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Baron #2
The Offer
A beautiful young woman is thrown together with a rakish Viscount by a twist of fate and is caught off guard by her own yearning for love and passion in this historical romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter.
When Sabrina Eversleigh ran away from home to escape the abusive hands of her new brother-in-law, she quickly ended up stranded in a blizzard. She would surely have died if not for Phillip Mercerault, who rescues her and nurses her back to health. But Sabrina soon learns Phillip is not a hero. Instead, he’s a gentleman who has compromised a lady. Now there’s only one thing left for him to do—marry her.
But Sabrina turns him down, leaving him completely baffled. However, things don’t turn out quite the way Sabrina planned, and it is she, then, who must propose, sweetening the pot with a big dowry and an offer of freedom for Phillip. But what’s a husband to do when he knows his bride is afraid of men?
When Sabrina Eversleigh ran away from home to escape the abusive hands of her new brother-in-law, she quickly ended up stranded in a blizzard. She would surely have died if not for Phillip Mercerault, who rescues her and nurses her back to health. But Sabrina soon learns Phillip is not a hero. Instead, he’s a gentleman who has compromised a lady. Now there’s only one thing left for him to do—marry her.
But Sabrina turns him down, leaving him completely baffled. However, things don’t turn out quite the way Sabrina planned, and it is she, then, who must propose, sweetening the pot with a big dowry and an offer of freedom for Phillip. But what’s a husband to do when he knows his bride is afraid of men?
373 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
July 16, 2026
Elizabeth 23 and Sabrina 18 lost both of their parents and were brought up by their grandfather, the Earl of Manmouth in Yorkshire.
The Earl was very old, frail and sick and as there was no direct male heir, he was forced to recognise Trevor, his brother's grandson, as the heir to the Earldom.
Trevor was attracted to Sabrina, but the Earl forced him on Elizabeth as she was the elder.
Trevor planned to have Sabrina as his mistress. She repeatedly rebuffed him, but he was not beyond raping her.
All Sabrina ever felt for Trevor was contempt. She didn't like or trust him, she feared him.
Trevor started a relentless pursuit, and two weeks after his nuptials with Elizabeth, he cornered Sabrina in the isolated gallery and tried to force himself on her. She started hitting him and he hit her back repeatedly.
She managed to get away and went straight to her sister Elizabeth and told her about the rape attempt.
"He slapped me and slapped me. Look at my face. It's red and swollen. He told me if l tried to lock my bedchamber door against him he would hurt me even more. He is vicious and cruel, Elizabeth. He's proved he has no honour. He even threatened to kill grandfather if l talked. That he would assist him to his final resting place. Please, what are we to do?"
Elizabeth's response to this desperate plea :
"So what happened is that you teased Trevor and being a man and weak of flesh, he gladly accompanied you to the gallery. You then ran away from him when you realised he had every intention of taking your teasing seriously. I am Trevor's wife. When that miserable old man dies, l shall be the Countess of Monmouth. On that day, my dear sister, l shall be the undisputed mistress here and you will be nothing more than l wish you to be. I wonder if l will even allow you to live here"
Sabrina saw the hatred on her sister's face and drew back. She always showed her cold aloofness and resentment. Elizabeth was very jealous of her.
LIGHT SPOILERS
Sabrina spent the night in a large cupboard and at dawn got on her horse and left through the forest. She intended to flee to her aunt in London for protection (oh, how wrong she was!).
She was freezing and when she got caught in a blizzard, things got very hard. At some point she was on the frozen ground and the horse bolted.
Philip Viscount Devencourt, 26, was lost in a forest in the middle of a snowstorm. He saw a girl laying on the ground half covered by snow. She was alive but barely. He took her to a hunting box nearby. He kept her warm but she later developed a fever. She was in and out of conciousness. He took good care of her and a week later she was on the mend.
I really liked Philip at this point!
They were discovered, and Philip was told that he had to marry Sabrina as he had compromised a lady of quality, but he wouldn't hear of it.
"I am not about to marry her. She nearly died. I kept her alive. I've cared for her the best l knew how. I cooked all her meals and fed her, and dessert didn't include having sex with her. I saved her bloody life."
He'd been told that Sabrina would be ostracised the moment it was discovered that she was with Philip. Both of them were caught in a trap of societal rules. He didn't see any escape. He'd done his best, gone out of his way, and it had gotten him a wife. He didn't want a wife, especially not one foisted on him. But he wouldn't let a young lady be ruined.
After a long string of trials and tribulations the two got married, and it was a marriage made in hell.
From this point on it is truly a rage read. 3.5 stars
The Earl was very old, frail and sick and as there was no direct male heir, he was forced to recognise Trevor, his brother's grandson, as the heir to the Earldom.
Trevor was attracted to Sabrina, but the Earl forced him on Elizabeth as she was the elder.
Trevor planned to have Sabrina as his mistress. She repeatedly rebuffed him, but he was not beyond raping her.
All Sabrina ever felt for Trevor was contempt. She didn't like or trust him, she feared him.
Trevor started a relentless pursuit, and two weeks after his nuptials with Elizabeth, he cornered Sabrina in the isolated gallery and tried to force himself on her. She started hitting him and he hit her back repeatedly.
She managed to get away and went straight to her sister Elizabeth and told her about the rape attempt.
"He slapped me and slapped me. Look at my face. It's red and swollen. He told me if l tried to lock my bedchamber door against him he would hurt me even more. He is vicious and cruel, Elizabeth. He's proved he has no honour. He even threatened to kill grandfather if l talked. That he would assist him to his final resting place. Please, what are we to do?"
Elizabeth's response to this desperate plea :
"So what happened is that you teased Trevor and being a man and weak of flesh, he gladly accompanied you to the gallery. You then ran away from him when you realised he had every intention of taking your teasing seriously. I am Trevor's wife. When that miserable old man dies, l shall be the Countess of Monmouth. On that day, my dear sister, l shall be the undisputed mistress here and you will be nothing more than l wish you to be. I wonder if l will even allow you to live here"
Sabrina saw the hatred on her sister's face and drew back. She always showed her cold aloofness and resentment. Elizabeth was very jealous of her.
