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The Rakes of Cavendish Square #1
The Bedding Proposal
From New York Times bestselling author Tracy Anne Warren, the first of a new trilogy about the most dashingly dangerous men in London.
Pay a call to the most seductive address in London and meet the Rakes of Cavendish Square...
Lord Leo Byron is bored with the aristocratic company he keeps; he needs a distraction, preferably in the form of a beautiful new female companion. So when he sets eyes on fascinating and scandalous divorcée Lady Thalia Lennox, he’s determined to make her intimate acquaintance. But the spirited woman seems to have no intention of accepting his advances no matter how much he chases—or how hard he falls...
Once a darling of Society, Thalia Lennox now lives on its fringes. The cruel lies that gave her a notoriously wild reputation have also left her with a broken heart and led to a solemn vow to swear off men. Still, Leo Byron’s bold overtures are deliciously tempting, and, for the first time, she finds herself wondering whether it just might be worth the risk to let the attractive rake into her life—and her bed...
Pay a call to the most seductive address in London and meet the Rakes of Cavendish Square...
Lord Leo Byron is bored with the aristocratic company he keeps; he needs a distraction, preferably in the form of a beautiful new female companion. So when he sets eyes on fascinating and scandalous divorcée Lady Thalia Lennox, he’s determined to make her intimate acquaintance. But the spirited woman seems to have no intention of accepting his advances no matter how much he chases—or how hard he falls...
Once a darling of Society, Thalia Lennox now lives on its fringes. The cruel lies that gave her a notoriously wild reputation have also left her with a broken heart and led to a solemn vow to swear off men. Still, Leo Byron’s bold overtures are deliciously tempting, and, for the first time, she finds herself wondering whether it just might be worth the risk to let the attractive rake into her life—and her bed...
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2015
77 people are currently reading
1481 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Anne Warren
41 books791 followersTracy Anne Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of ten Regency historical romance novels, including At The Duke’s Pleasure and The Husband Trap. Her books have appeared on the USA Today Bestsellers’ list and the Borders’ Group List of Bestselling Single Title Romance Paperbacks. She has won numerous writing awards, including Romance Writers’ of America’s prestigious RITA® Award, the National Readers’ Choice Award, the HOLT Medallion, the Golden Quill, and others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
November 5, 2016
He’d wanted her before. Now he craved her with a hunger that bordered on obsession.
I guess this was my first older woman, younger man romance even though the heroine was 31 years old and the hero was 25. I guess the closer the woman is to my own age the easier it is to read about, because I'll be honest I normally run in the other direction when I see this trope.
Now back to the story. While this book may have started off with some very entertaining banter between Thalia and Leopold including some hilarious pranks done by Thalia and steamy moments compliments of Lord Leopold, this was a very sad book. But in a good way since I only read books where good conquers evil.
Thalia lives apart from the ton, ever since her divorce she's been seen as a pariah and the gossip rags only make her situation worse by publishing false accounts of her exploits with all the men she supposedly encounters. Leopold feeling bored and needing a new mistress sets his sights on Lady Thalia, thinking her the perfect candidate because of age and experience. But what looked like an easy wooing of the divorcee turns out to be far from it. And as Leopold gets to know Thalia he begins to think that maybe he doesn't know Thalia as well as he thought he did.
"One can never be too self-assured. It’s rather like having money, I have found."
Like I said, this was actually quite a sad book. What Thalia went through because of her divorce, how she was treated and how no one really wanted to know her side of the story was heartbreaking. Everyone took her ex-husbands word, including the law. As much as I love the regency era I would never give up the freedom I have as a woman which is something Thalia never had.
I loved how transparent Leopold was, I had thought he would he resistant to his growing feelings for Thalia because of her place in society but I was so wrong. Leopold's love and devotion to Thalia made this book so much better than it already was. And reading about Thalia slowly opening up and letting go of her old fear because that's what happens when you realise that not all men are like Lord Kemp truly fed the romantic in me.
This is a book I would strongly recommend, because unlike my usual reads the characters are far from perfect and while it has the perfect ending, it is far from conventional.
September 10, 2016
I've given this an A- at AAR (so it's a DIK) - 4.5 stars rounded up.
There are a couple of things about The Bedding Proposal which immediately mark it as something “a bit different” in terms of an historical romance. Firstly, the heroine is seven years older than the hero (he’s twenty-five, she’s thirty-two) and secondly – and most importantly – the heroine is a divorcée, something very rarely found within the genre.
Divorce wasn’t impossible at the time the book is set, although it was very close to being so. It was expensive, incredibly difficult and required a lot of influence in the right circles; and once accomplished, the fact of being divorced had a deleterious effect on both parties involved. Given this is the nineteenth century, a time when the slightest rumour of impropriety could ruin a woman’s reputation, it was the divorced woman – naturally – who suffered most.
Tracy Anne Warren really brings this inequality home during the course of her story. Lady Thalia Lennox was ignominiously divorced by her husband, Lord Kemp, six years earlier and was thrown out of their home with nothing but the clothes on her back. Had it not been for the house bequeathed her by her grandmother and the kindness of some of her former servants who managed to smuggle a few of her clothes and possessions from the house, she would have been utterly destitute.
Now she lives on the very fringes of society, shunned by almost everyone. Even her two closest friends cannot have much contact with her because their husbands dislike their wives associating with a woman of Thalia’s tattered reputation, and she lives quietly, rarely going out and barely managing to make ends meet.
As a young debutante, Thalia had everything to look forward to in life, but the actions of a selfish, vindictive man took away all those early prospects of comfort and happiness. Her life was destroyed along with her reputation, and although society gossip continues to paint her as a woman of loose morals with a string of lovers, nothing could be farther from the truth.
Lord Leo Byron, on the other hand, has everything. Good looks, wealth, a loving family and a sharp intelligence he prefers to hide behind an outward show of rakish bonhomie. Catching a glimpse of Lady Thalia at one of the very rare gatherings she attends, he is struck by her beauty and knowing of her scandalous reputation immediately determines to seduce her. His twin brother, Lawrence, warns him not to be too sure of success, but Leo laughs off his concern, confident that his physical attractions and charm will get him what he wants.
Lawrence’s warning proves to be an astute one, as Thalia rebuffs Leo’s advances in no uncertain terms – but he’s a determined young man and refuses to take “no” for an answer. He continues to pursue her in spite of her repeated requests that he not do so, until the scheme she devises in order to rid herself of him once and for all backfires and leads to his being injured.
Never one to miss an opportunity, Leo uses Thalia’s guilt over his situation to get her to agree to spend a couple of weeks getting to know him. If, at the end of that time, she still wants nothing to do with him, he will leave her alone, but if not… well, he hopes that by the end of their two weeks she will have succumbed to his charms and they will be enjoying many a romp between the sheets so there will be no “if not” for him to worry about.
The first part of the book is fairly light-hearted with Leo blithely ignoring Thalia’s wishes as he tries to overcome her resistance and get her into bed. This doesn’t make him a particularly attractive hero at this point – his over-confidence is irritating and his insistence on his pursuit in the face of the lady’s wishes to the contrary has the potential to be rather disturbing. The fact that Thalia is – albeit reluctantly – attracted to him and he knows it is no excuse for his behaviour. However as the story progresses, he does show himself to have some redeeming qualities, not least of which are his self-awareness, perceptiveness and his protective instincts. And he does learn from his mistakes and grow as a character – he isn’t the same man at the end of the book as he is at the beginning.
But Ms Warren never lets the reader lose sight of the fact that Thalia’s situation is an incredibly difficult and unpleasant one. Her reputation is in tatters, she is the subject of unpleasant gossip and money is tight – all she has left is her dignity. By giving in to her attraction to Leo she will become what the gossips say she already is – yet as they say such things of her anyway, why shouldn’t she at least allow herself the comfort and pleasure to be found in a man’s arms?
The relationship between the couple is very well-written; they have sizzling chemistry and the author does an excellent job of showing that the strong physical attraction between them is deepening and turning into something more. Even before they become lovers, Leo has realised that Thalia is not at all the promiscuous woman rumour has painted her, and he asks to know the truth of her situation. One of the things I really appreciated about them as a couple was the fact that they are honest with each other, so that when Leo asks that difficult question, Thalia tells him everything. Her story is difficult for her to tell and truly heart-breaking for the reader to read, but there is no sugar-coating the brutality she endured at the hands of the man who was supposed to care for her.
The Bedding Proposal is a surprisingly “grown-up” romance with darker undertones than are usually found in the genre. Leo and Thalia are fully rounded-out characters, and it’s a tribute to Ms Warren’s writing that even when Leo is at his most annoying, he still manages to be an engaging character, one I found myself rooting for even as I was wishing he’d grow up a bit! Thalia’s story is tragic, and one I suspect is not too far removed from the sort of thing endured by women in her position at this time in history. Yet she refuses to be completely destroyed by her experience and the quiet dignity of her character, her intense loneliness and her longing for affection and companionship – things to which everyone is entitled but which have been denied her – shine through on every page.
It’s an intense and compelling read – I read it in a couple of sessions – and one I can definitely recommend to anyone who is looking for an historical romance with depth and a couple who has much to endure before achieving their HEA. My one complaint is that the ending is a little too pat – a situation arises as the result of Thalia’s divorce that makes her relationship with Leo almost impossible to continue – and Ms Warren’s solution smacks too much of the Deus ex Machina for my taste. But that is the only complaint I have to make about the book, and as it happens in the last few pages, it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the rest of the story.
The Bedding Proposal is a very strong start to Ms Warren’s new series and I’m looking forward to the next installment.
There are a couple of things about The Bedding Proposal which immediately mark it as something “a bit different” in terms of an historical romance. Firstly, the heroine is seven years older than the hero (he’s twenty-five, she’s thirty-two) and secondly – and most importantly – the heroine is a divorcée, something very rarely found within the genre.
Divorce wasn’t impossible at the time the book is set, although it was very close to being so. It was expensive, incredibly difficult and required a lot of influence in the right circles; and once accomplished, the fact of being divorced had a deleterious effect on both parties involved. Given this is the nineteenth century, a time when the slightest rumour of impropriety could ruin a woman’s reputation, it was the divorced woman – naturally – who suffered most.
Tracy Anne Warren really brings this inequality home during the course of her story. Lady Thalia Lennox was ignominiously divorced by her husband, Lord Kemp, six years earlier and was thrown out of their home with nothing but the clothes on her back. Had it not been for the house bequeathed her by her grandmother and the kindness of some of her former servants who managed to smuggle a few of her clothes and possessions from the house, she would have been utterly destitute.
Now she lives on the very fringes of society, shunned by almost everyone. Even her two closest friends cannot have much contact with her because their husbands dislike their wives associating with a woman of Thalia’s tattered reputation, and she lives quietly, rarely going out and barely managing to make ends meet.
As a young debutante, Thalia had everything to look forward to in life, but the actions of a selfish, vindictive man took away all those early prospects of comfort and happiness. Her life was destroyed along with her reputation, and although society gossip continues to paint her as a woman of loose morals with a string of lovers, nothing could be farther from the truth.
