BOTM 3 - May 2021 - The Proposition

[Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels]

Discussion thread for the Third BOTM of May 2021. Please remember to use the spoiler tags when necessary! (Please see 'some html is ok' for instructions.)

Happy Reading!


The Proposition by Judith Ivory


No man, gentleman or otherwise, has ever looked at Lady Edwina Bollash the way the brash, handsome man standing before her is doing now. Edwina has accepted the challenge to transform incorrigible Mick Tremore into a gentleman in just six weeks. And although the linguist is sure she can rise to the task, she isn't at all certain she won't swoon under his frankly sensuous gaze before her job is done.

Mick has lived outside of London society long enough to know that appearances can be deceiving. Edwina might look all buttoned up—the perfect English lady—but there is unleashed passion existing just below her placid facade (not to mention a great pair of legs!). And as she prepares him to take his place in society, Mick prepares Edwina to take her place in his heart...and in his bed.

[Sam I]

Very likely in-if I can get my reading habits back by then!

[Mariana]

I definitely would like to read this.

[Debby *BabyDee*]

I like Judith Ivory..I want to read...sounds interesting

[Missy]

I've read this book, but sadly, I don't think Judith Ivory's books are for me, so I won't be joining this BOTM 3.

[Mariana]

I've never read Judith Ivory before. I plan for this to be my first, but I won't be able to start until later in the month.

[Jan]

I'm starting this one today. I've only read a few pages. Not really sure what I think yet. It has a different feel from other HR reads so far. Mick reminds me a bit of (view spoiler)[Rhys Winterborne from Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas. He was also popular with the ladies for his lusty ways, when they wanted to step out of their class. (hide spoiler)]

[sansid]

Will read this one next right now reading Judith Ivory untie my heart , am still struck at the iconic chair part which everyone always talks & remembers.
Discovered her late but have fallen in love with her writing after reading Black silk .

[Jan]

Darbella wrote: "Opps, I started reading the wrong book. /sigh Deleting above stuff that was Judith Ivory the Indiscretion."

Ha ha yes I was wondering about your references to 'Sam' in your deleted post, and thought maybe I just hadn't met him yet. Never mind!

I'm part way through Chapter 3 now. Edwina is definitely a bluestocking, so this book meets the brief for May well. The description of her as a 6 foot tall redhead reminds me of the heroine in another HR I read a while ago - Elisa Braden maybe? Anyone know who I mean?

(view spoiler)[Not sure whether I would have picked up this book if I knew that Mick is a rat-catcher who carries a ferret in his pocket and never seems to wash. So far fighting tooth and nail not to take a bath. Hmmm. Not very appealing to my 21st century love of cleanliness and general dislike of feral rats. Ha ha ha.

I quite like the idea of the class difference romance. It's actually looking like Pygmalion/My Fair Lady, but with the genders swapped. Hopefully Mick (aka Eliza Doolittle LOL) redeems himself enough to make me get over his current grunginess.

Mick's comments that the brothers who fund his transformation may be up to something dodgy feels like foreshadowing of events to come. If he's right, it will show he is a clever (albeit currently very dirty) man. (hide spoiler)]

In spite of some reservations about Mick, I like the writing style so far, and am intrigued by the story. I will definitely read on.

@sansid, good to know you are enjoying Ms Ivory's other books. I've only read Beast (for a BOTM in 2020 I think?) and I liked it, but so far haven't got around to read any others of hers.

[Jan]

Darbella wrote: "Back and now reading the correct book: The Proposition.
Part One: Chapter one:
Just a general opinion of mine: Wow, seriously [spoilers removed]
Mick: [spoilers removed]"

Your spoilers: IK,R?

I've read on now and fortunately Mick becomes a lot more appealing pretty quickly. It's a fast-moving read and I'm already half way through.

Up to Chapter 14 (view spoiler)[Thanks heavens Mick agreed to have a bath! And now he loves baths. He's getting used to the good life. I feel a bit sad that Winnie kind of tricked him into shaving his moustache, because he seemed so attached to it. I guess she didn't really think he'd do it. I like that now he's all cleaned up he looks so handsome and elegant. I wonder how he'll go at the ball.