LIGHT SPOILERS
Sabrina spent the night in a large cupboard and at dawn got on her horse and left through the forest. She intended to flee to her aunt in London for protection (oh, how wrong she was!).
She was freezing and when she got caught in a blizzard, things got very hard. At some point she was on the frozen ground and the horse bolted.
Philip Viscount Devencourt, 26, was lost in a forest in the middle of a snowstorm. He saw a girl laying on the ground half covered by snow. She was alive but barely. He took her to a hunting box nearby. He kept her warm but she later developed a fever. She was in and out of conciousness. He took good care of her and a week later she was on the mend.
I really liked Philip at this point!
They were discovered, and Philip was told that he had to marry Sabrina as he had compromised a lady of quality, but he wouldn't hear of it.
"I am not about to marry her. She nearly died. I kept her alive. I've cared for her the best l knew how. I cooked all her meals and fed her, and dessert didn't include having sex with her. I saved her bloody life."
He'd been told that Sabrina would be ostracised the moment it was discovered that she was with Philip. Both of them were caught in a trap of societal rules. He didn't see any escape. He'd done his best, gone out of his way, and it had gotten him a wife. He didn't want a wife, especially not one foisted on him. But he wouldn't let a young lady be ruined.
After a long string of trials and tribulations the two got married, and it was a marriage made in hell.
From this point on it is truly a rage read. 3.5 stars
June 12, 2026
Read: 6/12/26
Setting: Regency England
Trope: nurses MC, forced marriage
I feel like CC just phoned this book in. Yikes!
Plot: Sabrina's new BIL just attempted to rape her and promises to finish the job soon. When she runs to her sister for help, Elizabeth threatens her. She's waited a long time to put Sabrina in her place! Sabrina can't go to her grandfather because he's ill. So she decides to runaway to her aunt in London, but gets stuck in a blizzard instead. And that's where Phillip finds her.
Phillip is on his way to his friend's house party, when he stumbles upon an unconscious girl, half frozen and brings her to a hunting lodge he discovered earlier. Phillip nurses Sabrina back to health over several days, inadvertently compromising the girl. He offers for her, but is quickly turned down. Sabrina doesn't seem to realize she's truly compromised.
Sabrina won't marry the 3 men who offer for her because she doesn't want to ruin their lives. It obvious they only offer for honors sake. She'll be fine in London with her aunt. It doesn't take long for reality to finally hit and the rumors of her ruination to begin. So instead, Sabrina proposes to Phillip a business arrangement. He can have all her money (doesn't need it) and his freedom (already has it) if he marries her. Phillip agrees, knowing that this was always going to be the outcome. Sadly, Sabrina soon regrets her offer when Phillip continues to visit his mistress. Can Sabrina lure him away?
Liked:
1. Like with all CC books, the writing was engaging, too bad the plot was a mess!
2. The first 100 pages were good.
3. I liked past book characters making an appearance. It seems her debut book's MC have to make a cameo in all her Regency stories and I don't hate her for it 😉
So many dislikes:
1. Phillip started out a great guy and reminded me of Rohan (book 1). He treated the h kindly when nursing her back to health. Then once back in society, he turns into a clueless idiot. Also he's suppose to be a rake, but he can't seduce his wife?
2. Sabrina? Yikes! I kept reminding myself to be forgiving of her character, she's only a naive 18 who has been too sheltered in the wilds of Yorkshire, but it was hard! She's clueless about everything! It took her weeks to realize that she was truly ruined. Then once she was married, she became an even bigger fool. Sabrina also seemed to have no problem discussing very intimate details in front of strangers. The worst part, is that she was also very dull and childish.
3. Phillip has a nice mistress and he visits her often. This didn't bother me. What did bother me was that we get more intimate scenes with his mistress than his wife! Phillip only slept with Sabrina 3xs and that was all on same morning. Worse, he smelled of his mistress. Tbf, Sabrina climbed into his bed while he was drunk, but yuck! Why does CC think romance readers want to read about sex scenes with the mistress and none with FMC?
4. Romance? They fall in love at the end. It's a miracle because I have no idea how it happened! After spending the night with Phillip (stinking of his mistress perfume 🤢), Sabrina decides she's in love. He didn't even bring her any pleasure. Phillip calls it an infatuation and continues to knowingly see his mistress. Later, Phillip suddenly sees the light when Sabrina finally leaves him. Now, he loves her? I must of missed when they fell in love because I don't remember reading it
5. The villains (sister, BIL) are setup as an interesting threat, then are quickly rendered useless by Phillip. I thought Phillip's ex might be a problem after learning Phillip's tragic love story. She's suppose to be a powerful aristocrat and has been spreading cruel rumors about Phillip. A compelling setup that never materialized. What a waste! So, there was no mystery, lurking villain, or interesting secondary characters to move the stall plot along. All around disappointing!
6. Usually, I can ignore the problematic parts of a CC book because the rest of the story is fantastic. Selective reading helps when reading Bodice-rippers ;). Unfortunately, that wasn't the case with this book. I couldn't find one scene that I liked. It didn't help that both character's personalities were so weak.
7. I better stop my rant now or I'll be here forever
Conclusion: I've procrastinated reading this book for a decade thanks to all the bad reviews. Unfortunately, they were right on the money. Still, I'm glad I finally tried it.
Setting: Regency England
Trope: nurses MC, forced marriage
I feel like CC just phoned this book in. Yikes!
Plot: Sabrina's new BIL just attempted to rape her and promises to finish the job soon. When she runs to her sister for help, Elizabeth threatens her. She's waited a long time to put Sabrina in her place! Sabrina can't go to her grandfather because he's ill. So she decides to runaway to her aunt in London, but gets stuck in a blizzard instead. And that's where Phillip finds her.
