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An Offer From A Gentleman
by Julia Quinn
Before the stroke of midnight...
All her life, Sophia Beckett has known she is a bastard. When her mother suddenly died, she was dropped at her father’s doorstep. Although her mother and father weren’t married, the Earl of Penwood decided to take responsibility for his illegitimate daughter. However, he made it painfully obvious that Sophie was not a member of the nobility, and had no rights to the Penwood lifestyle.
Aging, and left without an heir, the Earl marries. Sophie’s new stepmother does not take kindly to the Earl’s bastard offspring, and forces her to become a servant upon the Earl’s untimely death. That is, until one special night when the household servants rally to sent Sophie to a masquerade ball.
All his life, Benedict Bridgerton has lived under the shadow of his enormous family. While the Bridgertons are beloved by society, they are all remarkably alike in appearance. Benedict is the second eldest behind Anthony, and preceding Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory and Hyacinth. He loves his family dearly, but is sick of being referred to as “Number Two.” He sincerely hopes to meet a woman who can distinguish him from the rest of his family, but doesn’t have much interest in looking – until he sets eyes on “her.”
“Her” is, of course, Sophie. She has to be home by midnight, which provides a close connection with Cinderella. Unfortunately for Sophie, Quinn takes a mighty veer off the path, placing the heroine in a variety of horrible situations (after her stepmother kicks her out for going to the ball) before landing her right in the Bridgerton household. She is two steps from the object of her fantasy, but he only recognizes her beauty, and not her. After rejecting his offer to make her a mistress, Sophie runs into her stepmother, who has her thrown in prison.
Everything eventually turns out “happily ever after,” but not without taking interesting turns along the way. Just as wonderful (if not more so) than the first two in the series, Quinn continues to shine as she delves deeper into the Bridgerton line. Regency fans rejoice!
Title: An Offer From A Gentleman
Author: Julia Quinn
Publisher: Avon
ISBN: 0380815583
Review written by: Tracy Elledge
Reviewer's Rating:8.5
Reader's Rating: 0
Reader's Votes: 0
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