THE PROPOSITION - Madeleine Roux
Dell Trade
ISBN: 978-0-593-49937-5
ISBN: 978-0-593-49938-2 (e-book)
August 2022
Historical Fiction

England - 1819

Miss Clemency Fry has, for most of her young life, abhorred the thought of marriage. After reading Miss Bethany Taylor's anti-marriage essay, Clemency is determined to be free of the shackles of wedding a man who, because of current laws, controls a woman's life forever. But then she meets the handsome baron, Taylor Boyle, who woos her, promises to aid her family's financial woes, and Clemency realizes that she's in love. Shortly after agreeing to marry him, however, Boyle cools towards her, although the wedding is still on. What is wrong? Has Clemency made a mistake in agreeing to wed Boyle?

Audric Ferrand is in England with his sister, Delphine. But this is a visit of revenge for Audric, revenge for his sister's hurts, and revenge for other women who have suffered at the hands of cruel men. The man who destroyed his sister's reputation is Taylor Boyle, and Audric hopes to enlist the help of the man's latest conquest, Clemency Fry, to bring down the villain. But Clemency isn't as easy to convince as Audric hoped, so he must find a way to open her eyes to the man she is to marry.

Although Clemency has her doubts about the gloomy Mr. Ferrand, she is beginning to doubt her betrothed even more. There is something not quite right about Boyle, his friends, and his demeanor towards her. Audric has to work hard to convince Clemency of Boyle's evil background. But will their mutual proposition to discover what the cad is up to work?

THE PROPOSITION is a story of not only revenge, but enlightenment, especially for Clemency, but also for Audric. The intense desire of Audric to wreak havoc on Taylor Boyle disturbs his sister, who just wants to be happy, and move on. For Clemency, family secrets are exposed, and being engaged to an obvious scoundrel seems like the end of the world for her. Can Boyle's evil be revealed to London Society on time? And how will that affect Clemency and Audric?

A very different premise, and lead characters that are bolstered by secondary ones. THE PROPOSITION is an excellent read.

Jani Brooks