Phillip is on his way to his friend's house party, when he stumbles upon an unconscious girl, half frozen and brings her to a hunting lodge he discovered earlier. Phillip nurses Sabrina back to health over several days, inadvertently compromising the girl. He offers for her, but is quickly turned down. Sabrina doesn't seem to realize she's truly compromised.
Sabrina won't marry the 3 men who offer for her because she doesn't want to ruin their lives. It obvious they only offer for honors sake. She'll be fine in London with her aunt. It doesn't take long for reality to finally hit and the rumors of her ruination to begin. So instead, Sabrina proposes to Phillip a business arrangement. He can have all her money (doesn't need it) and his freedom (already has it) if he marries her. Phillip agrees, knowing that this was always going to be the outcome. Sadly, Sabrina soon regrets her offer when Phillip continues to visit his mistress. Can Sabrina lure him away?
Liked:
1. Like with all CC books, the writing was engaging, too bad the plot was a mess!
2. The first 100 pages were good.
3. I liked past book characters making an appearance. It seems her debut book's MC have to make a cameo in all her Regency stories and I don't hate her for it 😉
So many dislikes:
1. Phillip started out a great guy and reminded me of Rohan (book 1). He treated the h kindly when nursing her back to health. Then once back in society, he turns into a clueless idiot. Also he's suppose to be a rake, but he can't seduce his wife?
2. Sabrina? Yikes! I kept reminding myself to be forgiving of her character, she's only a naive 18 who has been too sheltered in the wilds of Yorkshire, but it was hard! She's clueless about everything! It took her weeks to realize that she was truly ruined. Then once she was married, she became an even bigger fool. Sabrina also seemed to have no problem discussing very intimate details in front of strangers. The worst part, is that she was also very dull and childish.
3. Phillip has a nice mistress and he visits her often. This didn't bother me. What did bother me was that we get more intimate scenes with his mistress than his wife! Phillip only slept with Sabrina 3xs and that was all on same morning. Worse, he smelled of his mistress. Tbf, Sabrina climbed into his bed while he was drunk, but yuck! Why does CC think romance readers want to read about sex scenes with the mistress and none with FMC?
4. Romance? They fall in love at the end. It's a miracle because I have no idea how it happened! After spending the night with Phillip (stinking of his mistress perfume 🤢), Sabrina decides she's in love. He didn't even bring her any pleasure. Phillip calls it an infatuation and continues to knowingly see his mistress. Later, Phillip suddenly sees the light when Sabrina finally leaves him. Now, he loves her? I must of missed when they fell in love because I don't remember reading it
5. The villains (sister, BIL) are setup as an interesting threat, then are quickly rendered useless by Phillip. I thought Phillip's ex might be a problem after learning Phillip's tragic love story. She's suppose to be a powerful aristocrat and has been spreading cruel rumors about Phillip. A compelling setup that never materialized. What a waste! So, there was no mystery, lurking villain, or interesting secondary characters to move the stall plot along. All around disappointing!
6. Usually, I can ignore the problematic parts of a CC book because the rest of the story is fantastic. Selective reading helps when reading Bodice-rippers ;). Unfortunately, that wasn't the case with this book. I couldn't find one scene that I liked. It didn't help that both character's personalities were so weak.
7. I better stop my rant now or I'll be here forever
Conclusion: I've procrastinated reading this book for a decade thanks to all the bad reviews. Unfortunately, they were right on the money. Still, I'm glad I finally tried it.
December 15, 2011
Very strange story. Up until the wedding it is quite good and I was absorbed in it. But then the hero and the heroine both become terminally stupid and seem to lose all their ability to think things through rationally. The heroine becomes just about insufferable in her behaviour, especially towards the hero, who had, after all, saved her life and her reputation. The story ends abruptly, without the hero and heroine really coming together and resolving their situation or their feelings towards one another, and there are several loose ends left over, like the sister and her husband and the comeuppance that they deserve (which they don't get). Also very strange love/sex scenes - there are three of them, but nothing, barely a kiss on the very last page of the book, between the hero and heroine.
The version of the book that I read was the original one published in 1981 under the title "An Honorable Offer". Apparently Coulter has extensively rewritten the book and republished it as "The Offer".
The version of the book that I read was the original one published in 1981 under the title "An Honorable Offer". Apparently Coulter has extensively rewritten the book and republished it as "The Offer".
February 7, 2020
1 1/2 stars! X. I wanted to like this book, I really did. I mean it STARTED off really good! I liked all the characters and the plot seemed solid and a little wicked........That is, UNTIL Sabrina got to London and subsequently agrees to marry Phillip.
I gotta know: WTF happened to the Phillip from the beginning of the story?? WHO is this absolute douchebag he morphed into? It’s like another character invaded his body once they arrived in London. He made me sick!! The whole mistress dealio was gross and disgusted me how he was essentially bed hopping from his mistress to Sabrina.
I hope he took a fking bath in between, doubt it though. ::vomit::
GROSS, misogynist, pig of a man. Sabrina shoulda married Richard.
Additionally, Sabrina began as a solid character with a mind of her own. Suddenly SHE morphed into this brainless, zombie-twit doing whatever Phillip wanted! :facepalm:
THEN Trevor the rapist bro-in-law just fell back with some mild threats.....he seemed like a formidable villain in the beginning. But ended up just fizzling out completely along with her horrible sister. SO much more could’ve even done with those two as villains....
The few sex scenes were lackluster, boring and frankly unacceptable. Sweet baby jebus, no wonder Sabrina couldn’t get off....Good ol’ Phillip was a bastard of a husband and Sabrina even tells you as she is losing her v-card that he smelled like his mistress!! ::vomit, vomit:: He prolly still tasted like her too! ::so much vomit, again::
I’d like to throw in randomly: If I had to hear anout how skinny Sabrina was and about the “cook” at Dimwhit making everyone too fat ONE more damn time....::eyeroll:: SOO annoying how much this was repeated!!
