they little expect this to be the answer to their innermost desires.

Eleanor Daventry has come into money, but the inheritance comes with a condition: she must marry to have it. Steadfast and independent, she would rather become a schoolmistress than take a husband she does not love.

Stratford Tunstall has just discovered his predecessor willed the estate’s unentailed land to Miss Daventry. Although cynical regarding love, the man recognizes a practical solution when he sees one. He and Miss Daventry must marry, and Stratford wastes no time in pressing his suit—with disastrous results.

In the face of such an insulting proposal, Eleanor flees to London where she lands unwittingly in the home of Stratford’s closest friends. Now thrown together constantly, Eleanor can't help admiring his masterful apologies, never mind how often he must deliver them. Stratford concedes that, against all his predictions, Eleanor enjoys success with the ton. How fortunate. Now, if only her suitors didn’t feel the need to apply to him for advice.

When combined forces threaten Eleanor’s reputation, Stratford realizes it's more than her land he cares about. Somehow, he'll have to convince Eleanor that his coming to her rescue is a deed inspired by love.

I listened to this one on audiobook and finished it over a month before writing this review.

Stratford has recently come into his title. If I remember correctly, this wasn't a title he was expecting to inherit in the first place. He's taken some time to adjust to his new role, and now it's time for the estate business to be handled. Stratford finds out that his uncle (I think) entailed the most profitable part of his land to an orphan. But he left it on the condition that she marry. Stratford is a practical man, and he's also had his heart broken. Once secretly engaged, his previous fiance broke off the engagement for another man when he went to war . The problem is, she never ended up marrying the other man either, and now she has her sights set back in Stratford. He isn't interested anymore now that he's seen her true colors.

Eleanor never expected to marry. She has always imagined that she would become a governess or school mistress. The fact that she has some land to inherit isn't moving her toward marriage as one might expect. Instead, she sees the land as being the only thing many of the men who seem interested in her want. They don't want her. They want her potential land. Stratford, himself, is one of them. He proposed to her almost immediately upon finding out the situation....only he was drunk and insulting while he did it.

Stratford realizes quickly that he needs to apologize, and he is interested in Eleanor for more than the land. The trouble is that he keeps making mistakes that he needs to apologized for. I suppose I've just restated the description. So I'll say that I laughed at Stratford and wanted to shake him a little for his missteps. Eleanor was a little obtuse when it came to Stratford's feelings. But I'm thankful she didn't show much interest in the other gentlemen who attempted to court her. Although giving up security isn't easy, Eleanor knew she would rather marry for love than for convenience.

The side characters are wonderful. Eleanor's friend, Lydia, had her own story. Lydia is a bit silly, and she has a journey to find her own match in this book as well. I do love when I get a two for one. Lydia's story might have been the more romantic of the two. I won't give too much away, but multiple gentlemen are interested in her. One of which seems to have no shot at winning her. He is more serious, but Lydia realizes that his regard for her is genuine. Their story was a wonderful addition to this book. Phoebe and Anna are twins, and they lead the next two books in the series. Lydia's brother is also Stratford's best friend so we learn about him in this book.

I definitely saw the nods to Jane Austen. I can't remember all of them, but I feel like the opening line or sequence of this one was basically a direct reference. And then there were others throughout as well. I like these little bits of fan service and honoring of the authors who have come before and so many lovers of historical fiction adore.

A Regrettable Proposal gets 3.5 Stars. I enjoyed the audiobook narrator, Annadee Morgan, did a great job as well. A good story with a two for one romance. The side characters are enjoyable which is great since the series continues on with them. Have you read or listened to A Regrettable Proposal by Jennie Goutet? What did you think? Let me know!