ISBN:0-380-81558-3
Publisher: Avon Historical Romance
Source: I purchased this book to read
An Offer From A Gentleman is the third book in Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series. This book explores the relationship between Benedict Bridgerton (the second born) and Sophie Beckett, an illegitimate daughter of an earl.
At the annual Bridgerton’s masquerade ball Benedict – the second of the Bridgerton siblings – falls in love with a beautiful masked woman who suddenly disappears around midnight in true Cinderella fashion. Benedict searches unsuccessfully for years for the masked woman he fell in love with. One night he rescues Sophie Beckett and starts to fall in love with her.
Sophie is the illegitimate daughter of the Earl of Penwood. She is left in the care of Araminta, her “stepmother” when her father dies. Like the storybook Cinderella, Sophie becomes the unpaid servant of the family. One evening the other household servants decide to dress her up and send her to the Bridgerton masquerade ball as a treat. The aftermath of this ball are horrible for Sophie. She is turned out of her own home without anywhere to live and no job to support herself. She lands on her feet, however, and runs into Benedict again years later while trying to fend off the lecherous attentions of the son of her latest employer. (all good Regency Romances have to have a lecher!) After Sophie nurses Benedict back to health from a bad cold, he takes Sophie home to find a position in his family home not realizing that she is his fantasy woman from so many years ago. There is something about Sophie that brings out the best in Benedict. He finds himself drawn to her as he was to his mystery woman from years ago. Lady Bridgerton, being the astute mother that she is, sees the chemistry between Sophie and her son. Always trying to marry her children off, she tries to determine if Sophie would make a good daughter-in-law. Benedict seems to struggle with the class difference between Sophie and himself. When Benedict suggests making Sophie his mistress she shows her backbone and stands up for what she believes is right.
Julia Quinn does a wonderful job of taking this story from such a prickly situation to a wonderful ending. In the end, Love Conquers All, and we end our story with a two Kleenex ending. Julia Quinn not only provides us with a whole host of roll-on-the-ground laughing interactions between the Bridgerton siblings, but a masterful weaving of a true love story between the members of different classes in Regency England.
The Romance Reader gives An Offer 4 stars and says the following: “An Offer From A Gentleman is as close to a five heart book as I’ve read in a long time. The only thing that kept it from being a perfect read for me could well be the fairy tale quality that permeated the story. In my favorite books, the characters become as real to me as friends, but I felt a bit at arm’s length here.
If you’ve enjoyed the Bridgerton series, there’s no question you’ll love An Offer From A Gentleman. And the mysterious Lady Whistledown, whose Society Papers have opened each chapter in the books, has finally put down her pen. Hopefully, in the next book her identity will be revealed. I can hardly wait.”
RT Book Reviews also gives An Offer from A Gentleman 4 stars and says the following: “With her trademark style, witty repartee, humorous antics and delightful cast of characters, Julia Quinn has penned another winner in this enchanting Cinderella love story.”