The long scene when Winnie shows her legs to Mick is a bit weird. I don't think I've read a scene like that before in a book before. Kinda sexy but weird. I'm glad that Mick had the strength to back away when Winnie said no, though. This is an older book but even so, I'm always uncomfortable reading non-con scenes. But this wasn't, apart from Mick's hands wandering a bit too far. He did stop and step back.

The rat-killing scene in the carriage house showed Mick in his usual element. I'm so glad that author didn't make the carnage too explicit, rats or not! It's an odd scenario for a HR - a rat-catcher hero. I'm still not entirely sure that's working for me. (hide spoiler)]

Winnie (view spoiler)[ Her character is being portrayed convincingly for me. She is a naive and, through no fault of her own, ignorant young woman in terms of men and sexuality. It seems she also has some sort of anxiety disorder, obsessively going over and over things in her mind all the time. Not something you often see depicted in HR heroines, but quite realistic.

I hate how she was treated by her dastardly second cousin, the now duke. Apparently what he did to her was illegal, so at least she now has somewhere to live, and some kind of income. I hope the duke gets some kind of comeuppance! I also hope that there is a HEA and Mick can help Winnie deal with her anxiety issues. (hide spoiler)]

I'm liking this book. It's very different from other HRs I've read.

[Lady Wesley]

I have both read and listened to this book, which I simply adore. Stephen Crossly does a wonderful narration.

As I said in my review, "the team of author Judith Ivory and narrator Steven Crossley made me fall in love with a rat catcher."

[Jan]

Chapter 18 (view spoiler)[ It's pretty clear that the Lamont twins are confidence men pulling some sort of scam. It's strongly implied the money they keep throwing around is fake. Even Winnie is now starting to really suspect them too, especially after the evidence from her friend about the dodgy twins in Brighton.

I think it shows Mick's native cunning/intelligence that he suspected them right from the start. I'm a little nervous now as to what will happen at the ball. Some sort of bet with the duke? Perhaps outing Mick as an imposter? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 19(view spoiler)[ What a lovely scene at the tea room. Mick really kept his head when he guessed (correctly) that the woman was speaking to him in French. He quickly covered his mistake about Paris and the Eiffel Tower. Very clever. Then the lovely bus trip with the wonderful kiss. I love the bit (in this chapter or the previous?) when Mick tells Winnie he loves her nose, and she starts to believe him. Now I'm up to the part where they arrive at The Bull and Tun, and Mick says they are going to dance. They are in Mick's milieu now, but Winnie trusts him and is going along for the ride. (hide spoiler)]

Mick is gradually helping Winnie gain self-confidence. I'm liking them together more and more as the book goes on.

[Jan]

Darbella wrote: "Mick: [spoilers removed]
I find it kind of endearing that he has a dog named Magic and a ferret named Freddie."

Me too.

[Jan]

Lady Wesley wrote: "I have both read and listened to this book, which I simply adore. Stephen Crossly does a wonderful narration.

As I said in my review, "the team of author Judith Ivory and narrator Steven Crossley..."

Ha ha ha. I have to admit, it's not the type of hero I though I'd ever like, but along with Winnie I'm falling for him too. I rarely listen to audiobooks, but I can imagine this being a really good one with all of the emphasis on accents and pronunciation.

[Jan]

I finished too, last night. It's a pretty quick read and just carries you along. I was surprised by the turn the story took towards the end. I wasn't expecting it, although no doubt some readers already guessed which way it was going.

I really liked the book, and now want to read more from this writer. It was very different and felt fresh. IMO it was a good choice for BOTM and I may not have read it otherwise. I hope more of our group get a chance to join the read some time this month and add their thoughts!

Winnie(view spoiler)[Like Darbella, I liked the way the 'plain' heroine was depicted. It was realistic, and as people do in real life, Mick loved her because he could see her inner beauty. I like that he liked the outer 'packaging' too.