Lord Leo Byron, on the other hand, has everything. Good looks, wealth, a loving family and a sharp intelligence he prefers to hide behind an outward show of rakish bonhomie. Catching a glimpse of Lady Thalia at one of the very rare gatherings she attends, he is struck by her beauty and knowing of her scandalous reputation immediately determines to seduce her. His twin brother, Lawrence, warns him not to be too sure of success, but Leo laughs off his concern, confident that his physical attractions and charm will get him what he wants.
Lawrence’s warning proves to be an astute one, as Thalia rebuffs Leo’s advances in no uncertain terms – but he’s a determined young man and refuses to take “no” for an answer. He continues to pursue her in spite of her repeated requests that he not do so, until the scheme she devises in order to rid herself of him once and for all backfires and leads to his being injured.
Never one to miss an opportunity, Leo uses Thalia’s guilt over his situation to get her to agree to spend a couple of weeks getting to know him. If, at the end of that time, she still wants nothing to do with him, he will leave her alone, but if not… well, he hopes that by the end of their two weeks she will have succumbed to his charms and they will be enjoying many a romp between the sheets so there will be no “if not” for him to worry about.
The first part of the book is fairly light-hearted with Leo blithely ignoring Thalia’s wishes as he tries to overcome her resistance and get her into bed. This doesn’t make him a particularly attractive hero at this point – his over-confidence is irritating and his insistence on his pursuit in the face of the lady’s wishes to the contrary has the potential to be rather disturbing. The fact that Thalia is – albeit reluctantly – attracted to him and he knows it is no excuse for his behaviour. However as the story progresses, he does show himself to have some redeeming qualities, not least of which are his self-awareness, perceptiveness and his protective instincts. And he does learn from his mistakes and grow as a character – he isn’t the same man at the end of the book as he is at the beginning.
But Ms Warren never lets the reader lose sight of the fact that Thalia’s situation is an incredibly difficult and unpleasant one. Her reputation is in tatters, she is the subject of unpleasant gossip and money is tight – all she has left is her dignity. By giving in to her attraction to Leo she will become what the gossips say she already is – yet as they say such things of her anyway, why shouldn’t she at least allow herself the comfort and pleasure to be found in a man’s arms?
The relationship between the couple is very well-written; they have sizzling chemistry and the author does an excellent job of showing that the strong physical attraction between them is deepening and turning into something more. Even before they become lovers, Leo has realised that Thalia is not at all the promiscuous woman rumour has painted her, and he asks to know the truth of her situation. One of the things I really appreciated about them as a couple was the fact that they are honest with each other, so that when Leo asks that difficult question, Thalia tells him everything. Her story is difficult for her to tell and truly heart-breaking for the reader to read, but there is no sugar-coating the brutality she endured at the hands of the man who was supposed to care for her.
The Bedding Proposal is a surprisingly “grown-up” romance with darker undertones than are usually found in the genre. Leo and Thalia are fully rounded-out characters, and it’s a tribute to Ms Warren’s writing that even when Leo is at his most annoying, he still manages to be an engaging character, one I found myself rooting for even as I was wishing he’d grow up a bit! Thalia’s story is tragic, and one I suspect is not too far removed from the sort of thing endured by women in her position at this time in history. Yet she refuses to be completely destroyed by her experience and the quiet dignity of her character, her intense loneliness and her longing for affection and companionship – things to which everyone is entitled but which have been denied her – shine through on every page.
It’s an intense and compelling read – I read it in a couple of sessions – and one I can definitely recommend to anyone who is looking for an historical romance with depth and a couple who has much to endure before achieving their HEA. My one complaint is that the ending is a little too pat – a situation arises as the result of Thalia’s divorce that makes her relationship with Leo almost impossible to continue – and Ms Warren’s solution smacks too much of the Deus ex Machina for my taste. But that is the only complaint I have to make about the book, and as it happens in the last few pages, it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the rest of the story.
The Bedding Proposal is a very strong start to Ms Warren’s new series and I’m looking forward to the next installment.
September 26, 2016
3.5 Stars
Warning: Spoilers ahead
Tracy Anne Warren is a new to me author and I was pleasantly surprised by the different tone set by The Bedding Proposal for a Regency novel.
It explores the limited options women had who had faced scandal. In this case, Lady Thalia Lennox has gone through a very ugly and very public (as it would be for that time, I suppose) divorce, orchestrated by her despicable former husband who, in pursuit of an heir, wanted out and find himself a new bride. Thalia, after a series of miscarriages, was declared barren, therefore useless in her husbands eyes. She's been living on the fringes of Society ever since, but thanks to an inheritance from her grandmother that had not been included in the marriage contract, she is financially independent, though it's a frugal life. From time to time, she receives invitations to social gatherings, held by people who have equally faced Society's wrath. It is on one such occasion that Lord Leopold Byron sees Thalia and is captivated by her beauty. He knows of her tattered reputation but isn't fazed by it.
Leo, with all the panache and arrogance of a 25-year aristocrat who is used to getting his way, decides to go after Thalia. He is quite relentless in his pursuit of her and won't be put off easily either. He doesn't see the implications his actions might have on Thalia, who is already known as an adulteress who has taken an endless number of lovers since the divorce. None of which is true, but then, who cares if it's the husband (or ex-husband) who makes these claims?
I admired Thalia's strength and resolve not to be defined by the scandal, however much Society might define her. Thalia is definitely the more fleshed out character here, and it's Leo who has to do the growing up. Slowly but steadily, these two get to know each other, and it becomes harder and harder for Thalia to resist Leo's charms, until she finally gives in and starts an affair with him.
The beginning of The Bedding Proposal is strong and compelling with the author showing how much women in Thalia's situation had to endure. The middle part, however, started to drag. There's an incident where Thalia sprains her ankle and Leo plays the doctor which was obviously meant for the main characters to finally get physically closer but which - strangely - slowed the story down for me. Leo is all sweet and charming, says the right things, does the right things, but I didn't quite see the 'growing up' part. To say he always remained that arrogant, young aristocrat who always gets his way, would be unfair to him, but neither did I see a significant change. Once he experiences the limitations that this affair entails, he fights for the relationship and the feelings he has for Thalia. But that only underlines his relentlessness with which he started his pursuit of Thalia.
Don't get me wrong. I was never impatient or even annoyed with the main characters. It was rather the case of a story fizzling out and losing focus. What did confuse me, however, was how much page time was given to Leo's family. As I said, this author is new to me and when I read the whole interactions with Leo's older brothers and sister, I had a slight suspicion until I looked it up. And hello there! Turns out that the author had already written a whole series about the older siblings.
Anyway, Leo's and Thalia's story does pick up again when Leo realises just how much Thalia's divorce threatens their future happiness. Nonetheless, it all wrapped up a little too cleanly, too neatly, too conveniently. For whatever reasons, I was constantly thinking of The Heiress Effect. I might be a little unfair here comparing these two books, considering that the premises are completely different. One thing that was similar though were the implications of a union between the heroes and heroines, and while Oliver from The Heiress Effect had to overcome his worries, Leo was unwavering from start to finish. Admirable for sure, but also rather unexciting in the end.
Still, it's a good and interesting story and I'll continue with the next in this series.
Warning: Spoilers ahead
Tracy Anne Warren is a new to me author and I was pleasantly surprised by the different tone set by The Bedding Proposal for a Regency novel.
It explores the limited options women had who had faced scandal. In this case, Lady Thalia Lennox has gone through a very ugly and very public (as it would be for that time, I suppose) divorce, orchestrated by her despicable former husband who, in pursuit of an heir, wanted out and find himself a new bride. Thalia, after a series of miscarriages, was declared barren, therefore useless in her husbands eyes. She's been living on the fringes of Society ever since, but thanks to an inheritance from her grandmother that had not been included in the marriage contract, she is financially independent, though it's a frugal life. From time to time, she receives invitations to social gatherings, held by people who have equally faced Society's wrath. It is on one such occasion that Lord Leopold Byron sees Thalia and is captivated by her beauty. He knows of her tattered reputation but isn't fazed by it.
Leo, with all the panache and arrogance of a 25-year aristocrat who is used to getting his way, decides to go after Thalia. He is quite relentless in his pursuit of her and won't be put off easily either. He doesn't see the implications his actions might have on Thalia, who is already known as an adulteress who has taken an endless number of lovers since the divorce. None of which is true, but then, who cares if it's the husband (or ex-husband) who makes these claims?
I admired Thalia's strength and resolve not to be defined by the scandal, however much Society might define her. Thalia is definitely the more fleshed out character here, and it's Leo who has to do the growing up. Slowly but steadily, these two get to know each other, and it becomes harder and harder for Thalia to resist Leo's charms, until she finally gives in and starts an affair with him.
The beginning of The Bedding Proposal is strong and compelling with the author showing how much women in Thalia's situation had to endure. The middle part, however, started to drag. There's an incident where Thalia sprains her ankle and Leo plays the doctor which was obviously meant for the main characters to finally get physically closer but which - strangely - slowed the story down for me. Leo is all sweet and charming, says the right things, does the right things, but I didn't quite see the 'growing up' part. To say he always remained that arrogant, young aristocrat who always gets his way, would be unfair to him, but neither did I see a significant change. Once he experiences the limitations that this affair entails, he fights for the relationship and the feelings he has for Thalia. But that only underlines his relentlessness with which he started his pursuit of Thalia.
Don't get me wrong. I was never impatient or even annoyed with the main characters. It was rather the case of a story fizzling out and losing focus. What did confuse me, however, was how much page time was given to Leo's family. As I said, this author is new to me and when I read the whole interactions with Leo's older brothers and sister, I had a slight suspicion until I looked it up. And hello there! Turns out that the author had already written a whole series about the older siblings.
Anyway, Leo's and Thalia's story does pick up again when Leo realises just how much Thalia's divorce threatens their future happiness. Nonetheless, it all wrapped up a little too cleanly, too neatly, too conveniently. For whatever reasons, I was constantly thinking of The Heiress Effect. I might be a little unfair here comparing these two books, considering that the premises are completely different. One thing that was similar though were the implications of a union between the heroes and heroines, and while Oliver from The Heiress Effect had to overcome his worries, Leo was unwavering from start to finish. Admirable for sure, but also rather unexciting in the end.
Still, it's a good and interesting story and I'll continue with the next in this series.
October 20, 2023
I didn’t enjoy this the second time around. 😭
Just a few notes.
-Older heroine (31 then 32), younger hero (25).
-Heroine is a divorcee.
For readers who like to read series in order: Hero's older siblings have their own books in a separate series, but this book can be read as a standalone.
Just a few notes.
-Older heroine (31 then 32), younger hero (25).
-Heroine is a divorcee.
For readers who like to read series in order: Hero's older siblings have their own books in a separate series, but this book can be read as a standalone.
March 22, 2017
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
Summary
Lord Leo Byron, is bored lately with society and needs something or...someone to liven up his life. And then he meets Lady Thalia Lennox a woman that refuses his interests at every turn. But her refusal to give him the time of day only intrigues him even more and loves a good chase of his "prey". Thalia has had enough of being embarrassed and mocked and ridiculed and the last thing she wants to do is give another man a reason to humiliate her. Thalia married a man she didn't truly care for but did so out of duty. But her husband treated her awfully through their marriage and trapped her in a situation where she now bears the brunt of being a divorced wife. Just about everyone she ever knew and loved turned their backs on her except for a couple of friends. She doesn't trust Leo further than she throw him. She realizes there may be more Leo than she first assumed. But her ex-husband made sure she could never find the happiness she and Leo deserves.
