Proposal

Margaret Evans Porter knows Regency England inside out and it shows in her writing. Reading her wonderful book, you feel immediately as if you are *there* living in that time. I love a story with a strong, talented heroine such as this one has, and especially one who prevails in a man's world with only her wits and integrity for weapons. The hero is fascinating and the conflicts are strong and compelling. Readers who love romance and demand and appreciate a marvelously done historical are in for a treat.

In 1795, Sophie Pinnock's beloved spouse passed away. For the next two years, while grieving her loss, Sophie continued the family business partnership with Fingal Moncrieff, who took full credit for her artistic landscaping designs. However, when he becomes too familar and her in-laws push her to marry him against her will, Sophie has had enough. When she refuses his marriage proposal, he dissolves the partnership and walks off with her designs since the evidence support his claim that they are his. Even without her portfolio, Sophie decides to go ahead and try to procure the landscaping job of Cassian Carysfort, Lord Bevington. Cassian hires Sophie and quickly finds himself very attracted to the lovely widow. He pursues her, desiring to make Sophie his mistress. However, Sophie will never accept the role of a mistress even though she finds herself falling in love with her handsome patron. Can there be room for compromise between the two of them so that he will make herfhis wife? Margaret Evans Porter is highly regarded for her moving Regency romances (see DANGEROUS DIVERSIONS or TOAST OF THE TOWN, etc.). Her current novel, THE PROPOSAL, is a sensitive romance filled with radiant characters and enumerate intricate historical details. However, Ms. Porter's homage to the era's posh gardens provides a reinvigorating twist to a fabulous Regency romance. Harriet Klausner