From the Bookshelf of Fans of Eloisa James & Julia Quinn…

An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgertons, #3)

Julia Quinn

Start date: March 1, 2021

Finish date: March 31, 2021

Discussion: Monthly Read

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* March 2021: An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
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last updated Apr 29, 2021 04:15AM

* Feb 2021 The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
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What Members Thought

Jun 26, 2011 Melissa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audible-book, whispersync, 2011-reads, 2012-reads, books-i-read-over-and-over, 2018-reads

This book is a retelling of Cinderella, plain and simple. But, really, it isn't that simple. Although I could tell that this was a Cinderella story all along as I read, I never felt as if I was reading something unoriginal. It felt fresh and exciting to me as I read. Sophie is treated horribly by her stepmother and stepsisters as she is forced into unpaid servitude. She maintains her dignity and spirit, but little else. I am not entirely familiar with all of the social customs of the day that wo This book is a retelling of Cinderella, plain and simple. But, really, it isn't that simple. Although I could tell that this was a Cinderella story all along as I read, I never felt as if I was reading something unoriginal. It felt fresh and exciting to me as I read. Sophie is treated horribly by her stepmother and stepsisters as she is forced into unpaid servitude. She maintains her dignity and spirit, but little else. I am not entirely familiar with all of the social customs of the day that would make her have prospects as a ward of her father but nothing as the illegitimate daughter of an earl, but that is the situation in which Sophie is thrown after the death of her mother and then her father. But, on one magical night her fellow servants manufacture a situation so that Sophie can attend the Bridgerton masquerade ball in disguise. Once there, she captures the attention of many men there, but more particularly, the attention of Benedict, the second Bridgerton child. He is immediately drawn to her because of her pure joy at being in attendance and her lack of airs as she interacts with him. She at first doesn't recognize him, but once she does, she recognizes him for being who he is. So many other people just label him as Bridgerton #2, and that irritates him. The two of them magically share a dance on the Bridgerton private terrace, and despite all of his efforts, Sophie will not reveal her true identity. Both of them fall in love at first sight, but, in true Cinderella fashion, Sophie must leave at midnight so that the carriage can return her to her home and get back to the ball in time to pick up her stepmother and stepsisters. She runs from Benedict, leaving behind a glove with the Penrose crest on it. To make a long story shorter, Benedict searches everywhere for her. He checks at the Penrose residence first, and that makes evil stepmother realize that Sophie had attended the ball. She throws her out, and a new chapter in her life begins. The two reunite under much different circumstances years later, but Benedict does not know that she is the same woman he danced with at the ball. She is simply a servant who he grows to love.
I see that I am recapping the plot here, and I don't like to do that in my reviews, so I'll go on with my thoughts about this book. I loved the love story in this book. I will admit that this was one of those books that seriously irritates me because so many of the problems of the book could be solved if everyone would just TALK to each other and explain who they are. But there are societal pressures that prevent anyone from really being open and honest. I wasn't happy with Benedict's solution of keeping Sophie as his mistress, but with the society in which he lived, I am sure in his mind it was the only thing that he could do for the woman he loved because they were from such different social groups. Perhaps the jailing of Sophie for theft was a little over dramatic, but it worked for me. I also thought that the solution that led to the happily ever after was maybe a bit too easy, but it didn't take away from the fun of the book. It is still a joy to read about the Bridgerton family and their romantic alliances. I really enjoyed this book as a quick and fun summer read.

2018 Audio Update - The audio version of one of my very favorite Bridgerton novels. The audio version was just as delightful as the kindle version. I love the Cinderella story of Sophia Beckett! Sure, in real life it would have been unlikely that someone like Benedict Bridgerton would have chosen to marry someone like Sophia, but, who am I kidding ... I don't read historical romances in order to get historical realism. I am all about the Happily Ever After, and HEAs don't come much better than Sophia's does in this story. Love it!!!! Five stars. ...more

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