I really felt for her in her anxieties. This is such a common problem today, but I'm not sure I've ever read a HR that explores it. I liked how her self-confidence gradually blossomed as the love between them grew, even though she had a little relapse sometimes. (hide spoiler)]

Mick(view spoiler)[I was very happy with the ending and the epilogue. The idea that he was a duke's grandson was unexpected for me but it was introduced well by the sleazy Lamont twins. I'm glad they didn't get the reward money - they didn't earn it anyway - it was a pure accident.

I liked Mick's reaction to becoming a duke. He didn't let it go to his head, and still loved his Cornish family. The scene where he recognised his 'Poppy' was quite moving. I kind of felt sorry for the old b***d even though he was so mean to Winnie. He was a pretty sad old guy.

I liked that Mick asked Winnie to marry him and she said yes when she still thought he was going to be a valet. True love :) (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I liked the sweet little 'in-joke' when it was suggested that GB Shaw got his idea for his famous play 'Pygmalion' from Mick's story. (Made into the film 'My Fair Lady'.) That made me smile. (hide spoiler)]

[Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels]

I just started this one. It drew me in right away. Seems to be a reverse Pygmalion, which is cool.

[Jan]

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "I just started this one. It drew me in right away. Seems to be a reverse Pygmalion, which is cool."

Yep, that describes it well. Hope you enjoy.

[Shannon]

Never read this author. Looking forward to it. Just started audio and am liking the opening with the mouse... :)

[Shannon]

Just started this yesterday. I like the writing and the opening scene made me laugh (view spoiler)[despite the rats. I'm at the bath part and I'm getting a little bored with him not wanting to bathe. Not sure where it's going exactly but right now it's following My Fair Lady so closely that I'm not invested. I love My Fair Lady...one of my favorites. Not sure about My Fair Man LOL. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I'm with Jan on the grungy part. Not liking the dirty man and all the talk about his hair! LOLOL. I just had to laugh about that. (hide spoiler)]

Only 15% in and hoping for a change up soon. It looks like everyone is enjoying the end.

[Jan]

Hang in there, Shannon. It gets better soon!

[Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels]

Yea, I think, while not a slow start, it did take a bit for a it get out of that expected "My Fair Lady" mold. I just finished, and I really loved it.

(view spoiler)[I was hoping for some sort of line reference to the movie. Maybe there was one, but I was looking for something along the lines "the rain in Spain stays mainly on the plains". I should re-watch the movie. (hide spoiler)]

[Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels]

I finished, and wow I really enjoyed the characters. Mick was such a fun hero. I loved his attitude on life too in general.

Mick: (view spoiler)[I enjoyed that though he was thirsty for knowledge and loved words. Those were fun. I also liked how he showed Edwina that she should not shy away from life and live. (hide spoiler)]

Edwina: (view spoiler)[It took awhile to get into the neglect she experienced most of her life. Her mother and father were dismissive and her governess was awful. No wonder it was hard for her to open up.

Then, I didn't get what the Duke's problem was with her. I guess her looks were interesting and not universally beautiful, but what was his deal? That was the part that didn't make as much sense to me. (hide spoiler)]

Mick & Edwina: (view spoiler)[I was not sure how they would get together, but I enjoyed that the catalyst was him showing her some fun and taking her to his parts of London. (hide spoiler)]

The big reveal (view spoiler)[Just going to say that I did not picture that turn of events, but I liked the way it progressed and then you could see some hints from earlier, particularly with Mick's description of his mom. (hide spoiler)]

[Mariana]

I read this the first week of May but just never got online to join in with the comments. I just finished reading through them all and agree with your good points.

