A Most Scandalous Proposal by Ashlyn Macnamara

Another debut for this year and it turned out to be rather promising.  Miss Julia St. Claire has no desire to fall in love and marry, instead she leaves that to her sister Sophia who has pined over the Earl of Clivesden for years.  Yet when Clivesden suddenly shows an interest in Julia, tension abounds and Julia keeps distancing herself from the drated man but he is always there.  She turns to her childhood friend, Benedict Revelstoke for help getting out of her unwanted betrothal.  Julia would rather be ruined in the eyes of society than cause her sister pain.  Problem is Benedict will not ruin her without offering marriage...a marriage Julia fears will be one sided in love and the thing she wants to avoid at all costs. . .

I was pleasantly surprised to see that this story actually is two romances in one; Julia and Benedict and Sophia and the man she inadvertently gets compromised with.  I was afraid that Sophia's storyline was going to detract from the other storyline but instead it really added to the story as I came to realize that Sophia also needed to find her own happily ever after and closure for Julia's story to really work (though I would have really enjoyed Sophia in a full length as her story had a bit more mystery to it).  Julia is known as a bit of a frigid lady due to her desire to guard her heart and not open it to any man, not reveal her true feelings.  Her interactions with Benedict were fun and sweet though I do wish she would have given Benedict a chance a bit sooner.  Benedict had no idea of his feelings for Julia until they waltzed and suddenly his life was turned upside down and all he can do now is protect Julia but he naturally, has a hard time expressing this.  He is charming, clever and it was refreshing not to read about a rake or titled gentleman for a change of pace.  A very pleasant, yet steamy, friends to lovers story with a nice sense of family, wit and charm.  Really looking forward to the next book featuring Benedict's best friend.  3 1/2 stars

eARC provided by Ballantine Books via netgalley

Related books

 Aug 27th

New Covers

Some new covers that were shared recently. . .

I really enjoy Alexandra Hawkins Lord of Vice series and Dusk with a Dangerous Duke will be book will be book six.  Such a lovely pink cover!  Sigh, February 26th can't get here soon enough!

Julia London also shared her cover for her upcoming book, The Last Debutante.  I am not caught up on her books but on goodreads this shows this will be book four in The Secrets of Hadley Green series.  I really like this cover!  Soft and pretty with a beautiful background and a touch of Scottish.  Look for it February 26th.

Another lovely cover reveal was for Kieran Kramer's The Earl is Mine.  Smokin red!  All of her previous books have featured prominently one color as well but in the pastel variety so this one really pops.  This will be book two in The House of Brady series and I can't wait for its release at the end of February!

Next, here is the cover for another novel in three parts from the talents of Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway.  I enjoyed their first book written like this so I am looking forward to The Lady Most Willing... when it releases Dec 26th.

Oh, one more to add quick that was shared this week!  This is the lovely cover for Ashlyn Macnamara's debut, A Most Scandalous Proposal.  If you look at it close, it has lovely texture for the wallpaper, couch and dress which I really like.  And I like the green and blue together.  Look for this one February 26th!

Ok, fine this is the last one, lol!  Miranda Neville shared she has written a prequel novella titled The Second Seduction of a Lady set to release Oct 16th.  It is a prequel to her new series and it sounds wonderful.  And the best part for me...it doesn't sound like it is going to be the cliff hanger type prequel that I like to avoid!  It will introduce the heroine for the full length but the novella focuses on a different couple.  Yay!

Well, it started off as a bit of a quiet week but picked up a little and all these books are on my wish list!  What about you, which ones are you most looking forward to?