The Hero
Leo Bryon, is part of a big family and is also a "twin". Leo hides behind th facade of being charming and easy going and full of laughter to hide his true intelligence. With all of his siblings highly gifted in the brain department, Leo wanted to be able to stand out from the 'crowd'. Leo isn't as superficial as he makes himself out to be. He is very close to his twin and they tend to get into all sorts of trouble together. Leo was such a wonderful hero especially once his feelings for Thalia turned deeper than physical desire. I truly couldn't get enough of seeing how devoted he was to Thalia.
We live wild lives until we find the right woman, once we do, we hold fast and never let go
The Heroine
Thalia is forced to live away from the Ton, since the actions of her ex-husband forced her into exile. Thalia did no wrong, but her ex-husband is a very vindictive and bitter man and takes it out on her at every turn. Thalia despite what she has lost, has managed to maintain a manageable living. Thalia has such a strong and resilient spirit. I loved her inner strength and fortitude to keep going strong even when others were always batting her down. I had so much admiration for Thalia, and love the way she grows in this story and the way we see how feisty she can be and seeing how after all she suffers, she still remains stronger than ever.
Plot and Story Line
The Bedding Proposal was fun and entertaining but also a bitter sweet read for me. Reading about situations like what Thalia goes through can be really hard to read at times. It's one of the draw backs of reading Regency Era romances. Mostly because it can be difficult to read about what women had to go through especially when it came to rights and privileges they had which was very few. But what was also simply wonderful about this story too was seeing the strength of women especially back then. They had very few rights, but in this book especially we see how sometimes that only forges stronger and more resilient personalities in women. And Thalia is one of those women that didn't break she was only made stronger. And I honestly loved seeing the slow changes in her as she experiences love for the first time with Leo. Leo, at first, views Thalia as a "prize". But you soon realize that he is drawn to her for other reasons.
I do want to be her friend, he realized. I want to discover everything there is to know about the beautiful, mysterious woman who is Lady Thalia Lennox.
And once he falls for her, he like any rake, falls hard and doesn't give up on her. I love the way he treats her, how much he is willing to do to give her a measure of peace and happiness that he knows she deserves. And the sweet devotion he has to her is so heart melting it might make you cry from it. Their romance is tender and poignant at times especially in the later half of the story. In the first half we see their quick-witted and fun bantering which is highly entertaining. But once they truly are honest with each other, that is where their relationship really soars. I just can't wait for what Warren does next in this series.
The Cover
Its alright, I really like the way his shirt is part way open and the male model is exactly how you would picture Leo to look like too!!
Overall View
The Bedding Proposal has a witty and lighthearted fun beginning that develops into a heart-aching romance that tugs at your emotions and will utterly draw you in! A CAPTIVATING ROMANCE!
"I'll stay for as long as you want me."
"That means forever, you realize? Because I'll always want you. I love you."
Click To Buy On Amazon
[foogallery id="26939"]
Summary
Lord Leo Byron, is bored lately with society and needs something or...someone to liven up his life. And then he meets Lady Thalia Lennox a woman that refuses his interests at every turn. But her refusal to give him the time of day only intrigues him even more and loves a good chase of his "prey". Thalia has had enough of being embarrassed and mocked and ridiculed and the last thing she wants to do is give another man a reason to humiliate her. Thalia married a man she didn't truly care for but did so out of duty. But her husband treated her awfully through their marriage and trapped her in a situation where she now bears the brunt of being a divorced wife. Just about everyone she ever knew and loved turned their backs on her except for a couple of friends. She doesn't trust Leo further than she throw him. She realizes there may be more Leo than she first assumed. But her ex-husband made sure she could never find the happiness she and Leo deserves.
The Hero
Leo Bryon, is part of a big family and is also a "twin". Leo hides behind th facade of being charming and easy going and full of laughter to hide his true intelligence. With all of his siblings highly gifted in the brain department, Leo wanted to be able to stand out from the 'crowd'. Leo isn't as superficial as he makes himself out to be. He is very close to his twin and they tend to get into all sorts of trouble together. Leo was such a wonderful hero especially once his feelings for Thalia turned deeper than physical desire. I truly couldn't get enough of seeing how devoted he was to Thalia.
We live wild lives until we find the right woman, once we do, we hold fast and never let go
The Heroine
Thalia is forced to live away from the Ton, since the actions of her ex-husband forced her into exile. Thalia did no wrong, but her ex-husband is a very vindictive and bitter man and takes it out on her at every turn. Thalia despite what she has lost, has managed to maintain a manageable living. Thalia has such a strong and resilient spirit. I loved her inner strength and fortitude to keep going strong even when others were always batting her down. I had so much admiration for Thalia, and love the way she grows in this story and the way we see how feisty she can be and seeing how after all she suffers, she still remains stronger than ever.
Plot and Story Line
The Bedding Proposal was fun and entertaining but also a bitter sweet read for me. Reading about situations like what Thalia goes through can be really hard to read at times. It's one of the draw backs of reading Regency Era romances. Mostly because it can be difficult to read about what women had to go through especially when it came to rights and privileges they had which was very few. But what was also simply wonderful about this story too was seeing the strength of women especially back then. They had very few rights, but in this book especially we see how sometimes that only forges stronger and more resilient personalities in women. And Thalia is one of those women that didn't break she was only made stronger. And I honestly loved seeing the slow changes in her as she experiences love for the first time with Leo. Leo, at first, views Thalia as a "prize". But you soon realize that he is drawn to her for other reasons.
I do want to be her friend, he realized. I want to discover everything there is to know about the beautiful, mysterious woman who is Lady Thalia Lennox.
And once he falls for her, he like any rake, falls hard and doesn't give up on her. I love the way he treats her, how much he is willing to do to give her a measure of peace and happiness that he knows she deserves. And the sweet devotion he has to her is so heart melting it might make you cry from it. Their romance is tender and poignant at times especially in the later half of the story. In the first half we see their quick-witted and fun bantering which is highly entertaining. But once they truly are honest with each other, that is where their relationship really soars. I just can't wait for what Warren does next in this series.
The Cover
Its alright, I really like the way his shirt is part way open and the male model is exactly how you would picture Leo to look like too!!
Overall View
The Bedding Proposal has a witty and lighthearted fun beginning that develops into a heart-aching romance that tugs at your emotions and will utterly draw you in! A CAPTIVATING ROMANCE!
"I'll stay for as long as you want me."
"That means forever, you realize? Because I'll always want you. I love you."
Click To Buy On Amazon
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April 6, 2017
Tracy Anne Warren is an author whose books I have wanted to read for some time and her new series, The Rakes of Cavendish Square, seemed like the perfect opportunity. I certainly wasn’t disappointed after reading THE BEDDING PROPOSAL, the first book in the series, which I loved.
Lord Leopold (Leo) Byron is the fifth son of a duke and, although he has studied law like his twin brother, Lawrence, he prefers living the life of a gentleman, while Lawrence became a barrister. Sound investments have provided sufficient monies to fund Leo’s lifestyle but, at the age of 25, his life has no real purpose other than the pursuit of pleasure.
“You’re five-and-twenty now. You could do with some purposeful direction.”
“The only direction I need is to be pointed toward a fresh glass of wine,” Leo said, tossing back the last of his champagne. “That and a proper bit of entertainment.”
A new mistress could be on the agenda but Leo wants someone unique; a woman who other men would go to any lengths to possess. So, when he sets eyes on the infamous Lady Thalia Lennox, he is determined to make her his mistress despite Lawrence’s warnings.
“…she uses men like toys and discards them once they’re broken, to say nothing of the fact that she’s several years your senior.”
Leo couldn’t repress a slowly forming grin as he turned to his twin. “Just look at her. She can’t be that much older, even if she has been married and divorced. As for her using me like a toy, I look forward to being played with. Anywhere. Anytime.”
Lady Thalia Lennox was the darling of the Ton until six years ago when her husband divorced her after a much-publicised affair. Left homeless and penniless, a small legacy from her maternal grandmother, consisting of a furnished town house and sufficient money to maintain it, meant she could live in a decent part of London. Since the divorce, she has been a social outcast, living on the periphery of polite society, and rumours abound of numerous affairs but the reality is very different.
No, she was quite alone and quite lonely.
Ironic, she mused, considering the constant parade of lovers she supposedly entertained—at least according to the gossip mavens and scandal pages that still liked to prattle on about her. Given their reports of her behavior, one would imagine her town house door scarcely ever closed for all the men going in and out—or perhaps it was only her bedroom door that was always in need of oil for the hinges.
Feeling lonely and with the only two friends who stuck by her after the divorce away at their husbands’ country estates, she accepts an invitation to a party. There, she meets the outrageous and arrogant Lord Leopold Byron who seems unable to take no for an answer.
Initially, Leo is annoyingly persistent in his pursuit of Thalia but I could understand his belief that she would welcome his overtures given her reputation. Thalia is her own woman, independent and self-sufficient and has no intention of yielding to him because…
For as charming and persuasive as Leopold Byron might be, she had no illusions about the fact that he considered her a prize to be won.
I enjoyed the battle of wills, the banter and the fact that Thalia is just as stubborn as Leo is. She successfully thwarts him at every turn and I love the prank she plays on him (the scene is so funny) although it doesn’t turn out exactly as she planned. Leo discovers that Thalia is brave, resourceful and clever and realises that he wants to know all about this beautiful, mysterious woman. He begins to doubt everything he believed about her when they first met.
What a puzzle she was. A beautiful, mysterious conundrum that demanded to be solved. The longer he knew her, the less about her he really understood.
Thalia’s story is so heart-breaking and I empathised with her feelings of hurt and betrayal. No wonder she had trust issues; Everyone, even her relatives, accepted her husband’s side of the story without question and she was never allowed to tell her side until Leo asks the question no one else had ever asked – “Tell me the truth. Your truth.” – and believes her. I love that this was the catalyst for Leo and Thalia to finally make love because it felt right. The love scene is beautifully done…tender, romantic and sensual.
A tear slid from the corner of her eye, but it was a tear of happiness.
Of healing.
As if this were her first time all over again and he the only lover she had ever known.
And would ever know again.
I couldn’t help but fall in love with Leo, especially when he gives Thalia the Meissen box, knowing how much it means to her, and replaces her great-grandmother’s pearls which her husband had sold. It warmed my heart to see Leo’s growing feelings for Thalia and how her outward beauty reflects an inner beauty. His love for and devotion to her is so heart-warming.
I enjoyed the banter between Leo and his twin brother, Lawrence, and meeting the other members of the Byron family. I also loved the way all the family members accepted Thalia (not surprising as they were scandal prone themselves).
But the Byrons had been all gentle smiles and shared commiseration. None of them had questioned her presence. Not one had treated her with anything but respect.