The ending was incredibly rushed, dumb and childish. Everyone eating the cook at Dimwhit tarts or whatever like their made of crack and throwing them at each other??? Weird. Racing cats thrown in too at the ass end....uh, ok. (Yes, ik this ties into another book).
Really; Sabrina forgave his dumbass too quickly and the whole “mistress” dealio that she had such issue with, was never resolved. It just ended with promises of love and blah blah blah but we ALL know his ass still keeping that mistress.
Food for though: Sabrina had her own money....a shitty family (besides grandpa)...WHY didn’t she book a ship to America or somewhere and set off for a new life of her own with no bs censor from what are clearly a bunch of idiots?!
IDK, was there like two stories entangled in this novel? Invasion of the London body snatchers? I just don’t get how these characters started out so well and took a sharp change into totally different (awful) people.
Bottom line: Ima burn my copy of this book in my fireplace. Just so I don’t have to donate it to goodwill and some poor sucker will buy it for a $1 and be just as confused & disappointed as me. It’s a service, really.
I gotta know: WTF happened to the Phillip from the beginning of the story?? WHO is this absolute douchebag he morphed into? It’s like another character invaded his body once they arrived in London. He made me sick!! The whole mistress dealio was gross and disgusted me how he was essentially bed hopping from his mistress to Sabrina.
I hope he took a fking bath in between, doubt it though. ::vomit::
GROSS, misogynist, pig of a man. Sabrina shoulda married Richard.
Additionally, Sabrina began as a solid character with a mind of her own. Suddenly SHE morphed into this brainless, zombie-twit doing whatever Phillip wanted! :facepalm:
THEN Trevor the rapist bro-in-law just fell back with some mild threats.....he seemed like a formidable villain in the beginning. But ended up just fizzling out completely along with her horrible sister. SO much more could’ve even done with those two as villains....
The few sex scenes were lackluster, boring and frankly unacceptable. Sweet baby jebus, no wonder Sabrina couldn’t get off....Good ol’ Phillip was a bastard of a husband and Sabrina even tells you as she is losing her v-card that he smelled like his mistress!! ::vomit, vomit:: He prolly still tasted like her too! ::so much vomit, again::
I’d like to throw in randomly: If I had to hear anout how skinny Sabrina was and about the “cook” at Dimwhit making everyone too fat ONE more damn time....::eyeroll:: SOO annoying how much this was repeated!!
The ending was incredibly rushed, dumb and childish. Everyone eating the cook at Dimwhit tarts or whatever like their made of crack and throwing them at each other??? Weird. Racing cats thrown in too at the ass end....uh, ok. (Yes, ik this ties into another book).
Really; Sabrina forgave his dumbass too quickly and the whole “mistress” dealio that she had such issue with, was never resolved. It just ended with promises of love and blah blah blah but we ALL know his ass still keeping that mistress.
Food for though: Sabrina had her own money....a shitty family (besides grandpa)...WHY didn’t she book a ship to America or somewhere and set off for a new life of her own with no bs censor from what are clearly a bunch of idiots?!
IDK, was there like two stories entangled in this novel? Invasion of the London body snatchers? I just don’t get how these characters started out so well and took a sharp change into totally different (awful) people.
Bottom line: Ima burn my copy of this book in my fireplace. Just so I don’t have to donate it to goodwill and some poor sucker will buy it for a $1 and be just as confused & disappointed as me. It’s a service, really.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2010
This review is done for the older 1981 version, I have yet to read the rewritten version to see how they differ.
Sabrina (h) has grown up much loved by her grandfather, the Earl of Monmouth. Even though her parents had died when she was young , she had a happy childhood. It wasn't until her older sister Elisabeth married their cousin and heir to Monmouth that things changed for the worse. After her sister's husband ,Trevor, tries to rape her she goes to Elisabeth for help. That is when she learns of her sisters hatred for her and that she will be of no help to her. With her grandfather's declining health there was no other option for her but to run away and go to her Aunts house in London. Unfortunately there was a blizzard that ends her journey before it really ever got started.
Phillip (H) has been burned by women in the past and now knows exactly what they are and what they are for. For years now he's had the reputation as being one of the worst Rakes around. He's now on his way to a friends house party in the country , part due to his friends bad directions and the blizzard, he finds himself lost in the forest. As he makes his way through the forest he finds a young woman unconscious and barely clinging to life. As he remembers passing a hunting box (house) not too far back he decides to take her there and try to save her.
Save her he does but when it is discovered that she has spent 5 days alone with the worst rake in London nothing can save her reputation so they are forced to wed.
I really liked this book, and I found that it wasn't really like most of the older Catherine Coulter bodice rippers that I had read before. Philip is a rake of the worst order of course but he had enough honor and a certain code of ethics to prevent him from taking advantage of his young charge. He nurses her back to health, learns about what made her runaway in the first place and all he really wants to do is protect her.
*****SPOILERS*************************************************************************************
It is Sabrina the states that she doesn't a real marriage, that she wants a marriage of convenience and that Philip can have his "freedom". So he does continue to see his mistress and the only sex scene in this book is with the mistress. When I think about what CC might have taken out of the rewrite it is probably the scene with the riding crop. It's a pretty harsh scene but I feel it fits with the story and the time period. Also for those who like a good grovel at the end, there isn't one but really what did he have to grovel for..she was the one who insisted that he kept his mistress. He did apologies for being out of control with the riding crop however and he tended her wounds himself.
Sabrina (h) has grown up much loved by her grandfather, the Earl of Monmouth. Even though her parents had died when she was young , she had a happy childhood. It wasn't until her older sister Elisabeth married their cousin and heir to Monmouth that things changed for the worse. After her sister's husband ,Trevor, tries to rape her she goes to Elisabeth for help. That is when she learns of her sisters hatred for her and that she will be of no help to her. With her grandfather's declining health there was no other option for her but to run away and go to her Aunts house in London. Unfortunately there was a blizzard that ends her journey before it really ever got started.
