Review: A Most Scandalous Proposal by Ashlyn Macnamara

Genre: Historical Romance

Published: 2/26/13 | Ballantine

Format: eGalley

I requested this book because it sounded interesting

After watching her beloved sister, Sophia, pine over the ton’s golden boy for years, Miss Julia St. Claire has foresworn love and put herself firmly on the shelf. Unfortunately, her social-climbing mother and debt-ridden father have other ideas, and jump at the chance to marry Julia off to the newly named Earl of Clivesden . . . the man of Sophia’s dreams.

Since resigning his cavalry commission, Benedict Revelstoke has spent his time in London avoiding the marriage mart. But when he discovers that the Earl of Clivesden has his sights set on Julia, Benedict tries to protect his childhood best friend from the man’s advances—only to discover that more than friendship is driving his desire to defend her. He surprises them both with the force of his feelings, but when Julia refuses him, and her father announces her betrothal, Benedict fears he’s lost her forever—until Julia approaches him with a shocking scheme that will ruin her for all respectable society and lead them into an exquisite world of forbidden pleasures.

This is Ashlyn Macnamera's debut novel so she is definitely a new to me author.  Don't get me wrong, I do love to read new to me authors.  In fact, I have discovered a lot of awesome authors this way.  However, this story just missed the mark.  I read the book knowing this was going to be about Miss Julia St. Claire but instead, I was reading about the sister Sophia meeting another guy!  I mean, I just barely started reading and by the time I reached Chapter 3, I was totally confused about where this story was headed.

True, there are books that have two romance stories in them, one being a minor romance in the book but I usually read about their romance in the middle of the book after the romance of the main characters have been developed and usually not before.  That being said, this just fell short for me.  I expected to read about the characters mentioned in the book as the main characters and not about the sister, Sophia (which I thought was a bit of a flake).

This is a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate/Did Not Finish) for me.  I may revisit this book at a later time but I won't hold my breath.  I expected to be captured by the story by the time I reach the second chapter but this really missed the mark.

My Rating

Heat Level

Unable to tell.  Stopped reading by the time I finished Chapter 3