If I have one niggle, it’s that the main obstacle to Leo and Thalia’s HEA is resolved rather too conveniently but this wasn’t enough to prevent me from giving it 5 stars.
MY VERDICT: A well-written, emotionally satisfying, character driven love story. Highly recommended.
The Rakes of Cavendish Square series (click on the link for more details):
https://www.goodreads.com/series/134177
This review was first posted on my Rakes and Rascals Blog:
https://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com...
Lord Leopold (Leo) Byron is the fifth son of a duke and, although he has studied law like his twin brother, Lawrence, he prefers living the life of a gentleman, while Lawrence became a barrister. Sound investments have provided sufficient monies to fund Leo’s lifestyle but, at the age of 25, his life has no real purpose other than the pursuit of pleasure.
“You’re five-and-twenty now. You could do with some purposeful direction.”
“The only direction I need is to be pointed toward a fresh glass of wine,” Leo said, tossing back the last of his champagne. “That and a proper bit of entertainment.”
A new mistress could be on the agenda but Leo wants someone unique; a woman who other men would go to any lengths to possess. So, when he sets eyes on the infamous Lady Thalia Lennox, he is determined to make her his mistress despite Lawrence’s warnings.
“…she uses men like toys and discards them once they’re broken, to say nothing of the fact that she’s several years your senior.”
Leo couldn’t repress a slowly forming grin as he turned to his twin. “Just look at her. She can’t be that much older, even if she has been married and divorced. As for her using me like a toy, I look forward to being played with. Anywhere. Anytime.”
Lady Thalia Lennox was the darling of the Ton until six years ago when her husband divorced her after a much-publicised affair. Left homeless and penniless, a small legacy from her maternal grandmother, consisting of a furnished town house and sufficient money to maintain it, meant she could live in a decent part of London. Since the divorce, she has been a social outcast, living on the periphery of polite society, and rumours abound of numerous affairs but the reality is very different.
No, she was quite alone and quite lonely.
Ironic, she mused, considering the constant parade of lovers she supposedly entertained—at least according to the gossip mavens and scandal pages that still liked to prattle on about her. Given their reports of her behavior, one would imagine her town house door scarcely ever closed for all the men going in and out—or perhaps it was only her bedroom door that was always in need of oil for the hinges.
Feeling lonely and with the only two friends who stuck by her after the divorce away at their husbands’ country estates, she accepts an invitation to a party. There, she meets the outrageous and arrogant Lord Leopold Byron who seems unable to take no for an answer.
Initially, Leo is annoyingly persistent in his pursuit of Thalia but I could understand his belief that she would welcome his overtures given her reputation. Thalia is her own woman, independent and self-sufficient and has no intention of yielding to him because…
For as charming and persuasive as Leopold Byron might be, she had no illusions about the fact that he considered her a prize to be won.
I enjoyed the battle of wills, the banter and the fact that Thalia is just as stubborn as Leo is. She successfully thwarts him at every turn and I love the prank she plays on him (the scene is so funny) although it doesn’t turn out exactly as she planned. Leo discovers that Thalia is brave, resourceful and clever and realises that he wants to know all about this beautiful, mysterious woman. He begins to doubt everything he believed about her when they first met.
What a puzzle she was. A beautiful, mysterious conundrum that demanded to be solved. The longer he knew her, the less about her he really understood.
Thalia’s story is so heart-breaking and I empathised with her feelings of hurt and betrayal. No wonder she had trust issues; Everyone, even her relatives, accepted her husband’s side of the story without question and she was never allowed to tell her side until Leo asks the question no one else had ever asked – “Tell me the truth. Your truth.” – and believes her. I love that this was the catalyst for Leo and Thalia to finally make love because it felt right. The love scene is beautifully done…tender, romantic and sensual.
A tear slid from the corner of her eye, but it was a tear of happiness.
Of healing.
As if this were her first time all over again and he the only lover she had ever known.
And would ever know again.
I couldn’t help but fall in love with Leo, especially when he gives Thalia the Meissen box, knowing how much it means to her, and replaces her great-grandmother’s pearls which her husband had sold. It warmed my heart to see Leo’s growing feelings for Thalia and how her outward beauty reflects an inner beauty. His love for and devotion to her is so heart-warming.
I enjoyed the banter between Leo and his twin brother, Lawrence, and meeting the other members of the Byron family. I also loved the way all the family members accepted Thalia (not surprising as they were scandal prone themselves).
But the Byrons had been all gentle smiles and shared commiseration. None of them had questioned her presence. Not one had treated her with anything but respect.
If I have one niggle, it’s that the main obstacle to Leo and Thalia’s HEA is resolved rather too conveniently but this wasn’t enough to prevent me from giving it 5 stars.
MY VERDICT: A well-written, emotionally satisfying, character driven love story. Highly recommended.
The Rakes of Cavendish Square series (click on the link for more details):
https://www.goodreads.com/series/134177
This review was first posted on my Rakes and Rascals Blog:
https://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com...
February 14, 2019
Thank you to Signet for providing a print copy of this book in exchange for a review.
I can’t say enough good things about this book. The Bedding Proposal was so chock-full of emotion I found myself fighting back tears more than once. Thalia and Leo were absolutely wonderful characters, the writing and build up in this book stellar.
I want to start off by saying that I read a lot of books including a hero who is seeking a mistress. He finds the woman, falls immediately in love with her, and thus begins his pursuit to take her as a bride. But this book actually went there. Leo was in search of a mistress, and only Lady Thalia Lennox would do. It takes quite a bit of coaxing on Leo’s part, but he eventually wheedles his way into Thalia’s bed with no promises. Leo was very charming and easy going—just fun to read about because he enjoyed life. Thalia was very likable, if a bit stand-offish. It’s obvious from the beginning she has her secrets. I desperately wanted to know her history and what led to her public shame, but after hearing it, I almost wished I hadn’t. It was so devastating, and it was a wonder she was able to extend Leo even the tiniest bit of trust.
This book had a few things that bothered me – there was a husband/wife conversation that felt a bit awkward and something at the end that felt like it happened merely for convenience. But you know what? I couldn’t even take a star off because the rest of the story was so beautiful. For some reason, it always guts me when a hero is brought to his knees, and Leo definitely was in The Bedding Proposal. While there was some heavy subject matter covered in this book, there was also a lot of laughter and fun along the way. If you’re a fan of historical romance and haven’t read this book, it needs to be on your to be read list!
I switched back and forth between print and audio for this one, and I loved the audio! The narrator was wonderful, and I will definitely be looking for more books that feature her as the reader.
This review was originally posted at Badass Book Reviews.
I can’t say enough good things about this book. The Bedding Proposal was so chock-full of emotion I found myself fighting back tears more than once. Thalia and Leo were absolutely wonderful characters, the writing and build up in this book stellar.
I want to start off by saying that I read a lot of books including a hero who is seeking a mistress. He finds the woman, falls immediately in love with her, and thus begins his pursuit to take her as a bride. But this book actually went there. Leo was in search of a mistress, and only Lady Thalia Lennox would do. It takes quite a bit of coaxing on Leo’s part, but he eventually wheedles his way into Thalia’s bed with no promises. Leo was very charming and easy going—just fun to read about because he enjoyed life. Thalia was very likable, if a bit stand-offish. It’s obvious from the beginning she has her secrets. I desperately wanted to know her history and what led to her public shame, but after hearing it, I almost wished I hadn’t. It was so devastating, and it was a wonder she was able to extend Leo even the tiniest bit of trust.
This book had a few things that bothered me – there was a husband/wife conversation that felt a bit awkward and something at the end that felt like it happened merely for convenience. But you know what? I couldn’t even take a star off because the rest of the story was so beautiful. For some reason, it always guts me when a hero is brought to his knees, and Leo definitely was in The Bedding Proposal. While there was some heavy subject matter covered in this book, there was also a lot of laughter and fun along the way. If you’re a fan of historical romance and haven’t read this book, it needs to be on your to be read list!
I switched back and forth between print and audio for this one, and I loved the audio! The narrator was wonderful, and I will definitely be looking for more books that feature her as the reader.
This review was originally posted at Badass Book Reviews.
September 13, 2025
This was an enjoyable read for me. Two strong willed characters.
Leo decides he wants Thalia to be his Mistress.
Thalia is not willing to let him into her life.
Leo persistence advances , get him in lot of trouble.
Even though she likes Leo, she’s not interested in having a relationship with him, due to trust issues.
These two characters both had humour and stubbornness.
Leo decides he wants Thalia to be his Mistress.
Thalia is not willing to let him into her life.
Leo persistence advances , get him in lot of trouble.
Even though she likes Leo, she’s not interested in having a relationship with him, due to trust issues.
These two characters both had humour and stubbornness.
July 10, 2015
This was a pleasant if somewhat unambitious and formulaic read. The heroine, Thalia, was better-realised than the Hero, Leo. Thalia is divorced and living on the outskirts of the ton as a result of the public shame the divorce proceedings created. All of society believes she cheated on her husband and all of society believes the constant rumours that follow her around as a result of her divorced status that she is continuing to enjoy numerous illicit liaisons. She’s strong and independent, but vulnerable. Leo is really cookie-cut, until the last 30% when he becomes unreasonably aggressive. Supposed rake, although we never see him doing anything particularly rake-ish, he pursues Thalia but is also happy to get to know her. Despite Thalia’s outcast status the book is perky and silly and never gets too angsty. The last third does go off in a melodramatic fashion though. I could've done without that and I skimmed a bit. The sex is good although kind of hilariously frequent once these two get going. We’re in countless orgasms a night territory. Then there are the anachronisms. Oh boy. They screamed out at me. By and large Brits do not say 'quit it' even in the 21st century but they certainly did not say that in the early 19th. That is but one example. There were many others.
February 1, 2021
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars)
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖 (4 books)
Romance: 💞💞💞 (3 hearts)
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋 (3 hearts)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡ (3 lightnings)
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔 (4 hearts)
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (4 fires)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (3 peaches)
Number of Sex Scenes: 🍆🍆🍆🍆 (4 eggplants)
Thalia has been banished from society for being too loose with her favors. After an extremely public and messy divorce, the rumors swirl about her character. Leo is infatuated with her at first look and makes it his goal to get her to accept him into her life.
Give this book a try if you want:
- Older heroine – the hero is 25 and the heroine is soon to be 32
-Regency time period - this book takes place in 1817
- Consent is not a big deal for you. I’m not sure if I can label this dubcon, because the heroine does everything willingly, but she also says no, a lot. And the hero does NOT listen. It wasn’t a big deal for me, but if consent is really important to you, this might not be your favorite.
- The hero does the chasing – he wants the heroine and won’t take no for an answer!
- Experienced heroine – she was married, but has the barest of experience
- I marked this as no villain/mystery but there is a touch of a villain. It's a very minor part of the story though, most of the focus is on the romance and relationship
- Ruined heroine – she has been publicly ruined by her husbands accusations and divorce
- Moderately steamy – there’s a number of scenes and I put it at 4 eggplants, but it’s not excessive. There’s a lot of scenes that are a bit shorter or remembered, the sex definitely doesn’t take over the book (exact locations found at end)
- A emotional pull, the story has a lot of heartbreak and healing
Ok so this book was not my favorite. It was purely a character disconnect with me and Leo. I don’t mind an aggressive hero at all. But there something about him that just made his actions annoy me. He came off like a bored, entitled nobleman looking for something new to entertain himself. And then when he found it, he was quite obnoxious about his intentions. He didn’t care what she said, only what he wanted mattered. This did get better as the book went on, and I was left at the end feeling they truly did love each other, but it was so painful getting there. I felt his character development was just a touch lacking too.