Phillip (H) has been burned by women in the past and now knows exactly what they are and what they are for. For years now he's had the reputation as being one of the worst Rakes around. He's now on his way to a friends house party in the country , part due to his friends bad directions and the blizzard, he finds himself lost in the forest. As he makes his way through the forest he finds a young woman unconscious and barely clinging to life. As he remembers passing a hunting box (house) not too far back he decides to take her there and try to save her.
Save her he does but when it is discovered that she has spent 5 days alone with the worst rake in London nothing can save her reputation so they are forced to wed.
I really liked this book, and I found that it wasn't really like most of the older Catherine Coulter bodice rippers that I had read before. Philip is a rake of the worst order of course but he had enough honor and a certain code of ethics to prevent him from taking advantage of his young charge. He nurses her back to health, learns about what made her runaway in the first place and all he really wants to do is protect her.
*****SPOILERS*************************************************************************************
It is Sabrina the states that she doesn't a real marriage, that she wants a marriage of convenience and that Philip can have his "freedom". So he does continue to see his mistress and the only sex scene in this book is with the mistress. When I think about what CC might have taken out of the rewrite it is probably the scene with the riding crop. It's a pretty harsh scene but I feel it fits with the story and the time period. Also for those who like a good grovel at the end, there isn't one but really what did he have to grovel for..she was the one who insisted that he kept his mistress. He did apologies for being out of control with the riding crop however and he tended her wounds himself.
February 26, 2024
I read the original 1981 publication. It was… interesting.
It opens with the heroine’s BIL attempting to “force himself on her.” Her evil sister doesn’t care so she runs away. The hero saves her life. She’s compromised.
The heroine behaves irrationally and passive aggressive, saying one thing but meaning another, this leads to confusion, like insisting on a marriage of convenience, in name only, and that he’s free to do as he likes but then flipping out over his mistress. This is all in the blurb on the back of the book.
At one point, she tries to whip him with a riding crop but he takes it away and spanks her with it leading to welts. Gross.
Another weird thing, the only sex scenes were the attempted rape, the BIL tupping a maid, and the hero with his mistress. Like most signets, it ends when they decide to love each other. They don’t kiss until the last page.
It opens with the heroine’s BIL attempting to “force himself on her.” Her evil sister doesn’t care so she runs away. The hero saves her life. She’s compromised.
The heroine behaves irrationally and passive aggressive, saying one thing but meaning another, this leads to confusion, like insisting on a marriage of convenience, in name only, and that he’s free to do as he likes but then flipping out over his mistress. This is all in the blurb on the back of the book.
At one point, she tries to whip him with a riding crop but he takes it away and spanks her with it leading to welts. Gross.
Another weird thing, the only sex scenes were the attempted rape, the BIL tupping a maid, and the hero with his mistress. Like most signets, it ends when they decide to love each other. They don’t kiss until the last page.
September 15, 2017
I don't know why the H finally admits her loves the h in this one he's a pretty big dick in it after they get married but they do have CAT RACING in this book which as the owner of lots of cats in my life find hard to fathom as possible. My cat would literally lay down and fall asleep or yell at me for food so I gave this 3 stars just for the cat racing which was so totally left field in this one it really didn't even fit in the story just random cat racing thrown in 🤔
November 15, 2023
a charming man rescues a MUCH younger woman from a blizzard and nurses her back to health in a cabin.
with features such as:
a vivid scene of attempted rape in the first chapter, cat slut shaming, joking about beating and murdering an unconscious 18 year old, and the concept that men are uncontrollably animals (but don’t worry, it’s charming)
the 80s man
with features such as:
a vivid scene of attempted rape in the first chapter, cat slut shaming, joking about beating and murdering an unconscious 18 year old, and the concept that men are uncontrollably animals (but don’t worry, it’s charming)
the 80s man
March 21, 2013
This book could have - SHOULD HAVE - been so much better if our heroine had simply kept her backbone. I HATED that she would cower like a wimp whenever she finally got the nerve to speak her true feelings. And not only was that disappointing to me, but it was even worse that after she kneed her sorry excuse of a husband in the groin but she then APOLOGIZE for it! I mean, c'mon - he was standing in his tart's bedroom, with said tart posed on the bed, fully nude - the bedroom of a home he was STILL paying for (must note that the plaster was just redone over the bed and the bill for it was sent to his marital home by the skank!) - and she APOLOGIZED! Argh!!!!!
Never him or his tart apologizing (SHE HAPPILY STOLE THAT POOR GIRLS WEDDING NIGHT, FFS!!). Just the poor, sad, pathetic wife apologizes even when THEY should have done so!
Each time I've read this story I have prayed that Ms Coulter does a rewrite on it to make our pathetic heroine a person we could be proud of: a steel-backbone, making them grovel for forgiveness, and she brazenly rounds up her Ton friends and, with them, scares all their men into being faithful... and they all pitch in to purchase one-way tickets to Japan for all the tarts stinking up London... AND stand on the decks with their men, waving bye-bye to them all. I'm sure the tarts would find a seedy brothel in Japan (Paris is too close) to work at - they'd love it! LOL
Honestly, I'd love to have had Martine get her comeuppance. Her stupid head-nodding during Sabrina's breakdown just made me want to reach in an deck her one - hard. Martine needed to disappear... why oh why did Jack the Ripper have to disappear? (Yes, I hate her THAT much!!)
And I wish she had made Phillip beg even harder - and called him out on being "about to tell her it was over" when he was clearly undressing and laughing with the tart. Please. Sell that to someone dumb enough to buy it! I hope Sabrina sold Martine's house, without permission from either the douche or the tart... and all contents were sent to Sabrina to go through before GIVING the rest to a local brothel - for free! LMAO! REVENGE OF A WOMAN SCORNED! Martine-the-Tart-Queen deserves it just for stealing Sabrina's wedding night!
