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Summary: Terrific characters; sweet love story
Review: A sweet couple that bring out the best in each other. Edwina, so buttoned-up, self-conscious and chronically worried, needs some of Mick's fun loving, free spirited, spontaneous outlook on life. Mick needs a bit of Edwina's self control, polish (both verbal and physical) and understanding of the behaviour and habits of the gentry he has heretofore only observed from the outside. As another reviewer pointed out, it's a bit of a mix of "Cinderella" and "Pygmalion".To his surprise Mick finds that his usual charm is apparently having little affect on Winnie (though it has a definite affect on the reader - he's adorable, sweet, sexy). She's skittish, incredibly insecure and it takes all of Mick's patience and charm to slowly earn her trust and pull her out of her shell. Winnie does not want to be pulled out of her shell, but she slowly begins to see that there is fun to be had out there and that she wants at least a small bit of it! There were some terrrific scenes - when Mick negotiates with Winnie to look at her legs and when Mick takes Winnie into his world (a pub in the East End) where Winnie really lets her hair down! But one complaint I have is that some scenes seemed to go on too long giving a dragging effect. Some quibble with the oh-so-convenient ending, but hey, it's a spin on a fairy tale - why not have a happy ending! An enjoyable read.
Rating: 
Summary: I LOVED THIS STORY!
Review: I found myself grinning like a fool all the way through this delightful story--at times even laughing out loud. I held my breath in anticipation, waiting for Edwina to finally show Mick her legs. One of my favorite books in a long time.
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Summary: Spoiler alert - lovers of fairy tales, revised, will like...
Review: There is a growing trend to rewrite and revise fairy tales as romances. For example, Julia Quinn's latest book in the Bridgerton series, at least two books by Katherine Kingsley, and several books by Judith Ivory. In some senses, the romance novel (or novella) can be viewed as a modern day fairy tale for women, with the Happily Ever After (HEA) ending. [Well, it is true that a very few fairy tales have unhappy endings...]. If you think of this point, reading and appreciating Judith Ivory's works becomes much easier, as does appreciating the romance genre in general. From the point of realism (and I tend to be a bit of one), this novel has plenty of faults, beginning with Edwina's lack of wealth, her social status, her lack of family, and the knowledge of the author about the peerage in general. The contrived ending is a major problem, as is the idea that a ratcatcher, even a highly intelligent one, can be converted into a gentleman within a few weeks - a process that takes even Professor Henry Higgins (MY FAIR LADY, PYGMALION) several months. If you set these problems aside, the story is quite enjoyable and also rather unusual. While one of Christina Dodd's books and a book by Stephanie Laurens both feature finishing governesses of good birth as heroines, this book differs in making the hero not a peer but - a ratcatcher. Some readers will react with disgust, but that made the story intriguing enough for me (coupled with the excerpt featuring the bet about the legs) to pick the book up. The first half is indeed quite interesting, although Edwina is too quick to agree to the bet (ladies were usually far more prudish, especially when Mick makes an even more outrageous suggestion). That she accedes quickly suggests that she is more than willing to go along, which says all kinds of things about her, Mick, and their relationship. The book drags a bit in the middle. The real problem I had was with the ending. Firstly, the hero is oh-so-conveniently the lost grandson of the mean cousin who has succeeded Edwina's father. Secondly, it is oh-so-easy for this Duke to name Mick as his heir, and assume that it will be easy for Mick to prove his claim. [Such a claim would usually drag on for years, with the Tichborne case being one example. And there, the claimant had inside help from a member of the family. Same here, except that Edwina supposedly has no big desire to be a duchess, or does she?]. While I enjoyed the first half of this book (even swallowing the various incongruities initially), I cannot say that I was happy with the ending. While I love a happy ending, I also want the ending to be realistic. It is curious, though, that I was willing to accept that the hero in A LONDON SEASON (Joan Wolf) was actually an earl's lost heir, but not so willing to believe the same of the hero of this book. Perhaps the difference lies in the circumstances - the hero of the former was discovered by his features and by the place of his birth and his mother's maiden name; there are no such details for THE PROPOSITION's hero to make this believable. Nor is it easy to believe that the law and polite society would look as kindly on Mick's claim. Alas, reality intrudes into my fairy tale visions of Edwina and Mick.
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Summary: Shaw must be spinning in his grave!
Review: As much as I enjoyed Judith Ivory's main characters and her sense of humor in "The Proposition," I felt that playwright George Bernard Shaw must be spinning in his grave! Mick Tremore is the masculine counterpart of Eliza Doolittle, and Lady Edwina Bollash is the feminine version of Henry Higgins of "Pygmalion" fame. Because of a bet, Edwina has the preposterous job of transforming Mick into a gentleman in six weeks. (I believe Shaw gave Henry Higgins more time.) In "Pygmalion," Eliza protested when given a bath, and Mick replayed the scene (with the addition of the butler being thrown in the tub!) Ms.Ivory adds her own touch in a scene involving Mick's enchantment with Edwina's legs,but the majority of the book is predictable once you've read Shaw. I think I'll stick to Nora Roberts, Judith McNaught...and Shaw.