Thalia, I enjoyed. Her story is so, so heartbreaking. She’s very strong and I overall liked her. I was rooting for her to find happiness. She deserves it. I did get a little frustrated with her pride and reluctance at some points in the book though. She really struggled with making choices with Leo, and I felt like since she was being treated a certain way by society anyway, she might as well reap those rewards.
The characters have a lot of page time together and I really liked that. The book takes place over a number of months, which I think helped build their relationship over time and make it all more believable that they truly loved each other and would live happily ever after.
I’m curious enough to continue with the series, even though this book wasn’t my favorite.
Safety warning:
Locations of kisses and intimate scenes
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖 (4 books)
Romance: 💞💞💞 (3 hearts)
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋 (3 hearts)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡ (3 lightnings)
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔 (4 hearts)
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (4 fires)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (3 peaches)
Number of Sex Scenes: 🍆🍆🍆🍆 (4 eggplants)
Thalia has been banished from society for being too loose with her favors. After an extremely public and messy divorce, the rumors swirl about her character. Leo is infatuated with her at first look and makes it his goal to get her to accept him into her life.
Give this book a try if you want:
- Older heroine – the hero is 25 and the heroine is soon to be 32
-Regency time period - this book takes place in 1817
- Consent is not a big deal for you. I’m not sure if I can label this dubcon, because the heroine does everything willingly, but she also says no, a lot. And the hero does NOT listen. It wasn’t a big deal for me, but if consent is really important to you, this might not be your favorite.
- The hero does the chasing – he wants the heroine and won’t take no for an answer!
- Experienced heroine – she was married, but has the barest of experience
- I marked this as no villain/mystery but there is a touch of a villain. It's a very minor part of the story though, most of the focus is on the romance and relationship
- Ruined heroine – she has been publicly ruined by her husbands accusations and divorce
- Moderately steamy – there’s a number of scenes and I put it at 4 eggplants, but it’s not excessive. There’s a lot of scenes that are a bit shorter or remembered, the sex definitely doesn’t take over the book (exact locations found at end)
- A emotional pull, the story has a lot of heartbreak and healing
Ok so this book was not my favorite. It was purely a character disconnect with me and Leo. I don’t mind an aggressive hero at all. But there something about him that just made his actions annoy me. He came off like a bored, entitled nobleman looking for something new to entertain himself. And then when he found it, he was quite obnoxious about his intentions. He didn’t care what she said, only what he wanted mattered. This did get better as the book went on, and I was left at the end feeling they truly did love each other, but it was so painful getting there. I felt his character development was just a touch lacking too.
Thalia, I enjoyed. Her story is so, so heartbreaking. She’s very strong and I overall liked her. I was rooting for her to find happiness. She deserves it. I did get a little frustrated with her pride and reluctance at some points in the book though. She really struggled with making choices with Leo, and I felt like since she was being treated a certain way by society anyway, she might as well reap those rewards.
The characters have a lot of page time together and I really liked that. The book takes place over a number of months, which I think helped build their relationship over time and make it all more believable that they truly loved each other and would live happily ever after.
I’m curious enough to continue with the series, even though this book wasn’t my favorite.
Safety warning:
Locations of kisses and intimate scenes
December 29, 2016
At the beginning of The Bedding Proposal, our young hero, Lord Leo Byron is somewhat of a smarm bucket. He's an unrepentant rake and quite smug about it. He sees Lady Thalia at a dinner party and wants her. What he wants, he gets or so he thinks. Lady Thalia should be easy picking as she is a divorced woman in Regency society so she must be easy. Too bad for Lord Leo, she is anything but easy. She handles Lee's initial assumption she'll simply fall into his bed quite nicely with a flute of champagne in his face. The quest is on.
Turns out Lady Thalia was innocent of the adulterous charges her beastly husband levied maliciously against her in order to obtain his divorce. Why divorce? Her inability to perform the one function all peer's require in a wife, bear children. He was happy to keep her dowery as well as her personal possessions though.
Back to Lord Leo, he is on a quest to woo, win and bed the scandalous Lady Thalia whether she likes it or not. She gives him a good run for his money culminating in a ridiculously funny oneupmanship scene.... Lady Thalia, unlike most heroines we read in romance novels, is actually serious about NOT engaging in an affair. She doesn't quiver or quake, and her lady bits stay pretty much intact around Lord Leo.
She can see his attraction, but she will not go down easily, so to speak. In other words, our hero has to work for his heroine. Warren does something surprisingly unusual and actually shows us in detail the couple spending time together and getting to know each other. She also shows how Leo calculatedly chips away at Thalia's resistance. Of course, they enter an affair eventually, but Thalia is very clear it is an affair and she is not a mistress. Both characters ruminate on how long it will last.
Both characters grow and change during the story which elevates it from a simple steamy Regency romance to something quite more, a love story. There are a couple of issues with the story, primarily a deus ex machina solution to the pair's biggest problem.
More of a 3.5, but it's the end of the year, and I've been chintzy lately so let's say 4 stars.
Turns out Lady Thalia was innocent of the adulterous charges her beastly husband levied maliciously against her in order to obtain his divorce. Why divorce? Her inability to perform the one function all peer's require in a wife, bear children. He was happy to keep her dowery as well as her personal possessions though.
Back to Lord Leo, he is on a quest to woo, win and bed the scandalous Lady Thalia whether she likes it or not. She gives him a good run for his money culminating in a ridiculously funny oneupmanship scene.... Lady Thalia, unlike most heroines we read in romance novels, is actually serious about NOT engaging in an affair. She doesn't quiver or quake, and her lady bits stay pretty much intact around Lord Leo.
She can see his attraction, but she will not go down easily, so to speak. In other words, our hero has to work for his heroine. Warren does something surprisingly unusual and actually shows us in detail the couple spending time together and getting to know each other. She also shows how Leo calculatedly chips away at Thalia's resistance. Of course, they enter an affair eventually, but Thalia is very clear it is an affair and she is not a mistress. Both characters ruminate on how long it will last.
Both characters grow and change during the story which elevates it from a simple steamy Regency romance to something quite more, a love story. There are a couple of issues with the story, primarily a deus ex machina solution to the pair's biggest problem.
More of a 3.5, but it's the end of the year, and I've been chintzy lately so let's say 4 stars.
April 6, 2017
DNF...
Believe it or not I’ve owned this book since July 10, 2015, and I’ve tried reading it a half dozen times, without success. I’ve gotten to 38% this time and I just can’t finish. It started off with Leo wanting Thalia as his next mistress and that’s still all he wants. He’s chasing and she’s avoiding, page after page. I can’t read 352 pages of that kind of nonsense. I liked Thalia but Leo was just too arrogant for me, and I usually like arrogant heroes. Maybe he was written all wrong for me, I don't know.
There wasn’t any kind of real desire. He simply wanted her and wasn’t going to take no for an answer. I'm sure there was sex in this book but I have no idea when.
As to the narration: Barrie Kreinik was barely ok for me. She could have done a better job on the men’s voices and it would have been great.
Believe it or not I’ve owned this book since July 10, 2015, and I’ve tried reading it a half dozen times, without success. I’ve gotten to 38% this time and I just can’t finish. It started off with Leo wanting Thalia as his next mistress and that’s still all he wants. He’s chasing and she’s avoiding, page after page. I can’t read 352 pages of that kind of nonsense. I liked Thalia but Leo was just too arrogant for me, and I usually like arrogant heroes. Maybe he was written all wrong for me, I don't know.
There wasn’t any kind of real desire. He simply wanted her and wasn’t going to take no for an answer. I'm sure there was sex in this book but I have no idea when.
As to the narration: Barrie Kreinik was barely ok for me. She could have done a better job on the men’s voices and it would have been great.
April 9, 2016
3.5 stars. It's not a bad book, just not captivating or terribly exciting.
Likes:
Thalia's character is described well, giving the reader enough back-story to understand how she's both strong and vulnerable. As far as heroines go, she deserves love more than most. She's horribly wronged by her former husband, society, and her parents (even though descriptions of her childhood are in passing).
I also enjoyed how Thalia doesn't take anything for granted. She cherishes the few possessions she's able to recover from her previous life, and she has a good relationship with all of her staff. She doesn't spend time wallowing in bitterness or grief over what she's lost; instead she focuses on what she has and how she'll make do in the future.
I can't decide if I like Leo or not. He's not a strong character, and even though he's devoted to Thalia, I don't get a sense of who he is. There's one line that explains why he hides his smarts behind humor, but that's about as deep as we get into his character.
Dislikes:
In general, I'm not a fan of flash-back scenes, because they're an awkward and unimaginative way of storytelling. There could have been a better way to describe the brutality Thalia endured during her marriage.
**spoiler ahead**
The ending was anticlimactic. Thalia had been subject to very public shaming for years, but the final confrontation with Lord Kemp is private with only a couple witnesses. Then, after all the bullshit he'd done and everything he put her through, he dies of a heart-attack? It felt like he got the easy way out, and there wasn't any justice for either Thalia or Leo. By killing him off with natural causes the story ends in a neat little package, completely taking away from the complexities of Thalia's situation and the tricky divorce stipulations.
Likes:
Thalia's character is described well, giving the reader enough back-story to understand how she's both strong and vulnerable. As far as heroines go, she deserves love more than most. She's horribly wronged by her former husband, society, and her parents (even though descriptions of her childhood are in passing).
I also enjoyed how Thalia doesn't take anything for granted. She cherishes the few possessions she's able to recover from her previous life, and she has a good relationship with all of her staff. She doesn't spend time wallowing in bitterness or grief over what she's lost; instead she focuses on what she has and how she'll make do in the future.
I can't decide if I like Leo or not. He's not a strong character, and even though he's devoted to Thalia, I don't get a sense of who he is. There's one line that explains why he hides his smarts behind humor, but that's about as deep as we get into his character.
Dislikes:
In general, I'm not a fan of flash-back scenes, because they're an awkward and unimaginative way of storytelling. There could have been a better way to describe the brutality Thalia endured during her marriage.
**spoiler ahead**
The ending was anticlimactic. Thalia had been subject to very public shaming for years, but the final confrontation with Lord Kemp is private with only a couple witnesses. Then, after all the bullshit he'd done and everything he put her through, he dies of a heart-attack? It felt like he got the easy way out, and there wasn't any justice for either Thalia or Leo. By killing him off with natural causes the story ends in a neat little package, completely taking away from the complexities of Thalia's situation and the tricky divorce stipulations.
November 28, 2015
Lovely! Simply lovely. What a delightful surprise.