Never him or his tart apologizing (SHE HAPPILY STOLE THAT POOR GIRLS WEDDING NIGHT, FFS!!). Just the poor, sad, pathetic wife apologizes even when THEY should have done so!
Each time I've read this story I have prayed that Ms Coulter does a rewrite on it to make our pathetic heroine a person we could be proud of: a steel-backbone, making them grovel for forgiveness, and she brazenly rounds up her Ton friends and, with them, scares all their men into being faithful... and they all pitch in to purchase one-way tickets to Japan for all the tarts stinking up London... AND stand on the decks with their men, waving bye-bye to them all. I'm sure the tarts would find a seedy brothel in Japan (Paris is too close) to work at - they'd love it! LOL
Honestly, I'd love to have had Martine get her comeuppance. Her stupid head-nodding during Sabrina's breakdown just made me want to reach in an deck her one - hard. Martine needed to disappear... why oh why did Jack the Ripper have to disappear? (Yes, I hate her THAT much!!)
And I wish she had made Phillip beg even harder - and called him out on being "about to tell her it was over" when he was clearly undressing and laughing with the tart. Please. Sell that to someone dumb enough to buy it! I hope Sabrina sold Martine's house, without permission from either the douche or the tart... and all contents were sent to Sabrina to go through before GIVING the rest to a local brothel - for free! LMAO! REVENGE OF A WOMAN SCORNED! Martine-the-Tart-Queen deserves it just for stealing Sabrina's wedding night!
January 8, 2012
Possibly the worst book I have ever read to date..terrible writing, terrible plotting, terrible characters. I only actually finished this out of sheer curiosity to determine if this was actually and truly supposed to be a romance because up through 90% of the book the hero was still cheating on the heroine and acting like an ass and the hero was terrible at sex (?!?). My curiosity got the best of me to see what the author could possibly do to redeem this as a romance. Answer: she did nothing. Utter crap. Thankfully I didn't buy it.
May 12, 2018
I have always loved Catherine Coulter’s audiobooks. A part always makes me cringe but I love the stories and especially the endings. This was no exception.
November 24, 2015
Ugh, barely made it through this book. It started out pretty good...Sabrina flees some horrid family members and nearly dies in a snowstorm. But oh, here comes Phillip to save the day! Kind and noble Phillip, who nurses her back to health, and doesn't even attempt to seduce her, even if she is beautiful and naked. What a swell guy, right?
WRONG! Somewhere along the way, Phillip becomes the world's biggest asshole. It was as if the writer put down her pen, and let someone else write the second half of the story because Phillip totally changed...and not for the better. I don't care what the reasoning is: abandoning your bride on your wedding night to go screw your mistress is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! I really should have stopped reading right there, but I naively thought he would realize how empty and hollow having a mistress was, when he had a beautiful, vibrant wife back home. But nope, the bonehead remained clueless, and not only continued to maintain his mistress, but had zero qualms about it, essentially throwing it in Sabrina's face.....despite the fact that she told him she loved him (even after he selfishly screwed her and gave nothing back in return). And on top of all of this, he was absolutely ridiculous and impossible to please. One minute he was complaining that Sabrina was too compliant and lacked passion, and then when she showed passion, he would bitch at her about it. There was nothing she could do to make him happy. He didn't deserve a wife, or a family, or that damn racing cat that he got at the end. He deserved a good beating from Clarendon, because I might have hated him more than the evil wannabe-rapist, Trevor.
I've read a lot of books, and I love me a good jackass-hero, but Phillip was just a jackass. He had no redeeming qualities, and honestly, I think he is probably the worst "hero" in a book that I've ever read (at least any that I can think of). I spent 75% of the book wanting to punch him in his freakin face.
WRONG! Somewhere along the way, Phillip becomes the world's biggest asshole. It was as if the writer put down her pen, and let someone else write the second half of the story because Phillip totally changed...and not for the better. I don't care what the reasoning is: abandoning your bride on your wedding night to go screw your mistress is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! I really should have stopped reading right there, but I naively thought he would realize how empty and hollow having a mistress was, when he had a beautiful, vibrant wife back home. But nope, the bonehead remained clueless, and not only continued to maintain his mistress, but had zero qualms about it, essentially throwing it in Sabrina's face.....despite the fact that she told him she loved him (even after he selfishly screwed her and gave nothing back in return). And on top of all of this, he was absolutely ridiculous and impossible to please. One minute he was complaining that Sabrina was too compliant and lacked passion, and then when she showed passion, he would bitch at her about it. There was nothing she could do to make him happy. He didn't deserve a wife, or a family, or that damn racing cat that he got at the end. He deserved a good beating from Clarendon, because I might have hated him more than the evil wannabe-rapist, Trevor.
I've read a lot of books, and I love me a good jackass-hero, but Phillip was just a jackass. He had no redeeming qualities, and honestly, I think he is probably the worst "hero" in a book that I've ever read (at least any that I can think of). I spent 75% of the book wanting to punch him in his freakin face.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2015
This isn't my type of book. This book is unsatisfying, a torture to endure, and full of lies. I always think I can read an adult book, but most of the time all that means is explicit garbage. I won't read unless there is a story worth reading. I only read about 22% of this book. The men characters are completely off. All 3 of the (sexually active) men that have been introduced are inconsistent or unrealistic in some way. It annoys me and I am not entertained by being lied to. If more men read this crap, maybe some of these lies could be dispelled or changed. But obviously some people like to believe in lies.
I do not like the narration and spastic POV changes of the story. Maybe I should have started with book 1. And maybe I should not have assumed that a book cover with people clothed, wasn't a bodice ripping story. Sex is not romance. I can't find a character to care about in this story. I am not a superficial reader, and this book has no depth. It has a lot of POV jumping, and a lot of choppy flashbacks or rememberances. If feels like a game the author is playing, and the reader is just being tortured. If that is the kind of book you like then this one's for you.