Mick was definitely a character who grew on me. I didn't really enjoy the early on simple lust. In a lot of ways, he was the perfect man. He was optimistic; no matter how frustrated he was at the end of the day, he was glad to be alive and welcome the sun the next morning. He was almost impossibly handsome. He was smart. He made the best of any situation and enjoyed his work, whatever it may be. He was loyal and loving to his family, and he liked to have a good time. In a similar way, he seemed to appreciate a variety of women and looked for what was sexually appealing in each. For the first half, I felt like he wanted Edwina; but she was nothing special - just a pleasurable notch in his belt that had the best legs (whereas his past conquests might have had the best breasts or prettiest face or whatever). It seemed more like she happened to be around, and he always looked for something attractive in every woman. However, in the last half, although I wasn't sure about love, he did mention that he couldn't remember if he always loved long legs or if he only loved them because Edwina had them. I could buy that these two did have an extra spark.

I have a lot less to write about Edwina. Her character and reactions were believable for me as mentioned in others comments.

Jan, I also liked that Mick asked Winnie to marry him and she said yes when she still thought he was going to be a valet. That went a long way for me!

[Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels]

Jan wrote: "Darbella wrote: "Opps, I started reading the wrong book. /sigh Deleting above stuff that was Judith Ivory the Indiscretion."

Ha ha yes I was wondering about your references to 'Sam' in your delete..."

I believe the heroine in The Devil Is a Marquess is tall and slender.

[Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels]

Darbella wrote: "Finished: I love that the author put a ton of "legs" stuff in this. Mick really was a leg man. Thank heavens Winnie (Edwina) has his version of perfect legs. [spoilers removed]
I do not usually lik..."

Agree with all this Darbella!

[Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels]

Jan wrote: "I finished too, last night. It's a pretty quick read and just carries you along. I was surprised by the turn the story took towards the end. I wasn't expecting it, although no doubt some readers al..."

I was not expecting the twist either. That was well done!

I enjoyed that reference in your last spoiler too. A fun idea to tie it back together.

[Jan]

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "I believe the heroine in The Devil Is a Marquess is tall and slender. "

Yeah, that could be the one I was reminded of.

[Shannon]

I'm up to chapter 11

(view spoiler)[I was beginning to like him until the whole take advantage of the leg grab thing and even the kiss sort of disturbed me. This guy better redeem himself. I expect some groveling. Aside from that I can't say I'm going to miss his mustache LOL. I don't mind facial hair in real life but for some reason that mustache wasn't doing it for me (hide spoiler)]

I had thought him rather charming (view spoiler)[someone please tell me he redeems himself (hide spoiler)]

[Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels]

Shannon wrote: "I'm up to chapter 11

[spoilers removed]

I had thought him rather charming [spoilers removed]"


In a way, (view spoiler)[he does redeem himself but not entirely for those transgressions. He ends up telling her he won’t kiss her again until she asks. However, his thoughts are sometimes crude, and I would say this book does not deal with consent well — it is certainly murky at best. As you learn more of Winnie’s backstory, the sell is that she has too many walls and is too sheltered to need some heavy persuading. Some of this I am more forgiving in an older book than I would be in a book released today. (hide spoiler)]

[Shannon]

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Shannon wrote: "I'm up to chapter 11

[spoilers removed]

I had thought him rather charming [spoilers removed]"


In a way, [spoilers removed]"

I had an aha moment(view spoiler)[After I wrote that I went back and checked the date. Then it made sense. Sometimes I can look past it if I really like the characters...I just haven’t fully bought into him yet. Looking forward to seeing what happens next<\spoiler>

Glad to be past the strict my fair lady script (hide spoiler)]

[Susan]

Well I really enjoyed that! As Mariana pointed out, it is Mick's optimism that really makes him shine. I am not usually a fan of the rags to riches stories, but there was something about the hero in this book that made it work.
I have not read any Judith Ivory before, but she will now be on my list.
Thanks for whoever nominated this one, and those who voted - it certainly did fit the trop and was my fave of the three May BOTM I have read

[Jan]

Well done on reading all 3 BOTMs, Susan!

Re Joanna and Shannon's spoilers: (view spoiler)[Although I really enjoyed the read and I liked Mick, I did feel a little uncomfortable in a couple of the scenes, regarding consent issues. But I'm also a bit more forgiving in older books. Not sure how I'd feel if it was written this way today. Surprised, maybe? I still want to read more by this writer. (hide spoiler)]