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
May 5, 2019
Excellent story, nicely narrated by new-to-me narrator Barrie Kreinik. I do have some questions about Thalia’s divorce, but I will avoid spoilers. Thalia is a lovely heroine who has had a very sad life. Lord Leo is young (seven years younger-I like that!), brash, and not entirely likable at first. As the story progresses, he grows on Thalia. And on this reader.
May 1, 2024
I liked the beginning; the hero is a bit pushy, but I found it funny. The middle of the book was tiresome; not even the h's past revived my enthusiasm.
I would have preferred more pages with a properly developed ending rather than so many meetings between the MCs where practically nothing happened.
Did she get all her jewelry back? Somehow, I lost this info 👀
I would have preferred more pages with a properly developed ending rather than so many meetings between the MCs where practically nothing happened.
Did she get all her jewelry back? Somehow, I lost this info 👀
September 11, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed! Really good, delightful, sexy book with a besotted Hero who stops at nothing to get his gal. Reverse age gap which was thoroughly refreshing. Loved my time reading this book.
September 8, 2017
I liked the background of this story - the divorcee allowing herself to open up to the possibility of love. I was less comfortable with the hero's initial approach - Leo's arrogant, slightly smarmy, and altogether much too pleased with himself. I wanted a heroine who would call him on this, but Thalia doesn't. I think I was meant to believe this was because she was irresistibly drawn to him, but it came across as weak-mindedness - which leaves a different taste in the mouth.
I was also taken aback by the ending which felt unrealistic. Almost as unrealistic as the easy way in which .
This is a book that has had excellent reviews from reviewers I generally admire, so I may be missing something - so I read the book again to make sure. But no, while this is a fluently-told story, I could not emphathise with either H or H sufficiently to enjoy it whole-heartedly.
I was also taken aback by the ending which felt unrealistic. Almost as unrealistic as the easy way in which .
This is a book that has had excellent reviews from reviewers I generally admire, so I may be missing something - so I read the book again to make sure. But no, while this is a fluently-told story, I could not emphathise with either H or H sufficiently to enjoy it whole-heartedly.
January 30, 2016
Rating: 2.5/5
Of course I liked the fact that we had an unconventional pairing and that there was this whole concept of finding love again yada yada yada.
But not once did I think that the hero would have any trouble getting together with the heroine. Upon first glance he had won her. There was no struggle except for that half-hearted attempt by the heroine. And that conveniently placed twist at the end which removed all obstacles for our couple's HEA made me roll my eyes heavenward.
Of course I liked the fact that we had an unconventional pairing and that there was this whole concept of finding love again yada yada yada.
But not once did I think that the hero would have any trouble getting together with the heroine. Upon first glance he had won her. There was no struggle except for that half-hearted attempt by the heroine. And that conveniently placed twist at the end which removed all obstacles for our couple's HEA made me roll my eyes heavenward.
February 4, 2017
Presque 4,5/5 même !
J'ai vraiment bien aimé, c'était tout mignon et le contexte change un peu.
Par contre, j'ai eu l'impression que c'était la suite (ou spin-off ?) d'une autre série, avec les aînés de la famille qui ont dû avoir leur histoires avant, non ?
J'ai vraiment bien aimé, c'était tout mignon et le contexte change un peu.
Par contre, j'ai eu l'impression que c'était la suite (ou spin-off ?) d'une autre série, avec les aînés de la famille qui ont dû avoir leur histoires avant, non ?
March 16, 2016
Loved this! 4.5 stars - review to follow.
July 28, 2024
Review from 2015
B+ for narration . A- for content, 4.5 stars rounded up.
The Bedding Proposal boasts a somewhat darker storyline than is found in many historical romances, and certainly possesses a depth which one might not expect on reading the synopsis, which tells us this is the story of a rakish young man who becomes enamoured of a scandalous older woman and doggedly pursues her. That is part of the storyline, it’s true, but it is quickly apparent to the listener that the older woman is not what she is reputed to be, and there is more to the hero than the façade he presents to the world of the devil-may-care rogue.
Lady Thalia Lennox was ignominiously divorced by her husband six years previously when, following a series of miscarriages, he decided she was incapable of giving him an heir. As anyone who reads or listens to historical regularly will know, divorce was an extremely difficult thing to procure in the 19th century, and was only available to those with a great deal of wealth and influence. Both parties would have been subject to scandal and gossip, but unfortunately – and again, typical of the time period – most of that attached to the woman in the case. So for six years, Lady Thalia has lived on the very fringes of society, carefully managing her very frugal means, not going out very much and not even able to take solace in friendship, as the husbands of her two closest friends do not wish their wives’ reputations to be besmirched by their association with a scandalous divorcée.
Unlike Thalia, Lord Leo Byron has everything. He’s very handsome, charming, independently wealthy and comes from an influential and close-knit family. He’s used to having the ladies falling at his feet, but when he sees Thalia on one of the very rare occasions she ventures out, he is smitten and determined to have her. After all, she is rumoured to have a revolving door of lovers, so he thinks she’ll fall for his obvious masculine charms at the drop of a hat.
His twin brother, Lawrence, cautions him, but Leo is confident of success and duly proceeds to approach the lady and turn on the charm – only to be staggered when he is rebuffed not only verbally, but with a glass of champagne dumped over his head.
This makes Leo only more determined to have Thalia, and he begins his pursuit in earnest. Thalia is dismayed to discover that she has been invited to a fashionable houseparty solely because of a request from Leo, and determines to exact her revenge upon him. But when her plan goes awry and Leo is injured, he can’t help but be grateful as it gives him the opportunity to play on Thalia’s sense of guilt, and to make a bargain with her. When they return to London he asks her to spend two weeks getting to know him. If, at the end of that time, she does not wish to see him again, he will abide by her wishes. If not – well, Leo is confident that by that time he will have seduced her and there will be no “if not”.
It’s true that, up until this point in the story Leo, while undeniably attractive, does come across as an arrogant arse who won’t take no for an answer. And up to a point, he is – his pursuit of Thalia in the face of her refusals is unpalatable – yet somehow, the author keeps him from becoming a complete bastard by showing the listener that in spite of his less than honourable intentions towards her, he can be kind and thoughtful, and by making it clear that the more time he spends in her company, the more he is coming to see that her reputation as a woman of loose morals is completely undeserved.
The central relationship is very well developed, and a genuine friendship grows between the two protagonists before they become lovers, which is something I always appreciate. I enjoyed listening to them get to know each other as they uncovered the real person beneath their respective veneers. Ms Warren really brings home how much damage would have been sustained by a divorced woman at this time as we come to know how badly Thalia’s whole life was ruined through no fault of her own. The author also takes an unvarnished look at the horror of domestic abuse – a terrible thing no matter the time period, but even moreso in the 19th century when women had no recourse whatsoever. She handles the subject very well and with sensitivity, but those particular scenes are hard to listen to, nonetheless.
We hear Leo turn gradually from that arrogant young idiot we first met into a devoted, caring man who wants nothing more than to be at the side of the woman he loves. Sadly there are insurmountable obstacles in the way of that path and in a heartbreaking development, it seems as though the pair is destined to remain apart.
Barrie Kreinik is a new-to-me narrator, although she has a number of titles to her credit listed at Audible. I’m always a little apprehensive when approaching an audio of a book I enjoyed when the narrator is unfamiliar to me, but I’m pleased to report that Ms Kreinik delivers a very strong performance indeed. Her highly cultured tones are somewhat reminiscent of those one hears in British films of the 1940s, but that was a definite plus, as the characters come from the highest echelons in society, were born into privilege and well-educated; and Ms Kreinik’s strong RP (Received Pronunciation) accent reflects those circumstances perfectly. She differentiates very well between all the characters, and while she doesn’t drop the pitch of her voice all that much for the men, she nonetheless makes a very clear distinction between the sexes. Leo and Lawrence Byron are identical twins, but although they sound similar, they sound different enough as to enable the listener to tell which of the two is speaking fairly easily.
The narrative is well-paced and expressive; it certainly feels as though Ms Kreinik is both familiar and comfortable with the material, and she’s a narrator I will definitely be listening to again. In fact, if I were keeping an accents leader-board, she’d be at the very top, as I only spotted two small mispronunciations that gave away the fact she’s not British!
All in all, The Bedding Proposal is a highly satisfying audio experience. The story is a little different to the norm for historical romances, and the central characters are well-rounded and ultimately likeable. The chemistry between them is undeniable and Ms Kreinik injects the right amount of humour and sensuality into their exchanges. I’m looking forward to the next book, and really hope that this narrator continues with the series.
Sadly, the narrator was changed for book 2 - and was terrible.
B+ for narration . A- for content, 4.5 stars rounded up.
The Bedding Proposal boasts a somewhat darker storyline than is found in many historical romances, and certainly possesses a depth which one might not expect on reading the synopsis, which tells us this is the story of a rakish young man who becomes enamoured of a scandalous older woman and doggedly pursues her. That is part of the storyline, it’s true, but it is quickly apparent to the listener that the older woman is not what she is reputed to be, and there is more to the hero than the façade he presents to the world of the devil-may-care rogue.
Lady Thalia Lennox was ignominiously divorced by her husband six years previously when, following a series of miscarriages, he decided she was incapable of giving him an heir. As anyone who reads or listens to historical regularly will know, divorce was an extremely difficult thing to procure in the 19th century, and was only available to those with a great deal of wealth and influence. Both parties would have been subject to scandal and gossip, but unfortunately – and again, typical of the time period – most of that attached to the woman in the case. So for six years, Lady Thalia has lived on the very fringes of society, carefully managing her very frugal means, not going out very much and not even able to take solace in friendship, as the husbands of her two closest friends do not wish their wives’ reputations to be besmirched by their association with a scandalous divorcée.
Unlike Thalia, Lord Leo Byron has everything. He’s very handsome, charming, independently wealthy and comes from an influential and close-knit family. He’s used to having the ladies falling at his feet, but when he sees Thalia on one of the very rare occasions she ventures out, he is smitten and determined to have her. After all, she is rumoured to have a revolving door of lovers, so he thinks she’ll fall for his obvious masculine charms at the drop of a hat.
His twin brother, Lawrence, cautions him, but Leo is confident of success and duly proceeds to approach the lady and turn on the charm – only to be staggered when he is rebuffed not only verbally, but with a glass of champagne dumped over his head.
This makes Leo only more determined to have Thalia, and he begins his pursuit in earnest. Thalia is dismayed to discover that she has been invited to a fashionable houseparty solely because of a request from Leo, and determines to exact her revenge upon him. But when her plan goes awry and Leo is injured, he can’t help but be grateful as it gives him the opportunity to play on Thalia’s sense of guilt, and to make a bargain with her. When they return to London he asks her to spend two weeks getting to know him. If, at the end of that time, she does not wish to see him again, he will abide by her wishes. If not – well, Leo is confident that by that time he will have seduced her and there will be no “if not”.
It’s true that, up until this point in the story Leo, while undeniably attractive, does come across as an arrogant arse who won’t take no for an answer. And up to a point, he is – his pursuit of Thalia in the face of her refusals is unpalatable – yet somehow, the author keeps him from becoming a complete bastard by showing the listener that in spite of his less than honourable intentions towards her, he can be kind and thoughtful, and by making it clear that the more time he spends in her company, the more he is coming to see that her reputation as a woman of loose morals is completely undeserved.
