The Lady's Proposal

Rating:
Summary: Sensuality at its best -- Highly recommended
Review: Lady Clarissa Pomeroy believes that marriage consists of the ultimate sacrifice. While she considers the parade through London's ballrooms of the marriage market to be insulting and maddening, Clarissa also pragmatically admits that she can't change the way of things. But she can and will control how she meets the conditions of her grandfather's will that dictate her marriage.

Clarissa chooses to propose a marriage of convenience to Simon Sinclair, Earl of Sheridan, because she believes him to be trustworthy and of sound reputation. She also believes he'll honor his word regarding her personal expenditures. Clarissa funds Haven House, a home for unwed mothers of the lower classes. In so doing, she disregards the current social standards which dictate that she not even have knowledge of such women and unfortunate circumstances. Such social concern would leave her at the mercy of gossips and shunned by society should word ever get out.

Given the strict rules specified in her grandfather's will, the physical attraction and strange yearning that she feels in the Earl's presence is of no consequence. She certainly won't admit that she's been in love with Simon for two years. Likewise, Simon will not admit his own attraction, except in the most physical sense.

Clarissa's opposite, Simon is conservative, has no understanding of the need for women's rights, and dislikes progressive thinking. Indeed Clarissa's Scottish stubbornness as well as her boldness makes her entirely unsuitable for marriage. Even as he intends to curb her boldness, however, Simon admires her publicly quiet and self-contained ways.

Sexual tension and the promise of a passionate body to match her high spirit cause Simon to accept Clarissa's proposal. Intrigued by the seeming contradictions of character, Simon admires the very qualities he's intent upon changing. His intentions of turning the bold Lady Pomeroy into a submissive and obedient wife are doomed to failure.

Patricia Waddell pens a delightful "marriage of convenience" tale certain to please fans of this sub-genre. With her characteristic knowledgeable style, she presents the period with a clarity that brings freshness to the era. The characters are drawn with realism and compassion, creating believable and sympathetic people. Further, Simon's conditions for marriage, that she perform her wifely duty "whenever, wherever, and however" he wishes forms an exciting sensual premise. Indeed, Sexual tension and burning desire create a passionate read that comes highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Historical
Review: Lady Clarissa Pomeroy finds herself in need of a husband if she is to keep her inheritance in 1886 England. Her most likely candidate is Simon Sinclair, Earl of Sheridan, an acquaintance of her late grandfather's whom Clarissa has loved and admired for some time. Fortunately, Simon agrees to Clarissa's proposal, and the pair are wed.

Though they are physically attracted to one another, both Simon and Clarissa feel that each is not fully trusting the other. Clarissa is reluctant to involve Simon in her charity work because she is afraid that he will curtail it. Simon can't believe that Clarissa appears to exert such control over him, making him feel things he has never felt before.

Patricia Waddell has written a pleasing historical which explores the complexities of love and obediance in a nineteenth century marriage. The heroine struggles to be seen as a woman of intelligence and value as more than an ornament on her husband's arm and the bearer of his heirs. The complexities of the main characters carry this novel to a satisfactory conclusion.

Rating:
Summary: a wonderful heroine who deserves better than this!
Review: Lady Clarissa Pomeroy is an independent and intelligent young woman who has been running a couple of halfway houses for unwed mothers without her grandfather's consent or approval for a good many years. Her grandfather's will however has seriously jeopardized all her hard work. Seeking to control her from the grave, in a manner he never was able to in life, her grandfather has decreed that she must be married within 14 months of his death or else lose all his wealth. Backed into a corner, Lady Clarissa turns to the only honourable man she knows to get her out of this jam, Simon Sinclair, the Earl of Sheridan. Lady Clarissa has been in love with Simon these past few years, and since she must marry, she'd rather marry a man she's in love with and who has a reputation of being honourable. And so she proposes marriage to him, and promises to be a good and honourable wife but asks that she have complete control of a small portion of her own inheritance to with as she wishes, and that Simon promise never to question or investigate how she spends her money. For while Simon has many honourable qualities, he has a somewhat old fashioned outlook about women -- seeing them as not very intelligent or capable beings, in need of strict guidance, and like her grandfather, she fears that he will thoroughly disapprove of her work. Simon agrees to Clarissa's proposal, and they marry. And their marriage seems to be working out, sexually at least. Ideals and ideas wise, they seem to be poles apart. And then a crisis occurs at one of the halfway houses and Clarissa leaves to take care of the matter, arousing Simon's suspicions and curiosity. Of course he breaks his promise to her and follows her. Of course he is appalled at Clarissa's notion of charity, while Clarissa is hurt that he broke his word to her. Can these two heal their marriage and come to a better understanding with each other?

A better question is do we even want them to? Simon Sheridan is unfortunately exactly the kind of hero I really to dislike and have no sympathy for. The man is supremely confident that he is always right, and the arrogant manner in which he frequently debated with Clarissa on matters of social reform and politics, and dismissed her concerns made my blood boil. The only question I had was what was this wonderful woman doing with a man like that? Patricia Waddell does rehabilitate Simon in the last chapter, but by then I was rooting for her to run away from him. This novel could probably have been saved if Simon had been rehabilitated halfway through the novel, instead of which he spent much of the book fearing for Clarissa's social survival within Victorian society. I just felt that a wonderful heroine like Clarissa (and I really liked her) deserved someone who would appreciate her more fully and completely, who was more sensitive, honourable and socially aware. Perhaps I'm being totally unrealistic, and perhaps I'm alone in wanting for my romance heroes to be at least a little bit worthy of these wonderful heroines, but I really felt that Clarissa was totally wasted on Simon Sheridan.

"A Lady's Proposal" gives the reader some idea of the social conditions in mid 19th century England, and is informative from a socio-political point-of-view, but romance wise I just felt cheated.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Historical
Review: The Lady's Proposal is an entertaining historical romance with a rarely found twist of charm and wit. The strong characters make for an enchanting romance with a bold plot and lots of interesting history. Simon is the kind of hero I love to hate, until like the heroine I find myself falling in love with him. I highly recommend this book and this new author. Carole (who reads a book a day!)

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Historical
Review: The Lady's Proposal is an entertaining historical romance with a rarely found twist of charm and wit. The strong characters make for an enchanting romance with a bold plot and lots of interesting history. Simon is the kind of hero I love to hate, until like the heroine I find myself falling in love with him. I highly recommend this book and this new author. Carole (who reads a book a day!)