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Welcome also to Series Sunday!
We all know that I love books in series!! Regency romances in series are even better! Lately we’ve been working our way through the Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn. This week is book 3 in the series and my personal favorite. I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this review and enjoy reviewing this series in anticipation of the new release at the end of May. Anyone know how many days away that is???
An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
ISBN:0-380-81558-3
Publisher: Avon Historical Romance
Source: I purchased this book to read
Will she accept his offer before the clock strikes midnight?
Sophie Beckett never dreamed she’d be able to sneak into Lady Bridgerton’s famed masquerade ball—or that “Prince Charming” would be waiting there for her! Though the daughter of an earl, Sophie has been relegated to the role of servant by her disdainful stepmother. But now, spinning in the strong arms of the debonair and devastatingly handsome Benedict Bridgerton, she feels like royalty. Alas, she knows all enchantments must end when the clock strikes midnight.
Who was that extraordinary woman? Ever since that magical night, a radiant vision in silver has blinded Benedict to the attractions of any other—except, perhaps this alluring and oddly familiar beauty dressed in housemaid’s garb whom he feels compelled to rescue from a most disagreeable situation. He has sworn to find and wed his mystery miss, but this breathtaking maid makes him weak with wanting her. Yet, if he offers his heart, will Benedict sacrifice his only chance for a fairy tale love? ****
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.
RT Book Reviews 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.”
Related articles
- Series Sunday – Review – The Duke & I by Julia Quinn (sugarbeatsbooks.com)
- Series Sunday – Review of The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn (sugarbeatsbooks.com)
- Prolixity Julien’s #CBR4 Review #4: An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn (cannonballread4.wordpress.com)
- Julia Quinn Reading Challenge – April Reviews (stitchreadcook.com)
- Series Sunday – Book Review for The Lady Most Likely by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James & Connie Brockway (sugarbeatsbooks.com)