The central relationship is very well developed, and a genuine friendship grows between the two protagonists before they become lovers, which is something I always appreciate. I enjoyed listening to them get to know each other as they uncovered the real person beneath their respective veneers. Ms Warren really brings home how much damage would have been sustained by a divorced woman at this time as we come to know how badly Thalia’s whole life was ruined through no fault of her own. The author also takes an unvarnished look at the horror of domestic abuse – a terrible thing no matter the time period, but even moreso in the 19th century when women had no recourse whatsoever. She handles the subject very well and with sensitivity, but those particular scenes are hard to listen to, nonetheless.
We hear Leo turn gradually from that arrogant young idiot we first met into a devoted, caring man who wants nothing more than to be at the side of the woman he loves. Sadly there are insurmountable obstacles in the way of that path and in a heartbreaking development, it seems as though the pair is destined to remain apart.
Barrie Kreinik is a new-to-me narrator, although she has a number of titles to her credit listed at Audible. I’m always a little apprehensive when approaching an audio of a book I enjoyed when the narrator is unfamiliar to me, but I’m pleased to report that Ms Kreinik delivers a very strong performance indeed. Her highly cultured tones are somewhat reminiscent of those one hears in British films of the 1940s, but that was a definite plus, as the characters come from the highest echelons in society, were born into privilege and well-educated; and Ms Kreinik’s strong RP (Received Pronunciation) accent reflects those circumstances perfectly. She differentiates very well between all the characters, and while she doesn’t drop the pitch of her voice all that much for the men, she nonetheless makes a very clear distinction between the sexes. Leo and Lawrence Byron are identical twins, but although they sound similar, they sound different enough as to enable the listener to tell which of the two is speaking fairly easily.
The narrative is well-paced and expressive; it certainly feels as though Ms Kreinik is both familiar and comfortable with the material, and she’s a narrator I will definitely be listening to again. In fact, if I were keeping an accents leader-board, she’d be at the very top, as I only spotted two small mispronunciations that gave away the fact she’s not British!
All in all, The Bedding Proposal is a highly satisfying audio experience. The story is a little different to the norm for historical romances, and the central characters are well-rounded and ultimately likeable. The chemistry between them is undeniable and Ms Kreinik injects the right amount of humour and sensuality into their exchanges. I’m looking forward to the next book, and really hope that this narrator continues with the series.
Sadly, the narrator was changed for book 2 - and was terrible.
August 24, 2017
Un très bon commencement pour cette série ! On a bien sûr envie de découvrir l'histoire de Lawrence!
J'ai juste trouvé que la crise cardiaque de Lord Kemp ( le méchant) arrivais comme in cheveux sur la soupe mais le reste est parfait
J'ai juste trouvé que la crise cardiaque de Lord Kemp ( le méchant) arrivais comme in cheveux sur la soupe mais le reste est parfait
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2015
Full review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
I’ve read at least one book by Tracy Anne Warren before – The Trouble With Princesses, which I rather enjoyed (but didn’t review). I did enjoy this book, but there were a few things that I needed to discuss. Ultimately, it works out in to a pleasant beach read.
Another thing that really worked is how Warren wrote the fact that Thalia is six, nearly seven years older than Leo. She fusses over their age difference a lot, and he (once he gets over his surprise that she’s not as sexually experienced as gossip had led him to believe) is not worried about it. (And hell, he falls within “half your age plus seven” so she’s fine.) I liked the dynamic at work there, even though it did slip back into “dude knows what he’s doing, dudette doesn’t really.”
While it could have been interesting if Thalia had gone “Well fuck it” and banged who ever she wanted, the “woman wronged by husband and society” trope is tried and true. I liked how she tried to make the best of this life that was never supposed to be hers, and her coping mechanisms. I also really, REALLY liked the friendships she maintained with the few women who took her side, despite their husbands’ misgivings. YAY FRIENDSHIP AND LADIES STICKING UP FOR EACH OTHER.
-Redheadedgirl
I’ve read at least one book by Tracy Anne Warren before – The Trouble With Princesses, which I rather enjoyed (but didn’t review). I did enjoy this book, but there were a few things that I needed to discuss. Ultimately, it works out in to a pleasant beach read.
Another thing that really worked is how Warren wrote the fact that Thalia is six, nearly seven years older than Leo. She fusses over their age difference a lot, and he (once he gets over his surprise that she’s not as sexually experienced as gossip had led him to believe) is not worried about it. (And hell, he falls within “half your age plus seven” so she’s fine.) I liked the dynamic at work there, even though it did slip back into “dude knows what he’s doing, dudette doesn’t really.”
While it could have been interesting if Thalia had gone “Well fuck it” and banged who ever she wanted, the “woman wronged by husband and society” trope is tried and true. I liked how she tried to make the best of this life that was never supposed to be hers, and her coping mechanisms. I also really, REALLY liked the friendships she maintained with the few women who took her side, despite their husbands’ misgivings. YAY FRIENDSHIP AND LADIES STICKING UP FOR EACH OTHER.
-Redheadedgirl
May 13, 2019
Lord Leo Byron is a rake who has not been turned down by a woman since he was 13. He has finally grown bored with all the easy female targets, so he decides to make the scandalous divorcée Lady Thalia Lennox his new mistress no matter what or how long it takes.
Thalia gives him a run for his money but finally succumbs. She is a very likable heroine. She is smart and strong-willed, but she is also emotionally vulnerable. Tracy Anne Warren does a great job of providing her backstory so the reader understands why she is the way she is.
The sex scenes were hot and the overall story was okay. However, I think I should have started with the original series about Leo's older siblings. The rake trilogy was not the best choice for me.
Thalia gives him a run for his money but finally succumbs. She is a very likable heroine. She is smart and strong-willed, but she is also emotionally vulnerable. Tracy Anne Warren does a great job of providing her backstory so the reader understands why she is the way she is.
The sex scenes were hot and the overall story was okay. However, I think I should have started with the original series about Leo's older siblings. The rake trilogy was not the best choice for me.
May 19, 2015
I liked this little gem of a romance so much I am going to look up some of TAW's backlist. Leo is a ladies' man and when he sees Thalia across the room at a gathering, he is determined he is going to become the next man in her bed. He has heard all the rumors about this rumored revolving bed divorcee and knows he can DEAL. But as you know, there isn't always fire where there is smoke. Thalia is determined to put this young man in his place and ensure he never assumes a lady's hand is for sale. This book highlights the unfairness toward ladies of the time and just how little rights they had. I wish the ending could have been done a bit different, but that is on me, not the author.
July 4, 2015
I liked parts of this book--the sex scenes (although, damn, these two have so much sex, I became sure they were sleep deprived), the camaraderie between the hero and his twin brother, the ways the heroine economized--but other parts were cliche--the evil ex-husband, the all perfect hero's family, the too gorgeous leads. I was also a bit dismayed at the hero's propensity for violence.
I enjoy Ms. Warren's work, however, and look forward to the next book whose hero is intriguing.
I enjoy Ms. Warren's work, however, and look forward to the next book whose hero is intriguing.
March 5, 2015
Originally posted at Smexybooks
http://smexybooks.com/2015/03/review-...
Favorite Quote: She was not for sale.
Lady Thalia Lennox, once the reigning darling of the London social set, now lives an outcast’s existence, the object of scandalous rumors and lascivious innuendos. Betrayed by those around her, the lies have left her heartbroken, alone, and completely over men. That is until a younger man sets his sights upon her.
Lord Leopold Byron, a mischievous rake whose status as a younger son leaves him free to pursue his amusements without censure, finds his interest pricked for the first time in ages when he catches a glimpse of the beautiful divorcee. Determined to make her his mistress, Leo plies her with titillating suggestions and intimate advances only to find himself rebuffed by her on multiple occasions.
Refusing to take no for an answer, Leo takes the different approach and soon a beautiful friendship blossoms. But there are those out there who don’t want Thalia happy and will do whatever it takes to keep her under their thumb. As Leo and Thalia’s relationship begins to evolve into something more, Leo will do whatever it takes to keep Thalia in his bed and life forever.
This is my first time reading Ms. Warren but not my last. The Bedding Proposal is the first installment in Ms. Warren’s The Rakes of Cavendish series which revolves around the Byron family. Fans of Tessa Dare and Julia Quinn are sure to enjoy this lively adventure that brings two intelligent and witty protagonists together for a deliciously swoon worthy romance. Set in the Regency era, Warren’s builds the sexual tension between our protagonists with delicious exploratory scenes, witty banter, and sensual play. Intrigue and scandal only further enhances the experience and elevates this story above the average historical romance.
Lady Thalia Lennox was married at a young age to a man of her family’s choosing. Going into the marriage with optimism and hope, she is shocked to find herself the victim of abuse. When her husband goes too far, leaving Thalia unable to give him an heir, he sets up in order to divorce her. Lies and accusations leave Thalia dissolute and a social pariah. With a few loyal friends and staff members, Thalia is able to secure housing and money to survive but she has taken her lessons to heart and regardless of the rumors her husband started, she lives a solitary life with her staff and cat.
“Animals are wonderful company and they are never cruel or deceitful. Be kind to them and they will be kind back. If only people were so admirable in their dealings, just think how much better the world would be.”
Lord Leo Byron is a younger son of a Duke and lives his life as one of privilege. A hedonistic rake, he doesn’t always consider the consequences of his actions. He sees Lady Thalia and instantly decides she will be his next mistress, never considering that she may not be interested.
“Now, why don’t we go somewhere more private so we can get better acquainted. I have my coach right outside. And please, call me Leo. As I said before, all my intimates do.”
All his bedmates, he meant, his meaning clear.
Without knowing what she intended, she flung the contents of her glass up into his face, champagne splashing everywhere.
He blinked wine out of his eyes, a stunned expression on his wet face..
“You and I shall never be intimates. Good night, Lord Leopold.”
Having never been denied anything since a young child, he thinks Lady Thalia is playing hard to get and strives to change her mind. He oversteps many boundaries in the beginning with his ham-fisted pursuit, not seeing that his double-sided innuendos are insulting to Thalia. He views her as a prize to be won. After she seeks to humiliate him, hoping he will finally take the hint, Leo uses her guilt to secure her companion ship for two weeks. It’s during this time that Leo begins to see the real Thalia.
Every day he came to know her a little better.
Every day he wanted to know more, be with her more.
Leo and Thalia are a delight both as individuals and as a couple. Both strong, witty, and intelligent with a wonderful chemistry that is apparent from their first meeting. Though an unlikely match, their relationship flourishes and deepens as they become further acquainted with one another. While Thalia’s beauty and reputation is what initially attracts Leo, it’s her charm and intelligence that soon captivates him. He gradually realizes that the face she presents to society only serves to hide a complex woman who’s still waters run deep. Leo is also not what Thalia initially thought him to be. There is strong substance behind ‘his devil may care attitude’ that only strengthens her attraction as she uncovers his many facets. As she spends more time with him, she realizes that he may be exactly what she needs. Their witty banter, dry humor, and undeniable sexual attraction keeps the storyline and their relationship flowing smoothly forward.