Sex isn't a game. It isn't just entertainment. The characters in this book have negative views of sex and marriage in general I belive in love, and honor, and respect, and goodness, and trust, and family, and marriage. I won't read a book that devalues those things for entertainment sake. I already read some reviews that were unhappy with the ending. This book seems to be mostly about people who aren't married having sex, and describing it in great detail. I don't see the value with continuing to read on.
I do not like the narration and spastic POV changes of the story. Maybe I should have started with book 1. And maybe I should not have assumed that a book cover with people clothed, wasn't a bodice ripping story. Sex is not romance. I can't find a character to care about in this story. I am not a superficial reader, and this book has no depth. It has a lot of POV jumping, and a lot of choppy flashbacks or rememberances. If feels like a game the author is playing, and the reader is just being tortured. If that is the kind of book you like then this one's for you.
Sex isn't a game. It isn't just entertainment. The characters in this book have negative views of sex and marriage in general I belive in love, and honor, and respect, and goodness, and trust, and family, and marriage. I won't read a book that devalues those things for entertainment sake. I already read some reviews that were unhappy with the ending. This book seems to be mostly about people who aren't married having sex, and describing it in great detail. I don't see the value with continuing to read on.
January 19, 2014
THE OFFER BLURB:
When her new brother-in-law attempted to rape her, Sabrina Eversleigh ran away, and she would surely have died in a blizzard if Philip Mercerault had not rescued her. After he nurses her back to health, he learns that instead of being a hero, he has compromised the lady. There's only one honorable thing to do and that is to marry her. But she turns him down! Philip and Sabrina have a long way to go before they can sit at the same table together.
After reading most of the reviews for this title I was a bit uncertain as to whether I should read it as based on the reviews this is suppose to be a terrible book. However I decided to be brave take the plunge and read it for myself. Well the long and short of it is that I am glad I did. REVIEW
I enjoyed reading this book. I found it quite humorous and entertaining. The plot was developed and I found the characters to be quite entertaining. It had me turning the pages as I was quite eager to discover what was going to happen next.My only disappointment is the ending. I felt that it was rushed and could have been better developed and for that it lost one star.
When her new brother-in-law attempted to rape her, Sabrina Eversleigh ran away, and she would surely have died in a blizzard if Philip Mercerault had not rescued her. After he nurses her back to health, he learns that instead of being a hero, he has compromised the lady. There's only one honorable thing to do and that is to marry her. But she turns him down! Philip and Sabrina have a long way to go before they can sit at the same table together.
After reading most of the reviews for this title I was a bit uncertain as to whether I should read it as based on the reviews this is suppose to be a terrible book. However I decided to be brave take the plunge and read it for myself. Well the long and short of it is that I am glad I did. REVIEW
I enjoyed reading this book. I found it quite humorous and entertaining. The plot was developed and I found the characters to be quite entertaining. It had me turning the pages as I was quite eager to discover what was going to happen next.My only disappointment is the ending. I felt that it was rushed and could have been better developed and for that it lost one star.
September 21, 2017
I don't usually write a review for books I didn't enjoy but this book is so much of a mess I decided to write a short one just to warn others off this book.
The setting of the era was superfluous at best, only the mentions of Almack's pointed to Regency era, otherwise it could have been set up whenever.
Characters were flat, villains coming and going as needed and there was no explanation on how the Martine thing was resolved. I suppose the author thought the H and h saying Iwuvyu to each other in the end will keep the reader happy and forgot other parts unfortunately it wasn't enough since there were so many things left dangling.
And to think I paid for this book a bit more than I did other books. Makes me mad just seeing the cover.
Note: I read the kindle version and I don't know how much it differed from the 1981 version.
The setting of the era was superfluous at best, only the mentions of Almack's pointed to Regency era, otherwise it could have been set up whenever.
Characters were flat, villains coming and going as needed and there was no explanation on how the Martine thing was resolved. I suppose the author thought the H and h saying Iwuvyu to each other in the end will keep the reader happy and forgot other parts unfortunately it wasn't enough since there were so many things left dangling.
And to think I paid for this book a bit more than I did other books. Makes me mad just seeing the cover.
Note: I read the kindle version and I don't know how much it differed from the 1981 version.
September 27, 2024
After the attempted rape by her new brother-in-law, Sabrina runs from home into a snowstorm and almost dies of exposure. Viscount Derencourt, also lost in the storm, rescues her and they are trapped in the blizzard for several days. Sabrina attempts to defy society after she has been ‘compromised’ rejecting Phillip’s offer of marriage. When her family refuses to believe her and society rejects her, she finally agrees to marry Phillip. Now the chaos begins when two people, married under pressure, need to adjust to their relationship. Charming characters, good friends assisting, eventually result in HEA.
Readalikes:
Janna MacGregor – The Bad Luck Bride; Jenna Jaxon – To Woo a Wicked Widow; Julia Quinn – Just Like Heaven; Annabelle Bryant – London’s Wicked Affair; Sarah MacLean – Nine Rules to Break when Romancina a Rake. Readalike authors: Elizabeth Lowell, Karen Robards, Julia Quinn.
Pace: Moderately paced
Character: Most Likeable
Storyline: Character-driven
Writing style: Engaging; Banter
Tone: Upbeat
Frame: Regency England
Themes: Marriage of convenience;
Red flags/Trigger warning: Attempted rape
Readalikes:
Janna MacGregor – The Bad Luck Bride; Jenna Jaxon – To Woo a Wicked Widow; Julia Quinn – Just Like Heaven; Annabelle Bryant – London’s Wicked Affair; Sarah MacLean – Nine Rules to Break when Romancina a Rake. Readalike authors: Elizabeth Lowell, Karen Robards, Julia Quinn.
Pace: Moderately paced
Character: Most Likeable
Storyline: Character-driven
Writing style: Engaging; Banter
Tone: Upbeat
Frame: Regency England
Themes: Marriage of convenience;
Red flags/Trigger warning: Attempted rape
March 31, 2020
That book was horrible!