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Summary: An interesting, unique story
Review: This is my first Judith Ivory book, and I'd have to say that I wasn't disappointed. I fairly loved it aside from the unbelievable plot points - how could Mick learn so quickly (it was written as though he could because of his blue-bloodness), how he was accepted by the duke so quickly and the whole ending was just too neat & tidy. I would have much preferred it if Mick & Winnie would have flouted convention (of life & rules of romance novels of having a PERFECT ending) and went off to live their lives in the country as they had planned before the 'ending'. That would have truly made the story perfect for me. I did love the characters, both Mick & Winnie. They were both boldly written, unique. I loved the fact that Winnie wasn't 'perfect' and Mick totally loved her for herself. I'll definitely read more Judith Ivory in the future!
Rating: 
Summary: A fair book
Review: I started out really wanting to like this book. The number of positive reviews, the premise of the story all made me buy the book. Initially the story was great, a twist on "My Fair Lady" by having the man be a ratcatcher and the Lady a former duke's daughter and now teaching speech. The characters were likeable and the book had its moments, unfortunately ... that's where it ended. I found the book a little too slow moving, especially for a large chunk of the middle. Eventually I just skipped to the later part of the book, to the 'party' where the ratcatcher/viscount was to make his public appearance. And really, I don't think I missed much at all. Some of the interesting characters in the book like the 'evil' duke who threw his niece out at 17 was not developed at all. Neither was the reason for his being mean and later simply giving the entire dukedom to the ratcatcher (who turns out to be his long lost grandson). All in all a fair read, with such great concept. But the storyline fails to deliver.
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Summary: Oh My! "Wouldn't It Be Loverly!"
Review: This book is a strange combination of the movies "My Fair Lady," "Titanic," and "The Piano," and the heroine looks like Meryl Streep, right down to the bump on her long nose. Stranger still? It works. It really does, and the result is enchanting. The hero is magnificently well-adjusted AND masculine (reminds me of Jamie in Diana Gabaldon's books). He's comfortable in his own skin and teaches the heroine how to be comfortable in hers too. I understand the reviewer who complained about the ending and some of the plot devices, and even though I think she's right, I can't explain why for me, with this book, these problems were no problems. Perhaps because the characters were so very charming. I loved it. If Ms. Ivory's other books even come close to this---well, I'm hooked.
Rating:
Summary: The Proposition
Review: SPOILER WARNING This was an interesting, beautifully written book. The premise was darling--a role-reversed Pygmalion/My Fair Lady. The characters were well-developed. Mick, especially, was a treat. I get so tired of reading about arrogant cads. This guy was confident without being arrogant, and sensitive without being a wimp. Oh, what a doll! I even liked it that he was a ratcatcher, since I thoroughly despise rats and mice. Any man who will keep those vile creatures out of my house is a guy I can love! The table scene had me panting. That was one fine piece of sensual writing. I loved how the heroine wasn't a perfect beauty, and that the hero saw the beauty inside her. What I didn't like: The plot draggggggged along. A little less exposition and more action would have helped. Winnie's obsession with being ugly wore thin. The process of transforming Mick could have commanded more attention and details. Even the smartest people take a while to learn all the nuances of becoming a different type of person--and he apparently had a lot to learn. That he learned it in an amazingly short period of time was unrealistic, but I can accept his high intelligence as the reason for that better than the other implied in the book: learning an upper-class accent and customs all came so easily to him because he was a duke's grandson. The ending was terrible! I would have much preferred for Mick to use his new polish to make a success of himself on his own, than to be the "long-lost" heir to a duke. The book seemed to be heading in the direction of having Nick firmly in charge of his own destiny. I'm disappointed that Ms. Ivory didn't follow through with that. I would actually give this book 3 1/2 stars for the flaws, but it definitely wasn't a 3 star effort. Hence, the 4.
Rating:
Summary: Nice Version of Pygmalion
Review: Very poignant story with real characters, not perfect, plastic people. The whole book is an interesting read, too, not just the love scenes. I anxiously await the delivery of her other two books.
Rating:
Summary: A Little Slow
Review: When a bet is made that Lady Edwin Bollash can't make a gentleman out of ratcatcher Mick Tremore, it turns out to be a lesson in diction and grammar. Lady Bollash is a sort of 'ugly ducking' while Mick is a handsome hero too good looking for his own good. She finally teaches him how to speak properly, act like gentry, and he pulls is off. He on the other hand teaches her to let go of her up-tightness and fly free and enjoy life and not worry so much. I liked the basic content of this story, but the action and romance were a little slow and I really had to push myself to finish this book.
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