“Have you not realized, dear Lady Thalia, how vastly improper I am? Just say the word and we can be improper together.”
Naughty, fun, and explicit loves scenes are used to tantalize the reader and show the passion and love that is slowly building between them. I do adore a couple who can have fun in and out of bad and Leo does everything he can to make sure Thalia enjoys every minute they spend together. They have a delightful romantic sensual way about them that reassures you that they could very well have a very happy future together.
“Keep your eyes open.” He stroked faster, pausing to scissor his fingers inside her with every deep inner touch. “See how beautiful you are as you take your pleasure.”
The main conflict is deeply plotted and intertwines around our villain with flair. It does take a while to get the full story behind Thalia’s downfall and her ex husband’s role in it. I did enjoyed that Leo, unlike some historical romantic heroes, doesn’t automatically blame our heroine for the problems they encounter or engage in sexual double standards. Thalia and Leo get some help in being ostracized from some unexpected allies-Leo’s family. I am especially eager to see Leo’s twin brother Lawrence find his happily ever after. I was pleased Warren didn’t go the expected route and use the fact Leo and Lawrence were twins to add additional conflict to the relationship. I was disconcerted though by the manner in which Warren chooses to give our couple resolution. It was a plot device that required no real effort in producing.
The Bedding Proposal is a joyful heartwarming love story filled with humor, steamy romance, and just enough conflict to leave you cheering at the end for our delightful couple.
Overall Rating: B
http://smexybooks.com/2015/03/review-...
Favorite Quote: She was not for sale.
Lady Thalia Lennox, once the reigning darling of the London social set, now lives an outcast’s existence, the object of scandalous rumors and lascivious innuendos. Betrayed by those around her, the lies have left her heartbroken, alone, and completely over men. That is until a younger man sets his sights upon her.
Lord Leopold Byron, a mischievous rake whose status as a younger son leaves him free to pursue his amusements without censure, finds his interest pricked for the first time in ages when he catches a glimpse of the beautiful divorcee. Determined to make her his mistress, Leo plies her with titillating suggestions and intimate advances only to find himself rebuffed by her on multiple occasions.
Refusing to take no for an answer, Leo takes the different approach and soon a beautiful friendship blossoms. But there are those out there who don’t want Thalia happy and will do whatever it takes to keep her under their thumb. As Leo and Thalia’s relationship begins to evolve into something more, Leo will do whatever it takes to keep Thalia in his bed and life forever.
This is my first time reading Ms. Warren but not my last. The Bedding Proposal is the first installment in Ms. Warren’s The Rakes of Cavendish series which revolves around the Byron family. Fans of Tessa Dare and Julia Quinn are sure to enjoy this lively adventure that brings two intelligent and witty protagonists together for a deliciously swoon worthy romance. Set in the Regency era, Warren’s builds the sexual tension between our protagonists with delicious exploratory scenes, witty banter, and sensual play. Intrigue and scandal only further enhances the experience and elevates this story above the average historical romance.
Lady Thalia Lennox was married at a young age to a man of her family’s choosing. Going into the marriage with optimism and hope, she is shocked to find herself the victim of abuse. When her husband goes too far, leaving Thalia unable to give him an heir, he sets up in order to divorce her. Lies and accusations leave Thalia dissolute and a social pariah. With a few loyal friends and staff members, Thalia is able to secure housing and money to survive but she has taken her lessons to heart and regardless of the rumors her husband started, she lives a solitary life with her staff and cat.
“Animals are wonderful company and they are never cruel or deceitful. Be kind to them and they will be kind back. If only people were so admirable in their dealings, just think how much better the world would be.”
Lord Leo Byron is a younger son of a Duke and lives his life as one of privilege. A hedonistic rake, he doesn’t always consider the consequences of his actions. He sees Lady Thalia and instantly decides she will be his next mistress, never considering that she may not be interested.
“Now, why don’t we go somewhere more private so we can get better acquainted. I have my coach right outside. And please, call me Leo. As I said before, all my intimates do.”
All his bedmates, he meant, his meaning clear.
Without knowing what she intended, she flung the contents of her glass up into his face, champagne splashing everywhere.
He blinked wine out of his eyes, a stunned expression on his wet face..
“You and I shall never be intimates. Good night, Lord Leopold.”
Having never been denied anything since a young child, he thinks Lady Thalia is playing hard to get and strives to change her mind. He oversteps many boundaries in the beginning with his ham-fisted pursuit, not seeing that his double-sided innuendos are insulting to Thalia. He views her as a prize to be won. After she seeks to humiliate him, hoping he will finally take the hint, Leo uses her guilt to secure her companion ship for two weeks. It’s during this time that Leo begins to see the real Thalia.
Every day he came to know her a little better.
Every day he wanted to know more, be with her more.
Leo and Thalia are a delight both as individuals and as a couple. Both strong, witty, and intelligent with a wonderful chemistry that is apparent from their first meeting. Though an unlikely match, their relationship flourishes and deepens as they become further acquainted with one another. While Thalia’s beauty and reputation is what initially attracts Leo, it’s her charm and intelligence that soon captivates him. He gradually realizes that the face she presents to society only serves to hide a complex woman who’s still waters run deep. Leo is also not what Thalia initially thought him to be. There is strong substance behind ‘his devil may care attitude’ that only strengthens her attraction as she uncovers his many facets. As she spends more time with him, she realizes that he may be exactly what she needs. Their witty banter, dry humor, and undeniable sexual attraction keeps the storyline and their relationship flowing smoothly forward.
“Have you not realized, dear Lady Thalia, how vastly improper I am? Just say the word and we can be improper together.”
Naughty, fun, and explicit loves scenes are used to tantalize the reader and show the passion and love that is slowly building between them. I do adore a couple who can have fun in and out of bad and Leo does everything he can to make sure Thalia enjoys every minute they spend together. They have a delightful romantic sensual way about them that reassures you that they could very well have a very happy future together.
“Keep your eyes open.” He stroked faster, pausing to scissor his fingers inside her with every deep inner touch. “See how beautiful you are as you take your pleasure.”
The main conflict is deeply plotted and intertwines around our villain with flair. It does take a while to get the full story behind Thalia’s downfall and her ex husband’s role in it. I did enjoyed that Leo, unlike some historical romantic heroes, doesn’t automatically blame our heroine for the problems they encounter or engage in sexual double standards. Thalia and Leo get some help in being ostracized from some unexpected allies-Leo’s family. I am especially eager to see Leo’s twin brother Lawrence find his happily ever after. I was pleased Warren didn’t go the expected route and use the fact Leo and Lawrence were twins to add additional conflict to the relationship. I was disconcerted though by the manner in which Warren chooses to give our couple resolution. It was a plot device that required no real effort in producing.
The Bedding Proposal is a joyful heartwarming love story filled with humor, steamy romance, and just enough conflict to leave you cheering at the end for our delightful couple.
Overall Rating: B
June 25, 2018
***2.5 Lackluster Stars***
The hero was beautiful but had little depth to his character. His sole focus was to get the heroine in bed because she had a reputation for being easy and lose. Of course the heroine wasn't as she was rumored and she resisted his advances for a solid week. Obviously she caved, more out of loneliness than out of affection. The chase and conquer was lackluster to be honest and the hero was in her bed within a week of pursuit.
The story was well on it's way to a 3 star read until the ending. The ending was lack luster and anticlimactic! The HEA seamed forced and very unrealistic. There was no justice dealt to the antagonist. He just died of a freakin heart attack! Doesn't get more boring than that!
The hero was beautiful but had little depth to his character. His sole focus was to get the heroine in bed because she had a reputation for being easy and lose. Of course the heroine wasn't as she was rumored and she resisted his advances for a solid week. Obviously she caved, more out of loneliness than out of affection. The chase and conquer was lackluster to be honest and the hero was in her bed within a week of pursuit.
The story was well on it's way to a 3 star read until the ending. The ending was lack luster and anticlimactic! The HEA seamed forced and very unrealistic. There was no justice dealt to the antagonist. He just died of a freakin heart attack! Doesn't get more boring than that!
March 4, 2015
Tracy Anne Warren has a winner with The Bedding Proposal.
When Lord Leo Byron spots the divorced Thalia Lennox across a ballroom, he knows he must have her. Thalia however wants to belong to no one. She did her time as a wife to a cruel man who left her reputation in the gutter when he divorced her and publicly humiliated her. Even years later, the ton turns their back on Thalia, leaving her to feel the cold indignation from those who were once her peers.
Leo cares nothing for what the tons thinks, and he is determined to make Thalia his mistress, but she will have none of it. The insistent pursuit begins to wear down Thalia's defences until she herself wonders if being in Leo's bed would be such a bad thing to happen. The more Leo learns about Thalia, he begins to understand that there is much more than meets the eye to this woman and he even thinks that she may have been wronged by her ex-husband, not the other way around.
Neither set out to fall in love with the other, but once in each other's sights, the sparks begin to fly and the younger Leo, begins to show the older woman what she has been missing and once he has unleashed her passion, it's impossible to let her get away.
Maybe it's because I am a woman of a certain age who prefers the older, mature heroine to the ingenue, but Tracy Anne Warren's The Bedding Proposal sung to me in a way that grabbed me and would not let go. At first I found Leo to be a tad obnoxious, but as the story progressed it was his confidence and demeanor with Thalia that won me over. My admiration for the wronged Thalia places her at the top of my favorite heroines list. Together, this couple's journey is a delightful tale that should not be missed, but savored by all. The Bedding Proposal by Tracy Anne Warren is one of my favorite historical romances of the year so far. I look forward to the next Rakes of Cavendish Square novel with bated breath.
When Lord Leo Byron spots the divorced Thalia Lennox across a ballroom, he knows he must have her. Thalia however wants to belong to no one. She did her time as a wife to a cruel man who left her reputation in the gutter when he divorced her and publicly humiliated her. Even years later, the ton turns their back on Thalia, leaving her to feel the cold indignation from those who were once her peers.
Leo cares nothing for what the tons thinks, and he is determined to make Thalia his mistress, but she will have none of it. The insistent pursuit begins to wear down Thalia's defences until she herself wonders if being in Leo's bed would be such a bad thing to happen. The more Leo learns about Thalia, he begins to understand that there is much more than meets the eye to this woman and he even thinks that she may have been wronged by her ex-husband, not the other way around.
Neither set out to fall in love with the other, but once in each other's sights, the sparks begin to fly and the younger Leo, begins to show the older woman what she has been missing and once he has unleashed her passion, it's impossible to let her get away.
Maybe it's because I am a woman of a certain age who prefers the older, mature heroine to the ingenue, but Tracy Anne Warren's The Bedding Proposal sung to me in a way that grabbed me and would not let go. At first I found Leo to be a tad obnoxious, but as the story progressed it was his confidence and demeanor with Thalia that won me over. My admiration for the wronged Thalia places her at the top of my favorite heroines list. Together, this couple's journey is a delightful tale that should not be missed, but savored by all. The Bedding Proposal by Tracy Anne Warren is one of my favorite historical romances of the year so far. I look forward to the next Rakes of Cavendish Square novel with bated breath.
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