It started out great, well at the last the story between Sabrina and Philip. He was a gentleman, he took care of her, they had a great friendship. It was ok.
I didn't like the way the author spent so many pages describing Trevor's perversity: the way he tried to rape Sabrina, what he did with the maid Mary. Ironically, we had zilch sex between Sabrina and Philip, one or two sentences and that was it.
The 1st half was good, but then they got married and the story went wrong. Actually, it went wrong when Sabrina regained consciousness:
She was apparently already in love with Philip so why did she refuse him when he propose the first time? And the second when they met in London? She was really immature and annoying!
Philip was no better, he became a real ass after getting married, talking about wanting to keep his freedom and all.
2 stars, because even if annoying it was still entertaining!
It started out great, well at the last the story between Sabrina and Philip. He was a gentleman, he took care of her, they had a great friendship. It was ok.
I didn't like the way the author spent so many pages describing Trevor's perversity: the way he tried to rape Sabrina, what he did with the maid Mary. Ironically, we had zilch sex between Sabrina and Philip, one or two sentences and that was it.
The 1st half was good, but then they got married and the story went wrong. Actually, it went wrong when Sabrina regained consciousness:
She was apparently already in love with Philip so why did she refuse him when he propose the first time? And the second when they met in London? She was really immature and annoying!
Philip was no better, he became a real ass after getting married, talking about wanting to keep his freedom and all.
2 stars, because even if annoying it was still entertaining!
November 16, 2023
This is another older book that was rewritten. It starts off pretty well; her brother-in-law almost rapes Sabrina and escapes into a snowstorm only to be rescued by Phillip, who takes care of her and returns her to a neighbor. In the nature of this time, she's compromised by being alone with him but turns down his honorable offer of marriage. Phillip seems more interested in his mistress anyway, so he doesn't much care until Sabrina decides she needs to marry him after all.
It wasn't a great story. There's a lot of drama but most of it fizzles.
It wasn't a great story. There's a lot of drama but most of it fizzles.
August 22, 2018
I can´t with this book. The way the hero acts... I know it was the way the "gentleman" of old society was supposed to be, but that doesn´t make it right. He hit Sabrina, was rude to her, and then suddenly he was all sorry... I don´t know. The writting was exquisite and the first half of the book was totally cute, but then the author decided to make an all manly hero and that´s when things just went downhill.
Read
July 2, 2019Of all the Catherine Coulter books I have read, I must say this one is my least favorite. Phillip is sweet, kind and helping when we first meet him as he rescues Sabrina. He turns into a total jerk once they get married. Sabrina is so sick when he first meets her, he doesn't see the feisty young lady she is. The ending is unrealistic,even if it does end happily ever after. It just doesn't make a lot of sense.
April 29, 2026
So, it took ,e a bit to get into the first novel in this series, but this second book has had me invested from page 1. I’m 145 pages currently into the book and I’ve been unable to put it down. I gk through spells when reading and had hit a “bumpy” phase where it’s hard for me t9 get really interested in a book, but this particular book as truly captured my imagination and allowed 100% pure escapism.
Definitely recommend.
Definitely recommend.
May 2, 2018
i loved this authors early historical novels and hated when she stopped writing them. I hope a whole new set of readers discover them. i bought this one on Bookbub but feel the others are priced to high when you can find for much less in other formats. Catherine is really a great author. Great fun read.
July 3, 2018
Well done...a great read.
Just when I felt no romance could hold my attention to the end...I found this one. Filled with like able characters and.some nasty ones too; Catherine manages to tell a good story. Her skills in not dragging on and on kept my attention and interest. Well done indeed. Now I need to read the others.
Just when I felt no romance could hold my attention to the end...I found this one. Filled with like able characters and.some nasty ones too; Catherine manages to tell a good story. Her skills in not dragging on and on kept my attention and interest. Well done indeed. Now I need to read the others.
January 3, 2021
It started out so-so and deteriorated rapidly. He was a jerkoff, she was dumb; I cant even say nieve. Then magically of course after treating her horribly, cheating on her, and not trying to fulfill her in bed, they profess undying love. She was so annoying. Actually both of them were like fingers on a chalkboard. But I had just had to finish to see the train wreck at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Did Not Finish
July 17, 2026Nope. First there was an attempted rape scene. The heroine flees and almost freezes to death. She’s almost unconscious and hero picks her up and takes her to a hunting lodge. Then she and hero are having an inane meandering conversation about Methodism saints and sinners. While she is unconscious.
Just no.
Just no.
August 1, 2017
Such a waste of three hours of my life... is it romantic for a husband to smack his wife around, go to his mistress on his wedding night and become indifferent after his failure in seducing his wife.... argh...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2018
Audible Romance Package
AUDIOBOOK: Read April 28 2018
9hrs 57min
Narrator: Anne Flosnik does a good job though she made the heroine sound like a little teenager.
Very not what I was expecting from Miss Coulter. The dialogues were extremely childish.
Did not see any feelings from either characters.
AUDIOBOOK: Read April 28 2018
9hrs 57min
Narrator: Anne Flosnik does a good job though she made the heroine sound like a little teenager.
Very not what I was expecting from Miss Coulter. The dialogues were extremely childish.
Did not see any feelings from either characters.
May 1, 2023
Lots of fun!!
Catherine Coulter always entertains and has such likeable characters!! This is one of her usual good books!! You should read anything she writes from historical romance to current times!
Catherine Coulter always entertains and has such likeable characters!! This is one of her usual good books!! You should read anything she writes from historical romance to current times!
June 30, 2026
I absolutely loved The Offer! I loved Sabrina, and I especially loved Phillip. Their relationship made the story so enjoyable, and I couldn't stop reading. It was romantic, entertaining, and one of my favorite books. I would definitely recommend it!
May 7, 2018
Bit of a mess....
The end was lovely and great fun but getting there was tedious. The first one was so much better! Now I shall try the third.
The end was lovely and great fun but getting there was tedious. The first one was so much better! Now I shall try the third.
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